Quick Trip Report for BCV/VWL/VB

[ddhoeg]

Just got back from an 8 night stay in 2 bedroom villas at BCV, VWL, and VB. Overall we had a fabulous time, learned a lot about what we like and don’t like, and are thankful to DVC for making it possible for us. We stayed at BCV for 4 nights, VWL for 2 nights, and VB for 2 nights in order to try them all out. (Our only previous DVC stay was at OKW in December – we loved it!)

Our least favorite resort was BCV. We did enjoy the proximity to Epcot and MGM and Stormalong Bay was all that we thought it would be, but the room was disappointing. We were located at the east end of the wing and the hike to the elevator got old really quickly (although the view of the boardwalk was lovely). I think it took longer to get from our room to the walkway to Epcot as it did to get to Epcot itself. Also, of the 3 resorts we stayed at, BCV was the most worn and damaged. I guess I wasn’t prepared for the cramped feeling of the room, where my 8 ounce tube of Crest was too big to fit both width and lengthwise in the bathroom drawers. The drawer space in the kitchen area is equally small where the flatware holder had to be placed lengthwise to fit. The lack of storage space caused us to really clutter up the small countertops which added to the crowded feel. We looked around the villa for a place to put the crib and the best location we could find was in the master suite area :{. The booth area in the kitchen made it hard for all of us to eat together and the bar area is hardly big enough to put a plate on. I think we spent the majority of the first day in mourning for OKW and the space we had there. However, as the days went on BCV grew on us but probably not enough to stay there again. I know there are many people who love BCV and that’s the great thing about DVC – there is something for everyone. It just wasn’t our cup of tea.

Our room at VWL was wonderful! It was bright and spacious and had an actual table with 4 chairs to eat on, 2 queen beds in the 2nd bedroom with enough room for the crib, and a beautiful view of the main lodge and quiet pool. I have read that the square footage space of BCV and VWL are the same, but they didn’t feel the same. VWL was much more spacious for our family of six, and the vanity/kitchen countertop spaces were more standard sizes with more storage space compared to BCV. Our time there was dreamy and we didn’t want to leave the resort when we had to go. The woodsy and peaceful feeling of VWL was perfect for us. We enjoyed the Whispering Canyon Café, the music playing down the walkways, watching wishes from the beach, and the electric water parade too. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.

VB was nice too, although it rained almost our entire time there. There were several craft and other activities for the kids and we enjoyed the evening campfire. Our room was nice and spacious (although rather worn) and our primary complaint was the weather. The shower water pressure was unusually low, so much that I had to really work to rinse DD’s hair. Also, the pool temperature seems to be cooler than the WDW pools and a kid size soda at the pool area was $2.29. Ouch! I don’t think we would make the trip to stay there again as I think we could hang out and relax at WDW just as easily, but the rain probably played a big part in that assessment.

To each their own, and for us VWL and OKW are favorites. Now, which one to stay at in December? Thank you DVC for more wonderful memories!

 

[Daitcher]

Thanks for the report. You really had valid reasons to like or dislike each location. Wish the weather was better for you at Vero because I think you would have like it there. It is the beauty of DVC because we all have different likes and dislikes.

Thanks again,

DAVE

 

[Doug7856]

Thanks for the report! I enjoy reading everyone's opinion of the various resorts.

 

[lsutigger2]

Thanks for the reports. I also enjoy reading the reports.

We also love VWL and love the fact that there is "something for everyone" with DVC!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing!!! Glad you had a good time!!!

Allison

 

[donmil723]

Were you at Beach Club or Boardwalk? You mentioned the view of the boardwalk was lovely but there isn't a view of the boardwalk at BCV. Thanks for the trip report.

Donna

 

[ddhoeg]

We were at the beach club and stayed in room 551 (I think). It was at the east end of the hallway and we could see the ESPN club and boardwalk lights from our room.

 

[lisareniff]

We were at the beach club and stayed in room 551 (I think). It was at the east end of the hallway and we could see the ESPN club and boardwalk lights from our room.

