We used to get the AP's for the whole family, but the last two we haven't. This year, I'll probably be the only one who gets one. The 7 day pass has worked out just fine for us this year. Our kids love the Boardwalk, and sometimes it seems like a waste to buy them the APs. Our 5 and 10 year old love the Community Hall, and we feel why force them to go into the parks if they're enjoying themselves more at the resort. There's just so much for them to do at the resort. Like most people they don't enjoy the crowds, so we usually don't go to Magic Kingdom unless it's an E-night, or off season. We find that more and more, while staying at the Boardwalk, My wife and the two young ones will stay at the resort, and I'll go to Universal or IOA with my 19, 14, and 12 year old. We have the APs there, and as the kids are getting older, they enjoy Universal more. This Nov. we'll be staying at the Boardwalk with 45 friends and family on points, (11 rooms, don't worry no studio has more than 5 in it). More than half the time will be spent at Universal and our daughters will be trying the dolphin swim at Discovery cove.
Boardwalk isn't only about the location. Having EPCOT and the studios within walking distance of course is great, but there's so much more to it than that. It's great to know you don't have to hop on a bus or car to go home to your resort after Fantasmic, or Illuminations. The walk back to the resort is a great way to end the night with the kids.
It's nice to walk downstairs to get a newspaper without having to get in the car. The health club is very convenient. Just a walk to the stairs or elevator and you're there. That's big for someone that likes to work out on vacation. If you have to get in car to get there, sometimes it's tough to get yourself out the door. When you come home late after spending your day at either Disney or Universal, You don't feel like stopping for food because the kids are almost out, it's nice to know you have so many late-night options for food to bring back to the room, just a short walk away.
So it's not just the location to the parks that makes the resort great.
I wonder what Disney would think if they knew that more and more DVCers (at least us), are staying on pts, and spending there money in Universal. We found new places to eat at Citiwalk, and off site that were reasonable, and the food was great. We still DO eat at the restaraunts located at the Boardwalk, Y and B clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin, but not as much as we used to . If DVC did give something like a Florida discount, we would definitely buy again. To say that not going to the parks, we're still giving our money to Disney at the resort is wrong, at least in our case. Sure we're still spending some money at the resort, but nothing near what we would do if we had APs again. We used to make trips to MGM just to eat, not anymore. The boardwalk is a great place just to relax on vacation. If we feel like walking into the park we can, but lately, we don't.