Getting into the theme of a DVC resort...

[Maistre Gracey]

I despise Roaring Forks - too small, too crowded…

I believe Roaring Forks was enlarged in the last year or two. There is now a dining area that has doubled it's previous size. I can’t remember what was in the area they expanded into. Perhaps the arcade?

For me, WL is just a bit too bombastic.

Oh my! Not only did I have to look up the meaning of "bombastic", but I also had to look up the meaning of the words used in the definition!

Are you sure VWL was built before Disney Vacation Club?

If you re-read that carefully, I would guess they were referring to staying at WL before there was a VWL.

MG

 

[colleen costello]

OK, I am curious. Now I also have to go look up "bombastic." I didn't do so well on the vocab part of the SAT's...

We love Roaring Fork, and we always eat there. It's inexpensive and fast. I like it because it is there if you are in a hurry. I miss it when we stay at BCV. The line at Hurricane Hannah's by the pool there is always a nightmare...

 

[joepoe]

I think comparing theming of these fine resorts kind of like counting the sprinkles on each others' sundaes. NOW, compare DVC or any WDW resort hotel with any offsite resort or hotel...very very few compare. Maybe Hard Rock, but that theming leaves me cold.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by joepoe
I think comparing theming of these fine resorts kind of like counting the sprinkles on each others' sundaes. NOW, compare DVC or any WDW resort hotel with any offsite resort or hotel...very very few compare. Maybe Hard Rock, but that theming leaves me cold.

Good point. I have looked at many pictures of off-site hotels and timeshares, and I don't see anything special or unique. I can't really tell one from the other, as they are so generic. Yes, many are nice, but they don't look like anything other than nice buildings with landscaping.

MG

 

[BWVDee]

The BWV lobby doesn't have the same soaring expanse. Its gracious like GF with its Victorian style furniture, but cozier with lower ceilings and doesn't have guest rooms overlooking it. Not as impressive, but just as nice as the other lobbies in their own way. And, while not everyone enjoys the BW theme, the resort does seem to be well themed. You really don't realize how well themed until you start looking at old pictures from Coney Island.

Or if you are familiar with the "old" Atlantic City--pre casinos. I have lived my whole life in either AC or the immediate surrounding area, so I am very familiar with the old hotels on the boardwalk, etc. The first time I walked in BWV's lobby, I was amazed. It looks just like the lobby of the old Ambassador Hotel, that was located on the AC boardwalk many years ago; before the casinos came in and flattened all the old classic boardwalk hotels. The large outdoor porch with wicker rockers and the sweeping steps leading down to the boardwalk is excatly like many of the old hotels were. The lobby has great replicas of actual area landmarks, matter of fact you can still visit Lucy the elephant (a replica of her is on the lobby's fireplace mantel and also a photo is hanging on a lobby wall), in Margate, NJ. Both the villa and Inn sides have great pictures and memorabilia throughout them, that are authentic. There is a old photo of the AC fire dept that has relatives of people, I grew up with. The Seashore Sweet Shop is another source of some great and authentic Miss America memorabilia. They have lousy salt water taffy though, LOL!
The boardwalk itself, is a very, very, very small and very sugar coated Disney version of a seashore boardwalk, yet the theming is still very detailed. I have always said that they should switch a couple of the surrey bikes for rolling chairs, that could have a CM driving it and would travel the whole Epcot resort loop--they would make a fortune!
Yep, there is quite a bit of theming at BWV/BWI; and it is very evident that a lot of research of the area was done and amazing artifacts were collected. However for someone not familiar with the old seaside resorts the theming may not even be understood or detected. But it is definitly there and done very well.

Back to the OP,
I agree with many of the above posts, and find the most dramatic theming to definitly be at AKL and WL, with AKL taking the prize. Without a doubt these 2 resorts have the most wow factor. It is very evident that both of these resorts were designed by the same person and it was a person that did an excellent job. They both have very high and very dramatic ceilings and very prominent focal pts with the huge window and fire pit at AKL and the unbelievable fireplace at WL. These resorts are without a doubt very unique and true examples of Disney imagineering to the highest. I greatly enjoy staying at, dining at and visiting both of these resorts. However as much as I love the theming of these resorts they are not resorts that I like to stay at on a regular basis. I like to stay for a few days but then I am ready to move to an Epcot resort. For me, as much as I love and appreciate the theming of all the WDW resorts, the top priority is location. For us, the Epcot resort area is the location that offers us everything we desire on a trip to WDW, including some very nicely themed resorts.

 

[garylpn]

they all do it for me, we bought at bcv in 4/03 because the location is what we wanted, we seem to find ourselves in epcot almost every day on each trip, but bcv add-on/resale very hard to come by, so i'm waiting out rofr at 2 resales, okw and bwv, it's just what came available, most points for my dollars i had to spend, we stayed okw in dec 03 because by the time our closing was done that was the only available studio, and dw loved it,so we decided to add on what was available, we honestly feel all of the dvc resorts are all right for us, the theming isn't all the wow factor, imho it's the whole wdw experience, first thing we say to each other getting up each morning while at the world is let's jump in the disney river and see where it takes us today

 

[dvcdudes]

I find it fascinating that so many people have such different opinions of the resorts. I agree with carone0318

There is this feeling I get when I walk into BWV to check in, I can't explain it, but there is nothing better in the world than that feeling

I actually get the feeling as I drive upto the gate and see the Boardwalk sign lit up to my right, I get a "Welcome Home" from the guard and proceed over the bridge to see The arched letters BOARDWALK at the valet area. Each time I arrive, I thank God BWV was the only place selling when we bought and that made our decision for us where to buy. I couldn't be happier.
In another post someone mentioned going to FW, GF or Contemp to eat from VWL. That just reinforces my gratitude for discovering DVC. We do almost the same thing in the EPCOT area. We boat over to Cape May Cafe for the clam bake, walk over to the Dolphin Fountain for a burger and ice cream, etc. I never even experienced the MK area and all it has to offer. One of these years (maybe about 10-20 years from now) we'll stay at VWL and absorb the theaming there and experience all that that area has to offer. Thank You DVC.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Diane-WL opened in the summer of 94, so you were correct DVC was there first. I stayed at WL when it first opened, it had a great theme and I loved the swimming pool with the current running through it from above. Later that year we stayed at OKW and joined in 95. I don't know who said WL was opened before DVC but they were off by about 2 years.

