Rate the DVC Resorts from First to Worst

[MarkNC2Disney]

From the ones we’ve stayed at…
1. VGF
2. Riviera
3. Poly
4. BWV
5. Beach Club
6. CCV

Mind you, I would stay at any of our top 6 in a heartbeat. Slim margins.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

1. HHI--Our absolute favorite resort and our second home resort. We love the relaxing low-country vibe and all the natural surroundings. This place just feels like a second home to us. Just wish we could get here more often.
2. BRV--Again, we love nature, and the woods, the "crickets" chirping, and the rustic feel make us feel relaxed and at peace. Our favorite spot at WDW is the train room off the BRV lobby.
3. AKV Jambo--This is our first home resort. We love how transported we feel when we visit here. The animals are amazing, but so are the smells of Boma as we walk into that beautiful lobby.
4. CCV--Same reason as BRV. Just don't love it as much since it's not as rustic and the rooms are smaller.
5. OKW--We love the relaxed feel and large rooms at this resort. Just a little too sprawled out for us and didn't love the transportation.
6. Poly--I liked the layout of the room and the wonderful shower but wasn't impressed with the view. Great resort location and relaxed vibe throughout the grounds. DH would put this last on his list. He said the hallways reminded him of a Motel 6.
7. AKV Kidani--We love the savannah at this resort. We just don't like the long hallways and the unimpressive lobby.
8. SSR--This was the first DVC resort we stayed at. We like the relaxing atmosphere and the close proximity to DS. The theming is not very impressive though. My guess is we would love staying at the Treehouse Villas.
9. BWV--DH hasn't stayed here, but this resort just didn't impress me when I stayed there with our DS. It was moldy and musty. The only plus was the easy walk from Epcot after closing.
10. BLT--We liked the easy walk from MK but that was about it. Too sterile, small studios, and about as far from nature as you can get.
11. VB--I liked nothing about this resort. Average room, terrible beach, and remote location. This is probably the only resort that I would refuse to go back to.

We haven't stayed at VGF, BCV, Riviera, CFW, any resorts at Disneyland, and Aulani.

 

[Budzooka]

Of the resorts we have visited:

1. VB - this is the resort we have visited the most often, having been 5 years in a row. Love the proximity to the ocean, which has the perfect level of activity to enjoy spending time in it. Such a relaxed vibe and enjoy hearing the waves of the ocean anywhere on the resort. Downside is lack of dining options, but we fly into MCO and rent a car, so we drive into town every night for dinner and buy groceries for breakfast and lunch at the resort.

2. Aulani - this is by far the best resort, but ranking it behind Vero because the beach at the resort is terrible, with zero ocean activity. The pools and lazy river is amazing and you’re in Hawaii. We rent a car and visit other parts of the island and don’t just stay at the resort.

3. Boulder Ridge - our favorite WDW resort. So quiet and peaceful away from the hustle and bustle of the parks but still a boat ride away from MK. Pools are amazing too.

4. Poly - loved the 2 bathrooms, size of the rooms, and the theming of the resort. Can’t wait to stay in the new tower with a 1 bedroom.

5. Animal Kingdom Jamba - animals make the resort but so far from everything.

6. Beach Club - don’t understand all the love for this resort. The proximity to Epcot is the best attribute. SAB was great with the sand bottom pool but extremely crowded. We did a split stay at BRV and then moved to BCV and couldn’t have been more polar opposites in terms of relaxation.

7. Saratoga Springs - only stayed there one night before a cruise and wasn’t impressed. It was such a long walk to our room. Checked in late that night and was out early the next morning so didn’t get to experience it much.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Well, this is an easy one for me since I've only ever stayed at 2. And only in the studios.

1. VGC - staying here (hotel side) is what made me want to get DVC. The location is the best. Good food options, especially with having other hotels and DTD right outside your door. I also like having Starbucks so close. Two entrances right into California Adventure and Disneyland a few steps away from that. I love the style. I love the lobby. I love the laid back vibe.

2. BRV - A very close second place. Absolutely love the overall atmosphere. So quiet and cozy. Beautiful lobby. I loved the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. Love the renovated rooms.

 

[Chili327]

the beach at the resort is terrible

Aulani?

I stayed next door before Aulani was built and I loved the beach (and proximity to marina)... what have they done to it since??

 

[Budzooka]

Aulani?

I stayed next door before Aulani was built and I loved the beach (and proximity to marina)... what have they done to it since?

My only visit was in July 2021, so can’t reference how it was before or after, but there was very minimal wave activity. It was basically a sand bottom salt water pool. We enjoy moderate waves to be able to boogie board and have some fun with. There are plenty of those types of beaches on Oahu but have to pack up and drive.

 

[Chili327]

My only visit was in July 2021, so can’t reference how it was before or after, but there was very minimal wave activity. It was basically a sand bottom salt water pool. We enjoy moderate waves to be able to boogie board and have some fun with. There are plenty of those types of beaches on Oahu but have to pack up and drive.

Ahh, gotcha. I was thinking like the sand wasn't nice to hang out on, or something, yes there are no waves, just chillin.

 

[DonMacGregor]

My only visit was in July 2021, so can’t reference how it was before or after, but there was very minimal wave activity. It was basically a sand bottom salt water pool. We enjoy moderate waves to be able to boogie board and have some fun with. There are plenty of those types of beaches on Oahu but have to pack up and drive.

