Best DVC Resort for young family

[S Kirkpatrick]

What is the best DVC resort for a family with a 5 year old and 3 year old?

 

[hakepb]

Most prototypical would be BLT with MK proximity and monorail.
VWL gets you boat access to MK

AKV savanna view would also be a lot of fun. (Kinda like having an attraction at your room)

BWV/BCV gives you boat access to 2 parks

I've never had a kid complain about SSR or OKW

I would mostly think about the parks / dining you most visit.

 

[mikeweider1]

We have three kids and they are right in that age range. Honestly there is not "best" resort because your kids will be thrilled with wherever you end up...

Some considerations: We've stayed at VWL, BLT, AKV, & BWV and loved them all.
1) The lobby inside the VWL and AKV will have your kids staring for an hour... they're awesome.

2) When it's not cold the boardwalk is really cool for kids because there are always things going on... jugglers, magicians etc..

3) BLT is great for the short walk or monorail ride to the MK while VWL is great for the boat ride to MK.

Honestly though, at this age your kids will love being at Disney World... no matter where you stay!

 

[GoofItUp]

Those are just the ages of my boys. We've stayed at BCV, BWV, and AKV and loved them all. We're going to try BLT for our vacation next June. If you want to spend more time at the resort, AKV is great. My boys loved watching the animals, there were several fun activities going on, good pool, and fun Community Hall. We are hard-pressed to leave BWV and BCV because getting to Epcot & DHS is just so convenient. And, as others have said, BLT's proximity to MK makes it a big plus. I don't know that there's really a best resort...they all have something unique and fun to offer!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We keep staying at BCV because of the easy access to Epcot and DHS. Also, there is no better pool. We like the movies at night on the beach and fire pit.

When our guy was little we wanted to stay at a monorail resort but never booked at BLT. Now it doesn't matter so much as we don't need to nap.

 

[DenLo]

How many kids under the age of 11 like Epcot? Not too many IMO. But how many years will you be going to WDW with young children? I think you need to think about the future because you own your DVC contract for many years. In 10 years what will the family be doing at WDW? Will you and your DH be taking some adult trips and going to WDW for F&W or F&G, would you prefer to be staying at Epcot resort? Does relaxing at the resort sound really good? Would you enjoy sitting on your balcony watching the animals on a savanna, eating African inspired and Indian spiced foods? Or do you want to be short distance from DTD but still have the tranquility of your resort? Would you prefer to be near MK and have a monorail or ferry ride to multiple resorts? Will the kids be bringing friends or cousins to pal around with? Would you be comfortable with them walking to a park by themselves, how about taking the bus by themselves?

Right now you if give your young children a pool to play in that would make them happy. And sure you might have a few years of struggle with taking the kids on buses but they'll learn the ropes fast. But what will they and you be interested in later?

I would choose a resort for life of the contract not just for the moment.

 

[marcgiu]

We always stay at OKW with our kids (they are 4 and 8 but we have been the last 3 years with them) – great resort with good facilities. Its also got probably the easiest buses to catch from the parks (always get a seat apart from the EMH).
Try and get a block near the hospitality house and I promise they will love it

 

[GoofItUp]

How many kids under the age of 11 like Epcot? Not too many IMO. But how many years will you be going to WDW with young children? I think you need to think about the future because you own your DVC contract for many years. In 10 years what will the family be doing at WDW? Will you and your DH be taking some adult trips and going to WDW for F&W or F&G, would you prefer to be staying at Epcot resort? Does relaxing at the resort sound really good? Would you enjoy sitting on your balcony watching the animals on a savanna, eating African inspired and Indian spiced foods? Or do you want to be short distance from DTD but still have the tranquility of your resort? Would you prefer to be near MK and have a monorail or ferry ride to multiple resorts? Will the kids be bringing friends or cousins to pal around with? Would you be comfortable with them walking to a park by themselves, how about taking the bus by themselves?

Right now you if give your young children a pool to play in that would make them happy. And sure you might have a few years of struggle with taking the kids on buses but they'll learn the ropes fast. But what will they and you be interested in later?

I would choose a resort for life of the contract not just for the moment.

I thought she was just asking where to STAY for an upcoming trip. If she is asking where to buy, that certainly leads to a whole other discussion.

 

[rpk1951]

Any resort is a good resort to visit. Each has something different to offer which is why we try them all.

 

[S Kirkpatrick]

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

 

[hbehrman]

What is the best DVC resort for a family with a 5 year old and 3 year old?

I might point out that if you (perhaps someday) become a family of 5, AKV, BLT or OKW has a 1 BR that sleeps 5. My kids though AKV was "the best" especially with the animals out the balcony. We own at SSR (for the treehouses, golf course, spa and proximity to DTD), but will try at 7 months to get OKW or AKV for the 1BR.

