Ranking of DVC resorts (WDW only)

[d-r]

It is hard for me to rank them.

I think I would go:

wlv* - because I like it
bcv* - because I like it
I'm going to go ahead and put BLT* here
AKV* - because I like it
Vero - because I like it
old key west - because I like it
bwv - because I like it a little
SSR - because I like it a little

 

[thumpermom]

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

I LOVE this statement and couldn't agree more!!!

 

[starbox]

We've stayed everywhere at least once, and given almost everywhere a second chance. We've got it narrowed down to three WDW resorts we will return to on a rotating basis:

BCV/AKV/SSR

BCV for the pool, the excellent management, and convenient location for stops at Epcot and DHS.
AKV for the savanna-view, resort activities, dining, resort-feel, convenience to AK (which is my favorite park and a royal pain in the tail to get to from any other resort)
SSR for the overall "away from it all" feeling - love the pool areas, adore the treehouses (had the chance to tour them and they are unreal), enjoy the walking trails and bike paths, we've always enjoyed DTD, AP is my favorite CS at all of Disney. I enjoy state parks and lodges and I like it that SSR reminds me a whole lot of the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation - a place I have very fond memories of.

OKW/VWL/BWV ended up not being our cup of tea. BLT does not appeal to me at all, as I never liked the CR and the longer we are members and the older our kids get, the less we are drawn to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Pat817]

SSR is our favorite. We love to take early morning walks through the resort and through DTD when nobody is there. The views are spectacular. We love the ease of access to the rooms and the lush grounds. The spa is wonderful and the small pools are private and quiet. We can walk to the first tee of LBV golf course. We feel like we are both at WDW and away from WDW.

 

[Tigger031266]

* BWV - Feel and Location
VWL - Wow
VB - The Beach
BLT
* BCV - Pool
* SSR - DTD
OKW
* AKV

* Home Resorts

 

[Deb & Bill]

SSR is our favorite. We love to take early morning walks through the resort and through DTD when nobody is there. The views are spectacular. We love the ease of access to the rooms and the lush grounds. The spa is wonderful and the small pools are private and quiet. We can walk to the first tee of LBV golf course. We feel like we are both at WDW and away from WDW.

Isn't that something great about SSR? We did the early morning walk about a month ago for our one night stay at SSR and it was so pleasant. And we did drop a whole bunch of money at the spa when we really didn't need to, but it felt so good to do it.

 

[theww228]

Practice getting on and off the bus carrying two strollers, sleeping kids and all your stuff. You'll be doing that a lot if you will be riding the WDW buses to the parks.

See just how fast you can remove the sleeping kids from the stroller(s), empty the stroller(s) and fold them up. Kind of like calf roping.

That is why I hate buses...couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[vicki_c]

I guess I'll play too!

Poly Villas - okay, that would be my first choice!

BCV - we just loved it there
SSR - our home resort
AKV - guessing, we won't be here until next January
VWL - love the Wilderness Lodge, but just felt the VWL was "okay"
BWV - love the location, but wasn't wowed with the room
OKW - haven't stayed there, but don't feel a great desire to
BLT - obviously haven't stayed here, don't really like the Contemporary much, so I'm basing it on that

 

[AKV707]

OK, I'll jump in:

1. AKV-Our home resort. Best theme. Tons of different accommodations choices. Good bus service, animals, restaurants, and the choice of Jambo or Kidani and we love them both!
2. BWV-love the theme, the closeness to Epcot, esp at food and wine. Great feel. Our likely second home resort
3. OKW- Peaceful. Short bus rides to parks. Huge rooms. Great to walk around. Boat to DTD. Gurgling Suitcase. But I also don't like the 2 beds in the studio.
4. BCV-Close to Epcot, our favorite park
5. VWL-great theme, would love to stay there during Christmas season
6. BLT-like it, but may not ever stay there. Theme is not that appealing, and point requirements are high. A little over hyped.
7. SSR-too many bus stops, looks too much like a place to live not to vacation.

 

[Hunclemarco]

BCV - Closeness to Epcot/Disney Studios, and a hop to MK from Epcot.
SSR - Quiet Surrounding, Closeness to DTD
AKV - Theme

Own at the three above, Havent tried others yet.

