Best Overall DVC Resort for 1-Bedroom Stays?

[gvel]

Hi all! I just picked up my first DVC contract — 200 points at Saratoga Springs — and I’m really happy with the value and flexibility it offers.

As I plan future trips, I’ve realized that 1-Bedroom Villas are the best fit for my family (my wife, toddler, and me). We love the space, kitchen, and washer/dryer.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on which DVC resort offers the best overall experience for 1BR stays, considering:

Room layout and comfort

Resort atmosphere and dining

Transportation and proximity to parks

Pool and amenities

And especially availability

I’m thinking ahead about a possible add-on at a resort that really shines in this area, so I’d appreciate any firsthand experiences or advice. We will probably only go for a week each year.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cruisehopeful]

BLT is on fire in these boards right now. The layout is great. It has 2: bathrooms, reasonable points chart and convenient transportation to Magic Kingdom. It's also a short walk to the Contemporary, where you can find food.

When you have some spare time, watch YouTube videos of all of the one bedrooms. Make sure the date of the video is current as there's been a lot of changes. I've watched 2-3 of each resort because they are presented differently by different people. When you find the one bedrooms that you like, watch the videos of the property at large. Sometimes the property is amazing, but the room isn't ideal. So, start with the room first.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Our favorite will always be the 1BR at Kidani, especially the savanna view. The layout and extra bathroom are great. And in a 6-7 months, all the 1BRs at Kidani should have a Murphy Bed in the living room as they do a refurb. Add in the access to both Kidani and Jambo, both pools, the animals, and some of the best resort dining options on property - that's our go-to room......

 

[intamin]

BLT is on fire in these boards right now. The layout is great. It has 2: bathrooms, reasonable points chart and convenient transportation to Magic Kingdom. It's also a short walk to the Contemporary, where you can find food.

When you have some spare time, watch YouTube videos of all of the one bedrooms. Make sure the date of the video is current as there's been a lot of changes. I've watched 2-3 of each resort because they are presented differently by different people. When you find the one bedrooms that you like, watch the videos of the property at large. Sometimes the property is amazing, but the room isn't ideal. So, start with the room first.

I was about to say this the 1BR at BLT looks fantastic. Proximity to MK and 2 bathrooms.

1BRs at the Poly tower look very nice as well but getting in might be difficult just because it's so new and shiny.

For those with direct points or resale RIV the 1BRs at RIV are also fantastic.

 

[mort1331]

We love the OKW for the laid back vibe,,,HUGE rooms and balconies...downfall,,,1 bathroom.

 

[AstroBlasters]

YouTube is your friend

 

[intamin]

We love the OKW for the laid back vibe,,,HUGE rooms and balconies...downfall,,,1 bathroom.

The downfall of OKW in general in a 1BR+ IMO is the lack of Murphy beds.

 

[Tatebeck]

Hi all! I just picked up my first DVC contract — 200 points at Saratoga Springs — and I’m really happy with the value and flexibility it offers.

Fixed this part. SSR is strictly for value for most buyers, and then the fact that you want 1BRs usually will help with increasing flexibility. But SSR in general is the least flexible place to own resale of the O14 resorts.

I would recommend BLT and Kidani if you want an extra bathroom, BWV and BCV if you want a great location at favorable point costs.

 

[Minniesgal]

We really loved the 1 Bedroom at Cooper Creek

 

[CVG]

Hated the 1 bed at Copper Creek - noise across from and between the buildings, and a small dark galley kitchen.
Hated the 1 Bed at AKL - second only to Mao's long march to get to the room.
Not particularly impressed with the 1 bed at BWV - noise from the boardwalk and lack of decent EPCOT fireworks anymore.

We like OKW for the peace and relaxed vibe (not for everyone) and the massive rooms. Owner priority means we are close to Hospitality and the buses are pretty quick to the parks. But if you already have SSR then you're probably just doubling up.

