favorite Epcot resort?

[bowbat]

My preference would be 1) BWI 2) YC 3) BC.

[Disclaimer: we've stayed at BWI and YC, not BC.]

We like BWI best because we like the look of the rooms best, the CMs are exceptional, we really enjoy the activities on the Boardwalk, and we like the shops and restaurants.

YC is second. The rooms are nice, full balconies, the lobby is elegant and subdued. We weren't fans of the pool area (too big), but for many it's a huge selling feature.

BC did not appeal to us. While the lobby is lovely, bright & airy, it is VERY chaotic and loud. That alone knocks it out of contention for us. If that doesn't bother you (or even makes it more appealing to you), you may prefer BC as it has the closest proximity to Epcot.

 

[DreamerWDW]

My mind says Beach Club but my heart says Boardwalk. Beach Club has a nicer pool, better QS options and is closer to Epcot. However, something about the Boardwalk makes it my favorite. I love the theming, the times I've spent there in the past, being on the Boardwalk....everything. I even love the clown pool!

I couldn't agree more with this. I love the BC too and I think it's great to experience the pool a few times. But something about the BW just draws me in. I love the atmosphere. It's hard to explain, but I just love staying there

 

[FireDancer]

If price were no object the Boardwalk for sure but I just don't see the value in paying that much for a room I'm just going to use to sleep. Because of that the only Epcot area resorts I've stayed at, and the only ones I'd even consider, are the Swan and Dolphin. I stayed for as low as $69/night and never paid more then $99/night. Can't get anywhere near that low at the other resorts there.

 

[madalex]

I have stayed at all three resorts multiple times (YC - 12+, BWI - 4, BC - 3). They are all great resorts and I will stay at all of them again on future trips (Feb 2014, I'll be at BC and Oct 2014, I'll be at BWI). That being said, I rank them as follows:

1. YC
2. BWI
3. BC

YC was the first WDW resort I have stayed at and the only resort I stayed at for many years before I started branching out to try others. I love the quiet lobby and the decor of the rooms, as well as a guaranteed full balcony.

BWI is also beautiful and is obviously closer to all the action on the Boardwalk. The rooms are very nice as well. I also like that BWI is significantly closer to DHS than the other two. I'm not a big fan of the BWI lobby.

BC is also very nice, but the lobby is frequently loud and chaotic and that is a bit of a drawback for me. Also not a big fan of the location of the BC "quiet pool", but my daughter loves it there. BC is slightly closer to Epcot than the other two resorts, but it is a matter of a few hundred steps, so that hasn't mattered much to me in the grand scheme of all the walking one does at WDW.

 

[roydavid7771]

Our family owns DVC at the Beach Club, so it's kinda obvious which is our favorite!

We've also stayed at all of the other EPCOT resorts and all are wonderful in their own right. We prefer the Beach Club for several reasons:

1. It's the closest resort to EPCOT and all of their wonderful restaurants.

2. Some people find the lobby a bit loud, but I've never experienced it to the point where I wished it were quieter. I find it to be relaxing and I've met some very nice people there chatting about their adventures!

3. The bus transportation to other parts of the world (at least in my experience), shares only with the YC so the buses never seemed to be overcrowded. While we stayed at the Boardwalk, we always seemed to be the last stop after going to the Swan and Dolphin first.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. Enjoy!

 

[hedberg1661]

I personally like the BC. Love the pool and proximity to EC.

 

[cincystamper]

Thanks everyone - lots to think about!

 

[Judy from Boise]

The Swan is my family's first choice time and time again !

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

If you have kids try boardwalk. Lots to do any see.
Disclaimer. Boardwalk is our home villa.

 

[Fivesacharm]

This question is soooooo hard. We just got back from BCV and LOVED it but next summer we are staying at BWV again, because it's been a couple years. Both are amazing and we love them for slightly different reasons...

 

[kapoof]

I have never been at the bc where I found it loud busy maybe but not noisey. I like the bwi pool a tad better than sab. Sab is lots of fun, but if you have smaller kids, it can be hard to keep track of them. The slide at bwi is the Best on property I love the rooms at the bc, cape may is very good. The bwi bakery has lots of good treats too though. . Dh favorite resort thus far is the bwi, next trip however I want to try the yc. Good luck in your very tough choice.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The YC is lovely! The location can't be beat. The pool was cool. We chose the YC over BC because we liked the decor better and the lobby wasn't as hustle bustle as the BC.

