We couldn't wait to stay at BCV because of its color scheme and laid back feel, hoping it would combine the OKW charm of our home resort with the BWV location. Below are our thoughts after staying at BCV for 12 nites:
Room was ready when we arrived at 11 a.m. and we were given keys to Room 260 (a studio near second elevator overlooking Dunes Cove Pool). The CMs were very friendly and each one said "Welcome Home" whenever we passed. The serene coloring of the outside shingles and white trim was lovely. Room 260 has an enormous pie-shaped balcony with a high turret (circular) ceiling which was lit up all night (had to draw drapes tight to sleep!). As someone mentioned earlier, the sliding doors don't close easily; DH had to lift door up to lock top latch, then bottom latch was able to be closed. I was unable to do it without his help. The view was great -- overlooked pool and covered pool house with canal behind it. The path was lit up at night with lights along the canal and was lovely as you walked back from the buses. We liked this view best but would prefer being closer to the first set of elevators which go to the Drawing Room/ Breezeway area because that would make the walking shorter. The rooms overlooking the courtyard over the Ariel statue are also a good location (nearer the store and lobby of BC).
The room decor was cheerful and very comfortable. We had a lockoff Studio with the door to the 1-bedroom villa located near the entrance which made the Studio bed-and-sofa area quieter than at the studios at BWV. With that said, we have to say that we found BWV to be more convenient when we were there on two visits: the restaurants, boat dock and main pool were easier to get to than at BCV. As much as we loved the new BCVs, we found ourselves walking and walking endlessly each day. On the days that we stayed at Dunes Cove Pool, we cut out the walking over to SAB, but then didn't have a snack bar for lunch or a cold drink. At a minimum, we think a soda machine should be located at this quiet pool.
The walk to Epcot is long if you go out through the main BC lobby area (near check-in). We found a shorter route by making a left at the store, going to the first hall in BC, turning right to the BC quiet pool, exiting out at the pool and walking left around the laundry room out to the walkway to Epcot. This cut out alot of needless steps. To get to the boat dock, walking along the beach is shortest, but still not as convenient as BW. Maybe our younger DVC owners won't find the walking all that bad, but we did.
Now for SAB: I have longed to stay at the Yacht & Beach Club for over 10 years just to go to SAB (DH doesn't like to pool hop). So this was finally my opportunity to experience it first-hand. We both agree that going with children of any age would be a thrill for them. But, for us empty nesters, we prefer a large standard pool with a hard surface and sparkling water!!! This may indeed set off a round of nasty retorts, but we honestly didn't enjoy the crowding at SAB, the constant yelling of parents trying to locate their young ones, and the condition of the water and rock surfaces surrounding the pool (in addition to the duck "doo" all over the walking surfaces). We actually pool-hopped for the first time back to the main pool at BW on a couple of days! So, with that said, BCV would not be our first choice in the future because the quiet pool is too remote from a snack/drink bar, and also the walking involved to get to the BC/YC restaurants is longer than we'd like. Example: We enjoyed breakfast at the YC Galley. To get there from the BCVs on one rainy morning, you first have to walk along the BCV corridor to the Breezeway; from there, you exit to the covered walkway into the BC lobby near the store; you then make a right and go past the BC check-in and around Cape May Cafe corridors and then go out the doors and continue under the sheltered walkway past Beaches & Cream, the game room, the fitness club, the beauty parlor; you then re-enter the hallway of YC and go past the YC Steakhouse and around the corridor past the lounge to the YC Galley hallway. Trust me, you need a good breakfast after that!
After this, you may think we had a miserable time. We didn't. We loved the newness of the villas, laughed at the muscles we were developing from all the walking, but had to admit that, for us, the BWV or OKW is more suitable!
Room was ready when we arrived at 11 a.m. and we were given keys to Room 260 (a studio near second elevator overlooking Dunes Cove Pool). The CMs were very friendly and each one said "Welcome Home" whenever we passed. The serene coloring of the outside shingles and white trim was lovely. Room 260 has an enormous pie-shaped balcony with a high turret (circular) ceiling which was lit up all night (had to draw drapes tight to sleep!). As someone mentioned earlier, the sliding doors don't close easily; DH had to lift door up to lock top latch, then bottom latch was able to be closed. I was unable to do it without his help. The view was great -- overlooked pool and covered pool house with canal behind it. The path was lit up at night with lights along the canal and was lovely as you walked back from the buses. We liked this view best but would prefer being closer to the first set of elevators which go to the Drawing Room/ Breezeway area because that would make the walking shorter. The rooms overlooking the courtyard over the Ariel statue are also a good location (nearer the store and lobby of BC).
The room decor was cheerful and very comfortable. We had a lockoff Studio with the door to the 1-bedroom villa located near the entrance which made the Studio bed-and-sofa area quieter than at the studios at BWV. With that said, we have to say that we found BWV to be more convenient when we were there on two visits: the restaurants, boat dock and main pool were easier to get to than at BCV. As much as we loved the new BCVs, we found ourselves walking and walking endlessly each day. On the days that we stayed at Dunes Cove Pool, we cut out the walking over to SAB, but then didn't have a snack bar for lunch or a cold drink. At a minimum, we think a soda machine should be located at this quiet pool.
The walk to Epcot is long if you go out through the main BC lobby area (near check-in). We found a shorter route by making a left at the store, going to the first hall in BC, turning right to the BC quiet pool, exiting out at the pool and walking left around the laundry room out to the walkway to Epcot. This cut out alot of needless steps. To get to the boat dock, walking along the beach is shortest, but still not as convenient as BW. Maybe our younger DVC owners won't find the walking all that bad, but we did.
Now for SAB: I have longed to stay at the Yacht & Beach Club for over 10 years just to go to SAB (DH doesn't like to pool hop). So this was finally my opportunity to experience it first-hand. We both agree that going with children of any age would be a thrill for them. But, for us empty nesters, we prefer a large standard pool with a hard surface and sparkling water!!! This may indeed set off a round of nasty retorts, but we honestly didn't enjoy the crowding at SAB, the constant yelling of parents trying to locate their young ones, and the condition of the water and rock surfaces surrounding the pool (in addition to the duck "doo" all over the walking surfaces). We actually pool-hopped for the first time back to the main pool at BW on a couple of days! So, with that said, BCV would not be our first choice in the future because the quiet pool is too remote from a snack/drink bar, and also the walking involved to get to the BC/YC restaurants is longer than we'd like. Example: We enjoyed breakfast at the YC Galley. To get there from the BCVs on one rainy morning, you first have to walk along the BCV corridor to the Breezeway; from there, you exit to the covered walkway into the BC lobby near the store; you then make a right and go past the BC check-in and around Cape May Cafe corridors and then go out the doors and continue under the sheltered walkway past Beaches & Cream, the game room, the fitness club, the beauty parlor; you then re-enter the hallway of YC and go past the YC Steakhouse and around the corridor past the lounge to the YC Galley hallway. Trust me, you need a good breakfast after that!
After this, you may think we had a miserable time. We didn't. We loved the newness of the villas, laughed at the muscles we were developing from all the walking, but had to admit that, for us, the BWV or OKW is more suitable!
.
