Purchasing at BWV vs. BCV

[1slowdaddy]

We just returned from a 2 week vacation to WDW and have decided to buy into the vacation club. We stayed at the BC hotel and loved it. During our stay, we underwent the DVC sales pitch, but decided to wait and investigate. We visited BLT, BWV, AKV, BCV, SSR, and VWL. Our favorite parks are Epcot and Hollywood Studios, we love being able to walk to Epcot and to take the boat to DHS, as well as the coastal feel. My wife absolutely loves the Beach Club.

I have read repeatedly on this board to have your home resort be one that you would be happy staying at every visit. We consider the "feel" and decor of BCV and the views of the preferred and boardwalk views at BWV to negate each other (and the required points are equal).

BWV has many more rooms, especially studios, which we would most often use and the price per point is little cheaper. We will usually be visiting in either April/May, September, or December. How difficult is it and how much fore notice would be required to get a room at each property during these times if it is, and if it is not your home resort?

Any other benefits of choosing one over the other would be greatly appreciated; like, we "heard" that there are free movie rentals at BCV. Does either have free WiFi or any other perks? Our youngest son is 10 and will be the only child traveling with us.

I am sorry that this is so long. Your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[disneynutz]

Both resorts have free WiFi and movie rentals and outdoor movies and activities.

BCV has Storm-A-Long Bay and really no good views from the Villas and BWV has a Clown Pool and the great Boardwalk View.

Better plan on a 1 bedroom if you vacation for more than a few days at a time.

Buy where you love to stay the most to avoid possible disappointment trying to book at 7 months.

Bill

 

[jekjones1558]

April/May and September are relatively easy to book if you call right at 7 months but December is tough, so that is when you would really need the 11 month booking advantage. Think about which resort you would want to stay at in December. Your son is at an age when he would probably love Stormalong Bay pool at BCV (although December is not always swimming weather at WDW). You cannot pool hop to Stormalong Bay, so if you want to use that pool you need to stay at BCV. BWV has BW view rooms and also standard view rooms that have views as good as many BCV views and the points requirements are a bargain. We enjoy the relaxing walk to Hollywood Studios from BWV (of course you can take the boat also). The walk to Studios from BCV is quite a bit longer.
The choice between the 2 is often discussed on these forums. Most agree that both resorts are great and both are popular. It does come down to personal taste.
Good luck in your decision and welcome to the DIS boards!

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you really can't decide, I'll let you know my experience trying to book them at under 7 months. There've been several times I've been able to get BWV but not BCV. BCV is also the only resort of those I've had to waitlist for where the waitlist didn't come thru. BTW, this was for a studio.

 

[etemplet]

Now I know why many DVCers own more than one property. My preference at the time of my purchase was Boardwalk or BLT. Now, I am being drawn toward Wilderness Lodge and plan to stay there in May. Is there really a wrong Disney property ?? LOL

Good luck !! Research and Planning is half the fun !!

 

[drusba]

For any resort at which you own, you can get what you want at 11 months out. At BWV, boardwalk view (the best) and standard view are often difficult to get if you wait for 7 month window but pool/garden preferred view is usually available although much more questionable to get it in December or the two Easter weeks.

BCV, the smaller resort, often has more issues at 7 months out and chances would be very low December or Easter weeks and possibly other parts of April but better in May or September.

Both have good acces to the two parks, Epcot (a short walk) and Studios (20to 25 minutes with BCV being further away by about 5 to 8 minutes). Also, you can take boat and though it can be somewhat long to Studios it is pleasant. YC/BC have their own busses much of the time but then too often may share with BW and Swan/Dolphin. BW always shares with Swan/Dolphin. The BW bus system is one of the worst on site, the YC/BC system is OK when not sharing with the other Epcot resorts and then when it does, it is also one of the worst on site.

