Does decor make a difference in resort choice?

[Mom B]

After my last post a few minutes ago, I got to thinking...the thing I really liked about the SSR model was the colors and decor. It just "felt" better to me than the others.

On the other hand, we toured a model of the BCV and it didn't really appeal to me at all.

We loved Wilderness Lodge a few years back before the Villas were built, but the fabrics and colors I see in the WLV pictures don't really do it for me, either.

It seems silly that it would make much difference because the layouts of all of them are pretty much identical (with the exception, of course, of OKW, which is my favorite so far).

Do any others have preferences for a particular resort based on the decorating scheme? If so, which ones and why?

 

[Granny]

I think decor is very important....but I include all the theming in my definition of decor.

We love the Wilderness Lodge theme, and so the decor and colors line up perfectly for us to make us feel cozy in our Northwestern hideaway!

I think Disney does a great job of matching decor to the themes. To me, the theming is more the issue than the color scheme. I know that we'll enjoy OKW very much when we stay there, but to us it doesn't have the theming that we enjoy. We like the "back story" of VWL and how that theme is carried throughout the resort.

We also enjoy the theming and decor of BWV, so we bought there as well.

 

[gopherit]

Funny you should ask, I was just looking at photos of BWV (we are staying there for 1st time this summer) and thinking, ya know, those shower curtains just do NOT do it for me... too dang busy! Ugh. I'm not a mixy-matchy florals person, and the squares on those things just, to me, don't go. I also do have issues with the Boardwalk theme in that when I think BW, forsome reason I immediately think of Atlantic city and casinos, which just seems kinda seedy to me (and the SK Pennywise clown spitting out kids sho' don't help matters!) However, we always visit BW every trip, no matter where we're staying, and when I walk through the lobby or pool-hop or stroll the BW or look at the BW model rooms, I think, now Cindy, you are just being SILLY, this is quite attractive, and it just doesn't seem to bother me anymore. (Obviously, or I wouldn't have finally booked a 2 week stay there!) So overall, aside from those shower curtains, I guess I can handle it!


I love the VWL theming -- it's just so well carried out -- and I happen to like woodsy green, natural woods, etc. DH likes the theming, but he's more of a beachy type (having grown up spending his every summer at the shore near Cape May) so Beach Club is more his cup of tea. We both like OKW theming (the colors, the decor, and open styling of the rooms just go so well with that laid-back feeling!)


Oh well... maybe after a few days those shower curtains will grow on me... or, maybe I'll just keep the bathroom door closed!

 

[eva]

I think that the decor and theme are very important. My husband and I are definitely laid-back tropical beach people. So for atmosphere OKW wins hands down. But we really like the location of the BCV. So it comes in a close second. When we want the woodsy lodge feel we go to Colorado. But in Florida I want to hang out by the pool with a pina coloda hearing the Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet in the background. Well, only 108 more days to go!

 

[jctwizzer]

Another point of view:

For us, decor is incidental.....we think they are all fine (so far!)

 

[kweaver]

While I'd certainly be extremely happy at any of the DVC resorts, I do feel that decor played a big part in our decision to buy at SSR. We had seen pictures of all of the other resorts before we purchased...and they are beautifully themed. Sometimes I think we should have bought a resale at BWV or BCV for the proximity to the parks. However, we love DD...and we really enjoy using the bus system (maybe that will change when the kids no longer think it's cool?). We always drive on our trips, so the van is ready and waiting whenever we want to use it.

At SSR, the warmer wall colors (peachy taupe and warm yellow) make it feel more like home and less like a hotel to us. The molding around the wall near the ceiling is a classy touch. We love the dark wood furniture...again...it feels more like something we'd have at home rather than typical hotel furniture. We'll see if it holds up well...dark stained wood can show a LOT of scratches! The two things I thought they could do better on are 1) those scratchy hotel comforters...yuck...give me a Heavenly Bed any day. 2) The color of the kitchen cabinets. I really like them...they just seem to clash with the rest of the decor. I think they would work beautifully at BCV or BWV! Not sure what color I'd paint them...maybe a buttery yellow or tan? Maybe a burnt red?

I also like VWL for the room decor...though we'd probably only stay there in Nov-Dec...because you certainly don't feel like you're in Florida when you are there!

DH doesn't like VWL at all...but loves BCV and BWV (mostly for the outside amenities, I think)

We both like OKW for the Florida decor and the space!

