Epcot Area resort advice

[stwaldman]

Hi all!

Looking for suggestions or pros/cons We're doing a sit stay (holiday time) with VGF (home resort) and and Epcot Area resort, three nights each. We're a party of three (two year old at time of travel) and likely to stay in a 1br but would consider a studio if it's "roomy" considering there's a toddler in tow. Looking for suggestions on BCV vs BWV vs RIV

P.s. im squatting a reservation short one night, so I'm not concerned about availability at this time.

Editing to add we will be going into the parks which is the driver of wanting and Epcot Area split, but we're not "open to close" people considering the age of our daughter. So resort activities matter at least somewhat!

 

[SLThomas318]

We stayed at Beach Club in November with a 4 and 6 year old.... the pool at BCV is cool, but really over whelming with young kids that are not strong swimmers.... lot's of different areas, the lazy river is really deep, the small slide that would be for the 2 year old is across the walk-way outside of the pool area. The large sandy area is fun, but there isn't a "splash pad" area for young kids. We started going to Disney when my youngest was just shy of 2 and he loved the pools that had the smaller splash pads so he could do slides. Of the 3 resorts you mentioned only Riviera has the splash pad area for young kids. Not sure how important the pool is? I will say the walkability to Epcot and HS is great from either BCV or BWV... BWV will be closer to HS. We love when we are able to walk back to the resort for a break!

 

[stwaldman]

The BCV pool being "old" for us was a valid concern so good to know you had that experience. Being December pool time might be 50/50 but if the weather is warm we would probably care about that, and we did like the splash pad at BLT our last stay so that's a nod for RIV in just having one

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Can't go wrong with any epcot resort. I would book whatever epcot resort is available in the 7 month window. If studio I think riv has larger studios than bwv or bcv.

 

[DeeBee3]

I would book whatever is available. We have been in a 1-br at BWV and a studio at BCV. Never stayed at Riv but checked it out for food.

The BC was amazing for access to Epcot. The studio was worn (just this past April) but I know it's due for a refurb. We loved the location. SAB is way too much for a 2-yr-old, IMO. My kids are 4 and 8. They loved it, but they aren't swimmers. My husband and I were on them like glue. We mainly stayed where the sand was and they played with that. The older one was able to go into deeper water.

BW is also nice. It's good to have a washer/dryer in the room when kids are that young. Even if you have no plans to use it, you never know! The pool is fine and they have a kids area.

The whole boardwalk area is our vibe. We love it.

I'm sure the newness of Riviera would be a plus. The skyliner is fun, but it does go down in bad weather (lightning). I'm sure statistically that won't affect you too much.

 

[CarolMN]

I'd do the BWV. It has a nice water play area for your little one and a Community Hall (might be some fun games and activities there for toddlers, but I'm not sure if those are back, yet). You can walk or boat to both EPCOT and DHS (nice if you have a stroller), and you can also walk over to the IG and take a ride on the Skyliner. IMO, that's just like another ride (usually without a wait, LOL).

Boardwalk itself can be fun at night, and they occasionally have kids' movies on the Village Green in the evening.

We like to do splits - 2 or 3 nights at VGF for our MK days, and then BWV 1 Bedroom for the rest of our stay. We don't have kids along anymore, though.

 

[stwaldman]

I'd do the BWV. It has a nice water play area for your little one and a Community Hall (might be some fun games and activities there for toddlers, but I'm not sure if those are back, yet). You can walk or boat to both EPCOT and DHS (nice if you have a stroller), and you can also walk over to the IG and take a ride on the Skyliner. IMO, that's just like another ride (usually without a wait, LOL).

Boardwalk itself can be fun at night, and they occasionally have kids' movies on the Village Green in the evening.

We like to do splits - 2 or 3 nights at VGF for our MK days, and then BWV 1 Bedroom for the rest of our stay. We don't have kids along anymore, though.

does BCV not have a community hall? This might actually be a dealbreaker for us, as those types of activities are pretty much perfect for the age we're going into (especially if the weather doesnt cooperate for a day) and might sway us to BWV. We loved the BLT one even on our last trip because they had baby toys and disney toys there even for the little ones.

 

[CarolMN]

does BCV not have a community hall? This might actually be a dealbreaker for us, as those types of activities are pretty much perfect for the age we're going into (especially if the weather doesnt cooperate for a day) and might sway us to BWV. We loved the BLT one even on our last trip because they had baby toys and disney toys there even for the little ones.

Not really. It's a separate Building at the BWV.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/boardwalk-villas/recreation/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/beach-club-villas/recreation/

Community Halls at WDW

 

[Suzabella]

I think the big thing is availability. With BCV and BWV being smaller resorts, it's usually difficult to get a room there at the 7 month window with there being an endless festival happening at Epcot. It's not impossible just challenging. Your odds are likely better going for a 1 bedroom than a studio there. They go fast so, either way, be online before 8am on that exact 7 month day. If you don't get it, stalk the walkers daily to see if those rooms become available as they move their reservations.