BCV has llittle in impressive views; BWV's boardwalk view is fantastic but other views there are mostly just OK. BCV has Stormalong Bay, one of the best pools but BWV's pool is fine. With BCV you do have to walk over to BC to get to main pool and restaurants. BW main pool is the one on BWV side. Neither has counter service restaurant but BC has Beaches and Cream for quick food for lunch and after and one of the best buffet restaurants, Cape May (of course you can walk or take boat to the restaurant from BWV). BWV has its own night life to which you can easily walk from BCV.

We own at BWV and prefer it particularly because we always get boardwalk view which cannot be beat.

Both resorts have one downside that is growing in siginifcance. Their end date is January 2041, only 29 years away. That is a factor you need to consider particularly if you under 50; there are a lot of DVC members' who bought in the 90s who are now in their 60s and 70s and go more often than they ever did before.

If you do decide to buy either, the resale market is far less expensive than buying from Disney.

 

[cbnsoul]

I had a really tough time deciding between the two and, as my signature states, I'll eventually probably own both. I really like the atmosphere of the BCV lobby, where we tend to sit and people watch, a lot more than BWV and the pool is definitely better at BCV, especially for kids. I ended up choosing to buy BWV, though, because of the aforementioned BW views (awesome), it was the one place that I always dreamed of staying before I was a DVC member and it was available direct from Disney with my UY (I was on a wait list for BCV for months and just gave up!)

 

[arthur06]

We own at BWV and LOVE it there! We love having different booking categories with a cheaper point option. If you love the Epcot area, as we do, there really isn't a wrong answer.

 

[lilpooh108]

We just returned from a 2 week vacation to WDW and have decided to buy into the vacation club. We stayed at the BC hotel and loved it. During our stay, we underwent the DVC sales pitch, but decided to wait and investigate. We visited BLT, BWV, AKV, BCV, SSR, and VWL. Our favorite parks are Epcot and Hollywood Studios, we love being able to walk to Epcot and to take the boat to DHS, as well as the coastal feel. My wife absolutely loves the Beach Club.

Not sure if you and your wife are aware, but I have heard that the bedding, decor and furnishings are much nicer in the Beach Club hotel than it is in the DVC villas. Do a search and you'll find an entire thread complaining about the differences.

Maybe someone who has stayed in both recently can pipe in.

 

[Sandisw]

We have stayed at both, during the summer, and booked both at the 7 month mark, with our BLT points.

We ended up buying in to BWV because we realized that we liked the bigger resort, we liked that, while the walk to Epcot was a bit longer, the walk to HS was much shorter and manageable in the hot summer.

We also stayed in a BW view room this summer, and that really confirmed that we made the right choice.

Personally, I don't think that you can go wrong either way if you enjoy the Epcot area.

Good luck!!!

 

[crisi]

One thing to remember about that seven month window.

BCV is a smaller resort - there are usually rooms available at BWV when there aren't rooms available at BCV....BUT there are fewer Standard View and Boardwalk View rooms at BWV - so at seven months, you are more likely to find a BCV room than a standard or Boardwalk view room - there is a good chance of getting preferred. They are nice, but if EITHER view or the value of the standard view rooms is one of the factors drawing you to the BWV rooms, ownership - and booking early - are important. If any room at the Boardwalk will do, BCV is a better bet to own.

 

[1slowdaddy]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. We, meaning my wife, are no closer to a decision, though. She is very particular; me, not so much. As noted above, the rooms at the BC Inn are IMO much nicer than the villas at either resort, which seem a little dated. Do the villas "update" very often? If my wife was certain that the BCV would update soon to the decor of the Inn, then I believe that her mind would be made up. If not, then we are stuck, and she is throwing in new options including splitting points with BLT.

 

[runmommyrun]

Thanks for this thread. Bought into DVC in 2010 at BLT. Love it (and wasn't so sure we would given contemporary decor). But the resort has been great and I would highly recommend. However, Epcot and DHWS are my boys' favorites, so giving BCV a shot in June. We know we will love it.. Have run through BVC and BWV area twice in races this year and looks fantastic.

