Personal Feelings?

[TomD]

This may come as shock to many as I've beeen critical of DVC at times.

No way. you ....critical....

 

[TomD]

The above post is meant as a joke.

 

[DVC Jen]

We adore our home resort (VWL). We like Vero although the past few times we have stayed have been a wash out - literally with either hurricane warnings or tropical storms.

We have also stayed at BCV and while it is a very nice resort - it wasn't for us.

Some day I want to try OKW - but always have a hard time NOT going back to our beloved VWL.

SSR doesn't hold much appeal - and neither does BWV. I think location is why we aren't that interested in either of those resorts. We love the MK and spend most of our time there.

 

[dumbo71]

The above post is meant as a joke.

TomD,

no worries, if I can dish it out I'd better be able to take it.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

This may come as shock to many as I've beeen critical of DVC at times.

I think all of the DVC Resorts are very good. I also LOVE VB!!!!!!!!! Really the only DVC Resort we don't care for is HH. Even HH is a good resort just not our choice for a HH vacation.

My advice is try them all, develop your favorites and stick to those.

What excatly did you not like about VB? It is on the beach, has some of the best CM's we've encountered, has sit down (2) and poolside dining, tons of activities, a lake for fishing accross the road, tennis, basketbal court, sing a long campfires at night, etc. It is really the best of DVC for our families needs and wants.

I'll bet it is the lack of WDW... The only thing it doesn't have... Thankfully.

 

[Starr W.]

I'll bet it is the lack of WDW... The only thing it doesn't have... Thankfully.

VB & HH are on our "to try" list ahead of all the WDW DVC's. Hoping I will find the "charm" of HHI, as it has past me by on my other trips.

 

[mamaprincess]

Everyone is different so we all have our own individual likes and dislikes. No one opinion is a matter of fact for all.

Here are some of my humble opinions.

Love SSR in every way shape and form. I think it gets more gorgeous all the time. I love the laid back feeling because I really need to decompress when I'm not in the parks and SSR facilitates that easily. I also love the decor and the proximity to DTD as we spend loads of time there and love their CS options, WOD and BBB, really just love DTD in general. The views are spectacular. Artist Point is wonderful. Haven't tried Turf Club yet but will on our next trip. Love High Rock Springs Pool. It is gorgeous, fun and never crowded. I will try the spa next trip but have heard nothing but good things about it and believe it is a wonderful addition to SSR. I actually love the size of SSR as we have only wanted to stay there and because it has enough rooms, it is never a real problem to get it. I would be heart broken if we could not stay there due to full occupancy.

I love to visit BCV. I love Cape May and Art! I think it is an absolutely beautiful resort with a ton to offer. Wonderful location near Epcot: which has so much to do for adults and kids alike. Beaches and Cream, fabulous decor during the holidays. However, I don't see us staying there but we are glad as DVC members to have it as an option.

BWV is also a beautiful resort with a lot to offer. Boardwalk Bakery, Flying Fish, Jelly Rolls, and tons to do on the Boardwalk for families. I don't believe we will ever stay there, but visiting is fun and I am glad that it is an option just in case we change our minds.

VWL has that great proximity to MK! It also has really amazing themeing, Artist Point, Whispering Canyon a great pool, the geiser. If you are the mountain lodge type, it is unbeatable. I've also heard really excellent things about it during the holidays. Mission style decor doesn't particularly appeal to me but I still completely appreciate the beauty of VWL and look forward to a fabulous meal with amazing views at AP!

VAKL is what I am really looking forward to. I love to visit AKL! We are not a hotel room sort of family so we have never stayed there but that Hotel is a marvel and we love to visit it. The animals are wonderful! We absoluely love AK park. Boma is among our very favorite restaraunts anywhere! Uh-oh, I may be struck down by addonitis. This is the one other DVC that I know we will venture away from home to try.

As for HHI and VB, I'm certain they to are wonderful but we have never seen them in person. If we can tear ourselves away from WDW we may have to visit them at some point.

I also think the GF is so magical. I absolutely love victorian architecture and slightly formal settings so I love to visit it but again, we aren't a hotel family so staying there is not in our future. GF just has tons and tons to do and see and we tend to take advantage of many of those things when we visit WDW.

