Newbie Question - Best Resort for Kids

[tringrove]

Hi All - We're considering becoming members, but want to get an idea of which DVC resorts are kid friendly. We've got a 5 yr old and a newborn so we're probably going to be visiting more often. We did the tour of SSR and AKV and loved 'em both. Access to a pool and a some down time are at the top of our list when we visit. Please share your ideas

Oh ... we might take the occasional trip with the grandparents which takes us from a fam of 4 to 8 ...

 

[hakepb]

I'd say it is more typical that kids would love the animals at AKV (and I think Grandparents may also really love that unique experience) The new pool and play area at Kidani should be outstanding, too! (possibly rivaling the great BCV pool, FYI you can buy at any DVC resort, non-current are cheaper on the resale market, but you can insist on buying any DVC resort through Disney)

The other things to think of include which parks and dining at other resorts you most enjoy... (proximity may give you more time doing what you most enjoy) If you spend most of your park time at MK , and always do Chef Micky's and Ohana, BLT may start being the most apealing (what kid would not love to see the castle outside their window, and ride the monorail)

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

You need to decide what things are important to your family.

The BCV has the best pool!! AKV will have the 2nd best pool area!

The BW, BCV and BLT has the best locations to the parks.

BLT has the best location to the MK.

Location is the most important to my family as getting to and from the parks is super easy. Picture this. You are watching Wishes and when everyone makes a mad dash for the exits you can stroll down Main Street, taking in the atmosphere and taking your time. Go have an ice cream or browse the shops, because in only 5 minutes from getting on the monorail you will be home. Didn't catch the 1st monorail, just wait 5 minutes and another one will be on its way! With the other resorts, you can wait a long time to get on the bus and then have to stand and fall onto people with every turn. And then if you miss the 1st bus another bus won't be along until another 20+ minutes!!!

Same as above with the BW or BCV except its after you watch Illuminations at the WS. Then if you are at the BW, the night doesn't end. The magicians and BW performers are out, or you can have your hair wrapped or sketches done, etc.

Now the animal kingdom has some pluses too. How cool is it to wake up and see Giraffes in your back yard!

SSR -- do you like shopping and DTD-- well your only 5 minutes away!

VB-- LOVE THE BEACH!!! Nice and relaxing after Disney!

I know, I'm not helping, as there are pluses at every resort.

We own at BLT and BW for the location. We come to Disney mostly every winter so the weather may not be suitable for swimming so the pools, even though they are important to some are not that important to us. But being close to the parks is what does it for me.

Good luck

 

[anna08]

The beauty of DVC is that if you are a bit flexible with your dates and can plan ahead you can try all of the resorts!! I agree with PP's assessments completely!

ps anyone know how I get the tag fairy signature to show the picture?

 

[plc001]

The beauty of DVC is that if you are a bit flexible with your dates and can plan ahead you can try all of the resorts!! I agree with PP's assessments completely!

ps anyone know how I get the tag fairy signature to show the picture?

Anna,

All you need to do is add the image tags:

 

[tringrove]

Thank you for your responses ... we had not really considered distance from the parks ... we're especailly fond of Epcot so i guess BCV and BW also look like good options. But with BCV and BW they don't have grand villas or am i mistaken?

 

[Pakey]

We own at 2 because we enjoy very different types of vacations and like having the option to go to the same place but vacation in extremely different styles.

BC-close to Epcot, our favorite. It's a Disney vacation when we stay there as we are immersed 24-7 in the Disney feel. Plus there is Stormalong Bay, the amazing pool area.

SSR-this is our downtime resort. We use our points here when it's just DH and I going. We will go days without even going into the parks. It's very relaxing here and you feel like you are on a resort vacation, not a Disney vacation.

Also, I have to add this comment: your style of vacation will change as your children get older. That's why adding on can become so addictive.

 

[kikiq]

You need to decide what things are important to your family.

Remember it's not just what your kids will like in the next 5 years, but what your family does in 5, 10, 15 years. DDs are older and even if we had bought before SSR was built, we probably would have bought at OKW. Our DDs have always needed the outside room to run and play. OKW and SSR grounds allow kids to move a little more freely. Now our DDs both are runners and my dad is an early morning walk person...walk, not stroll. So SSR made sense for our family. My DNiece (7) came with us this summer, she loved the quiet pool, the playground and thought she had died and gone to kid heaven when we rented bicycles at SSR.

I think BCV is the only DVC on site without Grand Villas.

Good Luck on your decision.

