Owning Boardwalk vs. Old Key West: advantages/disadvantages?

[steve_w]

We're currently considering the purchase of a DVC resale. We have offers on packages in both OKY and Boardwalk. The Boardwalk package is $1.50 more per point. I know that maintenance at Boardwalk is $.60 more per point. We already own points at OKY. Other than allowing us to get 11-month reservations at Boardwalk in addition to OKY, would there be any other advantages to buying there over OKY? Is Boardwalk so much nicer than OKY?

 

[Richyams]

"Nicer" is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I would take OKW over BWV even if OKW was $10 more per point and had twice the mantainence dues....but that is my preference.

Many people believe that the location of BWV, the Boardwalk area itself and the hotel atmosphere make it worth the dramatically higher dues, the smaller units and the higher points per night.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[drusba]

I personally consider BWV better. Also, it has shown itself to be the more difficult one to get with the 7 month reservation window. Thus, the 11 month reservation window is an important consideration in determining whether you should buy there. Nevertheless, if your plan by buying more points is to combine them with prior points so you can take longer trips (or get larger unit) than before at one resort at a time, I would probably stick with the resort you already have.

 

[Mary Ellen]

This was the hardest decision for us - OKW or BWV. We love them both and there are pros and cons for each. Our home resort is BWV and my brother's is OKW (until they stayed with us at BWV - they now have BWV points too). This works out well for both of us, as we have someone to trade points with for getting ressies at the 11 mo. window.

We are 2 adults, no children, who prefer Epcot, MGM, and AK over the MK. The BWV location is perfect for us. However the OKW units are MUCH larger and if we were to go to WDW and not 'do' the parks, but just relax, we'd prefer staying at OKW. The kitchens of BWV are pretty small and so is the living room, it could get pretty claustrophobic if you had many people there for a lenght of time.

If you think that you would want to stay in a 'standard view' unit at BWV (these are about the same number of points/night as OKW), you need to be aware that they are almost impossible to get at the 7 month window. You'll need to buy at BWV if you want to stay in one of them very often.

Since we don't often (ever??) cook dinner at WDW, we like the variety of restaurants within walking distance of BWV.

We much prefer the studio arrangement of BWV - a queen bed and a sofa bed. This way we can actually sit on a couch to watch TV/read rather than trying to get comfortable on a bed. Even though the OKW studio is probably larger, we think the BWV studio seems more spacious because the floor space isn't taken up by another bed.

We also like that our packages are delivered to our room - rather than having to hike up to the gift shop at OKW. The furniture/decor at OKW is mighty nice, wouldn't mind having some of it in my house.

We worried that, no matter which resort we purchased, we would regret not having bought at the other resort. We've never regretted buying at BWV - but we're glad that my brother has OKW points

Good luck with your decision.

Enjoy!

 

[spruce]

We own at both OKW and BWV. We did the add-on at BWV after OKW had sold out the 1st time. We should have waited for the new buildings at OKW to be offered for sale because we don't like BWV anywhere near as much as we like OKW.
The only upside to BWV that is nice(for us) is its proximity to resturants and 2 parks. Other then that(for us) OKW is more relaxing and spacious. We prefer parking out front and OKWs setting. We also prefer the feel of staying in a condo instead of a hotel style condo. They are both beautiful resorts and we enjoy staying and owning at both but we prefer OKW.
We even explored the idea of selling our BWV points and picking up an equal # of OKW points but that really hasn't worked out very well. I guess we are stuck with them, which isn't a bad thing but to have added-on at OKW would have been better(FOR US)....spruce

Offsite 87,92,97,00
CBR 95
DI 98
Vero 98
BWV 98,99,00
OKW 99x2,00,01
DCL 98,01

 

[dianeschlicht]

Another OKW supporter here. I don't care for the hotel atmosphere of BWV. I like the townhouse feel of OKW where you can park outside your door etc. Some complain about the buses, but I don't mind them. We always plan for the bus and use that down time to relax. We are on vacation after all!

Disneydiane

 

[KathyR]

We own at the BWV, and my husband and I made this decision based partially on the fact that we had stayed there previously and I had loved it. The location is perfect. Before we purchased we looked into OKW alot. In fact, my husband preferred it to BWV. I talked him into the BWV, because getting a reservation at the BWV is so much more difficult at the 7 month window than it is at OKW. This way I knew I had a much better chance of getting what we wanted since I knew we wanted to enjoy both resorts. I was willing to pay the higher dues at BWV to make sure we would have an easier time making ressies there and at OKW.

KathyR

 

[Peggy Sue]

Tough decision! We initially purchased at OKW, did an add on at OKW and then another add on at BWV because we wanted to be able to take advantage of the 11 month reservation window there too so we could book standard view rooms.

We love OKW, and like to stay here for our longer WDW vacations. It is so relaxing, spacious and just a wonderful way to wind down after a day in the parks..or not going into the parks at all!

We like BWV for shorter WDW vacations. You can't beat the location and the ability to walk to Epcot, MGM and dining. However, we don't find the resort anywhere near as relaxing as OKW. (for how WE vacation)

before owning at BWV, we had booked a few short stays at the 7 month window. We could never get a standard view, and although we requested boardwalk we have always overlooked the luna pool. (I hate that clown..I've read too much Stephen King!! lol!!) So, for us adding points at BWV to be able to use the 11 month window for standard view made sense for our vacation style.

One of the things we like about owning at two resorts in the variety it provides us. Although we are at WDW..BWV and OKW are like night and day and both offer a great vacation experience.

Good luck with your decision!!

Have a wonderful day!