First stay at BCV

[Disney Enthusiast]

We just spent 10 nights at BCV and were thrilled w/ our vacation. I was a bit nervous at all the bad comments I hear about the resort, but we were pleasantly surprised. We requested a top floor, EPCOT view, hoping to see the fireworks from our balcony since we have 2 small children and weren't sure they could handle them up close. At least we would have the option to go out on the balcony and enjoy them ourselves while the children were sleeping or watching TV. Well, we got every request. We were on the 5th floor and saw the beautiful show of fireworks whenever we were home. Some may have been annoyed at a service road below, but I didn't mind that at all and enjoyed the wonderful display each night. A couple lightbulbs were out (and replaced quickly), a few scratches on the wall behind the bedroom door (no big deal), and a child lock to the balcony broken (and fixed quickly) were the only broken items we noticed. Other than those few items, the room was spotless and lovely.

The front desk fella, Roland, wished me a "Welcome Home" and later called our room to make sure we were pleased w/ our accommodations. Wow. We met Art in the lobby and he was as friendly as on the Travel Channel. We also got an invite to Martha's Vineyard w/ the managers of the hotel for danishes and coffee to discuss our opinions on the resort and to give them any feedback. The mgmt team was VERY friendly and listened intently to everyone who attended. It was a nice morning.

I didn't realize the Atlantic Emporium Store carried many of the general grocery items needed and so I didn't have to run to the general store at the Boardwalk. Nice. Most of all, we LOVED the pool. It is perfect for little ones being that it is zero entry w/ a sand bottom. My son also loved the kiddie slide. Even though I was very disappointed that the pool was half closed, the area we most needed was open and the staff really tried to be accommodating to us. We found that this is not an annual closing and it was in much need of refurbishment, and January is their coldest and slowest time of year. Last year when we went, the BW Luna Pool heater was broken. This time we found out what a heated pool really felt like, and on several days, the water was warmer than the air.

It was very nice to have Cape May Cafe in the lobby for breakfast and dinner and we went there at least 3 times. Very convenient. I missed the great crab cakes at Flying Fish that they'll deliver via room service to the BWV (great way to have dinner w/ little kids), but that great pool makes it worth going out to Flying Fish for dinner.

Anyway, the resort and room were very clean, beautiful, and quiet (as many have said before me). It's my first time at BCV and I'm so happy we own there now. Honestly, I wanted to try out all the resorts in the next several years, but that pool is so perfect for youngins and a parent can easily watch their kids in that pool in Jan because there are only 2 other families in the pool area during that time, that I think we will book our next vacation there once again. I still hold a place in my heart for the BWV, and a I still want to visit VWL and SSR, but the kids enjoyed SAB so much this year, that we may go there again next year. When the kids are old enough for the big slides at BB, we'll go to those other resorts. But the fact that I could sit back and relax while the children played in front of me makes a vacation so nice.

Anyway, long post............. But I thought you all should know that the BCV were so nice and clean. They seem to get a bad rap.

 

[newholidayx2]

so they do have an Illuminations view from BCV? some of us have been told recently that that view no longer exists - did you see anything to make them say that? maybe they really do just not want the request any longer

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I asked for Illumination view, and the MS person told me they no longer call it that. He put into the computer.... Top Floor, EPCOT view and that got me the perfect view of Illuminations. Maybe not all Top floor, EPCOT view rooms have Illumination views and so that is why they are more particular about stating that requests for Illuminations are not granted. But that was what my request actually read. Hope this helps, because the view was very worth it.

 

[Terry S]

I have a question about the Altantic Emporium store. Someone reported here on the DIS that it had been closed for rehab?

 

[MJTinNH]

Hi Brigitte,

I was happy to spot your trip report. Glad you and your family had another great DVC vacation. I remember the 1st time we stayed at the Beach Club (prior DVC ownership & BCV) we had a room at the end by Epcot. I think it was on the 3rd or 4th floor. Anyway we were able to enjoy Illuminations from the balcony. We were in awe. Happy that your family got to enjoy it too!

 

[DeeDeeDis]

So glad you had a nice stay, we own at the bc and bw and have stayed at okw and wlv and our favorite is the beach club

NewHolidayx2
I just booked a 2br at the beach club for August and what I was told was that they are "no longer taking EPCOT VIEW REQUEST".

 

[Jennyvelaz]

We just had our first BCV stay as well with two three year olds. they loved the pool and yes they swam more than once despite the weather! I was also pleased with the parking, valet service, and location. The boat system was not all that well (a little slow when it is cold out) but all in all it was great!

 

[BCV23]

I was going to ask about the store as well. Was the entrance right across the hall from the walkway?

Glad you had such a great stay. We love BCV too and are also glad that it is our "home."

 

[LoveToDisney]

Great trip report. I am so glad you got all your requests and had a wonderful time!! Now it's fun to plan the next trip....

