Fav 1-2 bdr for a resort only stay?

[KalamityJane]

Yes, this is specific some 1-2 bedrooms are awesome because of their proximity to the parks, but I’m curious all things considered, where you would stay as the nicest room on property without going into the parks, and why?

 

[crvetter]

AKV Savannah View - self explanatory I think
Riviera - personally more relaxed than the monorail resorts with quite a bit to do
BRV/CCV - proximity to FW makes it full of options with a beautiful resort
BCV - pool but that’s it in my opinion
SSR/OKW - proximity to DS, OKW has the huge rooms and SSR is got the nice new layout with the Murphy bed

These are listed in what I think is the best to less best. WL and Riviera for me bounce around their spots.

 

[pinkxray]

I’m not sure of your travel party but my answers are based on us traveling with kids.

Copper Creek/ Boulder Ridge would probably be my first choice. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Hard to tell you are at Disney. We took a quick bus ride over to FW to join in on lots of activities there. On a free night we went for a carriage ride. We went a few hours early to grab dinner and the kids ended up playing on the playground for over 2 hours. I wish the boat to FW and CR was back bc that really opened a lot of dining options.

SSR- close to Disney Springs for tons of food options, lots of good pools, and lots to do
(haven’t stayed at OKW but close to DS so also good option)

BCV?- my kids could spend a while trip in the pool but I would be a little too close to 2 parks and not want to go in

AKV- savannah, good pools and food. If it’s a longer trip though I pick one of the other options. I get tired of the food options after a few days and there is nothing else too close to it.

 

[nw6675]

Surprisingly, we loved our 2 br preferred at SSR last week.
Beautiful view of DS and the Congress Park pool. It is so quiet and laid back.

We enjoyed it better than our other stays elsewhere (BCV, BLT, etc)

 

[DeeBee3]

I would also say it depends on who is traveling with me. I love the extra bathroom at AKV. Also love the resort.

I also like Skyliner access to open up food options and sightseeing so Riviera/BWV/BCV. Riviera rooms would be preferable to me.

 

[jo-jo]

Two weeks ago I would have said AKL savanna. After last week, for us, no more. We were almost at the end of the wing. Didn’t see a lot of animals and was so far from lobby didn’t participate in other activities.

Our previous trip we we’re halfway down the other wing and had lots of animals. At one point, seven different types at once.

We regretted moving from BLT.

 

[pianomanzano]

Kidanni-Savanna View - Rooms are huge, extra bathroom is nice, Great pool with a bar and splash pad for little ones.

Riviera - Rooms are huge and nice. Lots of activities to do on the resort grounds and can hop on the skyliner to tour the other resorts.

 

[jo-jo]

The ones who have said AKL savanna, how close to the lobby were you? We've made about 10 trips to AKL and never were in the first section or two. This last trip was the worst. The previous trip, even though it was closer, my DH didn't have his scooter yet and had to pause and rest with his rollator several times before he got to the room. He never would have made it walking to our room last week.

I'm just curious the closest to lobby, how much does it affect your opinion?

 

[pianomanzano]

The ones who have said AKL savanna, how close to the lobby were you? We've made about 10 trips to AKL and never were in the first section or two. This last trip was the worst. The previous trip, even though it was closer, my DH didn't have his scooter yet and had to pause and rest with his rollator several times before he got to the room. He never would have made it walking to our room last week.

I'm just curious the closest to lobby, how much does it affect your opinion?

We've only stayed close to the lobby, but I imagine that being further out in Kidani, especially with no car, can sour one's opinion of AKL.

 

[RoseGold]

I'd stay offsite at a place with a nice pool, like the Hilton/Waldorf lazy river. Or on an actual beach. There's lots of timeshares and hotels that aren't Disney. For the price, you could do a lot.

 

[jo-jo]

We've only stayed close to the lobby, but I imagine that being further out in Kidani, especially with no car, can sour one's opinion of AKL.

Did you use a magic word to get those rooms?

yes, and no car for us.

 

[pianomanzano]

Did you use a magic word to get those rooms?

yes, and no car for us.

