Best DVC resort for kids ?

[mousezilla]

I have 2 children ages 6 and 3 and I plan on making ressies for late June 2005. I have 330 points to use and BCV is home resort. Which DVC resort is the most kid friendly ?

 

[AZKathy]

Welcome to the DIS!!!

Everyone will have their own views about best resort for anything and sometimes it gets crazy! I am an avid OKW lover. Stayed there every visit to WDW and plan on staying there every trip.<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/911.gif' border=0></a> There are a lot of kid activites there every day. My kids love it there and call OKW their second home.

But.......you have your home resort set up for BCV. What could be better than staying at a resort with Stormalong Bay for the pool? Your kids will go nuts there! You also have the hop skip and a jump to the Boardwalk to enjoy the activities there.

It will be interesting to see what everyone else says! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_13_7.gif' border=0></a>

 

[Dean]

I think the consensus will be BCV but I think there are other considerations. BWV has a pretty darn good pool itself plus the community center with video games, etc. OKW has more wide open and less crowded pools with the play area right there. Also, it partly depends on the age of the children as to what's close to which resort. If the children are younger, VWL is much closer and easier for MK and BWV and BCV are close to Epcot and MGM. Then SSR will apparently have a good pool as well and is close to DD.

The room configurations may have some impact as well. OKW has larger units and a larger, more useable dining area. BWV does not have dedicated 2 BR units so there is always a second door. So basically personal preference.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

Our home resorts are Boardwalk (main) and Beach Club (add-on). We've stayed in both of them and prefer Old Key West hands down. We have 1 and 6 year olds. We stayed at BC in December, and the oldest was not a strong enough swimmer to do the slide at Stormalong. (Major, major disappointment.) So the pool is only great if your kid is allowed on the slide! We love OKW because of the huge rooms, full size kitchen, and washer dryer (we pack 3 days of clothes for a week). And we can park right outside the room, leave the stroller in the car and get it each morning on the way to the bus.

 

[BillPA]

While ALL DVC resorts are great, I would try VWL, mainly because with the ages of your children you will be going to the MK most and VWL is the most convient. Also a good pool and great theming.

 

[Simba's Mom]

To me it's a toss-up between BCV and VWL. At VWL, your kids might get a kick out of WCC and the RF food court is right there, too, at VWL. Also, they have the child care (Cub's Den?) if you and DH want to go out. And the pool there is pretty fun. And like others have said, it's the most convenient to MK. BCV has SAB, which they'd love, and the kiddie area has a neat sand beach. Heck, I'm 51, and I stay at the kiddie area for that sand beach! They also might enjoy B&C and renting the surrey bikes on the Boardwalk.

 

[mom2alix]

I'd also go with VWL. You'll probably be spending a lot of time at MK and the quick boat ride back "home" for naps was a real winner with us. It was also a nice boat ride directly to the Contemporary for Chef Mickeys (she enjoyed it so much we went twice!) The quiet pool at VWL was also pretty empty most of the time which worked at little better with a small child.

That being said, once DD2 is older (school age) I'm sure we'll being wanting to stay at BCV for the pool and proximity to Epcot!

 

[spiceycat]

if POFQ was open - then definitely OKW - it is very close - you could walk over in a few minutes or drive over in few minutes.

WHY...

POFQ has the best slide on WDW property for your age group - so there won't be a ton of teenagers trying to get on it and pushing your kids around - big problem at SALB (SLB).

this is a very slow slide - non exciting to anyone over the age of 8 - but the under think it is great!!!!

this is the only slide where the lifeguard will let you go down the slide with your child....

very slow - very tame - a great pool for the very young crowd - kind of dull for the pre-teens and teenagers.

now you might get board - this is not an exciting pool like SALB is at all - but your kids will love it - as long as DVC member can pool hop this would be a great choice for your kids.

If you are not interested in pool-hopping or if POFQ is still closed - then VWL - it is the a boat ride away from the MK.

 

[crisi]

Your kids are six and three now, which will make them at least seven and four (and maybe eight and five) by your travel date. There is a huge difference between a tentative can't swim three year old and a daredevil swim like a fish independant eight year old. Only you know the temperment and likely developmental changes in your kids in the next year.

