Tell me what you like BEST about your home resort!

[IllumFan]

We love BWV because we can walk to two of the theme parks and because we can book for October (during F&W) at the 11 month mark.

We spend most nights at Epcot and it such a pleasure to watch IllumiNations, stroll around World Showcase Lagoon and then walk back to our room without having to fight the crush of people boarding Disney transportation.

 

[sskem96]

We love AKV because of the relaxing atmosphere first and foremost. Other important considerations for us were the extra bathroom and extra pullout chair in the living room. (BLT has those too, but felt too modern for us and not as relaxed).

 

[CrazyDuck]

Walking distance to Disneyland
Walking distance to California Adventure (with a private entrance)
Walking distance to Downtown Disney
No waiting for busses
No waiting for monorails.

 

[EeyoreEma]

BLT is our home resort, and I love love love the walk to the MK and the TOTWL. Great resort! If we buy another contract, which I hope we will be doing, I think I'd like to look at either OKW or SSR.

 

[Checkers]

We have 2 as well:

OKW -- everything that Diane said + the launch to Downtown Disney.

BWVs - location, location, location -- access to 2 parks + many great restaurants.

 

[Pixieflip]

It's Vero, we've never stayed there!!

 

[franandaj]

We currently own at two resorts, but hope to own at four soon.

SSR: bought in 2007

Loved the idea of an on site spa
Since staying there, really enjoy the size of the jacuzzi tubs and the theming of the resort.
Like the TS restaurant and the possibility of booking the THV at 11 months.

VGC

Orginally bought for the 11 month advantage during the CA F&W Festival, if they bring it back we'll be set, otherwise we may sell one of our two contracts, well maybe....
It's a small resort and even though we live 1/2 an hour away, being able to stay there is really nice, on occasion, there is no other choice in CA and it is a beautiful resort.
Where else can you have a theme park view out your window?

VWL

Just put an offer in on a contract here, love the remoteness, but the fact that you can boat to the Contemporary or MK and catch a monorail. We really enjoyed our stay here in 1997 and can't wait to get back in October if we can get in!

BCV

Don't own here yet, but as soon as a contract in our UY that we can afford comes up we're on it! Stayed here in 2001 and LOVED stormalong bay and the resort, especially the proximity to Epcot for the F&W fest which we want to return to every 2-3 years, (as long as CA brings theirs back!otherwise it's more often!)

Once we secure the last two contracts we're good! Any of the other resorts we will try to stay at them in the off season and AKV is so large we should be able to get in there, as well as OKW, with BLT we'll try to stay in the off season and we can't stay at BWV because my DP is lured in by the fudge shop. She says it's too much of a temptation to stay there (even though I love Flying Fish, Jellyrolls and Kouzzina) we'll just have to brave going past the three and avoid the candy shop!

 

[BroganMc]

In order of least points owned to most of my home resorts:

Bay Lake Towers

- proximity to Magic Kingdom
- Views of park from balcony or lobby
- proximity to Magic Kingdom resorts (Grand Floridian, Poly and Contemporary)

Boardwalk Villas

- proximity to EPCOT and DHS (especially an advantage during special event times)
- ambience of Boardwalk
- theme of the resort

Saratoga Springs

- wide open walking spaces make this a retreat rather than a hotel experience
- quietness of rooms
- pools (the most accessible and relaxing onsite)
- Artist's Palette & Turf Club
- friendliness of the staff
- Community Hall
- proximity to Downtown Disney
- accessibility of rooms (again the best on property I've seen)
- lazy ferry rides to DTD or Treehouse Villas
- room views (either of lakes, golf greens, woods or the distant bustle of DTD)

Of the three Saratoga has my most points and my fondest love. I enjoy Bay Lake and Boardwalk for those higher-paced aspects of my trip like Food & Wine and EMH at Magic Kingdom, but they are strictly short term stays for me.

I am not a park commando anymore so getting there by rope drop or sneaking in and out of the park is not a huge deal for me. We travel down many times a year and have annual passes. We enjoy just living like the locals and enjoying the kinder, gentler amenities of Disney World. Closest I get to park commando these days is waking up pre-dawn, taking a walk around Saratoga, refilling my mug with hot chocolate then impromptu deciding to hop a bus to whatever park has morning EMH that day. Then I'll do a couple rides, be back by 11am and sleep for a couple hours before spending the rest of the afternoon at the pool. For night time I might go back out to a park for fireworks or else I'll stroll over to DTD for dinner, shopping or a movie.

