First visit to BWV...

[dcfromva]

We added on some points to BWV and I am getting ready to book a reservation. I'm not really sure what I want.

I was wondering about the Boardwalk view (assuming that it is available). Are the Boardwalk view rooms the ones that are above the stores?
From a Boardwalk view room, Can you hear the folks that are out and about on the Boardwalk (ie Boardwalk noise)? (And, do you have to make sure your curtains are closed so folks can't look in and see you in your jammies?)

Is there a chart which gives a person an idea as to what views are available?

Thanks,
-DC

 

[DeeP]

The boardwalk view villas are fantastic. The view is very, very nice especially at night when the boardwalk is lit up and you can see the lights reflecting off the water as you look across crescent lake at YC/BC and see the Friendship boats docking, you can also see Spaceship Earth all shining and lit up in the background and the fireworks from Illuminations and hear the soundtrack from Illuminations, it is truly magical! BW view villas are truly the best of the best.
I have been in a bw view villa quite a few times and have never been bothered by noise from the boardwalk. The only time you even hear noise from the boardwalk is in the evening from about 6-11 and that is if you are outside on the balcony. Once you close the french doors to the balcony you do not hear a thing inside the villa.
You also do not have to worry about constantly keeping your curtains shut because all the boardwalk views are on floors 2 and above and people walking on the boardwalk are not walking and looking up. It is very interesting to be on the balcony and watch the people on the boardwalk-----99% seem to be clueless that there are even rooms up there, you never see people looking up, it is like you are in your own little private spot up there and spying on the nightlife on the boardwalk. Some boardwalk view villas have a solid balcony wall and these are even more private. Some people do not like the solid wall balconies because you have to stand up to see down to the boardwalk but I love them because they are very private and are also larger than the open walled balconies.
BWV is without a doubt my absolute favorite resort at WDW and the boardwalk view villas are my favorite rooms at this beautiful resort. The advantage of being able to guarantee the resort's most coveted view villas is a huge advantage that no other DVC resort has and it is wonderful. Enjoy!

 

[InstImpres]

Here is a link with some room reports and it will give you some view comments. http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/boardwalk.pdf Asking for a specific room and getting it are slim but this may help you know if the room assigned at check-in will meet your needs. This will give you an idea of “sectional views”.

The files are in adobe acrobat and which can be downloaded from this site for free:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Good luck
Sandy

 

[crisi]

We found our BW view to be occationally noisy. We could hear crowds with the door shut at night. The arcade games were especially noisy. Most nights we were so tired we didn't care, but we did notice.

Fireworks at this location are particularly loud, but I suspect they are loud throughout the entire resort.

And I'm not too fond of the view. Nice, but not great (but I think the huge EPCOT over Spaceship Earth is an abomination, so maybe its me).

And we could see inside our room from the boat dock - but we were looking for our room - which was on the second floor - right above the Boardwalk. I think the balconies are recessed enough to keep the casual observer from peeking in. (Though I'm not sure I'd spend a lot of time enjoying romance in front of the doors).

I won't bother to try and book it unless we are bringing guests again. I will probably try to book it for guests, because most people are impressed with the view (and our guests will either be young and out late, or old and hard of hearing).

 

[DeeP]

As you can see, what one person loves someone else can very easily not be wowed by.
However I would suggest if you are using points for a preferred view to at least try to get a BW view at least once. These rooms are the type of rooms the vacation videos are often shot from--primo views. If you do not like it, never get it again but at least try it if you have the opportunity. For many guests at BWV getting a BW view villa is a real treat and very coveted location. If you get a BW view and do not like it just go across the hall and knock on any standard view room and offer to switch villas and I bet you will have very happy people more than willing to switch villas with you!! Only kidding on the knocking on the neighbor's door part, LOL! Enjoy!

 

[crisi]

I do agree, if you can get the room, try it once. The exception would be if you are a light sleeper, or traveling with kids who you expect to have trouble getting to sleep (in which case, try to overlook the quiet pool - Luna Park could get noisy as well. The quiet pool will give you a longer walk down the hallway, but will likely be the quietest.) The noise is probably no problem for someone not getting back to their room until after 10:00 - as opposed to us trying to get kids to bed at 8:30 - or for anyone who lives in a city. (It was certainly no noisier than the hotel we stayed at in San Francisco, or staying with friends in Manhattan).

I guess in our case, I'd heard it hyped so much that it could only be disappointing. Not worth the fights at the front desk I've heard about, or the whining when it isn't available. If you don't get it, don't think your stay is spoiled and that the view is the only reason to stay at BW.

 

[dcfromva]

Deep,
"If you get a BW view and do not like it just go across the hall and knock on any standard view room and offer to switch villas and I bet you will have very happy people more than willing to switch villas with you!!"
LOL-- Thanks for the info. I know that I want to try all the views eventually, but it's so hard to decide which one first . (And I am trying to exercise patience keeping in mind there are many more visits ahead of me ) Perhaps this is all worry for naught as there may be no selection choices when I get around to calling for my dates, anyway.

InstImpres,
Thanks for the chart.

crisi,
" I will probably try to book it for guests, because most people are impressed with the view (and our guests will either be young and out late, or old and hard of hearing)."

lol--Thanks for the info.


-DC