Help me pick a home resort - pool priority

[kboo]

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

Yep. We opted to stay 1-on-1. Zone defense takes too much energy and I'm too old.

 

[kniquy]

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.

What make a nice pool for you? Honestly the best pool on property is at BC, but for me the resort itself is lack luster. The pool area is rather large, has a great slide and has a sand bottom.

My family is pretty easy to please - we just want a pool to go in, get wet and have fun going down the slide a few times. So we were very happy with the poly pool. We love the overall feel of the resort, from the pool you can look out and see the MK. From the pool area you have a great QS a few steps away (as well as dole whips!), The kids splash pad area is nice and you can be in the splash pad area with little ones and still be able to see the main pool, so your family is never spread apart. The resort itself doesn't feel massive so if you forget something in your room, you don't have far to walk. Our room at the BC was the absolute last room down a very long hallway. We forgot sunblock and waters and we had to trek back up to the room.

 

[Minniemoo15]

SAB is really fun but with us it becomes more of everyone splits up to take a kid where they want to go. We find ourselves more and more at the BC quiet pool to have some relaxing family time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s AMAZING and my kids love it. But it’s more waterpark fun than relax in a pool fun.

My favourite is Poly. The Splash pad is super, waterslide is within view so my kids can go on their own. The quiet pool is also great with a bubbling water feature, zero entry and its own bar/grill.

Runnerup for me would be Kidani. It’s an awesome pool with a great splash pad area too.

 

[Tar_Heels_Love_WDW]

I've been thinking about this post/thread longer than I care to admit. Here we go OP.

You've got a young family with young children. DVC is a long-term investment. Your family values resort pool time. But there's practicalities in this that can't be ignored. You've got a family of 5 (maybe expanding, I'm not going to purport to know your situation). While Poly is nice, the rooms alone prevent it from being a viable option for your family vacations.

SAB at BCV is great, nobody denies it. But that 2042 expiration and price point simply don't make it a practical choice for your family who wants both short-term value with small children (too big to keep track of all the kids) and long-term value for your money.

Therefore, I think you have 3 real options: VGF, WL, and SSR. All three of these have enough room options for family of your size to be viable. Additionally, the rooms at these 3 are all on the newer side (VGF and BRV could use an update, CCV is pretty new, and SSR obviously newer than the others due to the recent refurb). My thoughts below. For the record, we own at VGF, CCV, and Poly.

1) VGF. I think VGF provides the most immediate enjoyment for your family. The splash pad is well-designed, whimsical, and there's something magical about staying at the Grand Floridian with the monorail and now walking access to MK. That said, the point chart is steep (and we own at VGF). There is some concern that the kids may not want the ultra-intense theming disney vacations of a monorail resort as they get older (odds are that at least 1 of your 3 future tweens and teens will have a "anti-Disney" phase), so burnout is a real possibility.

2) WL (CCV or BRV). I think WL provides a better balance for both short-term and long-term return than VGF with your values (and the point chart is more favorable). The pool area is definitely more suited to younger children, but has more room to grow than VGF (my opinion...fwiw). The boat ride to MK never gets old, and the theming is remarkable. Good food options and nice rooms. Can't go wrong here. WL can feel like a vacation within a vacation, so I'd be less concerned about burnout than with VGF.

3) SSR. I think SSR would suit all your needs perfectly and I view it kind of like your insurance policy. First, the point charts are phenomenal for SSR. Second, SSR has great pools for both small children and all others. Third, odds are that at some point, you'll have a child go through a "I don't like Disney" phase. When this phase hits, the proximity of SSR to Disney Springs is going to be incredible. I think SSR is the most underrated resort on Disney property and if I were you, with your family size and values, I would buy here.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

2) WL (CCV or BRV). I think WL provides a better balance for both short-term and long-term return than VGF with your values (and the point chart is more favorable). The pool area is definitely more suited to younger children, but has more room to grow than VGF (my opinion...fwiw). The boat ride to MK never gets old, and the theming is remarkable. Good food options and nice rooms. Can't go wrong here. WL can feel like a vacation within a vacation, so I'd be less concerned about burnout than with VGF.

