Help picking resort for family of 8

[TIMLEO007]

We are planning a surprise trip for our blended family in Jan 2014 for 2 adults and 6 kids (15, 14, 13, 12, 12, 8). We will be staying ~7-8 days mostly in the parks each day and getting a 2bdrm.

GF and I did a scouting trip in April and stayed at Boardwalk Villas on DVC points which we thought would be nice for the kids to roam the boardwalk by themselves. The only knock against going back there is that GF and I have been there already.....lol. To complicate even more, my fav park is EPCOT, least favorite is AK by far. Not sure which one kids will like the best at their ages now.

I have also stayed at VWL with ex-wfe before (a knock against it with GF for that reason alone...lol)

BLT rooms look decent compared to other DVC 2bdrms, but GF not big on the resort theme.....but love the location

BC/YC we think is comparable to BWV

Ideally looking for a DVC resort with the following:

enjoyment for kids to go roaming around by themselves (if you were their ages which would you have the most fun at)
moderate type dining options (will be eating breakfast in room each day)


Give me a reason to pick one over the others out of the following (even pics to help sway):

BWV
VWL
BC/YC
BLT

thank you in advance

 

[sharadoc]

Moderate and value level resorts have more self-contained activities and areas that would be good for kids to roam alone. All of the DVC properties that you list are attached to deluxe level hotels that have public areas - people come there to eat, drink, do activities, etc. Deluxes don't have food courts, just smaller snack places at the pool or lobby so not so easy to grab a quick meal or sack.

I can't help with recommendations between them all, but I do know that the ones with a Community Hall (BWV and BLT) have extra stuff for free for the kids to do that are more self-contained - video game systems hooked up to individual TVs, a table game like air hockey or ping pong, board games and DVDs to check out, crafts and activities.

Good luck deciding.