Distance to pool at each DVC resort

[YoMickey]

We are 40 days from our trip. We are seriously considering DVC. I will try and visit each of the resorts for a quick walk thru to see which one feels right.

Looking at the few maps that are available it looks as though you may need to book a flight to get to some of the pool areas depedning on which villa or building you get put in. How far are some of the villas from the main area of the resort. Are you way out and secluded (which some may want) or are you right in the middle of everything? Will we need to drive everywhere or can we walk?

I'm looking for walking distances, centrally located amenities?? I want to park the car a forget about it for a week. Can it be done more easily at a particular DVC resort?

Thanks,
ym

 

[CherCrazy]

Saratoga may not be for you. It's a huge resort. All the rooms are quite a distance from the main area where the restaurants, main pool, and activities are located. Some rooms would be impossible to walk from, they are SO far away.

That being said, the resort does have smaller pools located throughout. You can request that you be near them. We had a balcony overlooking one of the pools the last time we were there.

I haven't spent much time at the other resorts yet to compare.

 

[ccw]

Stayed at OKW in November in a building about as far from Hospit. House and main pool area as we could have been...only about a 7 minute walk which we did not mind at all (no little ones to cart around though). Could also have waited for the bus had we not felt like walking. You will find trade-offs with every resort, DVC or not. Personally, I love the relative quiet of OKW and will gladly walk a little to avoid being right on top of thousands of other guests!

 

[abner1776]

Due to the size of VWL, neither pools are very far from the rooms. The VWL pool is small but right at the villas, while the WL pool is a short few steps from the VWL pool.
Parking is also close simply because the resort is so small and intimate. The parking is closer to WL than to the villas but on the flip side the busses are right out in front of the villas.

If distances to the pool(s), parking and such are an important issue for you, then you can't go wrong with the VWL.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think it really depends on which room you might have at the resort as well. Some rooms at OKW are mere steps to the pool, while others might be an 8 min walk. But that can be said for BWV and BCV as well. I looked at the map of BCV and SAB pool doesn't look all that close to the Villas side. I think VWL probably has the closest rooms to pool ratio because of the size of the resort and location of the pool. I know when we stayed at BWV, we had about a 4-5 min walk to the main pool. If you're willing to swim in one of the quiet pools, you're most likely going to be fairly close to one of them. I'm not familiar with SSR so not sure how far some of the rooms there might be from the main pool.

 

[PKS44]

There are main pools (themed) and plain pools scattered at the larger resorts...you are never very far from A pool--but you could be far away from the MAIN pool at OKW and SSR---BCV has a short hike thru the lobby to the MAIN pool --

 

[YoMickey]

When you make your reservations out 7 to 11 months do you know which room you have right then and there or do you get that info upon check-in?

 

[MiaSRN62]

but you could be far away from the MAIN pool at OKW and SSR---BCV has a short hike thru the lobby to the MAIN pool --

I don't know ? According to this map, the furthest BCV rooms look very similar in distance to the furthest OKW rooms from their main pools ?
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/bcvmap.jpg (I am looking at the direction of those BCV rooms back towards the parking lot---they look very similar in distance as the OKW bldgs, say # 55)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.jpg
Some OKW rooms may be further, but some BCV rooms don't look all that close either ? I think sometimes it's an illusion of being closer when the walk is inside vs outside, but I'd bet the distance is not too far off between the two ? I know we stayed in bldg 45 (OKW) this past summer and had maybe a 4 min walk to the main pool. So I'm guessing maybe double that walk from bldg 55 (8 min). We've also had much closer walks to the pool at OKW. But yes, some rooms at OKW are further from the main hub, as they are at some other resorts as well. I know we had a 4-5 min walk at BWV from our room (did not feel in "the middle of everything" there either), which looks similar in distance to those further rooms at BCV.
To the OP, for any resort, you could always request "close to main pool" and hope for the best.

 

[crisi]

You are 40 days from your trip, availability at the resorts is likely to be limited and you may not have a lot of choice in which resort is available.

Mia - I think there is a significant scale different in those maps - that's two golf fairways on a regulation course between building 55 and the pool - probably around 300 yards each.

