We just got back from our first DVC trip. BWV, Boardwalk view, room 2047/2048, a 2 bedroom right above the Screen Door.
We were quite content with the condition and size of the room. Had a party of six (my mother in law and her sister, our two preschoolers, and ourselves), and everything worked out fine. Plenty of storage space - especially the closet in the master bedroom! The only trash we saw in the hall had obviously been put there by cleaning staff in the middle of the day.
I wouldn't want to sleep adults for a week on the hideabed - but it was fine for kids. After a week in the bed in the master bedroom my back was out of whack and it was nice to be back in my own bed. My husband noticed it more than I did, but the mattress definately had a trench! However, for a hotel bed it was nothing unusual, just nothing great (and I have a fantastic bed at home, so I'm spoiled). (We did mention that maybe the mattress should be checked and scheduled for replacement to the desk staff).
That room is handicapped accessible. I could see having the studio only with small kids (and no tub) could be a problem, but we didn't really see any issues with the room for able bodied people other than a lack of tub in the studio. I wouldn't hesitate to accept an accessible room again. We had requested non-smoking, and the room was a smoking room, but I didn't notice at all until I noticed on day 3 that we didn't have the little non smoking sign on the door.
However, I don't think I'd bother with the Boardwalk View again. It wasn't great - we had a room with a closed balcony, so you couldn't see much if you were sitting down. And it was noisy. Most nights we were too tired to notice, but occationally we slept light enough for something to drift up from the Boardwalk, which was loud until well after midnight. I will also note that I find the big "Epcot" over Spaceship Earth to be an abomination, so that may not have helped. I'll leave the coveted view to others to whom it matters more. I think my kids will be just as happy to look at the pool - and my husband seems to have a thing for the clown.
The kids really enjoyed the pool - even with the slide closed. They are beginning swimmers, so the loaner swim vests from the community hall were wonderful! We did go over to SAB one day, but the kids couldn't be talked into going back.
The walk to Epcot was wonderful and short! The walk to MGM is much longer - we never took it (we didn't make it to MGM except for a quick Fantasmic trip one evening), but I took a stroll down it one morning to scope it out for successive trips. The hotel is beautiful and we really enjoyed it.
We did more laundry and cooking (breakfast of eggs - my aunt in law is "Atkins-ing" - which made my traditional Disney breakfast of a roll in the parks out of the question for all of us) than I ever expected. Laundry was so convienent. And when we ran out of eggs, I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonableness of the prices at the Screen Door.
Transportation was nothing unusual. Crowded buses in the morning, empty if you went to the MK at 10:00. Since I didn't think it was bad, but listened to people saying it was horrible, I think the BW transportation situation is a matter of expectations. I never expect to do anything but stand on a bus to the MK early in the day getting on at the last stop - I watched people stand on a bus getting on at the GF to the AK on my last trip. Knowing the "system" helps too - a long line in the heat for a bus at AK, we'd all have been standing. But the bus to MGM pulled up first, and we hopped on, then sat comfortably waiting for the boat for the ride back over to the Epcot area. We did discover the wonder of the cab. Around $10 gets you a van for six pretty much anywhere (you get dropped at TTC for MK, so you still need to catch the ferry or monorail). Very useful for traveling with two seniors and two preschoolers. And with a cab ride or two a day - plus the towncar service, still much cheaper (and - for us - much less hassle) than renting a minivan.
Disney answers remain as exasperating as ever. One CM gives one answer to a question - the next gives a completely different answer. Tried three times to get my PSs printed out by the front desk before finding a CM who could get it done.
All in all, I thought it was a very good investment - a more pleasant stay than our previous Deluxe hotel Disney stay with children. It will be hard "rooming" with our kids in a hotel room again. I think my husband thought it was a great investment just in that we had some privacy in the master bedroom .......
We were quite content with the condition and size of the room. Had a party of six (my mother in law and her sister, our two preschoolers, and ourselves), and everything worked out fine. Plenty of storage space - especially the closet in the master bedroom! The only trash we saw in the hall had obviously been put there by cleaning staff in the middle of the day.
I wouldn't want to sleep adults for a week on the hideabed - but it was fine for kids. After a week in the bed in the master bedroom my back was out of whack and it was nice to be back in my own bed. My husband noticed it more than I did, but the mattress definately had a trench! However, for a hotel bed it was nothing unusual, just nothing great (and I have a fantastic bed at home, so I'm spoiled). (We did mention that maybe the mattress should be checked and scheduled for replacement to the desk staff).
That room is handicapped accessible. I could see having the studio only with small kids (and no tub) could be a problem, but we didn't really see any issues with the room for able bodied people other than a lack of tub in the studio. I wouldn't hesitate to accept an accessible room again. We had requested non-smoking, and the room was a smoking room, but I didn't notice at all until I noticed on day 3 that we didn't have the little non smoking sign on the door.
However, I don't think I'd bother with the Boardwalk View again. It wasn't great - we had a room with a closed balcony, so you couldn't see much if you were sitting down. And it was noisy. Most nights we were too tired to notice, but occationally we slept light enough for something to drift up from the Boardwalk, which was loud until well after midnight. I will also note that I find the big "Epcot" over Spaceship Earth to be an abomination, so that may not have helped. I'll leave the coveted view to others to whom it matters more. I think my kids will be just as happy to look at the pool - and my husband seems to have a thing for the clown.
The kids really enjoyed the pool - even with the slide closed. They are beginning swimmers, so the loaner swim vests from the community hall were wonderful! We did go over to SAB one day, but the kids couldn't be talked into going back.
The walk to Epcot was wonderful and short! The walk to MGM is much longer - we never took it (we didn't make it to MGM except for a quick Fantasmic trip one evening), but I took a stroll down it one morning to scope it out for successive trips. The hotel is beautiful and we really enjoyed it.
We did more laundry and cooking (breakfast of eggs - my aunt in law is "Atkins-ing" - which made my traditional Disney breakfast of a roll in the parks out of the question for all of us) than I ever expected. Laundry was so convienent. And when we ran out of eggs, I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonableness of the prices at the Screen Door.
Transportation was nothing unusual. Crowded buses in the morning, empty if you went to the MK at 10:00. Since I didn't think it was bad, but listened to people saying it was horrible, I think the BW transportation situation is a matter of expectations. I never expect to do anything but stand on a bus to the MK early in the day getting on at the last stop - I watched people stand on a bus getting on at the GF to the AK on my last trip. Knowing the "system" helps too - a long line in the heat for a bus at AK, we'd all have been standing. But the bus to MGM pulled up first, and we hopped on, then sat comfortably waiting for the boat for the ride back over to the Epcot area. We did discover the wonder of the cab. Around $10 gets you a van for six pretty much anywhere (you get dropped at TTC for MK, so you still need to catch the ferry or monorail). Very useful for traveling with two seniors and two preschoolers. And with a cab ride or two a day - plus the towncar service, still much cheaper (and - for us - much less hassle) than renting a minivan.
Disney answers remain as exasperating as ever. One CM gives one answer to a question - the next gives a completely different answer. Tried three times to get my PSs printed out by the front desk before finding a CM who could get it done.
All in all, I thought it was a very good investment - a more pleasant stay than our previous Deluxe hotel Disney stay with children. It will be hard "rooming" with our kids in a hotel room again. I think my husband thought it was a great investment just in that we had some privacy in the master bedroom .......
but we are going to VWL. 