Sometimes I gotta face facts...we tend to be real "home-bodies"...and with 3 small kids we spend more time in the room than we care to admit. Plus, we spent a good chunk of our hard earned $$ on DVC...it's important to feel comfortable when we're there.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Minority report here-my least favorite is WLV. I love the lobby, but really dislike the WLV DVC rooms, too dark for me and when I look at the huge headboard I think of Hansel and Gretel and the witch in the woods for some reason.

I prefer a more tropical theme. OKW is my favorite resort so far. I like BCV, but I love the light and airy feeling and spaciousness of OKW.

Since I really dislike WLV's decor, I hate to spend the extra points to stay there over OKW.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm a BW owner and not particularly crazy about the theme or the decor. However, the advanatges of the location far far outweigh my personal taste in decor/theme (or room size, for that matter).

For me, it's location, location, location!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

The whole theme is very important to us. Before DVC we stayed in all the resorts to get a different theme each time. You really can't go wrong w/ the DVC resorts because they are all so alike in their layouts and are all topnotch resorts. But because of that, it is so hard to choose the one to own. That is where the decor comes in. I am not a "beachy" kind of person and so we love the dark woods and colored walls of SSR. In fact it reminds me of my home. So the decor really helped us make our decision to buy SSR, and the 50 yrs. I also love the theme of the VWL. The room decor seems to be a little more rustic than I would want, but it goes along w/ the theme of a lodge and the resort theme is a winner for me. I don't care for the light and airy feeling as much, but we ended up buying at BCV because VWL weren't available and because of location location location and it has a great pool. I'll just have to suffer I guess... ha ha. We are going in a couple weeks and are staying at the BWV and I am looking forward to visiting the villas for the first time, although the decor seems to be a bit busy for me.....

So I think decor is very important, especially if you are going to own it for decades. All the resorts have wonderful things to offer. If the decor is not your favorite, then the theme or location might be. Every resort is worth a visit, but the decor may be a deciding factor for owning.

 

[PamOKW]

LOL!! Looks like we split into "beachy" and "woodsy" folks (and some who don't care one way or the other). Luckily, we can get it all right at WDW. (p.s. -- I'm a "beachy", I want tropical when in Florida so OKW and BCV really do it for me -- BWV comes close -- SSR and VWL are great resorts but if we're talking personal appeal, I wouldn't rush to buy the furnishings while I'm sure a "woodsy" person would be the opposite.)

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm all for variety ! I agree with someone else here who said they love the WL lobby and all, but the rooms were a little dark. I do prefer a more tropical or light and airy feel (OKW, BWV ----have never seen SSR or BCV), but I enjoy the differences that each resort has to offer. Maybe it just depends on my mood ?

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

MiaSRN62: I agree w/ you. I think that is my favorite thing about WDW. We have such a variety of themes that there is something for everyone and for every mood. I have enjoyed all of my themed stays over the years even w/ the beachy or tropical themes like the BC, BWI, or Poly. Each resort has so much to offer. And my tastes/moods change every time I go. I especially enjoyed the GF even though it was more of a beach theme, and I liked POR because it was lively and busy. I love the variety too and the option to decide where to stay. And even if the decor is not my favorite or not like my home in PA, it doesn't matter because all the themes are fun to visit and experience. That's why I resort hop when I am vacationing.

 

[crisi]

We like the WVL decor, but being from Minnesota, green and burgundy is what we live with at home - so of course we like it. It reminds me of my parents home on the lake. Lots of pleasant associations with that decor. On the other hand, we live with it, so although its our favorite, it isn't exactly "vacation" different.

Our home is BWVs, which I guess I like second best. It isn't how I'd decorate my home, but its fine. (The shower curtain is ugly - fortunately, I don't spend a lot of time on vacation looking at the shower curtain).

SSR looks like my friends' parent's homes when I was a teenager (and I'm 40). Vactioning in what looks like the rec room where we made out as teenagers doesn't do much for me. Since DTD doesn't do anything for me either, trying to book SSR for a future trip is pretty far down on my list.

I like the BCV decor, but hate the couch - which reminds me too much of a couch I "inherieted" for my first house - one of those free couches that you take because they are free and then live with for five years. And OKW is nice - although it screams EIGHTIES to me (oh, that teal. Wore a teal bridesmaid dress in the eighties that was exactly that color).

 

[MiaSRN62]

And OKW is nice - although it screams EIGHTIES to me (oh, that teal. Wore a teal bridesmaid dress in the eighties that was exactly that color).

