Please help me choose....

[SweetCarolinaGirl]

Hi! I am bringing my family of four to WDW this fall - DH and I haven't been since '92 and the kiddies (4 and 15m) have never been! I am 99% sure I want to go with a DVC for the space and full kitchen, but I'm having a terrible time choosing. If I give you some of the things I'm looking for, will some of you veterans help me choose? Here are some things that are important to us.

*Transportation - We will have a car, but wouldn't mind a boat - I really don't want to deal with the buses.

*Good view from balcony (pref. of fireworks/electric parade)

*Quiet enough at night so little ones can sleep

It will be really hard for us to keep our little ones awake long enough to see fireworks from MK, so it would be a major plus for us to be able to see them from our room. Proximity to dining is not at all a priority - we'll be bringing most of our own.

So, what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you plan on going to ALL parks, you will have to deal with buses at all the resorts unless you choose to drive yourself, and that isn't always the most efficient way to go. VWL will make you about a 10-15 minute boat ride away from the MK, but you will need to bus to all other parks. BCV will put you about 5 minutes walking distance from World SHowcase at Epcot and about a 20 minute boat ride to MGM or 20 minute walk if you choose to do that. BWV will be about a 5-6 minute walk to World Showcase or a 10 minute boat ride. You can walk to MGM from there also in about 15 minutes, or go with a 20-25 minute boat ride. Both of these resorts will require a bus or car to MK, and neither is very efficient to that park, since driving will put you at the TTC (still needing to get to the park), and bus service to MK from both of those resorts to MK can be frustratingly long and crowded at best. AK will be a longer bus ride from these, but I honestly don't know how long. SSR and OKW will have bus or car transportation only. I guess I don't understand your reluctance to take the buses, since I think Disney's transportation system works great! From OKW, it usually takes about 10-15 minutes to MK, MGM and Epcot and about 25-30 to AK. We had somewhat slower times when using buses at SSR, but I expect that to improve once the resort is completed. Remember that when you drive, you still have to get on that tram once you have parked etc, and find your way back to that car when you want to go back to your resort. I just find the bus system WAY easier and faster than that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just looked at some of your other requests, and I think VWL is your choice, since you will probably spend more time at MK with the little ones, and it is the only resort that it is possible to see the electric water parade from. For fireworks, some areas of BCV and BWV will have a view of high Illuminations fireworks, and OKW has a similar view and noise level from these.

 

[SweetCarolinaGirl]

This is good advice - especially about the buses. There is so much I don't know/remember - and I guess I thought a bus would be a big pain with a stroller and other baby stuff - especially if it was standing room only. I guess there are benefits and drawbacks to everything and I just need to choose what makes the most difference to me.

Thank you!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you plan on renting a DVC reservation and want to go THIS fall, you may have a problem depending on when you want to go. Sept might not be so difficult, but Oct and Nov will be hard. If you rent directly from Disney, you might still be able to get something. Either way, you need to put out feelers for that reservation and depending on what is available, you may or may not get your first choice.

Availability may be your first concern rather than fireworks from the balcony.

 

[tigger2on]

If you stay at a DVC, you get free parking at the parks for the length of your stay. Remeber that if you take a bus you MUST collapse your stroller and carry both it and your child onto and off of the bus. Plus the aisle is so skinny that you end up struggling with both.
We too are trying to decide where to stay for a few days this Sept. Right now... we are between BWV and VWL. We love the Boardwalk but have never stayed @ VWL. OKW has the biggest rooms but no firework view and the only transportation is busses to the parks. BCV has the coolest pool and has a great shallow area for kids with sand. BWV has the Boardwalk for a nice evening strools with the kids and a nice kiddie pool too. These are the we have stayed at so far.
No matter where you decide, it'll be just Magical.... it's Disney!

 

[missymagic]

You also must remember just because it is a DVC room you don't get to pick your room. You can make requests but they are not always guaranteed. A preferred view at BWV may give you the Illuminations fireworks and I am not sure about the others when it comes to fireworks.

I understand your concer with the stroller and buses also. It all depends on when you definitely decide on your dates also. If it is a busy time it can be a pain. But if you go on one of the less peak times it could be completely fine. I have taken my girls (now 5&8) since they were born and I have always managed as a single mom with all the "stuff" for everyday parks. Backpack on back and baby in arms stroller in other. Dont ask how but somehow I always managed. Maybe some extra poixie dust weas sent my way.

Have a great trip no matter what you decide.

