first time DVC stay at WDW in may..BWV or VWL??

[northshoremama]

we are a family of 5...DH, me, DD10, DD8, and DD4. i am planning our first ever WDW trip. home resort is aulani since we are originally from HI and visit home at least once a year.

so i have the 7-month booking window for WDW DVC resorts. i originally thought of going next year during easter break, but realized that will be probably a very busy time. i've decided to plan for the first week of may to hopefully have less crowds and use less points for our resort reservation.

i've looked on the dvc website and i see 2 resorts that are in our point-budget...looking for thoughts/feedback on each...and your recommendation. also, i believe both are undergoing some kind of renovation?

looking at the deluxe studio for either:
BWV: (standard view 142 points; garden/pool view or boardwalk view 168 points). i was told to be prepared to call in at the 7-month mark and not have any of the standard view rooms available)
...or...
VWL (163 points)

i was hoping to be closer to MK so that would be Wilderness Lodge Villas...but maybe we should stay at BWV to be closer to the other 3 parks?

i want to have "quick and easy" transportation to the parks.... =)

 

[hakepb]

Since VWL is undergoing a large construction project, adding new villas ... I would go BWV and save VWL for another trip.

 

[RAD]

I'm biased towards BWV since we own there, being able to walk to DS or EP plus all the things on the Boardwalk are worth it.

 

[northshoremama]

Since VWL is undergoing a large construction project, adding new villas ... I would go BWV and save VWL for another trip.

I'm biased towards BWV since we own there, being able to walk to DS or EP plus all the things on the Boardwalk are worth it.

I thought I read somewhere that there is construction going on at BWV, too??

How far is the walk to DS and EP? Also, would it be bus or boat to MK?

 

[hakepb]

I think the VWL construction is more potentially disruptive. With the villa's pool and waterfront re-construction, basically 50% of the villas have a construction view.

From Boardwalk, you can walk or take a boat to Epcot and DHS

There's a great map by @Robo here showing the walking paths and boat stops: http://www.disboards.com/threads/timing-from-dhs-to-epcot.3503797/

You would take a bus to MK, AK, DS and the water parks.

(If you have a bunch of time, park hopper passes, and Epcot is open, you could technically walk or boat into Epcot, walk through Epcot to the front gate, take a monorail to TTC, then take a monorail or ferry boat to MK)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The work at BWV will be done by May, easily. It's also really minor work. VWL involves building 25+ new buildings and a pool.

The thing I say is that for people who aren't Disney World regulars -- and you own Aulani, and this is a first trip, so while you own DVC this applies to you -- avoid the big construction projects. It's not like a typical owner of WDW DVC resort who will be back multiple times. Your timelines are different.

BWV is a far better choice for you. The internal refurbishments are done. Right now, they're just doing some external work. External work is almost a fact of life in Florida. Florida weather is hard on paint and lumber.

 

[RAD]

How far is the walk to DS and EP? Also, would it be bus or boat to MK?

DS and EP are a 10 to 15 minute walk. MK is only by bus unless you walk through EP and then you could take a monorail over to the MK.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Note that for a walk through EP, you do need park-hoppers, and cannot walk through for the monorail until park open.

 

[DougEMG]

BWV is one of my home resort and I love the location and easy walk to EPOCT and DHS, but we try and always do a split stay with one of the monorail resorts (BLT, VGF or POLY) so that we have easy access to MK. So why not try a split stay, having Disney move you between resorts is very easy.

As other have said, VWL is undergoing construction right now and would not be on the top of my list for places to stay.