Kid friendly DVC

[ranthony]

Now--it's WDW after all, so I realize that all DVCs must be "kid-friendly".

But, which do you think is the most fun for kids to stay at, and why? My 3 boys are 6,2 and 2 and we're considering DVC. AKV is near the top of the list but we would consider resale if we thought that another resort was a better match for 3 active little guys.

Any thoughts?

 

[Chuck S]

At their current ages, likely all the DVC resorts would have appeal to them, after all they are at Disney World. One thing to consider, is what appeals to them at ages 6 & 2 be the same thing that appeals to them at, say 10 & 6 or 14 & 10, or even 16 & 12.

I would purchase basically for what appeals most to you personally, because likely when the kids are grown and out of the house, you and your spouse will be enjoying WDW as a couple for many years into the future.

 

[wildernessDad]

I totally agree with Chuck. Your boys may not even like Disney once they become teenagers.

 

[ranthony]

I would purchase basically for what appeals most to you personally, because likely when the kids are grown and out of the house, you and your spouse will be enjoying WDW as a couple for many years into the future.

Right now, this sounds like it's an eternity away...although, it sure does sound heavenly!

 

[wildernessDad]

Right now, this sounds like it's an eternity away...although, it sure does sound heavenly!

It doesn't always happen that way either. My last child, my only son, is special. He is now 21 and still lives with us. He loves going to WDW with us and likes Wilderness Lodge the best.

I think that your kids will love whichever resort you pick and will probably love it the most.

 

[DIZBOUND]

We chose to purchase at AKV for the main reason that the view from the balcony is always different. My children both boys 1 and 5 absolutely loved looking at the animals with us all day and night, whenever we were at the villa. Infact the 1 year old preferred looking at the Bingos (flamingos) as opposed to the playground or the pool! My oldest enjoyed the binoculars we brought along. SO, we felt that AKV offered something for all of us. Gook luck in your decision.

 

[james'mommy]

We've stayed at the majority of the DVC resorts and I would have to say DS5favorite was Beach Club because of the pool.

 

[dizney4us]

It doesn't always happen that way either. My last child, my only son, is special. He is now 21 and still lives with us. He loves going to WDW with us and likes Wilderness Lodge the best.

I think that your kids will love whichever resort you pick and will probably love it the most.

WildernessDad, I bet your a pretty special Dad too! My brother is very special, 25, lives at home with Mom and Dad and LOVES Disney!

 

[Granny]

I would purchase basically for what appeals most to you personally, because likely when the kids are grown and out of the house, you and your spouse will be enjoying WDW as a couple for many years into the future.

I completely agree with this outstanding advice!

I think that your kids will love whichever resort you pick and will probably love it the most.

I also agree wholeheartedly with this. If you love a place, your children will surely attach to it.

BCV has an awesome pool. SSR, OKW and BWV have Community Halls which are great places for young ones. VWL has great trails for hiking and bike riding and the best (IMHO) DVC boat rental location with Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon at your disposal. AKV has the animals...almost another theme park in itself.

So obviously, as the OP indicated, they are all "kid friendly". I cannot imagine a kid disliking any DVC resort at WDW.

 

[llmurphy17]

My three kids love so far all the Dvc's that we stayed at but AKV did offer them the most variety to enjoy. Since they are 1,3,6 the animals all are on the top of their favorite list.

 

[Granny]

My 3 boys are 6,2 and 2 and we're considering DVC. AKV is near the top of the list but we would consider resale if we thought that another resort was a better match for 3 active little guys.

I re-read this and if you think you will like the theming, AKV might be your best bet. I'm assuming there is a spouse or SO in the picture and AKV is the only DVC resort that allows 5 people of all ages to stay in a 1BR. Of course, you don't have to own at AKV to stay there, but with the various view classifications you might need to own there to get exactly what you want at any time of the year.

And depending on your age, the additional 15 years might be very worthwhile to you.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Buy where you want the 8 - 11 month booking advantage. At 7 months, it's first come, first served at any resort. The beauty of DVC is as your family needs change, you can change. We have been going to Disney since he was 3. We've gone in the summer (June, July & August), Christmas & Spring Break. We have stayed at the values (all 3 All Stars) and have hit 3 (SSR, OKW & BWV) of the 6 (maybe 7 ) DVCs at WDW. My 12 year old enjoys Disney, but at 12, if I asked him where he would want me to purchase, he would say Vero Beach!!!

Some things to consider...SSR is the largest resort and will be the easiest to book at 7 months. OKW has the cheapest point structure and is now offering a 2057 expiration date through Disney. If you think you'd like 2-BRs or GVs in the future or longer trips, it a WONDERFUL resort. AKV would be fun at any age, but I'm not sure if just DH and I were taking a trip, we'd choose to stay there. BCV, BWV and VWL all expire 2042 and therefore, we did not consider them. However, if you're heart is there, I would consider buying there, as they are smaller resorts and more difficult to book during certain times.

Best of luck!

 

[crisi]

We own BWV - back when we purchased there were fewer options - and fewer yet in the price range we wanted resale. Our kids were 2 and 3 when we purchased.

BWV is, in my opinion, not the best resort for little kids. The pool is very deep, the slide is particularly large, the Boardwalk itself is busy and noisy - especially when fireworks are going off. Little kids aren't going to be doing community hall crafts (and we don't take time for them). There aren't a lot of fast food options.

And yet, its our resort, that is where we stay and the kids LOVE our resort. They really don't know that they don't get SAB or animals - they know they get a cool pool with a slide and a resort they know. When we ask them if they want to switch - they say they don't.

Plus, they are already eight and nine - its gone by in a blink of the eye. The slide is now wonderful (and the BWV slide is one of the best), the activities on the Boardwalk are engaging. The noise from the fireworks don't affect us - we are watching them. And my son can get a Playstation fix in the community hall (though we still don't take the time.)

In another blink they will be walking to MGM themselves to meet up with us in Epcot for dinner.

 

[DeeCee735]

In our experience our kids loved (love) Disney even more as teenagers because they have the freedom to go out and about themselves, opening up a whole new way to experience it. We first took them when they were 6 (twins), they are now almost 19 and love it still. We purchased at the BWV, they LOVED the slide at the pool when they were little, and love it still as crazy kids! As children they loved the BW's nightly entertainment, candy shoppe, bakery, community hall, surrey bikes. As teens they love ESPN Zone and Beaches and Cream Shoppe over at Y&BC. They like being able to hang around the BW at night, or go into the parks easily by themselves. They love sitting down to dinner together (without mom and dad) at Big River Grille, they like the choices of places to eat without having to go far.

We fell in love with BWV in 98, DH wouldn't buy in then, in 2000 we stayed off property, and that was the clincher for DH, we bought then and there at BWV and know we will always love it there. We actually added on there twice.

Good luck with your decision, you won't regret it! Have fun planning.....

 

[ranthony]

Thank you everyone for your advise and I especially liked some of the family histories.

We've pretty much decided to buy at AKV (we love it there) but with 160 points as opposed to our original thinking of 200. We may need to borrow from time to time to get what we need, but I'll go back to work in a few years and I can forsee either adding on or buying another contract at another resort.

What I have definately learned from reading these and other boards recently is that you should buy where you really want to be. I'll admit, it sure is tempting to scoop up a an SSR resale at a much better per point price, and it's lovely there, it's just not a resort I personally would be happy with.

Now, the only question we have is whether we should buy in before the end of Feb. to get the promotion currently offered or wait and see if the ecomony induces even better incentives.