Which resort for most Disney immersion?

[whitestavern]

We've never stayed onsite but would like to for our next trip. I am curious to see if we will feel more immersed in the Disney magic because honestly, with a themed townhouse or home at Windsor Hills, we've always felt pretty immersed

We will be staying at one of the DVC resorts. Where do you think we'll feel the most "Disney" and why?

 

[darkwing818]

Boardwalk villas, besides the activities going on at night (on the boardwalk) you can just walk into EPCOT, plus at night you can just sit outside get an ice cream & watch the fireworks.

 

[Missyrose]

We've never stayed onsite but would like to for our next trip. I am curious to see if we will feel more immersed in the Disney magic because honestly, with a themed townhouse or home at Windsor Hills, we've always felt pretty immersed

We will be staying at one of the DVC resorts. Where do you think we'll feel the most "Disney" and why?

It depends on what will make you feel immersed. Do you need big, colorful Disney icons? Then values are your best bet. The theming for the mods and deluxes aren't as character-based. They make you feel like you've been transported to another time or place. What's your budget. Coming from a Windsor Hills house is going to make Disney resort pricing kind of a shock.

 

[whitestavern]

It depends on what will make you feel immersed. Do you need big, colorful Disney icons? Then values are your best bet. The theming for the mods and deluxes aren't as character-based. They make you feel like you've been transported to another time or place. What's your budget. Coming from a Windsor Hills house is going to make Disney resort pricing kind of a shock.

I'm not really sure what would make us feel immersed, but I do read over and over again how staying onsite accomplishes that. We will def be doing DVC as we're using RCI points. Our dc are older (11 & 13 at time of visit) if that factors into it at all.

 

[ballarinamom]

Our first trip, we showed my DD (4 at the time) pics of the different resorts. At the time AllStar Movies was the resort to really have alot of Disney theming. There are huge characters everywhere- green Army Men on the roofs of the building, a huge area set up as Andy's room, 101 dalmations area....
We have stayed in other resorts, though very nice, non had the theming. This trip we will be staying at the Art of Animation in the Carsland suite. The pics look great but she and her friend are 11...

 

[jtwibih]

I'm not sure if I can explain why but I really feel Disney immersion when we stay at AKL. Everyone looks for that "Disney feeling" when they arrive and this one does it for me. If you are looking for classic Disney cartoons immersion, then I agree that the value resorts do a very good job of it. The Boardwalk is also unbelievable when it comes to the feeling of being immersed in Disney. It just depends on what you would consider being "immersed". It's different for everyone I think.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

We feel really immersed in a BLT Theme Park view room. Nothing beats sitting on the balcony and watching the monorail zip by, hearing screams of laughter coming from MK or listening to the train whistle as it goes by. You can watch the fireworks from the comfort of your room with the music piped in through a channel on the TV. As another poster worded on another thread, nothing beats Cinderella`s castle as your night light when you wake up during the night. The hotel itself does not have much theming but the surroundings, WOW!!

The only problem is that it can be quite hard to get a Theme Park View depending on your travel dates.

Good luck in making your choice. Planning the vacation is half the fun.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . We will be staying at one of the DVC resorts. Where do you think we'll feel the most "Disney" and why?

1) If you can get in, chances are you will probably stay at SSR.
2) In any event, there is no DVC that is really "Disney-fied".
3) So, you don't have to worry which one to pick.

NOTE: Having worked at all DVC, except BLT, I can say that the
least "Disney" is SSR - which reminds me of several Holiday Inns
lined up. However, the most interesting design and theme is OKW.

 

[Darkside]

"We will be staying at one of the DVC resorts. Where do you think we'll feel the most "Disney" and why?"
This is hard question to answer. I think you will find that all the DVC resorts are very "Disney" Please don't buy into that Saratoga Springs is like a Holiday Inn, it is far from that. But with that being said everyone has there own opinion. Our family's favorite is Animal Kingdom Kindani Village. Very family friendly, kids love the animals, fantastic pool area, easy access to gift shops and food areas, the bus system is dedicated and is first to pickup and first to drop off. Our least favorite is Old Key West, we live in a vacation area that is themed this way, still a very nice resort, just not what we come to Disney for.

