Favourite WDW DVC resort

[Bozza]

I guess most people would say their home resort is their favourite, so out of the other resorts you have visited - what has proven to be your favourite and why?

I ask because we are seriously considering a DVC purchase and may well use re-sale so are likely to have the choice of any of them. We've not visited any of them ourselves but are planning a trip in December to WDW. So, the options for us may well be to:

a) Stay in a hotel and, whilst there, take a look at each resort to see which we favour.

or

b) Buy 'blind' before December and use points for our visit then.

I must admit I'm leaning towards BCV at the moment - this is after reading and looking at photos of the various resorts on the many great unofficial WDW sites. Stormalong Bay looks fantastic!

Many thanks in advance,


Darren

 

[WDWLVR]

It all is personal choice and yes I would say for the most part people would pick their home resort.

For me it is our home of Boardwalk. I love being in the middle of the action and being able to walk to either Epcot or MGM.

We've stayed at the Villas of Wilderness Lodge and I really didn't care for it. We've never stayed at Old Key West but I don't think it would ever be a favorite of our either. We will most likely try OKW at some time in the future.

We have toured at the new Beach Club Villas and would love to try them some day. I think they would be my second favorite for all the same reasons we love Boardwalk.

 

[Granny]

You could also rent points and stay at a DVC location in December. From there you could also go take a look at the other DVC resorts. If you want to do this, you would need to arrange it quickly since December is one of the busiest months of the year for DVC and the resorts fill up quickly!

If you are not familiar with the various resorts theming and location, I'd strongly suggest visiting first. Your home resort really should be the one you want to stay in the most....due to the booking advantage you receive at your home resort. (11 months vs 7 month).

 

[bcvillastwo]

Your questions are a good way to start forming an idea of what resort is best for you. There is no doubt that you will get many differnt points of view. I've found that as you go back and read the comments you'll see treads and lots of commonality.

I'll start by suggesting that you really think about what you and your family likes and dislikes. For instance, do you being close to where the action is or do you think you'd prefer a more quiet atmospher? The answer to those questions are important because it you like being close to the action then BWV and/or BCV may be your best choice. Or, do you like being close to one park or the other, etc.

Hope, this is a start for getting you thinking.

 

[Peter Johnson]

We purchased OKW back when that's all that existed (and not much of it existed yet!). If we did it again today, we'd still buy OKW.

Of the other resorts, we like VWL the best. When we're not doing Disney we visit National Parks. So we feel right at home!

 

[Bozza]

I realise most people would chose their home resort which is why I asked about the favourite non-home resort they have visited.

I think we'd like to be in the middle of the action which rules out Wilderness Lodge. OKW appeals a little due to the closeness to DTD, but from what I've seen and read BWV and BCV just attract me that much more. BCV is 'winning' currently because of Stormalong Bay.


Darren

 

[Richyams]

It depends on how you plan to travel. We like to go with another couple, we have an only child, so it helps to bring along another family. I just can't imagine a more comfortable vacation than an OKW GV.

You need OKW as your home resort to be sure of getting one of these elusive units every year.

It really works perfectly. The other couple get the second bedroom and the common kids take the third. I just can't imagine a better way to vacation at WDW.

 

[kem330]

Of course I'm prejudiced but you really can't beat the location of BCV and BWV if that's what interests you. Just be aware that any booking in Dec will be extremely difficult to come by if you purchase now. If you are doing resale, you might as well wait and book hotel or rent so you can check it out.

 

[RAD]

We own at BWV, just to get that out of the way. Our favorite resort depends on what we want to accomplish on our visit.

If it's just DW and myself, or maybe DS/DDIL and we want a nice quiet/relaxing vacation then we love OKW. Sitting out on the balconey in the morning, having breakfast, and seeing the birds or golfers going by, and all the peacefulness is very relaxing. SSR will also probably fall into this catagory once they open.

If we're taking a big group (last October we took 15 others) we like BWV/BCV due to the location and all the activites. Having all the shops/restraunts and EPCOT/MGM right there is a big plus. This gives everyone a better chance to be able to do things on their own when we didn't have a group activity planned. Example, it was much easier to just have everyone meet in the lobby then walk to a place to have a cocktail after a long day vs. having to get in the car, or a very long walk at OKW (depening on where your room ended up).

As for VWL, I'll probably get flamed for this, but DW and myself are not really thrilled with that resort. We've stayed at WL, before the villas were built twice, had to give it a second chance just in case our first visit was a fluke. I agree it's a bueatful building/setting but it just never really did anything for us. The exception might be during the Christmas holidays, that great big tree in the lobby is great.

 

[JohnNJ]

Originally posted by Bozza
BCV is 'winning' currently because of Stormalong Bay.

