BWV or BCV? :)

[Disneykidder]

In August, my family and I will be headed to WDW. We currently have BLT MK view studio booked for a week. We'd like to do a split stay. After originally wanting to split between BLT and AKV, we have decided to choose either BWV or BCV. We are torn. They are both in a prime location for us...close to Epcot and HS. We have been to both and eaten at both but have never stayed at either. So, my question is, which would you choose to split your stay with? Taking away BLT is not an option since we frequent MK and love the view from there (plus we love Chef Mickey's).

Thanks for your insights!! Oh, we are a family with three small children. (last year staying in a studio)

 

[ParentsOf4]

BWV is my Home Resort but the answer is easy; go with BCV. With BCV you get access to their mini waterpark, Stormalong Bay. Your 3 small children will really like this. You can then hop to BWV's pool if you want to. However, you cannot hop to Stormalong Bay if you stay at BWV.

 

[GoofGoof]

BWV is my Home Resort but the answer is easy; go with BCV. With BCV you get access to their mini waterpark, Stormalong Bay. Your 3 small children will really like this. You can then hop to BWV's pool if you want to. However, you cannot hop to Stormalong Bay if you stay at BWV.

Agreed. That pool is worth the stay. I have never actually stayed there, but walked past and checked it out in envy. The boardwalk is great too, but you are close enough to visit. BCV is supposed to be harder to get reservations for since its smaller and pretty popular.

 

[Disneykidder]

Thanks guys!! That's why I was asking now, GoofGoof...our 7 month window is in January and we want to make our decision so we are ready exactly on that day. What are some childrens activities?

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

While Stormalong Bay is designed very nice and etc, I should mention it's too much spread out and has a very confusing layout. So it could be hard to watch your three kids. Plus the entrance to their main pool slide is located along the pathway towards Epcot, so you need to physically leave SAB to access it and I thought who ever designed it like that wasn't very smart.

 

[rufio]

I'd choose BWV, but I don't have kids.

 

[captainkidd]

We stayed at BWV this past summer and loved it, but we're staying at BCV next July. I'm not big on BC, but my wife wants to stay there.

 

[Phonedave]

While Stormalong Bay is designed very nice and etc, I should mention it's too much spread out and has a very confusing layout. So it could be hard to watch your three kids. Plus the entrance to their main pool slide is located along the pathway towards Epcot, so you need to physically leave SAB to access it and I thought who ever designed it like that wasn't very smart.

Agreed. That pool area is a mess. I can see how for small kids it can be fun (my kids loved it), but for me, I would take Boardwalk.

-dave

 

[Disneykidder]

If Stormalong Bay is close to the walkway, I'm not comfy with that.

 

[Sans Souci]

If Stormalong Bay is close to the walkway, I'm not comfy with that.

There is also an entrance that is along the walkway between the two hotels. It's closer to the Yacht Club, but you can access through the walkway where Beaches and Cream, the Gym and the salon are.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

If Stormalong Bay is close to the walkway, I'm not comfy with that.

Just so you know anyone is able to walk past Stormalong Bay along that walkway when coming from Epcot, Boardwalk, Swan or Dolphin and look at it. So no matter what entrance you would go through and despite their wrist band policy, Stormalong Bay is not 100% isolated from non Yacht Club/Beach Club/Beach Club Villas guests.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

Here is something else to factor in. BWV has a lot more Quick Service locations, where as BCV only has Beach Club Marketplace which gets a lot of negative reviews.

 

[Sans Souci]

*shrug* I don't think there's anything wrong with BCV. I am not married to it by any means. In fact, we are staying at BWV in March. I just think BCV is a fun place for small children. They have a sand bottom, shallow pool area for small children with a little sand bar where the kids could make sand castles. I also don't think the "leaving the pool to get to the slide" is such a hardship.

I have personally experienced long lines at the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast and lunch, so I really think it's as broad as it is long. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong staying anywhere in that area, since you can walk to two parks.

 

[captainkidd]

Here is something else to factor in. BWV has a lot more Quick Service locations, where as BCV only has Beach Club Marketplace which gets a lot of negative reviews.

We stayed at the Boardwalk this past year, and I didn't find that it had "a lot more" QS locations. It has the Bakery and the Pizza Window. Besides, it's a moot point. The resorts are 5 minutes apart. If you don't like the Marketplace, you can walk to the Bakery. If you don't like the Bakery, you can go over to Cape May Cafe or Captain's Grille. The food choices at either are the last reason to choose one over the other. Some like the theme of the Boardwalk. Some like the theme (and the pool) at the Beach Club.

 

[captainkidd]

*shrug* I don't think there's anything wrong with BCV. I am not married to it by any means. In fact, we are staying at BWV in March. I just think BCV is a fun place for small children. They have a sand bottom, shallow pool area for small children with a little sand bar where the kids could make sand castles. I also don't think the "leaving the pool to get to the slide" is such a hardship.

