DVC Owners! Tell me what you like about your Home Resort

[plymouthmom]

I will be purchasing DVC early next year. I would love to take another trip ( we just got back in Oct) to look at all the properties but that is out of the question. So....you all are my next best thing! I would love to hear why you like where you own!

A little about us:

Ann- Was at WDW opening day 1971, 10 total visits, most recently in October.

Erich- , we stayed at a Value his first time and he was less than thrilled. I know with a great experience he will be happier. Loves golf, fishing, outdoorsy guy.

Cole- 13- loves to big coasters, had a great trip

Sam-9 sam as big bro Cole

Cody-7 Thrillseeker!

Sophie- any and all things princessy.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[CarolinesMom]

My Home Resort is Animal Kingdom Villas. I love it because waking up and seeing the savannah is AMAZING! I like the availability of being able to book concierge level (Home Resort advantage is so important when booking this level). I love the decor of the rooms. The theming of the resort is so beautiful. It is like stepping into another world! Did I mention that AKV doesn't share buses?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

OKW or AKV - If you like a relaxed atmosphere.

BWV - If you want to be in the thick of things, it's great.

For longer stays I stay at OKW which is my home resort with the most
points. The rooms are large and the grounds have mature trees and the
whole place has a great vibe.

For shorter stays we sometimes stay on the Boardwalk, it's really alive
and lots of fun.

Enjoy whatever resort you pick!

 

[byoung]

Just love BWV. The best views in all of Disney, boardwalk views.

 

[DVC Mike]

BWV for the great BW view rooms overlooking Crescent Lake, as well as the point-saving value rooms. There are great restaurants (Flying Fish Cafe and Spoodles, with many more at BC/YC, Swan/Dolphin, and Epcot), and a good location between Epcot and DHS.

BCV has the great location right outside of Epcot, as well as the best feature pool at WDW -- Stormalong Bay (a mini water park). There are great restaurants (Yachtsman Steakhouse), and access to the ones I mentioned above for BWV. There is onsite Character dining at Cape May Cafe, and a sandy beach.

VWL offers a magnificently rendered theme - probably the best! It offers a quiet, peaceful and romantic setting. It is just a relaxing boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom. It also has great restaurants (Artist Point), and you can hop a boat to the Contemporary and have good access to the restaurants at CR, Poly, and GF.

AKV offers a quiet, relaxed atmosphere and a feeling of remoteness. It features a great exotic theme (African game reserve), it's the newest DVC resort (to date), and is the only DVC with Concierge Rooms, and some GV rooms have Pool Tables! Plus, best of all, you get the Savannahs with views of the animals. Jiko and Boma are great restaurants, and a new TS will open along with the new Kidani Village.

 

[rocketriter]

In addition to the obvious (pool and location), we like the barefoot atmosphere of the Beach Club.

 

[browniemtb]

We bought at BWV sight because of a few reasons.........First we feel the location is great...walking distance to two parks or a boat. Second are the Boardwalk view rooms or if you want to save some point the standard view option. Both, at times, need that 7 to 11 month advantage. Third, well my kids love little side shows and there are plenty on the Boardwalk itself. Many times coming back from the parks we will run into a magic show or some other liitle show going on. My kids love this.......

Luna park pool - We love the Keiser Coaster slide and the pool itself. But I must admit we have not stayed at the BCV or used Storm A long Bay. My DW does like those zero entry pools.

I guess it all comes down to personal preferance. Kids will be happy anywhere because your at Disney......the Boardwalk does give you the extended night life for both kids and adults with out heading to DTD.
Good luck in your quest....

Brownie

 

[starbox]

We own at SSR and AKV:

Love @ SSR - long contract, great incentives, cheaper annual fees. Room decor is upscale, and the style/feel of the whole place reminds me of my favorite non-Disney resort. (Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee)

Love @ AKV - my absolute favorite on-property Disney resort - plus we like the sleeping arrangements in the one-bedroom. We were never tempted to purchase enough points for a 1-bedroom until AKV came along - the extra sleeper chair is a HUGE plus. Upscale room decor.

Downside is annual fees that are already considerably higher than SSR.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We own at SSR and AKV:

Love @ SSR - long contract, great incentives, cheaper annual fees. Room decor is upscale, and the style/feel of the whole place reminds me of my favorite non-Disney resort. (Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee)

Love @ AKV - my absolute favorite on-property Disney resort - plus we like the sleeping arrangements in the one-bedroom. We were never tempted to purchase enough points for a 1-bedroom until AKV came along - the extra sleeper chair is a HUGE plus. Upscale room decor.

Downside is annual fees that are already considerably higher than SSR.

I can't believe you didn't pick Vero Beach!!

 

[ACDSNY]

I love SSR for the peace and quiet and the easy access to DTD.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We own points at VB, VWL, and AKV.

We love VWL and AKV for the theme, and how well the theme is executed. It truly transports us to another place.

