Recommend a resort

[lchute1158]

Hi all!

I am a new DVC member with points at OKW.

Planning a trip to stay at a WDW resort in January and I wanted to see what you guys would recommend for a fun ace to stay with two girls 7 and 5.

We are not planning on going into the parks, just hanging by the pool for a 2 or 3 nights stay until our DCL cruise.

Any resort have a better kid friendly pool than the other? My girls want to stay at AKV if possible, if not is OKW a better choice than SSR?

Any good info would be appreciated.

 

[amym2]

Swimming may be iffy in January, so I'm not sure I'd base a decision on that. Our kids liked the pools at OKW and SSR, but they liked the poolside activities at OKW better. I would think AKV would be a great choice, although we haven't stayed there... Yet.

 

[lchute1158]

Yea i know January in Florida can be iffy... We did a cruise this past February and it was nice and warm... Enjoyed the pool at Port Orleans Riverside ... But it wasnt a particularly exciting pool.

 

[com_op_2000]

For kids that age, AKV with a savanna view would be a great way to enjoy the time before a cruise. At Kidani, the kids splash area is great.
DW and I prefer to go to VB, as that puts us in the mode for the beach before a cruise.

 

[Silver19]

My kids loved the BWV more than anything, and they're about your age. Free shows at night on the boardwalk (magicians, jugglers, etc.) that are really impressive, and run from 7-10 I think. Three pools, plenty of things to do and places to eat.... I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be if I was going to skip the parks for 2-3 days.

 

[lchute1158]

Thanks for the ideas, I was leaning towards a stay at AKV before the cruise and after a beach break at Vero.

 

[disneynutz]

As a member you will stay at all of the resorts many times over. Just pick one and go for it!

Bill

 

[lchute1158]

With AKV, what's the difference from value, standard, and savannah?

Can you see the animals roaming from only the savannah view?

 

[Kidanifan08]

With AKV, what's the difference from value, standard, and savannah?

Can you see the animals roaming from only the savannah view?

The savanna view rooms guarantee a view of the animals and are totally worth it. The standard view rooms look at the parking lot/bus stop/pool area. I think some of the value rooms have a limited view of the savanna (I think), but they are hard to get if you don't own at AKV.

I agree with AKV given you kids ages. Although, I might consider BWV, as well, since there is more to do along the boardwalk if it happens to be too cold for swimming. If you have never stayed at AKV, then definitely try it. It makes a great pre-DCL non-park stay!

 

[lchute1158]

Cool,

I will definitely try to get into AKV if I can when my points are available.

Maybe a BWV for the post cruise fun!

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

With AKV, what's the difference from value, standard, and savannah?

Can you see the animals roaming from only the savannah view?

Value villas are only located in Jambo House and are three feet shorter in depth than the standard and savanna villas. They do not have the sleeper chair in the one and two bedroom villas. The one bedroom is limited to four persons plus one under the age of three. The two bedroom villa is limited to eight persons plus one under three. Value villas can be savanna view, pool view or parking lot view and you cannot request a view.

Because the value villas require fewer points than the standard view villas and they might have a savanna view, they are highly sought after by AKV owners.

 

[lchute1158]

What is the difference between jambo and kanani?

 

[iluveeyore]

If your girls are active, they might enjoy OKW better - my nephews were 5, 7, 10 and 12 on their first visit, and didn't want to ever leave the resort to go to the parks - they played shuffleboard, ping pong, beach volleyball, pool, air hockey, video games, did crafts, and went down the waterslide more times than I can count. Even if it's too cold to swim there are a lot of resort activities to keep young ones busy - and a nice ferry ride to DTD is a great way to spend time too. DH and I really enjoyed AKV when it was just the two of us, but we just enjoyed lounging around watching the animals, not really doing anything. If your girls like relaxing, then AKV is great for that!

 

[Deb & Bill]

What is the difference between jambo and kanani?

Jambo is the original building with DVC villas (converted hotel rooms) on the fifth and sixth floors only. Kidani is all DVC and was built originally as DVC.

There are no dedicated two bedroom villas at JH, only lockoffs. The one and two bedroom villas at KV have an extra bathroom just off the entrance. JH only has one bathroom in the one bedroom and two in the two bedroom.

You can use either pool at JH or KV if you are a guest at either location.