I was clearly ill-informed (my own problem), when we purchased DVC and didn't look into resales. There were no Epcot area resorts for sale per DVC, yet that is our favorite area. Nonetheless, We've stayed at different resorts since we've been members and have enjoyed all. We've stayed at Vero, VWL, BLT, SSR and have felt all are fabulous and been great for our trip.

Just determine what you enjoy and you can't go wrong. We've loved them all!

 

[Inkmahm]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. We, meaning my wife, are no closer to a decision, though. She is very particular; me, not so much. As noted above, the rooms at the BC Inn are IMO much nicer than the villas at either resort, which seem a little dated. Do the villas "update" very often? If my wife was certain that the BCV would update soon to the decor of the Inn, then I believe that her mind would be made up. If not, then we are stuck, and she is throwing in new options including splitting points with BLT.

Why not split points at BCV and BWV? If you go every year, you can bank and borrow to have enough points to book at 11 months for both BWV and BCV if you own at both.

We own at BWV but really like BCV, too. At BWV, we always stay in the BW view villas. Can't beat that view and we enjoy people watching as well as just the whole atmosphere of the place. We really don't care for the Storm a long pool, but many people love it. We like BCV because of how close it is to Epcot for walking AND because how close the parking is to the villas.

I wouldn't buy points at BLT because I have been able to book there at 7 months whenever I want to so far. I do own at AKV and VWL though. We use our BWV points for October for F&W, VWL points for December visits, and AKV for our March trips. We purchased AKV because we stayed at AK Lodge most of the time before we became DVC members. We would have joined sooner if AKV had existed then!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[jekjones1558]

If my wife was certain that the BCV would update soon to the decor of the Inn, then I believe that her mind would be made up.

I don't know when BCV is next scheduled for an update, but it is highly unlikely that the villa rooms will ever be like the BC rooms. When BW Inn and BWV rooms were updated, the furnishings were not alike. DVC rooms are pretty close to 100% booked at all times and take quite a beating. The maintenance is paid by DVC members through dues and cost is a big issue in keeping dues affordable.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We also own at both! At BWV we prefer the standard view option, especially during the highest points season, between Christmas and New Years! We use our BCV points when weare most likely to swim!

Bobbi

 

[crisi]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. We, meaning my wife, are no closer to a decision, though. She is very particular; me, not so much. As noted above, the rooms at the BC Inn are IMO much nicer than the villas at either resort, which seem a little dated. Do the villas "update" very often? If my wife was certain that the BCV would update soon to the decor of the Inn, then I believe that her mind would be made up. If not, then we are stuck, and she is throwing in new options including splitting points with BLT.

DVC is a timeshare. Room refreshes come out of member dues (already fairly high for the industry). So no, you won't get refreshes very often. And they get more wear and tear than regular rooms - people tend to "live" in a DVC room where they just sleep and shower in a hotel room. BWV was just refreshed and BCV not long before that - and never to the decor of the hotel side.

Don't buy DVC expecting a hotel. Its one of the sure ways to be disappointed. We like hotels - what we like about DVC is the ability to stick our kids in a separate bedroom for a reasonable amount of money.

 

[disneybirds]

We own at BC and absolutely love it. Since it is a smaller resort, it may be harder to get into for December. It is also alittle closer to Epcot. We bought without reviewing any resorts and have been very happy.

 

[1slowdaddy]

We had an offer accepted at Boardwalk! The option to have a great view or lower prices at 11 month window, and the lower price sealed the deal. Hopefully, the closing will go without a hitch and we will be members soon! I am obsessed with it right now and have been planning our future travels. Thanks for all the input.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had an offer accepted at Boardwalk! The option to have a great view or lower prices at 11 month window, and the lower price sealed the deal. Hopefully, the closing will go without a hitch and we will be members soon! I am obsessed with it right now and have been planning our future travels. Thanks for all the input.

Congratulations!