VWL - Great theming, easy access to the MK via boat (very important at the tentative three year old age - if your six year old is still a Dumbo girl at heart, it may still be your favorite park), a nice pool with one of the tamest waterslides at a DVC resort. Plus you get good access to FW as well - HDDR, Petting Zoo, movies... Not knowing your kids, this would be my blanket recommendation.

BCV - Wonderful access to both Epcot and MGM - MGM is a particular draw for thrill ride fans, good access to the BW for the nightlife and restaurants. Biggest plus (and biggest minus) the incredible Storm Along Bay, a pool that will ensnare your children, but may (depending on how well your kids swim and what kind of parent you are) have you tearing your hair out or avoiding the pool. It does, however, have DVCs only (TTBOMK) kiddie slide, a wonderful zero entry pool, and great sand.

BWV - Our home (disclosing conflict of interest). A nice, but rather deep main pool with a challenging but manageable pool slide, but unlike SAB, you can sit in a pool chair with a rum drink and see the whole thing. Busier than BCV with the same great access to Epcot and MGM (Epcot is a little farther, MGM a little closer if you walk it). Boardwalk activities that run all night - Disneyfied so they are kid appropriate - although late night traffic out of ESPN or Jellyrolls may be something you want to have the kids asleep before it happens. Community Hall. I think this is a better resort for adults and teens than for kids (although we have preschoolers - we really bought thinking long term, my husband and I like Epcot best), unless you want the Epcot/MGM easy access and want to avoid SAB. Some chance of both Standard View rooms (the Epcot area park access on cheap points) or Boardwalk View (guarenteed now, and something most people find desireable) at seven months.

OKW - Access to everything is via car or Disney transportation (you can boat to DTD), but if you drive everywhere anyway, the ability to park in front of your unit will make this more convienent than less. Larger rooms than the other DVC resorts - nice if you are planning lots of time in your room (and plain old just nice, but particularly attractive if you are spending a lot of time in the room - or putting the four of you in a studio or one bedroom). Plus, cheaper points - so a real value if you are looking to save a few points. We have yet to see what the slide will be like here.

SSR - Will have good access to DTD, but the park access of OKW and it doesn't look like you'll be parking in front of your unit to make up for it and standard room size (but, although the points are higher than OKW, they are still cheaper than the other resorts). We will have to wait for the pool to open up to judge the quality for kids (pool slide quickness and complexity, pool depth, and the all important "ability to watch your children from a pool chair"). The do seem, however, to be planning a very "family friendly" approach to food - I think of it as more deli style - i.e. the ability to pick up something on your way back to the room to eat or throw in the oven. Does have the cool factor of the "new resort."

Whatever you decide, book your home BCVs before seven months. That way you won't fret on any wait list and will definately have a place to stay. Someone reported that according to MS, VWL is the hardest to get into at seven months.

 

[hpygrll]

We have 2 boys, a 2 year old and a 6 month old, and we own at OKW. Dh and I love the BCV but we love VWL for the boys. It's close to the MK, it has the boat transportation which sometimes is more exciting to them then the rides themselves and the path to Fort Wilderness is great. The petting zoo, campfire movies, Hoop De Doo etc. We also love watching the electrical water pageant. I'm sure they'll love anything there, but my vote is for VWL.

Jenny

1977 - offsite
1995 - CBR
1997 - Boardwalk
1998 - Contemporary
1999 - Port Orleans
2000 - Dixie Landings
2001 - OKW
2002 - BCV and VWl
2004 - VWL (May, here we come)

 

[poohnpiglet3]

Wow! Thanks for the in-depth info, Crisi!!! You've given us tons to think about!

I am now wondering if we should buy two packages -- one 150 pt. pkg. at SSR for the length and DTD proximity, and one 150 pt. (or so) pkg. at either VWL or BCV for the park proximity (and this one would end when DH and I would be 63 and 66, so that *might* be a good thing that we would have less fees each year to pay, but still have the vacationing option at SSR for another 12 years or so (or our children will.)

Thanks again!!

Sherri