 

[juncker]

If this is your first trip as DVC owners at OKW, I might suggest OKW. Yes, you'll have more opportunities to visit here than any other location, but there is something special about going to your home resort for your first trip. It makes your DVC ownership feel real.

I have no idea about the pool there for children. Sorry.

Good luck!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As a member you will stay at all of the resorts many times over. Just pick one and go for it!
Bill

True, there's not a bad one in the lot!

Sure once you've tried them all, you'll develope favorites!

Here are mine:

OKW-Love the tropical lushness of the resort, the huge villas, the sleeper chair and it's proximity to DTD! Favorite area, Turtle Pond, Bldngs. 42-43 & 45-46

Kidani-Love the animals, viewable even from a standard point villa, 3rd bathroom in 2bd and sleeper chair! Favorite area, 3rd floor, Standard View w/ partial view of the Pembeh Savannah

BWV-Strictly for the ambiance of the Boardwalk and the accessiblity to so many restaurants. (Bluezoo, Yachtsmen, Il Mulino, Kimono's) Favorite area, Standard View, lawns, left of the entrance!

SSR-Beautiful grounds and walking distance to DTD, Favorite Bldng, Congress Park, DTD view!

My son was about 3 when I bought into DVC, and he was happy staying at any of the resorts! He had no favorites till he became a teen, he loves the vibe of the Boardwalk!

Good luck with you stay!

 

[lchute1158]

True, there's not a bad one in the lot!

Sure once you've tried them all, you'll develope favorites!

Here are mine:

OKW-Love the tropical lushness of the resort, the huge villas, the sleeper chair and it's proximity to DTD! Favorite area, Turtle Pond, Bldngs. 42-43 & 45-46

Kidani-Love the animals, viewable even from a standard point villa, 3rd bathroom in 2bd and sleeper chair! Favorite area, 3rd floor, Standard View w/ partial view of the Pembeh Savannah

BWV-Strictly for the ambiance of the Boardwalk and the accessiblity to so many restaurants. (Bluezoo, Yachtsmen, Il Mulino, Kimono's) Favorite area, Standard View, lawns, left of the entrance!

SSR-Beautiful grounds and walking distance to DTD, Favorite Bldng, Congress Park, DTD view!

My son was about 3 when I bought into DVC, and he was happy staying at any of the resorts! He had no favorites till he became a teen, he loves the vibe of the Boardwalk!

Good luck with you stay!

Thanks!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The savanna view rooms guarantee a view of the animals and are totally worth it. The standard view rooms look at the parking lot/bus stop/pool area. I think some of the value rooms have a limited view of the savanna (I think), but they are hard to get if you don't own at AKV.

When we travel with the 4 teenagers I like to book Kidani for that 3rd bathroom in the 2bd, and the sleeper chair! I've done the savannah view multiple times so now I only book standard and each and every time, without requests I've landed a view of the Pembeh Savanah. I've read on these boards people getting a view of the parking lot, never been the case for us. Hopefully I haven't jinxed myself but this has been our views for the last 3 years, pictures from our balconies!

Watch, next years pictures will be the parking lot......

 

[lchute1158]

Nice pics, thanks

 

[lovin'fl]

We once did HH for 4 nights and then shot down to Orlando to do Seaworld for 2 days. We stayed at OKW for 3 days. It was nice...I was happier about it then DH was (not enough constant action for him). We did a day and a half at Seaworld and went over to Downtown Disney and hung out at the pool...very relaxing and nice (to me, not DH).

Here are my thoughts:
-AKV is good for pool (they are heated) and seeing animals and dining (many great dining choices). Takes less points too.
-SSR is good for walking to Downtown Disney and thus many dining options here too. The pool there is nice.
-OKW is also good for Downtown Disney but you can't walk there (can take a boat). We like the pool enough here too. The villas are HUGE. Also takes less points here.
-BWV/BCV are good for things going on around the boardwalk (really isn't much, just carnival games and sometimes magic shows...but there is PLENTY of dining options with Boardwalk, Beach and Yacht Club and Swan/Dolphin...I recommend Beaches and Cream...yummm).
-BLT has nice pools and has monorail for plenty of dining options...but takes a lot of points.
-VWL is only good for resort and a couple dining options. It wouldn't be on the top of my list.