Best dvc for minimal park days

[auralia]

We really need a non commando disney vacation this time . We are going for 8-10 days (depends on hubby's work) and our 7 month window opens in a couple of weeks. We plan on 4 park days and possibly a couple of water park days ( 4 day military tickets with and more option).

We have a 3 year old son and 7 year old daughter. Which resort is best for extra activities and things to do? We own at okw but I am hopeful to have luck at the 7 month window.

We have stayed at BLT, SSR, AKV, BWV. We didn't like BWV much but had a bad interaction with a staff member there so it really soured it for us. I enjoyed AKV, loved blt location but it felt a bit cramped especially the pool. Really looking for the relaxed feel but wanted it to be something the kids will like too.

I'm thinking vwl... Boat to mk, boat to FW for sing along. But then I think perhaps BCV for storm along bay. Also I have an annual pass (dh and kids on military tickets) so I could run into Epcot to get fun dinners for me and dh.... But vwl seems more kid friendly. And then there is AKV.... Savanna view could be very enjoyable and i think if you stay jambo you can still use kadanis pool, but dh likes to try new things and we have been there before. It seems like AKV has more "to do" during down days then the other resorts.

Would love input. We won't be going again for 2 years as we are in a borrowing pattern due to letting relatives use some points.

 

[auralia]

We have always done commando so we have never had relax and explore time and I am really looking forward to it!

 

[LadyLuck24]

Thoughts on three of the places you mentioned....

Some would probably disagree, but I would vote for SSR (mainly because I was thinking of doing a non-commando trip there in the near future).

SSR is huge with several pools so you could spend time exploring those. The new Paddock pool is GREAT for a 3 year old & there's a big water slide for the 7 year old. The main pool is huge with plenty of space. Best of all is that it's within walking distance to DTD so if you aren't spending a ton of time in the parks, you could spend time at all the restaurants/stores there without a long bus ride.

I also think Kidani or Jambo would be great for this trip because you have nice pools, kid's splash/play area, and the savannah to keep you occupied.

While VWL is one of my favorite hotels for sentimental reasons (my honeymoon was there!), I actually don't think it's the greatest hotel for "hanging around" at. I think the main pool is really boring and small, and the villas pool is tiny. The proximity to the parks is great, but that's not as important for a non-commando trip. I will say I have never gone over to FW from vWL before, so that might give you a lot more to do.

Either way I think this trip sounds like a great idea & you can't really go wrong!

 

[Pirate Granny]

I think I would pick AKL, lot to do with the tours and activities for the kiddos. I love VWL, but no kids activities and neither does BCV, but the pool there is a vacation on its own....OKW is very relaxing, has bikes and kid activities and boat rides to DTD. Love love love

 

[amym2]

Why not try OKW if you own there but have never stayed there? We stayed there last year for a non-parks trip (well we did do TL) and had a great time. The pool and activities by the pool were so much fun, and the one bedrooms are huge. It was easy to pool hop to SSR one day also. And of course there's the boat to DTD as well as Olivia's, which is really good. We loved the relaxing Florida vibe at OKW.

 

[Mini Sorcerer's Mom]

I actually LOVE VWL for 'resort time' with kids. We rent bikes and ride the trail to the campground to pet the horses, finding all the Lodges hidden Mickey's scavenger hunt will take all afternoon (and it is a lot of fun), rent boats on the lake, the movie by the lake on the beach and s'mores really feels like camping in the Adirondack Mountains, they offer crafts and such for the kids throughout the day and since your there for over a week, you will have a good chance to be chosen for the morning flag ceremony (ask about it as soon as you check in...it fills up fast as it is only one family per morning).

BCV is fabulous too! The waterpark is a mini theme park in itself and we love being able to walk to Epcot. You also can walk to play mini golf near the Boardwalk. Both resorts are fabulous and since you are DVC you can always pool hop to AKV or some of the other resorts.

Have a great trip!

 

[auralia]

Soo hard to choose any further input is appreciated.

 

[quirty30]

I think I'd go with OKW since you have already stayed at SSR. SSR would really be my first choice with several different pools to choose from, good QS and TS restaurants, a community hall, and easy access to DTD. OKW has most of those too (short the QS restaurant) and I think you might enjoy someplace different that you've never stayed at before. But honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with either.

 

[DreamerWDW]

I'd vote for VWL, especially since you've never stayed there. It's a beautiful resort and my favorite! There's lots to do like others mentioned and the boat to the CR is nice and you can get on the monorail. You can visit the monorail resorts. We've done the lodge tour which is a tour and history of the lodge and it was very interesting (my kids liked it).

My next vote would be BCV which has a great pool and the Boardwalk area is fun. But you've already stayed at the BWV and I think it's nice to try a whole new area.

Have a great trip!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I love BCV and SAB, but I do agree with folks here, who think it could be a nightmare watching young children there.

I also would pick VWL for a non commando park stay. The surrey bikes are fun to ride, and there still are some animals to see at FW. You can swim in their pool for a change. We enjoy Trails End Buffeteria for dinner. You can see the Electrical Light Parade from the beach. Roaring Fork has good counter service. You mentioned the movie, sing along at FW....Chip and Dale visited that when we were there last, I do not know if they still do.

Have fun, where ever you choose.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you choose OKW, you will have the extra space, and the slide and kiddie areas there are wonderful. There are also a lot of the resort "extras" that all the other resorts have too, like movie night, camp fire, fishing, boat rental, surrey bikes, shuffle board, tennis courts, etc. etc. etc., PLUS, OKW has some of the best bus service we have encountered in all of WDW.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Both resorts are fabulous and since you are DVC you can always pool hop to AKV or some of the other resorts.
!

