Which DVC would you choose for a long weekend getaway? Boardwalk or Wilderness?

[NandP]

My home resort is BCV... I wanted to do a "long weekend" with my DW this October for our anniversary... without the kids...

My home resort is not available for my dates, but Boardwalk, Villas at Wilderness Lodge and SSR are ...

Which would you choose and why?

I am familiar with the Boardwalk area, and I like the close proximity to EPCOT.... so trying someplace new is not out of the question... SSR seems to be a bit far away, so I am leaning between Wilderness or Boardwalk...

Which have better breakfast resturants?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If you are planning on spending a majority of your park time in the MK, I would go with VWL. If you want to spend the majority of park time at MGM or EPCOT, I would choose the BWV's. If you don't care at all about park time then you won't go wrong either way. But remember that the BWV has the whole Boardwalk area as well, so even if you don't go to a park, you would have that area to visit.

HBC

 

[CarolMN]

As you of course already know, there are many restaurant choices wthin walking distance of the Boardwalk.

FWIW, if this were my choice, I'd go with SSR. It's new and there are lots of restaurants and fun nighttime activities very close. The Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/West Side area seems like a wonderful location if you are going without kids and don't plan a lot of park time. How about surprising her with tickets to La Nouba and a romantic dinner?

Best wishes -

 

[robinb]

If you're a foodie, then I would book at Boardwalk since your anniversary falls in the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Keep a sharp eye out on when tickets for the special events go on sale and you might be able to book a really nice dinner for your anniversary.

Here are the kind of events that were available last year:
http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/fw04.htm

 

[tiggercrew]

My first choice would be VWL...I absolutely love the atmosphere at this resort. I don't have any convincing argument to give you as to why I would choose VWL...my daughter said it best when she said "Mom, this place just feels like home."

 

[kathleena]

If you want to spend most time at MK and maybe boating on the lakes, stay at VWL.

If you want to spend most time at Epcot enjoying F&W stay at BWV.

If you want to spend most time at DTD, stay at SSR.


I would rate the food choices:

SSR least onsite - have to walk or take boat to DTD.
VWL easy walk to resort with a couple of choices there, and can take boat to MK and then monorail to others from there.
BWV easy walk to BW, YC, BC, Swan, Dolphin, Epcot and boat to MGM.

I think BW has the most choices for food overall - depends on how you want to spend your day and how far you want to travel.

And then there's the BW bakery, that you can't get at all at the other two!

 

[OKW Lover]

First the obligitory toungelashing for calling it Fort Wilderness Lodge. There is no Fort in the resort's name.

As to your question - you need to think about what you want. The experience at BWI and WLV is very different. As you're aware, at BWI you have quick easy access to BW and a short walk to Epcot or the Studio. At WLV, you have a nice boat ride to the MK, but the other resorts are a drive (or bus ride). You're also more limited in dining experiences at WLV that a BW. But you may find the more relaxed, out-of-the-way feel of WLV to your liking.

 

[Dean]

I'll take a different approach. NO DVC option is a reasonable choice for long weekends using points. If you want to throw the points away, that's your business. You may want to consider renting out the points and staying on cash. Or you May want to pay cash for the Fri/Sat nights and points for the rest. It might be a good time to try out non DVC resorts, cash of course, hopefully with a discount. Good luck.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, let me give oyu my opinion of all 3.

SSR-close to DTD. If you like a "wilder" type of nightlife, and think you'd enjoy being out dancing etc, then this is a good choice. The rooms are very nicely decorated too, IMHO...very elegant. The pool area looked nice. There is not a lot of dining options on-site at the resort, but its close proximity to DTD kind of offsets that.

BWV-by far the best-located in terms of parks and restaurants. I like the fact that there is nightlife here, but it is not as wild and loud as DTD.You have the choices of restaurants in the YC, BC, Swan, & Dolphin, in addition to those along the Boardwalk. You are also within walking distance to the World Showcase in Epcot, which IMHO, is the most romantic place, especially at night!!! There are also a ton of restaiurants there as well.

