Just back from BWV

[PrincessV]

I just returned from a 5 night stay at BWV and wanted to post that it was TERRIFIC!

I’m a very happy SSR-owner and was frankly worried that BWVs might seem run-down and not so fresh compared to SSR. Let me tell you – this was not the case with room 4135!

We had a 1 bdrm, standard view booked. I requested a room on the top floor, across from the bus stop. It backfired. They got the top floor, but didn’t understand “across from the bus stop” so put me in the next-to-last room. At the end. Of the never-ending hallway. I’ve stayed at CBR, CSR and POR and always thought people on the DIS were over-the-top on their descriptions of “long” walks at resorts. Trust me – that BWV hallway is a HIKE.

BUT, I’m happy to say that was the only negative, and the rest was worth every step down the hallway. Our room appeared to have been freshly painted. All carpets looked clean, as did upholstery and linens. I LOVE the new Wamsutta towels! Really, it was perfect in every way.
Please feel free to ask questions – I’ll do my best to answer!

 

[llmurphy17]

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. We stayed at BWV two weeks ago and also fell in love with it especially being able to walk to Epcot.

 

[DVC Mike]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay at BWV. It's one of our home resorts, and we're looking forward to staying there after our Disney Cruise at the end of April.

 

[gjw007]

I just returned from a 5 night stay at BWV and wanted to post that it was TERRIFIC!

I’m a very happy SSR-owner and was frankly worried that BWVs might seem run-down and not so fresh compared to SSR. Let me tell you – this was not the case with room 4135!

We had a 1 bdrm, standard view booked. I requested a room on the top floor, across from the bus stop. It backfired. They got the top floor, but didn’t understand “across from the bus stop” so put me in the next-to-last room. At the end. Of the never-ending hallway. I’ve stayed at CBR, CSR and POR and always thought people on the DIS were over-the-top on their descriptions of “long” walks at resorts. Trust me – that BWV hallway is a HIKE.

BUT, I’m happy to say that was the only negative, and the rest was worth every step down the hallway. Our room appeared to have been freshly painted. All carpets looked clean, as did upholstery and linens. I LOVE the new Wamsutta towels! Really, it was perfect in every way.
Please feel free to ask questions – I’ll do my best to answer!

I stayed at the Boardwalk from December 14 to the 22nd. I have yet to receive any of my requests for room location from DVC but it wasn't unexpected. I had requested a view over the lake to watch the activities on the boardwalk. I had room 4092 overlooking the pool. Nice location, in fact about where I requested to be last year (where my view of the pool was from a corner with a tree directly in the way). When I had asked about overlooking the Boardwalk, I was told I was at the Boardwalk. Let's see, I make a reservation at the Boardwalk, check in, and am told I'm at the Boardwalk.

I agree that the room was in generally good shape but I have yet to be in a DVC room where there wasn't some issue that needed addressing. When I stayed at VWL, the silicon seal between the sink and the walk were pealing off making it look like it was taking part of the drywall with it. Last year at the Boardwalk, the mirror and the surrounding in the bathroom needed replacing as the paint was peeling from them as well. This year, although minor, the bottom of the sink in the bathroom was chipped. Not quite sure how somebody did that and it isn't a problem but when you find an obvious issue, there is a tendency to look more closely at other items in which case it is possible to find more.

This year, the distances didn't seem to great but last year I remembered lugging items down the hallway and it seemed very long. I like having the parking in front of the unit rather that 1/3 of a mile or so away. But overall, the Boardwalk is nice and the location to Epcot/MGM is very convenient if you got to Epcot/MGM.

 

[LSchrow]

I stayed at the Boardwalk from December 14 to the 22nd. I have yet to receive any of my requests for room location from DVC but it wasn't unexpected. I had requested a view over the lake to watch the activities on the boardwalk. I had room 4092 overlooking the pool. Nice location, in fact about where I requested to be last year (where my view of the pool was from a corner with a tree directly in the way). When I had asked about overlooking the Boardwalk, I was told I was at the Boardwalk. Let's see, I make a reservation at the Boardwalk, check in, and am told I'm at the Boardwalk.

i'm surprised someone didn't tell you: preferred boardwalk view is a seperate booking catagory (we love BW view, and have had to waitlist with varying results a few times due to it's popularity & less rooms available).
what you booked is preferred garden/pool view (same amt of points as BW view, but much easier to get/many more rooms available).

hth

 

[CarolMN]

.........(snip).....so put me in the next-to-last room. At the end. Of the never-ending hallway. I’ve stayed at CBR, CSR and POR and always thought people on the DIS were over-the-top on their descriptions of “long” walks at resorts. Trust me – that BWV hallway is a HIKE. .....

