trying to choose "Home"

[GAPeach531]

I am shopping DVC and I'm trying to decide on a Home Resort.
I am down to Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk Villas.

Can anyone give me a comparison?

We have a 4 year old boy and we live on the coast of GA so I'm leaning towards Wilderness as a change of scenery from the 'beach' atmosphere we live in. I like the location of Boardwalk to Epcot and HS though.....

 

[adminjedi]

as a change of scenery from the atmosphere we live in.

Exactly why we don't like staying at VWL as we are from the Northwest!

BWV or BCV are a great location - close to 2 parks and even within walking distance. Makes for quick trips for a few rides!

 

[wdwnut]

VWL is absolutely wonderful and you would be very happy there. It doesn't even feel like you're in Florida. The atmosphere and theming are really great. I stayed in WL before buying DVC and really enjoyed it; it was one of my kids' favorites when they were younger. We almost waited for VWL, but did purchase at BWV(even though we live at the Jersey shore) for the location, GVs, and the Boardwalk view. I have no regrets. BWV is perfect for our family and extended family outings. I've had large group vacations at each location- 19 at BWV (GV, 2br,and 1br) and 25 at VWL(2br and 4 1br). You can't beat the grand villas for that. The grandkids like all the DVC villas they've stayed at-including OKW.

 

[javamom]

Buy at the place that makes you exhale when you walk in the door. For us, it's Boardwalk. Well, that and the Poly, but there aren't villas there.. yet.

 

[GAPeach531]

Buy at the place that makes you exhale when you walk in the door.

I think I'm going for VWL. *sigh* now to figure out how many points i want to buy.... sheesh.

thanks yall for your input!!

 

[disneynutz]

I am shopping DVC and I'm trying to decide on a Home Resort.
I am down to Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk Villas.

Can anyone give me a comparison?

We have a 4 year old boy and we live on the coast of GA so I'm leaning towards Wilderness as a change of scenery from the 'beach' atmosphere we live in. I like the location of Boardwalk to Epcot and HS though.....

You can't really shop on line when choosing a home resort. You can reduce the number of possible favorites but you really need to stay in the resorts that make the final cut.

We researched for two years before buying at our first resort. Only after staying at several did we find out that our first, wasn't our favorite. An expensive lesson learned.

Bill

 

[ToddyLu]

I was lucky DH wanted a certain resort and I didn't care--anywhere was fine with me. He wanted AKV for the animals and feel of the resort. It was a perfect fit for us. All of the resorts are beautiful and special. We live on the MS Gulf Coast and I think that's what his thought process was,too....complete transportation to an exotic location in FL. It did not disappoint.

 

[Crystal_27]

I think I'm going for VWL. *sigh* now to figure out how many points i want to buy.... sheesh.

thanks yall for your input!!

Good for you! Hopefully we'll be welcoming you home soon!

 

[DenLo]

I would consider whether you as a family would be going more to MK or Epcot and DHS during a trip. WL is right across Bay lake from MK. At BWV you can walk to Epcot (back entrance, further from the rides at the front of the park than if you entered at the front), and a 15 to 20 minute walk to DHS.

If the night life on the Boardwalk is important to you then BWV would be the perfect choice. If you are too worn out after a day at the park to care about walking very far outside to get even a CS meal then perhaps VWL would be better.

I find that VWL are relaxing and BWV as the going out tonight kind of place.

BTW, if I had a 4 year old, the closer I am to MK the better, unless you want to use distance as a reason not to go there to often.

 

[DVC Mike]

Take a look at this thread.

 

[cvjw]

We own at VWL, and have found that at the times we travel (not DVC busy times), getting a villa at BWV has not been a problem. BWV is larger than VWL, so for us, we have been able to enjoy staying at BWV without owning there.

 

[bobbiwoz]

A big concern to me is "bed for everyone." VWL does have dedicated 2 bedrooms with 2 queens in the second bedroom while BWV does not have any dedicated 2 bedrooms. We all love VWL and if we could own only at 1 resort that would be it. However, we also own at BWV because sometimes we don't need a 2 bedroom (we're empty nesters) and BWV has "standard view" rooms which are bargains imo for the location of the resort.