 

[JimC]

BCV plays off of the theme of the BC resort. The YC/BC/BCV complex is nicely themed in my opinion.

I believe the three best themed resorts on property are AKL, WL/VWL and Poly. The rest are great but these three seem to set themselves apart in how well they were done.

 

[perdidobay]

They have enlarged Roaring Forks in the past few years, but if you go for breakfast at the busy times, it is still too small for the crowds........ but I still love it. I get a great pleasure from walking down that hallway looking out the windows at the falls as I go to eat at RF.

 

[Synonymous]

Shan, I own at VWL and BWV. I don't think anything can compare with that lobby at WL (well, maybe AKL), and the theming isn't as strong anywhere else at WDW (well, maybe AKL.)

We love BCV, though. I resisted staying there at first, for exactly the reason you mention, I thought I would miss the VWL theming. But I actually found I got into the BCV theme almost as much. It is so peaceful and relaxing there, I feel calm and happy as soon as I walk in. So now I'm happy to stay at either VWL or BCV.

Now, I agree with you totally about BWV. We stayed there as our first DVC trip, immediately after buying in, and we haven't been back. I don't have any desire to go back, but would if we couldn't get into VWL or BCV. BWV seemed to me just like a nice hotel anywhere else in the real world. I think the high number of business people always around there increased the feeling quite a bit. Being around people working while I'm on vacation always makes me feel like I should be at work

The good news, Shan, is that, even though the vast majority of our points are at BWV, we haven't had to go back there since that first trip. We've been pretty lucky with getting what we want when we make ressies. So don't feel too bad if you don't warm up to BCV.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I believe Roaring Forks was enlarged in the last year or two. There is now a dining area that has doubled it's previous size. I can’t remember what was in the area they expanded into. Perhaps the arcade?

MG...yep, that was where the arcade used to be. It was a huge improvement to Roaring Fork when they expanded into that space and moved the arcade next to the Mercantile.

Some people are more into heavy theming than others. And some folks are into different themes than others.

I'm glad to see people here expressing their opinions without feeling the need to bash others opinions.

For us, theming is very important....and VWL will always be our first love. As soon as you pass through the entrance arch, you have seen your last palm tree while on the WL/VWL property. The theming, down to the music, is something that invites us and has always made us feel like we're going "home", even before we joined DVC.


Then we stayed at BWV. Night and day vs VWL. And we loved it for what it has and its own atmosphere.

My guess is that we would find something to enjoy about every DVC resort's theming. For us, the theming makes the difference between on-site vs off-site.


A little off topic, but I noticed there is now a "castle hotel" on International Drive north of the Convention Center. Maybe it's been there a while, but it is definitely "themed"!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
Diane-WL opened in the summer of 94, so you were correct DVC was there first. I stayed at WL when it first opened, it had a great theme and I loved the swimming pool with the current running through it from above. Later that year we stayed at OKW and joined in 95. I don't know who said WL was opened before DVC but they were off by about 2 years.

Thank you, because that is what I remembered too.

 

[crisi]

When I was there the arcade was next to the Mercantile. So the overcrowded, too small Roaring Forks I'm complaining about is the expanded one.

Can't imagine what it was like before!

 

[lenshanem]

I do think it's a personal preference thing. While I can enjoy and appreciate the theming of all the resorts, in my opinion, WL and AKL, while spectacular, are too dark and depressing for me. I like the bright and airy themes of BCV, BWV and OKW. But that's just me. I'm also from New Jersey, so the beach/tropical themes appeal to me like "home".

Sheri, this is EXACTLY what my Mom said about WL and AKL. Too dark and depressing. When I showed my parents BCV and expressed my concern over choosing BCV over VWL she stopped me and said BCV was so much better. She really loved the light airy feel to it. This made me feel a tad better until my Dad saw WL this past December. He looked at me and was like why didn't you choose this instead? Just proves everybody has different tastes.

Once again, I'm not upset I have BCV over the others, I do feel if I have any problems down the road I could easily trade since BCV has SAB and great location for Epcot's special events, but as I've said many times I love WL! But, if I were to pick any resort? AKL
I'm a sucker for in your face theming I suppose!

 

[ErinC]

Shan: Your Days Inn comment cracked me up. We have only eaten at AKL and loved the restaurant, but have never actually stayed there. For some reason, I'm not sure if I would like it. In December, we stayed off site a couple of nights before checking into VWL. We were at the Clarion Maingate. I got up early Sunday morning to run over and check in at the hotel. I took the back road into DW and in just a few minutes I was passing in front of Animal Kingdom and the Lodge. When I got back the the Clarion, I told my husband, "do you realize how close AKL is to being off Property!" For some reason, now I have even less desire to stay there when I realized it's location to the "real" world. Until I read your comment, I thought I was just being irrational!