 

[Jasper&Bowie]

OKW has full size washer and dryer instead of the stackable unit.

 

[sethschroeder]

Where do you spend most of your time:
MK - BLT>POLY/VGF>CCV/BR>Everything else
EPCOT - BW/BC>RIV>POLY>VGF>POLY>Everything else
HS - BW/BC>RIV>Everything else
AK - AK>Everything else

How important is food options:
BC/BW > RIV > SSR/OKW > POLY > BLT/VGF > CCV/BR > AK

Personally for us Epcot area is so much better than the rest of WDW especially with kids. You can do the morning in MK or AK or HS. You head back to the resort for relaxing by the pool or a nap in the room. Then you take the evening to walk through Epcot, possibly catch a ride, and choose from a wide variety of food options. This also eliminates a requirement to make Epcot a full day ever freeing up an extra morning for Magic Kingdom.

Regarding availability or pools or resort theme they are all essentially the same with minor differences that might meet your tastes. The only one that is drastically different is going to be Stormalong Bay at Beach Club where its a much larger area with a sandy type bottom pool area as well.

 

[sethschroeder]

OKW has full size washer and dryer instead of the stackable unit.

We travel with 6 and can't say we ever ran out of space in stackables. Possibly because we divide up clothes or run loads throughout our stay though possibly?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Having just come back from WDW and experiencing all resorts and someone who wants 1 beds 75% of the time we go. BLT is very hard to beat. The 1 bed is very nice and the layout is superb compared to others and that extra bathroom is amazing. With that said I chose not to buy there, you have to decide what means most to you logistics or feelings. For us feelings won. Even though we loved that 1 bedroom at BLT.

 

[DanCali]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on which DVC resort offers the best overall experience for 1BR stays, considering:

Room layout and comfort

Resort atmosphere and dining

Transportation and proximity to parks

Pool and amenities

And especially availability

As others noted, there are 3 resorts where 1BRs offer 2 full bathrooms - the Poly (tower), BLT and AKV (Kidani). The larger your party, the more valuable that second bathroom becomes... I'll forcus on these 3.

1BRs are usually the last to go, so availability is less of an issue at 7 months especially with more expensive views. BLT will sell out of 1BR on many weeks before the 7 month window but the Savanna view at AKV is fine for most of the year expect Thanksgiving and early December. Poly will probably be harder due to competition from owners. . See these availability tables: https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables

In terms of proximity to parks it's BLT hands down. Poly is a close second and AKV is worst in that regard (only buses).

The pool at BLT is actually not too exciting so I'd rank it the worst among those 3. Dining at BLT is also not too exciting for us - we prefer the options at AKV and Poly better.

 

[beccasmom]

We love the one-bedroom unit at the Riviera. Beautifully furnished and comfortable. Great restaurants and lovely resort. But it is costly points-wise.

OKW is very spacious. Laid-back resort. But the bathroom is only accessible through the bedroom in some of the one-bedroom units. Although that is not necessarily an issue depending on who is in your traveling party.

BLT is a terrific option with the extra full bathroom. Location is unbeatable with lots of restaurant options at the CR and walkability to the MK. Pool area is not very exciting (although fine for adults IMO).

 

[Cfabar1]

We love our 1 BR at VGF... yeah, there's not a second bathroom, but it works just fine. Big room, close to Poly so great dining options at GF and Poly, and you can walk to the MK...

BLT is tempting - lower points (it is funny how now everyone talks about BLT having a reasonable points chart... Disney has pulled off their magic!), but the lack of dining options and our general disdain for the contemporary resort cast a long shadow there... would be willing to give it a try... I think you need to own there to get a "resort view" much of the time.

Have not stayed at WL.... Sad to hear CC has soundproofing issues... Our next contract might very well be at WL, so we will probably look at BR if it is quiet there... Can't stand all the noise...

We will never book a "resort studio' at VGF ever again after staying in that sound tunnel for one night... Not sure how VWL original building does with soundproofing... We love how quiet the original DVC Building is at VGF...