I have personally experienced long lines at the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast and lunch, so I really think it's as broad as it is long. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong staying anywhere in that area, since you can walk to two parks.

Although I really liked the Boardwalk, the biggest difference between the resorts is the pools. I'm not a big pool person myself, but we asked the kids where they wanted to stay and all 3 said Beach Club because of the pool. None of them cared for the Boardwalk pool all that much.

 

[captainkidd]

Just so you know anyone is able to walk past Stormalong Bay along that walkway when coming from Epcot, Boardwalk, Swan or Dolphin and look at it. So no matter what entrance you would go through and despite their wrist band policy, Stormalong Bay is not 100% isolated from non Yacht Club/Beach Club/Beach Club Villas guests.

No resort's pool is closed off from guests walking by, with the exception of BLT. I would hardly consider that a plus or minus for any other resort on property.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

No resort's pool is closed off from guests walking by, with the exception of BLT. I would hardly consider that a plus or minus for any other resort on property.

From what the OP said I thought with SAB being so close to the Epcot walkway she wouldn't like that.

It's also true that in terms of total Quick Service locations the Boardwalk has more of them. There is the Boardwalk Bakery, Boardwalk Pizza Window, Boardwalk To Go, Boardwalk Joes, Seashore Sweets, Belle Vue Lounge. Tasty Sensations and Leaping Horse Libations.

There is only the Beach Club Marketplace and Hurricane Hanna's for the Yacht Club/Beach Club/Beach Club Villas guests if they want Quick Service.

Now in terms of Table Service Restaurants they have about the same amount, so for that they are even.

 

[GoofGoof]

From what the OP said I thought with SAB being so close to the Epcot walkway she wouldn't like that.

It's also true that in terms of total Quick Service locations the Boardwalk has more of them. There is the Boardwalk Bakery, Boardwalk Pizza Window, Boardwalk To Go, Boardwalk Joes, Seashore Sweets, Belle Vue Lounge. Tasty Sensations and Leaping Horse Libations.

There is only the Beach Club Marketplace and Hurricane Hanna's for the Yacht Club/Beach Club/Beach Club Villas guests if they want Quick Service.

Now in terms of Table Service Restaurants they have about the same amount, so for that they are even.

IMHO I consider all of the restaurants to be the same for both (all 3) resorts. It's a 5 minute walk from BC to BW. It's a shorter distance than the walk from my room at Coronado Springs to Pepper Market when I stayed there. And they are both a short walk to the French Bakery in EPCOT You really can't go wrong with either in terms of food options.

 

[ParentsOf4]

IMHO I consider all of the restaurants to be the same for both (all 3) resorts. It's a 5 minute walk from BC to BW. It's a shorter distance than the walk from my room at Coronado Springs to Pepper Market when I stayed there. And they are both a short walk to the French Bakery in EPCOT You really can't go wrong with either in terms of food options.

I have similar thoughts. Essentially, the Boardwalk, Beach, and Yacht Clubs share all the facilities on Crescent Lake. The only thing that's unique to a DVC member is Stormalong Bay, which can only be used when staying at BCV.

The small food court at the Beach Club is easily reached from BCV and the main dining area (Cape May) is not much farther. Conversely, BWV's dining facilities are on the Boardwalk itself. It's a longer uncovered outside walk to get to these from BWV. It's wonderful on a beautiful morning but stinks if it's raining or cold.

I agree with BWI FAN 4 EVER that Stormalong Bay is next to the main walkway to Epcot. Stormalong Bay is surrounded by a fence and has lifeguards posted at every entrance to assure that only Y&BC guests enter. However, for a parent with young children, it could be disconcerting for the children to leave the pool area to cross the main walkway to get to the water slide. I assume WDW is very much aware of this and does at least some monitoring but I've never noticed someone stationed there whose job it was to "guard" children crossing.

Conversely, the main pool (Luna Park) at BWV is surrounded on 3 sides by BWV. The fourth side has a small building blocking most of that with a fence for the rest. However, there is no one monitoring the entrances, just like other WDW hotel pools. Anyone can walk in or walk out.

My suggestion to the OP is to look at the resorts using Google maps to see the layout from the air, and then search the Internet for photos and go with the one that is most appealing.

I stand by my first post. BWV is my Home Resort and I think it's awesome. However, if the OP wants to try out Stormalong Bay, the OP will have to stay at BCV. It may not matter anyway. BCV is so small and so difficult to book (BWV is not much easier) that the OP might not have a choice.

 

[Disneykidder]

Wow. Thanks for the advice everyone. I looked quickly for a map online but couldn't find one but will search more thoroughly later. I love both resorts and I know they are so close to each other. They are equally beautiful on the outside to me. I think my kids would like Stormalong more than creepy clown as far as pools.

How are rooms different?