Beach Club or Boardwalk?

[Chezman1399]

My wife and I just purchased DVC in December and have booked our first trip in May at AKL, our home resort. We plan on heading to Aulani and back to WDW for the food and wine festival later this year.

So, for our food and wine trip I was just wondering if there was a big difference between Beach Club and Boardwalk?

We stayed at Yacht Club on and after our wedding, and were concierge and loved it. Also, anything I should be prepared for DVC wise that's different than normal?

 

[Phonedave]

You are going to hear people who say both. It's a matter of taste. Me, I like Boardwalk. I like the boardwalk area, and the draw of Beach Club - Stormalong Bay, really does nothing for me.

I will say, good luck. EPCOT dvc resorts fill QUICKLY during F&W. Since your home is AKL you are stuck with a 7 month window. My advice, be on the phone at exactly 7 months out, and take whatever is available.


-dave

 

[ncstate7991]

There are differences in the two resorts. Boardwalk can be cheaper from a point perspective, has more rooms, etc. Beach Club has an awesome pool. Both resorts are so close to each other that I consider restaurants and amenities (with the exception of pools) to be shared. Both are walking distance to Epcot and Studios. Beach Club is closer to Epcot, which might be important if you are mostly going for F&W.

I have been told that during F&W both resorts are very hard to get, especially if they are not your home resort. You will need to call/be online right at the 7 month window.

I started a thread a few months ago that lists some of the difference between a cash room and a DVC room, but the main difference is mousekeeping. I am sure others can point out any additional differences.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=795293

Congruations on joining DVC, and I wish you many fun and exciting vacations!

 

[Chezman1399]

I figured I'd have to get to it early. So I've started watching my countdown now. We plan on going early October so, I'll be online as early as possible on March 9.

Thank you for the welcome, we are super excited!! We love to travel and Disney. I'm currently a seasonal cast member who will be losing his benefits in October, due to new work requirements, so I'm excited to do trips to Disney where work is not on my mind.

 

[slappy magoo]

I like the rooms in Boardwalk better. But Stormalong Bay is much more awesomer Also, Beach Club has a much more convenient and accessible "marketplace" to get takeout convenience foods. Do with that info what you will.

 

[captainkidd]

To me, they're almost interchangeable due to the looks of the rooms being so similar and the location being so close to one another.

 

[Chezman1399]

Stormalong is a place I really want to experience, we stayed 5 or 6 nights at Yacht club on our honeymoon and never got a chance. I think we're going to try there first with Boardwalk as a back up. We've almost always stayed around MK, so that was our first EPCOT resort experience, and we loved it. Transportation, specifically the boats ran like clockwork. Large rooms, sounds like both places are awesome.

Now I want to look into resale of them, lol.

 

[Yanks07]

You mentioned that you were going to F&W festival so in that case Beach Club would be a little closer, Stormalong Bay is awesome But i enjoy the Boardwalk pool more. BCV is one of my home resorts but I prefer to stay @ BWV and as was mentioned that time is tough to get so I always use my home resort 11 mos window to book BCV. Either way you will have a blast and yes be ready @ 7 mos mark for sure.

 

[captainkidd]

You mentioned that you were going to F&W festival so in that case Beach Club would be a little closer, Stormalong Bay is awesome But i enjoy the Boardwalk pool more. BCV is one of my home resorts but I prefer to stay @ BWV and as was mentioned that time is tough to get so I always use my home resort 11 mos window to book BCV. Either way you will have a blast and yes be ready @ 7 mos mark for sure.

Boardwalk pool looks like more fun to me. I found SAB very underwhelming. Probably because I'm from New England, and sand bottom pools don't do much for me.

 

[disneyrcks]

I would go with the Beach Club. We love both and have stayed at Boardwalk several times. However, we love grabbing a tube and relaxing at the Beach Club. The water slide is better at Beach Club but BW's is great as well. They both have ample pool snack/bars. Either way you will have a blast and both hotels are awesome! Also if you are DVC you may be able to pool hop to Boardwalk while staying at Beach Club (I am not sure of the pool hop schedule but I know you cannot pool hop to Beach Club).