No magic word, just a very pregnant wife and an accommodating CM at check-in (we also made a room request near to be near the lobby prior to checking-in).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

For us, the options would be easy - AKL/Kidani 1/2 BR villas are amazing. Certainly, some trips are better than others with the room location and the animals - we always ask for Sunset Savanna view in either Zazu or Simone sections, and we're often granted that request. Next would be AKL/Jambo, but the layout and extra bathroom in Kidani is better for us. Either room location at AKL has access to 2 amazing pools, and some of the best resort food options on property. Third would be OKW - largest of the rooms. On non-park days, we've often enjoyed grabbing a mobile lunch/dinner order and sitting out on the deck overlooking a lake or the golf course. That, along with a peaceful boat ride to DS for a million dining options there, makes the non-park resort location really good. For anyone choosing OKW, requesting near Hospitality House is a must for us.

 

[Her Dotness]

I'll put in a pitch for the VGF original building. Not like I'm biased since it's our original and most-loved resort.

Those villas are gorgeous, IMO. We just returned home from a week in a 1 br. They're among the larger 1brs of all. So spacious and comfortable, much more so than a studio if you have kids.

We've toured the 2br and Grand there. Those are simply posh beyond words. The Grand Villa has a separate media room which would be terrific for kids to watch their videos/tv while adults amuse themselves otherwise .

The GF has at least 4 restaurants currently open (besides V&A's), along with room service to VGF with a somewhat limited menu. There are 4 shops--Mickey Mercantile, Sandy Cove Gift Shop, Curiouser Clothiers and Basin White--for more shopping variety than the other DVC resorts offer.

Plus, you can easily hop onto the monorail to go explore the Contemporary and Polynesian with a pleasant boat ride from the MK boat dock to Wilderness Lodge.

I do agree that WL would be an excellent choice for the not-very-Disney-hectic feeling. I'd book a Boulder Ridge villa, though. Anywhere close to the WL lobby can be quite noisy if you're in a Copper Creek one. Also, the CC ones (except the Cabins) are converted WL rooms with an odd floorplan, I think.

We very much enjoyed a brief stay in a BRV 1 br once. Even considered buying a small BR resale, it was so relaxing staying there.

 

[jo-jo]

No magic word, just a very pregnant wife and an accommodating CM at check-in (we also made a room request near to be near the lobby prior to checking-in).

I've always requested near lobby. But as I've said, we 've crossed AKL off list now, Too many times disappointed.

 

[floribr1]

My vote would be for SSR-preferred. It give access to Disney Springs and all of its offerings. Also if you have a car, you can likely park very close to your villa.

In terms of just the villa itself, I would probably agree with those who say GFV. I do love those villas - very spacious, and well appointed.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Did you use a magic word to get those rooms?

You can always make a request to be closer to the lobby at either AKL location - when possible, they'll usually oblige for you. But with a room request or not, checking in early and talking with a CM about it can sometimes help with regard to room location - especially if you can be flexible with which floor you'd like. As with most things at Disney, it never hurts to ask!

 

[Straulin]

We stayed at AKV and were also disappointed with the Savana room we received. Luck of the draw, we didn't put in a specific request though.

When at WDW I prefer to avoid using my car and stick with resort transportation. So for a no-park stay:

SSR & OKW have easy access (boat/walk or boat) to Disney Springs, so they would be good.
Skyliner all have access to each other and the Boardwalk so they would be good.
Monorail & Wilderness Lodge resorts have easy access to one another and Fort Wilderness, so they would be good.

AKV would be my last choice due to the transportation.

 

[ark101]

I've always requested near lobby. But as I've said, we 've crossed AKL off list now, Too many times disappointed.

Ha! We were assigned a room at the end with sub optimal animal viewing too. We actually changed rooms after 1 night even though it was inconvenient to do so. At least that way we could enjoy rest of the stay.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I don't like the footprint of the older 2-bedroom layouts, so my vote is Riviera for wonderful layout and space, great dining nearby.

Next CC/WL for everything listed above.
GF's 2BD is beautiful, tons to do at the resort area, walking distance to Poly/monorail Contemporary.
AKJ because, food, lobby, animals.
SS 2BD felt very cramped to us.
OKW is massive, but IDK if it's too isolated/boring.