Looking to buy a resale...Which DVC resort is your favorite?

[DarthGoofy]

My wife and I are seriously considering buying a resale DVC property. We would like to hear from you members on which resort you like the best and why.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We are owners of the BWV, BCV and VWL but we consider the BWV our favorite resort. One big reason is the location (walk to MGM and EPCOT) but we also like our ability to use less points and get a standard view room or more points and get a guaranteed view of the Boardwalk. This Thanksgiving we are doing that for the very first time. We love the pools and Community Hall too. One thing about the BWV that is overlooked is that the front side has that Boardwalk atmosphere but the back side (where most of the rooms are) is as quiet as you could ever possibly want in a resort.

I could also give you a list of the things we love about the other resorts as well, but you asked about our favorite.

HBC

 

[Maistre Gracey]

While all of the DVC resorts are top notch, our favorite is VWL. My wife and I like the resorts that lend themselves to heavier theming, such as AKL, The Poly, and VWL/WL. I am not sure that words, or even pictures, can really explain just how incredible this resort is. You simply must see it for yourself.

Of course this is only my personal opinion, and many other members here prefer the other resorts. All of the resorts are done as only Disney can do them, so it truly boils down to personal taste. If location and being close to certain parks is important, than that also should be taken into consideration.

Good luck!...

MG

 

[JimC]

Just to make it even harder, we like OKW the best. Condo style development, quiet, laid back, large units, lowest cost to buy and own -- the original and still the best in our book.

Then again, BCV is a great location and has SAB.

Each resort has its own theme and particular strengths. You can not go wrong with any DVC resort. The best advice we got when we were looking was to buy where you want to stay the most. If location is not important, buy the best value.

Good luck.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW is our favorite because we like the vacation home style villas/buildings better than the hotel style hallways etc. We like the laid back atmosphere, and being able to park outside your door. Also LOVE the huge balcony and spacious kitchen/living room. We also enjoy all the wildlife around the area, and the theme is nice and relaxing as well. It truely feels like a vacation HOME.

You might like to take a trip to WDW and go to visit each of the DVC resorts to decide which is best for you.

 

[Disney Doll]

OKW has large rooms, exterior entrances(so it feels more like a condo tha a hotel,parking outside your unit(sometimes outside your door, depending on where the unit is located!), good views from every room, the little boat to DD, did I mention the large rooms?

BCV has Stormalong Bay(SAB) and a walking/boating location to Epcot and MGM, not to mention being located at the Boardwalk so you have all that.

BWV has the walking/boating to Epcot and MGM, but no SAB.

VWL has boating to MK, heavy themeing, very serene and restful.

SSR has boating to DD.

VWL,BCV,BWV have smaller room sizes than OKW, but still very ample for a vacation condo. I don't know about SSR room size.

There are websites with pictures, there may be some pictures on this website, so you can see the different themeing, and see which appeals to you the most.

DH and I own at OKW. We like the beachy feel, the big rooms, the relaxed pace there. We have stayed at BCV and BWV for a change of pace, and they are nice to be able to walk to the 2 theme parks.

 

[Simba's Mom]

OK, I'm going to make it even harder! It's quite possible that you and DW will have different favorites! We do-DH loves OKW far above everything else and I love BCV best. Fortunately DH isn't big on Christmas decorations and I enjoy solo trips, so we go to OKW together, then I go solo to BCV around CHristmas time. I must admit that I really love the porches at OKW, and the size of the units when there are 2 of us. Now, you didn't think that was all I was going to suggest to make it harder! You may not develop a favorite until you actually stay in every DVC location. DH drove around OKW a few years ago and was not impressed, shrugged his shoulders and thought "OK". But once he stayed there....And VWL, on the other hand, we looked at, went "Wow, I'd love it here", but then after we stayed there, we weren't impressed. So you try to pick a favorite, but it may change.

 

[OneMoreTry]

What makes you think my favorite would be your favorite?




Decide on YOUR favorite!!

 

[las3888]

Well, we are about to embark on our first trip 'home' later this month. We bought at BWV because we LOVE the boardwalk location. We don't want to have what feels like a timeshare - we want to feel like we are staying at a nice resort hotel, so I don't think OKW would work as well for us. We were a little torn between BCV and BWV, but chose BWV in the end--partly because they had more resales available, but also because we liked that we could book a standard view and save on points. We have 2 trips booked so far and have banked points on top of that. I feel like we are really using our points efficiently, yet still staying at a great resort in a great location. I think we will be doomed when we book a 1BR or a boardwalk view...it may be hard to go back to a studio or standard view!

What is your favorite DVC resort?

 

[chainkid]

We own at BWV and it is by far our favorite resort because we like being close to the action. I love the light sunny interior spaces. You have a choice of fun slide with noisy but fun pool area or a very quiet private pool spot with a community hall with lots of activities for the kids. We like being able to reserve the boardwalk view for our trips...there is no better view from any other DVC location. Standard view for less points have great views as well probably equal to a preferred view at other locations. We love being able to rent a grand villa which isn't available in all locations especially with the boardwalk balconies.

