OKW vs. BWV vs. VWL vs. BCV...anyone stay at all four yet and pros and cons...

[HeatherPage]

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time making a decision and sticking with it. I have reservations already made for our home resort of BWV for Oct. 5-Oct.11 in a 1 BR-pv. Will be me, husband, baby who by then will be 11 months and my mother. We will have our own van (driving down from N.C.). I keep looking at the other DVC's OKW, VWL, BCV and wondering what we'll miss if we don't stay at one of those, or what we'll miss if we don't keep our reservation at BWV. Is there anyone out there who has stayed at all four (I guess for BCV meaning the Beach Club). I'm driving myself nuts and still have 6 1/2 months to go.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

No need to drive yourself nuts, your owners. You can try different resorts for different vacations. I don't think there is any way you will be dissapointed with BW, it is a wonderful resort, and a fabulous location when you have a little one. You can take a nice break in the middle of the day, and then easily go out to Epcot or MGM in the evening. You can't beat the location. Part of the appeal for ownership for me is knowing that we'll be back and can try the other resort options on our next vacation. It also helps take out the "we have to see everything" feeling while in the parks, you can take your time, you'll be back.

There is also a nice thread asking for people's favorite things about thier home resort. That might be some help regarding specifics. But, I am confident you won't be dissapointed with BW, it's an excellent resort.

Have a wonderful vacation.

 

[brittsmum1998]

Home resort is BWV's. We stayed at OKW a few years ago (b4 we were members) BWV's when we first joined and last year the WLV's. DH has basically made the decision that we will not stay anywhere else but "home" at the BWVs from now on. thay may change when the BCV's open but for now we (but mostly him and DD who is 4) like the BWV's. You can close the door when you want peace and quiet BUT if someone is resting there are still things for the others to do without going too far. Its an activity just to people watch there. If you want to sit quietly you can do that also. Ice cream is right downstairs. When the stayed at WLV's we had to take a LONG ride to get an icecream cone to DD. Thats the trouble w/ DVC there are SO many options. Prior to last years trip I was in the same predicament as you are. My advice....try them all first and then decide. No matter where you stay you will find something to love about each resort...unless you are DH and DD of course

 

[LisaR]

I would suggest you stick with your BWV ressies. You have them already so just stick with it. However, when you are there, go look at the other properties. See what might interest you and then make it a point to book that resort for your next trip. That is what makes DVC so great. Some people love only one of the resorts and would never consider staying anywhere else. Others love to try different resorts. You need to find what works for your family.

For us, we love our home resort of OKW for our one week or longer stays. After the hustle and bustle of the parks all day, OKW is great to come home to. On the other hand, we love to stay at BWV for 3 or 4 night stays, especially on the weekend. We avoid going to the parks on the weekend so we look forward to the action on the Boardwalk. Every family is different. Relax! You will have a great time at BWV.

Lisa

 

[bres@westernMA]

You could to consider staying at more than one site on this vacation. We have moved resorts in the middle of a vacation. We spent 4 days at OKW, then 3 at BDV. Packing up all our stuff, then unpacking was a pain and the move took the better part of a midday (from about 11:00 to 2:00) but the bell staff moved all our stuff, kept the refrig stuff cold and for the price of a tip (a buck a bag) were very helpful. This is a way to see for yourself what the other places are like (they are all different and wonderful).

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

For this trip I'd stick with Boardwalk or try for Beach Club. It will be the last trip you make in a long while that you can do mostly adult entertainment.

Once the baby is a toddler you will be visiting the Magic Kingdom and for that you'll want VWL.

Given you are there the 6 nights I might try splitting between the Epcot Resort area and either VWL or OKW. For the reason I mentioned before I would choose OKW...while the kid(s) are quite small you will probably wind up at VWL in later years anyway. When the kid(s) are bigger you may be looking for space and this way you would have already checked out OKW.