You definitely aren't ever going to get any wave action in the lagoons. Next time, head over to Electric Beach or Tracks. They are about a mile or so just north of Aulani. The stretch of coast from Kahe Point Beach Park up to Tracks is all sand and has plenty of surf. A little further up in Nanakuli, there is a very long stretch of beach as well. Maybe 4 miles north of Aulani.

Obviously, some other great beaches further up on the leeward side, like Waianae and Makaha, but as you mentioned those do require a little drive (but still nothing like any other spots on Oahu).

 

[ClaraOswald]

My only visit was in July 2021, so can’t reference how it was before or after, but there was very minimal wave activity. It was basically a sand bottom salt water pool. We enjoy moderate waves to be able to boogie board and have some fun with. There are plenty of those types of beaches on Oahu but have to pack up and drive.

This is good to know. No waves sounds great to me though. I love to just relax and float around.

 

[Budzooka]

You definitely aren't ever going to get any wave action in the lagoons. Next time, head over to Electric Beach or Tracks. They are about a mile or so just north of Aulani. The stretch of coast from Kahe Point Beach Park up to Tracks is all sand and has plenty of surf. A little further up in Nanakuli, there is a very long stretch of beach as well. Maybe 4 miles north of Aulani.

Obviously, some other great beaches further up on the leeward side, like Waianae and Makaha, but as you mentioned those do require a little drive (but still nothing like any other spots on Oahu).

Thanks for that. We are heading back in Dec this year and will definitely do some exploring.

 

[Chili327]

This is good to know. No waves sounds great to me though. I love to just relax and float around.

That is exactly what it is perfect for!

 

[J&J]

Rate the DVC resorts from first to worst, but only rate those you have actually stayed at for at least one night. Feel free to provide your reasoning and where you own.

Here are my ratings and I already know my views may be heretical.

1. Boulder Ridge
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Saratoga Springs
4. Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
5. Old Key West
6. Bay Lake Tower

We had a 2BR in May at BRV and loved it; loved the pools and restaurants; loved the grounds and transportation. Just an amazing resort. Sorry it’s a 2042 resort.

We love the animals, pool, and dining at AKV. Buses always seemed to be on time. Walking to and from the room was a bit longer than other resorts. We are currently buying AKV resale and we are okay if we get stuck staying here.

SSR in February was awesome. Pools were quiet and great pool bars. Standard rooms didn’t seem too far and buses were never full. DS is nearby, but our kiddos aren’t really into that yet.

PVB was our first love and our first home resort. Love the theme and vibe. Lava pool is great and the LV studios can’t be beat. Just a bit too busy overall for me. We just sold our resale Poly contract.

OKW was our first stay on WDW property. The boys love the large rooms, as do we. It’s home away from home. But not a lot of dining and the quiet pools are a bit lousy. We just bought a direct contract but the points will be used for OKW and other resorts during our future trips.

BLT just doesn’t vibe with us. But we loved the location and pool bar food (especially the Cuban). I guess I love the Disney resort themes more than their locations.

 

[J&J]

We have found that it all depends on your trip if good one you love the hotel. If not dont want to go back. Each year can be different at the same place .

 

[katyjeka]

We are not vacation club owners, so I'm not sure Its right for me to answer but we've stayed at them all so here goes. Our favorite is AKL, we could spend an entire vacation there as we love the peaceful feel. Our least favorite, SSR. We've stayed twice and have had bad luck with the buses both times.

 

[Hubalorian]

Out of the places I’ve stayed

AKV
CCV
BCV
BRV






Poly, I anticipate many other DVC resorts beating out my overall experience at Poly

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

BWV
CCV
GFV
BCV
POLY*
AKL - Jambo

*Not sure if this is fair since we stayed on hotel side.

 

[Dobermanns]

1. AUL
2. VGC/RIV
3. VGF
4. BCV
5. VDH
6. PVB
7. BWV
8. AKV
9. CCV
10. BLT
11. SSR

Above are the only DVC resorts I’ve stayed at. PVB may move up once the tower opens, but I doubt it would move up beyond number 3. May tie with VGF. My reasons are pretty much the same as what all’s been listed by others previously.

 

[jess2022]

We haven’t stayed at them all yet but so far:

1. AKL Jambo
2. CCV
3. SSR
4. OKW
5. VGF

We love 1-3, and really liked OKW. The vibe of the resort was great, the pool area, and Olivia’s. The lack of elevators, especially at the end of the night with a stroller, and the patio door curtains (that didn’t cover the sun in the early mornings) are what bring it down. While VGF is gorgeous, we just didn’t care for it.

 

[DVC Deac]

WDW resorts only (rooms, buildings, grounds, pools, restaurants, etc.) and not taking into account proximity to parks and transportation.

1. BRV - Nothing tops Christmas season at WL. We prefer the BRV rooms and overall vibe to CCV, but it’s close.
2. CCV
3. AKL - J
4. PVB
5. BCV
6. VGF
7. AKL- K
8. RIV
9. BLT
10. CFW
11. BWV
12. OKW
13. SSR

 

[bbn1122]

1. Rivera (Beautiful, amenities, Skyliner, cafe/restaurant/lounge)
2. VGF (Beautiful, location, monorail, amenities, restaurants/lounges)
3. BLT (location, monorail, size/3rd Bathroom, amenities with CR) Home Resort
4. SSR (location to DS, grounds, resort pools)
5. Poly (location, monorail, grounds, amenities, restaurants)
6. AKL (theming, animals, restaurants)
7. OKW (grounds, size, boat to DS)

Off Property:
HHI - love location, setting and all that HHI has to offer
VB - ocean, decor
Aulani - I will let you know...going in 6 weeks!!