Purchase BWV or BCV???

[jollymon2]

Hi all,

I've been reading the boards for about five months now and I've learned a lot. We decided we wanted to join DVC and we had the paperwork for SSR in April, but it just didn't feel right, so we didn't go through with it. I'm now thinking we should go resale and do what most say here...buy where you want to stay. The problem we have is we can't decide. We know we want to be in the boardwalk area (we love walking to Epcot, the boat to MGM, and the fun of the boardwalk at night) but we're torn between BWV and BCV. I honestly think (know) we'll be happy at both, but aren't sure which way to go. We may bring family in the future, so a grand villa sounds cool, but we can always do multiple roooms at BCV so it's not a huge deal. Pools at both are good with SAB a few notches above. We got engaged at Beach Club so it does hold some sentimental value, but it the Boardwalk is just so cool. As you can see, we're completely torn and any advice or suggestions would be a huge help. Maybe it will all come down to which one we can get our desired use year and correct number of points at...who knows. Please help.

 

[jaysue]

I am going to show my personal bias here - we own at BCV - we do stay at BWV sometimes though

We have young kids and SAB as a pool with the sandy bottom area and kids areas works best for them hence we have 320 of our 663 points there

BWV does feel more adult oriented and more like a resort - BCV feels like an add-on and not as a separate resort unto itself

Locations are in essence the same

Views are about the same in my opinion - I will give a slight edge to BWV for this one since Epcot Resorts Blvd runs close to BCV and that can disturb peoples views and sleep for some

Overall, I would base my decision on how important SAB is to your overall experience - if very important go with BCV - if not so important then consider BWV

As for GV's at BWV they are generally accessible at the 7mo window (at least in the past)

good luck

thanks
jaysue

 

[bobbiwoz]

Are the lower points for standard view at BWV important to you at all? That is something to consider.

Bobbi

 

[jbthi]

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

We originally bought BWV and then did a 100 point add-on at BCV. I personally prefer BW and I really don't know why. I guess I like all the activity there and the many restaurants although it's not that far from BC either by boat or walking.

The reason we did the add-on at BC is so we could take the GC there every other year and they could have SAB.

June

 

[CarolMN]

If you really don't have a strong preference (and I can sure understand why, LOL), why not just let "fate" decide? You can't go wrong with either resort.

Figure out the range of points you want and the acceptable use years. Then put your name on the list with some brokers and buy whatever comes up first. Of course, you'll need to look at each deal to be sure the price is right.

Best wishes -

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The Boardwalk is our favorite even though we own at the BCV also. The nice thing about the BWV is the ability to use less points for the standard room as bobbiwoz has already stated but also to be guaranteed the Boardwalk view if you want that too. Both of those need to be made generally before the 7 month window opens.

Good luck. You can't go wrong with either choice.

HBC

 

[Patty3]

I know your dilema. We own 202 points at the BWV and then when BCV was built we bought another 202 points there. I personally like the BCV better, my DD likes BWV better, DH still can't decide. Depending on how many points you are going to buy, maybe you could buy at both like we did?

 

[twotoohappy]

Originally posted by Patty3
Depending on how many points you are going to buy, maybe you could buy at both like we did?

My thoughts exactly! I couldn't decide between VWL (to be near MK) or BCV for sab and Epcot area. I bought both. I'll split my stay sometimes, and then sometimes at the 7 month mark maybe I'll just stay at one. 2 contracts would give you more versitility and if you had to sell, then it probably be easier to sell. Also, you can get BCV and BWV through Disney sometimes. I know just recently (not sure it there are still some left) that Disney was selling off 10,000 points at BWV. I just got a new 150 contract at BCV a little over a week ago so don't rule out Disney directly

 

[crisi]

I'd let fate decide as well.

We bought BWV resale when BCV was being built. There is a lot I like about BCV, but the BWV standard view points were a big plus. For a long time I sort of regretted not having access to SAB, but we went last year while the BW slide was being maintained and were able to spend a day at SAB. It convinced me that I'd made the right decision in the end. Although SAB is a wonderful pool, it was difficult to watch my two little ones, and will be more difficult when my two little ones aren't so little! SAB is great for the tot set, that you don't leave alone - the sandbar, the zero entry, the kiddie slide (more, perhaps for the preschool set). Once my kids get to "run off and swim age" I'd rather have them in my sights until they are a little older - and that's hard at SAB.

