Tell me about BWV

Flyerfan

Hockey lovin' OLTL addict with a deep desire for D
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November will be our second trip as DVC members and we would would like to do a split stay between SSR and BWV (cross fingers). Please tell me about BWV. What do you love? What makes it different or better (in your opinion) than SSR? Don't get me wrong. Our first trip home to SSR was great and we loved the resort and the feel of "going home" and the quiet. I just want to get a feel for what makes you attracted to BWV.
 
SSR
Community Style with numerous buildings
Outside entrance
Park near your building
Several swimming pools around the resort
Very nice Spa
Walk to DTD
One table service restaurant, one upscale counter service restaurant
One set of elevators in each building
One laundry room at each pool for studio residents

BWV
Hotel style
Inside entrances
Park in the parking lot with a long hike to your room or valet for cost
Two pools - Luna Park themed pool and Community Pool (also one at the BWI, but might be harder to get to).
Smaller workout room close to the pool
The Boardwalk
Several restaurants, but no real counter service
One set of elevators total
One laundry room for studio residents
 
What I love most about staying at BWV is the fact that after Illuminations it's just a short walk home! It's so bad that we only go to Illuminations when we're staying at BWV or BCV!

I also love it because it reminds me of the Jersey shore boardwalk experience.

Bobbi:goodvibes
 
I also love it because it reminds me of the Jersey shore boardwalk experience.

Bobbi:goodvibes

:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 Nothing like going "down the shore". We especially like OCNJ.

The idea of walking back to the resort after Illuminations is fantastic. We usually don't stay for that because of the packed buses.
 

We enjoyed our stay at BWV for the same reasons we enjoyed the BCV.... short walk to Epcot, can walk or boat to HS, night life, wonderful atmosphere, Boardwalk Bakery has some yummy breakfast and snack choices. And two words.. Jelly Rolls (so much fun).

We stayed in a one-bedroom at the BWV, PV. It was on the smaller side compared to other villas we have stayed in. We requested a "quiet area" because we did not want to noise from the boardwalk to bother our kids at night. We had a nice view of the Dolphin and the canal leading to HS.

We did not like a few things... Very long walk to our room from lobby, no cafe for counter service and pool was just okay for our little ones (slide too big and play area was very small). Counter service covered on the Dining Plan is VERY LIMITED (only the small breakfast bar inside the hotel and bakery are covered on the plan). We like to have quick options on the plan and the Boardwalk lacks in that area. We love the large gift shop on the Boardwalk but it was very far from where we were and you must go outside to get there. There is a very small gift shop inside the hotel lobby but the bigger and better one is outside.

Not sure of your "family make-up" but I do not feel the BWV are for families with small kids. We will go back there again when are children are bigger. We want them to bid enough to enjoy the pool and feel comfortable with them going to the large gift shop for anything they may need or want.

For now we would go with the Beach Club if we are looking for that location (near Epoct and HS). Pool is very child-friendly at the Beach Club, there gift shop is inside, we love Cape May for breakfast, and they have a better counter service option covered on the plan for lunch and dinner. And you can quickly get to the fun and night life od the boardwalk.

If you don't have small kids, the BWV may be something you will really enjoy.
 
Love the fact that you don't have to take a bus to two parks! Love that there are restaraunts nearby, love that you can walk to minature golf at Swolphin, there is a Hess gas station nearby that sells beer, wine, snacks, love the decor. Well I guess I just love it! And I think you will too! :thumbsup2
 
Thanks for the replies. It is just DH and myself, no kids. I think we'll love it. Didn't realize the Hess was so close, good to know. And I keep forgetting about the Swan/Dolphin....mini golf is one of those non-park activities I'm looking for. How are the restaurants at Swan/Dolphiin?
 
/
Thanks for the replies. It is just DH and myself, no kids. I think we'll love it. Didn't realize the Hess was so close, good to know. And I keep forgetting about the Swan/Dolphin....mini golf is one of those non-park activities I'm looking for. How are the restaurants at Swan/Dolphiin?

My youngest is 18 yrs. old, so we love the resort for all of the "adult" activities. There are two or three restaraunts at Swolphin, I haven't tried them yet but they are on my list. Also great to "people" watch if your into that. Hope you get a boardwalk view room......nothing like it! Give us a trip report after you go. :goodvibes
 
BWV was nice in December. The villas are nicely decorated and fairly spacious. The main issue my family had was that there was only one elevator and we were far, far away from it. We had a gorgeous dedicated one bedroom overlooking the quiet pool (I'm scared of clowns and with the eyes that light up in red at night, ah! :] ). The staff is very friendly, though I didn't spend much time with the lobby staff. The cast members at community hall were great, I had a few very interesting conversations with some of the College Program students while hanging out there. SSR's community hall is better for the activities; it has a more community feel, but BWV is a great place to just hang out when you don't feel like hitting a park.

The hot tub at the villa pool is quite the party spot. My family and I had some great conversations down there (With the same 2 guys 3 nights in a row), and it's always like hanging out with a neighbor. I liked SSR's grandstand pool a little better, there were usually more people there late at night, but this worked too.

