We decied on BWV- offer made this morning!

[AshleyMWC]

We are strongly considering buying into DVC in the next couple months, but we are having trouble deciding between BWV and SSR. Yes, I know they are totally different resorts, which I guess is where the issue lies for us. We are both in our late 20's and we like the idea of a longer contract at SSR. We also really like DTD and being able to have such easy access to all the restaurants and shopping and entertainment there. On the other hand, we love Boardwalk and Epcot, so that makes BWV seem like the natural pick. But of course those contracts expire 12 years before SSR. I guess the only thing I am really worried about at SSR is bus service. SSR does seem like a really relaxing resort, and I could see enjoying that when we have kids in a few years. So, we are open for any and all comments and suggestions. I am leaning towards one of these, but I am interested to hear what everyone has to say.

 

[Golden Rose]

We haven't actually stayed at SSR yet (we're staying there on Developer Points in January), but if you really love the Boardwalk and Epcot, I would definitely buy BWV. You can get a really good deal on points resale, and you're treated exactly the same by Disney as if you'd bought the points from them. (Buying resale will save you money if you buy either resort, actually, so it is good advice either way.)

I will say, we had some of the same concerns that you did... which is why we initially bought AKV. We liked the longer duration, and we know we'll sometimes want concierge level, which meant AKV was an easy choice for us. But we've always loved Epcot and the Epcot hotels; we always stayed there before DS was born, and we stayed there for his first trip. We made an offer on a BWV resale within a couple of months of buying AKV, and I have to say, I think this was exactly the right decision for us. If you're really torn between two resorts, you might at least consider getting smaller contracts at both resorts so that you get the advantages of each.

One other thing to think about - although SSR does have the longer contract duration, it is a bigger resort and will be easier to get into than BWV (or BCV) if you want to stay there sometimes for the more peaceful atmosphere. If you ever hope to go during the Food and Wine Festival and stay in an Epcot resort, you definitely should think about that when making your decision.

Anyway, you'll hear the advice "buy where you want to stay" on this board a lot, and it is very good advice.

 

[msabol01]

Given your age, 12 years is a big deal. That being said, the rule of thumb is to buy where you like most since that is where you will be able to leverage your 11 months most.

So, I would lean towards BWV. SSR is relatively easy to get at 7 months in comparison. So if you own at BWV you can still book stays at SSR.

There's also a chance BWV could offer an extension in the near future. The proximity of BWV to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is a plus as well.

 

[Mississippian]

We are strongly considering buying into DVC in the next couple months, but we are having trouble deciding between BWV and SSR. Yes, I know they are totally different resorts, which I guess is where the issue lies for us. We are both in our late 20's and we like the idea of a longer contract at SSR. We also really like DTD and being able to have such easy access to all the restaurants and shopping and entertainment there. On the other hand, we love Boardwalk and Epcot, so that makes BWV seem like the natural pick. But of course those contracts expire 12 years before SSR. I guess the only thing I am really worried about at SSR is bus service. SSR does seem like a really relaxing resort, and I could see enjoying that when we have kids in a few years.....

First, the extra 12 years at SSR are worth virtually nothing because of the time value of money. An extra 12 years it worth about $3 per point, so don't base your decision on that.

SSR is a far better resort for adults than it is for children. The convenience of BWV to the theme parks and all of the amenities makes it perfect for kids.

With the exception of the new treehouse villas, booking at SSR is far easier at seven months than at BWV. So if you own at BWV you will likely get your choice of resorts. If you own at SSR you are more likely to be stuck staying there when you don't want to.

Good luck!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I truly understand your struggle. We were in the same boat, though a little older than you when we purchased (mid 30s). We decided to buy SSR because of the extra years. At the end of the day, we like SSR well enough that if we had to stay there all of the time, that would be okay with us.

FWIW, if I knew then what I know now, I'm not sure DH and I would have ever settled on a home resort. My favorites aren't his favorites, and vice versa! Fortunately, SSR is high on both of our lists, so that works out well. To date, we've had no issues getting reservations where we've wanted (travel in the summer, Christmas, and Spring Break in 1-BRs). But, there's no guarantee that will always be the case.

Something you may want to consider is renting points, or buying a small contract with banked points, and doing a split stay between BWV and SSR. After your stay, you'll have a better feel for what each resort has to offer. SSR has a more "condo - private and away from it all" feel, while BWV is more "hotel like - in the middle of the action" feel. I like both, but tend to gravitate toward the condo style resorts. You may decide to purchase points at both, and either split your stay between the two, or stay at each alternating years. That's the beauty...there truly are so many options.

Best of luck with your decision. We struggled with it, too!

P.S. We've never had trouble with the bus service at any of the resorts. We've been VERY lucky.

