Why the big difference?

[CindiR]

I own at Boardwalk right now and have been thinking about adding on points at Beach Club.

In looking at the resales, there is a big difference between the price of points between the two. Why? Is there something I need to know that Beach Club seems to be listed so much higher than Boardwalk?

I really wanted to add on Beach Club because my grandson absolutely loved the pool. But I am not sure it is worth that much difference in cost.

What am I missing?

 

[mjc2003]

I own at Boardwalk right now and have been thinking about adding on points at Beach Club.

In looking at the resales, there is a big difference between the price of points between the two. Why? Is there something I need to know that Beach Club seems to be listed so much higher than Boardwalk?

I really wanted to add on Beach Club because my grandson absolutely loved the pool. But I am not sure it is worth that much difference in cost.

What am I missing?

This has been much discussed--the biggest difference is that BCV is MUCH smaller than BWV, so therefore MUCH harder to get into unless you are a member. It's also a little closer to Epcot, but not enough to warrant the difference in price. It's also widely considered to have the best pool on Disney property. There are many threads about this if you poke around, including one that I think is actually called "BCV vs BWV".

 

[jekjones1558]

My view: BCV has dedicated 2 bedrooms, closer parking and SAB pool. BWV has GVs, better views, standard view rooms that are a bargain. There are a bunch of other smaller differences (e.g. BWV has a Community Hall, BCV has slightly better Quick Service food options). BCV is also small so harder to book at 7 months. Since our family is not that enamored with the hectic feel of SAB and we LOVE BW view rooms, we would never pay extra for BCV. But if you really want to use SAB then you should probably buy BCV so you can book more than 7 months out. Good luck!

 

[PHILCT]

Both resorts are great.

I regret buying at BCV personally, because I love BCV more for the following reasons:

1) Storm Along Bay, could just stay there every day for hours.
When the lifeguard puts on the daily colored band on your wrist, you know your lucky to be there at an exclusive Disney Pool Resort.

2) Marketplace, Beaches N Creme make it such an easy location to refill that refillable mug. Some of the best outside eating areas for any food you take to go.

3) A short stroll to the International Gateway for nightly Illuminations or Dinner at EPCOT.

4) Close enough to access all of the Boardwalk/Swan Dolphin area restaurants. A short stroll over to the Boardwalk Bakery or Candy Shop.

5) The walk to the parking lot isn't as long as other DVC places, except OKW which is really the easiest to park at.

6) The sandy beach to relax on.

 

[JimMIA]

While all that's true, I think the real reason BCV sells somewhat higher than BWV is more fundamental: Disney ROFR's BcV, and they don't ROFR BWV.

This fundamental of the resale marketplace has nothing to do with the attributes of the individual resorts. Disney has pretty much abandoned the use of ROFR in resales, only occasionally ROFRing BCV and rarely ROFRing BLT.

To be more specific, the following ROFRs are listed on the ROFR thread for 2010 and 2011:

BWV - only one, in January of 2010

BLT - only one, also in January of 2010

BCV - one in February of 2011 and five in 2010

Our ROFR thread is obviously only a small slice of the marketplace, but at least it gives us an idea of what's going on.

To me, ROFR activity (and the lack of) is the real difference in the prices. If Disney doesn't artificially support prices by ROFR, they fall.

 

[Brian Noble]

ROFR has some influence, but it cannot *set* the market completely by itself, unless Disney is willing to participate in a high percentage of all purchases. Disney is only ROFRing 2-3 deeds a *month*, and my guess is that there are more contracts that do sell....possibly several times as many. (In addition to "the ROFR thread", there is WDRL's ROFR statistics thread---and he gets that from the county's registrar, so he is seeing *all* ROFR activity for Orange County resorts.)

In other words, the prices that it is selling for are the prices at which willing sellers and buyers meet. The very fact that there is such a comparable resort available for so much less suggests that supply/demand *for BCV* supports that price, else willing buyers would just forgo BCV and buy at the significantly less-expensive BWV instead.

Edited to add: indeed, we saw some significant price drops even before DVC essentially stopped ROFRing any other resort. Unless Disney is willing to deep-pocket to cover every sale below $X, eventually prices have to drop below $X if that's where supply/demand absent Disney's interests would place it.

 

[LisaS]

I really wanted to add on Beach Club because my grandson absolutely loved the pool. But I am not sure it is worth that much difference in cost.

What am I missing?

I think you answered your own question. SAB is off limits to pool hopping so if you want access to that pool, you need to be a guest at BCV (or BC or YC). Given how small BCV is, it can be difficult to book a stay there at certain times of the year unless you have BCV points and can book in the home resort booking window.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

From other dissers...

Boardwalk view and standard view rooms at BWV are generally harder to get at the 7 month window than BCV.

We adore BWV, but would choose BCV over the Preferred / POOL view at BWV. Thankfully, we have never had to face that decision.

 

[JimMIA]

Edited to add: indeed, we saw some significant price drops even before DVC essentially stopped ROFRing any other resort.

True, but I think it could be argued that prices sank generally because lower prices kept passing ROFR generally. I also think there was a big time lag between Disney's abandonment of ROFR and the realization that they had, in fact, abandoned ROFR. I think we see that every day here with posts asking if a price $20 or so above current levels will pass ROFR.

Unless Disney is willing to deep-pocket to cover every sale below $X, eventually prices have to drop below $X if that's where supply/demand absent Disney's interests would place it.

Disney has shown zero inclination, for more than a year, to do that -- and I think you're right, prices will eventually reach a supply-demand equilibrium point. Disney can raise that level somewhat by the occasional use of ROFR, but sooner or later, supply/demand will determine the prices. I predict those equilibrium prices will be somewhat lower than many think DVC is worth.

