Opinions for 1st Florida visit!

[Anek0618]

We are relatively new DVC members and our home resort is Aulani as we don't live all that close to Florida and LOVE Hawaii. We are booked there for Easter 2012, but I think the next trip after that will be Florida, possibly in Nov 2012.

I am looking for some input as to which resort to look at booking for our first trip and why. I was quite set on AKV, but after looking at some of the others I am waivering and now want to visit them all!

So, looking for some DIS veterans to give some advice! We are a family of 4, kids are currently 8 & 4.

 

[alice99]

Beach Club and Boardwalk are great locations for easy access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

Both resorts are beautiful.

BLT or Wilderness Lodge are great for access to Magic Kingdom.

With the 2 kids I would try for one of these 4 resorts.

I've stayed at all 4, Boardwalk is my fave , but all of them are awesome!

 

[lodgelady]

With an 8 and 4 year old you probably want good access to the Magic Kingdom. My favorite resort is (obviously) the Wilderness Lodge because it is a short boat ride away from the MK, yet has a lot of great atmosphere that is really fun for kids. Everyone has their favorite resort- all of the DVC resorts have thier pros and cons. Have fun!

 

[TosaTrio]

Will you be taking a stroller or will you be stroller free? VWL is great and the boat ride is great to MK. However, AKL is awesome theming and the buses IMHO are pretty good. It can be a pain to always bus with the stroller though. As far as the Epcot resorts, we love them, however walking to the parks (which we always do to DHS and Epcot) or even to the boat can be a hike with kids if you do not have a stroller for the younger one.

 

[Anek0618]

Thanks for all the great input, gives me lots to think about! We will probably not have a stroller with us (we're trying to transition out of that phase ) since we really haven't been to Disney in Florida we don't know much about traveling from the resorts to the parks or between the parks. I am getting the impression this is something I am going to have to do more research on

 

[adminjedi]

The best advice I can give, regardless of resort you choose, is to stay long enough to have breaks from the park pace!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Beach Club and Boardwalk are great locations for easy access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

Both resorts are beautiful.

BLT or Wilderness Lodge are great for access to Magic Kingdom.

With the 2 kids I would try for one of these 4 resorts.

I've stayed at all 4, Boardwalk is my fave , but all of them are awesome!

I agree with loving BWV! We own there, and it is definitely our first choice!

If going for a MK area resort...I would probably go with BLT. Easy monorail access to both MK and EP is a great thing.

 

[disneynutz]

Can you push your vacation out until after Thanksgiving? The holiday decorations in WDW are beautiful and worth the effort to see. We vacation every year at this time in addition to our other favorite times of the year.

Bill

 

[spiceycat]

BLT - you can walk to the MK - with a 4 and 8 yr old would think this is a big benefit.

you can see the fireworks from the roof - towl.

the community hall is small (also called activities center) - but it has enough stuff for your children.

 

[Anek0618]

Our other option in terms of timing would be Christmas....any opinions/advice about weather and crowds? What about finding availability at the 7 month window? Do people have better luck at some resorts vs others?

Everyone here is such a wealth of information, I love all the help

 

[disneynutz]

Our other option in terms of timing would be Christmas....any opinions/advice about weather and crowds? What about finding availability at the 7 month window? Do people have better luck at some resorts vs others?

Everyone here is such a wealth of information, I love all the help

Right after Thanksgiving and the first couple weeks of December is the best time to go. The weather can be cooler so be prepared. If you book right at 7 months you should be able to find a room.

Bill

 

[spiceycat]

dec is a hard to get month.

generally you would end up at SSR, OKW or AKV.
those are the biggest of WDW DVC

that say it just depends.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you went before Thanksgiving, it will be easier to get into one of the smaller resorts, or BWV, and you would probably get to go to a Christmas party at the MK and see some of the resorts decorated ni the Christmas finery.

However, since I really enjoy all of the Christmas decorations at the resorts, the Candlelight Processional, Osborne Lights as well as the MVMCP, I would recomment going as soon after Thanksgiving as you can, booking right at the 7 month mark. I can't imagine that all of the resorts will be booked. What would you like, a 1 bedroom may be possible at AKV, BWV, maybe, but even if only SSR or OKW were available, I think the Christmas decorations make a stay at either of those special too.

People here have been reporting waitlists even at VWL coming through for a Christmas stay. So, if you get something at 7 months that you are less than thrilled about, I would waitlist for what you really want, and hope you get lucky! I really really think the whole Christmas experience is worth the wait.

Bobbi

PS. How about trying to swap reservations with someone? I bet someone here is dying to get to Aulani and would work with you. The other board is called rent/trade. You need a certain number of posts, I think...but others must know more about it than I do.

 

[com_op_2000]

OP, think about your family and what style do you like.
Check out the resorts, pictures, pools, locations, etc.
Prioritze which is most important, also be ready to make a second and third choice. As PP have stated you are looking to go at one of the heaviest DVC usage times, of the year. Remember you can have two waitlists going at one time if you do not get your first choice. DW and I have been every year since '93, between Thanksgiving and Christmas and we will be making our home resort reservation at 11 months; then looking to change locations at the 7 months mark.