Just back from 1st stay at BWV **update pictures added**

[Disney-Kim]

We just got back yesterday from our first stay as DVC members but it was our 9th trip to WDW. It was the first time we have stayed at BWV too. We bought into BCV and now wish we had bought into BWV. (I told my DH but he didn't listen). I only say that because we loved the BWV and would like the earlier booking window.
We arrived last Sat night (20th) about 8:30 pm. We had a studio w/ BW view. Our room number was 2013. We requested turndown service at checkin and was told it was free. ok I knew better and asked price. (we had the worst checkin guy..he knew nothing) He called Housekeeping and they told him $25 per day. I said for turndown??? I told him I thought that was for the full clean. He didn't know. So I said well we will just take the towel/trash and he said that is $25 too. I said...no.... the member book says $10. So that was a nice start to our stay. So I guess TerryS was lucky with the turndown service. I also asked if our BW view would see fireworks from Illuminations. He told me no, but I knew better since I have stayed at YC/BC. He was an idiot. pardon my french.
So on to the room. It was GREAT !!! We were on the same floor as the lobby so no elevators to deal with and our balcony was directly over the entrance to the Big River Grille. We were in our room just in time to see....FIREWORKS from Illum. hee hee. I knew I was right.
the room was very clean and I was really happy with the studio setup. We did make the grocery stop and bought breakfast goodies, coke, and a case of bottled water. (best thing we ever did). I got used to making my own bed and I did leave a note requesting new sheets after a couple days because ours were sooooo itchy. ick. We tipped our towel/trash lady $2 per day and had extra towels every day. Sure wish they made the bed but i got over it.
Our room had a connecting door and it was noisy at times but not that bad.
We loved staying at the Boardwalk. Never did get to the pool. Our walk to the room was not bad...we are used to walking. The boats/busses were very convienent.
A tip...we always got off at the Swan and walked over the bridge and into the back door of the BW right to our room. I am sure we beat the bus people every time.
I don't know what else to post right now but I would be happy to answer any questions. We were first timers and I would be happy to give you our opinion.
Thanks to all on these boards as usual for the wonderful info.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Wanted to add that the parks were pretty slow and lines not too bad. The bus service was great. never waited longer than 10-15 mins for a bus if we did have to wait at all.
Got to see Philharmagic on AP preview. It was the BEST 3d yet. Wonderful !!! the story isn't really that great but the music/effects/characters are GREAT !!
and best of all.....NO big rain. We had a few sprinkles here and there and we missed the 1-2 big downpours. So we were really happy with the weather since we have been in lots of rain/TS/hurricanes the last few Sept visits. It was very humid though...100% at times.
DH rode MS and had no effects. LOVED it. He rode 3 times.
Ate lots of good food too.

 

[kathleena]

Wow, sounds great! Well, except the check in part....that was funny though and it sounds like you kept your sense of humor.

We were in room 5013 last Dec. The view of the fireworks is fabulous!

Great tip about the bus.....I didn't know that you could get in down at that end. Is that something new? I thought all the doors were inaccessible except up near the middle of the resort?

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

I am glad you had a great time. My home resort is also BCV (have not been there yet), but I have stayed at the BWV and I do love their boardwalk view. I enjoy sitting on the balcony at night seeing the beautiful view.
Thanks for the headsup on brushing up on my guidebook before I go in 8 weeks. It is too bad that all the CM's do not familiarize themselves with DVC policies before answering any questions.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Glad you had such a tigger-iffic stay!
Your positive review has me bouncing around the house again.
We own at BW and this will be our first time with a BW view...
And we are taking friends with us who have never been to WDW.
We have so many cool plans...
MNSSHP, Ice Cream Social, Illuminations Cruise, and dinner at Shulas.
Almost all of these are firsts, and I am so excited sometimes it feels like its my first time going to WDW. I feel like a kid again!

 

[pmcpmc]

We stayed in bw view in the summer and we were able to experience a massive thunderstorm,epcot fireworks over the espn club ,and the magic kingdom fireworks over the yacht club and enjoy our Irish coffees over the boardwalk.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Gee, was the cast members name by any chance Shad?