Since you're a new dad and your main focus is on the pool, let me give you my perpective on the BWV and BCV pools with little kids.

Both resorts have slides at their pools - a big draw for kids. Both have kiddie pools and fountains. SAB has sand (a plus) and many pools, one with a current (a minus).

Stormalong Bay's slide is taller but doesn't have as many curves as the Keester Coaster at BWV. The theming is good on both (shipwreck vs. roller coaster). SAB's slide ends in a small pool. You have to leave the pool area and cross an open walkway to get back up the slide. You lose sight of your kids if you don't go with them.

The KC ends in the main pool. You can stay at the bottom of the slide and watch your kids go back up the stairs to the top. They never leave the secured pool area and you can keep an eye on them.

I love SAB when I go without the kids but I think Luna Park at the BWV is a better pool with kids. You can stay at both. You just have to decide which will be your home resort.

Good luck, John

 

[nezy]

I always find that my answer to this question can never be straight forward or even something you can explain on paper with a benefits list of each resort. Basically it comes down to what feels right for you and your family. In any case, I have written down some thoughts about our favorite resorts.

Our HOME resort is Boardwalk-we have never stayed there, although we have visited the pool and Boardwalk are quite often.
We have additional points at WLV and VERO.

LOVE,LOVE,LOVE-OKW. Always have, but it was sold out when we purchased. Love it because of simple pleasures and understated Disney style, space, relaxation-OKW just feels like home to us.


LOVE,LOVE, Love, WLV-great atmosphere and for the " in the woods" feeling and proximity to MK as well as the fact that it is a great resort even if it wasn't in the middle of WDW.


P.S. BRUUUUUUCE!!!!!!

Really liked staying at BCV for the location-location-location and SAB. I really loved beign able to go for a morning run on the paths and the boardwalk that went around all 3 of the great resorts in that area.

The reason I am not in love love love w/ the whole BCV and Boardwalk area is because there is SOOO much going in there. I need a little down time form the parks and whole commando style of disney all day and night. That is why OKW is my fav-very understated Disney presence. (Althought the quiet pool at BCV does offer that down time.)

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS!!-All of which are great. Even though my home resort is BWV, I have never (knock wood) had a problem getting a ressie at the 7 month window for any of the other DVC resorts.

 

[Bozza]

This is really valuable information - many thanks everyone.

I'm particularly interested to hear that you haven't experienced problems getting in on 7 month bookings.

From all I've read (and I've tried to read as much as I can!) I really don't think I will be disappointed with any of the properties. As you can see from my sig. - trips in the past have all been off Disney property. I think both parenthood and being a little older now has changed my outlook somewhat. I don't want 'just a bed' any longer - I've stayed in some wonderful hotels in Asia and Africa and do appreciate the benefits of a 'proper' resort.

In terms of what we want in a holiday - it's probably going to change somewhat. We currently have a 9 month old - as she gets older her demands will change and/or maybe she'll have a sibling sometime. (Silly question: presumably all resorts can provide a crib on request - I'd hate to have to bring the travelcot!)

We'll be starting with a 'small'-ish purchase - probably the usual 150 points. The Grand Villas sound fantastic - but given a visit from the UK is generally for (at least) two weeks - our points would not go very far!


Darren

 

[nezy]

Bozza-one of the many many reasons we joined DVC is because of the children and our desire to travel. After having stayed in some places that have have been, shall we see, less than clean, I know that at DVC or any resort that we go to through our DVC points will be clean and family friendly.

Our children love all of the resorts, but my 2 boys, ages 8 & 7 always ask to go back to OKW. I think it bacause they love the pool area-with the sand and the freedom to run around.

Often people who are staying for longer than a week may check out of a DVC resort on the weekend to save points. I am sure that the weekend would be a great oppurtunity to go to the beach-Tampa or Daytona or Port Canaveral on a Friday and then check back into your DVC resort when the points go down on Sun. There are so many other Florida locations to visit and explore-like the Everglades or Southern Fla. and then finish up with a few days back HOME in WDW.

You can also visit Vero and pay cash, on a DVC discount, if available.

 

[nrose101]

I would definetly say it is a hard choice. I think Fort Wilderness would be first followed by Beach Club, then Boardwalk. I would not even put Old Key West on the list. I really do not like this DVC resort at all.

 

[SamS]

I never heard of this, but that should be no surprise; I learn something new on this forum everyday I visit. Are their cash discounts for DVC members at all DVC resorts? How much?

 

[CK1]

I think it's important to note that when you join as a young family, your needs will change dramatically over the next decade or 2. For us, I'm not so sure our "home resort" matters.

