First Trip Home (to WDW) BCV or SSR?

[a Really Bad Egg]

All,

We are taking our first trip 'home' to WDW next summer...

(we're actually going to VB in April - so that's our first vacation 'home' as DVC members)

...and can't decide between Beach Club or SSR. SSR is our home resort and we're inside the 11 month window...but we were thinking about the Beach Club.

Has anyone stayed at both that can give us the + and - for each.

Isn't it great to have to make these decisions?!!

TIA.

 

[BillPA]

WELCOME HOME!!!

Both SSR and BCV are great resorts, as are all DVC reosrts. You should book SSR at 11 months, then at the 7 month mark, try for BCV or BWV...

Which one??? That depends on a lot of variables. Do you have kids, do you have a car, which parks will you spend most of your time...

BWV/BCV are very convient to EPCOT and MGM, VWL is great for MKG, SSR is good if you will be going to DTD often. If you want a LARGE unit OKW...

Which ever DVC you choose, you should have a great time.

 

[bcsmom]

We just got back from BCV, & it was really beutiful. The kids,(myself included) loved stormalong bay . We did go to SSR just to look around, & the kids liked the look of that pool too. I always drive to disney, so transportation is not an issue for us. SSR is just so big, I do not think I would be as happy staying there if I depended on the bus system. It was really nice to be able to walk to epcot from BCV, & to walk to the boardwalk for a quick bite to eat. I have heard people say though that the buses at SSR are not that bad. It just looked so huge to me.

 

[kitty44]

I stayed at SSR in November '05 and at BCV in late August '06.

BCV:
PROS - Location. The boardwalk area is beautiful and there is a lot to do. You are within walking distance to Jerryrolls, shops, and mini-golf. Not to mention EPCOT.
- SAB is a great pool, very unique, although I don't like the slide because you have to lie down.
- Beaches and Cream
CONS - SAB has more limited hours that the other themed pools. We like to go in the pool either 1st thing in the morning, or after the parks close at night. We were there for 12 days and only got to go in SAB twice. All the other times we wanted to swim, SAB was closed and we went in the quiet pool. The quiet pool gets crowded at night because it is the only thing open. SAB closed at 8:00 pm when we were there, and one night the pool was filled with people at at 8:00 the life guards actually threw everyone out.
- I was not impressed with the cleanliness of our room, although the layout of the room was very nice. It was a dedicated two bedroom with a huge balcony.

SSR:
PROS - Very upscale, very new. Our room was spotlessly clean.
- Nice walk to Downtown Disney, where you can catch a bus to any resort.
- CM's seemed especially courteous and helpful.
- Can park very close to your room.
- Beautiful grounds and scenery
- Nice themed pool was open until midnight every day.
CONS - Cannot walk to any park
- Secluded, which was a con for me but could be a pro for others.

Personally I prefer SSR, but I did like being in the Boardwalk area. Maybe next time I'll try BWV.

 

[starbox]

In your trip history, it looks like you have been to CSR and the Dolphin.

The big pluses to BCV are the pool (if you swim a lot and during the hours it is open) and the access to EPCOT. You should know how much you'd use the EPCOT resort entrance from your stay at the Dolphin.

SSR is set up a lot like CSR and is similar size-wise (but with larger units so less total rooms and therefore guests). IMHO, the pool is much nicer. The walking path to DTD can be a big plus if you are DTD fans.

 

[Granny]

We are taking our first trip 'home' to WDW next summer...

(we're actually going to VB in April - so that's our first vacation 'home' as DVC members)

...and can't decide between Beach Club or SSR. SSR is our home resort and we're inside the 11 month window...but we were thinking about the Beach Club.

For your first DVC trip to WDW, I'd suggest staying at your home resort. Go ahead and soak up the atmosphere and start exploring the nooks and crannies of your "home" for the next several decades.

You'll have plenty of years to sample other resorts, but IMHO, the first trip should be to your home resort so you can start establishing that feeling of "coming home" for future trips.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I think Granny makes a good point about staying at your home resort the 1st time. We've stayed at SSR and BCV (our home resort) and I can't disagree with anything the other posters have said. The bottom line is that you can't go wrong either way. It really depends on what you are looking for this trip. If you want easy access to to EPCOT and to have just a short boat ride to MGM then BCV is probably your best choice. On the other hand, if you want to see what your home resort is like then it probably makes sense to follow Granny's advice.

 

[whiplash]

I agree with most all the posts, we have stayed at BCV a number of times, never had a "bad" experience. Have also stayed at SSR and actually found bus service to be better from there. Most of their busses are dedicated, no other stops at other resorts. At BCV, lots of stops, Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, BWV. Loved 'em both. You won't be disappointed either way!