 

[december14disney]

I may be biased....(and I am)... ....but AKV is a great experience for kids and the new Kidani waterpark/pool thing is supposed to be great. Also...that unqiue experience is probably not going to die out as the kids get older...even my mom squealed at pictures of the savanna view rooms. However, the pools at Boardwalk and Beachclub villas are great too! Ill agree with pp's that the best part of DVC is you can stay at any of them too! But...buy where you want to stay is the rule of thumb I learned here!

 

[crisi]

Remember it's not just what your kids will like in the next 5 years, but what your family does in 5, 10, 15 years.

I think BCV is the only DVC on site without Grand Villas.

VWL doesn't have them either - BWV only has seven. But the thing with Grand Villas is that they sound really cool - then you start thinking about maximizing points and putting Grandma and Grandpa in a studio. Or family harmony and getting your sister and brother in law their own unit so you don't tie an anchor to his leg and dump him in Bay Lake.

Concur on your first statement - you buy DVC for the long term - do weight the short term a little higher. We started going to WDW with our kids when they were two and three - we blinked - my kids are on the verge of being able to be out on their own at Disney - I know the next time I blink they'll want to use my points for Spring Break. Had we bought only with what they wanted then, it would have been over at VWL for easy access to the MK (we do love VWL - it wouldn't have been a mistake for us).

 

[msabol01]

I agree with the GV comment. We were going with my wife's entire family of 17 (3 families of 4, 1 family of 3 and the in-laws). We looked into a GV then realized we could get a 2 bedroom and 3 studios for over 100 pts less. Plus we get same away time from the clan.

I would lean towards either BCV or AKL for the kids, but don't discount VWL or even SSR.

 

[spiceycat]

ssr & akv - have the only zero entry pool so far - BLT will have at least one too.

activities - VWL, SSR & AKV probably have the most activties for kids right now - this can and does change.

how about buying at 2 dvc points.... okay I have a problem with owning at just one - right now have VWL, BWV and BLT.

when will your first trip be - if late 2009 - then both BLT and AKV will be opened. if earlier then you might just go with BCV or BWV.

BWV also has the standard points - great opinion if you need to save points - but it certainly sounds like you don't.

BWV has no dedicated 2-bedrooms - so no 2 queens - all the second bedrooms at BWV will be queen bed and double sleeper sofa. BCV has a few - very few - 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom - 25 units.

VWL has several so does OKW, AKV, SSR - BLT will have some.

so you need to decide what matters to you the most. Places to eat then a MK or Epcot resort. although DD is not far from either OKW or SSR.

being close to a park - again MK or EPcot.

seeing animals - well AKV is the best for Africia - but hey there is wildlife at every DVC resorts. WDW seems to encourage wildlife.

activities for the kids

nightlife, with PI closed that only leaves BW.

come back with your list - maybe then we can be more helpfully.

you can look at this for pictures and things of each resort
http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortOverview?id=ProspectsResortsOverviewPage

 

[robsbabyboy]

You will love AKV. We bought into AKV Kidani Village which will open May 1, 2009. SSR and AKV both have things for kids to do.

 

[crisi]

activities - VWL, SSR & AKV probably have the most activties for kids right now - this can and does change.

BWV has activities going in the community hall.

Storm Along Bay is the perfect example of a pool that stays the same, but is different depending on your kids. When your kids are really little, zero entry, the toddler slide and the sand bar are very nice. In just a few years however, SAB becomes very hard to watch active kids at - with currents and very deep spots and a pool slide that does not give parents a place where they can watch their kids from one end to the other. These are the "grey hair" years at SAB for a lot of parents (other people do it just fine - there are plenty of lifeguards, I can feel the ulcers forming in my stomach thinking about it though). In just a few more years, it becomes the coolest pool at Disney for your kids - they are preteens or young teens and you don't feel a need to keep one eye on them at all moments. And a few years after that they want to be a TL or BB - or don't care about the pool at all, just the availability of a loungechair and maybe a few cute guys/girls to scope out.

 

[tringrove]

Top of our list is a cool pool ... becasue he kids are still pretty young and my significant other is not as into All things Disney as i am ... i need to sprinkle some pixie dust on her

Resort activites of the kids would be up there b/c although i can be at the parks for the rope drop to when the lights go out ... having some time away for them to take it easy would be great

Next would be somewhere we can have extended family on the same resort ... but NOT in the same room ... there goes the GV idea ... thank you Crisi

Activites for adults like a spa, resturants that serve a bit of would be great, grandpa likes to golf ... i think i'm beginning to answer my own questions here

I know i can't cover all my bases but it's worth a shot ... thank you everyone for your ideas

 

[crisi]

Next would be somewhere we can have extended family on the same resort ... but NOT in the same room ... there goes the GV idea ... thank you Crisi

Yeah, even with my brother in law in his own room, the anchor and Bay Lake called after five days.....