Just back from BWV

[rriley25]

We just spent a week at the BWV and had a great time. Here are some of our thoughts. We LOVED the 1 BR...plenty of room (room 3041 with BW view). After reading some posts I was a bit concerned but it turns out that the 1 BR is plenty big. We were able to see the fireworks from Illumintions every night from our (2) balconies. Great pool and slide. We loved Community Hall. There is a nice (smallish) playground. It's quite nice to be able to walk (or boat) to EPCOT & MGM but if your going elsewhere, the bus service STINKS!! We boarded a bus at MK and had to stop at the Swan, the Dolphin, YC, and BC before finally arriving at BW??? This trip took more than 45 minutes to complete and it was in the middle of the day!!. Totally unacceptable. It would have been faster to exit at the Swan and walk over, but who thinks that way? One expects better service than this. But that is my only negative about the trip (BTW, we drove to MK on future visits). I'll post again with a link when the photos are available for those interested.

 

[paults]

rriley25, it just goes to show you not to believe everything you here on these boards. We also think the 1 bedrooms are plenty big enough. If people plan on spending a lot of time on vacation in their rooms than OKW is the place to stay.

Yes bus service stinks at BWV we had almost an hour wait for MK bus while water park buses came quite often and sometimes 2 at a time. If you get off at the S/D you'll beat the bus to BWV.

 

[zurgswife]

Totally unacceptable. It would have been faster to exit at the Swan and walk over, but who thinks that way?

We do this every time we take the bus home from MK...It saves tons of time.

Glad you enjoyed your stay

 

[Canadian Tom]

Boy that's a long time on a bus. Here's a couple of suggestion. If you're leaving MC, while EPCOT is open, why not take the monorail to EPCOT take a nice walk through EPCOT and to the BWV.. It probably would take the same time but may be more fun than waiting for/getting stuck on a bus for an hour. It like getting stuck in rush hour traffic, as long as your moving it's better than stop and start.

I agree, I would get off the bus at the first EPCOT resort the bus stops at and walk to the one your staying at. Sounds like that would be faster.

 

[princetonnj]

Is it faster to monorail from MK to epcot and then walk to BWV?

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Originally posted by princetonnj
Is it faster to monorail from MK to epcot and then walk to BWV?

It might be a wash timewise, but it's definitely a lot more walking and you have to deal with entry into Epcot...

We just spent a week at BWV as well for the first time in a 1 BR unit. The unit was nice - no space problems here either. The pool is definitely a great thing there as well.

As far as the bus service goes, the whole shared bus thing can get old fast... It does make for a long journey back from the MK or AK when you have to roll through 4 other hotels. What's nice is you head right to the park after being picked up at the BW bus stop... As far as bus service goes, just understand that it isn't immediate and has it's flaws. If you know what to expect and temper those expectations and impatientness, it's an OK system...

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Just to clarify for myself...When you get picked up to go MK or AK at BW, you go straight to the parks, but you when you come back you have to make all the other stops? Would it be easier to take the Monorail to Epcot and walk back from there? Sorry if this has already been answered, I got kind of confused with this post.

 

[rriley25]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
Just to clarify for myself...When you get picked up to go MK or AK at BW, you go straight to the parks, but you when you come back you have to make all the other stops? Would it be easier to take the Monorail to Epcot and walk back from there? Sorry if this has already been answered, I got kind of confused with this post.

Correct. From BW to MK is a straight shot, but it is the last stop of 5 on the way back. Yes, one could monorail to EPCOT and walk through to BW but it's not just a short stroll. Anyway, it's faster and easier to exit the bus at the Swan and then walk over to the BW. It just seems to me that 5 of the deluxe hotels have to share one bus either to or from the parks is unacceptable. I'll be driving to MK and AK from now on.

We really did have a great trip despite this bus issue.

 

[PKS44]

we have used the buses to MK to/from BWV and found them lacking as well...especially the buses TO MK..I am not usually in any rush to leave the parks...but wehn we wanted to fo to EE or EMH one day it does us no good to wait a dn wait and wait and then not get on an overcrowded bus and wait and finally get there with only EMTM (extra magic twenty minutes)...I have never tried to drive to MK on an EMH day..can anyone comment on if the monorail is running from the TTC or since EMH is only for resort guests anyway...can you only get into EMH at the MK using resort transportation? Anyone have experience with driving to MK EMH?

BTW,rriley25, I hope you drop guest communications a line about the bad BWV bus service...it may not help, but if they hear it enough MAYBE they will do something about it...if they do not hear about it they will definitely NOT be doing anything.

Paul

 

[rriley25]

Originally posted by PKS44
BTW,rriley25, I hope you drop guest communications a line about the bad BWV bus service...it may not help, but if they hear it enough MAYBE they will do something about it...if they do not hear about it they will definitely NOT be doing anything.

Paul

Yes, I plan to contact Disney about the bus problem as well as a big thumbs-up for some street entertainment near POTC. There were 3 men dressed as pirates singing songs and telling jokes like "What kind of socks do pirates wear? Arrrrrgyle". They were great but I didn't get a name.

 

[CarolynK]

Originally posted by rriley25
I'll be driving to MK and AK from now on.

We have also decided that on future trips to AK we'll definitely drive. The parking lot tram is usually waiting for you and it drops you a lot closer to the park entrance than the bus does! And on our trip to AK in Aug, they had moved the bus stop for BoardWalk to the other side of the road.

 

[Synonymous]

Never considered the buses much of an issue. When we stayed at BWV we just got off at the first stop and walked- FAR better solution than going through Epcot.

 

[rriley25]

Originally posted by Synonymous
Never considered the buses much of an issue. When we stayed at BWV we just got off at the first stop and walked- FAR better solution than going through Epcot.

I guess I don't understand why the bus service we have received while staying at Value & Moderate resorts is better than that we received when staying at a Deluxe resort?

Yes, I admit it....we have stayed at those other places.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Thanks for clarifying! I'm not familiar at all with the area - how long would you say it would take to walk from the Swan to BW? It does sound like a much better idea.

 

[rriley25]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
- how long would you say it would take to walk from the Swan to BW? It does sound like a much better idea.

5 to 10 minutes tops. And it's a very nice stroll too.

 

[TheWho]

Thanks for the report The BW views are awesome.

 

[Synonymous]

I think even 5-10 minutes is high. They're right next door to each other.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I think even 5-10 minutes is high. They're right next door to each other

It really depends on what section of the resort you are in. You know how long those halls can be! But it does usually make sense to get off at the Swan and make your way through the bushes and across the bridge.

HBC

 

[Maxwell]

We always get on and off at the SWAN.

 

[Poorman]

Hi Bob,

I'll have to agree the bus service at BWV S**ks.

We now stop at Swan and walk. It always beats the bus.

BCV aren't much better, one stop less. Your right about being in a

deluxe and having terrible bus service doesn't make much sense.

Thanks again for you know what.


Rich