Rent a Preferred Saratoga or Standard Boardwalk studio ?

[pooh2001]

My DH loves the EPCOT area.
I, DW, likes to relax at WDW.
Just us two going to WDW, oldies, but goodies.
We are young at heart.

We want to be close to a bus stop/transportation and also the laundry machines.
We would like to be able to buy some groceries at the resort.
We plan on early May and renting through Davids (seems a very secure way to rent)

Which would DVC studio would be best?

Thank you to all the DVC owners (the luckiest people in the world ) for your advice.

 

[Spartan86]

We have stayed at a Saratoga "preferred" studio at Congress park, and have not stayed at Boardwalk yet. We enjoyed the proximity to Disney Springs and the bus stop was just outside. I am not sure where our nearest laundry would have been. As for buying groceries at the resort - we did pick up a few items at Artist's Palette. I'm not sure what would be similar at BWV. I can throw out a plug for garden grocer however. Excellent service and a far larger selection than in the resort stores and better pricing too.

 

[Marionnette]

My DH loves the EPCOT area.
I, DW, likes to relax at WDW.
Just us two going to WDW, oldies, but goodies.
We are young at heart.

We want to be close to a bus stop/transportation and also the laundry machines.
We would like to be able to buy some groceries at the resort.
We plan on early May and renting through Davids (seems a very secure way to rent)

Which would DVC studio would be best?

Thank you to all the DVC owners (the luckiest people in the world ) for your advice.

A BWV standard studio may be difficult to get via one of the brokers. Right now, they would need a BWV owner to make the reservation because we are just inside of the 11-month window for May. It's a smaller resort (fewer owners) and there will be other potential renters on a wait list ahead of you for their points. BWV is a walk or boat ride away from 2 parks. Standard view villas are on the same side of the building as the driveway entrance and the luggage handling area. It can be very noisy, especially if you request "close to elevator". The Screen Porch has a decent selection groceries but don't expect it to be on the level of Winn-Dixie. Ordering from a grocery delivery service is a good idea if you have specific items that you want.

SSR is larger and, IMO, lends itself to a much more relaxing vacation. It will be much easier to book because there are more owners there and more studios available. Congress Park is a "preferred" location and is an easy walk to DS where you'll find plenty of shopping and dining. The resort is more sprawling than BWV. There's a leisure pool in Congress Park but it's a good distance from the feature pool. Access to the parks is completely via bus. SSR has an internal bus system to get guests around the resort due to its size.

It will really come down to two things - what's available to rent and what kind of vacation you want.

 

[jekjones1558]

If you want a BW standard studio it would be best to rent now. Those rooms book up quickly, often close to 11 months out. If you book now you should be able to get one.

 

[caskar]

Boardwalk is a short walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Can't beat walking back from the parks especially Epcot when most people have to walk all the way to the front and out to the buses. Boardwalk has a store for most basic needs. Laundry is in the building. But if you are a shopper and/or like the night life nothing beats walking back to Congress Park. Many shopping options with a store for basic needs. Laundry is at the pool area.
Boardwalk Villas standard view are very hard to come by at the 7-month window.

 

[a742246]

If you can get a Standard Boardwalk studio I would get that.

The Epcot area resorts are beautiful. For a nice relaxing pool area try the pool on the Inn side of Boardwalk.

 

[Disney & ME]

I just got back from the BWV and while we had a 1 bedroom pool view, it was right across the hall from some of the standard studios. It was far from the elevators but you could probably ask to be closer and then it would be a close walk to the busses too. Keep in mind that as others have said, you can walk to both EPCOT and HS from BW or boat is your only other option to get to those parks.

I have also stayed at the Saratoga since that is our home resort and we stayed in preferred views in Congress Park before they were considered preferred. I loved the walk over to Disney Springs but you have to take a bus to all of the parks. Congress Park is the second to last bus stop but the area closest to DS. By the time we got to he last bus stop, which I believe is The Springs area (the one closest to the lobby and Artist Palette) sometimes people waiting could not get on since the busses were so full.