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Welcome back! Sounds like you had a great room! Did you take any pictures of it? And, how was the size of the balcony? Thanks.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We went in a door by the main pool that was about 10 steps from our room. It took a room key to get in.
Our balcony was a full balcony but it was solid wood on the bottom. We liked that because it gave us privacy from the boardwalk people. We really enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere of the boardwalk.
Our checkin guy was I think...James??? He knew nothing about DVC/Villas. If anyone gets him...he is useless. nice though. not unfriendly just not very willing to go out of his way to do anything.
Oh I forgot to tell you guys that the next day I called the front desk to make sure we were being charged $10 per day for trash/towel since the idiot guy got it wrong at check in and good thing....we were set up for the $25 per day cleaning.
I will post some photos on yahoo tonight.

 

[Disney-Kim]

here is a link to yahoo photos with room pics/view pics from the BWV.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cp10hook/lst?.dir=/WDW+2003

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the report. Maybe your check in guy was filling in from the BWInn side!

 

[DebbieB]

Beautiful pictures Kim! I'm really longing for that Boardwalk view! I've booked standard the past 3 years after not getting the boardwalk view the first year when I booked preferred. Now that it can be guaranteed, I think next year I'll go for it! Just have to figure how to stretch the points!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Thanks for the pictures. I'm glad you had a good time.

Allison an associate
Offically DVC 7/23/03

 

[erikthewise]

Glad you enjoyed BWV so much! Perhaps we will give it a try next year.
BCV has better checkin people though.

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for the report! The pics are great.

 

[crazywig]

great pics! now i'm even more excited about our first trip home in june, we will also have a boardwalk view!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Thanks for the awesome pictures! Can't wait to stay at the BW next year! Hope our BW view will be just as wonderful!

 

[Disney-Kim]

Thanks everyone. We really loved the Boardwalk. It was fun being in the middle of the action. The lobby is beautiful. The hallways smelled so clean and they were freshly painted. The room smelled so clean too and it was really clean. It was just a fun and cheery place to stay.
We had no problem with the bus service (getting off at the swan is a time saver) and we had no problem with our room.

I have stayed at the YC and the BC a few times and I like the lobby of the BC too but the room views are just not going to be as good at the BCV as the Boardwalk. Even the pool views are fun. I know the BCV sees Epcot thru the trees but the fact the points are all preferred isn't very fair imho.

I don't mind that we bought BCV. I am just happy we finally bought DVC. It was really a wish come true for me.

Our next stay is going to be the VWL. We spent some time at the WL this stay and it is BEAUTIFUL !!!!! Can't wait till next year.

 

[gopherit]

I know what you mean about just "being glad you bought DVC." That pretty much sums it up for us. When we bought, we were hoping to get OKW, but all that was offered was BWV. So we bought anyway, thinking we could just use our BWV pts at OKW. We then got a peek at VWL and dh and I exchanged a look that said, WHOA... we should have held out for this!!! We stayed there on our last trip and LOVED it. We then visited BCV... again, that LOOK from Dh said, Oh, this is REALLLY it for me! SO then whatever happened to our poor ol' BWV? I think it just got lost in the shuffle! We kept going from one new place to the next, and it got left behind! THe bottom line is that hey, we're DVC... it's pretty much all there for us! So no need to kick oneself (unless it's that you didn't join sooner... or more!)

So for this next trip, we ARE DETERMINED... we have ressies for 8 nights at BWV! And we are excited! (We also tagged on a 3 nt stay at BCV... the tempatation was just too great!) And I already know we will go visit SSR... and probably give "THE LOOK" again! And next year when we visit HHI -- oh dear -- here we go again!

Thanks for posting so positively about BWV -- you've added to our excitement that much more!

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by Disney-Kim
I don't mind that we bought BCV. I am just happy we finally bought DVC. It was really a wish come true for me.

Our next stay is going to be the VWL. We spent some time at the WL this stay and it is BEAUTIFUL !!!!! Can't wait till next year.

We stayed at VWL in 2002 and had a great time. I’m glad our DVC resort selection is growing. I will say HH has been our nicest DVC surprise. Its literature does not do it justice. I initially thought the resorts dual locations (Island & ocean) would be a negative.

The two locations provide two great atmospheres. The resorts marina setting is great along with its ocean front access. The dual locations seem to keep guests spread out so the pools never seemed crowded. HH Island is great in itself.

The only problem starts midway into the vacation. The “add-on” voices seem to get louder and louder.