 

[Pa@okw95]

If you stay at a DVC, you get free parking at the parks for the length of your stay. Remeber that if you take a bus you MUST collapse your stroller and carry both it and your child onto and off of the bus. Plus the aisle is so skinny that you end up struggling with both.
We too are trying to decide where to stay for a few days this Sept. Right now... we are between BWV and VWL. We love the Boardwalk but have never stayed @ VWL. OKW has the biggest rooms but no firework view and the only transportation is busses to the parks. BCV has the coolest pool and has a great shallow area for kids with sand. BWV has the Boardwalk for a nice evening strools with the kids and a nice kiddie pool too. These are the we have stayed at so far.
No matter where you decide, it'll be just Magical.... it's Disney!

There are new buses at WDW that have an aisle that is wide enough to fit a small car down it. Seats on the new buses go just along the sides now except in the very back. At least the buses that go to MK are that way, I only take the bus to MK

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are new buses at WDW that have an aisle that is wide enough to fit a small car down it. Seats on the new buses go just along the sides now except in the very back. At least the buses that go to MK are that way, I only take the bus to MK

But even with the wide aisles in the newer buses, you can't leave the baby in the stroller and leave the stroller opened up. You must fold up the stroller on the bus. But it will be easier to walk carrying the stroller with the wider aisles.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I hope you don't have one of those stupid, thoughtless double wide strollers that are about as wide as a bus Sorry--I just had to vent

I'm afraid that you can't have it all. Perhaps you can tell us your priorities, so that we can help. BW, for instance, in a BW view or standard view, have views of illuminations(I also saw MK fireworks from my room this year). If the water show(the electric thing on the water) is a priority, then you will need to stay at WL, but you won't see fireworks from there. If the size of the room and quietness are biggies, stay at OKW. For the best pool, go to BC. It just all depends upon what you want.

 

[SweetCarolinaGirl]

I understand that I can't pick my exact room, that availability might be a concern, and that I can't have everything I want. I am mainly trying to learn about the process, be aware of my options, and hope for the best.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I'm sure our trip will be fantastic.

 

[shellbelle1971]

*Transportation - We will have a car, but wouldn't mind a boat - I really don't want to deal with the buses.

*Good view from balcony (pref. of fireworks/electric parade)

*Quiet enough at night so little ones can sleep

It will be really hard for us to keep our little ones awake long enough to see fireworks from MK, so it would be a major plus for us to be able to see them from our room. Proximity to dining is not at all a priority - we'll be bringing most of our own.

Since you will have a car and are looking for quiet at night, either SSR or OKW would be a great choice, with parking right outside your door. OTOH, neither of those would give you the fireworks view you'd like. Because proximity to dining is not important, consider SSR--it has such an amazing pool, good playground, and great activities for your little ones.

VWL might give you the fireworks view, and would also be quiet, but you might have a harder time accessing your vehicle.

It's all a series of trade-offs. In the end, I think you'll find that no matter where you stay it will be a magical family experience.

 

[byoung]

VWL is best for you have a great vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

VWL is best for you have a great vacation.

That may be, but I'd bet there is little or no vacancy for this October with the Halloween party going on at the MK.

 

[jdvm]

If you have a car, I think Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are your choices because you can park outside your door. We use a car all of the time----other people think we're nuts. I think a car is a serious liability at the other DVC resorts. You either walk forever to your car or wait forever for the valet. And even though valet parking is free, a 3 dollar tip coming in and a 3 dollar tip going out can add up to serious money if you go out 3-4 times a day.

I think the desire for fireworks view is going to be frustrating for you. I wouldn't give it a high probability of success.

 

[MarylandMommy]

I haven't stayed there, but one thread I saw made a good point about VWL. He said that the boat to and from MK, you can roll your stroller right onto the boat without collapsing it. Collapsing the stroller, running for the tram, and then unfolding the stroller for the walk the car is my least favorite part of going to MK (especially if you have a double stroller or your child has fallen asleep). Also, we spend a lot more time at MK than we do at the other parks with the little ones.
On another note, I went last year with a 2 year old and a 4 year old. This is what we did for a stroller. We brought our really light weight umbrella stroller to the airport for the 2 year old to ride in and we checked it with the flight attendant. Then, when we got to MK we rented a full size single stroller that could fold back for naps from one of those baby rental supply places. We let our 4 year old walk the first couple of days, but after that I pushed him in the umbrella stroller - he was getting exhausted and I wanted to keep going! My husband pushed the 2 year old in the full size. It is definitely easier to have 2 parents push two strollers than that one big double, in my opinion, especially if the 4 year old wants to go on Space Mountain and the baby wants to go get ice cream while you wait. That wasn't what you had asked, but I thought I'd share it case the info was helpful.
BTW, we also bought a plane ticket for the 2 year old, brought his car seat, put it in the airplane seat and he sat the whole time, no fuss. He thought it was just like riding in the car.
Have a wonderful trip!!!