My issue with Riviera is that they depend on the Skyliner for transportation to EP and HS. It stops running in the rain. It rains every day in Fla. I've read about the transportation issues during storms.

I'd go BCV or BWV over Riviera if I can get it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

RIV units are bigger if that is a concern.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

My kids at 2 years old LOVED SAB. They would dig in the sand, play in the shallow areas, and hang out in the shallow parts of the big pool. Plus BC is more convenient walking into Epcot and riding the skyliner to HS if you prefer that to walking. There’s also a boat that they enjoyed a lot.

You can’t ever really go wrong with BC!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The only real con to the Epcot area is that food options aren’t great at BC or BW. I don’t like having to rely on the skyliner so I wouldn’t think to go over to Riviera for something quick. So we end up eating in epcot a lot. Then again maybe that’s not a con after all!

 

[Nabas]

It can be a major hassle getting a seat at SAB, especially during the middle of the day.

And its many bridges and convoluted layout make it difficult to find a chair at SAB, even if one is available.

Most of the time at the Beach Club, we simply go to the quiet pool to avoid the hassle.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

It can be a major hassle getting a seat at SAB, especially during the middle of the day.

And its many bridges and convoluted layout make it difficult to find a chair at SAB, even if one is available.

Most of the time at the Beach Club, we simply go to the quiet pool to avoid the hassle.

Fair enough. I guess it comes down to what you want to do at the pool. My mom and kids are in the water the whole time, so they only need a place to dump their stuff. They will also go to the quiet pools at least once/trip, but they like the lazy river, slides, and crazy layout of SAB. When they were younger they could spend hours digging in the sand. My mom in particular is a huge pool person and she has been known to be in the water for a long time when it is barely warm enough to open the pools in January.

To be fair Boardwalk's slide was closed when we visited last May, but the rest of their pools were nothing special." My 3 year old niece enjoyed pool hopping there but was happier to return "home" to SAB.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

My kids at 2 years old LOVED SAB. They would dig in the sand, play in the shallow areas, and hang out in the shallow parts of the big pool. Plus BC is more convenient walking into Epcot and riding the skyliner to HS if you prefer that to walking. There’s also a boat that they enjoyed a lot.

You can’t ever really go wrong with BC!

The downside of using the boat to go to Epcot or Skyliner while staying at BC/BCVs is it's a long walk to the boat launch, you're heading in the wrong direction if you want to go to Epcot. The boat ramp is much closer at the BW/BWVs. I'm sure this isn't a deal breaker but I wanted to point it out just in case.

Whatever you decide I hope you have a magical trip.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The downside of using the boat to go to Epcot or Skyliner while staying at BC/BCVs is it's a long walk to the boat launch, you're heading in the wrong direction if you want to go to Epcot. The boat ramp is much closer at the BW/BWVs. I'm sure this isn't a deal breaker but I wanted to point it out just in case.

Whatever you decide I hope you have a magical trip.

Isn’t there a boat launch right in the middle of beach club? You wouldn’t take it into Epcot anyway, but it is on the way to HS.

 

[Minniemoo15]

BCV is my favourite of the epcot resorts. When my girls were that little, SAB was a bit overwhelming, but they had a blast in the sandy area and the little waterslide. I do wish it had a splash pad. If we wanted a more relaxing pool experience we went to the villas pool. Otherwise I would choose BWV.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Isn’t there a boat launch right in the middle of beach club? You wouldn’t take it into Epcot anyway, but it is on the way to HS.

When you get off the boat launch on the YC/BC side of the lake and if you walk straight ahead your walk into the back entrance of the YC lobby so no it's not in the middle. It's just not that convenient to use the boat from the BC/BCVs as it is from the other resorts located in that area. I don't know that it makes a big difference to anyone but it's something that I notice when we use the boat service from BW to YC/BC for a meal or on our way to HS.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

We loved BWV with our two year old. Definitely recommend a one bedroom. Ease of laundry, having the extra space (yay for separate bedroom), full kitchen. Being able to walk to two parks is great, can easily pop back for an outfit change or quick break during the day. There’s a playground and kiddie pool - nothing special pool wise but kids love water.

Now our two year old is six. We stay at BCV most of the time since she loves the lazy river. There’s two of us to one of her so we take turns being super vigilant. I like the food options here better since Boardwalk doesn’t have a proper QS. I used to pop by Bellevue for breakfast. But it wasn’t a dealbreaker and I would happily stay at BWV anytime.

Have never stayed at Riviera, do love the food there too but 1) too points heavy and 2) don’t want to rely on Skyliner if walking is an option.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

When you get off the boat launch on the YC/BC side of the lake and if you walk straight ahead your walk into the back entrance of the YC lobby so no it's not in the middle. It's just not that convenient to use the boat from the BC/BCVs as it is from the other resorts located in that area. I don't know that it makes a big difference to anyone but it's something that I notice when we use the boat service from BW to YC/BC for a meal or on our way to HS.

But if you are staying in BWV you just walk a little way down crescent lake and then go in the BC entrance or the BCV entrance. If we walk to HS we walk right past the launch. It doesn’t seem all that inconvenient to me.