 

[VGCgroupie]

We love our 1 BR at VGF... yeah, there's not a second bathroom, but it works just fine. Big room, close to Poly so great dining options at GF and Poly, and you can walk to the MK...

BLT is tempting - lower points (it is funny how now everyone talks about BLT having a reasonable points chart... Disney has pulled off their magic!), but the lack of dining options and our general disdain for the contemporary resort cast a long shadow there... would be willing to give it a try... I think you need to own there to get a "resort view" much of the time.

Have not stayed at WL.... Sad to hear CC has soundproofing issues... Our next contract might very well be at WL, so we will probably look at BR if it is quiet there... Can't stand all the noise...

We will never book a "resort studio' at VGF ever again after staying in that sound tunnel for one night... Not sure how VWL original building does with soundproofing... We love how quiet the original DVC Building is at VGF...

AKV was so so so loud. I felt like I was in the next rooms conversations. We noticed no noise at CCV this past weekend. Maybe the rooms next to us were empty? It was a holiday weekend though

 

[sndral]

Opting for SSR SAPs enables you to evolve as your toddler grows older if you can be flexible to increase your chances for non home resort 7 month bookings. 1 br.s make that easier, although we started w/ 1 br.s however, I like what I like so I bought where I wanted to stay to get home resort booking there.
Initially being closer to DHS (for Toy Story Land) or MK are likely priorities, thus for DHS there’s BWVs or BC, Of those 2, BWV is a larger resort & thus the 1 br.s are more likely to be available. & of course those 2042 resorts have friendly point charts. Since you bought resale Riviera is not an option.
Of the MK resorts there’s BLT, VGF & the Poly. Of those 3, I suspect the BLT 1 br.s will be easiest to get at 7 months since there are more of them, although I personally prefer the VGF 1 br.s because they are larger & the grounds are more relaxing IMO than BLT or the Poly, & I think the splash area is great for the younger set. I love the boat ride between the GF/Poly & the MK. I’m not a fan of crossing the busy road to get to the MK from BLT & the balconies on some of the higher floors of the BLT tower would give me pause.
As your child grows older, the 1 br.s at Kidani are a hidden gem, in addition to the 2 bathrooms, the splash area is perhaps the best on property, they have their collect a bead activities & of course there’s the savannas for animal watching.
Once you hit the teen years you may want to return to the crescent lake area & BWV/BC for the extra freedom for teens w/ the ability to walk to Epcot & DHS or return to the MK area for easy access to the MK.
OTH, if your family likes shopping & DS, there’s a lot to like about SSR & OKW. OKW’s 1 br.s are almost 100 sq. ft. bigger than any other 1 br. on property & there’s a boat to/from DS. I’m pretty sure SSR, like OKW, has a boat to/from DS & from some buildings you can easily walk over. These are the resorts were you’re most likely to find availability & the point charts are reasonable too. Note, not all OKW buildings have elevators, so you might want to give it a pass until you’re beyond the stroller phase.
Speaking of reasonable point charts, another hidden gem are the Wilderness Lodge resorts BRV & CCV - close but not too close to the MK & in a stunning setting w/ an impressive lobby, really great pool area & the MK is just a lovely boat ride away.

 

[Tatebeck]

Opting for SSR SAPs enables you to evolve as your toddler grows older.

SSR SAPs give great value but will sacrifice some flexibility.

So an evolution of trips like you mention would likely be easier at any of the O14 resorts you could consider SAP+ resorts. So BLT, AKV, possibly Poly, CCV, etc.

With SSR there will be times you cannot get a room at some of these resorts. But owning at one of those resorts will almost never be blocked out of booking at SSR, for the small premium in the difference in the purchase prices. Basically with a SAP+ resort you could choose that resort or SSR easily with possible other options for the others, when at times a SSR contract may only be able to get into SSR easily