 

[JimMIA]

I think you answered your own question. SAB is off limits to pool hopping so if you want access to that pool, you need to be a guest at BCV (or BC or YC). Given how small BCV is, it can be difficult to book a stay there at certain times of the year unless you have BCV points and can book in the home resort booking window.

If there really is one characteristic of BCV that makes it more valuable, it is NOT the pool. For all the hype about SAB, it would not be the best pool at some offsite resorts, and some would argue whether it's even the best DVC pool.

In the context of desireability for purchase, I think BCV's greatest strength is it's small size. If you want to stay at BCV at certain times of the year, you really need to own there.

The second most important strength, IMHO, is the location. Third is the beauty of the resort itself and of Beach Club. SAB doesn't even register on my scale, but my scale is obviously not what drives resales.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Parking is horrid at the BWV. If you have a car, BCV is the place to stay.

No dedicated two bedroom villas at BWV. BWV is also noisier than BCV.

 

[crisi]

I really wanted to add on Beach Club because my grandson absolutely loved the pool. But I am not sure it is worth that much difference in cost.

Keep in mind that pools are something kids grow into and out of.

We were at BCV with our kids when they were 4 and 5 or so, and it was a nice pool at that age with zero entry and the kiddie slides.

Then we avoided that pool for a long time - I find it a hard pool to watch kids at and with two, it makes me go grey.

We stayed at BCV last year for the pool - they were almost 11 and almost 12. And it just wasn't "all that" already. (But it was the first trip we'd taken with both of them being strong enough swimmers that I wouldn't go grey).

For the price difference, you might want to take your seven month chances (and most of the year if you are flexible you'll be fine) or rent points while your grandson enjoys SAB.

 

[Brian Noble]

True, but I think it could be argued that prices sank generally because lower prices kept passing ROFR generally

That's exactly my point. Unless Disney is willing to exercise on *everything* (at a certain resort) below a certain trigger point, they can't realistically move the market more than insignificantly. And, it is not clear to me that they are doing so even with BCV, unless the turnover at that resort is truly a trickle.

What's more, ultimately (in an economic sense) ROFR only *lowers* market price, because the rightsholder does not have to competitively bid to win inventory. You could argue that any knowledge of trigger prices is in effect disclosure of a bid, but because that knowledge is not perfect, it does not impact all transactions in the way that a legitimate competitive bid would.

It's only real value is in an inefficient market, because it gives the rightsholder more exposure to potential transactions, and marginally increasing the demand. But, the effect is directly proportional to how much the rightsholder is willing to spend. This is why I've often wondered how many BCV deeds change hands in a typical month---we only know the exercised ones (in WDRL's thread), plus the self-reported ones in the ROFR thread. I'm guessing there are more, and possibly many more.

 

[LSchrow]

Keep in mind that pools are something kids grow into and out of.

......
For the price difference, you might want to take your seven month chances (and most of the year if you are flexible you'll be fine) or rent points while your grandson enjoys SAB.

i agree with crisi: your GS might outgrow his SAB phase. do make sure it's a resort you really love, and would want to stay at for many years to come before spending that money. if you are unsure, book at 7 months using your other points (the only times that would be difficult are the same times getting BWV would be: during the F&WF, and the holidays).

personally, we prefer the less chaotic feel, lower noise levels, lots of options and activities at your fingertips if you want it, and stunning views of the BWV over the BCV (we own both).

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I own at Boardwalk right now and have been thinking about adding on points at Beach Club.

In looking at the resales, there is a big difference between the price of points between the two. Why? Is there something I need to know that Beach Club seems to be listed so much higher than Boardwalk?

I really wanted to add on Beach Club because my grandson absolutely loved the pool. But I am not sure it is worth that much difference in cost.

What am I missing?

I think the biggest difference is the demand for Beach Club points is that much higher than the demand for Boardwalk Villa points.

Jason

 

[Deb & Bill]

...personally, we prefer the less chaotic feel, lower noise levels, lots of options and activities at your fingertips if you want it, and stunning views of the BWV over the BCV (we own both).

We always have thought BCV was quieter and less hectic than BWV because the villas are behind the BC and not right in the middle of things. The views might not be as good, but the BCV are quiet to us.

 

[Brian Noble]

Ultimately, BCV reminds me a little bit of Le Cellier. Le Cellier is a perfectly fine steakhouse. But, if you listen to most folks in the Disneyana community, it is The Best Restaurant On The Planet, and one at which you must eat or your trip to WDW will be positively ruined. In part, it has the reputation it has because it is hard to get---it's popular because it is popular.

BCV has a little of that going for it as well. It's small in terms of # of units, and that size plus all the wristbanding/card checking at the pool adds to its perception of exclusivity. Once you make something obviously exclusive, there's a certain extra cachet that goes along with it.

Is it a nice resort? Absolutely. Is it the favorite of some? You bet. But, from my perspective, it isn't all *that* different from BWV.

 

[CindiR]

Thank you for your thoughts and helpful suggestions. Especially the comments about the GS eventually outgrowing the pool phase.

Heck, the whole pool thing has never been all that important to me. Not my main reason for going at all. Sometimes I just need a slap alongside the head to start thinking properly.

I already own at Boardwalk and the not insignificant difference in price kinda makes it a no brainer. Seems like a good time to add on more points with prices being what they are.

 

[chalee94]

if you are happy at BWV, save some money and buy BWV. book BWV at 11 months out.

then at 7 months out, you can request BCV and see how it goes. worst case scenario is you get to enjoy a trip at BWV...

 

[darkwing818]

BCV is very Laid Back & let's face it you can't beat that Wonderful Pool!!!!