OKW vs BW need advice!

[momto484]

So as of now we are booked at Boardwalk in a 2 bedroom villa for 6 nights but we found airfare a lot cheaper if we go a day earlier. Boardwalk has no availability so I priced out Old Key West 2 bedroom villa and it's a couple thousand cheaper for 7 nights Is Boardwalk worth that much more? Help! We have four adults and 5 kids(15,15,6,6,2)

 

[Wood Nymph]

So as of now we are booked at Boardwalk in a 2 bedroom villa for 6 nights but we found airfare a lot cheaper if we go a day earlier. Boardwalk has no availability so I priced out Old Key West 2 bedroom villa and it's a couple thousand cheaper for 7 nights Is Boardwalk worth that much more? Help! We have four adults and 5 kids(15,15,6,6,2)

It is always hard to answer the question "is it worth it"?

A 2br villa at OKW is huge. You have such a large group that OKW would be more comfortable. But you lose the convenience of walking to two parks if you switch from BWV to OKW. We stayed at OKW and really liked it. But BWV has a lot going for it, too.

 

[sharadoc]

Depends on what you plan to do. We stay at both so I can tell you the difference that we see.

Transportation:
OKW has great bus service to all parks, plus the boat to Disney Springs. WAAAY more convenient than buses to DS.
BWV has the boats to Epcot and Hollywood Studios which run every 20 minutes. You can walk to the parks, but we never do. The boat launches get packed at closing, so having the walking option is great. Buses used to also stop at Swan/Dolphin so it felt like a long time, but probably the same as the multiple stops at OKW.

Food: you'll definitely want to plan to cook some things in your room at OKW, it's not that easy to run out at the resort for a meal. BWV has a lot more options on the boardwalk to grab something, or sit down for a quick burger.

Lots of shopping options at BWV

Pool at OKW are much less crowded, smaller. BWV has that clown pool, which may or may not make you happy.

Community Hall at both resorts, so you can take the 6 year olds and do crafts, games, etc. Highly recommend both.

Pool bar at OKW, the Gurgling Suitcase, best on property!

2nd bedroom at OKW will be 2 beds, at BWV it will be a bed and sofabed.

Bottom line - we like OKW for a calmer trip and BWV for much more of a go-go. Both are great!

 

[robndani]

When are you going? If you're going during F&W then def. Boardwalk. We really loved OKW though. We went with 6 people and it was so roomy! Loved the pool area and the kid's activities! It was more chill, but we took the boat to Disney Springs, which was fun!

 

[momto484]

Thank you so much for the responses! We are going September 23-30 and we definitely plan on making this a more relaxing trip vs our other trips. The last three trips we stayed at POFQ and absolutely LOVE it there! But with so many people and wanting to try a villa, we decided to upgrade instead of getting three rooms there.

I'm still so torn! I was looking forward to Boardwalk but then seeing how much less it is for Old Key West has me questioning! Decisions, decisions!

 

[FSU Girl]

I think you should keep your reservation as is at the Boardwalk and add an additional night either at a cheaper Disney resort or an offsite hotel. I loved the Boardwalk and would definitely stay there again. I think the other hotel feels very far from everything.

 

[loves to dive]

That's a tough one. I've not stayed in the 2 bedrooms but I have stayed at both BWV and OKW, both have their advantages. You will have a much bigger room(s) at OKW. It is the first DVC resort and sadly, does show it's age a tad. It's huge, no walking from the back to the front there like you can at any other resort(well maybe you could if you were spry). It's quiet. It only has a small QS location. BWV is walking distance to two parks and a monorail hop to MK. You will be there during F&W, not sure how much advantage you will take of that with the kiddos but you can't beat the location of BW for that. I agree with FSU Girl (which is very hard to do from a girl that lives in Athens, GA home of the University of Georgia) and say get a less expensive something for that first night and switch over to BWV. Heck, you can get something off property for that first night if you are arriving later in the day and don't plan on going to the parks anyway. The only problem with getting off property the first night would be if you were flying you wouldn't get the disney transport from the airport. I have and do pay more to stay in the Epcot resorts so, is it worth it? For me, a big ole yes sir.

 

[momto484]

Thank you all for helping me make up my mind! We are sticking with BWV and will get a value for the night we fly in since it will only be to sleep! From what I've read, they will transfer our luggage to BWV from he value if we bring it to bell hop?

 

[loves to dive]

Thank you all for helping me make up my mind! We are sticking with BWV and will get a value for the night we fly in since it will only be to sleep! From what I've read, they will transfer our luggage to BWV from he value if we bring it to bell hop?

Yes they will, I think (I'm not sure because I drive) they will even come to your room and get it. It will be at the bell hop station at BWV and you will have to call down for it when you get to the room. They will not deliver it without you being in the room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you all for helping me make up my mind! We are sticking with BWV and will get a value for the night we fly in since it will only be to sleep! From what I've read, they will transfer our luggage to BWV from he value if we bring it to bell hop?

Your two bedroom villa at BWV will be a lockoff- a one bedroom and a studio with the door between them opened. The studio will be a queen bed and double sleeper sofa. OkW will have two queen beds in the second bedroom, plus the twin sized sleeper chair in the living room (and the queen sized sleeper in the living room as well - both have the queen sleeper in the living room).

