Love your detailed trip report and insights. Sounds like overall you had some great magic at WDW and added to your perspective as a (like us) more west coast/DLR family.
Sorry you didn't like AKV. Both of our stays have been magical but it's also likely helped by the fact that both times where in a GV (once at Kidani and once at Jambo). Although the GV's also are in need of a remodel they tend to have those stronger "bones" at the start which allow them to age with a bit more grace up to the end....
We also loved our stay at BWV in 2024 and sadly I can't bring myself to cheat on Riviera and I'm going to stick with that as our EPCOT/HS area resort for the future but I'll likely be making some switches to BWV at the 7 month mark for years to come if I can.
Like others have said, we hope you love WL. It's our favorite spot at WDW.