The Luna Park pool was probably my least favorite thing at BWV. In my opinion, it's the lowest quality pool of all of the deluxe resorts (While not being horrible). It was far smaller than the pictures make it look, it's dark, crowded, the hot tub is only warm, and the slide is boring, bumpy, and slow. (Note: this is just my opinion). I got bored with it and went back to the villa after just a little while.

The bakery is wonderful. The turkey and provolone panini is a great poolside snack (The best part of my experience at Luna Park) though it is a bit far from the villa side. However, the desserts are worth it. The cheesecake brownie is a must have; it's extraordinarily rich and creamy. The tiramisu is also delicious, the cream is flawless. The eclairs are also good, though I only got a bite of my mom's :)

The location can't be beat if you are going to be spending a lot of time at Epcot. My first trips were all at the Beach Club (I've stayed there 5 times and also once at the Swan), so I'm accustomed to the International Gateway. It's convinient for the most food-rich park on property, and it's great for days that you just hang out by the pool getting a tan and decide to go for a walk at night. It was great for my family as my parents let me go to Epcot by myself once, and later let me take my younger brother (I'm only 14). It's great for early mornings, too. You walk in a little after regular opening (I went in about 9:20 after EMH) and the music plays in World Showcase and there is no one else there. It's wonderfully relaxing. It really isn't a far walk to Future World (Namely Test Track, my favorite ride which I hit a total of 17 times in our 1 week trip).

Other bonuses are the shops on the Boardwalk, the nightly entertainment (similar to streetmosphere at the Studios only with a universal Boardwalk theme), The Wyland Galleries (I only got to look around at the front section but it was incredible. I hadn't even known this existed after years of wandering on the Boardwalk), nearby dining, the beach just across the water, and the ability to walk to both Epcot and the Studios (The walkway back from the Studios actually isn't bad--It was very nice after a wonderful meal at the Brown Derby).

I enjoyed my stay here and while it isn't my favorite resort, I would go back gladly.
 
SSR is our home, but we stayed at BWV last summer and loved it. It's a beautiful resort. Our kids loved the pool and we loved being right in the middle of everything. It's so convenient to be able to walk from your room and have several restaurants and activities at your finger tips. I think we only left the area once for dinner during our 6 night stay.

Overall, we had a great time and will definitely book there again in the future. It's definitely in the middle of everything, so it gives you a much different feel from SSR or OKW. That's what I LOVE about DVC!!! A different experience with each vacation (or not if you choose!!!). :cloud9:
 
BWV was nice in December. The villas are nicely decorated and fairly spacious. The main issue my family had was that there was only one elevator and we were far, far away from it. We had a gorgeous dedicated one bedroom overlooking the quiet pool (I'm scared of clowns and with the eyes that light up in red at night, ah! :] ). The staff is very friendly, though I didn't spend much time with the lobby staff. The cast members at community hall were great, I had a few very interesting conversations with some of the College Program students while hanging out there. SSR's community hall is better for the activities; it has a more community feel, but BWV is a great place to just hang out when you don't feel like hitting a park.

The hot tub at the villa pool is quite the party spot. My family and I had some great conversations down there (With the same 2 guys 3 nights in a row), and it's always like hanging out with a neighbor. I liked SSR's grandstand pool a little better, there were usually more people there late at night, but this worked too.

The Luna Park pool was probably my least favorite thing at BWV. In my opinion, it's the lowest quality pool of all of the deluxe resorts (While not being horrible). It was far smaller than the pictures make it look, it's dark, crowded, the hot tub is only warm, and the slide is boring, bumpy, and slow. (Note: this is just my opinion). I got bored with it and went back to the villa after just a little while.

The bakery is wonderful. The turkey and provolone panini is a great poolside snack (The best part of my experience at Luna Park) though it is a bit far from the villa side. However, the desserts are worth it. The cheesecake brownie is a must have; it's extraordinarily rich and creamy. The tiramisu is also delicious, the cream is flawless. The eclairs are also good, though I only got a bite of my mom's :)

The location can't be beat if you are going to be spending a lot of time at Epcot. My first trips were all at the Beach Club (I've stayed there 5 times and also once at the Swan), so I'm accustomed to the International Gateway. It's convinient for the most food-rich park on property, and it's great for days that you just hang out by the pool getting a tan and decide to go for a walk at night. It was great for my family as my parents let me go to Epcot by myself once, and later let me take my younger brother (I'm only 14). It's great for early mornings, too. You walk in a little after regular opening (I went in about 9:20 after EMH) and the music plays in World Showcase and there is no one else there. It's wonderfully relaxing. It really isn't a far walk to Future World (Namely Test Track, my favorite ride which I hit a total of 17 times in our 1 week trip).

Other bonuses are the shops on the Boardwalk, the nightly entertainment (similar to streetmosphere at the Studios only with a universal Boardwalk theme), The Wyland Galleries (I only got to look around at the front section but it was incredible. I hadn't even known this existed after years of wandering on the Boardwalk), nearby dining, the beach just across the water, and the ability to walk to both Epcot and the Studios (The walkway back from the Studios actually isn't bad--It was very nice after a wonderful meal at the Brown Derby).

I enjoyed my stay here and while it isn't my favorite resort, I would go back gladly.

Wow! What a report for a 14 yr.old! Wish my boys were that descriptive at that age. Heck, now at 18, the best I get from "How was your day", is a one worder" Fine.....". :lmao:
 



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