We love this location! The extra "hike" means that the room is extra quiet and to us it's well worth it. What's a few extra steps if you've been walking all day, anyway? The rooms closer to the elevators are noisy, IMHO. (Too many people talking loudly or running in the hallways. The worst are the parents shouting at the kids to be quiet, LOL).

That location is generally just a few steps to the stairways - one to get you to the path that leads to the bus stop/parking lots and one to get you to the Quiet pool/walkway to the Studios.

Glad you had a good time and congrats on getting a standard view - those are not easy to get in December, even if you are a BWV owner!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at BWV. I was wondering if when you asked for a room across from the bus stop if you meant a room on the same side as the bus stop or actually across from the bus stop? The rooms on the same side as the bus stop are the BW Inn rooms so you would not have gotten a room on that side if you were staying in BWV. Just a thought. Anyway, thanks for the good report on BWV.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at BWV. I was wondering if when you asked for a room across from the bus stop if you meant a room on the same side as the bus stop or actually across from the bus stop? The rooms on the same side as the bus stop are the BW Inn rooms so you would not have gotten a room on that side if you were staying in BWV. Just a thought. Anyway, thanks for the good report on BWV.

No, I meant "across from the bus stop", as in halfway down the endless hallway. But the CM checking me called whoever's in charge of room assignments and she thought I meant all the way down the hall! So much for trying to be specific.

Carol, I agree - it was SO quiet down there, which was nice! My biggest problem with the hike were my traveling companions: an out of shape 60-year-old mom and my s l o w walking DS5. I made them use the stairs once... they refused to try again!

 

[Pluto14]

Glad you had a good time! We'll be staying at BWV for the first time this summer and your room sounds just like what we want! Just to clarify....exactly how long is LONG???? A few minutes? 5-10 min.??? We've stayed quite a distance away from the elevator when we stay at the VWL and we didn't really seem to mind the couple minute walk that it took to get to the elevator from our unit.

 

[gjw007]

i'm surprised someone didn't tell you: preferred boardwalk view is a seperate booking catagory (we love BW view, and have had to waitlist with varying results a few times due to it's popularity & less rooms available).
what you booked is preferred garden/pool view (same amt of points as BW view, but much easier to get/many more rooms available).

hth

When I made the reservation, I had asked if it was possible to make the reservation for the preferred boardwalk view and I was told it was possible again based on availability. I was more surprised at the response I got when I checked in when I ask about the Boardwalk view and being told I'm at the Boardwalk.

 

[DisneyMimi]

Hey everyone.... We stayed at the BWV for the first time over the Thanksgiving Holiday...we are new DVC members and this is our home resort. After reading alot of reviews on the boards..I was extrememly worried about the condition of the rooms ...but when we checked in we were VERY happy with the BWV and the rooms. Very neat and clean! We had a 2-bedroom BW view. Room 5003-5005 (I think)...fantastic view! We could watch both firework shows each night from our balconies...Magic Kingdom and Epcot! As for the long hallways...we used them to our advantage. They were a wonderful way to let our grandaughters (3 yrs and 18 months) to burn off a little engergy before we got to the room. After being in the stroller most of the day; they enjoyed running down the halls...

 

[PrincessV]

Glad you had a good time! We'll be staying at BWV for the first time this summer and your room sounds just like what we want! Just to clarify....exactly how long is LONG???? A few minutes? 5-10 min.??? We've stayed quite a distance away from the elevator when we stay at the VWL and we didn't really seem to mind the couple minute walk that it took to get to the elevator from our unit.

It took us between 5 and 10, but I had very slow people with me. Here's a visual for you...

First we got off the elevators and truned right at the window:

Then we walked all the way down this:

Too a jog to the left and walked down this:

This:

And this:

See the light at the end of that last pic? That's the end of the line. Our room was about 15 feet in front of it. It's certainly a do-able walk, but it is indeed looooong.

