First DVC Stay Advice

[ClosetDisMom]

My family is waiting on ROFR on our first DVC purchase (at SSR). We have not stayed in a DVC resort (or a moderate/deluxe resort for that matter) yet. We decided after our last Disney World trip that we would need to upgrade from the value category for our next stay. We plan to get a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom at one of the resorts and we are not picky. So, my question is as follows:
Which DVC resort is the best to get your feet wet for a family of four with children under 10? Thanks in advance!

(It doesn't hurt to dream while waiting for ROFR, right? )

 

[BillPA]

First trip, stay at you home resort. Why buy there if you don't want to stay there?

 

[com_op_2000]

Welcome Home!
Time of year, length of stay, and is it over school out/holiday period? These will determine what is available for your trip. That will be your determining factor as to what is available to change into at 7 months.
Most will book HR at 11 months out then "see" what resort they can cancel and move there reservation too. That being said I move my reservation to a non-HR 95% of my trips. We choose which resort we stay at depending upon what we want to do that trip.
Yes, we have favorites but we have found something to love about every resort we stay at. I have exchanged into every resort on the east coast except GFV and the new WL (CCV?). IMHO, you will find those you like and those you do not over time. With children you might want to consider AKL-J or K, with the animals right outside your room and the African resort styling it is where we exchange our stays into most of the time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

First trip, stay at you home resort. Why buy there if you don't want to stay there?

I suppose I agree with this answer the most. Stay at SSR, and see for yourself what you bought. IMHO, ASK for Congress Park with a view of Disney Springs as a request before hand, and if you get it, enjoy the view, the location and plan your other trips from there.

 

[Chuck S]

I'd book my home resort at the 11 month window, and if you want to stay elsewhere, try to switch at 7 months. That way you are guaranteed a place to stay, even if no other resort is available at the 7 month window. That should be your strategy moving forward. It's always nice to try someplace new, but the main thing is having a room for your trip.

 

[DVCBillyJoeBob]

I agree with the advice to book your home resort at 11 months and switch if you can based on availability.

With children under 10, I would imagine MK will be a big part of your trip. Staying on the Monorail (POLY, BLT, VGF) or Wilderness Lodge (BRV CCV) with easy access to MK would be my choice if available.

The Epcot resorts (BCV BWV) are great for access to Epcot and DHS if those are a priorities.

We have no experience with OKW or SSR, but they sound wonderful also. Boat / walking to DS is something I will definitely want to try in the future. Lots of positive feedback on these boards about these resorts.

We own at AKL and love the theme, animals, and restaurants but miss easy access to parks (much prefer boats / monorail / walking over buses)

No way to know for sure until your family has more experience with the DVC resorts. We are anxious to try them all (Kidani and BCV split stay in December is our next trip)

Have fun

 

[hakepb]

If by family with 4 young children means 6 people, the OP would only fit in a 1BR if at least 1 of those children is an infant under 3. Once the youngest child turns 3, then that family would have to stay in a 2BR.

 

[hakepb]

I suppose I agree with this answer the most. Stay at SSR, and see for yourself what you bought. IMHO, ASK for Congress Park with a view of Disney Springs as a request before hand, and if you get it, enjoy the view, the location and plan your other trips from there.

Congress Park is certainly the best view and best DTD proximity. While the basic Congress park pool also has that great view, with younger children, I'd want one of the other pools. (Congress park does have a non-water playground)
Paddock's pool would have the best kids area, and has a QS eatery. Springs is the other feature pool with zero entry and some kid features. Grandstand has a kids splash area next to a basic pool..

 

[Deb & Bill]

But Congress Park and the Springs are considered Preferred, so the OP needs to book preferred at SSR, not standard.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

I'd book SSR at 11 months to guarantee yourself something for the dates that you want, but then at 7 months I would definitely look to make the switch to either a resort on the monorail loop (BLT, Poly or VGF) or an EPCOT resort (our personal favorite BWV or BCV).

