1st time DVC purchase: Polynesian or Copper Creek

[jscottnc]

Of your stated preferences, I would go with CCV. There will come a time when you will want the full kitchen and W/D that a 1 bedroom and larger villa offers. PVB just has the bungalows and they are priced higher than VGF Grand Villas.

I do suggest you take another look at BLT. The size of the resort is such that you can sleep in at the 11th month mark and still get a reservation (at least lake view). "Contemporary IKEA" is not everyone's style (certainly not mine) but the location is good, resale prices are not bad, member dues not too high, and contact length is almost as good as PVB.

 

[sethschroeder]

Here's some of our combined criteria which have led me to consider Poly vs CCV:

IMO you buy at Epcot resorts..... Its always a personal choice but here is the run down. Also if its only the two choice you gave it would come down to likely a single thing (are you good only ever staying in Studios or will you want a 1BR/2BR that CCV has to offer - for us we want 1BR/2BR when with the kids for the separation)

1. needs to have at least 1 nice, relaxing bar/lounge so DH can have a cocktail & some appetizers, preferably with a nice view.
2. needs to be 'easy' to get to A park. Poly wins over this one because you could use the monorail to get to both MK and Epcot.
3. needs to FEEL relaxing when you're there. I prefer WL over Poly for this one. DH & I ate one afternoon at Geyser Point and we loved it, DH especially so. WL feels like you're a world away from everything. DH has a really hard time unplugging while he's on vacation. Pop, while fun, isn't relaxing like WL or Poly is.
4. pools - I think both are comparable for pools. We didn't spend a lot of time in the pools on our previous trips.
5. more than 1 restaurant on site - this is based on our Pop Century experience. After 2 days, DH got sick & tired of eating the same breakfast each morning. Between Poly & CCV, I think we'd go for the food options at WL a little more than at the Polynesian. Just having a microwave in the room would be a huge plus to expand breakfast options.
6. easy access to multiple other activities other than just going to theme parks every day - I think CCV wins this category for its proximity to Ft Wilderness (I think you can take a boat to Ft Wilderness from WL?). DH is interested in doing horseback riding (so is YDD!), canoe'ing, taking an archery class, plus he's very keen on renting a boat for an hour (available at Poly as well, I think).
7. Ease of booking a studio - Poly probably wins this category since it has such a larger quantity of studios compared to CCV.
8. we'd be able to stay in a deluxe resort for the cost of a moderate or less.

I will eliminate Riviera since you want resale.

1. Bar/Lounge - you have 5 resorts and Epcot with a plethora of bars/lounges (BW, BC, YC, Swan, Dolphin)
2. You can walk to Hollywood Studio and Epcot which likely makes up 40-50% of your trip (you likely are in these parks combined more than MK), plus the back entrance to Epcot is FAR FAR superior
3. You have a whole water front boardwalk area around the lake that you can do a 360 stroll around
4. Stormalong Bay vs ex-Clown Pool (which has one of the better slides)
5. Tons of restaurant options more than any other resorts (5 resorts all with 3/4/5 sit-downs) and you then add on park hoppers so you have festivals/restaurants in the world showcase at Epcot
6. Activities? Depends what you want but you will have things like Surrey Bikes, mini-golf course (you can walk to), boardwalk entertainment, rent boats, ect
7. Poly is going to "win" this but its not that hard plus you can almost afford a 1BR at BWV/BCV over a studio at POLY (Oct 7 Nights POLY Lake = 181 vs BWV 1BR Std 194 vs BCV 1BR 253 vs Poly Std 153)
8. Your points are going to go fairly far at BWV/BCV which means less annual MFs to get those studios, although POLY is a longer contract so helps offset the upfront cost

 

[jscottnc]

IMO you buy at Epcot resorts..... Its always a personal choice but here is the run down. Also if its only the two choice you gave it would come down to likely a single thing (are you good only ever staying in Studios or will you want a 1BR/2BR that CCV has to offer - for us we want 1BR/2BR when with the kids for the separation)


I will eliminate Riviera since you want resale.