 

[YoMickey]

We're booked already at the Wilderness Lodge Resort. We have been for about a month or two. It is 95% family vacation and 5% check out DVC resorts. We'll check it out next month and decide. Unless my DVC guide calls and makes an offer we cannot refuse, we may be buying SSR this week site unseen, something while we're there, or maybe visiting the Timeshare store on our way home to buy something else. Either case, we've run some generic numbers and it does make sense to own if you plan on visiting more than 6 times in the next 12 years.

 

[Daitcher]

Yomickey aren't you the one who wanted to put 5 in a one bedroom? Anyway if that was you I could se how being close to the main pool area is a consideration. All I can say SSR and OKW should be off your list if that is what you want. VWL, BCV or BWV would be a better choice for you. Bigger resorts you could request to be closer but remember it is only a request. Good luck with the decision. Remember you won't be just stoping off at the timeshare store and purchasing. You can make an offer on what is available and then cross your fingers that it passes ROFR. Aslo a contract that meets your point needs at a particular resort may or may not be available. Definitely visit all of the resorts first.


DAVE

 

[MiaSRN62]

Mia - I think there is a significant scale different in those maps - that's two golf fairways on a regulation course between building 55 and the pool - probably around 300 yards each.

Ok...I'll respect the criticism in this case as I've never stayed at BCV. But I can talk from experience with BWV (and had a 4-5 min to the main pool from our room there). It was no different that our walk to the main pool from bldg 45 last summer at OKW (and that bldg isn't considered close to HH). Really, our BWV and OKW walk was only approx 4 min shorter than the walk from bldg 55 at OKW would be.
Only difference, was one was inside and the other outside. Like I said, I didn't feel in "middle of it" at BWV either ? I was just trying to say, that I thought some of the farther rooms at certain resorts will be farther from the pool. But from what you and someone else here stated, all the BCV rooms are close to SAB ? I will take your word on that then having never stayed there. It just didn't look anywhere near that on the map I was looking at. Thanks again.

 

[MiaSRN62]

All I can say SSR and OKW should be off your list if that is what you want. VWL, BCV or BWV would be a better choice for you. Bigger resorts you could request to be closer but remember it is only a request.

I agree with Daitcher. Visit all the resorts to check it out for yourself. You sound like you'd be happier with a small resort like VWL or maybe BCV. Good luck.

 

[PKS44]

I guess it depends on what you define as "not much different" but I have stayed at BWV BCV and OKW and I would bet there is a significant difference..like 3 - 4 times longer distances..The walk from Southpoint to the MAIN Pool at OKW is like a mile and there are not good walking paths..

From BWV's farthest room the walk is inside and Air conditioned and it is WAAAAAY shorter than the OKW farthest distances...the difference here is not just in time but the experience is simply that if you are at okw and do not have a car--and you are down by buildings 50 at Southpoint--where we have stayed-you will not be going to the main pool very regularly--even with a car it was too much of a hassle....

as for BCV the farthest rooms are also MUCH MUCH closer and the walk is way more pleasant to SAB the main pool there--and it goes thru my favorite part of the resort--the gorgeous sun room/reading room....we did this walk everyday with no problem

I have never had a far far room at BWV but I have walked the resort and the quiet pool and the Main pool are next to each other and the rooms all surround those areas...

 

[MiaSRN62]

PKS44 says : The walk from Southpoint to the MAIN Pool at OKW is like a mile and there are not good walking paths..

I find this a little hard to believe ? A mile ? I have a thread I saved from awhile ago where a DIS'er (Caskbill) took measurements and it's .93 mi from Southpoint at OKW to the House of Blues in DD. So I cannot believe it's a shorter walk to DD from OKW than from Southpoint to the main pool ? Can anyone confirm or deny this statement of a mile ? It sure doesn't feel like it and I've walked it. Also, I found the walking paths at OKW to be very good.

From BWV's farthest room the walk is inside and Air conditioned and it is WAAAAAY shorter than the OKW farthest distances