 

[culli]

Ok my 2 cents.....we love SSR and BWV and have stayed at both. We love EPCOT and the boardwalk much more than DTD. We have 3 young kids but also take an adult only trip once a year. I find the ability to walk to EPCOT and HS just about priceless. We are staying at BWV in Jan on our Mom and Dad only trip and I'm so excited for the ability to walk to EPCOT and HS. When we stayed at SSR we didn't have any issues with the buses. However, walking beats the bus service almost any day.

I do find SSR to be nicer and more relaxing than BWV including the pool, spa, golf course and walking paths. SSR is a place I could see going and never have to leave......just go and relax.

If I had to do it over again I would buy at BWV, the point to stay at a stnd view are also very attractive. Also many have pointed out that SSR is probably the easiest to book. I know many say don't worry about exp dates but.......I have to admit it is something I thought about.

Some suggest renting but I would do my research and go for it. A few reasons:

1. Many will say they wish they would have bought in earlier (including us)
2. We love all the resorts, but for some reason have no desire for AKV. Every trip we plan the hardest choice we have is where to stay and when we make our ressies we have the "hmmmm should we stay at resort x instead?"
3. With the economy the way it is now there are some nice deals on resale

Good luck with everything.

 

[jekjones1558]

We recently did a split SSR/BWV stay. We are BWV owners but this was our first SSR stay. I did like SSR. The shower is nicer than BWV, IMHO, and I like the separate toilet. The grounds are lovely. The parking is more convenient than BWV. I will stay there again someday. But the location of BWV trumps a lot. The living/dining area of SSR was noticeably smaller (1 bedroom) than BWV. BW view rooms are our favorite and standard view is a great option for saving points. We also felt that on the occasions when we want a condo style unit we prefer OKW over SSR because the 1 bedroom units at OKW are so much larger than SSR.
The issue of the extra 12 years, at your age, is something to consider. I have not done the math, as Mississippian obviously has, and I agree that Disney will probably offer an extension at BWV at some point. Of course that would cost you some $$$, but if you get a good resale deal now, the overall cost wouldn't be bad.
Whichever resort you choose, if you have the resources to buy now, go for it! There are some great deals out there and your new DVC vacation life is waiting! Good luck! Hope to be sending a welcome soon!

 

[dan and scott]

And don't forget------During hurricane season you can at least walk down to the lobby if the hurricane comes along and your stranded in your villa. We learned that the hard way while riding out Hurricane Jean staying at SSR. Stranded in your 2 bedroom villa with 6 people no food for 2 + days (dumb on our part) well --BBQ pork and a few other snacks. Water coming under the door and everytime you went into the 2nd bedroom you slipped on the marble threshold.
I'm a big believer in BW but SSR has scared me for life never ever again.

Scott

 

[littlestar]

The landscaping and trees at SSR actually remind me of Boardwalk. We sold our Boardwalk contracts and just own SSR now. Our kids really like the closeness of Downtown Disney and we LOVE the Grandstand area of Saratoga. We also like the fact that we can conveniently use our refillable mugs at Saratoga - something we can't do at Boardwalk. The main advantage of BWV is being close to MGM and Epcot. But we weighed out the dues at Boardwalk being higher and the long, long hallways with only one set of elevators and decided the extra years at Saratoga tipped the scales.

I had thought about adding on at Animal Kingdom Lodge because of the extra years, but I don't like how far out that resort is.

 

[nhdisnut]

We have stayed at both SSR and BWV and love each for different reasons:

SSR: Wonderfully relaxed and laid back atmosphere, beautiful landscaping, meandering paths to walk/jog on, proximity to DTD (and the buses there that can get you to any resort on property - a plus that is rarely mentioned), upscale decor in rooms, the AP - by far the best counter service at any of the DVC resorts, the Turf Club (another hidden gem) a relaxing main pool (High Rock Springs) and four other quiet pools....

BWV: Location - we underestimated how much we enjoyed being able to walk to Epcot and the World Showcase - a true plus!, the Boardwalk at night is a treat with lots of entertainment and good restaurants, great slide at the main pool, views of Epcot on one side and DHS on the other are pretty neat....

Some cons:

SSR: It is large and spread out. Not a big deal for our family, but I know it is for some. (We actually like the spread out and relaxed nature of the resort.) There is also the fact that buses are the only means of WDW transportation....but again, never a problem for us. I've noted recent complaints about bus service, but we have always had excellent experiences with the SSR buses.

BWV: No real counter service to speak of and the refillable mug set-up there is not convenient at all. The bus service to MK and AK is terrible (IMHO) and seems to take forever to get to those resorts.

