No Parks - Which DVC?

[corinnak]

Hypothetical situation with arbitrary rules.

If you had 3 free days at any DVC resort and to simply experience what the resort itself had to offer, which one would you choose? This assumes no theme parks or water parks or any other attraction that charges admission (La Nouba, Disney Quest) You can go to whatever restaurants you like as long as they don't require an admission fee.

Why?

Thank you!

 

[corinnak]

Darn it! I meant to include a poll.....

 

[Caskbill]

Darn it! I meant to include a poll.....

I made it a poll for you. I presume you only wanted to list the WDW resorts, and not include VB or HH.

 

[corinnak]

Caskbill, thank you! You are my hero! If someone wants to choose VB or HH as a write in with reason in the thread, that works for me. The poll is fine the way it is, though. Thanks again!

 

[LVSWL]

Even though we own at BC and VWL, I chose the Boardwalk because of all of the great restaurants right at your fingertips and the fun pool plus the great entertainment on the boardwalk, plus you could rent the bikes or just watch the fireworka from the bridge or walk over and play golf. Go to ESPN and catch a game, go to the little bar at the boardwalk and have a cocktail while you wait for your table at the Flying Fish.

 

[Bmwdsny]

i would go for the BCV!! Their pool is like a water park, we can walk to the Boardwalk area for resturants, see the Illuminations outside the EPCOT gate.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Sorry, hit the button by accident.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That's a tough one.

Let's use process of elimination:

-- BWV... Don't care for the restaurants.
The only entertainment I like is Jellyrolls and ESPN, but Jellyrolls doesn't meet the "free" criteria.
The pool area doesn't do it for me, as I don't get into the carnival thing.
The over all theme and look of the resort doesn't get me excited either.

-- BCV... The resort and theme are nice enough, but not much there for room views.
I guess you could call the Yachtsman Steakhouse a BCV restaurant, and that's one of our "must do's".
SAB is nice, but we are not huge pool people. My wife would use it now and again though.

-- SSR... We LOVE PI, and especially the Adventurers' Club, but again it doesn't meet the "no charge" criteria.
Really enjoy the small town look, and the nice room furnishings.
The lack of a formal restaurant is a bad thing.

-- OKW... Don't know a whole lot about it. Seems very peaceful and relaxing, and that's a plus since it's only my wife and me.
Olivia's is a question mark for me.
Also, do they have a lounge??? I know they have a small outdoor lounge, but how about a place for a nightcap?

-- VWL... I could get engrossed in the theme. I could sit in the Iron Spike Room for hours and just listen to the captivating music.
Most views are peaceful and serene.
We enjoy Artist Point, Whispering Canyon, and Roaring Forks.
The Territory Lounge is a great place for a nightcap.
They have a nice little trail for bikes.
Sturdy Branches is one of the nicest workout facilities I've seen.
I could spend an entire day finding, and sitting in all the nooks & crannies in the main lodge.

Okay, I've made a decision....

MG

 

[Sammie]

SSR:

Downtown Disney, shopping, good eats
Pleasure Island, fun place for nighttime
Good pools,
The Spa

 

[dallastxcpa]

I voted for BCV, but it was a tough choice between it and SSR.

BCV
Pool
Walk to BW area
Several rest to choose from
Walk to F Miniature Golf
Close proximaty to Swan/Dolphin

SSR
Great pool also
Spa
Community Hall (Cheesy I know but fun)
Easy access to DTD for
food
shopping
and a quick ride to other resorts

 

[Doctor P]

SSR: Because of its access to DD, SSR not only has easy access to the best shopping on Disney property, it has a nice selection of restaurants, too. In addition, SSR's fitness room is the best on site, there is an onsite spa, and a nice themed pool. But, the biggest advantage to SSR, IMHO, is that its proximity to DD means that it is the only DVC resort that has easy DIRECT access to every other resort on Disney property through the bus system. We personally love resort hopping.

Disclaimer: This is my honest answer based on having stayed at all onsite DVC resorts except VWL (though we do visit there all the time as part of our trips). We are not SSR owners.

 

[spiceycat]

VWL - it is next door to FW - which has several things to do - now some are definitely a charge for ($1 to $5)...but I think they are reasonable.

plus VWL has it own list of activties.

I also like to people watch - this is a great resort for that....

lots of places to people watch....in both lobbies.

BCV also has the new places to people watch - problem is most people don't seem to know they are there.....

besides you can see the fireworks at the MK and EWP from the beaches...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I voted for OKW since it is close to DTD and costs less points than SSR for the stay.

 

[Muushka]

I also vote for VWL.

We have stayed at OKW twice doing very limited parks (once for 3 days, no parks and once for 6 days only doing parks twice). I felt sort of bored at OKW. Yes, the resort is lovely and the rooms are huge, but there just wasn't much to do (besides taking the boat to DD and enjoy the porch (which we can do at home)).

At VWL there is a lot more to do and see. And I just enjoy the theming more. It is removed enough from the parks, so the temptation would not be as bad there as it would be at BWV or BCV. If I stayed at either Epcot resort and heard Off Kilter playing in the air, I would HAVE to go over and see them!

I forgot to add that my second choice would be SSR. I think that would be a great place to stay when you are not doing the parks. Beautiful rooms and close to DD

 

[corinnak]

I voted for OKW since it is close to DTD and costs less points than SSR for the stay.

Ah, but this is a free stay! Does that change things?



Thanks everyone for such interesting answers! I am enjoying reading your reasons especially. The poll is kind of surprising me. I would have thought that BCV would have a clear lead with SAB and proximity to the other Epcot resorts. Obviously there is a lot to enjoy at a DVC resort without every paying an admission fee!

 

[TriMom]

SSR -
If I had 3 days, and I am assuming that they are MY days and not my family's days. This is what I would do:
Hang out at a quiet pool - SSR has many, plus they are really nice quiet pools
Enjoy the Spa
Take the Floral arangement class at Community Hall
Paint my own pottery at Community Hall
Get up early and jog the path to OKW while the sun is coming up - I think that would be a great run

 

[byoung]

Where are the BWV? I'm here.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hmmm... I think I see quite a few activities listed that cost money.

You did say not to include activities that cost money... right?

That could change things...

MG

 

[kaw1106]

It would be a tie between VWL and BWV's. VWL if I need a quite 3 day break, and BWV's if I need a little more excitement. I love them both!!!

 

[corinnak]

Hmmm... I think I see quite a few activities listed that cost money.

You did say not to include activities that cost money... right?

That could change things...

MG

Yup, it could. I don't think I specified that things couldn't cost money, just that there be no admission fee. Basically, nothing where you have to pay just to get in the door, KWIM?

There are lots of further limits that would change things , I suppose. You could say "nothing that costs money" or "you will be confined to the grounds of the resort at which you are staying" or "you can only take the busses - no car!" I bet any of those would change some answers, actually.

Within the parameters I set, I am not actually sure where playing golf or going to a movie fits, either. I guess movies usually charge admission while golf charges fees to play, right? But the idea was thinking about a trip without visiting any of the major attractions where you have to pay just to step inside the gates.