Which one to buy - BCV or BWV?

[andycat]

[Update: see post #39 for our observations and conclusions from our recent trip to WDW.]

Pros and cons anyone?

We're looking to buy some more points, either at BCV or BWV. Our primary motivation is that we want to be close to Epcot for Food and Wine, avoiding the Halloween and Veterans Day holidays. We'll definitely visit all the parks, but for these points our focus is Epcot. I've looked at some reviews of the rooms, and most are positive for both properties. There are just two of us, and we'll typically alternate our visits between a studio and one-bedroom.

We might try the pool at BCV once in a while if we buy there, but we currently have annual water park passes for serious pool time.

We tend to eat breakfast in the room, pack snacks for lunch and eat dinner in the parks. We might eat at the resort restaurant once during a stay.

We'll mostly be driving our own vehicle to the resort, leaving it there and taking Disney Transportation to the parks. We might run out for groceries once during a stay, or drive to a dinner reservation at another resort, or to the water parks.

We currently own at OKW, so we're not new to DVC, but we've never been able to use our OKW points to get a weekend during Food and Wine at one of the Epcot resorts. And now that we're in Florida instead of Oregon, we're planning on visiting The World more often.

BWV is the obvious choice based on price, but what's so special about BCV that commands such a premium for points? Is it just the pool? Or something more?

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

The walk to Epcot is closer from BCV for food and wine.

We own at BCV (I always wanted a beach house until we visited Disney.) This past summer we stayed at both resorts. The pool at BCV annoys my dh. He thinks it is ridiculous to have to get out and cross three inches of cement to get into another pool. I disliked it because I couldn't relax. We have 8 year old twins, and I was quite worried about the exits. Finding a seat was complicated - hard to find a spot which was good for watching the girls.

Boardwalk was much more relaxed. The pool was fantastic; I could look up and spot my kids easily. They could use the waterslide by themselves. Also, my girls LOVED community hall. Studio at BWV was roomier than BCV, but I don't know if that was based on room location.

Edit: I know it is only the two of you. I can only relay my feelings about the place as my current status as "mom." I guess if I was looking at it from just DH and I; I'd pick BWV still. The pool was much more relaxed and the pool bar there was convenient. It had a great atmosphere. BCV seems disorganized to my brain.

 

[OKW Lover]

We give the edge to BCV because:

• We prefer a quieter location
• We like convenient parking
• Slightly shorter walk to Epcot
• Stormalong Bay
• Decor

 

[pamickey]

I would recommend BWV also. We like the action of the boardwalk and the large size of the pool (and even the clown slide). I believe that BWV is larger, so it may be easier to book for F&W also.

My brother stayed at BCV and was also nervous about watching his girls at the pool. Also, their view was into the trees, while our view at BWV is always great, whether over the boardwalk, facing HS, or facing the front entrance. We've never had a bad view.

Good luck with your choice.

Terri

 

[palaemon]

BWV Pros: cheaper standard view points, if you're able to book 11-months out. Quieter pool, view choice in general (Standard, BW.)

BCV Pros: SAB, Smaller resort, so 11-month window is critical (especially during F&W), slightly closer to EPCOT.

 

[AKV707]

We just did the same thing and added on at Bwv. I think it comes down to which you prefer. We also did it for F&W as out anniversary is during F&W. We are Epcot fans, and like you we eat breakfast in the room It is just the 2 of us.

We went with BWV, because we like the different views available and the feel of the resort. We have stayed there once. In all candor, we have never stayed at BCV, but we had a great BWV stay so we went with the add on there. Good luck with your decision.

 

[BigTigger]

If you want BCV during F&W and you can book more than 7 months ahead, then buying in their is the best way to go to better the odds of getting a room at BCV.

BWV is a great resort too, but the scary clown pool can't hold a candle to SAB.

Of course, you can buy a real cheap SS deal as an add-on and use the points for a YC Concierge hotel room during F&W and really spoil yourself

 

[Sandisw]

We have stayed at both (not during F & W) and the closeness of BCV to Epcot was amazing.

We also liked that we had the marketplace to get something to eat without really having to go outside--the walkway from the villas to the marketplace is technically outside, but it is covered so no getting wet if it rains. It was like a 2 - 3 minute walk in the morning.

At BWV, we were in a room at the far end of a hall and the walk just seemed so long. To walk to Epcot, from our room, was at least 20 minutes vs. about 8 from BCV.

If I was choosing I think I would go with BCV--however, the price for BWV has come down and may make it worth it to go with that.

Good luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

BCV is a little closer to Epcot but BWV is a lot closer to Hollywood Studios.
For me the big draw of BCV is the pool. If that is important to you, then for sure you should buy there. We are an older couple and Stormalong Bay is just too busy for us. We don't like fighting for a chair. And when we bring children we find it almost impossible to keep track of them.
The parking at BCV is closer, but if you will not be using your car very often that may not be a huge factor.
For us the view is the big difference. BW view rooms require about the same number of points as any BCV room and some of the BCV rooms have not such great views. We love watching Illuminations and parts of Wishes from our balcony. We even like people watching from our balcony. When we first purchased and didn't have many points we sometimes booked standard view at BWV, which is one of the biggest bargains in DVC.
Good luck with your decision. I love that DVC has choices that appeal to lots of different tastes.

