DVC Resort Picks for Preschoolers

[4forthemouse]

We just got back Sunday from the BEST week at WDW!! A very generous DVC owner rented us a room at BWV for 6 nights. We loved it at the villas so much we ended up becoming DVC members at Saratoga Springs -YIPPEE!!! Now that we're back to Ohio's snow and cold I'm already dreaming of our next WDW vacation.
So... I'm hoping you can provide me with some advice!
We've never stayed at any of the other DVC resorts and would like your opinion on which would be a good choice for a family with a 2 and 4 year old, probably returning in November.
Thank You! Looking forward to what you have to say!

 

[bongo59]

VWL........it is close to the kingdom.............but my bet is the BCV.........as soon as your kids see SAB you will be waitlisted to buy there guarranteed

 

[childsplay]

VWL........it is close to the kingdom.............but my bet is the BCV.........as soon as your kids see SAB you will be waitlisted to buy there guarranteed

I would agree (although everyone has there own preferences), but that is exactly what happened to us...we owned at OKW and pool hopped over to SAB one day (this was before they restricted it) and bought points there when we returned home....our kids were probably around 4, 2 and 1 at that time.

 

[SylviaL]

I agree with Bongo59. We bought BCV last year because we love the Boardwalk area and SAB. However, on our last trip, when we took the kids (21 mos & 3 1/2 yrs) to MK, it just seemed to take forever. From the parking lot @ MK to the gates, it took us a good 30-45 minutes! Because of their ages, I know we'll be going to MK a lot. I am now shopping for a small VWL add-on so we can spend a few nights there.

 

[QUACKHEAD]

VWL........it is close to the kingdom.............but my bet is the BCV.........as soon as your kids see SAB you will be waitlisted to buy there guarranteed

Once again...............I agree with Bongo.........now i'm trying to type like him...............!........take the bus (and your kids) to the mk in the am..............and back to the sab in the pm.............and you'll have some really, really BIG SMILES!...........

 

[bongo59]

i have experienced alot in 14 yrs at Disney and i think overtime your use will evolve..........my kids are just about out of the kingdom loop and are now into different things and those changes have dictated where we stay...........when we are older and empty nesters my bet is SSR location to DTD maybe just what the Doc ordered............

 

[pumpkinboy]

I agree with Bongo59. We bought BCV last year because we love the Boardwalk area and SAB. However, on our last trip, when we took the kids (21 mos & 3 1/2 yrs) to MK, it just seemed to take forever. From the parking lot @ MK to the gates, it took us a good 30-45 minutes! Because of their ages, I know we'll be going to MK a lot. I am now shopping for a small VWL add-on so we can spend a few nights there.

I am curious, why would you have been in the MK parking lot if you were coming from BCV? The bus drops you off right at the gates.

BCV is wonderful, but SAB is enormous, with lots of placves for little ones to venture out of view. VWL is glorious, and by boat is convenient to MK. With preschoolers tho, I think I'd go with SSR, with that wonderful water play area set up for preschoolers, and great fun. The SSR bus will get you to MK as efficiently as any other DVC resort with a bus connection to MK (BCV, BWV, OKW & SSR), plus it's "home" for the OP, so try out "home". Save the wonder/perils of SAB for another trip when the kids are older.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I think you should have your first trip to SSR- your home resort. It will be great to see where you bought and you can book at 11 months without worrying about availability. Sure the other DVC resorts are fab, but you have plenty of time to experience those.

We took our first DVC trip to SSR last September. DD was 16 months then. It was great for her, zero entry main pool, small kiddie slide into pool, playground, easels for drawing in AP.

Also we loved it! It was great walking to DTD in the evenings with the stroller. No worries about waking her on the way home to get her on bus or in car. We went with friends and the little princess would have dinner with us then lay reclined in her stroller and have a few ounces of milk. She would then sleep right through until morning even when we changed her diaper and put her in the pack and play back at the villa. She would not do that at home...the parks and all the swimming wore her out!

Congratulations on your purchase. SSR is wonderful but I fully intend to sample ALL of the DVC resorts! OKW this year!

Mandy

 

[athenna]

Just wanted to say Congratulations and Welcome Home, Neighbor!!

 

[jmminarik]

I am curious, why would you have been in the MK parking lot if you were coming from BCV? The bus drops you off right at the gates.

Not everyone like to ride public transportation when on vacation.

-Joe

 

[SylviaL]

pumpkinboy,
We prefer to drive. Our experience with the buses has been that it can be crowded, we never know how long we'll have to wait, and BCV is the last stop for the Epcot resorts and with 2 little ones (almost 2 now and 3 1/2)--it can be a very, very long ride! DS who is almost 2, doesn't sit still well and, boy, he can SCREAM! (and he won't stop--that is, until you distract him with a treat).

 

[bongo59]

count me in that group...........i hate waiting while on vacation and driving saves alot of time

 

[DrTomorrow]

we like to take the buses.............we drive our car enough at home........bus almost feels like another ride............and 30-45 minutes from MK parking lot to MK gates makes the bus sound even better....

hmmmmmmmm.........i should write a small program that converts normal posting to this style.........i'll call it a "bongo-izer" or a "bongo-matic"........

hope I don't wear out my '.' key..............

 

[lenshanem]

SAB is fun, but it is hard to watch your kids there. That deep lazy river FREAKS me out.

My girls really LOVED BWV.

I'd say VWL is pretty darn nice, too.

The pool at SSR is pretty cool for little ones since it has zero depth and that smaller slide in addition to the larger one. We pool hopped there right after it opened.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Forgive me here... "SAB"????

 

[Granny]

Forgive me here... "SAB"????

SAB=Stormalong Bay...the name of the main pool at the Yacht & Beach Club. It is a very large, unique pool that many consider to be a "mini water park" all by itself.

 

[JimFitz]

Do VWL. My family went to VWL in Sept 04 and it is great if you have young kids. My twins were 2 and my third was 7 months. The boat ride to MK is very relaxing and great for a trip over after dinner. My wife and I did that everyday.....MK in the morning, then back to the pool and after dinner and showers we were off to MK again to ride Peter Pan and watch Wishes.

 

[4forthemouse]

Thank you! All of your experience is very helpful. It seems as though Old Key West is not the one for little tykes. My kids love the water so the SAB might be quite a treat, but I'm also going to take into consideration your other votes as many good points were made for Wilderness and Saratoga. Nobody mentioned anything about the available activities on the Wilderness grounds (movies, horses, etc..), are these things far away from the resort? are the activities more for older kids?

 

[huey duey & luey]

WE really loved BWV, I loved the kiddie pool area, and the playground right behind it> I loved community hall and the activities, the vests you could borrow for the whole trip and the videos. I loved being able to walk to 2 parks, and hanging out on the BW at night was so much fun