Top 3 DVC resorts and why

[nursie]

If you were to pick your 3 favorite DVC resorts to stay at, which one's are they and why?
We have stayed at OKW and loved it.
Will be staying at BWV in June for the first time.
If we had the option to stay at another DVC resort, where oh where would it be.....
Help me out!

 

[MMrules]

I love the lodges Animal Kingdom and Wilderness (Although I Haven't been in the WL villas yet, but have stayed in the hotel and know I will love the villas). Both feel like a vacation within a vacation. There is wonderful themeing, but both are very relaxing and homey. THey are especially cozy in the winter months with their wonderful fireplaces.


My next favorite would be the Beach Club (although I like the BWV too). I think the Beach Club has a better pool which my kids love so they prefer it over BW. I feel they are both great with service and the location is great for both of them to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

I have never stayed at Bay lake towers, OKW or SSR. OKW and SSR seem fairly big to me as I prefer a smaller sized hotel (well AKV is rather large too, but I like the bus system with 1 or 2 hotel stops vs. 5 or 6 stops within the resort). JUst my personal preference.

 

[jimandami]

Have stayed at them all except SSR and OKW and my favorites would be:

1) BWV
2) BCV
3) BLT

They all have their pluses and minuses, of course, but we just love the Epcot area resorts. That whole area just IS Disney to me. BWV ranks about BCV probably just because it was our first DVC resort and our first trip with our DS and I just have fond memories! BLT is third simply for the proximity to MK and the ability to see the castle and fireworks from your room...magical!

 

[spiceycat]

blt -5 to 10 minute walk to the MK
bcv - 5 to 10 minute walk to Epcot
vwl - boat to MK
AKL/V - animals
OKW - relaxing
BWV - 10 to 20 minute walk to H studios
SSR - relaxing 5 to 14 minute walk to DD

okay love the MK

 

[AlohaAnnie]

AKV - Love the savanna, restaurants, pools, & theme. Kidani - Sleeping Chair & 2 bathrooms.

BLT - Love the pool, totwl, walkway to MK, Monorail, Contempo Cafe. Sleeping chair in one bedroom & two bathrooms in one bedroom. I do not love the theme as well here.

BCV - Love Storm along bay, Epcot, beach area
VWL - love the theme
SSR - never stayed here but it appeals to close to DTD, I plan to stay here but I am not sure about area.
OKW - Beautiful Resort, classic, Love the pool theme
BWV - love Boardwalk area, so cute, love to see BC/YC across the way.

These are not ranked in order. I really want to stay at all the DVC resorts. They are so lovely, I can't wait for Grand Floridian Villas.



I agree each has charm.

 

[nursie]

Any idea if I will even be able to get a 2BR at AKV,BLT,WLV,BCV,BWV through an RCI exchange for the end of June (July 4th week)?
I put my request in Mid-Oct.
I know SSR & OKW come up more often based on number of units available at that resort but they may also be requested less often than the others?
I took SSR & OKW off my request list so we could narrow down the above for a better chance to get into the places I really want as top priority.
My fear.....not getting in to any of them

 

[allstonsmommy]

I would think BLT would be difficult for that time, probably better luck with the others.

ETA: I wouldn't take OKW off my list if it were me personally... I love that resort!

 

[spiceycat]

Any idea if I will even be able to get a 2BR at AKV,BLT,WLV,BCV,BWV through an RCI exchange for the end of June (July 4th week)?
I put my request in Mid-Oct.
I know SSR & OKW come up more often based on number of units available at that resort but they may also be requested less often than the others?
I took SSR & OKW off my request list so we could narrow down the above for a better chance to get into the places I really want as top priority.
My fear.....not getting in to any of them

what do you want

walking to Epcot and Studio - then BWV or BCV (also boating)
walking to MK and monorail to Epcot - then BLT
boating to MK - VWL

now AKV is beautiful but really OKW and SSR are closed to epcot, studios and MK than it. now it is closer to AKV - but like OKW and SSR bus transportation only

 

[Simba's Mom]

I love the lodges Animal Kingdom and Wilderness (Although I Haven't been in the WL villas yet, but have stayed in the hotel and know I will love the villas). Both feel like a vacation within a vacation. There is wonderful themeing, but both are very relaxing and homey. THey are especially cozy in the winter months with their wonderful fireplaces.

Unfortunately, although we also loved WL and expected to love VWL, we didn't. It's funny-we said, when we first stayed at WL "Well, if DVC ever builds on here, we'd buy." They did and we did, but after one stay there, we've always stayed elsewhere.
We also love OKW.
BCV is our second favorite. It's walking distance to Epcot, but if you get a woods view room, you sometimes feel like you're a million miles away.
AKV is our third favorite-might be higher if it were closer to things, but it's way out there. However, for a non-park vacation, it's my favorite. Can't beat those giraffes!