 

[disneyeater]

I like the Boardwalk area better, but feel like the rooms are more run down than at the Beach Club. I have only stayed at BW once, but that was my impression of the room. We had a HA studio, so I don't know if that made a difference.

 

[worldfanatic]

Boardwalk pool looks like more fun to me. I found SAB very underwhelming. Probably because I'm from New England, and sand bottom pools don't do much for me.

I'm wasn't aware of the fact that New Englanders hate sand bottom pools. Learn something new every day.:ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

They're both great resorts, but I feel the Boardwalk Resort has an energy and electric atmosphere that the sleepier Beach Club can't match.
Of course, for some that quieter atmosphere at the BC could be a real positive.:shrug:

 

[flynnibus]

coolest pool on the planet..

assuming the 'quick sand' areas in the pool still function and the lazy river circulation

 

[Nero the dog]

I like the Boardwalk area better, but feel like the rooms are more run down than at the Beach Club. I have only stayed at BW once, but that was my impression of the room. We had a HA studio, so I don't know if that made a difference.

I don't know when you stayed at BWV, but the whole resort has been refurbished a couple of years ago.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I stayed at the Boardwalk in 2009 and at the Beach Club in 2011, I preferred the Boardwalk. Beach Club's pool is neat, but it's a little loud & crowded IMO.

Boardwalk's Luna Pool has a fun circus theme. Yes, it's smaller. But I found it to be quieter, less crowded & just more relaxing for me. But now I have a baby, so I'm certain someday I will enjoy the environment of Stormalong Bay more.

Boardwalk rooms to me were nicer with more space - but this is just my opinion
(stayed at villas both times). I liked the ambiance there more, and I think it will be our home resort from now on if we stay deluxe. As far as location goes, both are great and pretty much interchangeable.

 

[disneyeater]

I don't know when you stayed at BWV, but the whole resort has been refurbished a couple of years ago.

January 2011.

 

[Ralphlaw]

If points are at all an issue, Boardwalk wins hands down. Standard view at Boardwalk is literally 20% fewer points. If you do the math, that means you get a 6th night free if you book for 5 nights.

Yeah, BCV pool is great, but honestly the pool is secondary for us in November because the weather is actually kind of cool. Also, sand all over your bathroom after a dip in the sand bottom pool is irritating, especially without daily housekeeping.

But either way, you can't go wrong.

 

[flynnibus]

sand in your bottom.. what on earth are you doing?

It's not sand like a beach... it's more like a gravel so it sinks quickly and doesn't cloud up the pool.

 

[Ralphlaw]

If you've got kids, and you sit in the sand, you'll get sand in your bathroom. Not to get too graphic, but . . . well, yeah--okay.

 

[tjkraz]

I figured I'd have to get to it early. So I've started watching my countdown now. We plan on going early October so, I'll be online as early as possible on March 9.

That may not matter. Owners at each resort have a 4 month booking advantage and it's entirely possible that everything will be gone before you can even begin booking.

I own BoardWalk points so I can actually check availability now. If you are trying to get a Studio, it doesn't look good. Some days are available for the days immediately following 10/9, but not all. Right now there are no BoardWalk Studios available for the night of 10/11 in any view.

Beach Club is about half the size of BoardWalk so that doesn't bode well either.

If you're looking for a One Bedroom, I would say it increases your chances dramatically.

Personally I prefer the BoardWalk because it's more centrally located with respect to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. BC is much closer to Epcot but DHS is really too far away to walk (about 30 minutes.) Not a fan of the boats.

Also think BW has the best view among all WDW DVC resorts...if you can get it. Better than the BLT parking lot view (aka Theme Park view ) Beach Club Villas sit 10-15' from the main road that services BC/YC/Dolphin/Swan so many rooms don't offer the most appealing balcony experience.