Tom Bricker is out with his updated DVC rankings:
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-vacation-club-resort-rankings/
I figured I'd share my own, and let everyone else share theirs. Unlike Tom, I haven't stayed at EVERY property, so some of my rankings are based on personal experience, some based on what I've read and seen online.
This is HIGHLY subjective. There are objective factors -- like room size. There are semi-objective factors, like location. But in the end, it's heavily subjective, especially with the weighting you would give each category. (how do you compare a resort with great location and awful rooms? vs a resort with great rooms but awful location?)
Like Tom, I'll combine CCV and BRV as they are similar enough.
Anyway, here we go:
10. Saratoga Springs: It's a fairly pretty resort. Biggest advantage is the easy access to Disney Springs. But buses to get to all 4 theme parks, among the smallest rooms at DVC. Nothing particularly standout about the pool, restaurants, amenities at the resort.
9. Old Key West: The rooms are large but not especially luxurious. The pool is about average. And have you ever heard of any Disney guest going to OKW just for the restaurants?
8. Bay Lake Tower: There is 1 GREAT thing about Bay Lake Tower: Location. Walk to Magic Kingdom. There is 1 very very good thing: Top of the World Lounge. But the rest is really underwhelming. Rooms are on the small size and fairly plain. There are good dining options but they are all across the skyway at the Contemporary with virtually nothing actually at Bay Lake Tower. Despite the location, the theme park views are largely mediocre, especially at lower floors. The grounds of the property are bland. While the Contemporary Hotel has a unique feel to it, BLT feels like a generic 1990-something apartment building you would find in any medium sized city.
7. Boulder Ridge / Copper Creek: The grounds are lovely. Wilderness Lodge is gorgeous. But the pools are on the small size. The rooms are on the small size. Rooms don't tend to provide great views. Dining is all through the sister resort and is okay. Location is a bit isolate -- boat to other resorts and Magic Kingdom. Bus everywhere else.
6. Beach Club Villas: This may be controversial. Beach Club/Yacht Club is 1 of the best resorts on property. Stormalong Bay is the best pool. The location is among the best with just a short walk to Epcot. And now, that short walk would also bring you to the SKyliner. You have decent dining options, including lots of other dining options at the Boardwalk, a hop and skip away. But EVERYTHING I just said is for the entire Beach Club/Yacht Club complex. Does DVC add anything or actually take away?
The DVC building is tucked away on the wrong side of the resort. Instead of facing the lake and the boardwalk, it's in the back facing the parking lot. Rooms are average sized and bland. The DVC property itself is really just the building. It if wasn't for all the advantages of the sister resort, BCV might be dead last. (I think Disney would be wise to tear it down in 2042 and build something luxurious in its place, a tower with views into Epcot)
5. Riviera Resort: Among the nicest and largest rooms, a couple very good dining options. The pools don't have the theming of a Stormalong Bay or Poly Volcano, but they are large and elegant. And critically -- they are not shared with a sister resort and thousands of guests. They are really just for the use of those staying at Riviera, only about 300 rooms. You can ding the somewhat uninspired architecture. Location is a mixed bag: The Skyliner makes for easy fast transportation to two parks at most times of the day. Though it can be slow getting to DHS in the morning ropedrop, and slow getting back from Epcot after fireworks. Worst part of the location is the only thing walkable is CBR -- but that does give you a nice pool for hopping and some extra dining options.
4. Boardwalk Villas: Truthfully, you can easily rearrange my 4-5-6 based on weighting. It has similar pros to BCV. Great location -- fairly easy walk to Epcot AND DHS. (BCV is a longish walk to DHS). Thus, the location is better than BCV. And where BCV is a building thrown in the back of the resort, Boardwalk Villas are a real part of the resort. You can get a view of the lake and boardwalk. You can step right out on the Boardwalk, which is a big selling point. Lots of dining options, in addition to a dance hall, bar, and entertainment on the Boardwalk. Loses points for mediocre rooms and mediocre pool.
3. Animal Kingdom Villas: Negative: Location requires buses everywhere, even Animal Kingdom. But this is a good tradeoff for the positive -- Savannah views! That is a purely unique positive. Rooms are well appointed and decent size. Some of the best dining. A gorgeous property. A point chart that makes even Grand Villas fairly accessible.
2. Polynesian Villas: Negatives -- only studios and Bungalows. Studio lake views turn into views blocked by the bungalows. Positives: Location, monorail to MK and short walk to Epcot monorail. Walk to the beach and get a straight on view of Magic Kingdom for fireworks. Lush gorgeous property. Might just be studios, but they are large and well appointed. The pool is among the nicest at Disney. Yes, everything is shared with the sister resort, but they are fully integrated together. Dining is so-so, with no real "signature" dining on property. But lots of signature dining within a monorail ride.
1. Grand Floridian Villas: Guess I agree with Tom Bricker here. The new walkway probably boosts it to #1 over Poly. Rooms are among the nicest and biggest. Property is gorgeous. Large pools, Lots of dining options. If there are any negatives -- price (point chart) and the fact that everything is really shared with the sister resort. But the VIllas section alone is a gorgeous property. While amenities are shared, at least they are the most luxuries amenities at Disney.