 

[rinkwide]

...I was a bit nervous at all the bad comments I hear about the resort...

Oh yes, the infamous "My Stay At BCV Was A Living Hell" reports. I'll let you in on a little secret, those are the handiwork of a few devious members who post them from time to time solely to keep the riff-raff out of their favorite resort.

 

[Beca]

Thanks for posting!! I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip!!!

(I just had to use him...he's FUNNY!!!)

Beca

 

[Degli]

Hi Bridgette,
Glad you had another nice vacation. Bet your workaholic husband is glad you guys did this. I remember responding to another thread last year when you got back from a vacation from BWV. You really have to try VWL. Your kids will love the pool here too. By the way, we as a family are finally staying at our first DVC resort in May. My workaholic husband fought me on joining and in booking in May. But I know he'll love the 1Br He's still working a lot and the pressure is on every time he schedules vaca but oh well! Can't wait to give a trip report.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks for such a great trip report.

We own at SSR and have only had one DVC stay so far. But the Beach Club is special to us because we stayed there (hotel part) with 20 family and friends when we got married at Disney's Wedding Pavilion in 2001. We have been back twice since, once with our DD when she was 6 months for her first Disney trip. We always look around the pool and bar etc and say 'remember when Dad (or whoever) did this?' Cape May Cafe also brings back fond memories of a character breakfast with our large group, sadly 2 of them are no longer with us so the memories and photos are extra special.

It's a great place! OKW this year, maybe BCV next year! I love DVC!!!

Mandy

 

[pat-rick]

Once you have been here for awhile you will notice that the NEW Resort, now SSR take a lot of heat over nothing. There are quite a few bad reports written about the resorts when they open until something new come along. I pre purchased BCV before it opened and have been there 4 time with 2 more already planned and have had not regets. I have read many reports stating all the problems and many more from people who were concerned prior to their stay and had a wonderful / memorable trip.
Why people do this is a wonder to me. They seem to nit-pick everything and spoil it for new members anticipating their first trip HOME. You will see that SSR in on the hit list now and because of its size will most likely be the target for some time.
I have stayed at BCV, BWV and OKW and have had a great time at each resort with no reservations about returning to any one of them. I intend to also stay at VWL and SSR at some time in the future and I know that I will enjoy my stays at these resorts as well.
Thanks for the trip report and I am glad you had a great time as well.

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for the great report!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks for the great report Brigitte!

I agree with you about SAB. My boys love it!! My only regret is that we didnt join sooner so that they could have enjoyed it when they were little like yours. They can play in the sand all day!

That is very interesting that you got to participate in the forum with the managers. They must really be trying to stem the negative feedback they are receiving. I have always had great stays at BCV but sometimes issues could be handled a little better, so that is what they must be addressing.

Thanks again, really enjoyed your report!

 

[bongo59]

we were at BCV last weekend and the store is closed but they have opened a temp store about 50 feet further down the hall...........it has all the necessities............the pool rehab is coming along nicely ..........if you want EPcot views you need to get rooms 540-570 and you got them..........most are one bedrooms though...........the 557 room has the best view because you are right above canadian pavillion and have unobstructed views...........

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Hi everyone! I'm back. Thank you all for replying to my thread. It was so nice to catch up w/ old friends and meet new ones. I'll try to answer some of your questions now that I'm back online. Oh by the way.... the bus service has been fixed!!! Yeah! It literally took an hour to an hour and a half to get back to the BWV from the MK each day and vice versa due to the many stops. When we left in the morning, the bus would go to BWV then all the other resorts (Swan, Dolphin, YC, then BC) then MK. On the return, the BW was the LAST resort to get dropped off. And we'd only pick up 1 or 2 people each time. You'd think it would be reversed, but no. This year, we had a bus handling just the Y and B Clubs. Woo Hoo! Each day we got to and from the MK in a 1/2 hour or less, from wait time to arrival at the park. Much Much better!!!

I have a question about the Altantic Emporium store. Someone reported here on the DIS that it had been closed for rehab?

Thank you bongo59 for answering that question. Terry S: The store is not right across from the double doors right now. It has been moved about feet down until the rehab is complete. There was talk about a small counter service restaurant going in where the temporary store is now, but nobody is sure.

MJTinNH: So nice to hear from you. We were in awe as well and I really really loved staying there. Thanks for your comments and happy thoughts!

DeeDeeDis: So nice of you to drop by and say "Hi". I must say, I'm thrilled by all of the DVC resorts and I'm sure I would be happy w/ any one of them. I seem to agonize over picking the "right" resort for that year and was a bit depressed about not going to SSR. But the BCV were perfect for our young family and we just love the quaint and quiet nature of the BCV resort area.