WLV-not as many choices of restaurants, but this is a very serene, low-key resort...very relaxing. There are nice little wooded paths to stroll along, there is the Electric Water Pageant which you can see at night from the beach. It's a cozy, cuddly sort of place, very warm and rustic.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

If you are looking for a secluded romantic type of weekend then VWL is your best bet. Breakfast wise it may be a bit on the robust side if you get it in the main restaurant rather than Roaring Forks...but you can always get a meal at one of the other restaurants on the Seven Seas Lagoon...or even Magic Kingdom. And depending on your schedule you might be close to Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party.

Given that the Food & Wine Festival is in October I personally would choose either the Boardwalk or the Beach Club. You would have a greater than normal number of choices for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is a bit of a walk.

Saratoga Springs...seems to me to be the most remote of the 3 choices. That doesn't mean I wouldn't pick it for a romantic weekend. If you are a little bit of a night owl you would get a short fireworks display nightly at Pleasure Island.

Beyond that...Dean is right...unless your points are expiring or something you would be better off renting out your points, paying cash and staying some place you've always wanted to stay.

 

[NandP]

Well we booked the Wilderness Lodge Villas.. I think it will be more romantic , and lots of atmousphere....

Thank you all for your input !!!

I'll take a different approach. NO DVC option is a reasonable choice for long weekends using points. If you want to throw the points away, that's your business. You may want to consider renting out the points and staying on cash. Or you May want to pay cash for the Fri/Sat nights and points for the rest. It might be a good time to try out non DVC resorts, cash of course, hopefully with a discount. Good luck.

Dean... I am very confused as to what you mean??
I have 5 nights booked for 81 pts in Oct... and I booked 8 nights in a one bedroom at the BCV in August and I still have pts left over for 2006... and my contract is only 150pts.... I figured rack rates for those 2 stays is about $4800... I think that is why we join the DVC, so IMHO I think it is wise to use your pts to your advantage... Looking at my long term plans... I am booking a 2 bedroom and a studio at the same time for the land portion of our cruise/wdw vacation in 2007... and again, I will still have pts left over.


RobinB - THANK YOU THANK YOU for the heads up on the Wine and Food Festival.. we will be there for that!!!!!

 

[Dean]

Dean... I am very confused as to what you mean??
I have 5 nights booked for 81 pts in Oct... and I booked 8 nights in a one bedroom at the BCV in August and I still have pts left over for 2006... and my contract is only 150pts.... I figured rack rates for those 2 stays is about $4800... I think that is why we join the DVC, so IMHO I think it is wise to use your pts to your advantage... Looking at my long term plans... I am booking a 2 bedroom and a studio at the same time for the land portion of our cruise/wdw vacation in 2007... and again, I will still have pts left over.


RobinB - THANK YOU THANK YOU for the heads up on the Wine and Food Festival.. we will be there for that!!!!!

We disagree on how to put points to best use but not that you can use your points how you see fit. My idea was to get you to think about what you're doing so you can make the best decision possible in your situation. Here's the thinking. There are few stays on points that will work out for a "long weekend" when you stay friday and saturday nights. How many points you have left has nothing to do with it, the question is what is the value you are getting for the points. So you're likely staying 5 nights in a studio arriving 30 Sept for 81 points. While the studio might be that much of more on cash, even with discounts, you could likely get WL or AKL regular room for $119-129 pr night plus tax. Or you could stay cash on the weekend and points for the weekday, an even bigger savings. One of the common mistakes many members and potential members make is comparing to rack rates for the DVC room. That is ONLY applicable if you would pay for that room at that price, few would. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[jimmytammy]

You made a good choice. VWL is a great place to relax. We have noticed we will sleep in longer there because the rooms dont get as bright early in the mornings as other DVC resorts. Darker walls mainly being the reason I guess.

At any rate, we love VWL. Enjoy!

 

[sheryl0521]

If you want activities & easy walk home from F&WF go with BWV.
If you want quiet and seclusion go with WLV.