Tell me a Little About BCV if You Will

[JulieWent]

We are BWV owners and love our BW view. This summer, though, we're going to take my son's best friend with us. We'll have two 14-year old boys, and since we can't get a BW view, we were thinking about staying at the BC so the boys could have access to SAB.

What will we miss about the BoardWalk over at BC? Is the on-site store as convenient? (We frequently run down to pick up milk, a drink, etc. though we bring most of our groceries with us.) I've noticed that some of the BC villas over look the road that the buses use to get from BCV to BWV. Does that bother you? Should we ask for a specific view? (I know there are no guarantees.) What percentage of the 2BRs are dedicated? Are the dedicated 2BRs nicer than the lock offs? Do your kids use SAB when you stay at BCV? (I know the villas are a good ways away from the SAB area.)

I think we'll really enjoy it, but these are just a few questions that popped into my head as I've been going back and forth about our booking. BCV is a lovely resort, and we've played with staying over there several times. It just looks like it's going to work out this time, so I want to get my facts together.

Thanks,

Julie

 

[daisyduck123]

Do your kids use SAB when you stay at BCV? (I know the villas are a good ways away from the SAB area.)

Yes my kids swam in SAB everyday of our 10 day trip last summer.

We vacationed with another family & all the kids had a blast together (ages 17, 15, 14, 10, & 9yo). There were PLENTY of teens in the pool. In fact, the pool was their favorite part of the trip.

We'll be there with our friends again at the end of July. When is your trip?

 

[JulieWent]

We're trying to decide between the week of July 12 and the week of July 19. The other family is supposed to let us know tomorrow what works for them.

J

 

[daisyduck123]

We're trying to decide between the week of July 12 and the week of July 19. The other family is supposed to let us know tomorrow what works for them.

J

Maybe we'll see you around SAB!
We check in on the 19th.

 

[jbrowna]

As far as the onsite store: I think the Beach Club Marketplace is by far more convenient than the store at the Boardwalk. Besides the basic grocery items, you can also get sandwiches and salads, great gelato snacks, and they have a self-serve mug refill station.

I'm hoping they'll end up putting a Beach Club Marketplace-type store at BLT, Kidani, and over by the Treehouse Villas, myself.

 

[Granny]

Julie...we are BWV owners and lovers as well and stayed at BCV this past summer for our first visit there. Overall, we enjoyed it very much, and I'm sure you will too. The main thing is to try not to compare it to BWV while you're there...there are differences and I think it's best to judge a resort on its own merits.

We are BWV owners and love our BW view. This summer, though, we're going to take my son's best friend with us. We'll have two 14-year old boys, and since we can't get a BW view, we were thinking about staying at the BC so the boys could have access to SAB.

What will we miss about the BoardWalk over at BC?

Frankly, there are a couple of things you may miss. You've already identified one..the view. BCV views aren't all that great, though some like the EPCOT views of fireworks a lot.

You may also miss the relatively short walk to DS (MGM). While it is very walkable from BCV, it is much further than from BWV. In contrast, the walk to EPCOT is only a little bit shorter from BCV than BWV.

The last thing you may miss is the activity around the Boardwalk. BCV is much more laid back and most of the activity there seems to center around the great pool.

Is the on-site store as convenient? (We frequently run down to pick up milk, a drink, etc. though we bring most of our groceries with us.)

As noted above, the BCV on-site store is very nice and has a huge plus over BWV with the fresh sandwiches and salads you can get from there. I'd have to give BCV the nod in this category.

I've noticed that some of the BC villas over look the road that the buses use to get from BCV to BWV. Does that bother you? Should we ask for a specific view? (I know there are no guarantees.)

Those villas overlooking the road are also the ones with the better EPCOT views. We found that unless you are in a relatively small percentage of rooms the EPCOT view isn't all that great...just our opinion. If we stay at BCV again I'd ask for a quiet pool view. There are many of those and provide a very nice and relaxing view.

What percentage of the 2BRs are dedicated? Are the dedicated 2BRs nicer than the lock offs?

The dedicated are no nicer than the lock-offs, just a little different in layout. And you should know that even if you get a dedicated 2BR at BCV, it doesn't guarantee you two beds in the second bedroom. You have to ask for that when you make the reservation...it is a booking category, not a request. However, since you are used to BWV which has no dedicated 2BR's, I'm thinking you will be fine whatever room layout you get.

Do your kids use SAB when you stay at BCV? (I know the villas are a good ways away from the SAB area.)

The villas aren't really all that far from SAB. My kids are older teenagers and enjoyed SAB though they tend to be happier at the quiet pools these days. But it's a great pool and the #1 plus for this resort along with the short walk to EPCOT.



We own at BWV and VWL and really like each of those resorts. We like to try out other resorts and found BCV to be a very nice resort. Here's a link to my report focusing on the DVC aspect of the trip.

Granny's BCV Trip Report

I'd vote for giving BCV a shot. I think you will really enjoy it, and worse case you can cross it off the list for future "sampling". Good luck!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Marketplace is great as previous poster stated. Much more items to choose from!! Pool bar and grill is also better than the BW.