 

[kaseyC]

We knew we wanted to be in the Epcot area. Our favorite resort was the BC. We are not "pool people" so SAB was not a factor. We just wanted to be in the Epcot/BW area. So we contacted the major resale agents and told them that we were looking for 200-225 pts at either BWV or BCV. A BWV contract came up first so we bought it. We are just very happy to have our Home Resort in the area we wanted it in. Also access to the GV and the standard point option is a plus.

 

[arminnie]

If you will be using a car I think I've read that BCV has better parking.

I have not stayed at BWV but have stayed at BWI and the parking can really be a problem. If you self park - be prepared for a LONG walk and if you valet park be prepared for a LONG wait. The valet area can get very congested. I've had to wait a long time even when I called down for my car ahead of time.

 

[rocketriter]

I'd do this one by gut, since a Disney visit is not an efficiency exercise. When you look at both resorts, do you have a better feeling for one that the other? Buy that one.

If this technique doesn't work, try the opposite. Just plump down and make a decision for one or the other--and then see if you can live with it. If the other suddenly screams to be owned, then that's the one.

 

[Granny]

I kind of like Rockriter's advice. In your mind, choose one and then figure out if you'd be disappointed if you had difficulty booking the other one in the coming years.

My first instinct was to suggest BCV, since that has an emotional tie for you. I think that emotional ties to a resort make the stays there better than they might otherwise be.

On the other hand, are these things important to you:

1. Lower points in BWV standard...may be hard to get if not an owner there.

2. Boardwalk View. This will be easier to get if an owner at BWV.


For those two reasons alone, I'd buy at BWV. The odds of booking BCV at the 7 month window might be better than the odds of booking #1 & #2 above at the 7 month window.

But in the end, just think of the word "home".



Which resort came to mind first?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have the most of our points at OKW, but also 100 each at BCV and VWL. What I like about BCV is that is is quiet - almost OKW quiet at times. And the close in parking is a real plus to me. That was something that I didn't like at BWV when we stayed there. My husband and son love SAB, but I can take it or leave it. I prefer the quiet pool at Dunes Cove.

 

[donmil723]

I think everyone has given you good advice. So many things must be considered--pools, views, points, parking, restaurants, etc. IMHO, I think it would actually be easier to book BWV (if you don't have to have a standard or BW view) at the 7 month window than BCV because it is a larger resort and therefore has more rooms available.

Good luck with your decision.

Donna

 

[las3888]

We were sort of in the same boat when we were buying our resale. We were looking for BCV or BWV resales on the web, but I think looking back I was leaning more towards BWV. Here are my thoughts on the two:

We own at BWV and really LOVE that you can book a standard view room at fewer points. I don't like that the other resorts don't have this, and I always feel like it is a small rip-off that you might have a very standard view somewhere else, but aren't making up for it by using fewer points. We also liked that the BWV seems more connected to the lobby and has more of a resort feel while as another poster mentioned BCV is more like an add-on.

We have found difficulty trying to get studios at BCV after the 7 month mark, so if your heart is sold on BCV and you buy BWV, you might have some difficulty getting a room when you want, or at least the room size you are looking for. Same goes for BWV - if you want a standard view studio or 1 BR (don't have experience with 2 BR's), it will be darn near impossible to get one after the 7 month window - OR a boardwalk view. If you own at BCV, you should be prepared to have a 'preferred' view at BWV, which costs more points and could overlook a wide variety of things (pools, the Swan, landscaping).

What I don't like about the BWV is that the rooms can be a very long distance from the main lobby, but it is an advantage that you can be closer to the pool, parking lot, and pathway to MGM. We found parking at BWV to be no problem at all - we were there over Memorial Day and it was very crowded and still had no problems with parking at BWV.

All in all, it is a pretty tough decision - but the good thing is that they are both great...good luck!

 

[jollymon2]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice...I never expected so many replies. I really do appreciate you all taking the time to help me out and I will try to take everyones advice when I finally decide what to do. Thanks again.

 

[chainkid]

Most of my stays are at the BWV and I have never self parked...don't even know where it is. I have never waited long for valet parking, and I go in and out several times a day...this last trip car was waiting for us every time. we tip $2 dollars pick up and drop off another $2..to me its well worth it. I love the BWV and wouldn't be totally happy anywhere else although I love all the resorts for different reasons.

 

[timC]

All thing being equal, go with BWV... the STD view room rates stretch your points, that much further.