Wow, I didn't realize you could see the boardwalk either. I was guessing that upper corner is the only place you could have been!

Thanks for the report. We haven't been to VWL yet, only BCV, so I'm wondering what our impressions will be when we stay there next trip.

Just curious what room you had at VWL?? Was it one of those interesting corner rooms next to the atruim?

 

[jaysue]

Thanks for the trip report - yes, the BCV drawers and table design are certainly not the best - I am looking forward to our first VWL stay coming in May of this year. Thanks for the report and I understand the length of your walk comment, we have had room #252 in the past (same end of the building but on opposite side of hallway)

Cheers
jaysue

 

[ddhoeg]

Wow, I didn't realize you could see the boardwalk either. I was guessing that upper corner is the only place you could have been!

Thanks for the report. We haven't been to VWL yet, only BCV, so I'm wondering what our impressions will be when we stay there next trip.

Just curious what room you had at VWL?? Was it one of those interesting corner rooms next to the atruim?

Yes, we had one of those wonderful corner rooms right off the atrium and close to the elevators. How we got it I don't know because I didn't specifically request anything other than a pool view. Since this was our first VWL stay I am unsure how the room we had compared to others there as the floorplan pictures I've seen on-line were not set up as our room was. This room had (I'm trying to remember from memory so don't quote me) about 8-10 windows/sliding doors on the exterior walls which made it especially bright and cheerful. I think the living/kitchen area and both bedrooms each had 2 exterior walls making the corner. I could sit on our balcony which exactly faced the main lodge and see the lodge guests with their standard hotel rooms of 2 beds and TV and felt so fortunate to belong to DVC! It was a tearful moment - LOL! I would find it hard to go back to a regular hotel room again - I've gotten spoiled. I did go ahead and book our late November/December trip at VWL today and specifically requested that room view again. I hope we get it!! Unfortunately all of the 2 bedroom villas were taken for the Wednesday before and Thanksgiving day but I got the Friday after through December 3rd and waitlisted for the others. Can't wait to go back again!

 

[Scotch]

We looked around the villa for a place to put the crib and the best location we could find was in the master suite area :{.

I just want to get some clarification -- did you have a 1BR or 2BR at BCV? I'm expecting to be able to have a full size crib (rented from A Baby's Best Friend) placed in the second bedroom, but your remark has me worried that the second bedroom is too cramped to fit a full size crib!

 

[ddhoeg]

I just want to get some clarification -- did you have a 1BR or 2BR at BCV? I'm expecting to be able to have a full size crib (rented from A Baby's Best Friend) placed in the second bedroom, but your remark has me worried that the second bedroom is too cramped to fit a full size crib!

We had a 2 bedroom villa at BCV and you are rightfully worried. Because we used the sleeper sofa in addition to the bed in the second bedroom, floor space was cut down. If you aren't planning on using the sleeper, you would have the additional floorspace (in between the sleeper sofa and table/2 chairs) for a full crib. To put it into perspective, when we pulled out the sleeper we almost hit the table and chairs with the pull-out. It was surprisingly compact!! We could have placed the pack n' play in front of the bathroom sink area of the second bedroom but it would have either blocked the sink area and/or walking space to the beds. For us the most logical space was in the master suite where it was out of the traffic flow pattern other than the balcony door. In fact DH and I surveyed the room independently and both came to the conclusion that the best place for the crib was in with us :{. If the pack and play seemed too big in our situation, I can't imagine where you would put a full size crib without having to maneuver around it your entire stay and thereby waking the baby at undesired times (if the sleeper was in use that is). JMHO which is probably jello after parenting 4 young kids. Best wishes on a great trip!

 

[Scotch]

Thanks. Would a full size crib fit in the master bedroom? We've only stayed at OKW before, and I know those are extra large units. Funny when we walked through BCV we didn't think to eyeball whether a full size crib would fit into the bedrooms -- I thought they would but I was just guessing. Ugh.

