Ranking of DVC resorts (WDW only)

[theww228]

I am looking for everyone's rankings of their favorite DVC resort to their least favorite. I have been on this board long enough to realize that some of the posters make things too complicated and twist them around. The rules are that you need to make one choice, not a dozen different options. For example: WLV is my fav it it is Christmas, BWV is my fav if it is F&W, BCV's are my fav if my DGC are along and want to swim in SAB, etc.

Here are mine:
1) VWL - boat to MK, theme, boat to CR to get on monorail, remote feeling yet close to action (poly, FW, MK), only 1 bus ride (AK) and we only do 1 day there
2) BCV - walking to 2 parks, 1 bus (AK), SAB,view of BW from the beach
3) BWV - walking to 2 parks, 1 bus (AK), BW, view of Epcot
4) BLT - walk to MK, monorail to TTC and poly, terrible theme, feels like any other hotel across America, how many people would stay at BLT if they picked the resort up and traded places with Pop?
5) AKV - savannah view, conciege, main lodge, pools, however there are too many bus rides... a bus to everywhere, even the park it is named after, do not care for theme
6) OKW - low points, 2 beds in studio, okay theme, bus to all parks
7) SSR - I am sure there is something good about SSR, but I have not been able to figure it out yet

The neat thing about DVC is that there are different resorts with different pros and cons... one man's trash is another man's gem. I am looking forward to seeing other people's opinions of the resorts.

 

[rutgers1]

I think the various options are what makes DVC so great. Oddly enough, VWL is my least favorite DVC resort, and it is mainly for one reason - I like the "condo" style accommodations such as SSR and OKW. When I am at a resort, I like to walk the grounds and see different things. At VWL, it all seems so confining to me. Also, I don't like the main entry area. When I enter the hotel, I don't want to be standing next to people who are all stressed out because they are checking in/out.

As for what there is to like about SSR, how about this:
1) Beauty --- I love the buildings, the colors, and the landscaping.
2) Spa
3) Proximity to DTD
4) Golf

I think the vast majority of people rate their hotels simply based on proximity to a park. And if that is your concern, no problem. To many, a shack on the monorail line would be better than SSR or OKW. If proximity to the parks was my biggest concern, I guess I would feel the same way. To me, being close to DTD is not QUITE as good as being close to a park, but it is still good. But the most important thing for me is the overall experience of being on the resort's property. My top two Disney resorts (non DVC) are Port Orleans Riverside and the Polynesian, simply because I love wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere, and those interests are what guides my choice of DVC resorts.

In the end, though, once I get a chance to stay in every DVC resort, I doubt that I will truly "dislike" any. The only thing that I will be partial to are ones with more grounds that I can explore.

 

[oakmanner]

Bwv
ssr
akv
bcv
vwl
okw
blt?

 

[rentayenta]

Being that I have only stayed in OKW and AKV but have seen rooms inside SSR and WLV and walked grounds of SSR, WLV, BCV, BWV..............

• SSR/THV
• OKW

I am a condo style girl vs hotel style

• BCV
• BWV
• WLV
• AKL
• BLT

And really, the last 5 are all pretty cool and I would like to try them all!

 

[robinb]

BCV - Stormalong Bay rocks! Proximity to Epcot & DHS.
BWV - Save points on "standard" views and splurge on "boardwalk" views. Proximity to Epcot & DHS. Long hallways a negative. ** owner **
BLT - Have not yet stayed, but MK location can't be beat! I also like the interior styling.
AKV - Animals outside your balcony? Way cool! ** owner **
VWL - Nice small resort. Lousy views. Good location.
SSR - Nice villas, nice pools, like quick service restaurant but needs to be bigger, DTD view rocks.
OKW - BIG rooms, varying views, need a car, love the Grand Villas.

One of my "regrets" in DVC was not buying into BCV when we bought BWV on the resale market. BUT ... we have friends who we travel with with points at BWV and it has worked out well for us. I just miss having SAB as my home pool.

 

[lisareniff]

BCV *
VWL
AKV Jambo *
BWV
AKV Kidani * #
BLT #
THV #
OKW #
SSR #

* - own
# - never stayed but have seen

 

[Deb & Bill]

YES = OKW, SSR, BCV, VWL, maybe BLT (don't know yet)

NO = AKV (too prison like), BWV (just don't like it)

That's as much as I am going to rank them.

 

[bobbiwoz]

VWL*
BCV* & AKV*
BWV* & BLT#
OKW & SSR

* DVC "home resort"
# will probably add on

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

AKV and OKW tied
SSR
VWL (but i don't stay there)
BCV
BWV

I didn't mention BLT because no one knows for sure about that yet. If I was looking at location only, I'd probably rate it at the bottom.

 

[WolfpackFan]

HHI *
AKV *
VWL *
BWV
OKW
SSR
BCV (because we've never stayed there)
VB (because we've never stayed there)

* home resorts

 

[castleri]

OKW*
SSR*
AKV
BCV*
VWL
BWV

BLT-haven't stayed there yet so can't tell where to put it.

