What resort to book Old Key West or Boardwalk Villas

[Plutodog]

Can anyone give me their opinion on what resort to stay at. We currently own at SSR but want to try another resort. Any imput would be great. Old Key West or Boardwalk?????

 

[AKV707]

I have never stayed at BWV, (I will someday) but have stayed at OKW. I can say with confidence that they are both great resorts. The rooms at OKW are the largest of the DVC resorts, the look and feel of the resort is calm. It is a perfect retreat after a day in the parks. All transportation will be by bus except for DTD where you can walk or take a ferry.

BWV has an outstanding location. You can walk to either the Studios or Epcot. Tons of activity and entertainment right on the Boardwalk. Great restaurants within walking distance between the Boardwalk, Yacht and beach Clubs, Swan and Dolphin and World Showcase.

I think it all depends on what kind of vacation you would like to have.

 

[ChelleinNC]

It's hard to decide isn't it We own at SSR, and we're staying at BWV in 19 days and OKW for Easter

 

[BroganMc]

Can anyone give me their opinion on what resort to stay at. We currently own at SSR but want to try another resort. Any imput would be great. Old Key West or Boardwalk?????

As an SSR owner, I'm looking to try every other resort before OKW. My reason is that I want something different than SSR in location and style. OKW has bigger rooms but is like an older brother version of SSR in layout and theme. A little more quaint, smaller buildings, more in-resort roads and older public amenities. It's a nice place to visit, but besides the lower point costs, Olivia's and different room layouts you don't get much change. You're still within walking distance of DTD, still relying solely on busses or cars to get to the parks, and still have that ferry service on DTD's canals.

Boardwalk gives you as different an experience from SSR as you an imagine. The parking lot is far enough away you forget you have a car (or want to). You're in the middle of a hotel district with lots of outside your door activities. You can walk or ferry to MGM and EPCOT. And there's a really good character breakfast nearby at Cape May.

BCV makes the short list if you have a hankering for the location and want to enjoy the mini-waterpark pool. The parking lot is close enough to remember your car but you may still abandon it for the quick walk into EPCOT.

Only downsides to both resorts is the shared bus system for Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. You'll end up taking longer to get to those parks and may encounter more full busses. Also, they aren't exactly private, calm retreats like SSR & OKW are.

VWL and AKV both give you a similar quiet resort retreat but with immersive theming. I find VWL's mountain retreat to be more comforting than AKV's safari. You find yourself wanting to sit on the rocking chairs just watching the sunset at VWL. AKV you'll want to watch the animals on the safari, which is more open and grassland-y... sparse to my American country mindset. (VWL's woods are more lush and dense.)

All those resorts share similar room layouts to SSR. There's different interior design and some alterations. (AKV has the biggest room differences with the layout of the kitchens and bathrooms.) But they all sort of feel the same.

A lot also depends on what you're looking to do on your vacation. For instance, I'm splitting my stay next year between SSR and another resort to be named at the 7 month mark.

I want to return home to enjoy SSR's amenities but if I get BWV I plan to enjoy the Food & Wine fest at EPCOT mostly as well as the whole Boardwalk area. If I wind up at VWL, I'll schedule a MNSSHP and go to MK more, probably also the Seven Seas Lagoon resorts. And at AKV, I'll enjoy the resort and make short car trips over to AK for early safaris.

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed at both and love both. OKW is more of a laid back vacation, where BWV is more "in the middle of the action". So it depends on what you are looking for on a particular trip. When my mom was alive, we did May at OKW for Mother's Day and early December at BWV for Christmas time.