What is the appeal of BCV?

[JABEAR]

..oops

 

[JABEAR]

How do you get from BC to BW? Can you just walk? Do you take a boat?

Yes you can walk to the BC from BW. There is a path that loops around the entire lake. It isn't very far at all. You can also ride boats back and forth between resorts. You can ride the MGM boat to BC from BW and ride the Epcot boat from BC to BW or at least that is how I remember it. However, I am guessing that most people walk.

 

[ktbugsmom]

We stayed at both BWV and BCV before we bought points. As all have mentioned, there are wonderful aspects to both resorts. The location is the biggest draw for us. I love being able to walk to both Epcot and MGM and not have worry about buses. Both have great access to food and entertainment on the Boardwalk.

Initially, I thought I wanted BCV more mainly due to SAB and our young daughter - but a resale contract at BWV for 100 points with 100 banked points came up first. So - we jumped on it.

We now LOVE the Boardwalk view rooms. We love the action on the boardwalk. (Hey - we live in the NE Wisconsin - so not much hustle and bustle around here so we go where there is action for vacations!) We also love the clown pool. DD loves the slide and I love being able to see her while she swims around and I don't have to get in the pool if I don't feel like it.

That being said, BCV also has its draws and we have missed it - so we found an add-on last week and are now waiting for ROFR!

I figure now if I can't decide where to stay on my vacation, I can book part of it at BCV 11 months out and the other part of it at BWV 11 months out! I can have the best of both - great view for a while and closer to the action. Great pool and a little more laid back for a while. The only drag is that I will have to buy 2 re-fillable mugs each trip!

My advice - be careful. You may end up owning at both!

 

[Viki]

We own at both - an equal amount of points - but we haven't stayed at BWV in years! It's nice - and there's a great view of it from the lazy river in the SAB - but it's not BCV.

 

[MojitoMiss]

We stayed at all the DVC resorts before we decided we were ready to become members. When we decided to join, there were several resorts we considered, but always came back to BCV.

The reason? Longevity. Our children are young (3, 5, 7) now, but enjoy swimming in SAB. They love renting the bikes and the boats in the marina. They like walking (or bike riding) over to the boardwalk for entertainment, then coming back and eating ice cream or gelato on the beach.

When they are teenagers, and ready for more independence, they'll be able to walk over to the Boardwalk together or even over to EPCOT for a short time. Or maybe they'll want to lounge by the pool while DH and I have dinner in World Showcase.

When they're grown, we'll still enjoy BCV as adults. It will be nice to stroll over to France for a glass of champagne, or over to Rose and Crown for a pint of Guiness.

In short, we tried to imagine how our vacation needs and preference would change over the next 36 years, and BCV fit the bill for all ages/stages.

MM

 

[Deesknee]

i have to say, i just started reading this thread because dh & i are thinking of staying at bcv for our 25th anni. next year. we own ssr. after reading this thread i want to purchase extra points at bwv (we have stayed there) AND bcv! lol I think that will have to wait until our 50th!

 

[ryley26]

We have two kids so the pool was a plus. The location for us was the selling point the abilty to walk to to parks and the boardwalk area made it a no brainer.We had the option to buy at any of the four resorts and chose BCV. The pool was the deciding factor between BCV and BWV.

 

[eliza61]

Actually for me it's the atmosphere and the decor. I'm a Jersey shore gal so I love the theme. It's peaceful and beautiful in the morning and in the evening right across from the boardwalk, its lively and exciting. One of my traditions whenever I stay there is to wake up early and walk around the bay to the boardwalk bakery. I grab some thing fattening & sugary and some coffee then sit on one of the rockers at the back of the yacht club and just "chill". Most of the time, I get up before the crowds rise and it's a great way to start a magical day! It keeps me coming back year after year.

 

[ktbugsmom]

eliza61 -
I just had to respond because I do the same thing when we stay at BWV. I get up about 6am, grab my re-fillable mug. Get a hot coffee and some sugary snack and just enjoy the peace, quiet and the view. Sometimes I go to the room and sit on the balcony (we have had Boardwalk view the three visits at BWV). Sometimes I go down to the boardwalk. Sometimes I just sit outside the Bellevue Bar (where they have coffee in the morning). I LOVE that!

This January since we are staying part of the time at BCV, I will try out the rockers at YC!

 

[Dis-best]

Location!, Location!, Location!

I agree. Location -Location -Location...

