Best DVC resort with family of 9

[megapayne05]

We are a family/group of 9 including 2 littles (3,6) looking for convenience! Which DVC resort is the best option?

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We will have a family/group of 9 going next summer. It depends on how many separate bedroom spaces you need or what accommodations you are wanting. For us, Poly is really off the table because of no kitchen option, in room laundry or communal living space for us to unwind together. Our plans include a 2 bedroom plus a studio since we have 3 couples, 1 teenager and 2 littles. OKW is also off the table because the teenager will be in a living room and we don't want him to have to enter a bedroom every time he needs to use the restroom. We put BLT at the top of our list for convenience with kids and three bathroom options in the 2 bedroom unit.

 

[Marionnette]

We are a family/group of 9 including 2 littles (3,6) looking for convenience! Which DVC resort is the best option?

Each resort has its drawbacks and its pluses. If convenience means that you want to be close to the MK, then any of the monorail resorts or CCV/BRV will have you close by. Poly is only studios. You would need at least 2. A VGF 2BR lockoff can sleep up to 10 people. BLT has 3 bathrooms in a 2BR villa. Both BLT and VGF have walking paths to the MK.

CCV and BRV are at WL. CCV 2BR villas only sleep 8 people. BRV 2BR lockoffs sleep 9. Access to the MK is by boat. All other parks are by bus.

As with all DVC resorts, some sleep surfaces are not ideal. Poly has one queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa and a bunk-size (smaller than twin) Murphy bed in each studio. VGF 2BR lockoffs have 2 of the tiny Murphy beds, 2 queen sleeper sofas, a queen bed and a king bed. BLT has one twin-size sleeper chair, 2 queen beds, a queen sleeper sofa and a king bed in the dedicated 2BR villas. A lot of people might regard those sleeping arrangements as pretty inconvenient.

 

[princesscinderella]

I vote AKL because it has the three bathrooms and the kids can watch the animals from the balcony.

 

[ElizabethG]

It would help to know what your room plans are. Are you planning a 2 bedroom, a 2 bedroom plus studio, or grand villa?
The 2 bedroom plus studio would be the middle ground of being comfortable and more point economical.

 

[NoTime42]

I vote AKL because it has the three bathrooms and the kids can watch the animals from the balcony.

Kidani has the 3 bathrooms. Jambo only has 2, and has the weird bathroom across the hall from the master bedroom.

 

[NoTime42]

Each resort has its drawbacks and its pluses. If convenience means that you want to be close to the MK, then any of the monorail resorts or CCV/BRV will have you close by. Poly is only studios. You would need at least 2. A VGF 2BR lockoff can sleep up to 10 people. BLT has 3 bathrooms in a 2BR villa. Both BLT and VGF have walking paths to the MK.

CCV and BRV are at WL. CCV 2BR villas only sleep 8 people. BRV 2BR lockoffs sleep 9. Access to the MK is by boat. All other parks are by bus.

As with all DVC resorts, some sleep surfaces are not ideal. Poly has one queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa and a bunk-size (smaller than twin) Murphy bed in each studio. VGF 2BR lockoffs have 2 of the tiny Murphy beds, 2 queen sleeper sofas, a queen bed and a king bed. BLT has one twin-size sleeper chair, 2 queen beds, a queen sleeper sofa and a king bed in the dedicated 2BR villas. A lot of people might regard those sleeping arrangements as pretty inconvenient.

Riviera, SSR preferred, (all of SSR in summer) have the Murphy beds instead of pull out couches, which give you a real mattress at the expense of some couch comfort.

 

[megapayne05]

Thank you all! We are leaning towards BTL 2BR Lake View...is there a benefit to a Lock out room there?

 

[Marionnette]

Thank you all! We are leaning towards BTL 2BR Lake View...is there a benefit to a Lock out room there?

With a lockoff, you will have a separate entrance for the studio side (2nd bedroom) and the 1BR side if the villa, although your MagicBands will open both doors. This can be a nice feature if you have kids sleeping in the living room of the 1BR and night owls occupying the studio side.

The studio side will have a kitchenette complete with its own small refrigerator, sink, coffee maker and toaster. BLT kitchenettes are rather generous in size but that means the rest of the room suffers with regard to available space.

A negative would be that there is only one real bed in the studio side. The other sleep surface is a sleeper sofa.

 

[megapayne05]

Thank you at @Marionnette I appreciate the prospective....I don't think the lockout is the option we want to take

 

[RoseGold]

OKW GV is a real contender, technically sleeps 12, so your teen could even bring their BFF and sleep on the sofa. It's a fantastic point value, you pretty much have to own OKW and walk and stalk to get it. I'd argue it's one of the best point values in the entire system.

Downside is location and transportation.

 

[megapayne05]

WE were going to book OKW initially for all the reasons you mentioned above. Upon further research, I saw quickly that Location there matters, especially with 2 littles! This will be what we consider a "longer trip" so we think the convenience of BLT will work best.

In the future, I will definitely book OKW when it just my family...my girls can walk!!!

 

[megapayne05]

We will have a family/group of 9 going next summer. It depends on how many separate bedroom spaces you need or what accommodations you are wanting. For us, Poly is really off the table because of no kitchen option, in room laundry or communal living space for us to unwind together. Our plans include a 2 bedroom plus a studio since we have 3 couples, 1 teenager and 2 littles. OKW is also off the table because the teenager will be in a living room and we don't want him to have to enter a bedroom every time he needs to use the restroom. We put BLT at the top of our list for convenience with kids and three bathroom options in the 2 bedroom unit.

We put BLT at the top of the list too! We will have 3 kids (2 teens and a 10yo) in the living room at BLT, but the group to a GV doesn't fit the budget!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We put BLT at the top of the list too! We will have 3 kids (2 teens and a 10yo) in the living room at BLT, but the group to a GV doesn't fit the budget!

Yes! Those grand villas are so beautiful but we can’t justify it point wise. I find the living room at BLT quite spacious and if you end up with a room on the pool side of the building they have the large walk in laundry room which is great for luggage storage for those in the living room.

 

[megapayne05]

Yes! Those grand villas are so beautiful but we can’t justify it point wise. I find the living room at BLT quite spacious and if you end up with a room on the pool side of the building they have the large walk in laundry room which is great for luggage storage for those in the living room.

Totally agree! It’s a huge jump!

 

[Pirate Granny]

WE were going to book OKW initially for all the reasons you mentioned above. Upon further research, I saw quickly that Location there matters, especially with 2 littles! This will be what we consider a "longer trip" so we think the convenience of BLT will work best.

In the future, I will definitely book OKW when it just my family...my girls can walk!!!

We have always booked OWK GV and in the beginning had two 5 year olds and two 2 year olds... on the second floor (GVs start on 2nd floor). Never an issue..loved, loved, loved the space AND 4 full bathrooms, so if in the living room, you could use that bathroom. Also full laundry room, not stackable. We put two double strollers in there. Yes, bringing the two double strollers up the stairs was a pain, but bless my son in law...just folded and took stroller in one arm and one kid up and then returned for the next set.