We haven't stayed at BWI because I am one of those people that can't get past the clown pool.

 

[hsmamato2]

1-Beach Club
2- Dolphin or Swan

 

[kapoof]

The YC is lovely! The location can't be beat. The pool was cool. We chose the YC over BC because we liked the decor better and the lobby wasn't as hustle bustle as the BC.

We haven't stayed at BWI because I am one of those people that can't get past the clown pool.

The slide is so awesome that the weird clown becomes such a non issue. . It is a nice smaller pool which has a lovely view of the swan. We hit the pool right after dinner when most people are leaving the pool for dinner so it was very nice and quiet.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The slide is so awesome that the weird clown becomes such a non issue. . It is a nice smaller pool which has a lovely view of the swan. We hit the pool right after dinner when most people are leaving the pool for dinner so it was very nice and quiet.

My DH really wants to stay at BWI, so I'm sure I will have to suck it up at some point. I am totally not a pool slide person, so nothing about that clown is appealing, lol!

My kids do think it would be funny for me to have to sit out there and stare at that thing though.

 

[Judique]

My DH really wants to stay at BWI, so I'm sure I will have to suck it up at some point. I am totally not a pool slide person, so nothing about that clown is appealing, lol!

My kids do think it would be funny for me to have to sit out there and stare at that thing though.

You could always use the Rose Garden quiet pool at BWI and not even have to see the clown.

 

[Princess Katherine]

If I had to stay somewhere I think I would choose Boardwalk. I like the stores and think the rooms look pretty. Since I don't really like or see the purpose of Epcot (or want to hear it) I wouldn't really want to stay close to it. MHO though.

Katie

 

[wdwfan]

We have stayed at BW, BC YC and by far we prefer the Yacht Club! The BW runs a close second, but with the overall elegance of the Yacht Club and Stormalong Bay, Yacht Club is our favorite resort!

 

[katt789]

Akl and POFQ are my other top two favorites! My other fave is Yacht Club!

We walked through there to head to Beaches & Cream in Feb and I instantly fell in love, we stayed one night there a few weeks ago and it was unbelieveable!

We were upgraded to a lagoon view and spent our first night watching Illuminations from our patio! Incredible! The resort is gorgeous, I actually physically stopped walking into the lobby it was that gorgeous, and the SMELLS! It really is as fantastic as everyone speaks about it.

The proximity to Epcot was incredible too, obviously you'd get that at any of the resorts in that area, but it was so amazing to be able to get up the next morning, take our time, and walk over to France for breakfast, truly magical!

The pool is what really wins it for me though, we didn't actually go in it as we didn't bring swim suits, but it's amazing. The half sunk pirate ship is a slide, and there's a sand bottom pool, I'm still kicking myself for not bringing swim suits so we could try it out!

Definitely my favorite resort in that area!

 

[Babsy]

What I like best about the Epcot resorts:

Swan/Dolphin: best for price, discounts make these almost too good to pass up opportunities; wonderful beds; can book the room view and type you want; guaranteed connecting rooms can be booked here (not so with WDW resorts)

YC/BC: best pool, closest to Epcot

BW: best CL, good proximity to DHS, evening activities/entertainment



What I dislike about the Epcot resorts:

BC: juliet balconies

BC/YC/BW: they all have long convoluted hallways to some rooms; buses to other theme parks (not Epcot or DHS) are sometimes terrible (have found this to be true on times at all 3); it's a long walk to the front of Epcot and there is no transportation to get there; rooms are often relatively small for a luxury resort (compared to MK resorts)

BWI: the way the elevators are placed isn't always convenient, the lobby is upstairs from the boardwalk, the creepy clown pool


What is essentially the same advantage at all Epcot resorts:

Great dining options
walking distance to Epcot and DHS
convenient for returning to room after Illuminations
romantic atmosphere
theming - some individuals like one better than another, but IMO they all do a good job