Just an FYI, DVC does not allow pool hopping to the pools at AKV. I believe the pools at BLT and BCV are excluded, as well.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you choose OKW, you will have the extra space, and the slide and kiddie areas there are wonderful. There are also a lot of the resort "extras" that all the other resorts have too, like movie night, camp fire, fishing, boat rental, surrey bikes, shuffle board, tennis courts, etc. etc. etc., PLUS, OKW has some of the best bus service we have encountered in all of WDW.

I'll agree with Diane. Plus if you are a golfer or like golf, you can spend hours watching the golfers.

You can also take the boat to DTD (when the dragon boats aren't training).

 

[NoleFan]

We have friends tht recently stayed @ fw for non-park trip. Their DS7 loved it. They have archery, carriages rides, golf cart rental, & some animals on-site. Makes me really look forward to our VWL stay in December. Sounded unique from other resorts & lots of fun!

We love BCV if we plan on spending most of the day @ the pool. The pool is very spread out so it would depend on your level of comfort with that.

 

[Queenie122]

Our last trip we did BLT / OKW / BCV. My 9 year old daughter enjoyed OKW the most.

Stormalong Bay was fun enough but it was too "big" for her. The big slide requires a long walk out of the gated pool area. The lazy river was way too deep (even with a life jacket she was scared). We couldn't relax, we had to do everything with her. She liked the little sand area for little kids but the amount of sand covering all of us was ridiculous - and all of us had our arms, legs and feet chewed up by the sand.

OKW main pool was perfect. We could stay in the pool while my daughter ran up and down the slide for hours. The pool depth was just right for her. We spent a couple of days just doing the pool party (which should be at every DVC resort) and other activities inside CH. We visited the CH at BLT also - it is new and swanky looking but to me it was cold, the OKW CH doesn't look as nice but it's way more homey.

I didn't see the play area at BLT or BCV but my daughter loved the one at the main pool at OKW.

It was fun to walk over to the Boardwalk at night and see the entertainers. But my daughter has a wheelchair, otherwise I think that is very far for young kids to walk.

We LOVED Olivia's at OKW and my daughter begged us to go back over and over. The nice thing is, you don't need a reservation. It's very kid friendly and she was even picked as their "Artist of the Day" which she still tells everyone about. And of course the rooms at OKW were WAY larger than the other two resorts.

I hope some of that helps!

 

[Dean]

I would not do SSR or OKW without a car but SSR will give you some good pool options if you request near the new pool. Personally I'd go with either BLT, VGF or WLV to be near MK and then either BWV, BCV or AKV to have non park options as a split stay for 8-10 days. Which specific one's are personal preference. For me it'd likely be VGF and BWV as top with AKV a close second really to either. There really aren't any bad choices though OKW, as much as i love it, would be the bottom on my list for young kids without a car.

 

[Sammie]

We really need a non commando disney vacation this time . We are going for 8-10 days (depends on hubby's work) and our 7 month window opens in a couple of weeks. We plan on 4 park days and possibly a couple of water park days ( 4 day military tickets with and more option).

We have a 3 year old son and 7 year old daughter. Which resort is best for extra activities and things to do? We own at okw but I am hopeful to have luck at the 7 month window.

We have stayed at BLT, SSR, AKV, BWV. We didn't like BWV much but had a bad interaction with a staff member there so it really soured it for us. I enjoyed AKV, loved blt location but it felt a bit cramped especially the pool. Really looking for the relaxed feel but wanted it to be something the kids will like too.

I'm thinking vwl... Boat to mk, boat to FW for sing along. But then I think perhaps BCV for storm along bay. Also I have an annual pass (dh and kids on military tickets) so I could run into Epcot to get fun dinners for me and dh.... But vwl seems more kid friendly. And then there is AKV.... Savanna view could be very enjoyable and i think if you stay jambo you can still use kadanis pool, but dh likes to try new things and we have been there before. It seems like AKV has more "to do" during down days then the other resorts.

Would love input. We won't be going again for 2 years as we are in a borrowing pattern due to letting relatives use some points.

SSR would be my choice. Great pool choices, good food choices, close to Downtown Disney. Very good kid activities.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Before I was able to move my November reservation to VGF, I was booked at Kidani for a non-park trip. Plenty to do there, story telling, great pool, very good restaurants and no view of any park for temptation. If I were doing a low-key park trip, that is where I would be staying.

 

[auralia]

We will have our car! We live in Georgia so we drive to disney.

 

[eporter66]

Since you are thinking "non" commando, I would recommend SSR. As was said in a previous post, huge, spacious, a number of pools. We have often spent time in Congress Park pool with very few other guests. Close enough to DTD, so if you are hungry or would like a beverage, you can stroll over. No boat or bus ride needed.

If you are still planning to do the parks, but just take it easy then I would pick VWL like you stated. Boat ride over to MK, and Monorail to be able to get to EPCOT.

Enjoy!! We are doing a non-commando vacation ourselves, leaving this Saturday for a week at SSR. Our first 3 days will be no parks, just pool for the girls and golf for me. I plan to do a lot of walking around the resort, I love just taking in the sun and beautiful weather since NY's will be going down the tubes fast. My last gasp of summer, and I plan on being outside as much as possible!