The room sizes are more than adequate despite being smaller than those at OKW. Our family always has plenty of room...but we always reserve a unit large enough to give us plenty of space.
We love to eat so the vast amount of really good places within walking distance is a real plus for this DVC. I also love valet parking with door to door luggage delivery which is free except for the tip. I like having room service on those occasions when its really bad weather or someone is sick.

We have stayed or visited all the DVC locations and each has its own charm and will have great appeal to different people. It's hard to base your decision on other people's opinion. While I love the theming of the VWL and the lodge, I find the whole resort very dark for my taste but I'm from the northeast where it is dark alot of the time so no appeal at all to me.

OKW has the nicest size rooms, and the decor is light and airy.The porch is more usable than the balconies at the other location so if you llike to hang out this place is for you. The views while all are pretty good not many are spectacular. The pool areas are hohum and not always that close to your villa. Only one restaurant within walking distance. I think in a few years when I retire I may spend more of my time here as it is more conducive to longer stays for quieter relaxed vacations. It is not the place I would take my family now as we like too much activity. So it depends on your age and your families preferences.

BCV are similar to BWV but still not my thing. I feel more like this is an add on to the beach club. The decor is very nice and in some ways better than BWV in the kitchen -living room area but I hate the bathroom set up...too many doors and a super small closet. The pool area is the best on property. Again the resort offers some very good restaurants, as well as being the closest walk to Epcot. Some people absolutely adore it here so it all depends.

I haven't seen SS yet so I really don't know anything to add here. I'm sure it will be somebodies favorite as Disney makes them all different but special. Before you buy go visit as it is the most important part of owning DVC. It is getting harder and harder to get reservations at the 7 month window at the smaller resorts. I like to stay at them all but if I could only stay at the BWV I would be satisfied with my purchase.

 

[bonzie1]

We like BWV. There's point flexibility, standard view options and location is great.

OKW has a lower maintenance fee,and the rooms are huge when compared to other DVC properties.

For us, Boardwalk Villas have the best all round options. They are definitely not an "add on" like Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club.

 

[Geezer]

I like OKW because it doesn't seem like a hotel, but a very nice resort full of villas. Makes me feel special. I travel in hotels too much for work, so don't like those kind of resorts.

 

[bonzie1]

DarthGoofy... now that we've all kicked in our 2 cents... have you made any decisions? Are you any closer to joining up with DVC?

Good Luck!

 

[DarthGoofy]

Well, yes and no. My DW really likes OKW, and I am leaning toward the BWV. Now what to do about that

We may end up taking a trip just to check out those two resorts and then go from there.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by DarthGoofy
Well, yes and no. My DW really likes OKW, and I am leaning toward the BWV. Now what to do about that

We may end up taking a trip just to check out those two resorts and then go from there.

You could not have picked 2 resorts more dissimilar. You also picked the 2 resorts that are the most often debated about and tend to have the strongest and most vocal advocates.
Good luck!

Edited to add:
BTW, our favorite by far is BWV. BWV has it all: location, convenience, beauty, elegance and every resort guest service or amenity you could ever desire.

 

[MAC3]

My Favorite is BWV because of the walk to Epcot & MGM. My DH's favorite is OKW because of the size of the rooms, the fact you can park right outside your unit and it is a very relaxing place.

OKW is actually my 2nd fave!

Good luck. You won't be sorry no matter where you choose as we can stay at all of them!

Lisa

 

[erikthewise]

We love BCV, though it's hardly an objective judgement as we've not yet stayed at any of the others. I would like to try some of the others, but we make our 11 month reservation, and at 7 months nobody wants to switch!

We love being right next door to Epcot and to the Boardwalk. We have been fortunate enough to get a 5th floor Epcot view on both of our previous visits with a spectacular view of Spaceship Earth; we can also see Illuminations fireworks.

We like the Beach Club resort itself. Though we've never actually stayed there we almost certainly would have had we not bought DVC. We like the lobby and enjoy eating at both Cape May and Beaches & Cream.

I have to admit I'm a little envious of the short walk from BWV to MGM. It's still a reasonable walk from BCV but significantly longer. The SAB pool complex more than makes up for this. We've had a great time there and haven't even done the slide yet.

Parking at BCV is ideal. Self-parking is right next to the resort! We usually parking within 100 feet or less of an entrance. Transportation may not be ideal, but with a rental car it doesn't matter. BCV is centrally located on property, so AK, MK, and DTD are each literally just a few minutes drive away. Of course you can't actually drive to MK but the entrance to MK parking really is just a 5-minute drive.

One hears various complaints about traffic noise, bathroom doors, AC, etc., but none of them has ever been the least concern to us. And we bought when it was NEW! Like buying a new car.

 

[BWVDee]

And we bought when it was NEW! Like buying a new car.

We also bought our first BWV pts when the resort first opened and although it was really something to be in a brand new resort; in all truthfulness all the WDW resorts are maintained so well that the age of the resort is not even evident. It is really a non issue.