If not Riviera, where?

[LadyNia]

I have a question for those of you who love Riviera. Where do you stay when you don't stay at Riviera?
Looking to stay somewhere different next year to save some points for the following year's trip but I feel like I am constantly changing my mind about what our family might like. We are a family of 3, our son will be 4 at time of travel. Looking to book a 1 bedroom, and ideally the resort would have a good pool area. So far I have considered Beach Club, Boulder Ridge, AK Kidani (with a rental car).

 

[DL1WDW2]

My first choice is always BLT and my second is always the Poly .

 

[DVCsloth]

We own at Riviera, VGF and CCV. We love staying at CCV and save a few points compared to our other home resorts. We love the WL pool, and the entire resort feels like we are home.

 

[beccasmom]

We really enjoy BRV and BLT (just arrived home from a stay at BRV and we’re staying at the RR in early November). Very nice pools at the WL and BRV is newly renovated. A one-bedroom unit at BLT has two full bathrooms, which is a nice perk, but the studio there is quite small (although larger than the RR tower studio). There are no restaurants in BLT itself, but we find access to the CR to be easy enough. I find the pool there to be underwhelming though.

 

[TinkB278]

Poly and AKV are always my runner ups!

 

[tjkraz]

Not to be glib but they all have nice rooms, pools, etc. And your 4-year old won't care.

Speaking as the parent of 2 college age kids who made many trips to WDW. When they get older, kids may develop some preferences. Even then, I never heard complaints that a trip was a miserable failure because of the resort choice.

 

[CarolynFH]

I have a question for those of you who love Riviera. Where do you stay when you don't stay at Riviera?
Looking to stay somewhere different next year to save some points for the following year's trip but I feel like I am constantly changing my mind about what our family might like. We are a family of 3, our son will be 4 at time of travel. Looking to book a 1 bedroom, and ideally the resort would have a good pool area. So far I have considered Beach Club, Boulder Ridge, AK Kidani (with a rental car).

At Kidani you have access to both the Jambo and the Kidani pool areas, and I’ve read that Kidani has one of the best splash areas among WDW resorts. Also, the 1BR has two full bathrooms, which gives it extra value to us when someone is sleeping in the living room (even when not, because DH loves having a bathroom to himself!).

 

[Flash_Sloth]

We own at Riv, BLT, and VGF, and those are the resorts where we prefer to stay. The 1BR at BLT is very nice with 2 full baths and, if you're in the outside ring, big sweeping views.

 

[LadyNia]

Not to be glib but they all have nice rooms, pools, etc. And your 4-year old won't care.

Speaking as the parent of 2 college age kids who made many trips to WDW. When they get older, kids may develop some preferences. Even then, I never heard complaints that a trip was a miserable failure because of the resort choice.

Yes, definitely have to keep this in mind! No matter where we stay we’ll have a fun trip.

 

[LadyNia]

I was originally thinking BLT but changed my mind after seeing it was in need of refurbishment and checking out the pool situation. So those who have stayed there recently, is the condition of the rooms okay? Is the pool fun for little ones?

 

[jimmytammy]

Looking to book a 1 bedroom, and ideally the resort would have a good pool area. So far I have considered Beach Club, Boulder Ridge, AK Kidani

What time of the year are you hoping to book, since you will be at the 7 mos. mark? That may make a difference on your choices.
With that being said...

BCV has a great pool and all the amenities of the various resorts around it. My thoughts would be this, Riviera is really close to Epcot and HS, would this factor in since you have stayed in this area more recently?

BRV(Sorry, I still call it Villas at Wilderness Lodge, old guy here), both pools have great theming, not as exciting as BCV, but still great theming. Geyser Pt is nearby for refreshments, the whole Lodge is really peaceful and quiet. Theming of the resort is best on property IMO. Boat or bus ride to MK is 10-15 mins tops

Kidani, though off the beaten path a bit, is another theming to the max kinda resort. Pools have awesome theming, Sanaa and its lounge are among the best eateries on property. Halls can be a bit daunting, especially if you end up way down near the end.

Have you considered BLT for proximity to MK, 10-15 min walk or monorail, plus 1 beds there have 2 full baths. Lots of amenities at the nearby Contemporary plus monorail wisk away to Poly and GF for more choices of eateries. Pool is big, cool slide.

 

[tom1944]

I was originally thinking BLT but changed my mind after seeing it was in need of refurbishment and checking out the pool situation. So those who have stayed there recently, is the condition of the rooms okay? Is the pool fun for little ones?

We just got back. In our room there were some chips on some furniture and the carpet in the hallway was looking old.
None of it bothered me and more importantly it did not bother my wife.

As to the pool my 4 year old granddaughter loved it. She went down the slide about 500 times. We only spent a half day at the pool so most any of the pools would be fine for us.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

I was originally thinking BLT but changed my mind after seeing it was in need of refurbishment and checking out the pool situation. So those who have stayed there recently, is the condition of the rooms okay? Is the pool fun for little ones?

I last stayed at BLT a little over a year and a half ago, and our room looked a little bit worn and due for a refurb. However, that didn't stop me from buying BLT and booking there for the spring; I'm really looking forward to my next stay there. I can't comment about the pool with respect to kids, but I know that when you're staying at BLT, you can use both the BLT and Contemporary pools.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

BLT SSR
then I use my Marriott point at the swan

 

[kanerf]

I was originally thinking BLT but changed my mind after seeing it was in need of refurbishment and checking out the pool situation. So those who have stayed there recently, is the condition of the rooms okay? Is the pool fun for little ones?

The rooms are ok and are coming up for refurb next year anyway.

 

[LadyNia]

You’ve all given me a lot to think about. Thanks for the input! Based on this thread I think we’ll be choosing between BLT and Boulder Ridge.

 

[TCRAIG]

My first choice is always BLT and my second is always the Poly .

BLT pools are blah at best and Poly doesn’t have 1Brs…I would do AKK savanna view or BRV/WL…or VGF

 

[Robbie Cottam]

BLT pools are blah at best and Poly doesn’t have 1Brs…I would do AKK savanna view or BRV/WL…or VGF

Kidani’s pool was ok to maybe nice at best….. and kinda out in the middle of NO WHERE….

 

[TCRAIG]

Kidani’s pool was ok to maybe nice at best….. and kinda out in the middle of NO WHERE….

I liked the Kidani pool - especially for younger kids..

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I liked the Kidani pool - especially for younger kids..

Our kids found it “boring”. And the walk through the garage and parking lot didn’t help….