DVC Boardwalk vs Grand Floridian for Families

[jimmytracyq]

I am new to this site, so I hope I’m posting this correctly. Our family is fortunate enough to have booked a DVC stay at Boardwalk for April 2014 through a friend that’s a DVC member. This will be our first on-site visit to Disney and we’re very excited. We’re a family of 5 – 2 adults, 3 kids (age 11, 10, 7). We currently have a 1-bedroom DVC villa at BW but we’re considering a switch to a Deluxe Studio at the new Grand Floridian DVC villas. We’d lose out on the larger room, but the GF just seems like an opportunity we wouldn’t want to miss. Can anyone provide their opinion on whether or not we should make the change to GF?

 

[OKW Lover]

If you were comparing a 1BR at BWV to a 1BR at VGF I'd say go ahead. But I can't see your family of 5 being comfortable in just a studio.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Stick with Boardwalk. The Villas (the whole resort for that matter) is fantastic. And you can't beat the 1 bedroom.

 

[patty57]

The Epcot Resorts area is absolutely our favorite place to stay, so I would stick with Boardwalk. Only problem, is the one bedrooms at Boardwalk only have a king bed and a queen sized pull-out sleeper sofa, so you will need to bring an air mattress and bedding for one of the kids. I think GFV actually have sleeping surfaces for five. I would still want the BWV for the location and space...not to mention washer & dryer and full kitchen.

 

[Pakey]

As a DVC owner I have stayed in studios and one bedrooms. With 5 people, there is no way I would choose any studio over a one bedroom. Stay with BWV. You will not only enjoy the one bedroom, you will enjoy the location.

 

[Robbi]

The studio, IMO, is cramped for more than 3.
My home resort is the Boardwalk. We love the area because there's so much to do in the area itself. If you want to go to parks, Epcot and Hollywood Studios are a short walk away or you can take the Friendship Boats. While the GF is nice, there is not much to do besides swim unless you go to a park.

 

[jimmytracyq]

Thank you so much for the info.

 

[darkwing818]

As a DVC owner I have stayed in studios and one bedrooms. With 5 people, there is no way I would choose any studio over a one bedroom. Stay with BWV. You will not only enjoy the one bedroom, you will enjoy the location.

We are a family of 4 & have done DVC studios (BWV, BCV, OKW, SSR) for 1 night, before taking a Disney cruise, it's barely comfortable). There is no way we'd do a studio for any kind of extended stay. I think you'll be happy at BWV.

 

[Robbi]

Thank you so much for the info.

You're welcome, whatever you decide, have a great trip

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Epcot Resorts area is absolutely our favorite place to stay, so I would stick with Boardwalk. Only problem, is the one bedrooms at Boardwalk only have a king bed and a queen sized pull-out sleeper sofa, so you will need to bring an air mattress and bedding for one of the kids. I think GFV actually have sleeping surfaces for five. I would still want the BWV for the location and space...not to mention washer & dryer and full kitchen.

One more tip, you will not get a cot or rollaway from the resort for your fifth person. And you will only get four bath towels. You can purchase an extra towel pack for $6, though.

 

[sonofanarchy]

One more tip, you will not get a cot or rollaway from the resort for your fifth person. And you will only get four bath towels. You can purchase an extra towel pack for $6, though.

Housekeeping left a bunch of towels outside our door every other day. Plus, with the washer and dryer, that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[jorel]

It is in the epcot resorts area. In that area, you have access to a greater selection of restaurants in a close proximity either in the swan dolphin, beach club, or the boardwalk, or in epcot itself.

Also IMO the boardwalk has the 2nd best resort pool and slide. Also, lots of free entertainment on the boardwalk.

BWV is also a better value.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Housekeeping left a bunch of towels outside our door every other day. Plus, with the washer and dryer, that shouldn't be an issue.

That was unusual. They shouldn't have done that. You were just lucky.

 

[pacop]

is there still construction at gfv ?

 

[mariamouse]

is there still construction at gfv ?

A recent poster reported that the construction is not audible at the GF. The villas are slated to open in October, so workers are likely just completing the finishing touches (interior work, shingles, etc) right now.

 

[chemnerd09]

I'd stick with the Boardwalk. You'll have much more space and there is much more do to there instead of the GFV. Its also a great plus to be able to walk to EPCOT.

 

[jimmytracyq]

Thank you all for the information. Sounds like Boardwalk is recommended!