OKW vs. BCV

[jksky4]

Okay. We haven't booked yet but were going to go with OKW. We ruled out BCV because from these posts it seems like it is very busy and with kids ages 2, 5 and 7 we wanted something a little less hectic. We had decided on OKW but my husband just looked at VWL because everyone keeps mentioning how awesome it is. It looks very rustic to me and living in Vermont I wanted more of a "tropical" feeling. However, now we are considering this. Can someone tell me about the transportation? I know you take a boat to MK and I believe buses to the other parks. Is that correct? Also, how is the pool and what other activities, if any, are there for the kids? This is more expensive than OKW so we would definately just do a studio since my youngest will only be 2. And who knows, we may want to come back every year!!! Thanks for all the info.

 

[jksky4]

One more thing. I keep reading about the Poly. Are you able to rent points to the Poly? I thought it was just a deluxe resort.

 

[off to neverland]

You can rent points at the Poly but they aren't part of the DVC collection, so they are VERY expensive, and it would be a regular hotel room vs. a studio that would have a microwave and the free laundry room.

We stayed in a sudio at WL this past May, and found it very nice for us. Though there was no laundry machines in our room itself, there is a very nice laundry room which we used for free.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[Beca]

Okay. We haven't booked yet but were going to go with OKW. We ruled out BCV because from these posts it seems like it is very busy and with kids ages 2, 5 and 7 we wanted something a little less hectic. We had decided on OKW but my husband just looked at VWL because everyone keeps mentioning how awesome it is. It looks very rustic to me and living in Vermont I wanted more of a "tropical" feeling. However, now we are considering this. Can someone tell me about the transportation? I know you take a boat to MK and I believe buses to the other parks. Is that correct? Also, how is the pool and what other activities, if any, are there for the kids? This is more expensive than OKW so we would definately just do a studio since my youngest will only be 2. And who knows, we may want to come back every year!!! Thanks for all the info.

Yes, from VWL to MK you take the boats, and then you take buses to get to the other parks. However, "just for fun" we have been known to take a boat to the Contemporary and then take the monorail to MK. We have also found it very easy to go "resort hopping" at night when our dd was "restless". Just catch a boat to the contemporary, and then you can get to the Poly, or GF by monorail. We "toured" the resorts the evening we arrived because our dd was restless, but we did not want to "waste" a day in the parks. She thought the resorts (and riding the monorail) were soo cool!!!

However, I certainly understand that you are reluctant to stay there because of the theming. I did not mean to steer you away from BCV. Just for the record, I do not find the BCV "busy" ever. It is part of its theming...it is relaxed and "easy going". It is my favorite DVC resort for MANY reasons, but one reason is certainly that it is quiet, but just a few minutes from the "hustle and bustle" of WDW. The villas are separate from the hotel, you get to them via a covered walkway. The self-parking (if you have a car) is really close and so are the bus stops. I love being able to go into Epcot in the evenings...just to get a funnel cake or walk around and look at the beautiful countries when they are lit up. And, my dd LOVES the "sand dunes" area at SAB. She refuses to swim in any "regular pool" (her words) because she finds them scary, but in May she swam every evening at SAB, and she was the ONLY little kid in that area of the pool!!! There is something about the "sand bottom" that interested her so much, she forgot to be scared. She can sit in pool and play with the sand without having her head under water. Or, she can walk up a dune and build a sand castle while still in the water. At least once a week, she asks me when we are going back to play in the pool!

The new general store at BCV is also really nice. They bring in food from some of the restaurants there, and it is QUITE good!! There is also "Beaches 'n Cream" which can get quite crowded (it only has about 10 tables), but is SOOO good. Arguably, the best hamburgers on WDW property!! There is also your very own character breakfast (Goofy and friends...sometimes Mickey or Minnie Mouse) in "beach attire" at a really good b'fast buffet.

I find the resort SOOO relaxing to walk around in the evenings. I think my blood pressure drops about 20 pts just by being there. The ambience at BCV makes it my absolute favorite place to be at WDW...it even "beats" the parks for me!! But, the advantage to BCV is, if your kids get restless in the evenings, you can take a 3 min. walk into Epcot, or over to the Boardwalk area to be "in the action".

Tagrel.com has some great images of SAB at BCV, and this site http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortOverview?id=ResortOverviewPage has great images of each resort.

I hope this helps...good luck in your decision!!



Beca

 

[SoCalKDG]

You could always choose the perfect room, a BWV boardwalk view giving you and your family nightly firework views from the balcony. We had this view on our last trip and 4 out of 5 nights watched those fireworks, then our daughter went to bed. Perfect ending each night.

 

[PKS44]

Well I must say that both resorts are great, but BWV bus transportation is very annoying with the multiple stops. We only stayed there once and always stay at OKW now. Have been members since 1993 and have always had great bus servic at OKW.

I am long on record criticizing BWV bus service, but the OKW buses have multiple stops, too---they are all within the resort but if your stop is last (like ours was) it was as annoying as any BWV bus when every 8 minute bus ride became over 20 minutes waiting for your stop.

I second just about everything Beca said (except where she mistakenly writes bus when she means boat)

 

[Beca]

I am long on record criticizing BWV bus service, but the OKW buses have multiple stops, too---they are all within the resort but if your stop is last (like ours was) it was as annoying as any BWV bus when every 8 minute bus ride became over 20 minutes waiting for your stop.

I second just about everything Beca said (except where she mistakenly writes bus when she means boat)

Thanks for pointing that out!! I'm SUCH a dork!! But, I fixed it....it could really confuse someone, huh!!!



Beca