My sister introduced us to DVC through her home resort, OKW, and when DH and I first began to think, "Hey, we could be DVC too" we were thinking about OKW. But in '99 all they were selling through Disney was Boardwalk, and we knew nuthin' about resale. If we had known, I am positive we would be OKW owners. SImilarly -- had we been able to see VWL (and be PATIENT for it!), we would have held off and bought there. Instead, we bought what was offered (BWV). THis is not to say we don't like it -- it just doesn't suit our needs presently. We are a fam of 5 and love those 2 br accommodations. At BWV, however, they are all lock-offs, with a queen and sleeper sofa in the 2nd bedroom. Not as good for us, especially if we bring a grandparent or 2. Our kids are fairly young (8,7,and 3) and I just don't like the idea of that extra door ready and waiting for them to make an escape! We have stayed at VWL and loved it. The theming really suits us, pool is great, and we kinda like that feeling of it being "apart" from the hoopla... adds to the whole wilderness theme. Soon as we saw it, dh said, "Man, we should have just waited..." But ya gotta at least like that type theme to then "love" it as a resort. VWL has 2 queen beds in its dedicated 2 br (and no extra doors!) so that was a plus for us, too. Our kids discourage us now from OKW... pools are too "lame" (no slides, simple styling, as they point out). So it's ironic to me that the very resort we would have pounced on 4 or 5 yrs ago is now at the bottom of our family list. I have a feeling that on this next trip (as our kids get even older), BWV and BCV will be our new top choices. ALready our 2 boys are shifting focus towards MGM and Epcot as favorite parks, and the pools and activity level around those resorts is higher. And when they are teens, I will probably WANT them to use that "other door"!

And who knows -- maybe it will come full circle -- when our nest is empty, DH and I will migrate back to OKW. But we haven't seen SSR yet, have we? And who knows what else may be around by then... Ah the joys of DVC.

We reserve at BWV at 11 mos and then switch to where we want to go at the 7 month interval. Never been a problem yet, so for us, home resort has been no big deal. THe one perk I see is that we have capability to get standard view and save some pts, and that BWV does have a GV, if we ever desired that. If you are trying to stretch your points out for a long stay, BWV standard views might behoove you versus BCV (puts you in same location, but for a longer stay).

So in short -- if one park stands out as not being your "thing" (i.e. you don't like evil clowns, or can't do the "woodsy" theme), then rule it out. But as for a favorite, it's quite possible your moods/needs will shift over time and I wouldn't sweat too much trying to pin down a single "one and only" resort. Go with the best deal and smile -- you'll be in DVC and from there, the options are all yours.

Cindy

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, Bozza. As others here have said, it really boils down to personal opinion. All the DVC resorts are beautiful, and there is no wrong answer.
Personally, I like VWL. My wife and I always enjoy the resorts that lend themselves to heavier themeing (Poly, AKL, WL), so this one really fit the bill.
I would suggest walking around each of the resorts in December before making a decision.

Disclaimer- Visiting VWL in December while the Christmas decorations are up, has been proven to cause uncontrollable urges to purchase there.

 

[JohnathanS]

Wow, what a tough question! I love all the DVC resorts and had a really tough time deciding which to buy at. Disney did a good job making certain that each had something in them that offered a unique appeal. For example,:


OKW, The only "primary" DVC resort that isn't connected to another resort. Also, until SSR, the one with best access to DTD. And of course, less expensive point schedule.


VWL: Theming!!! WL is my favorite Disney resort, and VWL is the prettiest (in my opinon) of the DVC resorts. Also, the closest to MK.

BCV: Stormalong Bay!! And a 5 minute walk to Epcot!

BWV: The excitement of the BW area, closest to MGM, and for those wanting to stretch the points, it has the standard rooms for just a little bit more than OKW.

I, myself, had decided on each of them at least once for my home resort, lol, but decided finally on OKW. The laid-back, removed feel of the resort, the convenience to nighttime activities at PI (Comedy Warehouse!!), and the cheaper point cost won out for me.

But which ever way you go, I can't see how you can lose!!

 

[Bozza]

I'm announcing change of heart #1 (how many will there be ?!?) - looks like Boardwalk now then. Pool sounds more suitable, and hadn't noticed the 'cheaper' standard view studios before....

Am also very pleased that the flexibility of DVC, which Disney market so much, seems to be available to most, thus making the home resort choice perhaps not as crucial as it could be.

Thanks once again - appreciate all the different views tremendously.


Darren

 

[JohnathanS]

Bozza,

Just keep in mind that the standard rooms at BWV go fast! I believe that, if you want a standard room, you need to make the reservations at your 11 month window!

BWV and BCV also have another advantage: Priority booking for a great location for both F&W festival and Flower and Garden festival, both at Epcot. So, if being close to those events is important for you, you may want to consider that factor as well!