Help: Boardwalk or Beach Club?

[LiloH]

Tomorrow is our seven month window for December and it looks like we should have our choice of several resorts for a one bedroom. That's great and we're psyched. But now... what do we pick?

Last December we stayed in a pool/garden one bedroom at BWV and it was great. We really enjoyed our stay and our kids (now two and four) even loved the creepy clown slide.

My husband wants to mix it up this year and try BCV. In some ways it seems like not a big deal (same relative area and level of amenities) but I worry because I've heard it's showing age and is a bit run down. I also worry the pool area may be a bit too big and it may be hard to keep an eye on our kids.

Does anyone who's stayed at the BCV recently have any feedback? Is SAB too big for toddlers? Will we be disappointed in the room if we go with BCV?

HELP!

(Or, we can toss the whole Epcot resort area and go with WLV which looks like it also may be available. Awesome for Christmas but so many more buses!)

 

[disneynutz]

SAB is big but many use it and don't seem to have too much trouble. The resorts have the same refurb schedule so one resort should not have a whole lot of extra wear.

We stayed at BCV and BWV last month and didn't notice much of a difference.

Bill

 

[DisneyMotherOf2]

SAB has a wonderful toddler area. My kids were 3 and 4 when we stayed there. Over by the Yacht Club side of the pool is a zero entry area that wasn't too deep for them. I sat in the pool area with water up to my shoulders and they ran and played in the water and sand in that area. It was wonderful being able to relax and not worry about them going in over their heads, etc. They also loved playing in the sand with the buckets, shovels, etc. They went down the big slide (hubby was at the bottom to get them) and I went down after them. You have to leave the main pool area and cross the walkway to get to the slide entrance which is a bit of a design flaw if you ask me. Also, over by the slide entrance there is a kiddie pool and slide for the younger set as well that my kids enjoyed. We did not find our rooms to be run down at all and thoroughly enjoyed staying at BCV. I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[lucyem]

IMO you kids will absolutely love SAB. There is a zero entry part of the pool which is near a little play set and a toddler wading pool. Not to mention the sandy beach to play in. You could set up in one spot and they will have a great time. SAB gets too big when your kids are older and want to go around the whole pool complex. A parent cannot sit in one spot and see them everywhere.
At ages 2 & 4 you are going to be more hands on anywhere you go.

 

[jekjones1558]

I am a BWV lover but your kids are at a great age for SAB. As a PP stated, SAB gets harder to monitor as kids get older. Just pray that you have pool weather while you are there. It can be mighty cold in December sometimes!

 

[mjc2003]

Comparing SAB to the BW pool is like comparing WDW to Wally World. Whereas BW has a "kid pool" that is more like a glorified birdbath, SAB has an entire pool with a sand bottom, a sand bar and is probably no more than 28 inches at its deepest. The only warning is that they won't want to leave and if they are anything like my kids, the next time you go to BW pool they will ask every 10 minutes why they can't go to the "fun" pool across the way.

 

[LiloH]

Thanks everyone! I ended up going with BWV because there was a 1 bedroom standard view available and the point savings was too good to resist. Now we can take TWO trips next year, right? Maybe we'll do the second in a BCV studio!

 

[LSchrow]

Comparing SAB to the BW pool is like comparing WDW to Wally World. Whereas BW has a "kid pool" that is more like a glorified birdbath, SAB has an entire pool with a sand bottom, a sand bar and is probably no more than 28 inches at its deepest. The only warning is that they won't want to leave and if they are anything like my kids, the next time you go to BW pool they will ask every 10 minutes why they can't go to the "fun" pool across the way.

too funny you said that....my kids and nephews asked to "PLEEEEEASE, can we go to the Boardwalk pool?!" while staying at the BCV. they've all been swiming since tots, and found SAB too crowded (i agree), and preferred the slide and "fun things" at the BWVs. ina ddition, there is a great community hall at the BWVs.
that said, i would still recommend trying any new resort. you may or may not love the BCVs, but there will always be something new and different at each resort that you will enjoy (btw, we own both BWV and BCV).
try to take a little time to tour the BCV this upcoming trip, and have a great time!!

 

[mjc2003]

too funny you said that....my kids and nephews asked to "PLEEEEEASE, can we go to the Boardwalk pool?!" while staying at the BCV. they've all been swiming since tots, and found SAB too crowded (i agree), and preferred the slide and "fun things" at the BWVs. ina ddition, there is a great community hall at the BWVs.
that said, i would still recommend trying any new resort. you may or may not love the BCVs, but there will always be something new and different at each resort that you will enjoy (btw, we own both BWV and BCV).
try to take a little time to tour the BCV this upcoming trip, and have a great time!!

My kids are 6 and 3, so they don't notice "crowded" or pay attention. My 6 year old is always trying to make friends, so the more the merrier. If your children are older, I guess they could have a different perspective. With a 3 year old that doesn't swim, the BWV pool was a constant concern. There is no shallow area, and the "kid pool" is about 6 inches deep and worthless unless you have an infant that you want to just sit in ankle deep water. Juxtaposed to a HUGE 2 foot deep kid pool at SAB which is basically ideal for any child from 2-7, and for us it's hard to compare.

We also don't travel during busy times. However, our last stay at BWV was end of August after most kids were back in school. It was VERY quiet, so much so that we added a night at the end b/c of the big storm up north canceling our flights and we had our pick of whatever we wanted, including boardwalk view. The pool, however, WAS way crowded, as one would expect during late August. I wrote in my TR from last August that there were tons of people in the pool, playing games and hitting a beach ball around, several times knocking around little kids. It was loud, they had music pumping in the afternoon.....it was the least relaxing resort pool I think I've ever been to. Then the kicker was some older CM who was, frankly, creepy, and kept jumping in the pool and cannon-balling the kids, including my 6 year old who was struggling just to swim. He did it to her twice, and I had to ask him to stop. Really?!?!

Different strokes for different folks. I actually think the BWV resort is on par in most ways with BCV, but I'm not a fan of the size and to me the pools are incomparable.

No zero entry with young kids is a big issue, and BWV for some reason even has a big raised edge.

But if we all liked the same things, there would be one full resort and the rest would be empty all the time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Parking. Parking is easy and close at BVC. Parking is hard and far at BWV.

 

[jekjones1558]

Congrats on scoring the standard view room!

 

[chainkid]

The boardwalk area has several pools to choose from not just the main one. The quiet pool is great and right next to the community hall and if you want real quiet then the rose garden pool on the side of boardwalk inn is a perfect spot.

 

[Sammie]

The BWV have been recently rehabbed the villas at BCV have not. They are due but not sure when it will be done. So their rehab might be the same length of time between rehabs, they are not at the same time for each resort.

As to the room condition, it seems to vary from room to room. We were there in Dec of 2011 and I was very disappointed in the condition of the room and cleanliness.

Both have very beautiful holiday decorations but in Dec I would not choose one for the pool. In the Decembers we have gone we have experienced very cold weather even in the 30s, so swimming is not a definite.