 

[Pluto14]

Oh WOW!! Thanks!!! I'm a visual person, so it did help to see the LONG walk! I can understand why it must be so quiet! I see the advantage of the long walk for a small child needing to walk off energy, but I'm thinking of my dying feet at the end of a long day at the parks! Maybe half way to three-quarters of the way down that long hall will be sufficient!

Thanks so much for posting those pics!

 

[puggymom]

Hey V, thanks for the review, as you know that is my home resort and Mom and I are checking into a 1 brdm in 6 weeks and 4 days, but whose counting

(and again congrats on the room mojo this trip )

 

[PrincessV]

Hey V, thanks for the review, as you know that is my home resort and Mom and I are checking into a 1 brdm in 6 weeks and 4 days, but whose counting

(and again congrats on the room mojo this trip )

SHHHHHH!!! You weren't supposed to see this yet - don't tell anyone on my TR!

You guys will LOVE BWV!

 

[LSchrow]

When I made the reservation, I had asked if it was possible to make the reservation for the preferred boardwalk view and I was told it was possible again based on availability. I was more surprised at the response I got when I checked in when I ask about the Boardwalk view and being told I'm at the Boardwalk.

yeah ~ i prob would have stated so innocently, "i'm sooooo sorry, i guess i missed seeing the big B O A R D W A L K sign on the way in, but thank you so much for pointing that out".

btw, not intended to sound snarky , but the view on the ressie is the view one gets, i.e., it won't be changed at check-in despite the impression they gave (normally, at least. it's extremelly unusual to get "upgraded" with DVC ~ that's the one thing i miss (a smidge ) about CRO booking).

 

[DebbieB]

When I made the reservation, I had asked if it was possible to make the reservation for the preferred boardwalk view and I was told it was possible again based on availability. I was more surprised at the response I got when I checked in when I ask about the Boardwalk view and being told I'm at the Boardwalk.

When you reserve a room at BWV with DVC points, your reservation is for one of the following:

Standard - along the front driveway and the pond - approx 20% of rooms
Preferred Boardwalk view - facing the boardwalk and lake - 20% of rooms
Preferred Pool/Garden view - facing the pools and gardens - 60% of rooms

Upgrades are very rare.

If you book through CRO, they don't reserve a view, you get whatever is left, usually pool/garden.

 

[LSchrow]

If you book through CRO, they don't reserve a view, you get whatever is left, usually pool/garden.

& it will NEVER be BW view (cos that's only available with points ~ good enough reason to buy DVC, for me at least!! )

 

[gjw007]

When you reserve a room at BWV with DVC points, your reservation is for one of the following:

Standard - along the front driveway and the pond - approx 20% of rooms
Preferred Boardwalk view - facing the boardwalk and lake - 20% of rooms
Preferred Pool/Garden view - facing the pools and gardens - 60% of rooms

Upgrades are very rare.

If you book through CRO, they don't reserve a view, you get whatever is left, usually pool/garden.

It's interesting to note the different designation and amount of rooms. I wasn't unhappy with the unit placement just that it wasn't what I was hoping for based on my request for Boardwalk/lake view when making the reservation. If I didn't get it, that was fine, just my point of getting my requests fulfilled have yet to happen. The view I got this year was much better than the corner view that I got last year.

 

[CarolMN]

It's interesting to note the different designation and amount of rooms. I wasn't unhappy with the unit placement just that it wasn't what I was hoping for based on my request for Boardwalk/lake view when making the reservation. If I didn't get it, that was fine, just my point of getting my requests fulfilled have yet to happen. The view I got this year was much better than the corner view that I got last year.

A few years ago, the units overlooking the lake & Boardwalk were separated from the other Preferred View units and made a separate booking category. Now you know as soon as you make the reservation if you will have a Boardwalk view or a Pool/Garden view. The Pool/Garden units cost the same number of points as the Boardwalk view units, so BWV owners tend to book the BW view rooms as soon as the 11 month window opens.

Anyway, if you don't have "Boardwalk view" on your confirmation letter, you will be assigned a Pool/Garden view. You can make requests within each category, but it is very, very rare to get a Boardwalk view if you don't have that category booked. (Since they've modified the reservation system, I've not heard of anyone getting a BW view without having booked it). There are a few studios that overlook the Village Green that have a partial Boardwalk/lake view. Many request that area if they have a Pool/Garden studio booked.