 

[danikoski]

Thank you all for helping me make up my mind! We are sticking with BWV and will get a value for the night we fly in since it will only be to sleep! From what I've read, they will transfer our luggage to BWV from he value if we bring it to bell hop?

Yep, just drop it off that morning and tell them where they need to go to. Even better, pack what you need for the night in your carry on and ask bell services NOT to bring luggage to your room that night from MDE when you get to the resort, that you'll be transferring in the morning. That way all you have to do is bring your carry on over in the morning and ask to have both checked and carry on transferred over to BWV. Mom and I did that when we had to change rooms after our first night... although it might be more difficult with kids.
At any rate, bell services will transfer the luggage over

 

[nursejackie]

Your two bedroom villa at BWV will be a lockoff- a one bedroom and a studio with the door between them opened. The studio will be a queen bed and double sleeper sofa. OkW will have two queen beds in the second bedroom, plus the twin sized sleeper chair in the living room (and the queen sized sleeper in the living room as well - both have the queen sleeper in the living room).

That's not necessarily true. We stay at OKW most years and only once have we been give a one bedroom lock off (last year). Every other year it's been a true two bedroom villa. One room has two beds, the other has one large bed, both are en suite, which means the people sleeping in the lounge (can fit 3 people in there) have to enter a bedroom to use the bathroom. That said, we just love it at OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That's not necessarily true. We stay at OKW most years and only once have we been give a one bedroom lock off (last year). Every other year it's been a true two bedroom villa. One room has two beds, the other has one large bed, both are en suite, which means the people sleeping in the lounge (can fit 3 people in there) have to enter a bedroom to use the bathroom. That said, we just love it at OKW.

Not quite correct. Villas numbered 30 or higher at OKW will have a door through the laundry room to enter the master bathroom (shower, tub and sink area) without going through the bedroom. If they want to use the tub, they can go through either way, but the tub is pretty much open to the master bedroom with no door to the area to close and only shutters in the wall. Every two bedroom villa at OKW will have two queen beds in the second bedroom, one king bed in the master bedroom and a queen sleeper sofa and twin sized sleeper chair in the living room. At BWV, all two bedroom villas are lockoffs. At OKW, they may be a lockoff or dedicated.

 

[sharadoc]

I also think that the walk from front to back at OKW would be long, but not longer than every other resort. However, the buses run so often that you can hop a ride to wherever you need to go quickly and easily.

 

[Shellyred8]

So as of now we are booked at Boardwalk in a 2 bedroom villa for 6 nights but we found airfare a lot cheaper if we go a day earlier. Boardwalk has no availability so I priced out Old Key West 2 bedroom villa and it's a couple thousand cheaper for 7 nights Is Boardwalk worth that much more? Help! We have four adults and 5 kids(15,15,6,6,2)

Sounds like a fun trip!! I would definitely agree with staying at BW. So much more to do that is within walking distance. Don't forget about the Disney Mini-golf that is just on the other side of the Swan hotel. It's only about a 10 minute walk there from the BW. The hubby and I like to get in round or two when we are staying at the BW.

 

[Shanti]

So as of now we are booked at Boardwalk in a 2 bedroom villa for 6 nights but we found airfare a lot cheaper if we go a day earlier. Boardwalk has no availability so I priced out Old Key West 2 bedroom villa and it's a couple thousand cheaper for 7 nights Is Boardwalk worth that much more? Help! We have four adults and 5 kids(15,15,6,6,2)

Boardwalk gets my vote. It's a beautiful resort, and has a great feature pool. The biggest benefit to staying there is being within close walking distance to Epcot. You can walk to Hollywood Studios, too, although that takes 15-20 minutes. It's a lovely walk, though, or you could take a boat. It has good bus service to AK and MK. You can also walk to Fantasia mini-golf from the Boardwalk, too, which is especially nice on summer evenings imo. There are many good resort restaurants within easy walking distance. And on some nights there will be magicians & other things to see on the Boardwalk itself. It's a great place to stay- you'll be very immersed in Disney.

I recommend spending your arrival night at the MCO Hyatt (this is the Hyatt inside the airport) rather than a value. Value rooms feel like motel rooms. The Hyatt is a really nice hotel with good food, it has a pool, and some rooms have (quiet) views of the runway. It is priced between a WDW value and moderate, but the amenities are like what you'd get at a WDW deluxe, but with bigger rooms.

The next morning, you'd be able to take the Magical Express to the Boardwalk.

 

[nursejackie]

Not quite correct. Villas numbered 30 or higher at OKW will have a door through the laundry room to enter the master bathroom (shower, tub and sink area) without going through the bedroom. If they want to use the tub, they can go through either way, but the tub is pretty much open to the master bedroom with no door to the area to close and only shutters in the wall. Every two bedroom villa at OKW will have two queen beds in the second bedroom, one king bed in the master bedroom and a queen sleeper sofa and twin sized sleeper chair in the living room. At BWV, all two bedroom villas are lockoffs. At OKW, they may be a lockoff or dedicated.

We have only stayed in buildings 18, 27 and 28 so my sister, who sleeps in the lounge, is usually desperate to go to the bathroom once someone's awake! That's good to know about the BWV as that's one of our choices this year before we move to OKW for Christmas.