We personally do not care for BLT (to close to the parks for us) as we do not do commando anymore (as we did when we stayed at POR), but spend a day or two enjoying the resort and the amenities that it provides.

 

[quinnc19]

+1 - was going to write a similar post.

How many kids under the age of 11 like Epcot? Not too many IMO. But how many years will you be going to WDW with young children? I think you need to think about the future because you own your DVC contract for many years. In 10 years what will the family be doing at WDW? Will you and your DH be taking some adult trips and going to WDW for F&W or F&G, would you prefer to be staying at Epcot resort? Does relaxing at the resort sound really good? Would you enjoy sitting on your balcony watching the animals on a savanna, eating African inspired and Indian spiced foods? Or do you want to be short distance from DTD but still have the tranquility of your resort? Would you prefer to be near MK and have a monorail or ferry ride to multiple resorts? Will the kids be bringing friends or cousins to pal around with? Would you be comfortable with them walking to a park by themselves, how about taking the bus by themselves?

Right now you if give your young children a pool to play in that would make them happy. And sure you might have a few years of struggle with taking the kids on buses but they'll learn the ropes fast. But what will they and you be interested in later?

I would choose a resort for life of the contract not just for the moment.

 

[castleri]

My thought is that the best resort is the ones the parents love. If you like something it is likely that impression will be passed on to the children. The good thing is that with DVC you have the options of trying all of them even if you do not own at all of them. It may not always be possible to book another resort than the one you own due to season or number of rooms so keep in mind the 11 month window if there is somewhere that you think you really want to stay most of the time ie BCV. That can be hard to get if you don't have the 11 month window.

 

[crisi]

Is this one trip or a purchase. Because if its a purchase, they won't be young long. If its one trip....

I WOULDN'T do BWV. No zero entry pool is the big reason. No OKW for the same reason I probably wouldn't do SSR, because if you end up away from the theme pool, its a long walk or you need to drive or catch the bus. I'm not sure about zero entry at BLT and I don't think its a VWL, but proximity to the MK makes up for that and is a good trade. BCV has a great pool for kids that age (if your five year old is fairly easy to watch - otherwise, avoid it like the plague), proximity to MK leaves something to be desired. VAKL has a good pool and the animals. Park access is horrible - bus or car everywhere, but the animals for kids that age are great - it would probably be my first choice.

 

[Plutofan]

We love Beach club due to SAB (pool) which is very kid friendly.

 

[hbehrman]

Is this one trip or a purchase. Because if its a purchase, they won't be young long. If its one trip....

I WOULDN'T do BWV. No zero entry pool is the big reason. No OKW for the same reason I probably wouldn't do SSR,...

FYI:

The new Paddock Pool at SSR is zero entry.

 

[mecllap]

OP -- more info about what you're looking for is needed to get a useful answer. For one visit, or to buy? What do you like to do? Are you flying in or driving (will it be handy to be able to park close to your room)? All resorts have lots of positives to offer, and maybe a small number of negatives. None are prohibitive for young ones, certainly -- after all, that's what WDW is all about (well, it's for all ages - but kids are a main consideration).

 

[bangzoom6877]

My boys were those exact ages when we went last summer. We stayed at our home, BWV, and they loved it there. Each evening, they enjoyed watching the jugglers, magicians, etc. on the Boardwalk. It was great walking to Epcot and DHS, and taking the boat was also very convenient. The bus to MK was fine first thing in the morning, and when returning to the hotel early afternoon...short ride too. We're going back next summer and staying there again...the boys are already excited!

 

[crisi]

FYI:

The new Paddock Pool at SSR is zero entry.

So is the main theme pool - that isn't the reason I'd would avoid SSR. I'd avoid SSR because its too spread out with little ones - if you don't get a good room location, you are busing or driving or doing a LOT of walking to get to either pool.

 

[Golden Rose]

I'm going to back up a couple of posters here...

It really depends on what kind of vacation you're looking for, and how much time you're planning to spend at the resort vs the parks. If you're planning to do a parks intensive trip, kids that age usually seem to prefer MK or AK, depending on their particular interests. (Are they really into princesses and/or pirates? Are they animal nuts?)

AKV is an amazing resort, if you or your kids like animals. It has great pool areas, fun activities, wonderful restaurants for the even slightly adventurous diner, and animals, animals, animals. But if you're planning on spending most of your days in the parks, it is inconvenient to all of them. You have to take a bus everywhere, including AK. This is our top choice when we're not planning a park focused vacation. (It is DS's top choice every time...)

If you're planning a park focused trip, particularly if you're planning to spend a lot of time at MK, you probably want to look at BLT. We aren't wild about the theming, but the location is the best for MK focused trips.