BCV has StormAlong Bay which is one of the better pools. It has a pretty large kiddie pool section with a sandy beach play area, and for the older kids a lazy river and pirate boat water slide. It's also closest in walking distance to Epcot. There's a very good character restaurant onsite (Cape May) so you can get your Minnie & friends fix. The parking lot also lays right outside the building, so that's a plus. And there are two other quiet pools you can use. The room layout is virtually identical to BWV, VWL and SSR but with different decor. BCV does come with dedicated 2 bedroom units with 2 queen beds while BWV only has lockoff units.
Downside is that the views aren't that great (Epcot views overlook a fairly busy street and the back of buildings) and the pool is a bit of a maze. It's easy to lose track of your little ones when they have just enough skill to swim away from you. Also it shares its amenities with two hotels (Beach Club and Yacht Club), so it can feel crowded. BCV also has some of the fewest available rooms (200-some) so it's more important to plan early if you want to stay during busier seasons.
BWV has a two-tier system for points making it possible to spend only OKW or the cheaper AKV version of points for a Standard View room (those face the Boardwalk entrance). Or you can book a room with a Boardwalk/Epcot view, one of the best views on-site. The other rooms face the canal to MGM, pools and Swan/Dolphine hotels. There's a large rollercoaster themed pool with clown water slide and a Community Hall. The resort has twice the number of rooms at BWV (500-some) but those cheaper views and Boardwalk view are less than half the total resort.
Downsides include the distant parking lot (across a bridge) and long hallways. From end to end, BWV is .25 mile. There is no counter-service marketplace but you can get food from vendors on the Boardwalk. Some complain the noise from the Boardwalk is too much at night. And of course for those with a fear of clowns, the waterslide is a source of nightmares.
You do lose 15 years on a BCV/BWV contract, but you'll get something AKV won't give you... walking access to a lot of non-resort activities. Boardwalk amenities are going until midnight or later, and you have the ability to walk to Epcot and MGM (or take a ferry). It's a great location.
Great analysis of BCV and BWV! I agree! The only point I would add is that BWV has 7 huge GV's where BCV does not. (If you own BWV you can dream)
We own at BCV (two trips) and recently stayed at BWV.
Our take on each (which will pretty much repeat the above)
Both share a great location and are very close to each other so many of the closeness to restaurants/parks are not too significant.
BCV..
- smaller more intimate resort
- SAB - great pool (but is a 2 parent event)
- dedicated 2 bedrooms w/2 queens in some
- very close parking
- more common room space
- calming beachy theme (BWV not so much)
- not the greatest views
BWV
- much larger resort with more activities
- community hall
- boardwalk entertainers
- Boardwalk view room catagory - with great views
- Standard view room catagory - with great point price
- Grand villas - Heaven!
AKL -
We have stayed in the lodge and really enjoyed our stay. AKL seems to be a heavily themed resort. Some may love it, and some may not (similar to VWL) and is a personal preference. I think that if you love it, it is a good choice.
- Extremely well themed very large resort (the size of VWL in the lodge and size of BWV for the new building)
- The Animals!!!!
- great restaurants
- Concierge Rooms
- Value Rooms
- 5/9 in a 1/2 bedroom
- extra bath in the new building 1&2 bedroom
- longer contract