 

[TisBit]

My opinion was that BCV draw was almost completely the pool, so if that is not the prime factor for you, it might not be the top choice. As mentioned, if you are doing all the parks, while BCV is slightly closer to Epcot (about 2-3 minutes) it is a lot closer to DHS. One of the big downsides to the Epcot area resorts is the transportation to other parks, so I think having the difference split between Epcot and DHS is an advanatage.

Also, I think BWV has more offerings, stuff like the bakery that might become more of a routine for breakfast, etc. I think it just gives more options to you during your stay, even having more restaurants then your "typical" resort....

I would suggest trying to stay at each resort before making a decision, even if you aren't staying during food and wine.

 

[jekjones1558]

As mentioned, if you are doing all the parks, while BCV is slightly closer to Epcot (about 2-3 minutes) it is a lot closer to DHS.

I think you meant to say that BCV is slightly closer to Epcot but BWV is a lot closer to DHS.
2 other issues: BWV does not have any dedicated 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds in the second bedroom (BWV only has lock-off 2 bedrooms with 1 queen and a sofabed in the second bedroom). BCV has no Grand Villas and BWV does.

 

[a742246]

If the pool doesn't matter go with BWV.

.Cheaper, more evening excitement.

 

[lapeter]

Have you looked at the price difference!!! BWV going for $50 to $60 and BCV going for $80.

 

[Massillon Dad]

Boardwalk wins. it seems that the villas @ Beach club are so far away from the resort itself/ its excitement, its amenities: Beach Club villas on average are probably twice as far from main lodge as boardwalk villas. More peace & quiet: perhaps, but if you wanted peace & quiet a secluded mountain retreat might be more appropriate as opposed to the number one american tourist destination.

 

[marie1981]

Have you looked at the price difference!!! BWV going for $50 to $60 and BCV going for $80.

I did not see much BWV at $50...

I would say that it goes more from $65 to $70....

And for BC, at $80, it has a big big possibility to be ROFR...

 

[DJmommy]

We prefer BWV also.

We usually go late summer and have had good luck booking BCV in the summer with our BWV points. We enjoy SAB but feel the same as many other parents about constantly having to be walking around keeping track of our young children. BWV definitely has a more relaxed pool area because you could view the whole pool from a good spot, including the slide. So we tend to alternate every couple of years BCV, then maybe 2 years in a row BWV.

We tend to grocery shop and stock up our room so the need for counter service is not really a big issue for us. BCV is more convenient if you need to stop and get something quick however.

Although BCV is slightly closer to EPCOT, what is 4-5 more minutes of walking to BWV considering all the walking at the world to begin with. We enjoy being able to walk back to BWV from DHS when the boats are full at park closing. This, in my opinion, is huge, especially since we usually save points by staying standard view. We usually request the end facing DHS so the walk is even more convenient.

Having the Boardwalk right outside the resort is nice to watch the performers and walking back from Jellyrolls is very convenient.

I really like the renovated rooms at BWV, and the standard views that we have had have all been fine views. We unfortunately have gotten the road view numerous times at BCV and don't like that too much, so overall I think the BWV has better overall views, even the standard ones.

The quiet pool is nice and warm and our kids love Community Hall, especially in the heat of the summer.

Points wise, you can't beat the value of BWV. I love saving all those points when we book a standard view 1 or 2 BR. It allows us to stay more nights or get an extra trip in.

And the lower resale prices of BWV are an added bonus. We just bought some additional points this year.

Good luck. Whatever you decide, you won't be disappointed. They are both great resorts.

 

[andycat]

Thank you to everyone who replied. No need for anyone to apologize for any point of view (kids / no kids) - it's all good information. For whatever it's worth, DW and I have talked it over and I thought we'd share our thoughts / plans:

* SAB really is less of a draw now than it was when we started. If parents have a hard time keeping track of kids, it's difficult to get a chair, and there are extra charges for inner tubes, what little interest we might have had to use that feature is gone.

* Room / view differences - if you've never stayed at OKW, the room views are, to put it nicely, placid. So if we want quiet and peaceful, we can always book there. I'm sure we'd be OK with any view at BCV or BWV. Having the option of a premium view at BWV might be a nice perk.

* Distances - As was mentioned, with all the walking we do at the world, an extra 10 minutes isn't going to make or break us.

With so few BCV resales advertised, we were allowing ourselves to be pressured to move quickly when one came up. I think we'll probably wait a little while now to make a decision. We're going to be in the World in January, and we're going to make time to walk from Epcot to BWV, and perhaps on to DHS to get a feel for the distances involved. But based on everything we've heard here, we'll probably go with BWV.

Thanks again to everyone!!

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

A bit off topic, but welcome to Jax FL.

 

[alldiz]

Hi,
I think the big draw to BCV is the pool. I personally don't love BCV pool. Too spread out and crazy.
BWV seems more "upscale". I like the pool area....and walking to Epcot and Studios.

The fact that it is cheaper at BWV and you have the standard rooms....makes an easy choice for me.
Keerri

 

[OhioDVC]

If you like the water, the Beach Club pool is the best at Disneyworld