The I Love BWV (yes, Hallways and Clown Pool too!) Thread

[jekjones1558]

Really? We never went into Big River Grille & Brewing, but it seemed pretty big. There are some small QS options -- Roaring Fork at WL comes to mind. Is it really not even that big?

A QS option would be amazing! It would eliminate one of the very very few drawbacks to staying at BWV.

There is limited inside seating at Big River. But places like Casey's at MK have little seating and it is still popular. We can hope.

 

[BlueGreen5]

We (1BR, family, the "kids" share the Murphy/pull out) are starting to think about where we should book for our trip next summer. We have never stayed at RIV. I know I am asking a biased group of people this, but can someone try to sell us on staying at RIV over BWV? Now that the "kids" are a little older and more independent, we would like to do it, but we cannot mentally justify it and are looking for some help. If we enjoy walking and are "eat whatever is convenient in the moment" people (meaning, the opposite of "foodies"), are there any real advantages to staying at RIV?

Things that come to mind:

- "Newer" (is it really, though, post-refurb?)
- More floor space in a 1BR
- No shared buses (that mid-day Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk drop-off can be brutal)
- More elevators (?) (We've honestly never waited more than a couple of minutes for one at BWV...)
- ....Is that it?

Having stayed there on several trips post-pandemic, we know all too well the advantages to staying at BWV. Resist your natural urge and sell us on a different spot!

 

[CarolMN]

Transportation to DHS & EPCOT from Riv is by Skyliner. Skyliner does not operate during summer storms if lightning is in the area, and you may not know it has suspended service until you arrive at the boarding location. (You will have to take a bus). For that reason, I would pick BWV for summer vacations.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Transportation to DHS & EPCOT from Riv is by Skyliner. Skyliner does not operate during summer storms if lightning is in the area, and you may not know it has suspended service until you arrive at the boarding location. (You will have to take a bus). For that reason, I would pick BWV for summer vacations.

Agree.

But if I wanted to stay at RIV, what would be my rational reasoning???

 

[AstroBlasters]

Agree.

But if I wanted to stay at RIV, what would be my rational reasoning???

That’s like asking your wife why you should go on a date with your girlfriend…..

 

[BlueGreen5]

That’s like asking your wife why you should go on a date with your girlfriend…..

lol, I love the analogy. Thanks for the laugh.

My SO would also be staying at the RIV, so I think that might take your analogy to a new level!

 

[AstroBlasters]

lol, I love the analogy. Thanks for the laugh.

My SO would also be staying at the RIV, so I think that might take your analogy to a new level!

It might!

I found it amusing to ask a BWV fan thread how to rationalize staying at RIV instead of BWV and couldn’t resist a cheeky line.

 

[StarCruzer]

Agree.

But if I wanted to stay at RIV, what would be my rational reasoning???

I mean I'm team BWV all day! BUT if you want some potentially good reasons...

- Food options! The restaurants at the Riveria resort are awesome. On a non-stormy day you can take the Skyliner over the CBR and eat at Sebastian's as well, which is pretty underrated.
- Newness factor. The mosaics there are beautiful, there's a little lounge room with mementos from Walt Disney's European travels, etc).
- Pools seem to be more centrally located than some of the other resorts

 

[BlueGreen5]

It might!

I found it amusing to ask a BWV fan thread how to rationalize staying at RIV instead of BWV and couldn’t resist a cheeky line.

I know...and believe me, we prefer BWV to anything. "Variety is the spice of life," though! We feel like we don't know what we don't know!

If I asked this same question on the RIV page, it would have come off rude - like "give me a reason why I should stay at your place." At least here I'm asking "give me a reason I SHOULDN'T stay at your place." A little less offensive...lol...

 

[MiaSRN62]

One day, we went to our room to take a nap and they kept beating on the door. DH yelled for them to come back later. Then a few minutes later, they were calling on the phone. He told them we were sleeping and to come back at 5:30. Then the very next morning, we were at the park and they were calling my cell phone wanting to know if they could come do a room inspection. I told her they were just there the previous night, but to go ahead.