 

[hygienejean]

1. BWV (home resort!)
2. BCV
3. VB (home resort!)
4. BLT
5. VWL
6. AKV
7. SSR
8. OKW

 

[mom2rb]

Just in my house, we have too many opinions to rank the resorts. Between the four of us we have four different favorites. We own at SSR, AKL, and BLT. The only thing we agree on as a family is that we don't care for VWL. DH swears that it is because we stayed at a studio there and we just hate studios. So every trip we do a split stay at two resorts and we try to alternate them.

Right now my trip in May is at the same two resorts as my September trip. This is only because of the points I had at the eleven month mark. I will be calling at seven months to try to change one or both of them. I don't care where I switch to, we just love to stay at the different places.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Glad to see OKW is the bottom of lots of lists. That leaves it for us when we go. OKW is the best with SSR right up there.

 

[dizfan]

New members and we haven't stay in any of the DVC rooms yet, but we travel to the various resorts just to stroll around. We don't want to drive on vacation, so we use Disney transportation. While we don't mind buses, but really prefer walking/boating/monorail.

BLT
BCV
BWV
AKV
WLV
SSR
OKW
HHI
VB

 

[Sammie]

SSR
OKW
BCV
BWV
VWL
AKL

HHI is our favorite but you asked for WDW resorts only.

BLT, can appreciate the location but high rise does not appeal to me or the decor.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

BWV
VWL
BCV
OKW
AKV
SSR

Can't judge BLT yet.

 

[Jazzybell]

I can't rank the three we've stayed at because we do love each of them for different reasons and in different seasons. In alphabetical order:

BWV - the Boardwalk view can't be beat (for me, anyway) OWN
OKW - love the large rooms, the feeling of being away from it all...
VWL - LOVE the theme! OWN

We haven't stayed at any of the others yet, but plan to do so some day. Maybe. It's hard to get away from the above three! But, I would like to try a MK view at BLT someday, and SSR for the horse theming, and Beach Club to be closer to Epcot, and AK to try a savannah view...

I think we're lucky that we have such varied properties to choose from. There is something for everyone!

 

[Alexander]

See there you go making rules, I am so not a rule follower!

1st choice: BCV for Epcot location, theme, and SAB
2nd choice: OKW for low points, quiet, theme, huge rooms, and close parking
3rd choice: VWL for villas lobby (love, love, love this area), theme, boat ride to MK, bike trail to FW, ability to rent boats
4th choice: SSR for location, luxurious feel to furniture, pools, ability to almost always get a room there
5th choice: AKV for savannah rooms, pool
6th choice: BWV for location, quiet pool, community hall

BLT--cannot say yet

 

[wdwmouse]

Ok, we've only stayed at BWV, OKW, and AKV, but I think this is my order:

BWV- own there and LOVE it. With teenagers and not wanting to ride busses, it's perfect. Love the choice of sv and bwv.

BCV- love the location and want to try Stormalong Bay

VWL- like the theming and proximity to MK

AKV- would be good for a resort-heavy vacation, minimal park time. Stayed at Jambo, but would like to try Kidani

BLT- toured it and liked it, but don't like the point cost

OKW/SSR- don't have a car on Disney only vacations, so these are my least favorite. Our family has a place at Windsor Hills, so if we have a car, that's where we stay.

I guess I prefer the hotel-type resorts when on Disney property. I do like the interior of SSR villas, beautiful.

 

[La2kw]

OKW- the original resort and the reason we are DVC members. Excellent bus service to all points, and no need to walk. Quiet, peaceful, and great Key West theme.
SSR- also quiet and peaceful. Great location near DD and also very good bus service. Again, no need to walk anywhere.
BLT- near our favorite park. Love the rooms, the monorail, walking to MK, The Wave.
BCV- very nice pool area, nice short walk to World Showcase. Drawback is crowded bus service everywhere else and crowded resort area.
Vero- not on property, but might as well be.
WLV- another lovely resort but bus service has been terrible in our experience.
BWV- one our our least favorite resorts. Too crowded, too much building jammed onto a small piece of land. Don't like the majority of services being on the boardwalk. Crowded buses and very slow boats to get anywhere.
AKV- don't like the look, the location, being able to see off property. Don't care about the hoofstock and birds on the grounds. Don't like the dry look of the landscaping. Don't like the dark decor. Especially don't like the Jambo rooms.