questions re: BWV

[papabear4]

Hi, everyone,
We are thinking about staying at Boardwalk this vacation, and I know there are many BWV lovers out there. I've read the boards enough to have a good sense of what people like about the resort, and it's piqued our interest to try it this time.

My question is this: we have four children who will be 9, 7, 5, and 3 at the time of travel. I've read about the "long" hallways, etc., and I'm wondering if that's part of getting a standard room. We're not really about the views at this point in our lives (someday when the kids are older we might have time to sit and drink coffee while watching the activities on the boardwalk). So for us, we'd just as soon save the points, unless there's a really good reason for requesting preferred.

Thanks for your help.

 

[chainkid]

Actually it really doesn't make a difference which type of room you get as far as the long hallways, standard or preferred. Request close to the elevators but be aware that since (magical Express) many complain that on the standard view some rooms are very noisy near the loading area which is fairly close to the elevators. To be sure of a fairly short walk you could request 1st floor near the tennis courts. It's pretty easy to find a door to the outside and the area is pretty quiet too. Most of the long hallways have places where you can use stairs to access the outside without going back to the main bank of elevators. I have really bad knees and I've stayed in the farthest rooms and it was never a major problem for me. Alot of times you can talk to the CM checking you in and they will have a few rooms to choose from. Ask them for the most convenient for your family. If they have choice I've always found them to be accomodating. You will love the BW, I rarely stay anywhere else if I have a choice. Have Fun.

Joan

 

[keishashadow]

The long length of the hallways is over-exagerated IMO, except @ the end of the day, returning from the parks...then they're twice as long.

Kids seem to luv the long hallways; get a running start once they get off the elevator and away they go.

enjoy!

 

[papabear4]

Thanks for your replies. It sounds like the hallways won't be a problem for us. So I think we'll go for the standard room.

So, yes, we're excited about staying at BWV. Even my DW, who's a big BCV-lover. We think the kids will enjoy the pool at BWV and of course it's got the same great location.

I'll need to visit the resort boards and find out information about dining. We had big plans for visiting the various resort restaurants last visit (March '06), but we discovered that the kids were too worn out by the end of the day and we ended up buying a lot of quick dinners at the hotel shop. Does BW have a place to grab a quick bite? (non-sit down, I mean) Even Beaches and Cream proved to be a little much (the then-3-year-old fell asleep at the table, poor little guy).

Thanks!

 

[DrShifty]

I agree that I think that this "long hallways" thing is overblown. I wouldn't worry about it. I am not sure that it's any further from the lobby than at VWL, for example where you have to walk outside, get to the elevator and walk down the hall- although I enjoy the VWL walk to my room more because it's not just a "hallway". My longest walk at BWV was to a BW view room. Standard views are not further. I love the rooms near the tennis court also since a)I play tennis and b) I love that far door that you can exit and have a shorter walk to MGM.
Two things at BWV that your kids might enjoy besides the usual stuff-
Community Hall and the mini-golf, just a short walk from BWV behind the Dolphin. If you go, don't forget that you get a DVC discount.
You'll love BWV. Have fun.

 

[DebbieB]

Unless there is some kind of disability, I think it is overblown. My 65+ year old mom on chemo treatments always made it to the end of the hall with no problem. When we booked standard views, we were almost always down near the pond. There are steps at that end if you want to go to the bus stop or the parking lot.

Have a great time!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are BW View villas with a long walk to the villa. Close to the elevator doesn't necessarily mean preferred view.

 

[Figment2]

Give me those "long" walks to the room in a air conditioned/heated hallway over those long outside walks to the room at POP anyday!

Cyn

 

[Deb & Bill]

Give me those "long" walks to the room in a air conditioned/heated hallway over those long outside walks to the room at POP anyday!

Cyn

Are you sure about that? I didn't think they heated or cooled the corridors. They always feel stuffy to me.

 

[beachblanket]

Since you are considering standard view, this may be less relevant, but the whole "close to the elevator request" thing actually works against those staying in the preferred BW view category.

One of the greatest benefits of a BW view villa (beyond being right above all the waterfront action) is the front row seating for Epcot Illuminations. The best views of that show are actually at the villas furthest from the elevators (at the "Jellyrolls" end of the villa complex). This is due to the curve of the building, which results in the most northwestern villas having the most direct, unobstructed view of Epcot.

 

[papabear4]

Since you are considering standard view, this may be less relevant, but the whole "close to the elevator request" thing actually works against those staying in the preferred BW view category.

One of the greatest benefits of a BW view villa (beyond being right above all the waterfront action) is the front row seating for Epcot Illuminations. The best views of that show are actually at the villas furthest from the elevators (at the "Jellyrolls" end of the villa complex). This is due to the curve of the building, which results in the most northwestern villas having the most direct, unobstructed view of Epcot.

Besides being a money-saving move, we were thinking of getting a standard room because we thought being close to the promenade might be a little loud and our kids go to bed fairly early. Do you find that being right over Jellyrolls gets too loud?

