DVC Resort Tiers

[Disn3yVision]

With all the talk of DVC 2.0 and the blue vs white card creating a tiered program, I got to thinking... Does DVC already have a tiered program? I mean, they are all deluxe resorts but wouldn’t most agree that the Grand Floridian is in a different tier than Saratoga? If you had to break DVC resorts into tiers, how would you classify them? My current DVC tiers would go as as follows:

Tier 1: VGC, VGF, Poly, Aulani
Tier 2: BLT, BWV, BCV
Tier 3: AKV, BRV, CCV, RIV
Tier 4: SSR, HHI, VB, OKW

What is your tier breakdown and why?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Nope, it's just the older resorts were guesses. The newer ones are anything they can get for the money.

 

[Sandisw]

No, I don’t consider them in a tiered system, but rather in a system that could rank them in popularity.

So, those resorts that are easy access to parks are more popular...defining more popular as harder to book at 7 months..than the ones that are not.

 

[MJ NH]

With all the talk of DVC 2.0 and the blue vs white card creating a tiered program, I got to thinking... Does DVC already have a tiered program? I mean, they are all deluxe resorts but wouldn’t most agree that the Grand Floridian is in a different tier than Saratoga? If you had to break DVC resorts into tiers, how would you classify them? My current DVC tiers would go as as follows:

Tier 1: VGC, VGF, Poly, Aulani
Tier 2: BLT, BWV, BCV
Tier 3: AKV, BRV, CCV, RIV
Tier 4: SSR, HHI, VB, OKW

What is your tier breakdown and why?

I like your tiers. That is the feeling I get from the boards. I am not sure how Aulani fits though. My personal favorites are in your 3rd tier, if you were wondering.

 

[Granny]

If I am thinking of the DVC resorts in groups, I tend do so by expiration dates for the WDW DVC resorts:

OKW, BWV, VWL, BCV
SSR, AKV, BLT
VGF, PBV, CCV
RRV (gets its own group due to resale restrictions)

And then put the non-DVC resorts into a group:

HHI, VB, AUL, VGC

I don't see any of the resorts as "more deluxe" than the others. All have the same basic room amenities, though the resorts they are attached to (if they are attached to one) may have more or less amenities than other resorts.

 

[Donna M]

I think SSR will move up quite a bit when they have finished with the refurbishment.

 

[dcibrando]

I don't think anyone could really put dvc resorts in tiers.... some people like SSR and OKW better than Bay Lake or Poly due to Disney Springs location and less points

different strokes for different folks - all DVC resorts are great... but all have their own pros and cons

 

[MJ NH]

Doesn’t Disney put them in tiers by their pricing? The highest valued cost the most?

 

[Gary Carter]

I would be interested to see how reflections fits into this. My tier list would probably look close to what OP said if I was trying to be objective.

 

[bobbiwoz]

When I book, my mind focuses on the experience I want. We own at a fair number of resorts, so if I am booking at 11 months, I think about the focus of the trip. So, for me VB or HHI could be our first choice, for instance, not some bottom tier,

At or under 7 months, I look at what’s available.

 

[crisi]

Doesn’t Disney put them in tiers by their pricing? The highest valued cost the most?

Nope, because an SSR room costs more than a BWV standard view room - although BWV is a walk to two parks resort - they just priced it with what they thought they could sell it at. Disney doesn't tier their resorts, but there are some features that resorts have in common - if they are attached to a hotel they have a different feel than a stand alone. Or if they have interior hallways. What is the transportation to the parks? What are the restaurants like? Some resorts are tiny, and therefore the supply will never equal the demand (VGC, VGF) - other resorts are much larger and so the supply is more balanced to the demand (SSR). But that has far more to do with size than tiers.

 

[Minniesgal]

With all the talk of DVC 2.0 and the blue vs white card creating a tiered program, I got to thinking... Does DVC already have a tiered program? I mean, they are all deluxe resorts but wouldn’t most agree that the Grand Floridian is in a different tier than Saratoga? If you had to break DVC resorts into tiers, how would you classify them? My current DVC tiers would go as as follows:

Tier 1: VGC, VGF, Poly, Aulani
Tier 2: BLT, BWV, BCV
Tier 3: AKV, BRV, CCV, RIV
Tier 4: SSR, HHI, VB, OKW

What is your tier breakdown and why?

I don't really agree that SSR is a deluxe resort in anything other than name. It doesn't have the amenities of a deluxe.

 

[The Jackal]

I don't really agree that SSR is a deluxe resort in anything other than name. It doesn't have the amenities of a deluxe.

Like the best spa on property, golf course. 4 pools, 3 with pool bars and 2 with large water slides. The refurb is going to change a lot.

 

[snappy]

So subjective. Depends on what’s important to you, location close to parks, Disney Springs? View? Fewer points to book? Easier to book at time you want to book due to number of units available?

 

[Soap_1984]

This is pretty subjective. I think your original rankings are pretty much accurate if you think from a point per night standpoint.

Ssr having a spa doesn't make it "deluxe" and while I wouldn't consider any of the disney resorts deluxe, I would certainly there is more of a deluxe Vibe in vgf than in ssr, okw etc.

 

[Noodlez]

Tier 1: VGC, VGF, Poly, Aulani
Tier 2: BLT, BWV, BCV
Tier 3: AKV, BRV, CCV, RIV
Tier 4: SSR, HHI, VB, OKW

I find it interesting that you put Aulani in tier 1. It was our last stay and I absolutely love the place, but it’s cheap direct with massive incentives, and extremely cheap resale. It’s also quite easy to book at 7 months. Maybe you see it this way as they’re still trying to push it!

I would have put BCV higher as it’s a lot more expensive (direct and resale) and is harder to get into. I’m also biased.

 

[Minniesgal]

Like the best spa on property, golf course. 4 pools, 3 with pool bars and 2 with large water slides. The refurb is going to change a lot.

No indoor corridors, no signature restaurant, no room service. to be it's a moderate pretending to be deluxe

 

[bobbiwoz]

Turf club has some delicious menu items. It satisfies us. We don’t need “signature.”

DH gives his highest praise to VWL.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think anyone could really put dvc resorts in tiers.... some people like SSR and OKW better than Bay Lake or Poly due to Disney Springs location and less points

different strokes for different folks - all DVC resorts are great... but all have their own pros and cons

Yep, Polynesian would be Tier 20 to me. No desire to stay there. A resort without any one bedroom villas isn't a place I want to stay.

Aulani would be Tier 20, too.

 

[The Jackal]

No indoor corridors, no signature restaurant, no room service. to be it's a moderate pretending to be deluxe

So far every meal we had at the Turf Club has been fantastic, but a short distance away is the largest selection of restaurants anywhere on property. It’s not California Grill or Narcoossee’s, but those restaurants are not our style. I find most indoor hallways resorts the noise made in the hallway goes right into the rooms. Even at VGF where we recently stayed in a 2 bedroom.