Housekeeping is required to enter every room every day. This is at all resorts. It started after the shooting in Las Vegas several years ago. Even with the occupied sign, they still have to enter.

Disneylover81
I 100% agree that naps (whether adults or children) are IMPORTANT on vacations. Next time maybe phone housekeeping and request a specific time when not napping (or showering because we were in the shower and naked once when they tried to enter!). Or leave a note on the door that you are "sleeping"/"showering" and a time when they can return. It is a pain, I agree....but it's the times we live in.

In past years, we phone housekeeping and say between 10 am and 1 pm or 5 to 6 pm would be good times to inspect our room. I also ALWAYS take the phone off the hook if we don't want to be disturbed or woken up and that includes day of check-out (because they love to get you out by 8-9 am). So yes...Housekeeping does have to come in your room but you can request times when you will not be disturbed. Some times we arrive to our room and there is no "do not disturb". We always pack our own for this reason.

 

[disneylover81]

Disneylover81
I 100% agree that naps (whether adults or children) are IMPORTANT on vacations. Next time maybe phone housekeeping and request a specific time when not napping (or showering because we were in the shower and naked once when they tried to enter!). Or leave a note on the door that you are "sleeping"/"showering" and a time when they can return. It is a pain, I agree....but it's the times we live in.

In past years, we phone housekeeping and say between 10 am and 1 pm or 5 to 6 pm would be good times to inspect our room. I also ALWAYS take the phone off the hook if we don't want to be disturbed or woken up and that includes day of check-out (because they love to get you out by 8-9 am). So yes...Housekeeping does have to come in your room but you can request times when you will not be disturbed. Some times we arrive to our room and there is no "do not disturb". We always pack our own for this reason.

This is a good idea and I think that's what we will do from now on. We used to be park open to park close people and were only in our room at night so they wouldn't have bothered us coming in during the day, but since we've got DVC and AP's now, we don't feel the pressure to do it all in one visit so we have definitely changed how we do Disney the last couple years. Now we take a mid day break for the pool or for a nap and it's been great to relax a little.

 

[epcotprincess]

I know...and believe me, we prefer BWV to anything. "Variety is the spice of life," though! We feel like we don't know what we don't know!

If I asked this same question on the RIV page, it would have come off rude - like "give me a reason why I should stay at your place." At least here I'm asking "give me a reason I SHOULDN'T stay at your place." A little less offensive...lol...

I totally get your reasoning! We are owners at both, so I feel I can give you a level headed approach here.

Pro Boardwalk: I don't book RIV for my stays in the summer, for the same reasons listed by a couple others-- the Skyliner shutting down during intense storms. I remember one year during an 8 day trip (June 2021, I think), we were kicked out of the Skyliner queue and off of the pool deck at least 1-2 times daily. Brutal.

Pro Riviera: I agree that something new is worth a try and the Riviera has that quiet sophistication that is more understated that GF but definitely feels posh. The food is remarkable, even the quick service items. Depending on the ages of your kiddos, the SilVous Play splash area is awesome, but the main is pretty standard like BWV. Rooms and room quality, much bigger and nicer overall. Hallways and main areas area also elevated in quality and style. It's simply beautiful altogether.

My recommendation: Do a split stay and just do a couple nights at RIV to get the flavor. DVC will move your luggage and stuff for you, even refrigerated items, so why not? Good luck!

 

[BlueGreen5]

I totally get your reasoning! We are owners at both, so I feel I can give you a level headed approach here.

Pro Boardwalk: I don't book RIV for my stays in the summer, for the same reasons listed by a couple others-- the Skyliner shutting down during intense storms. I remember one year during an 8 day trip (June 2021, I think), we were kicked out of the Skyliner queue and off of the pool deck at least 1-2 times daily. Brutal.