I find if I am at Bay Lake or Boardwalk the lure of the parks is so great I spend more time in them than at my resort.

 

[eagle29]

Stormalong Bay is awesome for my 11 year-old and 6 year-old! I love the location and access to both Epcot and the Studios and having the activity of the Boardwaslk just across the lake can't be beat!!

 

[Kathi OD]

Our home resort is BWV. We've never stayed there. Nothing about the resort really appeals to us. When we bought, OKW was sold out and BWV was all that was available (we had no idea about a resale market at the time and to be honest, it was so early in, I'm not so sure that there would have been a big resale market anyway).

OKW is our favorite for the condo-style and the bigger sized accommodations.

 

[seelyt2]

AKV at Kidani

We love it for what the others have said thus far:
Animals, animals, animals!
Remote and quiet
Relaxing
Great pools
Exotic - so it feels like nothing I ever encounter at home

On the flip side to how others feel, I do like that nearly everything is under one roof; i.e.; the hotel feel. Although I want it to feel exotic, I still like the hallway feeling, maybe because it's familiar? Call me crazy. We don't bring our car so I don't need to park right outside our door. And the hallways are air conditioned, which is an added bonus in the summer heat! Although with DVC - it's a wonderful feeling that we can get the condo-feel whenever we want. LOVE DVC!

 

[Y-ASK]

OKW - We use to own at a couple of other places but we kept our OKW and AKV points. I like the pool, parking, and laid back way of life there. Getting a bus and the accompaning trip around the resort can get tiresome but if we are in a hurry we just drive to the parks or another resort.

Y-ASK

 

[ToddyLu]

AKV

DH and I love the remote feel.
A fridge in the room
Covered bus pickup
Decor, Decor, Decor
Just walking fdown the long hallways is an adventure (yep, the glass is always half full)
Friendliest CMs
Lobby music


I am going to list animals last actually, since I really think DH and I would have purchased on the items above--even if there were no animals. yes, they are lovely, but the resort has its own merits.

 

[LSchrow]

we own 3 resorts:
BWV- amazing views you literally cannot get anywhere else , incredible variety of activities (surry bikes, walk to 2 parks, jellyrolls, belle vue lounge, nightly performers) and inactivities (beautiful pools - i love the quiet pool , quiet nooks for just reading a book or people watching with beautiful backdrops everywhere around the resort, community hall), bakery, restaurants, shopping. nostalgic feel with wonderful attention to detail....our absolute favorite resort in all of WDW

BCV - proximity to the BW, pretty

SSR - beautiful, serene walking paths (we've seen an eagle and other wildlife there), wonderful views of DTD (from congress park), elegant but not stuffy decor, relaxing, turf club (one of the best restaurants in all of WDW, imho), really quiet "quiet pools", just a beautiful oasis minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the parks

we were excited each time they built a new DVC, hoping it would appeal to us as much as the BWVs (hence, the 2 add-ons).
however, after staying at and/or touring every one, we decided we will probably add on again, but only at the BWVs (keeping SSR and selling our BCV points) - luckily, we found the resort that has everything we could ever want or need

 

[rklives]

Another vote for location

 

[BigEeyore]

Another list of the obvious for AKV:

Animals right outside your balcony - where else (on this continent) can you wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and relax while watching giraffes and zebras?

Decor is authentic and beautiful, in the room and throughout the hotel

Great pool area, especially at Kidani - the zero entry pool, water play area, and both a little kids and a big kids slide make it great for families

Boma

Great staff - especially the people that are from Africa, because they have a genuine love and pride of their homeland and an eagerness to share it with you.

 

[AKLFan3]

We own at AKV. We love:

1. Animals! Can't see animals from your room or restaurant (Sanaa) from any other hotel or restaurant on Disney property
2. Decor! Very authentic theming that appeals to us
3. Hotel feeling, prefer to walk through hallways instead of parking lots
4. 5 minute bus ride to Animal Kingdom, our favorite park
5. Our favorite restaurants, Jiko and Sanaa
6. Wines! We're able to buy South African wines in the gift shop to take back to our room

 

[Pete W.]

BWV -- the fewer points needed for the standard-view units provides the best value for the unbeatable location.