Help with BWV 2-bedroom location for family with special needs

[specrn]

This is our first time going to BWV and have been told we can do online check in 10 days in advance (tomorrow). We have a 2-bedroom preferred view and am trying to figure out best way to request a good location. We are traveling with a 4-yr-old, 6-month-old, myself, Grandma (who will be on a scooter), and my husband who has a pacemaker/was born with heart condition (but he is 40 and looks perfectly healthy). However, he does not have a lot of stamina, and with Grandma scootering around and lugging 2 young children, I am hoping we can get a very good location. Meaning, high-floor, perhaps with a nice view (not sure what preferred view means) that isn't TOO far from walking/boating to epcot etc. Any suggestions how/when to request?

We were told not to bother with buses with a scooter, 2 young kids, etc. I was told easiest way to get to MK is to go to Epcot and take monorail?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!
PS...some people have asked me why I would go to Disney and not do something more relaxing for my husband's sake, Grandma, and the kids. I do not want to deprive them of the experience AND...it's the happiest place on earth. Wish me luck!

 

[dgaston]

You should contact MS and request a room "close to the elevator" for medical reasons. I hope you are not renting points, because the owner of the points is the only one who can speak to MS.

Best wishes for a wonderful trip!

 

[crisi]

And if you can be on the second floor, you can avoid the elevators when taking the bus.

You can't get through Epcot to get to the monorail unless the park is open, and it's a long walk from the front of epcot to BWV.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you don't have hopping on your ticket, you will use that ticket to get through Epcot and have no ticket to get into MK. It will take about 20 minutes to go through Epcot (once the park opens), then you wait for the monorail to the TTC, then you wait for the monorail to the MK. In that time, you could have taken a bus and gotten there more quickly.

All the two bedroom villas at BWV are lockoffs meaning a combination of a one bedroom and a studio. So the second bedroom will have a queen sized bed and a double sleeper sofa.

You need to know ahead of time that a WDW vacation means lots of walking. If your husband isn't up to that, he may need an ECV as well, leaving you with the stroller. Children aren't permitted to ride with an adult on an ECV, only the one person on the ECV is permitted.

Oh, and the hallways at BWV are notorious for being endlessly long with the single elevator bank. You may want to request close to the elevator.

 

[jekjones1558]

I think WDW is just fine for your group as long as you do not over-plan and are flexible. My DH has a bunch of medical issues. We fly by the seat of our pants tailoring our day to how he is feeling. If he is really beat we just spend time at the resort, on the BW, at the pool, or maybe a short scooter ride into Epcot or DHS for a quick visit.
Before DH got his scooter we requested close to elevator but now we ask for a top floor. We actually prefer the rooms farther from the elevator because there is less foot traffic. I don't have mobility issues and the extra distance from the elevator is nothing to me, even on those trips when I am pushing a stroller. You may feel differently, especially if your DH is tired from walking. It took me a few trips to get DH to use a scooter but he liked it so well that he bought one and uses it all of the time now.
While taking your crew on the bus to MK may not be fun, I think it still beats the monorail. You would need to transfer monorails at Ticket and Transportation. And if you happen to leave MK after the evening parade you will stand in a huge line. It will take WAY longer than the bus. We drive to AK but you will need to do the bus there if you don't have a van.
Have fun on your trip!
P.S. Another option that we have used is to take a cab to and from the Contemporary and then we just walk/scooter over to MK. It is definitely worth the price for convenience. But you need to get a van-cab for the scooter.

 

[DebbieB]

And if you can be on the second floor, you can avoid the elevators when taking the bus.

You can't get through Epcot to get to the monorail unless the park is open, and it's a long walk from the front of epcot to BWV.

There is an exit on the end of the building on the first floor near the bus stop. You can also access the boardwalk & pools on the first floor without an elevator. I think first floor would be better to avoid elevators (but then the view isn't great).

 

[gdrj]

PS...some people have asked me why I would go to Disney and not do something more relaxing for my husband's sake, Grandma, and the kids. I do not want to deprive them of the experience AND...it's the happiest place on earth. Wish me luck!

As someone who has had grandmom travel with us, as I'm sure you know be flexible in schedule... for us the kids were the easy ones (no offense to all the grandmoms out there).

Enjoy the trip and enjoy the kids...

