Boardwalk Villas or Beach Club Villas

stace1214

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
We'll be staying at a villa studio for our next trip and are deciding between Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas. Which do you prefer and why?
 
We’re Boardwal dvc owners so that’s always my first choice. I like the atmosphere, decor, location, pool area, etc. But I know a lot of people would pick the Beach club because of stormalong bay. It just doesn’t appeal to me so I’d only stay at the BC in colder months when I wouldn’t expect pool time.
 
We’re Boardwal dvc owners so that’s always my first choice. I like the atmosphere, decor, location, pool area, etc. But I know a lot of people would pick the Beach club because of stormalong bay. It just doesn’t appeal to me so I’d only stay at the BC in colder months when I wouldn’t expect pool time.

Thanks! Stormalong Bay is appealing and we do have kids, but we don't usually do a whole lot of pool time, usually just an hour in the afternoon before going back to the parks.
 
I wanted to love BW but just didn't find it a great place to stay(stayed twice, changed hotels both times due to problems). Beach/Yacht are my favorites!
 


DW and I love the Boardwalk. We have stayed there many times on the Inn side and once in a 1BR villa. I like having a balcony and the BWI has one on every room. We were always happy with our room views. When we stayed on the villa side we had a view of the Clown face. It didn't bother me, it was kind of fun watching kids spit out on the clown's mouth.

We love the theming and being able to stroll the Boardwalk in the evening. Plenty close enough to Epcot. We are not interested in the pool so Stormalong Bay has no attraction to us.

All that said, I don't think you will go wrong with either choice.
 
Having stayed at both, I would say go with Boardwalk.

I know I'm in the minority, but I wasn't a fan of stormalong bay - to me it was like a nice sandbar - but not a pool. Also with the new dog policy at Yacht Club, (with the two resorts being so close) is another minus for me.

We loved being able to walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios from Boardwalk. Plus we lucked out with an amazing view of Star Wars fireworks from our balcony every night.

My kids loved, loved the community hall by the quiet pool! There was fun carnival games for the kids on the boardwalk - my daughter still cherishes the stuffed Nemo and lobster we won for her that night. The entertainment on the boardwalk every night is fun too. Boardwalk Bakery always had nice pasteries, ect.

While there is no quick service at Boardwalk (sans the pizza takeout place) I also was very disappointed in the quick service at the Beach Club. If they only would open a nice quickservice at Boardwalk!!

If I had to choose one, I would pick Boardwalk for sure! :flower:
 


I have stayed at both and they are lovely in terms of rooms and public spaces.I would give the slight advantage to BCV because it is part of the whole BC/YC complex, and therefore offers multiple choices in dining and shopping. With BWI, there is no dining, (other than continental breakfast at Belle Vue Lounge), or shopping without going out to the Disney Boardwalk. If you want to get a full breakfast, your closest option at BWV is the Boardwalk Bakery—-delicious but often crowded. At BCV, we like grabbing a a quick breakfast by splitting a Bounty Platter at the Marketplace. On the other hand, while BC’s Cape May Cafe is fun, it does smell vaguely like old fish sticks every time you walk by. A point in BC’s favor is that it is a shorter walk into Epcot from BCV. I would estimate a difference of about a quarter mile. As for pools, I know everyone loves SAB, but I like the BW Luna Park pool, too. SAB is certainly unique, but it tends to be crowded and there aren’t that many areas with shade. Also, if you just feel going to for a plain vanilla swim, you will find that there isn’t a lot of room because so much of the pool is dedicated to feature areas such as the lazy river, the very shallow part for little kids, or the area with the volleyball net; if you have younger children, the entrance to the water slide is pretty far from the rest of the pool, so it’s hard to keep an eye on them. At the BW, the slide entrance is more visible. Also, I think the clown slide is really fun—-not too fast or steep, but definitely fun. Pool bars at both properties are good. Kudos to BWV for the coconut mojito. Both resorts have fitness centers, but only Shipshape at the YC has massage or facials. My next trip is booked at BCV, but if I had to switch to BWV, I would not complain.
 
We prefer the BCV because we always drive and parking is so much easier at the BCV over the BWV. You can park relatively close to your villa at BCV. Not so at BWV where you might even be across the street from the resort. BCV also has two elevator banks so the hallways aren't as long. I'm not so much a fan of Stormalong Bay (too many guests, not enough chair space), but I'm not a fan of Luna Park either. I prefer either leisure pool at BWV or BCV.

Also if you are a DVC member using your own points and pool hopping isn't blacked out for a holiday time, you can hop to BWV pools, but not to BCV pools.
 
We prefer the BCV because we always drive and parking is so much easier at the BCV over the BWV. You can park relatively close to your villa at BCV. Not so at BWV where you might even be across the street from the resort.
You obviously have not stayed at the Boardwalk recently. They can not make you park across the street from the resort as this lot is for Cast Members only. The lot is gated and you can only enter it by scanning a Cast Member ID.
 
You obviously have not stayed at the Boardwalk recently. They can not make you park across the street from the resort as this lot is for Cast Members only. The lot is gated and you can only enter it by scanning a Cast Member ID.
No, the last time we stayed there was Oct 2013. And it was during the Garner convention. They didn't let any guests who weren't there for the convention park in the larger lot next to the BWInn. We were fortunate to find a spot in the lot by the Villas for the one night we stayed there. We parked and didn't move until the next morning.
 
No, the last time we stayed there was Oct 2013. And it was during the Garner convention. They didn't let any guests who weren't there for the convention park in the larger lot next to the BWInn. We were fortunate to find a spot in the lot by the Villas for the one night we stayed there. We parked and didn't move until the next morning.
It is now 2018. The lot you stayed in was not "across the street". The lot "across the street" which is now for Cast Members only is next to the Speedway. If you stayed in the villas and parked in the lot by the villas I am not sure what the problem is, except that it a longer walk from the villas lot than from the convention lot to the lobby.
 
I've stayed at both. Both area great. The Boardwalk is closer to the nightlife and sometimes if you're facing Crescent Lake, you'll here people that are up late. The Beach Club is a bit quitter, but still within walking distance (five minutes) to Epcot and the nightlife.
 
Have stayed at both in 1BR many times - I give a slight edge to BC - I really like the smaller quieter atmosphere - but whichever we stay at - we always visit the other to shop and just hang around....we can walk to Epcot or HS from either without problems - prefer the quiet pools so no real edge there for either resort. BC or BWV - both are fab - ENJOY!
 

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