Q. concerning DVC properties

[rt2dz]

OK, we are getting much closer to our buying decision (not if, but how many points & where), So I have a question...

Which properties do you like best (rank all if you'd like) AND WHY.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

1) Beach Club Villas (BCV) The awesome pool.

2) Old Key West (OKW) The huge rooms

3) Saratoga Springs (SSR) The beauty of the complex & closeness to Downtown Disney.

I have not stayed at the other locations yet.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Our favorite property is the BWV. We have never stayed at OKW, SSR or VB so I can't comment on those. But I wouldn't hesitate to stay at them either. As a matter of fact, I look forward to doing so some day. We also like the VWL, BCV (own at both) and HHI.

We like the BWV the most because:

Walk to EPCOT
Walk to MGM
The Boardwalk area
The walking/running loop around Crescent Lake
The hotel feel of the resort
The pool bar
Community Hall
The Clown Slide (I am a contrarian. So many people hate it that I have come to love it. I just wish they would turn the clown around so that people slid into the clowns mouth instead of out of it.)

All of the resorts have positive aspects. After staying at a few, you will discover what it is that makes a resort your favorite.

HBC

 

[WDWLVR]

Boardwalk is by far our favorite. We love Epcot and being able to walk to Epcot and MGM is a big plus. We also enjoy all the boardwalk activities.

Second on our list would be Beach Club for many of the same reasons as Boardwalk. Added bonus is Stormalong Bay.

Do you think you'll spend most of your time at Magic Kingdom - then maybe you'll prefer Villas of Wilderness Lodge as it is only a boat ride away.

Want more of a feel of a true condo community kind of off the beaten path from the parks, but with large rooms and parking right at your door? Then Old Key West is what might suit you best.

Like to party after the sun goes down? Then Saratoga Springs might be the ticket as it is walking distance to Downtown Disney.

Want to get far away from WDW for your trips - then try Hilton Head or Vero Beach.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Welcome, fellow Texan! Just a word of caution-the property you like best can vary within families, depending on your personality, etc. DH's favorite is OKW, he won't even consider BWV because it just looks too "busy" for him; DS, on the other hand, likes BWV the best and can't wait to stay there next trip (just with Mom, since DH won't stay there) I like BCV best because it reminds me of Ole' Cape Cod (grew up in Mass, vacationing at CC). So there you have it-3 different family members-3 different "bests".

 

[CarolA]

I like OKW for the peace and BCV for the location.

That said if you are a last minute planner like me.... OKW is the easiest to get into.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

You'll find lots of great comparisons if you do a search. Here's one I did just comparing two of the Crescent lake resorts. Best wishes on your decision:

BCV vs BWV

I like the BCV room layout better. Table seats 8 whereas BWV, WLV does not. Bathroom layout nice, Desk in bedroom in BCV.
BCV is newer.
Seemed slower and a little more quiet and relaxed than BC, YC and BWV, yet still close to activities.
Distance to the elevator is better.
Nice Quiet pool
Lots of nice internal spaces for when it's raining, drawing room, breezeway, solarium, BC lobby.
Sandcastle club availability
Outstanding location, boat to MGM, walk to Epcot, Baordwalk area activities closeby, swan and Dolphin restaraunts.
Love the Beach Theme
Great at access to Beach Club amenities, and restaraunts, Jellyrolls, stores, Beaches and Cream, Arcade, etc.
Prefer the sand beach along crescent lake instead of the boardswalk
SAB is nice
Nice Beach Club Workout facility.
Nice access to the parking lot
Bus service fine.
Hotel services available like in-room dining, valet services, front staff.
Nice entrance to the resort walking in BC entrance with large fresh flower arrangements, sometimes music in lobby (saw harpist) front door greetings.
Marina activites, can take boats to see illuminations.
Nice access to parking lot for villas, closer than valet for many units. Just go in the back door or walk along the canal to the middle elevator
Second elevator available in the middle of the resort for pool, parking access.
BCVs has access to a marina along with the YC and BC. WLV and OKW also has a marina. BWV does not.
For us, the circus theme isn't as appealing as the beach theme, circuses don't have a good reputation for cleanliness or humane treatment towards animals, or the most friendly workers, but that's just us.



BCV has
No community Hall and Community Hall activities like BWV, Vero, others.
Uses all preferred view point structure, no advantage of standards view lower point structure like at BWV or lower points requirements like at OWK to stretch point value
Rooms smaller than OKW, lessstorage space - OKW, Vero and HH rooms are larger.
No three bedroom grand villas available (usually requires 11 month window at other resorts)
No outstanding crecent lake views like BWV
Villas in back are too close to roadway, some noise.


I should tell you that I'm bias, we actually owned some points at BWV and sold them to buy points at BCV because we like it better and buying addtional BWV points wasn't available at the time and we wanted more points all at the same resort. But that's just us, Good luck.

 

[WDWJWEB1]

rt2dz

I think before we as DVC owners can give our input a few questions need to be answered first, such as:

1. How large is your family?
2. How many children?
3. Does the family lean toward MK, Epcot or DTD?

All the Resorts are great in one way or another, Some like:
Hotel style some like Condo style?

OKW - size of the rooms and the ease of getting most resv.
BCV - Closeness to Epcot/MGM and of course their pool
BWV - Closeness to Epcot/MGM And the great setting of the Boardwalk
VWL - The closeness to the MK and Contemporary, the peaceful setting
SSR - The closeness to DTD and another good pool

So as you can see alot of factors come into play when purchasing into DVC, most owners enjoy their "Home" resort most of all, it's not that they dislike the other resorts it's just that they are more comfortable at their "home" resort. and usually it's because of the location and or the atmosphere.

My vote goes for the VWL we just love it there. VWL works for my family, we like the seemingly remoteness from it all yet everything is a boatride away.

I hope this helps you, and let us know what your final decission is.

 

[ripleysmom]

To be honest, if I were buying into DVC today I would buy points at SSR. The extra 12 yrs of vacations is what would make that decision for me. You can always stay at the other resorts if you buy SSR, but the rest of the resorts end in 2042 not 2054.

 

[Merilyn]

OKW for the size and number of points per night!

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW is our favorite, but I agree with one of the previous posters. Buying into SSR makes more sense if you are younger and in need of the extra 12 years. I'm too old to care about the extra 12 years.