I wasn't meaning this as a thread to bash the Contemporary...nor do I think anyone is "bashing" so much as stating preferences. I have fond feelings for the CR from a nostalgic point of view. It was one of the original hotels, I can remember as a kid going through the building on the monorail thinking it was the absolute
coolest thing I would ever do. asianway's explanation of the original "theme" for the Contemporary clears up a lot of stuff, and I am also glad that it seems that they are getting back to the original thinking.
It is just my personal preference not to be quite so "in the thick" of things when I am on vacation. My DVC home resort is OKW, so I prefer that more relaxed pace that still has the Disney feel, and for me, OKW combines relaxed with Disney very well. VWL does too, but they weren't built when we bought OKW and when VWL was built, we didn't have the funds to purchase more points there.
Thankfully we have been able to stay there a few times over the years, which is a treat for us.
I like the BC/YC area, but that may be because it has sentimental value....DH & I honeymooned there. But even that area, with all the hustle bustle of the Boardwalk, can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. We do like staying there for the F&W or Flower & Garden festivals, because of the proximity to Epcot and being able to walk in & out to enjoy those special events.
Having stayed at AKL, I will say that buying DVC points there doesn't appeal to me, again because the themeing of the resort doesn't appeal to me...I'm really not into that whole African thing. Enjoyed staying there for a few nights, enjoyed seeing the animals, enjoyed the Uzima pool complex, but I can't see wanting to buy points there. Just personal preference...nothing against anyone else who enjoys that area and themeing.
Just got back from SSR...again a lovely resort, enjoyed the pool, the room was nice. The biggest issue I had with SSR was, agaon, the themeing. I live in CT, so upstate NY is very close to what my home area is like. The furnishings at SSR, while absolutely gorgeous, are the kind of furnishings I see around here where I live, so I didn't quite so much feel like I was on vacation. Staying at OKW, with it's tropical theme, light furnishings, palm trees, relaxed atmosphere....that says "vacation" to me. It's kind of like staying at Coronado Springs for some people. If you live in Arizona or New Mexico, CSR is like where you live, so it seems a little less like vacation. But someone from the Southwest would probably love VWL or SSR, because they are so different from what they would be used to.
That's really the beauty of DVC...there is something for everyone.