If you had a choice

[uandmfan]

Long story short, we may have a chance to stay at a DVC resort in late January. Our choices seem to be

Animal Kingdom (safari view)
Boulder Ridge
Old Key West
Saratoga Springs

We will have 7-8 days there and do 6 park days. We will have an infant, a 12 year old and a 9 year old. Our parks will likely be 2 days MK, 2 days HS, and one day at EP and AK. No hoppers. If it's not too cold we will swim (and are Canadian so not too cold is relative! )

I'm sort of tempted by the AK safari view but I know the resort is far from everything.

Which one would you pick? Why? Any advice is super appreciated. We will be happy to stay at any of the resorts, but if we have a choice, what should we pick?

 

[PalmettoPath]

Solely based on your group make-up and intended plans, I think Boulder Ridge might be the best fit overall.

 

[Sandisw]

Out of those choices, BRV would be my pick...especially since the rooms are newly renovated and the ease to MK by boat is really nice!

 

[Fitzwoman27]

I would say ak lodge with the kids if they love animals. Unique hotel and great pool. My nieces loved it and the safari view for the kids is entertainment. It’s far but so is the other three. Boulder Ridge would be second place but it is the only one I haven’t stayed at.

 

[Narcoossee11]

OKW rooms are larger.

 

[Brian Noble]

Each has a reason to recommend it.

AKL-Safari is a unique experience, and might form some very fond memories.

BRV is at my favorite WDW resort. The setting on Bay Lake is divine, and the resort is peaceful despite being around the corner from MK. The boat trip back and forth is a lot of fun.

OKW whispers island time everywhere you turn. It has the most lush landscaping of any of the WDW resorts, and you know you are in Florida while you are there. Rooms will be a bit larger and studios have a second queen bed rather than a pull-out.

SSR is quietly sophisticated. It has great walking paths throughout the resort that are on the interiors away from the roadway. The proximity to Disney Springs gives you lots of dining options.

 

[Her Dotness]

Much depends upon which parks you're most interested in as well as how you feel about bus-only resorts.

Of those you list as possibles, only Boulder Ridge offers boat transportation in addition to the bus. The bus station is also near BRV, making it convenient. We love the boat ride from there to MK and used it more than the bus even to get to Epcot. However, we don't mind getting on the monorail at MK and actually prefer the resort loop one to the TTC where we change to the Epcot monorail.

If you're more intent upon getting to parks faster so as not to waste time, any of the other three may work fine for you.

BRV is sooooo quiet and peaceful. Definitely a refuge from the overstimulation of the parks. And, unlike OKW or SSR which may require using their interior shuttles to get to the bus station, WL is compact enough that to bus or boat is an easy walk.

Besides, the open-air lounge, Geyser Point, is fantastic for a late QS meal or snack and watching MK fireworks. It's right alongside Bay Lake. Great food, too.

 

[leebee]

We've stayed at AKL several times and honestly, I am not sure why everyone says "it's so far out." A bus ride is a bus ride, and we've had long bus rides from just about any resort to MK (unless you are in a MK resort). Really, if you look at a map, it's MK that is far from most of the other Disney locations! [I really don't enjoy using the Disney buses at all, but I will if car rental proves prohibitive. I find them all equally annoying, whether from the AllStars or the Poly!]
We love AKL and stay there as often as possible, requesting a partial-savanna-view room. We've also stayed as SSR and liked the proximity to Disney Springs but it's a bus trip to the parks, same with OKW. However, the rooms at OKW are somewhat larger, which might be important, and OKW has boat transportation to Disney Springs. Never stayed at Boulder Ridge. I think your kids will have more to do/see at AKL than at OKW or SSR.

ETA: Don't count on swimming; I'm from Maine and we don't swim at Disney in January, usually! Also, a point to keep in mind is that if the weather is chilly, the boat from BR to MK is going to be rather brisk!

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Boulder Ridge or Animal Kingdom Jambo. Both resorts have mostly interior access to food of all tiers.

 

[Pinnochio]

Hands down Boulder Ridge....it's just so beautiful and tranquil....and recently refurbished....