Vero is also a great resort. We have points there so we can do some beach days along with our WDW visits. The resort is truly fantastic, but you probably don't need points there in order to visit.

MG

 

[OlderMan]

We own and LOVE OKW!!!

Largest villas in DVC, 3 "quiet" pools with grills and picnic tables, boat/bike/sports equipment rentals at Hank's, lowest (generally) point requirements in DVC, largest balconies, largest tables--both in the villa and on the balconies, great views of woods, water or golf course, game tables (foosball, billiards, air hockey) in Community Hall, full-size washers/dryers in 1 BR and larger villas.

I'm sure I missed a few things.

 

[ead79]

We just bought at AKV about a month ago, and having DVC available there really pushed us over the edge to become DVC members. We think the theme of AKV/AKL is amazing and is beautifully executed. I love the decor of the AKV villas and the large, beautiful bathrooms they will have in Kidani Village. I love the availability of concierge villas for an occasional splurge. I also love the savannah views--it's really incredible to see a giraffe or zebra right outside your window! I just love the immersive experience and feel of the resort.

 

[starbox]

I can't believe you didn't pick Vero Beach!!

I know, right?

We don't own @ VB because (so far) we have not had any trouble making 7 month reservations during the summer. I'd rather not pay the annual fees @ VB if I can help it - but I'll sell SSR to buy VB if it gets hard to reserve.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I can't believe you didn't pick Vero Beach!!

Yeah... you give her hell about that. They were ready to make a VB purchase then the animals came.

Just joking... I understand the calculated thinking of starbox. She is like a wizard... and the best damn chair swap organizer. I too wish I owned at VB, but also will wait until I can't get what I want at 7.

We bought BWV sight unseen and didn't know about VB or that it would mean so much to us. BWV was nonetheless, a good financial choice should we decide to sell our contract.

Merry Christmas My Friends

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yeah... you give her hell about that. They were ready to make a VB purchase then the animals came.

Just joking... I understand the calculated thinking of starbox. She is like a wizard... and the best damn chair swap organizer. I too wish I owned at VB, but also will wait until I can't get what I want at 7.

We bought BWV sight unseen and didn't know about VB or that it would mean so much to us. BWV was nonetheless, a good financial choice should we decide to sell our contract.

Merry Christmas My Friends

MERRY CHRISTMAS ROB!! BWV will always be in demand, you will not lose any $$ should you buy where your heart is! I think Vero and BWV compliment each other very well, but I am planning on going to Vero every year, where I will trade out my BWV pts. if necessary.

 

[crisi]

Here is the questions I would ask myself.

Do you like to be near the action, or do you want a laid back resort?

Is a "hotel feel" with interior hallways important to you, or would you prefer a "condo style" resort?

Are keeping yearly dues and purchase price reasonable a factor?

Will you want Grand Villas?

What kind of park access do you want? Bus, boat, walk?

Do you normally rent a car?

Will you normally book more than 7 months out?

Are the bigger rooms at OKW appealing? The animals at AKL? The pool at the Y&BC? The availability of those standard view rooms at BWV? Or anything else that is only available at a single resort?

When are you planning on travelling?

Do you want to try and fit your family of five in a one bedroom? If you are going for two bedrooms, is two beds in the second bedroom a priority, or will your kids think a pullout is "cool" (mine, fortunately, think the pullout is really neat still)?

Is there a resort that "sings" to you - or any you look at and wonder why they bothered to build it?

 

[Pakey]

It looks like everyone has different reasons.

1. BCV for DH and I's solo trips. We love EPCOT and we love StormAlongBay.

2. SSR for trips with 3 adult sons/their spouses. They are in their mid-late 20's and love partying at DTD at night so they prefer to be as close to DTD as possible.

When we stay at SSR (or go to OKW) we spend more time at the resort because it's so relaxing. When we stay at BCV, we go,go,go.

Two resorts provide us with 2 very different types of vacations.

 

[starbox]

Yeah... you give her hell about that. They were ready to make a VB purchase then the animals came.

Ah, so true. So true. Those darn giraffes.

I will say that I always kind-of hold my breath before I call for Vero at 7 months. This year, I even did cash reservations as back-up. I don't really care where I stay @ WDW - but I'd be completely heartbroken if I did not get to go to Vero.

I wear my Disney Vero shirt and hoodie almost every singe Saturday. I seriously am going to retire there one day.

 

[dbprimeaux]

We LOVE SSR. The whole resort is beautiful!! We have only stayed in a 2 bedroom, and it is huge. The pools are great! The spa is fantastic (1 hour massage). The rooms are well decorated and VERY spacious. The washer/dryer was also great....don't to pack as much clothes, so more space to bring home goodies! We have 3 children (ages: 14, 5, and 3) and we wanted both space & quiet time & nice pools. The kids also loved it....the gameroom, pools, etc... And, the best part was our van was parked right outside the door!! We did all of grocery shopping at the Super Wal-Mart right down the road.....saved LOTS of $$$! Anyway, our whole family loves SSR!!