You'll definitely wanna check out SSR (and all of the rest until you find your favorite, your true DVC home regardless of your official home resort) eventually, but I don't subscribe to the whole "you should stay there 1st just because it's your home resort". With children under 10 I would absolutely look to take advantage of the convenience at either an MK resort or EPCOT resort. Enjoy and good luck!

 

[Granny]

First trip, stay at you home resort. Why buy there if you don't want to stay there?

​

The first DVC trip is a special one, and my advice would be to book at SSR so you and your family can bond with your home resort. It would not be good to have an awesome experience somewhere else and then worry that you made a poor purchase decision.

SSR is a great resort with easy access to Disney Springs. I'd stay there.

 

[disneynutz]

I would read up on the resorts, start looking at pictures, turn your research into a family affair. Then just pick a resort and go. You will stay at all of them many times during your ownership.

Bill

 

[DVCRSheridan]

I would read up on the resorts, start looking at pictures, turn your research into a family affair. Then just pick a resort and go. You will stay at all of them many times during your ownership.

Bill

THIS! Absolutely this! You're gonna end up staying at all (most) of them. Don't lock yourself in somewhere this trip just because it happens to be your home resort. Do your research, look at pictures, read reviews on here and make a decision for somewhere that you think best fits you and your family and what you guys like to do!

 

[LVSWL]

I answered BCV primarily because of the number of children you have and the fantastic pool. Our first DVC stay was at VWL (now Boulder Ridge). My boys were 5 & 9 and loved the the look of the lodge. Also we went first week of December, so everything was decorated for Christmas and the pool wasn't quite as important. BLT is nice if you think you will be spending a lot of your time in MK, but there isn't a lot of Disney theming. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[DVCRSheridan]

My family is waiting on ROFR on our first DVC purchase (at SSR). We have not stayed in a DVC resort (or a moderate/deluxe resort for that matter) yet. We decided after our last Disney World trip that we would need to upgrade from the value category for our next stay. We plan to get a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom at one of the resorts and we are not picky. So, my question is as follows:
Which DVC resort is the best to get your feet wet for a family of four with children under 10? Thanks in advance!

(It doesn't hurt to dream while waiting for ROFR, right? )

Based off my own families personal preferences... if you guys prefer MK and plan to spend a lot of time there, go for BLT or Poly. If you guys are more of an EPCOT/DHS family, go for BWV or BCV (also plenty of dining, shopping and mini-golf at these 2).

 

[KNC43]

We bought at HHI but did our first stay at AKL. It was an amazing first trip. If your kids are little, I would stay at AKL so much to do for them there. You have years to stay at SSR and older kids appreciate it more.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

Welcome Home!
Time of year, length of stay, and is it over school out/holiday period?... With children you might want to consider AKL-J or K, with the animals right outside your room and the African resort styling it is where we exchange our stays into most of the time.

Thanks! We go in July (we are teachers) for a little under a week. I am thinking you might be right about AKL. I don't think we could beat a Savannah View.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

I suppose I agree with this answer the most. Stay at SSR, and see for yourself what you bought. IMHO, ASK for Congress Park with a view of Disney Springs as a request before hand, and if you get it, enjoy the view, the location and plan your other trips from there.

Thank you for the tip! I think we will *eventually* reserve at SSR and then see where we go from there. Even if ROFR Doesn't pass, I think next trip will be on rented DVC points.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

Staying on the Monorail (POLY, BLT, VGF) or Wilderness Lodge (BRV CCV) with easy access to MK would be my choice if available...
We have no experience with OKW or SSR, but they sound wonderful also. Boat / walking to DS is something I will definitely want to try in the future. Lots of positive feedback on these boards about these resorts.

Enjoy your next trip!

I think that we would like to try the forms of transportation other than the buses on our next trip. So your advice makes a ton on sense!

We are looking for SSR thinking into the future, when the kids are grown and DVC becomes more about relaxing rather than touring.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

If by family with 4 young children means 6 people, the OP would only fit in a 1BR if at least 1 of those children is an infant under 3. Once the youngest child turns 3, then that family would have to stay in a 2BR.

Sorry for the miscommunication, my family of 4 includes 2 young children.