Pro Riviera: I agree that something new is worth a try and the Riviera has that quiet sophistication that is more understated that GF but definitely feels posh. The food is remarkable, even the quick service items. Depending on the ages of your kiddos, the SilVous Play splash area is awesome, but the main is pretty standard like BWV. Rooms and room quality, much bigger and nicer overall. Hallways and main areas area also elevated in quality and style. It's simply beautiful altogether.

My recommendation: Do a split stay and just do a couple nights at RIV to get the flavor. DVC will move your luggage and stuff for you, even refrigerated items, so why not? Good luck!

Thanks for "getting me"! Appreciate the insight!!

I did always wish BWV had more for the little kids - zero depth entry, play area, etc. They have that kiddie pool but - and I'm sorry for saying it - ew. Not sure why it grossed us out, it shouldn't because I'm sure it's just as clean (if not cleaner) than the feature pool, but there's just something about it that screamed "stay away" to us. (Un)Fortunately, that's no longer a consideration in our lives. Nevertheless, maybe good info for someone else!

I will say, though, from experience, one of the often overlooked features that BWV does have is that the bar area is inside the pool gates. This is a big win for parents of little kids who want a drink (alcoholic or not) but are not comfortable leaving the enclosed pool area for a couple of minutes. Not many of the deluxes have this setup! It was huge for us to be able to walk to LHL and grab a drink quickly while our 6 year old waited for the Keister Coaster. If the bar was outside the gates, I'm sure we would not have done that.

One follow up: they will move your refrigerated items!?! I guess I've never asked, I just assumed they wouldn't. I knew they would move your luggage. Moving refrigerated items would be a game-changer as far as split stays go!

 

[epcotprincess]

One follow up: they will move your refrigerated items!?! I guess I've never asked, I just assumed they wouldn't. I knew they would move your luggage. Moving refrigerated items would be a game-changer as far as split stays go!

Oh yes! Of course, you have to bag it up yourself, but they absolutely do this! At BWV, they once asked me to come back to identify my items in the bellhops staff only room, and it was huge with lots of refrigerators! We almost always to split stays with my parents so we can book 2-bedroom units with a couple nights on their contract and a couple on ours, and this works so great with our grocery deliveries.

 

[marsh0013]

Oh yes! Of course, you have to bag it up yourself, but they absolutely do this! At BWV, they once asked me to come back to identify my items in the bellhops staff only room, and it was huge with lots of refrigerators! We almost always to split stays with my parents so we can book 2-bedroom units with a couple nights on their contract and a couple on ours, and this works so great with our grocery deliveries.

When was the last time you had them transfer groceries? Semi recently they implemented implemented a policy to no longer transfer perishables. You would have to move any perishables yourself.

 

[jekjones1558]

When was the last time you had them transfer groceries? Semi recently they implemented implemented a policy to no longer transfer perishables. You would have to move any perishables yourself.

The bell station will still store refrigerator and freezer items though, correct? We are checking in tomorrow and were going to grocery shop on our way to BWV, and our room will almost certainly not be ready.

 

[marsh0013]

The bell station will still store refrigerator and freezer items though, correct? We are checking in tomorrow and were going to grocery shop on our way to BWV, and our room will almost certainly not be ready.

Oh yes definitely they’ll store it. They just won’t move it resort to resort. Sorry for causing any concern!

 

[jekjones1558]

Oh yes definitely they’ll store it. They just won’t move it resort to resort. Sorry for causing any concern!

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[BlueGreen5]

Oh yes definitely they’ll store it. They just won’t move it resort to resort. Sorry for causing any concern!

That's what I always thought. Then I read that they would transfer it and that news stopped me in my tracks!! I thought the issue was that they couldn't know for sure whether a transfer would take 30 minutes or 4 hours. Not a problem with luggage; big problem with milk.