Help us make a decision, please!!!

[jandklumley]

Okay-- I know it has been asked before, but DH and I are looking to purchase a resale and are stumped as to where. Here is a little background. DH and I are in mid-30's with a DS who is 4. He loves the pool. We stayed at AKL and loved almost everything (the rooms were too small). We ate at the BW and loved the atmosphere. I am a light sleeper and am a bit concerned about the noise, though.

We like to feel like we are in Florida (ie: VWL is out).

Please, help us make a decision.

Kim

 

[tjkraz]

Well, I'm not going to help you decide, but I will offer one piece of advice. In my opinion, you are best looking at the situation over the next 40-50 years and decide which resort is right for you and your husband. Make your son a secondary part of the decision. All of the resorts have pools and recreation options. And you'll have pleanty of opportunities to try all of the resorts. But, in the end, it's entirely possible that 60-80% of your DVC stays could occur after your son has moved-on with his life. Look at the resorts from the perspective of satisfying yourself and your husband.

Specifically regarding your Boardwalk comment, the only rooms that would experience noise above-and-beyond would be the actual Boardwalk View rooms. We had a quiet pool view there a few months back, and it was no worse than any other resort. If you like the Boardwalk, don't be afraid to make that your Home. Just make a point NOT to book the BW View.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Originally posted by jandklumley
We like to feel like we are in Florida

As tjkraz said, no one can make the decision for you but since you said you want to feel like you are in Florida, you might want to consider Old Key West which is themed on turn-of-the-century Key West, Florida. It is set in very lush surroundings and uses lots of pastel colors! The room sizes are also larger than at the other resorts and the maintenance fees are among the lowest (if not THE lowest) of any of the resorts -- definite selling points for lots of folks! http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=OldKeyWestResortLandingPage&bhcp=1 will take you to information on OKW on Disney's web site.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[jandklumley]

RuthnPaul -

What is the transportation like to the parks from OKW? We have never been to DTD and do not know the distance or the wait time.

Thanks.

 

[RuthnPaul]

OKW is close to Downtown Disney but more removed from all the theme parks. We typically rent a car and don't rely on Disney transportation much (except for the occasional monorail ride!!). Sorry I can't be of more help -- I know there are many others out there that can answer any of your transportation questions!

 

[tjkraz]

We've stayed at OKW a couple of times and found the bus service to be very good. It isn't very far at all from either Epcot or MGM, so those trips are not long at all. I understand you can even see a few of the very highest fireworks from Illuminations from some rooms at OKW.

Bus service to the Magic Kingdom is also very good. Due to the TTC, it's typically faster to take a bus to MK than it is to drive.

OKW is a large resort, but it does have 5 or 6 bus stops throughout the property. Thus you rarely have to walk very far to catch a bus. The resort does have its own bus line--busses are not shared with another property. And, they seem to run on as consistent a schedule as any other resort. We've never waited more than 10-15 minutes to catch a bus.

EDIT: Forgot to add that we really like OKW, too. It really had that feel of a beach condo community. If we hadn't gotten a great deal with our SSR purchase, we would have bought an OKW resale. We recently stayed at the Boardwalk for a few nights. It was nice...but we really preferred the out-of-the-way feel of OKW better. SSR has a similar layout, so we know we'll be thrilled with our Home resort for years to come.

 

[Disney Doll]

OKW is a great resort...it is my home resort x2. The main pool is OK...it will be being improved witht he additon of a slide this fall/early winter.

Another resort to consider if the pool is of utmost importance is the Beach Club Villas. You have Stormalong Bay, and walking/boating access to Epcot and MGM just a short distance away. It's a little further off the Boardwalk than some of the units in the BWV are, so that might take care of your light sleeper problem. The theme is beachy and palm trees and very "Florida" so no problem there.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I don't think you can go wrong. Look for a good deal.

I think one decision is 50 years at top current prices versus less than 40 years for less money.

We bought OKW and have never regretted. Sometimes we stay at other resorts. Sometimes "home." If we ever had trouble getting another resort it wouldn't be a problem for us. Future trips will probably involve as much non-Disney stuff as Disney so park proximity is not as important overall as parking by our door.

In fact, future trips will just as likely be to Hilton Head -- if we can get a condo there.

I think most DVC members will tell you they love their home resort and don't regret where they own.

You'll be the same.