SAB is totally awesome and since you are going in the summer it will be worth it.

The views? Well, if you are used to the awesome boardwalk views you will be dissappointed. I love my BW view rooms and I also love to sit on my balcony. We have gotten a few standard view rooms at the BW that overlooked the driveway into the hotel and I enjoyed that view very much too. Much quieter than the BW view but NICE. However, if you get the room over looking the street . I was so ready to add on at the BCV until we got that room. I felt like I was thrown in the back room at the hotel. The BC is a beautiful hotel, but since DVC was an afterthought, the rooms are in the back and it does not give you the atmosphere of the BW. In fact those rooms (I can't speak of the other ones) take away the magic. Like I said, I've stayed in the SV rooms at the BW and was much happier than the street view room. And considering the points are as much as a BW view room didn't sit well with me. If they are going to put me in a room like that than charge me less points. At least at the BW its a trade off.


The BC is also quieter at night, but its definitely hopping during the day.

I think you should try it out, you may absolutely love it!! Have a great trip!

 

[JulieWent]

Wow! Thank you all for this extraordinary information. I feel much better about our choice now, and I think we'll be great at BCV, enjoying something new and different. Once again, thank you all for your help! See you around SAB.

Julie

 

[MinnieLee]

We always stay at BCV in October and love it. BCV has a couple of things that BWV does not , First, you have to stop and say hello to Art, the greeter. What a fantastic, soft-spoken gentlemen. Always has a smile and he has a way to start your "magic". I think he really has become a legend at BC. Don't forget to take a walk to Beaches and Cream (and order the kitchen sink). If the kids don't want to go over to Stormalong Bay, there is a quiet pool /hot tub right at the villas. Just a quick elevator ride down. Not like at BW where you have to walk around Keister Coaster and around the back. We always ask for an EPCOT view but as previously posted, views are really not that great. Their Marketplace store really has a nice selection of groceries but I have to admit that that the store at BW has better merchandise. BCV also has a character breakfast at Cape May and a sit down restaurant in the Yacht club. SHORT walk to World Showcase. We also love BWV (I am booked there for our May trip to mix it up a bit) but BCV it a bit quieter and a more relaxed atmosphere. You will not be disappointed. Have fun!

 

[alldiz]

We are BWV owners and love our BW view. This summer, though, we're going to take my son's best friend with us. We'll have two 14-year old boys, and since we can't get a BW view, we were thinking about staying at the BC so the boys could have access to SAB.

What will we miss about the BoardWalk over at BC? Is the on-site store as convenient? (We frequently run down to pick up milk, a drink, etc. though we bring most of our groceries with us.) I've noticed that some of the BC villas over look the road that the buses use to get from BCV to BWV. Does that bother you? Should we ask for a specific view? (I know there are no guarantees.) What percentage of the 2BRs are dedicated? Are the dedicated 2BRs nicer than the lock offs? Do your kids use SAB when you stay at BCV? (I know the villas are a good ways away from the SAB area.)

I think we'll really enjoy it, but these are just a few questions that popped into my head as I've been going back and forth about our booking. BCV is a lovely resort, and we've played with staying over there several times. It just looks like it's going to work out this time, so I want to get my facts together.

Thanks,

Julie

I think you will love BCV. The boys are old enough to go off by themselves....so you both will have good pool experiences. I usually don't recommend BCV to young kids...cause it is so spread out.

I had a room at the end of the hall...facing the road...but I had a nice view of the epcot ball and some illuminations.
You will love how close epcot is....coming back sneaking in the back door in the heat is AWESOME
Oh.....the store is suitable to pick up quick items.....AND the counter service is much better than BWV.....not great though....You must try the gelato.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[spiceycat]

the onsite is better - better yet [my opinion] - you can actually get to without getting rained on.

you can access the restuarants at bc/yc without getting wet in the rain too.

love Cape May Cafe - even at BWV walk over for it.

beaches and cream is pretty wonderful too - although making it a sit down restuarant on the dinning place is a little too much.

the gym is located between bc/yc and is not as nice or new as BWV.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We have visited BC several times, however have not stayed in a villa there. The premisis is VERY BUSY....busy at the Beaches and Cream, busy at the Market place, etc. The pool is VERY croweded...lots of people and kids running around. I hope all of that activity doesn't bother you. Even the lobby is full of people walking in and out from the pool. I think BWV's is overall much quieter...of course at night you have all of the nightly activity. As a resort though, I find the pools and resort much quieter at BWV.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

My boys (13 & 15) loved BCV last summer. There were plenty of teens and activities for them to do (water volleyball, pool, ping pong, contests...). It was like a big party some days at SAB--lots of fun!

 

[JulieWent]

Thanks again, everyone! I booked a two bedroom at BCV for July 19 this morning. I'm looking forward to it, and it will be the first time we've taken my son's friend(s) with us. It'll be a real new experience. Wish us luck and thanks for helping me make the decision.

Julie

 

[dcfromva]

If you have a car, you will like the parking at BCV better than BWV.