I own at Saratoga and I am envious of the BCV and BWV owners. I didn't realize the advantages of being within walking distance of two resorts. Also, I view the Boardwalk as a mini Downtown Disney without the crowds. I enjoy ESPN, and the stroll back to the room for the parents night out. But again, I had to drive back to SSR, while freinds strolled back to their BCV room.

When we watched the fireworks at Epcot, friends of ours walked back to their rooms at BCV while we had to battle the crowds for the buses.

Everyone has their own reasons for owning at a particular resort, I just recommend that you check out all the resorts and pick the one that best meets your vacation plans.

 

[ttepsich]

I think the BWV is a REALLY nice resort, but we did sell our points there to buy BCV. Our reasons were:

1) Can stay at BCV and pool-hop to BWV, but not the other way around (not that we are pool hoppers, but nice to know we can).
2) The BW is built up and away from the water, the BCV has a beach where you can sink your toes in the sand, watch Illuminations from the beach all the while enjoying an "adult beverage" from Hurricane Hannas. My dd also loves to go to the beach to feed the ducks.
3) We love that the hotel was built "around" the pool, and that the pool is on the lake side of the hotel. There really is no more beautiful sight than sitting in a chair at SAB looking at the BWV (day or night), or sitting in a chair at SAB watching Illuminations over the roof of the beautiful hotel.
4) We like the amenities of the BCV better than those of BWV. We think the Marketplace is nicer (and less crowded) than the Screen Porch. We love the fact that you can get custom salads, sandwiches, gourmet desserts and yummy gelato in the shop, as well as fill your mugs. We love the fact that there is a character b'fast on site for out dd. We LOVE Beaches and Cream, and even Hurricane Hanna's is GREAT. We love just "hanging out" and eating at SAB...seeing all the soothing blue colors, and hearing the waterfalls.
5) We love the fact that some rooms overlook Epcot and Illuminations...not all, but some...and, we simply ADORE getting those rooms. One room we had overlooked SSE, and was over the water. Every morning our dd would wake up and throw bread off the balcony to feed the turtles....it was really cool!
6) SAB itself....it really is a magical pool!!! For a couple of years, it was the ONLY pool my dd would swim in, and she talked about it almost non-stop. The sand-bottom experience was SOO cool to her, that it got her over her fear of the water. She would sit in the kiddie area and play for HOURS...she couldn't get enough of it. SAB is the ONLY reason we go to WDW at warm times of the year.

I do like many of the DVC resorts (we have, at one time owned at 4 of them), but now we just own at BCV...we simply cannot get enough of that place. I would definitely think, if you are torn between the two, you might want to wait to purchase until you can see BCV for yourself. It sounds like you already have some "resort envy". You wouldn't want to sell SSR and buy BWV, only to discover that you REALLY like BCV!! BWV may be the best resort for you, but there really is only one way to be sure.

Good luck!!!



Beca

Beca, I agree with all of the above plus:


ART
NO WAY JOSE @ BEACHES
THE LOBBY AT CHRISTMAS
THE CLAM CHOWDER @ CAPE MAY
DID I MENTION "ART"?
SINKING SANDS

We are going over the Thanksgiving holiday and I can hardly wait!
Tina

 

[TeresaNJ]

There is something so appealing to me about walking back from Epcot through the International Gateway at night, listening to the music fading into the background, as I meander my way to the BCV. The smells, the sounds, the lights reflecting on the water from the BW and the BWV, watching the Friendship Boats cruising the waters, the surrey bike riders racing around the lake, holding hands with my dear hubby, thanking my lucky stars that I get to experience this.

I guess you can say you'd experience the same thing as you strolled on over to the BWV, but I truly love everything about the BC and the BCV much more than the BW and BWV. I think part of the reason is because I feel it is much more peaceful at the BCV, you are truly secluded at the quiet pool and the hot tub, and I also love the color scheme at the BC. I love the Cape May Cafe, I love the doorman, although I forget his name , I love the Solarium, I just feel very happy there.

When I'm at the BW I don't have a relaxed feeling. I don't know why, maybe it is all the hustle and bustle, LOL. I really don't like the decor, just not my taste. I don't care for Luna Park, maybe because I don't like clowns. The quiet pool also seems to be pretty busy also, and it is such a hike if you are staying in a boardwalk view room, not to mention the hike down the very loooooong hallways to the rooms that feel like they are almost in MGM!

THIS IS NOT A BWV BASHING POST!! IT IS AN OPINION OF WHY I PREFER THE BCV. Thank you.