Overall we do love both resorts. We do own at SSR (and AKV) and are completely thrilled with our decision to buy at those two properties! I know the advice is to buy where you want to stay and this is true....That said, we have been able to stay at each of the DVC resorts at least once (with 100% waitlist success) with the exception of BCV (we had to cancel reservations we had there.....) and enjoyed them all. I mean, you're at WDW! How bad can that be?

 

[AshleyMWC]

Thanks guys! At first I was strongly leaning toward SSR, mainly because of the 12 years longer contract. But now I think we are leaning toward BWV. We love Epcot so much, especially at F&WF and Christmas time, and I think we would be bummed if we could never get into BWV at those times. So, I think that we are going to try adn get a good resale price on BWV. We have found a few look like good deals for us, so hopefully we are going to be taking the plunge soon. Man, this is one expensive year for us....DVC and a weding! EEK!

 

[ldo]

AT BWV, the "Standard" booking category saves quite a few points. You pretty much have to own there and book at 11 mths to be able to get these rooms most times of the year.
IMHO, if I were in my 20s, I would want the action of the boardwalk and the hotel/resort feel of BWV. Elaine

 

[AshleyMWC]

Does anyone know what the Standard view at BWV actually looks out on? We are calling DVC Resales Monday to start the process of hopefully getting a "good deal" on some BWV points!! I know that we won't be able to stay there this year since we are currently at 11 months and we aren't even owners yet. We will probably end up at SSR this year, but that's ok.

 

[starbox]

We're very happy SSR owners that have used our points to stay at every single DVC resort - have had zero difficuty getting into BWV (twice - both with boardwalk views), BCV (twice - June and July), VWL (once - NYD) and VB (five times, all summer trips).

What I love about SSR - longer contract (we are young enough to want to use the entire contract) and lower annual dues. We're not one-resort people, so any points I owned would be used to stay at multiple resorts - I figure I might as well buy points that give me the most bang for my buck. I also really, really, really want to stay at the treehouse villas - and I doubt non-owners will be able to snag those reservations. If you are thinking about starting a family, I also think SSR has a great pool for infants/toddlers.

If I added on right now, I'd add-on at SSR because of the treehouses.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Does anyone know what the Standard view at BWV actually looks out on

They look out on the front entrance to the resort and the pond at the end of the building that is between the resort and the parking lot. From many of the rooms there is a great view of the EPCOT Fireworks, especially from the upper floors. There is an excellent map that was posted by long time poster Granny that I can't locate but I'm sure someone will provide a link to it if the see this.

HBC

 

[kikiq]

We were face with a similar decision last year. My DH loves Epcot and DHS however our family is VERY active. SSR ended up being our choice because of all the activities and the grounds. The family is very happy with the choice.
We have marathon runners, family that loves to cycle and shop. My DH and Ddad got up every am, walked to AP, filled their mugs and walked the lake. My oldest DD ran every morning and worked out in the gym. By the time the rest of us got up and ate, we were on the buses by 8:30ish. My DH, DSIL and niece rented bikes and rode all over SSR and over to OKW. I asked my brother's family if they wanted to try AKV or BWV the next time and they only want to go back to SSR. Plus my niece loved the playground, pool and animal life at SSR.

Good Luck on your decision. You might consider BWV and a small SSR add on for those years you want the treehouse.

 

[DVC Mike]

Does anyone know what the Standard view at BWV actually looks out on?

http://i235.*************************************BWVAerialwviews.jpg

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

There is an excellent map that was posted by long time poster Granny that I can't locate but I'm sure someone will provide a link to it if they see this.

Told you so!

HBC

 

[MinnieGi]

We own BWV and love its location to Epcot and DHS. It is such a pleasure to be so close to two parks. Its also a pleasure to walk around the Boardwalk and have the BC/YC restaurants also so close. We had T-day Dinner at Cape May Cafe and it was so nice to just walk back to our villa.

I also just love those standard points!!! We had a wonderful villa facing the entrance right by the pond and saw the top of Illuminations everynight from our patio. Well everynight that we weren't actually in Epcot watching them!! I also like that if I do want to spend the extra points for a preferred room I can book a Boardwalk view room that is guarenteed!!! That is the same number of points for any view room in BCV, VWL, and pool view BWV.

Now we have stayed at SSR in the Grandstand and did enjoy our stay, but it was nice for variety. I wouldn't always want to stay there if I had to whereas BWV if I have to stay there I love it everytime!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Well, we have found a great deal online for a BWV resale, and we are calling tomorrow about them!! I am kind of bummed that we probably won't be able to get into BWV this October for our honeymoon, since we won't be able to book until we close on our points. Since that is during F&WF I know there is very little hope, but I will be on that waiting list, believe you me! If not BWV, SSR here we come...I think