Tell me about BWV 1 BR standard view

[DVCcurious]

We had a 1BR lake view BLT reserved for the last week of August.

We went to WDW during spring break and for the first time we spent a whole day at HS. See, we have littler kids (now they are 5 and 3) so we never could do the shows at HS. This last trip my wife and 5 year old DD did Beauty and the Beast. My son and I did Indiana Jones. We all did Frozen sing a long...twice. We all agreed the shows were pretty good. So we decided we'd spend more time at HS and Epcot (my 5 year old DD got to ride SOARIN for the first time and loved it) this trip than previous trips.

So I thought BWV would be better than BLT because you can walk to both HS and EP from the boardwalk (we walked from HS to Epcot and it was pretty easy to do).

I just saw a Standard View BWV 1BR available so I booked it and cancelled my BLT stay. We are staying for 6 nights so the BWV Std is 173 points vs our BLT lake view at 230 points. So we're saving 57 points.

Anyway (sorry for such a long post) I want to know the good/bad/ugly for staying at BWV in std view.

How bad are the buses, really? We plan on closing MK several nights and then we'll have to take the bus back instead of just walking to BLT. Will I live to regret that decision?

I've heard there's a gas station next to BLT where you can buy food/drinks for your villa at a cheaper price than at the resort.

How is the pool for little kids? We just stayed at VWL and they both liked wearing life jackets and floating around in the big pool. They didn't really want to spend time at the kiddy splash area. The 5 year old loved the slide at WL but our 3 year old didn't want to do it.

I've heard about long hallways and a lack of elevators. We'll have a double stroller and will probably need to use the elevators. With a std view is this going to be a huge problem? I hate Kidani because of the excessively long walks to the bus stop from the end of the wings. Is BWV similar?


I'm making the move because we're saving 57 points and because we'll spend probably 40% of our time at either HS or Epcot and BWV is convenient to both. But will I regret moving the reservation when I'm actually at BWV?

Thank you so much for your help. If BWV works out we may do this again and again. I mean, 57 points! That's a ton to save.

 

[nalajms]

Congrats on the move! And that you didn't get a glitch

Buses - bad going there during rush hour. Ok coming back since BWV is usually the first stop. Mid-day you could potentially stop at Swan, Dolphin, Yatch & Beach. You may regret it if you're planning to spend 60% of your time at MK and 40% at Epcot/HS.

Pool - kiddie area is a small kiddie pool with an elephant spraying water. It's right next to the playground so be careful. My kids like to go back and forth, not realizing that it could hurt to go down a slide with wet limbs. Main pool has a clown slide. Your 5yo may be interested.

Elevators - yes, one set only. I'd suggest asking for ground floor room. With standard view, you can walk out the side door to the buses. We were on the 2nd floor last time. I just made the kids walk down the stairs then opened my double stroller.

Have you considered a split stay? We like 2n at an MK resort then the rest at BWV/BCV.

 

[goofy4tink]

We had a 1BR lake view BLT reserved for the last week of August.

We went to WDW during spring break and for the first time we spent a whole day at HS. See, we have littler kids (now they are 5 and 3) so we never could do the shows at HS. This last trip my wife and 5 year old DD did Beauty and the Beast. My son and I did Indiana Jones. We all did Frozen sing a long...twice. We all agreed the shows were pretty good. So we decided we'd spend more time at HS and Epcot (my 5 year old DD got to ride SOARIN for the first time and loved it) this trip than previous trips.

So I thought BWV would be better than BLT because you can walk to both HS and EP from the boardwalk (we walked from HS to Epcot and it was pretty easy to do).

I just saw a Standard View BWV 1BR available so I booked it and cancelled my BLT stay. We are staying for 6 nights so the BWV Std is 173 points vs our BLT lake view at 230 points. So we're saving 57 points.

Anyway (sorry for such a long post) I want to know the good/bad/ugly for staying at BWV in std view.

How bad are the buses, really? We plan on closing MK several nights and then we'll have to take the bus back instead of just walking to BLT. Will I live to regret that decision?

I've heard there's a gas station next to BLT where you can buy food/drinks for your villa at a cheaper price than at the resort.

How is the pool for little kids? We just stayed at VWL and they both liked wearing life jackets and floating around in the big pool. They didn't really want to spend time at the kiddy splash area. The 5 year old loved the slide at WL but our 3 year old didn't want to do it.

I've heard about long hallways and a lack of elevators. We'll have a double stroller and will probably need to use the elevators. With a std view is this going to be a huge problem? I hate Kidani because of the excessively long walks to the bus stop from the end of the wings. Is BWV similar?


I'm making the move because we're saving 57 points and because we'll spend probably 40% of our time at either HS or Epcot and BWV is convenient to both. But will I regret moving the reservation when I'm actually at BWV?

Thank you so much for your help. If BWV works out we may do this again and again. I mean, 57 points! That's a ton to save.

Okay....the standard view villas at BW are fine! You get a view of the front of the resort and towards the parking lots...not a bad thing.
There is a Hess station across the street from BW...I like to bring my rolling carryon bag with me and then put my water/soda and other stuff in it...much easier to roll it back vs lug it!