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-vacation-club-resort-rankings/
I figured I'd share my own, and let everyone else share theirs. Unlike Tom, I haven't stayed at EVERY property, so some of my rankings are based on personal experience, some based on what I've read and seen online.
This is HIGHLY subjective. There are objective factors -- like room size. There are semi-objective factors, like location. But in the end, it's heavily subjective, especially with the weighting you would give each category. (how do you compare a resort with great location and awful rooms? vs a resort with great rooms but awful location?)
Like Tom, I'll combine CCV and BRV as they are similar enough.
Anyway, here we go:
10. Saratoga Springs: It's a fairly pretty resort. Biggest advantage is the easy access to Disney Springs. But buses to get to all 4 theme parks, among the smallest rooms at DVC. Nothing particularly standout about the pool, restaurants, amenities at the resort.
9. Old Key West: The rooms are large but not especially luxurious. The pool is about average. And have you ever heard of any Disney guest going to OKW just for the restaurants?
8. Bay Lake Tower: There is 1 GREAT thing about Bay Lake Tower: Location. Walk to Magic Kingdom. There is 1 very very good thing: Top of the World Lounge. But the rest is really underwhelming. Rooms are on the small size and fairly plain. There are good dining options but they are all across the skyway at the Contemporary with virtually nothing actually at Bay Lake Tower. Despite the location, the theme park views are largely mediocre, especially at lower floors. The grounds of the property are bland. While the Contemporary Hotel has a unique feel to it, BLT feels like a generic 1990-something apartment building you would find in any medium sized city.
7. Boulder Ridge / Copper Creek: The grounds are lovely. Wilderness Lodge is gorgeous. But the pools are on the small size. The rooms are on the small size. Rooms don't tend to provide great views. Dining is all through the sister resort and is okay. Location is a bit isolate -- boat to other resorts and Magic Kingdom. Bus everywhere else.
6. Beach Club Villas: This may be controversial. Beach Club/Yacht Club is 1 of the best resorts on property. Stormalong Bay is the best pool. The location is among the best with just a short walk to Epcot. And now, that short walk would also bring you to the SKyliner. You have decent dining options, including lots of other dining options at the Boardwalk, a hop and skip away. But EVERYTHING I just said is for the entire Beach Club/Yacht Club complex. Does DVC add anything or actually take away?
The DVC building is tucked away on the wrong side of the resort. Instead of facing the lake and the boardwalk, it's in the back facing the parking lot. Rooms are average sized and bland. The DVC property itself is really just the building. It if wasn't for all the advantages of the sister resort, BCV might be dead last. (I think Disney would be wise to tear it down in 2042 and build something luxurious in its place, a tower with views into Epcot)
5. Riviera Resort: Among the nicest and largest rooms, a couple very good dining options. The pools don't have the theming of a Stormalong Bay or Poly Volcano, but they are large and elegant. And critically -- they are not shared with a sister resort and thousands of guests. They are really just for the use of those staying at Riviera, only about 300 rooms. You can ding the somewhat uninspired architecture. Location is a mixed bag: The Skyliner makes for easy fast transportation to two parks at most times of the day. Though it can be slow getting to DHS in the morning ropedrop, and slow getting back from Epcot after fireworks. Worst part of the location is the only thing walkable is CBR -- but that does give you a nice pool for hopping and some extra dining options.
4. Boardwalk Villas: Truthfully, you can easily rearrange my 4-5-6 based on weighting. It has similar pros to BCV. Great location -- fairly easy walk to Epcot AND DHS. (BCV is a longish walk to DHS). Thus, the location is better than BCV. And where BCV is a building thrown in the back of the resort, Boardwalk Villas are a real part of the resort. You can get a view of the lake and boardwalk. You can step right out on the Boardwalk, which is a big selling point. Lots of dining options, in addition to a dance hall, bar, and entertainment on the Boardwalk. Loses points for mediocre rooms and mediocre pool.
3. Animal Kingdom Villas: Negative: Location requires buses everywhere, even Animal Kingdom. But this is a good tradeoff for the positive -- Savannah views! That is a purely unique positive. Rooms are well appointed and decent size. Some of the best dining. A gorgeous property. A point chart that makes even Grand Villas fairly accessible.
2. Polynesian Villas: Negatives -- only studios and Bungalows. Studio lake views turn into views blocked by the bungalows. Positives: Location, monorail to MK and short walk to Epcot monorail. Walk to the beach and get a straight on view of Magic Kingdom for fireworks. Lush gorgeous property. Might just be studios, but they are large and well appointed. The pool is among the nicest at Disney. Yes, everything is shared with the sister resort, but they are fully integrated together. Dining is so-so, with no real "signature" dining on property. But lots of signature dining within a monorail ride.
1. Grand Floridian Villas: Guess I agree with Tom Bricker here. The new walkway probably boosts it to #1 over Poly. Rooms are among the nicest and biggest. Property is gorgeous. Large pools, Lots of dining options. If there are any negatives -- price (point chart) and the fact that everything is really shared with the sister resort. But the VIllas section alone is a gorgeous property. While amenities are shared, at least they are the most luxuries amenities at Disney.