I have yet to visit the Poly but look forward to getting over there for a visit to Kona Cafe in the future. From what I have seen in pictures, Poly is fabulous.

CR has Chef Mickeys and it is the last resort that Walt had anything to do with from what I understand plus it's on the monorail and has fabulous watersports.

In conclusion WDW is a world class destination and we would be extremely fortunate to stay anywhere on property as they have really created outstanding environments for guests at each resort. We are extremely fortunate to be able to visit WDW often and at each resort we have visited, we have found many beautiful things to love. We have a preference, but every DVC and every resort has plenty to offer. Find your preference but still visit and take in the beauty of the others is my little piece of advice.

 

[starbox]

I've never been "disappointed" in a DVC resort, although I did not like anything about the POP when we stayed there a few years ago.

I have found that some resorts seem to be a better "fit" for our touring style than others. SSR is, by far, the best location for the way we "do" trips to Disney at this stage of our lives.

As for Vero - I LOVE it there - but I can totally understand how others might prefer a more tourist-y, Gulf-shores-style beach with a beach-strip. VB is very quiet, wild and natural - which is what I like in a beach.

 

[Deesknee]

We own SSR. and I really like it.

BWV stayed only studio years ago. I loved it.

OKW 2bdrm I love it for 1. size 2. close parking proximity 3. full washer and dryer 4. color scheme For us it just feels "homey"

SSR 2bdrm we really did enjoy, but we are a family of 6 that is used to OKW we miss the extra space of OKW. but, love 1. proximity to DTD 2. the scenery along the walk to DTD. 3. the set up of the villa's 4. the pool

 

[bwvBound]

It's so hard to say what people will like. For me, I love the BWV but I don't like the BCV. I'm not sure why, but I just didn't. I love OKW, but many people don't care for it. My husband loves VWL, but for me it was just so-so.

Looking at the Deluxe resorts it's the same way. I love the YC, but not so much the BC. I love the Poly, but not the CR. I love AKL, but not the WL. There doesn't seem to be a reason, it's all just personal taste. That is why you have to try EVERY resort at least once before you can know. We've stayed at almost all of them.

LOL! We sooooo agree! I also love BWV but not BCV; really love YC but not BC; was thrilled by AKL but unimpressed by WL.

OP: We very much enjoyed Vero.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I think I am the odd man out. I own BWV which I thought I would love and I do not like it. (Wish I had stayed there first before buying) I own HH and I really like it there. I love SSR. I have not been to the rest. I hope to change my next trip to OKW from BWV at the 7 month mark.

 

[kimberh]

We all have different interest and taste. I hope to try all of them. There are some that I am drawn to immediately. I Love BWV, BCV, and VWL. Looking forward to AKV.

 

[BroganMc]

I've only stayed at SSR and ***, but I've visited almost all of them. I also use a wheelchair so accessibility is a concern for me. Oh, and I drive down to Disney with my specially adapted van that can't be replaced by a rental.

Given that, my thoughts and preferences are:

Beach Club and Boardwalk are great areas to visit. I head over there every trip for a meal and quick trip into EPCOT's nations. I've also enjoyed a golfing day at Fantasia MiniGolf. As much as I thought I'd love to stay at each when I bought DVC, my last trip turned me off the idea. Parking is a nightmare and both resorts always seem so busy. Accessibility from BWV requires going down one elevator and using an automatic door. It's doable but always seems to be crowded with wheelchair and stroller guests. And since I learned how few accessible rooms were available at BCV, I figured I'd have next to no chance of getting a room there during our preferred travel times.

Contemporary/Grand Floridian/Polynesian - All are great locations for MK access, and beautiful resorts. Contemporary's decor is a bit to 60's metro for my taste. GF is way too expensive for the size room you get. Polynesian is great in the warm, sultry weather. But as they are all hotels with hotel-size rooms and I'm a vacation club type, I find them too underwhelming for my needs. I do love the Electric Water Parade though, and view of MK fireworks. So I can see staying at a CRV once or twice for the special occasion.

*** - a typical low budget resort like Fairfield Inn or Best Western. It's ok if you don't have the cash and just want to stay onsite. I'm not a big enough sports fan to be wowwed by the decor though. And there are always so many noisy cheerleaders about the place. It was fun participating in the morning cattlecall for busses though.

