choosing a resort

[nref2882]

I'm planning my first vacation as a DVC member and wanted a little advice. I'm not going till the first week of June 2008 but I like to plan ahead. My sister's family is coming with my family and we are trying to decide which resort would be best. We will be getting a 2 bedroom villa. We will have a four year old, 2 year old, and 21 month old with us and plan on spending time at all of the parks. I also want to spend at least one day at the resort. We are debating between BWV and OKW (although our parents are coming to and want to stay at AKL). Is one resort better for kids? Is it hard to take strollers on buses?
Any advice/imput would be great!
Thanks,
Stefanie

 

[spiceycat]

you have to fold up the strollers for the bus.

that is all.

lots of people take them - so they can't be a big problem.

I might reconsider and go with VWL. Since with kids that age you main park will be the MK. hey maybe by then the CRV will be announced!!!

now if you are bond and determined to see all the WDW parks - no matter the screaming - then either BWV or OKW will work find.

BWV might be easier because it is close to two parks. that say remember that standard view is very, very hard to get unless you own at BWV. If you don't and you are trying to save points just go with OKW.

I love OKW - it is very relaxed!

 

[nref2882]

Thanks! We own at SSR. I'm leaning toward OKW because I am determined to go to all the parks (and with my parents coming they will help out with the kids at parks they might not see as fun).

 

[JimMIA]

I think a critical question in your case is: "Will you have a car?"

If you'll have a car, I'd recommend OKW...or SSR. At either one, you will park right outside your door. Going to a theme park? Fine. Pile everyone (and their strollers) in the car and off you go. Better yet...at the end of the day, no meltdowns on the bus by overtired little park commandos. You just go to your car and drive to your doorstep. You'll still have to fold the strollers if you have to tram, but the convenience to and from your resort will more than make up for that hassle.

Without a car, the stroller thing becomes a question mark for me. We do one stroller all the time and it's just no big deal. You fold it, you unfold it...what else is new? BUT...you seem to have three kids who will have strollers. If you have one adult for each stroller, that's doable. But if you don't, it could be a major hassle.

If you are using buses, most folks will tell you that OKW's buses are the best and BCV/BWV's are the least wonderful. The reason is, the Epcot resorts share buses with other properties.

I have visited, but not stayed at, BWV. It's a beautiful resort, the Boardwalk/Epcot location is great, and we look forward to staying there on a future trip. Whether it's the best choice for kids those ages, I can't tell you. Hopefully, some BWV owners with young kids will chime in.

 

[crisi]

If you are using buses, most folks will tell you that OKW's buses are the best and BCV/BWV's are the least wonderful. The reason is, the Epcot resorts share buses with other properties.

Sometimes there are five stops for the Boardwalk buses. Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club/BCV, BWI/BWV.

Sometimes they seperate the Y&BC/BCV from the BW/BWI/Swolphin bus.

When they do the second, it really isn't bad at all. When they do the first, it depends on your luck and how willing you are to work the system (i.e. get off at the S/D and walk back - not something I'd do with kids). Riding the whole five stop resort loop is a long ride.

 

[Boardwalker]

I am obviously a Boardwalk fanatic.
But with the two babies and a four year old, I think you might want to go with OKW. The rooms are larger and the resort has a more relaxed pace. It is almost like being in an apartment instead of a hotel there. The excitement and noise of the Boardwalk might make getting the little ones to sleep at night a bit more difficult. And the theming is better for teens and adults, with all the restaurants and games.
But I agree with JimMIA in that the determining factor would be the car. If you don't have a car, the bus thing will get to be a drag, wherever you choose. At least with the Boardwalk, you can take the boat to EPCOT and MGM, and the strollers roll on and off...

 

[castleri]

I am obviously a Boardwalk fanatic.
But with the two babies and a four year old, I think you might want to go with OKW. The rooms are larger and the resort has a more relaxed pace. It is almost like being in an apartment instead of a hotel there. The excitement and noise of the Boardwalk might make getting the little ones to sleep at night a bit more difficult. And the theming is better for teens and adults, with all the restaurants and games.
But I agree with JimMIA in that the determining factor would be the car. If you don't have a car, the bus thing will get to be a drag, wherever you choose. At least with the Boardwalk, you can take the boat to EPCOT and MGM, and the strollers roll on and off...

I agree that OKW would be my choice - car or not- You seem to have a number of adults traveling and while the stroller thing can be somewhat of a hassle depending on what type you bring - we only do the umbrella type- it is doable. The people who travel with the extra large ones have more of an issue getting them folded up etc. (So many wait until the bus is at the stop and then try to unload the child and the numerous other things from the stroller before folding it up that it becomes almost a comedy act as they drop stuff and try to pick it up while hanging onto everything) Travel light when going to the parks and use the package delivery to the resort option if you buy stuff. At OKW the size of the rooms and the balcony with children that age can be a big plus and the quieter nature of the resort is also a plus. There is a small children's pool near the main pool along with a sand play area. There is also a play area near the Turtle Pond Pool. IMHO the bus system at BWV and BCV is still the worst and we had long waits for the MK bus every time we went there. That said I would stay there with older children or just adults for the close proximity to MGM and EPCOT.

 

[kdzgon]

I am obviously a Boardwalk fanatic.
But with the two babies and a four year old, I think you might want to go with OKW. The rooms are larger and the resort has a more relaxed pace. It is almost like being in an apartment instead of a hotel there. The excitement and noise of the Boardwalk might make getting the little ones to sleep at night a bit more difficult. And the theming is better for teens and adults, with all the restaurants and games.
But I agree with JimMIA in that the determining factor would be the car. If you don't have a car, the bus thing will get to be a drag, wherever you choose. At least with the Boardwalk, you can take the boat to EPCOT and MGM, and the strollers roll on and off...

Depends on both the stroller (especially a twin) and the operator. We had a twin stroller & in 9 days were never allowed to simply roll it on to the boats once. YMMV, but don't count on rolling on and off...I even had a monorail operator refuse to allow me to roll the stroller on to a monorail right behind my husband, who was on a scooter, so I was left to deal with both toddlers and the twin stroller, as once my DH pulled forward as instructed he could not get off the scooter if he tried.