 

[disneynutz]

WDW is all about walking, I'm talking miles per day. Using a ECV on Disney transportation can be a challenge and I suggest that DH rent one just in case.

I travel with my own ECV and sometimes I need it and sometimes I don't, better to be safe than sorry. We always rent a car and find that not dealing with Disney Transportation improves our quality time there. We don't do the parks as much as we used to, it all depends on the crowds and how we feel.

BWV view choices will be a garden view or a pool view. Close to elevators is suggested if DH is walking.

Bill

 

[crisi]

There is an exit on the end of the building on the first floor near the bus stop. You can also access the boardwalk & pools on the first floor without an elevator. I think first floor would be better to avoid elevators (but then the view isn't great).

Yep.

As far as I know, there isn't a way to avoid elevators or stairs completely (then again, we've never traveled with as much as a stroller at the hotels, so we've always been "stair able), but your choice is "first floor, exit out the end of the building for Boardwalk/pool access" or "second floor, exit out the lobby to get to the bus stop."

 

[hakepb]

Yep.

As far as I know, there isn't a way to avoid elevators or stairs completely (then again, we've never traveled with as much as a stroller at the hotels, so we've always been "stair able), but your choice is "first floor, exit out the end of the building for Boardwalk/pool access" or "second floor, exit out the lobby to get to the bus stop."

? Perhaps I mis-understood, but Debbie is correct. On the first/ground floor you can go to the bus stop, boats and pools without using stairs or elevators (if you use the side entry to the bus stop). The only time you would need stairs/elevator from ground floor is to visit the lobby, gift shop, or Bel View lounge.

 

[crisi]

? Perhaps I mis-understood, but Debbie is correct. On the first/ground floor you can go to the bus stop, boats and pools without using stairs or elevators (if you use the side entry to the bus stop). The only time you would need stairs/elevator from ground floor is to visit the lobby, gift shop, or Bel View lounge.

I didn't know you could get to the bus stop from the ground floor. We've always used the lobby door. Where is the side entry?

 

[Granny]

I didn't know you could get to the bus stop from the ground floor. We've always used the lobby door. Where is the side entry?

Crisi...it is on the far left end (yellow section - double doors) of the building in this photo behind the shrubbery.

From the aerial photo you can see the walkway coming out from this exit that leads you to the driveway just across from the bus stop.

 

[Granny]

This is our first time going to BWV and have been told we can do online check in 10 days in advance (tomorrow). We have a 2-bedroom preferred view and am trying to figure out best way to request a good location.

Your on-line check in won't alow for requests. You need to call MS and provide the request information.

We are traveling with a 4-yr-old, 6-month-old, myself, Grandma (who will be on a scooter), and my husband who has a pacemaker/was born with heart condition (but he is 40 and looks perfectly healthy). However, he does not have a lot of stamina, and with Grandma scootering around and lugging 2 young children, I am hoping we can get a very good location.

Meaning, high-floor, perhaps with a nice view (not sure what preferred view means) that isn't TOO far from walking/boating to epcot etc. Any suggestions how/when to request?

I would forget completely about the "nice view" aspect. If your DH does not have a lot of stamina, it is going to be challenging enough handling WDW without adding a long walk to the room. I would definitely ask for close to the elevator, and let MS know it is for medical reasons. As you can see in the "map" above, there is only one set of elevators for the entire resort, and walks to some rooms can be fairly lengthy especially is someone is tired.

We were told not to bother with buses with a scooter, 2 young kids, etc. I was told easiest way to get to MK is to go to Epcot and take monorail?

As others have said, the easiest way to get to MK is the bus. It is probably close to a mile walking to and thru EPCOT to the monorail. And I'd use the scooter if mobility is an issue. I can't imagine WDW being fun if someone is totally worn out or in severe discomfort.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!
PS...some people have asked me why I would go to Disney and not do something more relaxing for my husband's sake, Grandma, and the kids. I do not want to deprive them of the experience AND...it's the happiest place on earth. Wish me luck!

Good luck! And you don't have to justify your rationale for a trip to WDW to anyone. Sounds like you are intent on making great memories, and that is reason enough! All our advice is geared towards helping you have better memories of the trip.

 

[tigger2002]

Your on-line check in won't alow for requests. You need to call MS and provide the request information.

With the on-line check in system for BWV what can you request? I saw a screenshot of the on-line check in form from another resort but have not seen one from the BWV. Does anyone have one?

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