Just returned from Split Stay at BWV and BCV

[scottmel]

Well normally we stay at Yacht Club and sometimes rent points for an add one night to try a new resort. THIS trip we went straight DVC on points rental to make the trip more economical for my sister in law and her family.

I was concerned I would really miss the housekeeping and have issues with towels. I was fine. Initially I really really wanted the Beach Club Villas for both of our families b/c we love Yacht Club. Due to the refurb I was hesitant to take a room at BCV on the front leg of our trip since my sister in law was involved in this part of the stay. I opted for Boardwalk Villas instead and BEST CHOICE EVER!

I last stayed at Boardwalk Inn 7 years ago Club Level and loved the location of the resort. This trip we had the room SO CLOSE to the lobby I could be in the lobby in 2 seconds. Perfect for us. I loved it. Little bit of noise from the commotion of the front desk but we put a towel by the door at night to close the gap and was fine. TERRIFIC VIEW of the main pool and HUGE private balcony that sat recessed so it was never in the sun, I could sit out any time of the day without the heat. Sofa bed super comfortable, thick mattress, DH said it was great. Everything so new and so fresh looking. I was beyond pleasantly surprised. Stayed here 8 nights and loved it.

After my SIL and her family left we moved to BCV for 2 nights and what a let down. Mind you I LOVE this area...have stayed many many times in YC and BC but never BCV. I did receive an updated renovated room, had a private large balcony overlooking a wooded area but that is where it stopped for me. The refurb looks sort of cheap. No glass in the cabinet doors, thin cabinets painted white, the shelf housing the microwave was so scraped up and dinged. The vanity had no storage whereas the BWV had drawers, cabinets, etc. The mattress on the couch MUCH thinner than the one at BWV. Such a far walk to the lobby which in fairness could have happened to us at BWV and I am grateful it did not. Tiny coffee table already full of scratches - yet the room had to have just been completed as it was the only one I could see in my hallway that was done. We were surrounded by non refurbished rooms.

To me the refurb at BWV is far superior and the room views to me way better. I was glad to have tried BCV but wont' do it again.

 

[Shanti]

After my SIL and her family left we moved to BCV for 2 nights and what a let down...The refurb looks sort of cheap. No glass in the cabinet doors, thin cabinets painted white, the shelf housing the microwave was so scraped up and dinged. The vanity had no storage whereas the BWV had drawers, cabinets, etc. The mattress on the couch MUCH thinner than the one at BWV...Tiny coffee table already full of scratches - yet the room had to have just been completed as it was the only one I could see in my hallway that was done. We were surrounded by non refurbished rooms.

To me the refurb at BWV is far superior and the room views to me way better. I was glad to have tried BCV but wont' do it again.

I hope this isn't becoming a trend. I considered us staying at BCV for our upcoming trip, but the pics I found online of the renovated rooms looked a bit sterile, uninspired and as you say, somewhat cheap. So we ponied up a little more to stay at Beach Club Resort (we're not DVC).

 

[scottmel]

I hope this isn't becoming a trend. I considered us staying at BCV for our upcoming trip, but the pics I found online of the renovated rooms looked a bit sterile, uninspired and as you say, somewhat cheap. So we ponied up a little more to stay at Beach Club Resort (we're not DVC).

I love the Beach Club Resort! Nothing but good things to say! I have stayed at most of the DVC villas - as I said we rent points for a night or two to try something different after a week stay at YC. LOVED LOVED Grand Floridian Villas last summer. Magnificient. Love Animal Kingdom Villas too! But my disappointment with BCV was so surprising and perhaps b/c I love BC/YC area and am so familiar with those resorts I have much to compare to. At any rate, have a fantastic trip!

 

[DVCRSheridan]

Well normally we stay at Yacht Club and sometimes rent points for an add one night to try a new resort. THIS trip we went straight DVC on points rental to make the trip more economical for my sister in law and her family.

I was concerned I would really miss the housekeeping and have issues with towels. I was fine. Initially I really really wanted the Beach Club Villas for both of our families b/c we love Yacht Club. Due to the refurb I was hesitant to take a room at BCV on the front leg of our trip since my sister in law was involved in this part of the stay. I opted for Boardwalk Villas instead and BEST CHOICE EVER!

