Help me pick a home resort - pool priority

[crisi]

I think VGF has a great splash pad area for little ones but their actual pools are pretty small - for the best mix of both - I’d go with Animal Kingdom Kidani - plus there’s 2 bathrooms in the 1 bedroom

Which brings up another purchase consideration. I really like VAKL and I think the pools there have really nice features (not SAB features, but easier to watch kids at), but its a large resort that usually has seven month availability - especially Kidani (the DVC only part). So owning there isn't really important, because you can own somewhere cheaper and stay at VAKL almost anytime. Which is a huge issue with BCV - it can be a difficult resort to book if you don't own there with rooms disappearing quickly after the seven month window opens (when rooms are left at all).

 

[Nabas]

But no washer dryer or kitchen - which turned out to be far more important to us than we though those things would be before we bought. When we bought, I thought the kitchen would be nice because we could store a gallon of milk for cereal instead of having a little tiny dorm fridge (or no fridge at all) - and the washer dryer would be useless. Now I can't imagine how we'd have done Disney not throwing in a load of laundry every day or two - or without the kitchen just for morning eggs and pancakes and a freezer big enough for two frozen water bottles per person every day.

Excellent points. A 2BR villa is better than a Studio.

But at what cost?

Let's pick an example week in July, a time a family with three school-age children might be expected to vacation at WDW.

A week in a PVB Standard View Studio is 167 points.

A week in a VGF Standard View 2BR 526 points!

Is being able to store a gallon of milk and an in-room washer/dryer worth the cost?

Before it was pulled from the DVC member website, VGF was selling at $255 per point.

$255pp X 536 points = $134,130!!!

Is the OP ready to spend $134,000 for a timeshare?

 

[crisi]

Excellent points. A 2BR villa is better than a Studio.

But at what cost?

Let's pick an example week in July, a time a family with three school-age children might be expected to vacation at WDW.

A week in a PVB Standard View Studio is 167 points.

A week in a VGF Standard View 2BR 526 points!

Is being able to store a gallon of milk and an in-room washer/dryer worth the cost?

Before it was pulled from the DVC member website, VGF was selling at $255 per point.

$255pp X 536 points = $134,130!!!

Is the OP ready to spend $134,000 for a timeshare?

But you really need two of those studios. So its really 334 points. And you could, if the point savings is important, buy at SSR where a two bedroom is 265 points for the week, and where resale values are reasonable, and the pool is nice. Or VAKL, with for 262 for a standard view week.

 

[Nabas]

But you really need two of those studios. So its really 334 points. And you could, if the point savings is important, buy at SSR where a two bedroom is 265 points for the week, and where resale values are reasonable, and the pool is nice. Or VAKL, with for 262 for a standard view week.

A PVB Studio can sleep 5.

Someone suggested that a Studio wasn't enough space when the kids get older. I simply suggested using 2 connected Studios is less expensive than a 2BR.

We used to stay in 2BR villas all the time. But, for example, I paid $55pp for my BWV contract. And because I am a member there, I can book their Standard View rooms at 11 months. (IMO, best value in all DVC.)

For a week in July, that costs me:
$55pp X 299 points = $16,445

I could justify paying $16,445 in order to be able to stay a week in a 2BR Standard View at BWV every July for decades.

Can the OP justify spending $134,130 to do the same at VGF?

 

[havoc315]

After over a year of hemming and hawing we have decided to take the DVC plunge. We have an 8 yr old girl, a 3 yr old boy, and are expecting another boy any day now. My biggest priority is pools! I've looked up a couple "top pool" lists but they left a lot to be desired in terms of specifics, so I thought I'd ask the experts for opinions.

Thank you!

My 2 cents, probably only with 1 cent: For the most part, the differences in pool areas are not huge. Slightly different pros and cons, but you don't need to get down to the nitty gritty of which pool is 2% better than another pool.