We really do have to emphasize that BRV is a 2042 resort, though, and to sleep 5 at CCV requires a 2BR. The point chart jump for that is pretty relevant, so the point chart doesn't compare 1-to-1 with VGF, where the studio and 1BR natively sleep 5.

 

[sethschroeder]

A PVB Studio can sleep 5

Not comfortably but that's me. Is the remodel at least actual mattress fold downs?

Also for us having 3 sleeping surfaces for 5 people isn't something I would plan on for 20 years.

Can I do a single room for us and our 2 kids? Sure for a one time vacation for a specific reason.

I would never plan for decades to have one of our two big vacations annually being in a shared room with my kids.

Maybe I am weird though but the vacation is also for us to have alone time at times.

I also would never buy VGF direct at $255 or whatever it is. I bought BWV resale at like $115/$120 I think and then RIV at $155 direct.

 

[Sparty5]

Would Poly be a more relaxing pool for my wife and I? we have three kids ages 4, 4, & 8. I was leaning toward BCV but Stormalong bay sounds huge and harder to watch the kids.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Would Poly be a more relaxing pool for my wife and I? we have three kids ages 4, 4, & 8. I was leaning toward BCV but Stormalong bay sounds huge and harder to watch the kids.

I think the challenge of Poly is the studio-only nature unless you intend to buy points enough for 2. As the kids age that studio gets small.

 

[MomOTwins]

I think the challenge of Poly is the studio-only nature unless you intend to buy points enough for 2. As the kids age that studio gets small.

Then again, BCV is effectively studio only if you want sleeping surfaces for all the kids and aren't willing to pay the crazy prices for enough points for a 2BR--the 1 BR at BCV only has a bed for the parents and a pull-out couch for 2 kids--you need an air mattress for kid #5.

If you want a 1BR that TRULY sleeps 5, you need one of the following:
BLT
OKW
AKV (both Jambo and Kidani)
RIV
VGF

Of those, the best pools are AKV and VGF. I personally love the RIV pools, but I seem to be in the minority on that.

Not counting Aulani/HHI/VB as sounds like OP wants to be on property.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Then again, BCV is effectively studio only if you want sleeping surfaces for all the kids and aren't willing to pay the crazy prices for enough points for a 2BR--the 1 BR at BCV only has a bed for the parents and a pull-out couch for 2 kids--you need an air mattress for kid #5.

Put me on the record as "studio for 3 kids nooooooo."

 

[WDWRook]

My $0.02

Poly has the nicest pool over all with the volcano pool with a nice bar, it's right by the quick serve, right by the dole whip stand, right by Trader Sams, great views, decent fun slide. PLUS it has the Cove pool which is calmer, saltwater, it's own pool bar, and best of all the two pools are very close to each other so it's easy to got back and forth. IMO, Poly has the best setup overall. Plus, they have cabana's if you need to camp out. We have stayed several times at Poly and never had it overcrowed. We usually do two pool days each trip.

ALK - Kidani is a very nice calm pool with a nice pool bar and limited and decent food and a decent slide. Jambo pool is bigger, it is right next to a nice arcade, has a pool bar that is more limited food wise, and a meh slide. I hate that it has a pebble bottom meaning pool toes for the kids. We prefer Kidani to Jambo by a lot. Unfortunately they are far apart so you need to pick one. Neither were busy when we were there but I know Jambo gets packed.

SSR has four pools (five counting treehouse). The main pool is quite nice, large, nice slide, good bar with food, near community hall, arcade, etc. We preferred the Paddock Pool and pool bar. With so many pools and areas we never have seen it too busy.

BWV has an okay pool, decent pool bar and food, just okay arcade next door. I understand it's rarely busy. Didn't use the DVC pool but there is a quite pool that isn't far, but isn't close to the main pool.

BCV we have not been in but have walked through. It's crazy busy each time we go by. Awesome pool and Awesome slide, but crazy busy. We plan to try BCV someday, but my expectations are low.