I last stayed at Boardwalk Inn 7 years ago Club Level and loved the location of the resort. This trip we had the room SO CLOSE to the lobby I could be in the lobby in 2 seconds. Perfect for us. I loved it. Little bit of noise from the commotion of the front desk but we put a towel by the door at night to close the gap and was fine. TERRIFIC VIEW of the main pool and HUGE private balcony that sat recessed so it was never in the sun, I could sit out any time of the day without the heat. Sofa bed super comfortable, thick mattress, DH said it was great. Everything so new and so fresh looking. I was beyond pleasantly surprised. Stayed here 8 nights and loved it.

After my SIL and her family left we moved to BCV for 2 nights and what a let down. Mind you I LOVE this area...have stayed many many times in YC and BC but never BCV. I did receive an updated renovated room, had a private large balcony overlooking a wooded area but that is where it stopped for me. The refurb looks sort of cheap. No glass in the cabinet doors, thin cabinets painted white, the shelf housing the microwave was so scraped up and dinged. The vanity had no storage whereas the BWV had drawers, cabinets, etc. The mattress on the couch MUCH thinner than the one at BWV. Such a far walk to the lobby which in fairness could have happened to us at BWV and I am grateful it did not. Tiny coffee table already full of scratches - yet the room had to have just been completed as it was the only one I could see in my hallway that was done. We were surrounded by non refurbished rooms.

To me the refurb at BWV is far superior and the room views to me way better. I was glad to have tried BCV but wont' do it again.

Glad you enjoyed BWV! We stay there all the time, it's our favorite. The room reforms are fantastic. Curious if you could see the new Star Wars fireworks from your room over the main pool. I know some of the balconies face that direction, but wasn't sure if the fireworks are blocked by the other wing or not.

 

[scottmel]

Glad you enjoyed BWV! We stay there all the time, it's our favorite. The room reforms are fantastic. Curious if you could see the new Star Wars fireworks from your room over the main pool. I know some of the balconies face that direction, but wasn't sure if the fireworks are blocked by the other wing or not.

Yes you can see part of them but not much of a show bc obviously the show is the projection on great movie ride but we did have nice view of the higher up ones from my balcony

 

[jmassey1samchi]

I'm sorry to hear your disappointment with Beach Club. I stayed at the boardwalk villas earlier this year for the first time and actually liked it more than I thought I would. Everything with the room was clean, fresh, and new. The entire resort appeared to have been freshly painted and all very tidy. I am looking forward to trying the beach club next summer for the first time, but would hate to have the same feelings as you as it was higher on my try list than boardwalk.

 

[scottmel]

I'm sorry to hear your disappointment with Beach Club. I stayed at the boardwalk villas earlier this year for the first time and actually liked it more than I thought I would. Everything with the room was clean, fresh, and new. The entire resort appeared to have been freshly painted and all very tidy. I am looking forward to trying the beach club next summer for the first time, but would hate to have the same feelings as you as it was higher on my try list than boardwalk.

What I didn't like us you are very removed from the beach club while at villas. You need to walk down a hallway before u can even enter breezeway area to then get into beach club. I felt very isolated there. Boardwalk villas all contects to that central lobby villas does not.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

I'm sorry to hear your disappointment with Beach Club. I stayed at the boardwalk villas earlier this year for the first time and actually liked it more than I thought I would. Everything with the room was clean, fresh, and new. The entire resort appeared to have been freshly painted and all very tidy. I am looking forward to trying the beach club next summer for the first time, but would hate to have the same feelings as you as it was higher on my try list than boardwalk.

Boardwalk has received a massive (and much needed) facelift over the past year or 2. Everything from rooms to hallways to exterior paint. Everything was freshened up. We love BWV, try to stay there most of our trips. We've never really been huge fans of BCV except for the location. The DVC part of the resort itself doesn't really do much for me. We'd stay there before most other places for location alone, but between that and BWV, I'll take Boardwalk every single time.

