I know it's been asked before, but BWV vs. BCV

[poohnpiglet3]

I'm not asking to start a turf war or fight, but DH and I have pretty much decided on resale, and want to buy at either BCV or BWV.

We have twin almost 2-year-olds who love the water, and Dh and I enjoy hanging out at the pool as well. However, we love the Boardwalk atmosphere and that there are different point levels for standard/preferred views. I love the thought of walking down to the Boardwalk, but also think that SAB would be great fun for the kids.

Here's a few questions I had... is SAB ok for the very young-at-heart adult? I've recently lost 120+ pounds and now that I look halfway decent in a bathing suit, I'm enjoying many more things in life than I would have before! DH is a HUGE swimming nut. I'm sure our kids will be too - they love the water already. We also love to indulge in room service, and BCV has a wonderful menu from the menu posted online. If we're staying at BCV, how far is it from the BW? Is it a walk that is doable with kids? Is BCV's SAB fun for adults as well?

Thanks for your help in deciding!

Sherri

 

[Terry S]

It sounds like BCV is for you! The walk around the lake to the Boardwalk is only 5 minutes. It is actually nice to sit on the quiet beach at the Beach Club and look out at the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk and if you want to be there it is only a 5 minute walk away or if you don't feel like walking you can always wait and take the boat accross the lake.

As for adults liking SAB, it is definatly well loved by adults.

 

[spiceycat]

anyway you can go visit both resorts before you have to decide?

you know what you taste are - but to me these are very different hotels - BCV I see more like OKW - very informal, laid back

BWV I see more like SSR - very luxuriant, almost formal, both could easily be party central.

you have to go with your taste - so no one can say what you will like....

 

[DVCDawn]

First, let me say that your twins are absolutely adorable!

If I were you, and I knew that my kids loved the water, I would be tempted to make BCV my home resort. BWV is my home resort, and I love it, however, it would be nice to play at SAB. Remember, you can pool hop to BWV (which has a fabulous slide) but you can't pool hop to BCV. With small children myself, I envy the bigger area that SAB has for toddlers. The BWV pool has just a very small wading pool. And when those kids get older their going to love the lazy river part and the big slide.

Also, it really takes just about 5 minutes to walk to BWV from BCV.

Any way you cut it, it's a tough choice.

Good luck!
DVCDawn

 

[Dreamfinder2]

As crazy as we are about BWV, it sounds like SAB at Beach Club would be the deciding factor for y'all. You've got access to all the BW stuff - not to mention that great view from the Y&BC side, and that sliver of beach. And it's an easy walk - round trip around Crescent Lake is 7/8 of a mile. You'll want a stroller for a while longer, I'd wager.

I can't imagine improving on that Boardwalk view, tho.

 

[jmatias]

Its a tough question to answer...both resorts are beautiful and have great amenities.

We like both resorts so for our first resale it was just a matter of what contract we could find...we found a great BWV resale with 300 points and bought it.

Now that we had the BWV contract we decided to look for a BCV add-on so we could enjoy a couple of days at that resort. Just found out today that we passed ROFR on a BCV 100 point contract.

I don't think you can go wrong with either resort...Good Luck!

 

[crisi]

Just something to think about....

SAB is really really cool - but I wouldn't want to try and track twin eight year olds through that pool (mine are just 13 months apart - now almost five and almost six - the age where my hair turns grey thinking about SAB). You might want to check it out - it is an easy pool to lose your children at. I almost regretted buying BWVs instead of BCV for SAB access (we bought just before pool hopping to SAB ended and I wasn't happy), but had the opportunity to use SAB last trip and I did a complete turnaround. Very cool pool.....I don't want my kids near it again for a number of years.

However, it sounds like your heart is at BCVs already, that is where I'd look if I were you.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by poohnpiglet3

is SAB ok for the very young-at-heart adult?