"waaaaY" ? I'd say maybe 5 min longer of a walk at most ? I've done the walk from bldg 55. I've also had a room as far from the elevator at BWV as one can get and the walk to the main pool was at least 4-5 min. So maybe 8-9 min from the farthest OKW bldg. So, yes, I'd agree it's longer, but not "way" longer. And the majority of bldgs at OKW are much closer to the 2-4 min average walk. I stayed in a couple that were like 30 seconds from the pool.
As for the air conditoned comment...and I digress a bit.....but why is it such a perk when we discuss location to the parks and everyone who stays at BWV/BCV says how great it is to be able to walk to Epcot/MGM. We're talking 10-20 min walks here (and I've done it), in the hot sun, rain etc. In those instances, somehow taking the air conditioned bus from OKW is a major hassle ? But then a 5-8 min walk to the main pool in the sun is a problem ? This I will never get. This is FL.....it's gonna be hot and there is alot of walking involved in a WDW vacation. So if it's ok to walk 10 min to Epcot from BWV & 20 min to MGM, then I don't see the difference in walking 5-8 min to the main pool in and around OKW ?
But regardless.....the OP mentioned wanting to be able to park the car and forget about it & be "in the middle of everything". We find having the car right outside our door at OKW great for resort hopping/dining/shopping offsite. We use the busses to get to the parks and find them terrific as well. But the OP sounds like one of the smalller resorts would work better for them.

 

[bpmorley]

YoMickey, I can only tell you about the DVC resorts that I've stayed at. I've stayed at SSR, OKW & BCV. At SSR I stayed in the section called "The Springs" We we're a 20 second walk from the main pool. We were lucky in the fact that only 2 sections of the resort were open(this was last June). Looking at the map and hearing the rumors tell me that if you're not in "Congress Park" or "The Springs" you will be far away from the main pool. But all sections except for The Springs have their own quiet pool.
At OKW we were in BLDG 35. Right next to a bus stop, 10 minute walk to the main entrance-main pool area and a 3 minute walk to a quiet pool.
BCV is only one building. It has it's own quiet pool that is easy to get to from the whole building. And that make the main pool fairly quick to get too also. I'm staying a WLV in May, i can give you a report on that one once I get back. Hope that helps some.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No matter WHERE you stay at OKW, you will only be a short distance from a pool. There are 4 pools to choose from, but if you have to be near the main one, you can walk even less by taking a few steps to any of the OKW bus stops and take the next available bus to ANYWHERE, and it stops at the Hospitality House where the main pool is located.

 

[Beca]

I don't know ? According to this map, the furthest BCV rooms look very similar in distance to the furthest OKW rooms from their main pools ?
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/bcvmap.jpg (I am looking at the direction of those BCV rooms back towards the parking lot---they look very similar in distance as the OKW bldgs, say # 55)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.jpg
Some OKW rooms may be further, but some BCV rooms don't look all that close either ? I think sometimes it's an illusion of being closer when the walk is inside vs outside, but I'd bet the distance is not too far off between the two ? I know we stayed in bldg 45 (OKW) this past summer and had maybe a 4 min walk to the main pool. So I'm guessing maybe double that walk from bldg 55 (8 min). We've also had much closer walks to the pool at OKW. But yes, some rooms at OKW are further from the main hub, as they are at some other resorts as well. I know we had a 4-5 min walk at BWV from our room (did not feel in "the middle of everything" there either), which looks similar in distance to those further rooms at BCV.
To the OP, for any resort, you could always request "close to main pool" and hope for the best.

I don't think those maps are at all "to scale". I have stayed at both resorts, and even in bldg. 28, we were a LOT further than any room is at BCV. We have stayed in a room at BCV that was the 2nd room from the end...right by the parking lot. It was maybe a 3-4 minute walk from the pool. Our guests walked from 28 (which is really right across from the lake...however, there is no bridge) to the hh, and it took them 10-15 minutes. OKW is much bigger than the BCV "area".



Beca

 

[PKS44]

"waaaaY" ? I'd say maybe 5 min longer of a walk at most ? I've done the walk from bldg 55. I've also had a room as far from the elevator at BWV as one can get and the walk to the main pool was at least 4-5 min. So maybe 8-9 min from the farthest OKW bldg. So, yes, I'd agree it's longer, but not "way" longer.

As I said --"I guess it depends on what you define as "not much different"

doubling the time in each direction is significant to me...YMMV...but suggesting that the distance from BCV to SAB is "very similar" to OKW's farthest walks is stretching any reasonable definition of "very" or "similar" IMHO...anyone who goes to both resorts can see for themselves...as for BWV---maybe if you always use the elevators you might need 5 minutes to get to the pools but there are many different staircases that lead down to the pools so we were never more than a minute from the pool-maybe two minutes...and given the general comments about walking I would think that taking the stairs would not be a problem.

 

[jade1]

Who cares if they are too cold to use anyway?