Wildnerness Lodge - Another of my favorite places to visit I expected to want to stay at on points. It's very charming and I think even more beautiful in the Springtime rather than Christmas. (I really didn't get it's charm at Christmas.) But while I always look to book a lunch at Whispering Canyon, it too suffers from that bustling hotel syndrome.

OKW/Pop/PO/CBR/CSR - Ones I have neither tried nor seen firsthand. I'm planning on taking the ferry up from SSR to see OKW and PO my next trip. PO intrigues me the most for its decor. Can't say the others strike me as being stellar enough to beg my attention. OKW does tempt a bit for its lower point count, but the lack of accessible buildings kinda defeats my interest. Especially when SSR is so close and has better amenities.

SSR - I was a bit dismayed by all the negativity I read on this board last year when I was considering purchasing DVC. Must say I've fallen in love with the place now. It's proximity to DTD, the close parking, zero-entry pool, swan-filled lakes and resort layout is what I've come to expect being a Marriott Vacation Club owner. I can see where some OKW lovers see the sizes as smaller. My last trip I went from Marriott's Cypress Harbour (which has a similar layout/styling to OKW) to a 1-bedroom SSR. It did seem a bit smaller, but was comparable to the 1 bedrooms at Grande Vista.

AKL/AKV - I've been going to AKL's Boma's for years. It's a beautiful resort with a very unique theme. I'm looking forward to staying at AKV when it opens, but I don't want to buy there. It is very removed from the rest of Disney. The zero-entry pool and savannahs are plusses.

 

[bzzelady]

I like all the resorts and for me, it usually boils down to who I am taking with me and the focus of the vacation.

In December, my DM accompanied myself and DD7 so we stayed at BCV because she preferred walking access to Epcot. I like the luxury of the BCV and like having access to SAB.

Last June my DH really wanted to stay at VWL because he feels more comfortable there. I like VWL because it feels like the mountains where I grew up in Pennsylvania. The resort is very family oriented and feels comfortable. I like sitting down on the shore at night and watching the electrical parade come by and the boat access to the MK. Bus transportation to/from this resort is very good.

This June when we take my in-laws, we are staying at OKW because of the larger kitchen and gathering areas as we plan to do a fair amount of meals in. I'm looking forward to this because we used to own a house near the beach and this is how I am accustomed to spending my summer vacations. I look forward to being very comfortable at OKW. I am not looking forward to the longer bus times from this resort but that is a trade-off I am making for more space in the villa.

Next winter when just myself, DH, and DD7 go over the President's weekend break, we will be choosing SSR for the relaxation factor and the closer access to DTD. The resort is large but the beauty of it has grown with each passing year. I like the community feel of the resort town but this also is like home to me as I grew up in a mountain vacation community in Pennsylvania centered around a lake and relaxation.

In my future vacations, I am looking forward to AKV and the savannah views! I also am looking forward to booking an early summer week at HH after my DH has finished college so we can just kick back and relax.

I do agree with the folks who say, "buy where you want to stay" if you have a particular favorite and just cannot do without staying there. I, however, like the flexibility of being able to stay in multiple locations based on the particular vacation wants/needs and never get terribly hung up on having to choose a different resort if one is full for my particular time request.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Most everyone has personal preferences that make one resort preferable over another. My preference may not match yours. My suggestion would be to ask each person to tell what they like BEST about THEIR FAVORITE DVC resort. You might get some good ideas that way and be able to downplay people being negative about one place or another.

I'll start by telling you what I like most about my favorite, OKW.
-HUGE rooms with lots of extra common space.
-Biggest balcony of all DVC resorts
-Fantastic views of golf course, ponds and woods.
-Only DVC/WDW resort with full sized kitchen and laundry room appliances.
-Parking right outside the door of your unit.
-Townhouse feel versus a hotel feel.
-Numerous small quiet pools and hot tubs
-Extra friendly staff

 

[DisneyExplorer]

Its amazing how many different resorts suit people! All the resorts are just so unique which i think is like an adventure itself!

d.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Except for the crowds, there's nothing about Disney I don't like.

Then again, I've been told I'm not very discriminating!