Jennyvelaz: That pool is really great. And the boats seemed to move pretty quickly for us, even on the cold, rainy days (yes, we had a few of those). The great thing about the boat is the kids could fall asleep in the stroller and we didn't have to make them get out like on the bus. We found ourselves gravitating to EPCOT or MGM so we didn't have to remove the sleeping children from the stroller. We came this close to walking to the Contemporary from the MK, then monorail to EPCOT, then walking to the BCV just to refrain from waking up the sleeping munchkins. But we ended up bussing it. And no meltdowns... woo hoo.

BCV23: I think I answered your question earlier, but thanks for dropping by to say "Hi". I am so glad I own 100 pts there at the BCV. It is truly a lovely resort and I am very proud to call it my home. Nice to meet you neighbor.

LoveToDisney: I know... I know..... I think we are going to try BCV again. My son just adored that "Hook" (Pirate Ship) slide. Thanks for your kind sentiments.

rinkwide: I've heard that ..... only now I really believe it. We must have gone at a really great time, but we literally saw 1 bug while we were down there (and it was on the walkway outside the resort). I heard about the biting ants, the chipped walls, the broken everything, the terrible door configuration, blah blah blah. The doors were easy for us and we liked having the areas separated. The table was longer and great for kids. The Pack-n-Play (I was nervous about using that) was in better shape than mine at home and brand new and it worked like a charm. Everything seemed to be in superb condition, and had less than the normal wear and tear. I do believe there is a conspiracy brewing.

Thanks Beca! And the Banana character is cute.

Hi Degli: So glad to hear from you again. I look for you too and so glad you took the plunge. You and your DH will be very happy w/ your purchase, I'm sure of it. Thank you for always looking for my posts, and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your trip report. I'll send pixie dust your way for low crowds and great weather as it was for us most of our trip. When you can walk on Splash Mtn and Thunder Mtn w/o a wait w/ your 3 yr old, now that's a vacation.

mrsminniemouse: Wow! You have a wonderful history w/ the Beach Club. It must hold a very special place in your heart. I think the BC is such a lovely resort, so hard to describe. It seems off the beaten path and yet it is still right in the middle of all the action. And its "beach" is better than the real thing.... the sand is softer on your feet w/ no broken shells, and the water is warm. What a great place to go on vacation! Nice to meet you!

pat-rick: I feel you are so right, and yet I'm very glad you brought it to my attn because I would not have put it together. I own at SSR and I bet you are right that I will be reading many many complaints on that resort before I ever get to stay there. With it being the "new" one, it will be the most targeted resort from now on. Although I believe that all new resorts must work out the kinks before they can run smoothly, a lot of the complaints can be fixed w/ a phone call and a smile. I told the mgr that we were a bit disappointed that half the pool was closed, but we still had a great time w/ the pool area that was available. Half the Yacht Club was closed and had scaffolding all over the outside, but did it detract from our vacation? NO WAY! Anyway, thanks for the heads up! I'll try not to be too disappointed w/ SSR before I even stay there.

Hi Credit Man! Thanks for dropping by.

Why Hello There Liferbabe! It's always so nice to hear from you. Hope you are doing well! And I am glad the kids got to enjoy SAB at this young age. Even the 1 yr old was walking around in the shallow water and sandy area feeling the sand beneath her toes and picking up clumps of it in her little hands. What a great experience for a Mommy. And not having to hold the child the entire time is a real break. The managers did seem to be very attentive and interested in our experiences. They seem to be really listening intently to the guest concerns. Looking forward to chatting w/ you again!

bongo59: We had a 1 BR and we were in 557... apparently the best view at the resort! Not bad for our first stay. I came close to asking for pool view since I heard that EPCOT view is not guaranteed and thought the pool would look pretty all lit up at night. But Roland told me I got all of my requests and so we walked in around 4 and found that awesome view. 557 was a great room! Last year at the BWV, we got (I think) one of the best rooms too. We were on the corner overlooking Luna Pool and the canal going to MGM w/ a HUGE balcony and windows on the wall overlooking the canal area. I was able to see the fireworks at MGM. It was the furthest room from the elevator, but I believe almost all the best views are. So my DH and I were sure not to whine about the long walk back to our room w/ 2 very sleepy kids since we had a gorgeous view upon each arrival back to the room. Plus we were able to work off all that wonderful food we ate earlier. Hee Hee.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

I am glad that you had such a great time, this has to be our favorite resort.

Now if I only could get this countdown timer of mine to speed up we will be there for 5 nights the 1st of April, hoping for top floor Epcot View.

Tom

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Belle and Rella's Dad: I wish you the best of luck w/ your view choice. BCV is now my favorite as well. Maybe that is because it is the last place I stayed (all the resorts have their special qualities), or maybe it simply is the best. Either way, I had a wonderful time and the service was wonderful. It is a little less stressful at this time of year and maybe that helps.

Thanks for taking the time to reach out and say "Hello". I hope you have a wonderful time in April!