 

[jimmytammy]

Animal Kingdom (safari view)
Boulder Ridge
Old Key West
Saratoga Springs

All of them are very good resorts, in their own right.
1. AKV is farther away than most other resorts, but the Safari view is awesome. If your kids are into animals, this might be a tipping point fro this resort, laid back
2. BRV(sorry, old guy here, its still Villas at Wilderness Lodge for me), the boat to MK, fireplaces in 2-3 places in Jan might be a nice respite from the parks, laid back vibe, quiet
3. OKW laid back, boat to DS, larger rooms than the others
4. SSR laid back, boat or walk to DS

BRV would be my 1st choice that time of year, plus, IMO is the most beautiful of all DVC resorts

 

[uandmfan]

Thanks everyone! Although I'm now stuck between BVR and AK!! LOL

For those of you who have been to AK, how much of a pain are the busses? I just want to make sure it won't affect us a ton. We plan to RD EP and AK. Maybe one day at MK as well. But I imagine if we aren't in the area it's a ride to MK anyway?

Do the busses run often? Can we see times in the app now? Does it matter which DVC resort we are at in terms of getting on a bus heading out early?

Thank you!

 

[disneydreamer781]

I did the buses from BWV to AK during our May trip and it was fairly quick so I don't consider AK resorts far from any park but MK. To me, it's MK that's far, not AKL. If you plan on focusing on MK without a car then avoid it. You can boat over to MK from WL.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks everyone! Although I'm now stuck between BVR and AK!! LOL

For those of you who have been to AK, how much of a pain are the busses? I just want to make sure it won't affect us a ton. We plan to RD EP and AK. Maybe one day at MK as well. But I imagine if we aren't in the area it's a ride to MK anyway?

Do the busses run often? Can we see times in the app now? Does it matter which DVC resort we are at in terms of getting on a bus heading out early?

Thank you!

They run around every 20 minutes but I believe first thing in the morning due to some of the parks opening at different t times, they may come more often.

We do not tend to do rope drop any more snd split stay at VGF and RIV 99% of the time which leaves buses for AK.

And, unless we have someone on a scooter, we use a Lyft to AK.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks everyone! Although I'm now stuck between BVR and AK!! LOL

For those of you who have been to AK, how much of a pain are the busses? I just want to make sure it won't affect us a ton. We plan to RD EP and AK. Maybe one day at MK as well. But I imagine if we aren't in the area it's a ride to MK anyway?

Do the busses run often? Can we see times in the app now? Does it matter which DVC resort we are at in terms of getting on a bus heading out early?

Thank you!

If you want to make rope drop for early entry, no matter which resort you’re staying in and no matter which park you’re headed to, the advice is to be at the bus stop/boat dock etc. approximately 90 minutes before scheduled early entry opening time. That way you’ll be on the first bus/boat, which will come around 60 minutes before opening time, and you’ll be near the front of the crowd of people entering the park when it opens (which might be before posted time).

 

[DeeBee3]

I'd say BRV due to new refurb, but the AKL Kidani have extra full bathroom in a 1-bedroom where BRV only has the 1. Not sure what size room you were looking at

 

[CarolynFH]

PS I’d vote for BRV, if you’re booking a studio, for location. AKV-Kidani if you’re booking a 1BR, for the extra full bathroom and the single sleeper chair in the living room (so everyone has their own bed).

 

[AC168]

All good choices. If our family, I’d half the time at AKL Safari view and then half the time at SSR. The reason for SSR is Disney Springs has much better food, shopping, and golf.

 

[Micca]

Not the best choice for my tastes, but with the kids I vote BRV. I think it's important to have the boat ride from MK to the resort.

Second place would be AK, followed by OKW and SSR. These are all very nice places, for accommodations, it's just what makes it most convenient for your family.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

Thanks everyone! Although I'm now stuck between BVR and AK!! LOL

For those of you who have been to AK, how much of a pain are the busses? I just want to make sure it won't affect us a ton. We plan to RD EP and AK. Maybe one day at MK as well. But I imagine if we aren't in the area it's a ride to MK anyway?

Do the busses run often? Can we see times in the app now? Does it matter which DVC resort we are at in terms of getting on a bus heading out early?

Thank you!

The buses are always a crapshoot. We had awful bus days at AKV and at Wilderness Lodge.