The pool is a hoot. I love the Keister Coaster...lots of fun. There are several 'quiet' pools there as well.

Hallways? Yep, they can be long. See if you can request a ground floor one bedroom...we had one and it was about 10 steps to the door leading outside and across from the bus stop. Very convenient. I have had longer walks at other resorts. It's really a non-issue for me.

The buses? No better, no worse than any other resort. Many people complain about them, and I don't understand why. I've stayed at the vast majority of on-site resorts....only Pop and AoA had consistently good bus service. Every other resort has some bus issues.

I love BWV....I own there. I also own at BLT. A standard view villa is a great use of points at BWV!!! I don't think you'll regret it.

 

[kristenrice]

I only stayed at BWV one time, in a standard 1BR coincidentally, and I found that if we got off the bus (or boat) at the Swan/Dolphin, it was a short walk across the bridge to the BWV. It was MUCH faster than staying on the bus to the BWV stop, which was usually last.

 

[suebeelin]

I bought BWV just for the std view and walks to HS and Epcot. I just bought BLT for the same reason-- walk to MK and std rooms. My kids are 2 and 5.5. They will equally like both areas right now

Saving 54 points is "worth" quite a bit!! A few days in a studio!!

Std views are fine... Hollywood in the mornings are key if you want a spot with the jedi training! So nice not to have to rely on the bus when needing to run there!! So nice being able to get home for nap time (both kids are not outside sleepers!) and not stress a out the bus or folding up your stroller!!

Have fun!!

 

[Splashboat]

I'd suggest asking for ground floor room. With standard view, you can walk out the side door to the buses.

You probably want to specify lobby floor. We were given ground floor once and we had to take the elevator down. The ground floor is actually below the lobby floor. OP, if you end up on the ground floor you can walk out your door to hike over to Hess (5 minute walk at best) but you can only do it if you leave someone in the room because you cannot lock the door going outside and get back in again.

 

[ontheuptick]

I'm in the same boat - first stay at BWV coming up and we are in a standard view.

To be clear, which is more convenient to request for walking to Epcot/HS - ground floor or lobby floor?

Also, Sounds like he ground floor rooms are easier to the bus stop, correct?

 

[deedisneydream97]

I'm in the same boat - first stay at BWV coming up and we are in a standard view.

To be clear, which is more convenient to request for walking to Epcot/HS - ground floor or lobby floor?

Also, Sounds like he ground floor rooms are easier to the bus stop, correct?

The ground floor rooms are easy to the bus stop....you walk out under the "turrent" rooms, along the sidewalk adjacent to the big pond. Walking to Epcot is just as easy...just walk all the way to the gym area and go out thru the breezeway and either get on the boat or keep walking. I can get to the back entrance at Epcot faster by walking....I always "beat the boat"....but then again, I'm not pushing a stroller or dragging little ones.

If you have a standard view of the tennis courts, HS is a very easy walk. Make a left out of your room towards the canal and pop out the back door....you are very close to HS. Don't think about walking to the lobby and to the boat dock for HS....will take twice as long.

Lobby floor will involve having to go down one flight of stairs or down the elevator to get to ground level....which you have to do to get to the boat anyway. Or if going to the bus, you will have to go down a walkway to the bus stop.

You can go out under the "turrent" with your rolling bag to get to the Hess Station. When you come back, as long as it is before 8 pm the door will be open, but otherwise you would need your magic band. You can stock up on water, beer, wine and lots of other things. But please be very careful when crossing the road....I would not bring a young child with me. People do not pay attention when driving in that area.

Also, if you are on the ground floor....no matter how enticing it is, I would definitely NOT recommend that you keep your patio doors open. Without going into detail...you are by the water...in Florida. I've seen all sorts of things....so keep your doors closed.

 

[Splashboat]

I'm in the same boat - first stay at BWV coming up and we are in a standard view.

To be clear, which is more convenient to request for walking to Epcot/HS - ground floor or lobby floor?

Also, Sounds like he ground floor rooms are easier to the bus stop, correct?

My response was for the bus stop. Walking is to EP or HS is easier from a ground floor room (meaning, you don't need the elevator). Unless you are down past the pond you will have to go up to the lobby floor to get out to the bus stop or walk the long hallways to get out if you have a ground floor room close to the lobby (which we did). I personally like a balcony and did not care for the ground floor room. We never had long waits for the elevators at BWV.

 

[Jarmo]

On the Disney site, they have a parking warning for Boardwalk that says only valet parking may be available. Is this really true? We're considering BWV but will have a rental car.

edit: Oops, posted this on the wrong BWV thread, but I bet you guys can still help!

 

[deedisneydream97]

On the Disney site, they have a parking warning for Boardwalk that says only valet parking may be available. Is this really true? We're considering BWV but will have a rental car.

edit: Oops, posted this on the wrong BWV thread, but I bet you guys can still help!

I got a little nervous when I saw that warning right before we went down. I think that was posted because they were sealing the blacktop in the big parking lot, along with painting new lines. You can still smell the tar odor....and it looks like it did not cure properly in some spots. So I am assuming large parts of the lot were closed during the work being done. I did not notice any more work being done.