1. Bar/Lounge - you have 5 resorts and Epcot with a plethora of bars/lounges (BW, BC, YC, Swan, Dolphin)
2. You can walk to Hollywood Studio and Epcot which likely makes up 40-50% of your trip (you likely are in these parks combined more than MK), plus the back entrance to Epcot is FAR FAR superior
3. You have a whole water front boardwalk area around the lake that you can do a 360 stroll around
4. Stormalong Bay vs ex-Clown Pool (which has one of the better slides)
5. Tons of restaurant options more than any other resorts (5 resorts all with 3/4/5 sit-downs) and you then add on park hoppers so you have festivals/restaurants in the world showcase at Epcot
6. Activities? Depends what you want but you will have things like Surrey Bikes, mini-golf course (you can walk to), boardwalk entertainment, rent boats, ect
7. Poly is going to "win" this but its not that hard plus you can almost afford a 1BR at BWV/BCV over a studio at POLY (Oct 7 Nights POLY Lake = 181 vs BWV 1BR Std 194 vs BCV 1BR 253 vs Poly Std 153)
8. Your points are going to go fairly far at BWV/BCV which means less annual MFs to get those studios, although POLY is a longer contract so helps offset the upfront cost

I like your thinking. I would give the nod to BWV based on current price per point. This assumes you would stay in either studio or 1 bedroom. Mind you, BWV 2 bedroom villas are all lock-offs which affects availability. Moreover, my DD hates, HATES pull out sofa beds. BCV (we own there) does have dedicated 2 bedroom villas but no grand villas AND the price per point per year remaining is the highest we own (yes, more than VGF).

 

[VandVsmama]

We ruled out Boardwalk Villas because I really don't care for the Atlantic City vibe and I don't like the Boardwalk resort at all.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We ruled out Boardwalk Villas because I really don't care for the Atlantic City vibe and I don't like the Boardwalk resort at all.

I think we are in the vast minority, but BWV is actually one of the last places we'd stay. Really, any of the Epcot resorts are out, primarily because the whole area is just too full of humanity. When we're not in a park, we kinda like a little peace and quiet. At BCV and YC, it feels like you're actually still inside the park. A novelty for some, but no thanks. The sheer number of people, especially non resort guests, walking around and through those resorts is a bit much. At BWV, you also get the foot traffic walking between Epcot and HS,

Also, it feels like you are "locked in" on all sides with more stuff. There's always another parking lot, or a theme park, or a roadway in every direction. Funnily enough, we do like going over to those resorts, but only to walk through. I guess we're a self-fulfilling prophesy. LOL

We like WL for all those reasons. It's not overwhelmed with foot traffic, and you're up against Bay Lake so you truly feel like you have breathing room when at the resort.

The monorail resorts are almost as "bad" as Epcot, with the monorail making it super easy to get off and wander about the resort.

Obviously not a popular opinion, but...

 

[VandVsmama]

I think we are in the vast minority, but BWV is actually one of the last places we'd stay. Really, any of the Epcot resorts are out, primarily because the whole area is just too full of humanity. When we're not in a park, we kinda like a little peace and quiet. At BCV and YC, it feels like you're actually still inside the park. A novelty for some, but no thanks. The sheer number of people, especially non resort guests, walking around and through those resorts is a bit much. Also, it feels like you are "locked in" on all sides with more stuff. There's always another parking lot, or a theme park, or a roadway in every direction. Funnily enough, we do like going over to those resorts, but only to walk through. I guess we're a self-fulfilling prophesy. LOL

We like WL for all those reasons. It's not overwhelmed with foot traffic, and you're up against Bay Lake so you truly feel like you have breathing room when at the resort.

The monorail resorts are almost as "bad" as Epcot, with the monorail making it super easy to get off and wander about the resort.

Obviously not a popular opinion, but...

Yeah, I totally feel the same way.

 

[fgaini]

I personally prefer CCV. We are going mainly during Christmas and CCV is wonderful