 

[newholidayx2]

we'll be doing both VWL & BCV this Aug
VWL is our "home", this will be 1st trip to BCV

 

[lisareniff]

Yes, we had one of those wonderful corner rooms right off the atrium and close to the elevators.....

Thanks ddhoeg, Those rooms sound really nice, I would love to have one when we stay there! Do yo think that difference in room configuration made the room feel bigger, (or actually was!) then the normal setup?


We were in a dedicated 2 bedroom with two queens in the second bedroom last month. Now, I wasn't dealing with cribs, but I would think that a full size crib would fit between the master king bed and the exterior wall. In the second bedroom there might be room in the double sink area or if you did a little rearranging and moved the little table and chairs and put the crib there. You might want the chairs in the living/dining area anyway. I'm sure others would know the real answer to this.

 

[Divamomto3]

Excellent trip report! In August, we're staying at SSR, which we already know we love, then moving on to BWV and then BCV to try as many DVC resorts as we can in the next few years so we know which are our favorites. I've stayed in the Lodge side of the WL, but not VWL and haven't stayed at OKW yet. Looking forward to both of those in the future. While I love the Epcot/Boardwalk area, I hope we won't miss our new SSR room so close to DD, but I really want to try a different resort.
Can't wait for August!

 

[ddhoeg]

Thanks. Would a full size crib fit in the master bedroom? We've only stayed at OKW before, and I know those are extra large units. Funny when we walked through BCV we didn't think to eyeball whether a full size crib would fit into the bedrooms -- I thought they would but I was just guessing. Ugh.

I think a full size crib would just fit in between the king size bed and the exterior wall but it would be tight. I've been a stay at home mom the past 7 years and desperately need the separation from my kids at the end of the day to really unwind. I would rather not have my baby in with us if at all possible, but we ended up putting baby in the master suite and it worked out fine. DH and I just hung out more in the living room/kitchen area instead. I personally liked it better at OKW and VWL where DH and I could have free reign over both the living/kitchen area and our master suite area without disturbing the sleeping kids. We usually break out a bottle of wine to celebrate making it through another Disney day!

 

[ddhoeg]

Thanks ddhoeg, Those rooms sound really nice, I would love to have one when we stay there! Do yo think that difference in room configuration made the room feel bigger, (or actually was!) then the normal setup?

I wish I knew the answer to that question!! Can someone fill us in? When the bellman brought our bags up we asked if our room was a normal room and he indicated that we had additional windows but didn't say anything about the size or setup. The pictures I've seen on-line showed a booth eating area and bar set up but we didn't have that. We had a square dining table with 4 chairs. I love the big round table at OKW (as opposed to a square) where all 6 of us can eat together but this was second best. It seemed to me that BCV had more space devoted to the master suite bathroom area than VWL. It could be that this space was reallocated away from bathrooms and into living space at VWL but I don't really know. Our room at VWL felt so much bigger than BCV - whether this was because of the corner room or different room layout I am unsure. As far as how the corner room at VWL compares to other rooms at VWL, that is an intriguing question. I hope the VWL experts will enlighten us!

 

[OkieDisney]

Woo Hoo, my buddy posted a trip report!

It is funny what you find you like and dislike about the different resorts!

I totally agree about the storage space at BCV, what were they thinking?????!!!!!

The only reason we stay at BCV is proximity to EPCOT/MGM and the pool. We are big swimmers and the girls are old enough to swim by themselves. So we love hanging out there.

When we stayed at VWL, I found myself continually saying that the walk to the bus was so short. I loved the intimate feel of the resort and the better storage space!!!

Of course I am the type that must completely unpack and organize all of our belongings before I can start the vacation. So, resort hopping is not a usual thing for us.

I love VB for the spaciousness (like OKW I imagine) and the relaxation (and the great weather in May) but agree with you that I would rather relax at Disney World then anywhere else.

We were going to stay at Ron Jons in May for a few days before our cruise, but I couldn't do it, so I made reservations for SSR, so I am looking forward to seeing this resort.

Love ya!

Karen