I love SAB-and I consider myself a very young at heart, but not young in age, adult. I love to sit in the section with the sandy beach and just sit on a rock with my feet in the water, curling the sand around my toes.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

BCV vs BWV

I like the BCV room layout better. Table seats 8 whereas BWV, WLV does not. Bathroom layout nice, Desk in bedroom in BCV.
BCV is newer.
Seemed slower and a little more quiet and relaxed than BC, YC and BWV, yet still close to activities.
Distance to the elevator is better.
Nice Quiet pool
Lots of nice internal spaces for when it's raining, drawing room, breezeway, solarium, BC lobby.
Sandcastle club availability
Outstanding location, boat to MGM, walk to Epcot, Baordwalk area activities closeby, swan and Dolphin restaraunts.
Love the Beach Theme
Great at access to Beach Club amenities, and restaraunts, Jellyrolls, stores, Beaches and Cream, Arcade, etc.
Prefer the sand beach along crescent lake instead of the boardswalk
SAB is nice
Nice Beach Club Workout facility.
Nice access to the parking lot
Bus service fine.
Hotel services available like in-room dining, valet services, front staff.
Nice entrance to the resort walking in BC entrance with large fresh flower arrangements, sometimes music in lobby (saw harpist) front door greetings.
Marina activites, can take boats to see illuminations.
Nice access to parking lot for villas, closer than valet for many units. Just go in the back door or walk along the canal to the middle elevator
Second elevator available in the middle of the resort for pool, parking access.
BCVs has access to a marina along with the YC and BC. WLV and OKW also has a marina. BWV does not.
For us, the Boardwalk/circus theme isn't as appealing as the beach theme, circuses (which was on the boardwalk at the time depicted) don't have a good reputation for cleanliness or humane treatment towards animals, or the most friendly workers, but that's just us.


BCV has
No community Hall and Community Hall activities like BWV, Vero, others.
Uses all preferred view point structure, no advantage of standards view lower point structure like at BWV or lower points requirements like at OWK to stretch point value
Rooms smaller than OKW, lessstorage space - OKW, Vero and HH rooms are larger.
No three bedroom grand villas available (usually requires 11 month window at other resorts)
No outstanding crecent lake views like BWV
Villas in back are too close to roadway, some noise.

I should tell you that I'm bias, we actually owned some points at BWV and sold them to buy points at BCV because we like it better and buying addtional BWV points wasn't available at the time and we wanted more points all at the same resort. But that's just us, Good luck.

 

[kathleena]

I own at both places. I love the atmosphere better at the BW, but nothing beats that SAB pool for kids and adults!

Go for the BCV and take the walk over to BW. You can always try to get there in a standard view if you need to save the points sometime, but I definately wouldn't buy there if that's your main plan.

 

[pennilessinpa]

I realize that this isn't a poll per se, but BCV has our unwavering loyalty. It is everything we hoped for in a DVC and more. We checked out the BWV because that's where the sales office was, but I really don't think we would have bought id BWV was the only one available.

My kids, 11, 7, 5, love SAB. I usually stay with the 5 yr old, and dh heads off with the 11 and 7 yr olds. The 11 yr old is a girl and she loves to play with the little ones (anyone's little ones) and they all flock to her like she's the fun master or something, so she's in her glory.

The 7 yr old loves everything wild, so if he's not on a slide, he's running around, trying to catch an anole lizard.

Our 5 yr old plays in the sand area for hours and the other two join him quite frequently.

So ... in other words, I think your kids will love SAB. And, of course, staying at SAB is the only way that you can guarantee your family can enjoy SAB on your stay. Keep in mind that (while we tried late in the game) we weren't able to make a ressie during a low time (September) at BCV because of its popularity. You may want to join it just so you can get that 11 month ressie window.

Just my thoughts.....

 

[Dean]

In many ways the two are really two peas in a pod. The differences are fairly few but I'll try to list some of them.

• First the pools as many have stated.
• BWV is larger so more rooms givng you a better chance at 11 months out.
• BWV has the standard view and BW view rooms as well as 3 BR Grande Villas. Giving you more options and the possibility of lower points stays.
• The decor is different but the unit set up is pretty close.
• Some consider BWV to have far better views overall, others don't.
• BWV is only lockoff's for 2 BR while BCV has sevesral 2 BR configurations.
• Of course each are close to certain activites and restaurants, coming back to personal choice.
• BWV may be a little cheaper resale.
• The dues are pretty close and I expect them to remain so but over time, BCV will likely have the higher dues by a minimal amount, but not likely enough difference to matter.

 

[erikthewise]

I'm VERY happy to own at BCV, and not tempted by BWV.

But to be fair, BWV has the edge on location. BCV is a little closer to Epcot than BWV, but not by much. On the other hand BWV is a lot closer to MGM than BCV is if you want to walk. BWV is a little closer to the Swan-Dolphin complex with a number of interesting restaurants. And of course BWV is closer to the Boardwalk!

All the Epcot resorts have problems with bus service, but it seems to be worst at Boardwalk.
Self-parking is very nice at BCV; we can usually park within 100 ft of the building entrance.

