Anyone else feel they have been spoiled by the newer resorts?

[Minniesgal]

We owned initially at AKV and have used those points to stay in 2 bedroom dedicated with our family of five at Kidani and BLT. 3 bathrooms was fabulous and the space was great. We then added on both at VGC and VGF.

Fast forward to 2016 and we have a trip booked (our first since 2013). Only 3 of us travelling this time the older two kids have their own stuff going on. So we have booked 5 nights VGC 1 bedroom, 4 nights Kidani 1 bedroom and 4 nights VGF 1 bedroom lake view.

We plan on doing EPCOT while at AKV and MK from VGF. As we are also doing Disneyland and a cruise we are skipping AK and HS. So I was thinking instead of Kidani we should try BCV or BWV. Both were fairly available at 7 months for our dates in 2015.

As I was thinking about this I looked at the 1 bedrooms on youtube. Boy are they smaller than Kidani and a lot older style. I'm not quite sure I can bring myself to give up the space and the second bathroom. Looks like we are spoiled by Kidani.

Anyone else find it hard going back to older resorts after the newer ones?

 

[jerseygal]

I "hear you"...Yes, first time ever staying in a studio was this past Dec as we usually stay in 2 BR with our family. SPOILED with the newness and the split 2 Bath studio at the VGF! BEAUTIFUL! Must say though we also loved our 2 night stay at AKV Jambo too!

 

[CarolMN]

LOL, minniesgal. I have the opposite problem. (Our home is BWV). I find it very difficult to pay more points for the newer resorts, especially those that are not within walking distance of a park! For some of them a 1 bedroom at BWV is just a point or two more than a studio at the newer resorts.

I did like Kidani - stayed in a 2 bedroom Savanna view villa and enjoyed the stay - the villa and the resort's amenities were awesome. But we won't be back unless guests want the experience. When we occasionally stay a night or two at BLT, we book a studio. For us, it's about the location and the bargain standard view villas at the BWV.

 

[com_op_2000]

We actually perfer the older resorts:
OKW, BCV, AKL (Jambo), and SSR more than AKV (Kidani), BLT, and BWV.
We have PVB scheduled for later this year and have not yet scheduled/stayed at GFV. Looking at the pictures of these resort I am thinking that one time at each will be enough.

 

[nalajms]

Same with CarolMN, our first home will always be BWV. We haven't seen the refurb yet, but as long as we stay away from studios we should be ok. We also own at AKV and I find it hard to book the Kidani 1 and 2 bedrooms when I can book the values!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

So I like the look and feel of the pre-BLT resorts - let's not call them old ;-) We own at SSR and we've stayed at AKV and BWV, with an upcoming trip to OKW. We like the feel of them and location. To be fair, I have only toured the models, but BLT and VGF don't appeal to me aesthetically, and the Poly doesn't give me the full DVC amenity environment that I like. And that's why there's a DVC for everyone, just not the same one ;-)

 

[Deb & Bill]

OKW, the original DVC, is still our favorite.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

OKW, the original DVC, is still our favorite.

Never have been - looking forward to it. After 10 years thought it was time to explore all the DVCs.

 

[southerngirl528]

I've been a member since '93, and while I find it exciting to try new DVC resorts, my heart is at OKW. I always have to chuckle when it's time to book my annual Grand Villa week for my brood to gather from around the country, when I look at other resort options for GV's and what they cost. I love using my points for a beach cottage at Vero (bought just enough Vero points years ago for a 2 or 3 nights), and we've enjoyed our stays in a GV at Kidani Savannah view. But the points are so much cheaper, the rooms so much bigger, the memories are so sweet of seeing my kids grow up over the years, OKW will always be my favorite.

I know. I know. Some folks hate OKW. And know what? That's fine with me. I generally don't have any real issues booking there though I am very strategic and timely when booking a GV for a week. Aulani is my 2nd favorite DVC resort. We've been twice, and I'm going back this September pre-DCL cruise!

The cool thing about DVC is the very broad variety of styles and "personalities" to the resorts in the collection. There are things I like about all of them. And vice versa. I think it's not only great fun but absolutely necessary that we don't all love the same resort! Heck, none of us could ever book anything if that was the case!

 

[Minniesgal]

Well I guess it is good news that it is horses for courses for everyone and we all have different favourites. Our downfall has been starting with the larger rooms first means we are surprised when they are smaller.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[freediverdude]

I've stayed at OKW a couple times on rented points to try it. It's very peaceful, and loved the balconies overlooking golf course areas and all the wildlife. It has a different feel than the other resorts. If you want a laid-back vacation, OKW is a very good choice, and saves points!

 

[NoleFan]

we don't spend tons of time in our room so location & amenities are the biggest factors for us.

 

[suebeelin]

we don't spend tons of time in our room so location & amenities are the biggest factors for us.

Neither do we. We are park gunners, lol. We want to walk to the parks, and prefer easy access transportation-wise.

We love boardwalk bc of that reason. Someday we will try beach club but I hate wasting points and LOVE having standard rooms at boardwalk.

Bay lake- same thing. Walk to MK and the std rooms!!

 

[JJSWDW]

I'd fully expect each successive resort would be nicer than the previous ones as they continually improve. However what keeps things in check are the economics. For a while if it wasn't your home resort the economics were generally about the same to stay there but now the points per night have dramatically jumped too. Previously the economics were only an issue if you were purchasing points at that resort. We recently stayed at GFV and love it. However we won't stay there often because it's about twice the points as our home resort. I don't feel bad staying at our home resort because now it feels like a great bargain.

 

[micheleq]

We just came back from a studio stay at AKV Kidani after a 1 BR stay at VGF in January (our home resort). Yup, we're spoiled! I prefer the ease of transportation at VGF and for Epcot/Boardwalk area I loved YC. I think our next DVC stay at WDW will be BCV or BLT, but otherwise I will plan ahead and book at our home resort. AKV was fine, but on this trip we didn't go to AK, and it was pretty hot outside so there were not many animals by us for the Savannah View. I also think I prefer the smaller sized resorts. AKV and SSR are very large and those are our only other DVC stays to compare VGF with.

 

[DougEMG]

LOL, minniesgal. I have the opposite problem. (Our home is BWV). I find it very difficult to pay more points for the newer resorts, especially those that are not within walking distance of a park! For some of them a 1 bedroom at BWV is just a point or two more than a studio at the newer resorts.

I did like Kidani - stayed in a 2 bedroom Savanna view villa and enjoyed the stay - the villa and the resort's amenities were awesome. But we won't be back unless guests want the experience. When we occasionally stay a night or two at BLT, we book a studio. For us, it's about the location and the bargain standard view villas at the BWV.

Yup, for point cost and location you can't beat a standard view room at the BWV.

 

[TeeterTots]

I think I'm spoiled by default. Our first trip in the more recent years prior to DVC was deluxe club level so I guess I expect a nice room, but small due to points. I can't wait to be able to have enough points to book a 1br but I just can't justify with two small kids and not being in the room much. That being said we stayed at CBR with my sister and really liked it. I'd stay again with them especially given the refurb!