While I totally respect everyone's own opinion, I don't see OKW as being 80's at all. Now I am not only a DVC Member, but also own offsite at the Vistana resort. One year (I think this pic is from 2000), we added an extra night on to our "owned week" and they could not put us in our "home" section (Fountains). They ended up placing us in a much older section (built in the early to mid 80's) called the Spas section. Now my "home" section at Vistana is NOTHING like what you see in this pic. But this Spas villa would be my idea of 80's decor ! YUCK !
Here are two of my children in a villa that was in dire need of rehab ! Just be glad that NONE of the DVC resorts look like THIS

 

[poohnpiglet3]

Maria, that's too funny. I didn't even read your response at first, just looked at the picture and knew right away that was Vistana!!

We stayed there with my brother and SIL a few years ago and will be staying there again this year.

(We're buying our DVC membership sometime this year.)

That is EXACTLY the decor where we stayed, too... that's why I want to buy DVC instead of Vistana!!

Sherri
(decorating snob apparantly!)

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

MiaSRN62: Yuck! Even the ugly shower curtain at BWV doesn't look that bad. At least it looks clean.... We should all feel very lucky now no matter what Disney resort we visit. Thanks for the pic Maria!

Crisi: I see what you are saying about the eighties. I too saw my share of teal bridesmaid's dresses but wasn't lucky enough to wear one myself. And 2 dear friends decorated their homes in teal in I think 1990. Don't get me wrong, I loved the color too at the time.... only didn't have a home to decorate... but it does date it a bit for me since it brings back those good ole days. Needless to say, they changed their home decor since then. The one still has her teal leather couch though. Ouch! I'm sure that was expensive. I chose sage green (I still love green) for my home walls hoping it wouldn't turn out to be this decade's teal. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for the memories.

 

[crisi]

Perhaps I just spent the 80s wearing far too much teal......

I think decor (and colors particularly) are very emotional. They evoke memories (like the comfort of my parents home in green and burgundy, or my misspent decade in the 1980s in teal - that color will always remind me of that dress - and that dress will always remind me of my date that evening - and I really don't want to remember HIM).

But yes, that Vistana unit does appear to be a little more "dated" than any of the DVC resorts. Love the lamps! And that coffee table - very chic (in another decade). I think I have a slashed sweatshirt and some legwarmers for lounging there.

 

[2bears]

Yes, the decor definitely makes a difference. When we first looked at the BCV, I really liked the decor, since I live in a "beachy" area. However, our first DVC visit was to Hilton Head, and I was miserable the entire time. The dark reds and greens, dark paneling of the room made me feel like I was in a tomb. I suppose it is true to the Adirondack theme, but I prefer to go where it's light and bright. I would have never bought into DVC if I had been shown HH first.

 

[MiaSRN62]

That is EXACTLY the decor where we stayed, too... that's why I want to buy DVC instead of Vistana!!

Well....I still say go DVC instead of Vistana, but to be fair, all the newer sections of Vistana (particularily what you can see from SR 535 are brand new gorgeous villas---and you stay in the section where you buy into each year. We're very happy with our section there, it's just that if you use your week and want to rent "extra" days, they can place you anywhere they want on the resort. Thus our "groovy" stay at the Spas in 2000. But, the Lakes and Cascades sections, especially, (if you haven't seen them) are very comparable to DVC quality.

And that coffee table - very chic (in another decade). I think I have a slashed sweatshirt and some legwarmers for lounging there.

LOL....glad u all got a chuckle from my pic ! I felt I HAD to share when the comment about my beloved OKW came up. I still don't see the decor there as dated (in fact, I think it's the first time I've heard a comment like this)----but that's just me & I'm sure you all have your reasons for feeling this way. But just remember what is lurking out there at some other resorts !

 

[MiaSRN62]

That is EXACTLY the decor where we stayed, too... that's why I want to buy DVC instead of Vistana!!

Well....I still say go DVC instead of Vistana, but to be fair, all the newer sections of Vistana (particularily what you can see from SR 535 are brand new gorgeous villas---and you stay in the section where you buy into each year. We're very happy with our section there, it's just that if you use your week and want to rent "extra" days, they can place you anywhere they want on the resort. Thus our "groovy" stay at the Spas in 2000. But, the Lakes and Cascades sections, especially, (if you haven't seen them) are very comparable to DVC quality.

And that coffee table - very chic (in another decade). I think I have a slashed sweatshirt and some legwarmers for lounging there.

LOL....glad u all got a chuckle from my pic ! I felt I HAD to share when the comment about my beloved OKW came up. I still don't see the decor there as dated (in fact, I think it's the first time I've heard a comment like this)----but that's just me & I'm sure you all have your reasons for feeling this way. But just remember what is lurking out there at some other resorts !