 

[donmil723]

SAB is definitely for a good choice for adults as well as kids of all ages. We first stayed there in 1991 when our kids were 9 and 6. They loved it then and we did too. I don't remember having trouble watching them but then we loved being in the water with them and not just sitting on the side trying to keep our eye on them. We still love SAB. It's also nice being able to go to either Hurricane Hannah's or Beaches and Cream for lunch and refills on the mugs. On our last trip this past May, we spent every day at SAB from mid morning to late afternoon except for one day.

We've also stayed at BW and BWV and it just didn't have the magic that BC, BCV, and SAB has for our family. The pool seemed boring to us after being used to SAB and the food offerings at Leaping Libations Pool Bar were slim. Hot dogs are cooked somewhere else and just put in the warmer. Yuck! They did have good frozen mixed drinks though.

Our next trip is this coming December and I'm already worried about not being able to spend a lot of time at SAB due to colder weather. We thought about trying to stay at VWL but I couldn't bring myself to not stay at BCV. Besides we decided that being able to walk back to BCV after the Candlelight Processional/Illuminations at Epcot and the Osbourne Lights at MGM and then only needing the buses for one night after the MVMCP would be more convenient.

Good luck with your decision. And, as others have said, it is a very personal choice!

Donna

 

[av8tor]

Your thread is almost entirely about SAB. I haven't yet been to either BWV or BCV but IMHO BCV gets you the best of both worlds, they are both close enought to each other that if you own at BCV you can use everything at BWV but the reverse is not true since you must be staying at BCV to use SAB. I have put my money where my mouth is, we just bought at BCV mostly because we have young kids (6&2) and wanted to have access to SAB.

 

[lisareniff]

We bought BCV sight unseen and have been very happy after our one and only trip. I love the calm beachy theme and the smallness of the DVC portion of the resort.

The only thing that really tempts me about BWV is the ability to have a Grand Villa. I don't even know if we would ever reserve one but I like to dream!! (Std view points and BW view are also nice)

Dean has a nice concise list. The only thing I would add to that is the close self-parking at BCV.

As far as SAB goes.... I agree a bit with Crisi. SAB is very cool but it can be a bit stressful with kids of the "I can swim but you still have to be with them" age frame. I would estimate til the age of 7 or 8. This isn't a problem when you have a 1:1 child to adult ratio or they are the same age and interest as yours might be. I went with my 2 and 7 yr old for the first time last Thanksgiving expecting to have a great time and it was frustrating for us. DD2 only like the sand bar area and didn't even want to be held in the main swiming area, while DD7 really wanted to swim and try out the other areas. She is a good swimmer but I just didn't feel comfortable not being able to see her from the sand bar. I really wish the lazy river was not between the sand bar and the main pool area. Also sending a 7 yr old across the path to the ship wreck portion of the pool alone (for the slide) is a bit nerve racking. We did enjoy it much more when my DH came a few hours later. I'm sure we will enjoy it next trip as well, just my expectations will be slightly different.

To answer you questions...
BW is very close to BCV and is an easy stroller walk with 2yo's. It is easy to walk there for dinner. I would say a 10 min. walk. A jogging map has it at 0.8 miles around Cresent Lake:
http://allearsnet.com/acc/jog.jpg
An SAB is really cool for adults. I love the whirlpool but am too scared to go down the slide!

 

[poohnpiglet3]

You all have just made our decision sooooo much easier! I'm so thankful for the time you took to help us out.

You've totally cemented our decision to buy at BCV. I emailed my resale realtors and told them to look for BCV for us.

I'm thrilled. Thanks to all of you -- Dean, Captain Midnight, Lisa, Donna, Penniless, AV8OR, Erik, Terry, Dawn, Spiceycat, and everyone else... you don't know how helpful you've been.

I can't wait to hear on a contract! This is almost like waiting to find out when the baby is going to arrive... heehee!

BCV-future-owners
Sherri and Eric

 

[Terry S]

Good luck on your resale!

 

[TigerLaw]

this has been my debate for awhile too, but the funny thing is, both my fiancee and I stayed at BC for the first time last year and its our favorite resort (we love cape may and beaches) but we were both disappointed w. SAB, but you guys have made me see I need to think more long term and kids will love it more than BW pools probably.

 

[TigerLaw]

this has been my debate for awhile too, but the funny thing is, both my fiancee and I stayed at BC for the first time last year and its our favorite resort (we love cape may and beaches) but we were both disappointed w. SAB, but you guys have made me see I need to think more long term and kids will love it more than BW pools probably.