I guess it depends on which areas of WDW you plan to visit and how much you want to walk. If you like EPCOT I would personally stay at BW. You are also close to all the great restaurants at the World Showcase and the hotels in the area.

We have used Green Grocer before with much luck. The bellhops will hold your groceries for you too and deliver to your room. The store at BW has a better selection of groceries than the Artist Palette and I really didn't find the prices too bad for Disney standards. But, if you want to have a lot of groceries, Green Grocer is the way to go or stop at a grocery store on the way if you have a car.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Take the BWV standard if you can get it. SSR is our home resort so we stay there often and like to change up with other resorts. BWV is a favorite.

 

[Shellyred8]

I would recommend BWV. It's close to two parks and I actually find the area to be pretty relaxing. I enjoy walking around the lake to relax. Or just sitting on the Boardwalk somewhere, enjoying a beverage or ice cream, and looking out over the lake. There's something about the water that relaxes me. We've stayed at both, and enjoy each for different reasons. But if you want to be spending a lot of time at EPCOT, I would definitely go for BWV. You won't have to worry about wasting time waiting for the busses every time you want to go to EPCOT.

If you can't get a Standard view at BWV, the other views are good too.

 

[Anal Annie]

SSR is our home resort and we actually prefer the Grandstand or the Paddock areas (which are std. view) over either of the preferred areas. We also love BWV and will sometimes splurge on a studio there if we can snag it (staying 8 nights SSR std. view in 3 weeks, 4 nights BWV std. view in Sept. and then 5 nights std. view SSR in January). My guess would be that you'll have an easier time securing a rental at SSR but I would take BWV if it's available for the convenience of the backdoor at Epcot...

 

[michelleiada]

If your husband loves Epcot area I would go with Boardwalk, although it may be difficult to get a standard view when renting points. You can't beat the Boardwalk location in my opinion. We own at Beach Club and we love that we have endless options for dining. We often eat dinner in a different country every night in the World Showcase.

 

[michelleiada]

I should also add, for groceries, consider using dizzydolphindelivery.com or Garden Grocer. We have used both and they were great.

 

[n2mm]

Agree, standard is not easy to get unless you can get an owner to book now. As an owner, I've already booked my early May reservation for my standard studio. Good luck

 

[CarolMN]

I just got back from the BWV and while we had a 1 bedroom pool view, it was right across the hall from some of the standard studios. It was far from the elevators but you could probably ask to be closer and then it would be a close walk to the busses too. Keep in mind that as others have said, you can walk to both EPCOT and HS from BW or boat is your only other option to get to those parks......(snip).....

We often stay in that area. If your party can handle stairs, it's very convenient to the buses. No need to go to the lobby to get to the bus stop.

FWIW, the closer you get to the elevators, the noisier the hallway - many guests talking (some loudly as they try to manage their children, LOL) on their way to and from the rooms farther down the hall. I've found that most of the "bothersome" noise at the BWV comes from either the hallways or the pool games at Luna Park (main feature pool).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Since you're good anywhere and just happy relaxing and your DH loves Epcot then I'd recommend BWV. Close to laundry is going to be a request at any of the resorts. Close to transportation isn't necessarily a strength of BWV but one of the strengths is that part of the transportation to both DHS and Epcot can be via your own feet which puts it in your control. For Epcot what we often do is start heading that way and if we see the boat arriving soon we wait or else we just walk over. And we almost always walk to DHS or you can walk over to the Swan/Dolphin from BWV and catch the boat there saving you stops there and at BC/YC/BCV if you get the boat at BWV. If you can do stairs OK then getting around BWV is relatively easy.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I vote Boardwalk. The laundry is located on the 1st floor off the elevators on the villa side, turn to the right and it is 1st door on the left, very convenient. We are "young at heart" also and spend time each day or evening just sitting watching the people and the activity and entertainers on the Boardwalk. And you can't beat the walk or boat ride into Epcot, even if it's just to grab a quick meal in World Showcase. And if the standard view isn't available it may not be too much more for Boardwalk or pool/garden view. (I would ask for a quote)