OKW or BWV for teens?

[KelNottAt]

We're looking at a 10-person vacation in 2006. I'm debating a 2br + 1br at BWV vs. a GV at OKW. (BWV is our home.)

I think I know enough about the points, the scheduling, and the virtues of each type of villa. But I have a question about the resorts' locations: Which would be better for letting 4 (very well behaved) teens roam by themselves? (12, 13, 14, 16)

Would there be enough for them to do at the Boardwalk? Is DTD too far from OKW? Opinions?

TIA
Kelley

 

[mickeymom629]

We've stayed at both. Both have exercise rooms, if your teens are into that. OKW has a basketball court. They can rent those little water boats and sail to DTD from OKW. There is a ferry to DTD and a bus, of course. The rooms are much larger at OKW.

They can't walk to the theme parks like at BWV, but the bus can take them there.

I think your teens would love OKW. It feels like a little neighborhood. There's a snack bar and bike rentals at the main pool area. But the Boardwalk is great, too. The pool has a waterslide, which OKW may be getting.

I think either is wonderful.

 

[WDWLVR]

I think both locations would offer the boys a lot. What are they into:

OKW gets them close to Downtown Disney which has Disney Quest, the Virgin Megastore, and some great eating.

BWV gets them close to Epcot & MGM. In addition they are right by ESPN which a huge game room and sports on many, many screens. They could also walk (a long walk but doable) over to mini-golf at Fantasia gardens.

 

[The Great Baboo]

BWV for teens over OKW hands down. There is much more for them to do within a short walk on the Boardwalk, and easy access to two of the four parks.

 

[Granny]

We are in the same position with our DD's 15 & 13. BWV gives them a lot to do within a few hundred yards of the resort, and lets them feel "on their own" in a fairly confined environment. I don't know a lot about OKW, but BWV has Community Hall, a nice main pool with fun slide, all the Boardwalk entertainment, the pizza window at Spoodles, etc.

I wouldn't be as comfortable letting my daughters head to DTD on their own.

Good luck...sounds like a fun trip!

 

[dianeschlicht]

When we have had teens along, they like to spend a fair amount of time at DisneyQuest. Since we try to get the South Point area of OKW most of the time, it is a short walk along the water way there, or they can take the ferry if it is dark. We will be doing a GV at OKW with 3 teens and 2 "tweens" in October, and we will let them go there by themselves during daylight hours. The teens will be able to go anytime, but the tweens will have to be supervised. Unfortunately, on our October trip the main pool will be closed and the slide under construction, but we hope to be near a neighborhood pool, which is our prefrence anyway.

BTW, the extra room of the GV is WELL worth it! Last time we went with this same large group, we found the large GV living room to be the perfect gathering place. My only complaint was that the kitchen should have been a bit larger.

 

[chainkid]

I don't have teens anymore but young adults in their early 20's. they won't stay anywhere else but the boardwalk because they like the location much better than the other resorts. My kids are all sports nuts so ESPN is a big draw and they lovvvvvvvve the cheesecake at the Brew Pub and the the nightly fun at Jelly rolls.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My 20 somethings love Jelly Rolls too, but it isn't appropriate for teens. Our crew includes a couple of ministers kids, so they prefer things like DQ.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I think it is a toss-up for my kids. They liked the BW theme pool on the first day, but for the rest of the trip they went to the quiet pool and community hall to get away from the crowds.

I'll have to ask them which they like better.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The BWV offers the chance for teens to walk over to EPCOT and stand in line for MIssion Space and Test Track for hours on end. It gives them a feeling of freedom while also being confined to one of the parks.

HBC

 

[minniestheone]

Just returned from a trip to BWV with three 15 year old boys and they loved it! They had the activities at the BW, ESPN, the pool (girls!!)and community hall. They loved walking to MGM and EPCOT for the fun rides and good snacks, renting boats at the YC and eating at Beaches and Cream all alone! They walked to the BC, Dolphin and Swan just to look around when they started to get bored. They also would hop on the bus with friends they met at the resort and hit the other parks or go to DTD. It gave DH and myself time to do things like relax, eat at a nice restaurants, and nap. Don't get me wrong, we did a lot of things together but all of us needed to do our own things at times, especially since this was our 2nd trip this year. I liked the idea of letting them do all of those things and knowing that if I wanted to check on them they were close by

 

[mickeymouse710]

OKW is very close to DQ, a place teens tend to really enjoy.
Other than that, BWV will provide much easier access to Epcot & MGM, which tend to be the parks teens really enjoy; much easier access to numerous dining options; direct access to the boardwalk activities, ESPN, the Community Hall, a large and fully equipped exercise room; one of the longest & fastest pool slides, etc. These are all things that most teens tend to enjoy. Also traveling from BWV to parks etc will be much easier for teens without a car at BWV, then at OKW.
Biking, boating, tennis, basketball, fishing and volleyball are all also available at either BWV or the other Epcot resorts, which are a very short walk from BWV.
BWV is a very convenient resort for teens that are venturing out on their own at WDW.
Teens also tend to really enjoy the fun and upbeat atmosphere of the Epcot resorts.

 

[EdDome]

I tend to agree with the Boardwalk area vs OKW. I think the biggest difference is that there's more activity within a short walk. Personally I love the quiet and relative seclusion of OKW, my home resort, but my kids have told me that it gets boring when we're just hanging around.