 

[jimandami]

If you are trading into DVC, it may be difficult to get a certain resort as availability is somewhat limited. Likely SSR or OKW would be your choices. However, if you are able to choose, I would say the following:

1) BLT: while the decor is not "Disney-like," being in the MK resort area is very cool

2) BCV or BWV: That Epcot resort area is just magical to me.

3)AKV: Just such a unique resort

I think when people talk about being immersed in the magic, they don't just mean the resort. They mean everything from Magical Express to Disney transportation, to eating in all the restaurants. For us, it's just nice to not have to worry about driving and parking and seeing normal every day things like Applebees and strip mall, KWIM?

 

[patty57]

When are you traveling? Warmer weather...I would try for BCV because I love the resort and SAB. The Epcot resorts are my favorite hands down for ability to walk to Epcot and DHS. Holiday travel...especially late November and December, I would try for VWL. The decorations are magical.

 

[Missyrose]

There is almost no chance you will get BWV, BCV, BLT or VWL via a trade in through RCI. SSR and OKW are the most likely, though a person here and there has reported getting AKV-Kidani through RCI.

If you see a Disney Resort available, grab it, regardless of which resort it is. You may not see that chance again.

 

[whitestavern]

When are you traveling? Warmer weather...I would try for BCV because I love the resort and SAB. The Epcot resorts are my favorite hands down for ability to walk to Epcot and DHS. Holiday travel...especially late November and December, I would try for VWL. The decorations are magical.

We'll be going in February or March; not sure of which week yet. I'm hoping by being flexible w/dates, I'll have more choices on my resort.

From my research it doesn't seem to be all that hard to get something besides SSR and OKW but we shall see.

 

[hgeisler]

It depends on what will make you feel immersed. Do you need big, colorful Disney icons? Then values are your best bet. The theming for the mods and deluxes aren't as character-based. They make you feel like you've been transported to another time or place. What's your budget. Coming from a Windsor Hills house is going to make Disney resort pricing kind of a shock.

This exactly!

 

[whitestavern]

There is almost no chance you will get BWV, BCV, BLT or VWL via a trade in through RCI. SSR and OKW are the most likely, though a person here and there has reported getting AKV-Kidani through RCI.

If you see a Disney Resort available, grab it, regardless of which resort it is. You may not see that chance again.

I've been checking regularly for about a month and there seems to be quite a bit of availability. Granted, they go very quickly, but they are released. There have been mostly summer dates; not sure if Feb/Mar will differ.

 

[spiceycat]

BLT like CR has Mickey Mouse - he is all over the place - for some reason other choose not to see him.

so my first choice would be BLT - even the lake view - instead of the theme park view - you might get lucky and get to your left at MK view - otherwise you might get a view of Epcot fireworks.

You can walk to the MK. Boat to WL/VWL and FW. monorail to Polyn, GF, Epcot and MK.

BWV and BCV you can walk or boat to EPcot and DHS. plus you can eat at or just visit BC, YC, BWI, Dolphin and Swan. You can only swim at SALB if you are staying at BCV. they use to allow BWV to swim too - but they did away with that policy several years ago. It is only if the main pool at BWV (the one with clown) is down that they allow pool hopping to BCV. BWV has night time entertainment.

you are more likey to get OKW or SSR - both are great for DD. you can walk, boat or bus to DD. bus transportation to everything else. These are different from the other DVC resorts. they are more like communities than resorts. they are set up like condos. probably more like windsor hills than the other dvc resorts.

AKV is a great place to stay - to visit the animals. for visiting the parks like something a little closer to the action. it is bus transportation to everywhere.

VWL is a MK resort just not on the monorail - it is the only MK resort to have bus service to MK and Epcot. plus boat service to the Mk.
Now you don't get the great views of the MK here like you do at BLT - but it is just as magical.

so don't be disappointed no matter what you get - think you might enjoy the DVC resorts. Plus never having to drive anywhere is a treat. You can order grocery so you don't have to pay Disney prices.

Wishing for you to get the DVC resort you want.
here a place to look around and see what appeals to you
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/resortmain.htm#dvc