 

[bababear_50]

Ahmen to that Figment 2 (Cyn)

Stayed in the POP's 90's section --taught me enough to know when I go back to Disney it wil be as a DVC member

 

[beachblanket]

Besides being a money-saving move, we were thinking of getting a standard room because we thought being close to the promenade might be a little loud and our kids go to bed fairly early. Do you find that being right over Jellyrolls gets too loud?

A good question that you will get a range of answers to.

We've twice stayed in a BW view villa (4001) this is almost directly above Jellyrolls, both times during August, which meant the doors to the balconies were often open quite a bit during the evening. Being four floors up above the boardwalk, the general noise level was never that bad (possibly because the games -- the real "noise creators" at night -- are set further down the Boardwalk, towards the village green). And after we shut the doors at bedtime -- at that time of year you need the air conditiong going-- we literally couldn't hear a thing coming from outside.

I'm laughing as a write this, since I just made a ressie for a BWV BW view villa for next year, and one of my requests was "towards the Jellyrolls end of building." One of the CMs I dealt with actually said "you must not mind the sound of drunks at closing time!" For a second I thought of debating her on that, but then realized nah, let MS continue to communicate the myth, for it creates less competition for the better villas!!

 

[Granny]

Are you sure about that? I didn't think they heated or cooled the corridors. They always feel stuffy to me.

As a family that normally vacations during the summer, I can guarantee you that those BWV hallways are air conditioned! I agree that the long walk is not much of an issue to us.

 

[kcmyluv]

The feel the hallways are long for people who can't walk that far. My mom has MS and can walk the parks (not fast) but it would be nice to get off the elevator and be at our room so she can rest. If you are young you shouldn't have a problem!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanks for your replies. It sounds like the hallways won't be a problem for us. So I think we'll go for the standard room.

In case you weren't aware, the standard view rooms may be hard to book at the 7 month window. Book as soon as you can. -- Suzanne

 

[MdmMim]

Besides being a money-saving move, we were thinking of getting a standard room because we thought being close to the promenade might be a little loud and our kids go to bed fairly early. Do you find that being right over Jellyrolls gets too loud?

I can tell you that the standard rooms can be noisy, too, especially when the bars close. I've been awakened several times by people who were yelling and/or laughing while either waiting for a cab or for their valet-parked car. They were out there quite awhile! This not only happens after a big game which is expected (Super Bowl or World Series), but also randomly.

 

[lsutigerita]

I have never found it noisy. We like staying on the ground floor facing the ponds and the entrance to the Boardwalk. Our children like to feed the ducks in the morning and afternoon. They come up to your door. We also travel with a mini football. The kids enjoy running around in the grass and I can say it is quite relaxing.

The hallways are air conditioned. You might find it a little cool after swimming, but very refreshing coming home from the parks during the summer months.

A nice place to eat on the Boardwalk is Spoodles. They also have an outside pizza to go service with tables to enjoy, the Boardwalk Bakery, and the ESPN club.

 

[Inkmahm]

A good question that you will get a range of answers to.

We've twice stayed in a BW view villa (4001) this is almost directly above Jellyrolls, both times during August, which meant the doors to the balconies were often open quite a bit during the evening. Being four floors up above the boardwalk, the general noise level was never that bad (possibly because the games -- the real "noise creators" at night -- are set further down the Boardwalk, towards the village green). And after we shut the doors at bedtime -- at that time of year you need the air conditiong going-- we literally couldn't hear a thing coming from outside.

I'm laughing as a write this, since I just made a ressie for a BWV BW view villa for next year, and one of my requests was "towards the Jellyrolls end of building." One of the CMs I dealt with actually said "you must not mind the sound of drunks at closing time!" For a second I thought of debating her on that, but then realized nah, let MS continue to communicate the myth, for it creates less competition for the better villas!!

We were in 5011 in December (1 bedroom Boardwalk view) and loved it. Yes, it was near the end of the hall. No, the halls aren't THAT long. I believe the halls at AKL are MUCH longer, actually. At least that's my perception when having to walk them.

The noise we had in 5011 was from the games on the boardwalk, not Jellyrolls. The one game has the sound of a telephone ringing and it took a few nights for us to figure out that there wasn't a phone ringing out there, it was just part of one of the games.

 

[MinnieFan]

We've twice stayed in a BW view villa (4001) this is almost directly above Jellyrolls, both times during August, which meant the doors to the balconies were often open quite a bit during the evening. Being four floors up above the boardwalk, the general noise level was never that bad (possibly because the games -- the real "noise creators" at night -- are set further down the Boardwalk, towards the village green). And after we shut the doors at bedtime -- at that time of year you need the air conditiong going-- we literally couldn't hear a thing coming from outside.

We stayed in 5001 (1 floor directly above the room you had) in February and we didn't hear a thing either. What a great view!