"home resort

 

[StevesBLT]

1) VWL - boat to MK, theme, boat to CR to get on monorail, remote feeling yet close to action (poly, FW, MK), only 1 bus ride (AK) and we only do 1 day there
2) BCV - walking to 2 parks, 1 bus (AK), SAB,view of BW from the beach
3) BWV - walking to 2 parks, 1 bus (AK), BW, view of Epcot

I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand the "1 bus (AK)" comment for VWL, BCV and BWV. In addition to the AK bus, at VWL, you have to take a bus to DS, and at BCV and BWV, you have to take a bus to the MK. Staying near the parks is very important to me, and I wasn't aware that any DVC resort had "no bus" access to three different parks. Am I missing something?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

OKW-Lush and tropical, a vacation from the parks and boat to DTD!
BCV-Convenient to Epcot & DHS and I love the pastel theme.
BWV-Not my favorite but kids love the Boardwalk.
AKV-Too dark but sometimes we just need a savanna view.
VWL-Wouldn't turn it down but it's not my idea of Disney.
SSR-Wouldn't turn it down but the decor is my least favorite.

THV & BLT will have to rate after I give them a try!

 

[nhdisnut]

Ok - here goes (I purposefully did not look at the previous lists to provide an unbiased opinion )

1. SSR - Our original home and still our favorite. Calm and quiet, access to DTD, beautiful rooms, wonderful walking & jogging paths, love AP
2. AKV - Our second home and a very close to #1 choice. Exotic, transports us to another world
3. VWL - love the theme and the main lodge is amazing, boat ride to MK
4. BWV - easy access to both Epcot and the Studios, the Boardwalk environment
5. OKW - just did not suit us.....lack of real counter service options, missed the couch in the studio....that said, very pretty grounds, quiet feel (similar to SSR)....is the only DVC we have felt that we do not want to visit again...but isn't that the beauty of DVC - choices for everyone!!!
6. BCV - have not yet had the pleasure of staying here - so it really isn't ranked last, just can't say....

 

[theww228]

I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand the "1 bus (AK)" comment for VWL, BCV and BWV. In addition to the AK bus, at VWL, you have to take a bus to DS, and at BCV and BWV, you have to take a bus to the MK. Staying near the parks is very important to me, and I wasn't aware that any DVC resort had "no bus" access to three different parks. Am I missing something?

I HATE the buses with a passion! To me the buses are a magic killer. To get to DHS I can take the boat from VWL to CR or MK and take the express monorail to TTC and then take the monorail to Epcot and go through Epcot and take the boat to DHS. Yes, I hate the buses that much! I would rather walk and be on boats and monorails than a bus anyday.

 

[dd08]

Have to preface that we are "different" than many as in we don't mind the bus system and that for ourselves themeing is more important than transportation options:

1. AKV - theme, animals, we like its "remoteness" LOL - it's why it's our home resort
2. OKW - again, theme, room sizes, point structure
3. BLT - while never stay there, we are basing off contemporary. We aren't a fan of the "sterile" theme, so we are putting it here as for us it's location makes it better than the next 2.
4. BCV/BWV - We live in the Mid-Atlantic area ~1-2 hour from tons of beaches, boardwalks and beachhouses of the theme of these two, so again, for us, we prefer to stay elsewhere as we see this atmosphere all-year around

Places we haven't stayed:

SSR - we are staying here this fall - I suspect we will like and put it above 3 and 4.

VWL - We will stay here sometime, we don't have plans in the near future. Again, suspect it will fall somewhere above 3 and 4.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I HATE the buses with a passion! To me the buses are a magic killer. To get to DHS I can take the boat from VWL to CR or MK and take the express monorail to TTC and then take the monorail to Epcot and go through Epcot and take the boat to DHS. Yes, I hate the buses that much! I would rather walk and be on boats and monorails than a bus anyday.

But you have to have a park hopper or AP/PAP to do what you say. But to me, taking the boat, then another boat, then the monorail, then walk through Epcot, take a boat to arrive at DHS would take a LOOOONNNNNGGGG time. We'll hop in the car and drive.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

For my DH and I travelling as a couple:
BWV: BW view, walking to Epcot and HS, SV for lower points, we own here
AKV: CL amenities including Sunrise safari, great resort
BLT: Great location; probably need 1 BR instead of studio due to set up
OKW: Stayed while it was called DVC, don't like 2 beds in studio, quiet

Never stayed at any other DVC and really have no desire to do so. We bought to stay at our home resort in BW view or SV rooms and have done so for all 5 of our trips as DVC owners (except for 2 nights at AKL CL). If our WL comes thru for Dec, we will try out GVC, and if we like it, we will probably buy there too.

-- Suzanne

 

[theww228]

But you have to have a park hopper or AP/PAP to do what you say. But to me, taking the boat, then another boat, then the monorail, then walk through Epcot, take a boat to arrive at DHS would take a LOOOONNNNNGGGG time. We'll hop in the car and drive.

Yes, it will take longer, but that is part of the experience. Sometimes it is more about the journey than the destination.

Yes it takes a lot of time to trim my fingernails every week and I could save a lot of time if I simply ripped my fingernails off, I perfer the longer route. Buses are a step below having my fingernails ripped off.

We never have a car and never leave the property so driving is not an option for me. Nothing against people who do.

 

[jarestel]

1) vwl
2) akv
3) okw
4) ssr
5) bwv
6) bcv