We stayed at BCV, should VWL be next when kids are 5 & 8

[disneydenisel]

How does anyone decide where to stay?! As I wait for my ROFR to be waived at BCV, I'm already planning for 2007 .

We stayed at BCV this past November. We loved the location within walking distance of EPCOT, and we liked SAB (although we didn't use it much because it wasn't very warm). Bus service to the parks seemed good, and we never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.

We tended to go to MK in the evenings since it was open the latest. One night, we walked back from EPCOT, ate dinner in our villa, then took the bus to MK to see the 9pm parade. We were on the bus at 8:45 and running to Main Street as the parade was going by. My DD6 was tired so we left after the parade, but we could see the fireworks from the bus as we drove away.

Now I'm wondering if we should try for VWL next time? The kids will be 5 and 8, wow! How long does it take to get from the villas to MK on the boat? What would the longest wait be? We didn't mind the bus service, but at night, it would be nice to get there quickly. What is leaving like after the parades or fireworks? Does that take a long time to get on the boat?

Finally, if we do get our BCV points and want to stay at VWL, how hard do you think it would be to find a member to transfer points or do a swap so that we could book 11 months out? Is this done often?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi. We haven't traveled with our grandchildren yet, but we do love the VWL and that's where we're staying with them in August. They are much younger than your children will be, but it's because we're going to go primarily to MK that we've picked VWL for our first WDW trip together. We own at BWV and VWL and we did consider both for the trip.

You ask how it is to get on a boat after fireworks, parades. It can be very long,and we've had to wait to get on a second large boat at times, we were that far behind in the line. The boats are larger than the Friendship boats. As DH and I stood in line I marveled at the parents with 2, 3 little ones, you need lots of patience and a good stroller, and hope that you have a sleeping toddler, child for the wait.

I've never timed it, so maybe others can help. I love the movement of a boat on water, so it all seems like a wonderful ride adventure to me!

If you book at BCV 11 months out and then try to change to VWL it should work, of course, depending on the time of year. If it's warm weather time, or during F&W, I'll bet you could find someone willing to swap if that's what you want to do, if in December, I wouldn't be so sure. If you are in the time between the F&W and Thanksgiving, I think you would be OK too. There have been more posts recently about people thinking of "swaping" don't know that that would be necessary.

Bobbi

 

[my4kids]

If you are, I don't think the boat line is that bad. It looks huge as the boat pulls up, but the boat holds so many more people than a bus, that it usually clears once the boat comes...the ride is quick (5 min?) its easy to push the stroller right on.....(no having to fold it up to get on the bus) I think VWL would be a great pick with the ages of your kids.

 

[cslittle999]

We found the bus faster than the boat when we were there in December. The other thing I didn't like about the boat was diesel fumes if you get stuck sitting in the back.

 

[dsneygirl]

We love taking the boat from MK. But at the end of the night it can be very crowded after fireworks. But probably comporable to the wait for a bus. I find the boat so much more relaxing. I think it's about a 10 min ride from WL.

 

[jmatias]

We stayed at VWL in Jan. 05 our DS were 8 & 7 at the time. They loved the resort. The whole theme of the resort was great, and the really loved the gift shop...had to stop by everytime we passed it so they could look at the gun rack

We took the boat to MK and found it fun and relaxing..though you do get whiffs of the fuel and it was windy and cold at night. We didn't have any long waits. Was also nice that we could roll DD's stoller right on.

We tend to be beachy people ( probably because we live in Hawaii ) so VWL was great!

 

[twotoohappy]

Just came back from VWL in Dec.
The boat was great in the middle of the day, but the bus was quicker either first thing in the morning or at night. Especially when MK opens, the boat can be very slow because it picks up FW people first and if they fill the boat, then you have to wait for the next one.
You can also take the boat to the Contemporary and then switch to the monerail.
We just took the bus in the mornings. Either way it's only about 10min.
It's great to head home for lunch and a break from MK during the day.

 

[iankh]

We love the boat to MK. We find it much more relaxing than the bus and it is such a quick trip over to MK.