 

[DeeP]

Stay at BWV, it is a wonderful resort in the best location with the best amenities. You will definitely feel pampered and spoiled staying at BWV, it is truely a top notch resort. We have stayed at OKW, YC/BC and BWV and BWV is by far our favorite. There is just so much to do there, Epcot & MGM are within walking distance, there are loads of great restaurants also within walking distance, they have a very nice pool, there are shops and stores within walking distance, nighttime entertainment right outside your door, you can see Illuminations and parts of Fantasmic from your resort, there is room service, valet parking, bell services, a great health club, a babysitting club (if Mom & Dad want to go out alone), boat rentals, bike rentals, you are a short walk from Fantasia minuture golf and if you get a boardwalk view you will love to sit on you large balcony and people watch, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just take in the beautiful scenery, listen to the friendship boat whistles and just love life. If you get waterview you can enjoy sitting on your large balcony and watching the friendship boats travel to MGM, see ducks and heron, or if you get pool view you can look out at the pool, the water way, etc! It is pure heaven!!!!
Some OKW owners seem to enjoy putting down other DVC resorts, especially BWV, for what reason I do not know, but do not let others comments make you second guess your home resort, it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!. Go and experience BWV for yourself and you will see what I mean! Enjoy!!!

 

[Granny]

HeatherPage,

I agree with DeeP....I think you should keep your ressies at BWV. DeeP does a good job of describing BWV's charms, and you will have a great time there.

My second trip this summer we will be staying at the BWV. The first trip will be to our home resort...VWL.

I look forward to spending some time at OKW next year, and BCV after that at some point.

You've got 40 years to enjoy DVC....don't get yourself in a stew worrying about what you might miss on one particular trip. That's the beauty of DVC....you don't have to "do it all" every trip!

 

[eva]

Don't get too caught up with the ideal DVC resort to stay at. They are all wonderful. You might find that after many trips you will have a favorite like many of us. But trying each resort is part of the fun. I think that you will be extremely happy with BWV. Relax and enjoy the planning!

 

[brittsmum1998]

DeeP needs to put that in a brochure!! Jeez if I didn't already own at the BWV's I'd be sellin my house to buy pts there. Talk about homesick!! What a great "pre" trip report If I could just add my 2 cents here....w/ a baby that young and a Mom to help, walks on that boardwalk are going to be pretty great.

 

[MAC3]

Hi,

We stayed at BWV last year. It is a phenominal resort. You will enjoy yourself very much. Our stay here prompted us to buy into DVC. Unfortunately it was sold out. But who cares we can stay there anyway. I plan to try them all. OKW this year. Next year BCV and so on....


Have a great vacation!
Lisa

 

[JonHM]

I would keep your BWV ressies. If you don't mind my asking, what 'preferences' did you request when you made your ressies? When we planned our January BWV trip, I asked for Non-Smoking, then Boardwalk view, then near the elevators. We had a spectacular Boardwalk view, even though we only made the ressies 6 months out. Did you ask for any particular views or locations?

 

[spiceycat]

kept your reservations - you need to try your home resort FIRST!!!

You have great excess to both the Studios and Epcot - Epcot will be having the Food Festavial then (I think) and you will love be so close to WS.

Now I would change to the BCV - but that is just because they are newer and I love to try the new ones - but you need to stay at your home resort FIRST!!!

You will love it - especially at night getting back to this resort is probably one the easiest. (okay getting back to the BCV is easier than BWV when you are at Epcot, but the Studios will be a very different matter)

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks for the replys everyone! Well I think I will keep the ressies at BWV DeeP and others you did a great job of convincing me! Bres-the one thing my husband requested this trip was that we stay at the same place the entire time (last time we switched from the Poly the the Contemporary -with about two days left, and after having to wait until 4:00 to check in, it was just two much of a hassle. Lisa, I think I'll do what you suggest and go tour other resorts, I've tried that before with my husband but he's not into that so maybe me, mom and baby will do that while he naps Jon, when I made my reservation I requested nonsmoking, member services asked if I would like to request a Boardwalk view and I said sure! Should I request to be close to the elevators too or will that hurt my chances of getting the primo boardwalk view?
Thanks again for everyone's replys!

 

[spiceycat]

the broadwalk views are not close to the elevators - the pool view especially the main pool view is that (in my opinion) is the marjority of the preferred views- I ask for preferred view about 8 times and got the broadwalk once, and the main pool the rest of the time - so now I ask for the standard view.

 

[JonHM]

As I understand it, making many requests does not hurt your chances of getting any one particular request, BUT it is a hierarchical system. The FIRST request on the list is given the highest priority, the second the next highest priority and so on, down to the lowest priority item at the bottom. I just put 'near elevators' right after 'Boardwalk view' with the logic that if there is no Boardwalk view available, they will then attempt to fill my next most important request first.

But if you have a boatload of requests, I would definitely request them all, just make sure that they're in the proper order. Remember, you won't get any requests that you don't ask for.

When we came in January, we got almost all of our requests. I say go for it!