Given all that, finally for one night only, our extended family will be staying at BWV Tomorrow night!!! Our DGC will get to try the Keister Coaster, and we'll see how the only 1 real queen bed, and 2 sleeper sofas "work" for that famly of 5! DH and I get the master bedroom, but we share the jacuzzi!

Bobbi

PS. Like a few of the previous posters, we own at 6 resorts! We are probably not the best ones to ask about "which resort to buy!"

 

[wildernessDad]

After buying in, you can always add on at the other resort.

 

[emacek]

We live in Atlanta and faced the same choice.
Decision for us was VWL for 2 reasons:

1. I really want to get a non-Southern Christmas when we go in December and VWL is impossible to book at 7 months then

2. When I want a taste of the Boardwalk, I don't mind making it a destination--having dinner/lunch and wandering.

Having said that, if we decide to F&W one year, we'll probably do a small add on direct from WDW--just enough that we could get a studio there every 3 years.

emacek

 

[Greysword]

I know you said you decided, but I would like to add my 2 cents.

If you have narrowed your decision to two "sold-out" resorts and would be happy at either, I suggest shifting to a different set of criteria to make the final decision: price per point!

Look for contracts in the point range you decide upon, then look at the price of those contracts. If one resort has a better contract, but that one.

 

[GAPeach531]

sooooo i figured out that we dont plan our vacations far enough in advance to care about booking times. We will be more of the what's available when we want to go" kind of folks.... so... instead of worrying about a home resort, i decided on a points amount and a budget and went to shopping for a deal.

i may have found it and i hope to go into negotiations and perhaps an offer this weekend....

yay me!

*fingers crossed* that we will have a DVC trip sometime before the end of the year who the heck knows where we'll be staying but we're just getting started

thanks for all of your input... watch for me to postabout ROFR next.... making an offer for a low $/pt makes me nervous.

 

[Sandisw]

sooooo i figured out that we dont plan our vacations far enough in advance to care about booking times. We will be more of the what's available when we want to go" kind of folks.... so... instead of worrying about a home resort, i decided on a points amount and a budget and went to shopping for a deal.

i may have found it and i hope to go into negotiations and perhaps an offer this weekend....

yay me!

*fingers crossed* that we will have a DVC trip sometime before the end of the year who the heck knows where we'll be staying but we're just getting started

thanks for all of your input... watch for me to postabout ROFR next.... making an offer for a low $/pt makes me nervous.

Good luck! And, I am glad you figured out how DVC will work best for your family. That is one the great things about the program, IMO. It is flexible enough to work for almost anyone!!!

 

[DenLo]

We live in Atlanta and faced the same choice.
Decision for us was VWL for 2 reasons:

1. I really want to get a non-Southern Christmas when we go in December and VWL is impossible to book at 7 months then

2. When I want a taste of the Boardwalk, I don't mind making it a destination--having dinner/lunch and wandering.

Having said that, if we decide to F&W one year, we'll probably do a small add on direct from WDW--just enough that we could get a studio there every 3 years.

emacek

Now you have to consider what Use year you want. And hope a contract becomes available.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

We had trouble deciding between the exact same two!! We wanted BWV for Food & Wine, and WLV availability at Christmas time. Our solution....we bought 75 points resale at BWV (cash), and then 85 points through Disney. Voila...best of both worlds! We can either stay at one every-other-year, or do split stays!

 

[Muushka]

I am shopping DVC and I'm trying to decide on a Home Resort.
I am down to Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk Villas.

Can anyone give me a comparison?

We have a 4 year old boy and we live on the coast of GA so I'm leaning towards Wilderness as a change of scenery from the 'beach' atmosphere we live in. I like the location of Boardwalk to Epcot and HS though.....

We had lived in S FL for 10 years and had it with palm trees. Your 'change of scenery' statement above is us to a T.
That is why we chose VWL and have not regretted our decision.