I've not tried the others. BBR/CCV looks like a great pool area. VFG looks nice as well. BLT looks like they tossed in a pool as an after thought. In the end, we prefer the Poly. I wish Poly had an arcade and community center near or in between the pools (or DVC can take over Samoa, turn the upper floors to 1Bms, and the lower floor into arcade, community center, fitness center!!!!)

 

[Happy2BMommy0812]

I’m late to the game on this one, but here are my thoughts on what works for my family of 4 …

1) We think Poly has the best pool and we own here (well, no, I’ll agree SAB is amazing and probably number 1, but I also would rule out any 2042 contracts). The pros are that both pools are really nice. The quiet pool is our favorite quiet pool on site - great seating and layout, easy visibility, great bar with a good food menu. The issue is the accommodations. We have been just fine in a studio with our family of 4, even if we had 3rd kid, we’d be ok. But we are fine in small spaces. That said, my kids are both boys closer in age, and we do like to splurge on 1 or 2 bedrooms when we can - we even just bought a RIV contract and plan to do a lot of split stays between the two. We like this plan because we can now do 2 studios is we want at Poly, then move to a 1 or 2 bedroom at RIV. If you think your family would be fine without the full kitchen and laundry, I’d do Poly with enough points for 2 studios (especially as your daughter gets older and hits the teenage years).

2) AK - I love the Jambo pool, and the Kidani pool is the best on site for young kids in my opinion. You can access both, but stay at kidani as the kids are young and move to Jambo as they age up. If we ever add a 3rd contract, it will be here or some unknown new property. The range of accommodations is nice - the 3 bathrooms in the 2 bedroom at kidani could be great for a family with an older daughter and 2 younger boys. I still dislike the expiration of 2057. At least it’s 15 more years than BC, but still 9 years less than Poly and 13 years less than their most recent property, Riviera. But, overall, lots of years worth of value!

3) CC at Wilderness would be my 3rd recommendation. Great pools, love the Geyser Point eating area, beautiful location. I would not do BR at wilderness due to the 2042 expiration, but CC with it’s 2068 gets you a tons of years for the cost, and you still get a nice mixture of accommodations.

OP, let us know what you decided!

 

[Powerline13]

Poly has one of the best kids water areas on property with the volcano slide main pool (also one of the best pools on property) right next to it. There is also something extremely magical being at the top of the Poly slide and watching the fireworks go off over Cinderella's castle then sliding down to watch the rest from the pool.

 

[Keith801]

Yes, Stormalong is big, and it would be tough to watch the kiddies, but when they get older - they will thank you. (IMO)

 

[puffkin]

We have been to most of the DVC resorts and pools over the years. I will preface this by saying my kids are competitive swimmers, play water polo, very strong swimmers from a young age, and we have a pool (my oasis) in our backyard. My one son is a lifeguard now. To say we live our life at the pool is an understatement.

At Disney (which is our home away from home) we are not spend the day at the pool people. We like to swim around a bit to cool off, relax a little, check out the slide or other pool activities etc, but definitely not big pool people. In the cooler months I do enjoy the hot tubs too.

That being said, I will vote AKV (Kidani) HANDS DOWN. I really think that resort and pool have the most for the OP's family to "grow into". Few reasons:
1. Longer contract
2. Cheaper points structure, especially for the standard views
3. 2 bathrooms in a 1 bedroom and 3 in a 2 bedroom as your family ages and grows. This is AWESOME.
4. While all bussing seems like it is slower, it isn't. You are on highways to all the parks and not stop and go lights so bus time is short. Kidani is also first pick up!
5. Parking is SUPER convenient if you drive.
6. Crazy quick drive to CVS/Walgreens/Publix/Target and a variety of offsite places via Sherberth Road. Cheap Uber if you don't have a car.
7. Pool play area is awesome. Even my "too cool for school" teens will play in there, its huge and that fun.
8. Great hot tub.
9. Nice Pool bar/restaurant.
10. Shade by the pool!
11. Slide is one of the better ones on property and no nasty metal steps (pet peeve of mine)
12. You can see animals from the pool bar area
13. Short walk to Jambo house to their pool which is also nice if you want to change it up.
14. Even in standard view rooms, there are so many areas of the resort to see animals