 

[Cinderella1122]

I've stayed at the all except BWV

1 - AKV - the reason why I purchased DVC. I love the themeing and the animals
2 - BLT - my first add on. I love the walk to MK and exclusive building and pool
3 - BCV - Stormalong bay and walk to epcot
4 - SSR - Walk to DTD and the atmosphere
5 - OKW - the size of the rooms
6 - VWL

 

[tahrea]

Unfortunately, although we also loved WL and expected to love VWL, we didn't. It's funny-we said, when we first stayed at WL "Well, if DVC ever builds on here, we'd buy." They did and we did, but after one stay there, we've always stayed elsewhere.
We also love OKW.
BCV is our second favorite. It's walking distance to Epcot, but if you get a woods view room, you sometimes feel like you're a million miles away.
AKV is our third favorite-might be higher if it were closer to things, but it's way out there. However, for a non-park vacation, it's my favorite. Can't beat those giraffes!

What made you not like the WLV? My DH wants yo stay there but I want to do AKV this time.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

OKW is our favorit also. Somehow we always come back to it. SSR just doesn't do it for me. To similar to what I grew up with. BLT is small. VWL is just to rustic for me. I get enough pin trees here in the northeast. AKV are nice but to far apart from everything else. So after OKW I guess I would have to say BCV and then BWV. Once the new ones at GF are up and running I may need to revise that. I am also asumming that you mean DVC on Disnewyworld property.

 

[peabody58]

The 3 best resorts at WDW, that's easy.

1. The one I'm at right now. Duh!!
2. The one I stayed at last time. Obviously I came back, see #1.
3. The one I have booked next. Double duh!

Nuf said!

 

[kam1011]

My top two are BLT and SSR. I like OKW and that was on the top of my list until SSR replaced it. They're very similar feeling with SSR having newer decor. Very quiet, you feel like you're the only person there, even in the middle of the summer. SSR has two awesome pools and other quiet pools. We actually stayed there once for four days without park tickets and had a great time. Never got bored.

BLT is tied for #1 because of it's location and ultra modern decor. I love that it has a quick service meal option, which a lot don't. If you like to drive around to the parks and stuff, it's not the best because there's always a lot of traffic around that area and you wait in line to get into the parking lot for several minutes each time. Plus you can't park right by your room like you would at OKW or SSR. Even AKL has those underground garages that are super convenient.

For #3, I guess I'd go with Wilderness Lodge. I just love the ambiance and the pool area. But I strongly recommend for winter!

 

[MulanMom]

Our favorites?

OKW - our home resort, was the first DVC resort. Large accommodations and very few with a bad view. The resort does have a Key West kind of feel. Only drawback is that it has many 2 to 3 story buildings without elevators and DH has mobility issues.

BLT - never thought I'd like this resort. We had a 1bdr overlooking the Contemporary harbor and just loved it. 2 bathrooms in the 1 bdr. Kids had separate sleeping, one on sleeper sofa and one on chair. Love the ability to walk back and forth to MK.

AKV - feel of room reminded me of Poly. Layout similar to BLT in that the 1bdr has two bathrooms. Master bath was huge! Beautiful theming, beautiful resort. Had a savannah room.

We've also stayed at the VWL and have been in the rooms at BWV. VWL, while nice, never made us feel like we were "in" the lodge. Kinda felt like we were staying at an off shoot wing.

With trading through RCI, I would not limit yourself by trying to pick or choose which DVC resort. If you can find any available, take it. You will not be disappointed.

 

[kruegeme]

Selecting the 3 best DVC resorts can be challenging as some things should be considered... length of stay, age of kids, and size of party.

For long stays (14 + days), I prefer OKW due to the size of the rooms.
For short stays (2 to 3 nights), I prefer BLT due to ease of access to MK

For large parties, I would put SSR first and then OKW. SSR as some have pointed out due to distance to DTD and OKW for same reason as above, size of rooms. Both these resorts also have more Grand Villas so you have a better chance getting one if you want it.

For those average stays of 5 to 7 days here's my list. Kids are 4 and 6 so MK is high priority for us.

1.) BLT - ease of access to MK and Monorail
2.) BCV - kids love the sand bottom pool and we love ease of access to Epcot
3.) BWV - ease of access to Epcot and DHS

Another big point for us in these choices are the food options. While we like AK for the scenary, we didn't like the long walk to the quick service area. You can also face the same thing at SSR and OKW. At SSR we found it closer to walk to DTD for meals at times then the main building.