 

[jmassey1samchi]

What I didn't like us you are very removed from the beach club while at villas. You need to walk down a hallway before u can even enter breezeway area to then get into beach club. I felt very isolated there. Boardwalk villas all contects to that central lobby villas does not

Boardwalk has received a massive (and much needed) facelift over the past year or 2. Everything from rooms to hallways to exterior paint. Everything was freshened up. We love BWV, try to stay there most of our trips. We've never really been huge fans of BCV except for the location. The DVC part of the resort itself doesn't really do much for me. We'd stay there before most other places for location alone, but between that and BWV, I'll take Boardwalk every single time.

thanks for the info. Guess I will have to try it. I always thought beach club would be my preferred between the two, but I was very happy with Boardwalk.

 

[jo-jo]

What I didn't like us you are very removed from the beach club while at villas. You need to walk down a hallway before u can even enter breezeway area to then get into beach club. I felt very isolated there. Boardwalk villas all contects to that central lobby villas does not.

We were there in May. The room was very nice but as close as you were to the lobby, we were almost as far as you can possibly get. Beyond the quiet pool. You take the elevator and keep walking until there is no more hallway. Back up three rooms, that was us.

It's on my bucket list to one day get that room in any resort that is a few steps away from the lobby.

 

[scottmel]

We were there in May. The room was very nice but as close as you were to the lobby, we were almost as far as you can possibly get. Beyond the quiet pool. You take the elevator and keep walking until there is no more hallway. Back up three rooms, that was us.

It's on my bucket list to one day get that room in any resort that is a few steps away from the lobby.

Your bwi experience sounds like my beach club. The walk was thru 3 hallways and around a bend to another hallway. Big turnoff

 

[Hopefully]

We have stayed at both and we enjoy both. I would go back to either.
But the BCV's are our "home". We love it. And the thing that seemed to bother you the most - the distance from the main lobby - is one of the things we enjoy. It makes the Villas "special" to me. I don't enjoy the commotion of the main building and we only go there when necessary.
I haven't seen the new rooms yet. I hope I am not disappointed. We'll see in October

 

[scottmel]

We have stayed at both and we enjoy both. I would go back to either.
But the BCV's are our "home". We love it. And the thing that seemed to bother you the most - the distance from the main lobby - is one of the things we enjoy. It makes the Villas "special" to me. I don't enjoy the commotion of the main building and we only go there when necessary.
I haven't seen the new rooms yet. I hope I am not disappointed. We'll see in October

You would have felt very special this trip let me tell you. I think seriously we were the ONLY family in this long long wing. No other room was refubed but ours. Never saw anyone and no housekeeping carts etc. The doors were open to the unfurb rooms and all lights on but zero people in there and no one working. Just felt very alone or something....I don't think you will be disappointed in the rooms.Coming from BWV which felt like a TRUE Gut job, the BCV reminded me more of Design Rehab vs. gut job. Like things were repurposed. But had I not experienced BWV I wouldn't have noticed the thinner mattress, etc.

 

[Hopefully]

You would have felt very special this trip let me tell you. I think seriously we were the ONLY family in this long long wing. No other room was refubed but ours. Never saw anyone and no housekeeping carts etc. The doors were open to the unfurb rooms and all lights on but zero people in there and no one working. Just felt very alone or something....I don't think you will be disappointed in the rooms.Coming from BWV which felt like a TRUE Gut job, the BCV reminded me more of Design Rehab vs. gut job. Like things were repurposed. But had I not experienced BWV I wouldn't have noticed the thinner mattress, etc.

I wouldn't have like the way that sounds either I don't think they should have booked you in a room with the area in that condition.
Hopefully, someday you will have a chance to experience the BCV we love. As I said before, we were very happy with the BWV as well. We have never stayed anywhere we were truly unhappy, and I am thankful for that.

 

[jerseygal]

Looking forward to our first time BWV for F&W this October. Can't wait to see the newly renovated rooms at both BWV and BCV. Enjoyed our last October BCV stay last October even though not in newly renovated studio. LOVE the Epcot resorts area, such a great vibe!