Can you help us decide please!

[Cmbar]

Was hoping for some opinions....

A little backgroud. Taking my family of four DH, Myself, DS13 & DD11 and two Nephews 21 and 14 and one niece 21.

OK so we need two studios or a two bedroom. We are going in June and here is what is available. We only have 164 points available and can borrow 20 from the next year.

WL (2 studios 75 points each )
Boardwalk (2 studios, pool view only 80 pts each)
AK-Jambo (savannah only studios 85pts each)
AK- Kidani (Standard Studio 70 each or 2-bedroom 175pts)
Beach Club (waitlist for 2 studios which is missing one night 80 each)

My concerns:

We want a good pool.
We want quick service food and a refill station (bwv )
We want good bus service or ease to parks.
We want the most space.

Ok I know we won't get all of these, but just wondering the pros and cons to the resorts. This the first time for the 21 year olds, so I want them to have a fun trip. We are thinking mostly a parks trip though. Thanks!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Personally, I would have gone with an OKW 2 bedroom, but you didn't have it on the list.

Go with VWL because of the nearness to MK.

 

[Disneypubgal]

What if you did Boardwalk and walked over to BCV for the quick service... it really isn't that far

 

[Deb & Bill]

What if you did Boardwalk and walked over to BCV for the quick service... it really isn't that far

Can't use the refillable mug purchased at BWV at BCV.

 

[Sandisw]

Can't use the refillable mug purchased at BWV at BCV.

Not necessarily. I was just there and got a mug with my QSDP (stayed at BLT). The cashier there made a point to tell me that I could use it at the other resorts during the length of my trip and not just at the CR.

So, while the wording says something different, there is some inconsistency between that and what the CM's are telling guests.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not necessarily. I was just there and got a mug with my QSDP (stayed at BLT). The cashier there made a point to tell me that I could use it at the other resorts during the length of my trip and not just at the CR.

So, while the wording says something different, there is some inconsistency between that and what the CM's are telling guests.

Don't want to get into the mug issue, but the policy is the resort you bought it at for the length of that stay. Says so right on the mug.

 

[bjakmom]

At first I would say BWV based on the ages of the kids - my kids loved that area when they were those ages because there was always somewhere to just 'hang' and be out on their own for a bit. But looking at your sleeping arrangements and all the mixed genders/ages I'm wondering if Kidani 2 BR would be best bet because you have the extra full bathroom and sleeping chair. I would also prefer a 2 BR if I wanted to share time with all the kids at the room - two studios if I wanted a break from the older kids as they may be in a different area of the resort or on another floor. Not a lot of quick service options at either BWV or Kidani, though. Tough but great choices.

 

[queendarvet]

I would go for the 2 bedroom at Kidani. There is a sleeper chair as well as a pullout sofa in the living room as well as two beds in the second bedroom. Plenty of sleeping space for all, but best thing is you would have the master bedroom all to yourself! I would be concerned that two studios would not be close to each other.

 

[dzorn]

I would try for a two bedroom also. No guarantee that the studios would be near each other.

 

[drusba]

"We want a good pool."

The pools for all you list are good but BCV has the huge Stormalong Bay which is one of the best on site, AKV Kidani has the elaborate kids play area near the pool.

"We want quick service food and a refill station"

As you note BWV is a no. AKV Kidani also does not (although it has refill station).

"We want good bus service or ease to parks."

BWV gives you easy access to Epcot and Studios since you can walk to either (or take boat). Otherwise its bus service is one of the worst, shares with Swan/Dolphin and sometimes you also get BC/YC. You can also walk to both parks from BCV but that walk to studios is very long. As to buses. BCV is better because it only shares with YC except for those sometimes when it ends up sharing with BW and S/D and then it is awful. WL has boat access to MK, busses to other parks are medicore including because of sharing with other resorts. At AKL, Kidani and Jambo have separate stops and share but otherwise good because you don't share with any other resort.

"We want the most space."

Studios at WL, AK, BCV and BWV are all close to the same size (except for the small "value" studios at AKL). The 2BR at Kidani is huge, larger than having 3 studios.

 

[ohtarabell]

Tough choices, but I would go kidani 2 bdr for the following reasons:

You would have a full kitchen and large fridge, make your own counter service foods and fill the fridge with soda/water. It's easy to make sloppy joes, nachos, spaghetti etc. It also saves a ton of money over counter service. We always eat breakfast in the unit before heading out. You will probably be in the parks a lot of the time for lunch, so counter service may not matter as much if you are not in a studio.

Sleeping arrangements. As mentioned above, plenty of beds, you get your own room and more importantly............3 bathrooms. Makes getting out in the morning much easier.

The animals are always there to keep folks entertained.

The pool is not as good as BCV, but it is still very nice.

Jambo house is an easy walk for restaurants, or an even easier bus ride.

The only negative to me is the long bus ride to the Magic Kingdom.