 

[littlestar]

We made our decision based on the fact that we liked a resort feel vs. a condo/apartment complex feel. OKW and SSR have a condo feel (the buildings are more spread out). SSR felt a lot more spread out to me than OKW does. Of course, SSR is going to be a lot larger than OKW is when all the buildings are completed.

If you bought a resale at Boardwalk Villas or Beach Club Villas you would be within walking distance to two parks. Plus, you have the added convenience of room service if you want it because of the resort hotel amenities.

If you bought at OKW you would have the lowest point structure and the largest rooms. By the way, OKW has a very Florida sunny feel - palm trees, pastel buildings, walkways with crushed sea shells. And they are putting in a new slide for the main pool. (I sound like I should own at OKW, don't I?)

SSR would give you an extra 12 years. The SSR buildings are very pretty, but again, I didn't like how spread out it felt. I got along without a car at OKW, but no way would I go to SSR without access to a car.

If I were you, I would tour the properties you are considering and then make up your mind - then buy at the one you like the most.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Where you like to stay best can be very personal for most of us. We LOVE OKW because it feels like a vacation home rather than a hotel, it is quiet, restful and best of all, IT'S IN WDW! Some would prefer the Boardwalk or Beach club for proximity to Epcot and MGM, but in reality, OKW isn't much farther away by bus than walking or boating from the boardwalk area to those two. We find bus service to be incredible from OKW!

Chose which resort you prefer, and go from there. I don't think you would go wrong with any of them. Obviously, the design of VWL doesn't seem to be to your liking though.

 

[las3888]

I think the best advice we received on the boards when buying our resale was to buy where you want to stay. We really like the boardwalk area, so we were on the market for either BWV or BCV. BCV resales don't come up as frequently I think because the resort is a bit smaller, so we ended up at BWV. We are really thrilled with it and really the best part is that we can stay at a top notch resort and save points by booking a standard view room - something you can't do at the other resorts. The standard view rooms are booked by the 7 month window, so it is not usually an option for non-BWV members (of course there are always exceptions but it isn't something you can count on).

To us, OKW and SSR are a bit out of the way and we like to be more where the action is, have dozens and dozens of dining options so close by, and walk to EPCOT and MGM. It all depends on what you like and want.

That being said, it seems you will find a huge group of followers of the boardwalk area on the boards, as well as a huge group of OKW and SSR followers (WVL is really kind of small, but they have their fans as well). You will often see the merits and negatives of each resort being debated often on the boards, and many persuasive arguments can be made for each resort, but I think it's something that you really have to have a feel for what you want on your own. What sounds good on paper might not be what you want in your heart. If you don't know which you are leaning towards, you might consider booking a stay at a place or two you are most interested in before you make your decision. Good luck!!!

 

[jmminarik]

Since a 'Floridian' atmosphere is one criteria you mentioned, the two resorts right now would be OKW or BCV. We love OKW, but even with a new pool slide, the pool at BCV is still going to be more popular.

My thoughts:

1. BCV will always be harder to get than OKW at the 7 month mark due to the fact BCV have fewer rooms.

2. OKW (until SSR opens anyway) will usually be the last resort to 'fill' due to it's size and less urban atmosphere, meaning odds are very good you'd find a room with only a few months notice. It's much less likely you'll get a room at BCV during popular times a few months out.

3. SAB is arguably the 'best' pool on property, while OKW is just now getting a slide.

4. OKW is usually less expensive with regards to maintenance dues.

5. OKW has grand villas, which you probably need OKW points to get during popular times.

Based on historical vacancy patterns and your expressed desires, I'd consider BCV's since you can probably always get an OKW room if you want. And having the BCV points means you can probably more eaily trade them with BWV or VWL owners if you find you need to reserve at those resorts at 11 months.

Oh, and if it seems I'm picking on OKW, I'm not. I prefer it to any other on property resort.
-Joe

 

[SoCalKDG]

You should also decide if you like points to cost less during your stay, which might make BWV or OKW a better deal.

If the MK is your favorite park, then consider VWL.

For my wife and I, we like the resort/hotel feel, thus we chose BWV. If didn't like this, then choose OKW or SSR.

 

[laceemouse]

We bought BCV as Disney was selling it when we bought and we LOVE SAB! We have 4 kids and while I know they will not be living with us forever, we still used SAB as a major deciding factor. Even without the kids we love the location and being able to walk to 2 parks and the BW. We will be staying at OKW in October and I'm sure we will enjoy the larger rooms. We are trying to decide on an add-on and will have to think a lot about where to buy more points.....so much to consider!