A few DVC resort questions

[disney-super-mom]

Hi DVCers,

I'm trying to plan a trip that would include my family (hubby, me, and our two boys who will be 11 and 7) and my mom, who will be 73. It will be her first trip to WDW. I have a few questions about various resorts:

1. The only DVC resort I've stayed at is SSR, but that was in 2007. I actually really loved the resort except for......the darn cash register/line situation in their CS restaurant. We were there January 24-29, so it couldn't have been a slower time of year, and the cash register line was a nightmare everyday, no matter if it was morning or evening. I guess this is because the registers are shared between the CS restaurant and the convenience store. Is it still like this there?

2. I heard the rooms at OKW were going to be refurbed. Is this true? If so, has this been started yet? If it hasn't started, do you know when it is supposed to start/finish?

3. My mom is a smoker. I know, I know.....I've tried to get her to quit. I've even put her grandbabies on her case to do so. And hopefully she will someday. She's not a heavy smoker, but she'll smoke about 1/2 pack a day. I'm trying to choose a resort where she won't have to walk down endless hallways to get to an elevator, take the elevator downstairs, then have to walk another 1/4 mile to the nearest smoking area. Are there some DVC resorts that has more conveniently located smoking areas compared to others? Maybe a smaller DVC resort like VWL would be best? Should I request a room and/or building next to the pool, since there seems to be smoking areas around the pools?

Also, does BLT have a smoking area around the pool? (The map didn't show one, so I was curious.)

I mean, I have no idea about this kind of stuff. If any of you are smokers, please let me know about convenience to smoking areas at the various DVC resorts. Where do you like to stay? (resort, room location).

4. How are the condition of the rooms at VWL lately? I've read both great reviews and completely awful reviews in regard to room condition, so I'm wondering what some of you say about this.

5. What are the pool views at AKV considered....standard?

6. We most likely will get two studios (one for my family of four, and one for my mom). Is there a studio layout/floorplan at one of the DVC resorts that is more comfortable for a family of four compared to others, or do you think they are all basically the same?

 

[rlovew]

Hi DVCers,

I'm trying to plan a trip that would include my family (hubby, me, and our two boys who will be 11 and 7) and my mom, who will be 73. It will be her first trip to WDW. I have a few questions about various resorts:

1. The only DVC resort I've stayed at is SSR, but that was in 2007. I actually really loved the resort except for......the darn cash register/line situation in their CS restaurant. We were there January 24-29, so it couldn't have been a slower time of year, and the cash register line was a nightmare everyday, no matter if it was morning or evening. I guess this is because the registers are shared between the CS restaurant and the convenience store. Is it still like this there?It was shared when I was there in October but it only took me a minute to check out (of course I was checking out of store stuff at a non peak meal period

2. I heard the rooms at OKW were going to be refurbed. Is this true? If so, has this been started yet? If it hasn't started, do you know when it is supposed to start/finish?It hasn't started as they are still working on the outside of the buildings- should be starting soon- I would guess at least a year for full refurbishment

3. My mom is a smoker. I know, I know.....I've tried to get her to quit. I've even put her grandbabies on her case to do so. And hopefully she will someday. She's not a heavy smoker, but she'll smoke about 1/2 pack a day. I'm trying to choose a resort where she won't have to walk down endless hallways to get to an elevator, take the elevator downstairs, then have to walk another 1/4 mile to the nearest smoking area. Are there some DVC resorts that has more conveniently located smoking areas compared to others? Maybe a smaller DVC resort like VWL would be best? Should I request a room and/or building next to the pool, since there seems to be smoking areas around the pools?Since I don't smoke I can't answer many questions on this but I do know at OKW there was a little smoking area right in front of our building.If you want something near a smoking area than make that your request.

Also, does BLT have a smoking area around the pool? (The map didn't show one, so I was curious.) I don't remember seeing a smoking area very near the pool at BLT but there was one somewhere out back- I just think it was closer to the lobby than the pool.

I mean, I have no idea about this kind of stuff. If any of you are smokers, please let me know about convenience to smoking areas at the various DVC resorts. Where do you like to stay? (resort, room location).

4. How are the condition of the rooms at VWL lately? I've read both great reviews and completely awful reviews in regard to room condition, so I'm wondering what some of you say about this.

5. What are the pool views at AKV considered....standard? AKV Jambo house standard views are of the pool at Kindani they can be parking lot, gardens, or the pool- more of them are parking/roadway than anything else.

6. We most likely will get two studios (one for my family of four, and one for my mom). Is there a studio layout/floorplan at one of the DVC resorts that is more comfortable for a family of four compared to others, or do you think they are all basically the same?

Well at OKW there are 2 queen beds in the studios instead of 1 queen and 1 double pullout- to me that would be more comfortable for a family of 4. Just remember that is you get 2 studios you will likely not be beside each other- I have rarely found studios that are beside each other in my travels- many of them are connected to a 1 bedroom.

 

[mla1977]

I think there is a smoking area out behind the pool at BLT. I was there last week and saw what looked like a smoking area between the pool tower and the lake. Wonder if anyone can confirm?

 

[disney-super-mom]

Thank you both for your answers. I very much appreciate the information.