The good and bad standouts:
1 -- Yes, Stormalong Bay is the "best" pool with 2 massive caveats:
--It is a short contract, only another 20 years. 20 years might sound like a long time, but even at re-sale prices, you really aren't saving much money buying Beach Club.
-- It's a great huge pool complex.. for a huge resort. In other words, it's always jam packed. There is a DVC quiet pool, but it's nothing special. So especially looking long term, I find Beach Club to be the best pool for 7 yo to 13 yo kids. But for younger kids (who you really need to keep an eye on), and for older teens - adults, it's really not the best pool option.

2 -- Boardwalk pool kinda stinks.
They removed the creepy clown, but didn't replace it with anything much.. just "stickers" on a generic slide.
3 -- BLT pool kinda stinks:
Fairly small, small pool deck, non-themed, non-descript.
4 -- Polynesian:
Volcano Pool is possibly the best themed pool area at Disney. But the pool and pool area is a bit undersized for the number of guests they need to serve. So coolest pool, but a bit too small.

You get that everywhere..... Different pros and cons of different pools, but not necessarily better or worse. I personally love the Riviera pools -- because for young kids, they have a great play area. And the pools themselves are spacious and relaxing for the moderate number of guests accommodated by Riviera, so the pools are seldom super crowded. Grand Floridian just has extremely large lovely pools. Animal Kingdom has 2 of the biggest pools, nice to have 1 really nice pool that's just for DVC as well as a really large feature pool. In a lot of ways, Animal Kingdom actually has 2 true feature pools for DVC owners. And there is nothing wrong with the OKW and SSR pools.

 

[LSchrow]

Hot take: Stormalong Bay is entirely overrated, especially if you live somewhere with good local beaches.

And/or your own pool
Our kids grew up swimming in the ocean (we love our town beaches on Long Island) and the our oasis with pool in the backyard. They, along with other relatives/friends & myself, don't care for Storm-A-long as it is almost always crowded & chaotic, difficult to actually swim in (& not fans of strangers being close enough to touch), and the entire lounge chair claiming/fighting business that occurs there.
Imho, SAB is too much like a public pool on July 4th, but almost every day - great for many people, but something to be avoided for others.

 

[RoseGold]

I was just at SAB with two toddlers in April. I didn’t feel like they were unsafe or it was crowded or anything. If anything it was kind of empty. At night, I thought it was an especially cool experience, like the Vegas pools do. They pumped up the music, and it was fun!

Our toddlers loved the huge slide. Where I’m from, they only have those at the huge, hot local water park, which I am never going to and they’d be too short anyway. And SAB is better. I’ve never seen another sand bottom pool in my life.

But sure, if you’re going off peak, just use your cheap points for BC 1BR now and then, like I did. Or rent BC points. You don’t have to buy a timeshare to stay there a time or two.

 

[crisi]

But you need two of those studios, right? So its really

A PVB Studio can sleep 5.

Someone suggested that a Studio wasn't enough space when the kids get older. I simply suggested using 2 connected Studios is less expensive than a 2BR.

We used to stay in 2BR villas all the time. But, for example, I paid $55pp for my BWV contract. And because I am a member there, I can book their Standard View rooms at 11 months. (IMO, best value in all DVC.)

For a week in July, that costs me:
$55pp X 299 points = $16,445

I could justify paying $16,445 in order to be able to stay a week in a 2BR Standard View at BWV every July for decades.

Can the OP justify spending $134,130 to do the same at VGF?

Personally, and again, its a personal thing, I wouldn't buy DVC to put my kids in the same room. To me, the whole point of DVC is to have the kids in a different room so that you aren't tiptoeing around their bedtimes, and so that two adults can have adult time. And yes, I could justify paying a lot for that, that was our only justification for buying to start with (I always say, its really expensive nookie, but its Mom and Dad's vacation too). But she's not really even looking at VGF - and there are cheaper options. You could get the same sleeping surfaces as one studio at the Poly with a one bedroom at a number of resorts - and get the kitchen/washer dryer benefits.

 

[crisi]

2 -- Boardwalk pool kinda stinks.
They removed the creepy clown, but didn't replace it with anything much.. just "stickers" on a generic slide.

My kids have been on most of the pool slides at Disney and hands down think the Keister Coaster (creepy clown and all) at BWV is the BEST slide. The volcano was OK. Jambo and CCR the slides are "too small" (One of the weaknesses of the BWV slide is that they only have one slide, and its a pretty big one - where Jambo has one slide, and its pretty tame. One of the big pluses to SAB is that they have a big slide and a little kid slide).
The year we stayed at BCV, was a year we pool hopped - back to BWV because "the pool is better."

(I like the BWV pool slide, but I don't like the BWV pool because without zero entry it isn't flexible enough for younger kids who have outgrown the toddler pool, but aren't tall enough to leave the BWV stairs).

 

[Wayland10]

I want to put in a plug for AKL- the pool at Jambo is gorgeous, there are flamingos and lots of room. The Mara is close, with lots of outside tables.

 

[kboo]

With the announcement of VGF2, VGF points are likely going to be easier to get through ROFR, and they sleep 5 in 1BR and studios, and studios cost the same # of points as Poly.

The split bath in the studio has a tub/shower combo and a separate shower, so while it's not two separate "bathrooms" (there are pocket doors), there are 2 showers and it's a better use of floor space, imo. (Riviera studios are similar). Also the little jog in the VGF studio hallway is a great place to keep a crib while you use the main living space of the studio.

 

[Nabas]

My kids have been on most of the pool slides at Disney and hands down think the Keister Coaster (creepy clown and all) at BWV is the BEST slide. The volcano was OK. Jambo and CCR the slides are "too small"

I’ve been on all the resort water slides. (It drives my spouse crazy that someone my age still rides water slides each time we visit!)

The Boardwalk’s Keister Coaster is the best!

 

[kilik64]

But you need two of those studios, right? So its really


Personally, and again, its a personal thing, I wouldn't buy DVC to put my kids in the same room. To me, the whole point of DVC is to have the kids in a different room so that you aren't tiptoeing around their bedtimes, and so that two adults can have adult time. And yes, I could justify paying a lot for that, that was our only justification for buying to start with (I always say, its really expensive nookie, but its Mom and Dad's vacation too). But she's not really even looking at VGF - and there are cheaper options. You could get the same sleeping surfaces as one studio at the Poly with a one bedroom at a number of resorts - and get the kitchen/washer dryer benefits.

Best post in this whole thread.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

BLT pool kinda stinks

BLT pool kinda stinks.

FTFY. It is boring. Super boring.

(I always say, its really expensive nookie, but its Mom and Dad's vacation too).

boom
boom
room

 

[DonMacGregor]

Best post in this whole thread.

The textbook definition of "high pereceived value".

 

[Beachmom0317]

We own at copper creek and love their toddler playground, main pool and the dvc pool! But we are a family of 4 so we can do studios. If you have more then 4 people, as others have said you'll need to go directly to a 2 bedroom. Maybe look into BRV then? Their studios sleep 5. I honestly o
love SSR pools. They have two feature pools

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We own at copper creek and love their toddler playground, main pool and the dvc pool! But we are a family of 4 so we can do studios. If you have more then 4 people, as others have said you'll need to go directly to a 2 bedroom. Maybe look into BRV then? Their studios sleep 5. I honestly o
love SSR pools. They have two feature pools

BRV offers the 2042 problem with a somewhat lower price point than BCV.

 

[DeeBee3]

As someone said, the splash pad area at Wilderness Lodge is nice and my kids liked it. My daughter also just loved the hot tub. I will be trying Beach Club this summer so I will see about the hype about Stormalong Bay. I've heard it's hard to keep track if you have littles.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

We picked AKV for two great pools, and Kandi has the best kids splash pad. Also the 2 bathrooms is amazing for families! Beach culb would be nice but we did not want any 2042 contracts, it is to short for the amount of money,

 

[robinb]

um. It really depends on the kids. OP will soon have 3 kids and 2 parents. There will be crying when they want to be in 3 different areas and someone has to not get their first choice. Plus, the grownups want to play in the pool too!

That is what happens when you go from man-to-man to zone .