Very confused newbie- please help! (a little long)

[tchrchgo]

I just joined and am trying to plan a trip "home" for end of august. I cannot decide between all the resorts!

We :

1) will not be visiting ANY theme parks
2) want easy access to our car at all times
3) will be eating almost all meals in our room/kitchen
4) Have two small children (both under 4) who love to swim but are fearful of large crowds and pushy, aggressive children
5) plan to go out to kennedy space center/cocoa beach, tampa area, plan to resort hop to check out all the resorts

So if anyone can help me decide- please, please, please!

I am drawn toward SSR or OKW, but am wondering if OKW is too spread out.

We are also open to Vero, but the idea of scrapping sand off two toddlers and having to pack umbrellas, beach towels, etc seems a bit daunting.

Also, the new pool slide at OKW- is that toddler friendly? It looks like the majority of it is "inside" the structure and I worry my kids will be scared inside that mammoth thing. The SSR slide seems more small child friendly.

I am also interested in BCV, but worry the crowds and pushy kids might be too much for my kids, who just like to splash around and have quiet fun. It also seems like a lot of work getting out to the water area from the resort.

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[Beca]

Hi, and welcome!!

My first coments are about BCV, since it is our home and we love it there. The pool is not very far from your room, as the entire Beach Club complex is very compact. Also, there is a "quiet pool" that many of the rooms overlook. If you got a "first floor, quiet pool" view room, you could walk out of your door directly to the pool. The parking at BCV is also very convenient to the villas.

However...I honestly do not think I would choose BCV for you, for this trip. If you little ones do want to go to Stormalong Bay...it will be VERY crowded. And, while I have never seen anyone be "pushy" (the lifeguards do an excellent job), the crowds can be overwhelming. The other problem with staying at BCV or BWV is, that you will DEFINITELY want to go to the parks.

I would recommend OKW, SSR, or VWL for your stay. The pro's that I see at each resort are:

OKW:
1) VERY big rooms
2) Relaxing resort
3) Closest parking to your door
4) New slide (I have heard this goes VERY fast)
5) Community hall (with crafts for kids)
6) Full-sized kitchen (instead of the "compact" ones in other resorts)

SSR:
1) New resort
2) In walking distance to DTD (a lot to do there for free)
3) Zero entry pool with a good kid's play area
4) A community hall (I think) with crafts for kids

VWL:
1) "Quiet" area with really beautiful views of lake
2) Very close to FW area with a petting zoo, evening movies and "sing-alongs" and other really neat activities for the kids.
3) Lots of "wildlife" for viewing
4) Really great pool


Good luck in your decision!!



Beca

 

[NCRedding]

I would go with OKW for what you are looking for. It is a large resort, but is much more convenient to using a car than the others. I prefer its theming over SSR, but it is very convenient for other places.

 

[Jen D]

I would definitely go with OKW or SSR, for car access and easy off-site access.

The pool at SSR is really wonderful, with a regular slide and a smaller slide for tots, and zero entry. It's a really great pool area.

I haven't used the OKW pool so can't comment on that but I think either of the Bonnet Creek-area DVCs will work great for your needs.

 

[Caskbill]

.... I think either of the Bonnet Creek-area DVCs will work great for your needs.

Not sure what you mean by that. Bonnet Creek runs through the entire WDW property. The three closest resorts to the Creek itself are SSR, OKW and VWL. Are those the 3-resorts you mean? Or do you simply mean resorts near the Fairfield Bonnet Creek Resort? (named because the back of the property is on the Southern edge of Bonnet Creek) and not the WDW Bonnet Creek area which is on the Northern edge of the creek and includes the Bonnet Creek golf course, all of which is located near Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge/VWL.

 

[tchrchgo]

Thank you for your input. I think we will try SSR for the first trip, and after we have a chance to actually eye ball all the other resorts we will be able to make future trip choices a little easier.

 

[sajetto]

Given your situation I would avoid BCV at all costs!

OKW is really nice and I like the rooms but the slide is enclosed and very fast.


I think SSR is probably a better choice, it is a little more quite and the slide is more open, so less chance of it scaring your little ones.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Jen D]

Not sure what you mean by that. Bonnet Creek runs through the entire WDW property. The three closest resorts to the Creek itself are SSR, OKW and VWL. Are those the 3-resorts you mean? Or do you simply mean resorts near the Fairfield Bonnet Creek Resort? (named because the back of the property is on the Southern edge of Bonnet Creek) and not the WDW Bonnet Creek area which is on the Northern edge of the creek and includes the Bonnet Creek golf course, all of which is located near Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge/VWL.

Sorry, didn't mean to be non-specific. I'm a longtime Unofficial Guide reader, and they group WDW resorts into the following categories, the MK resorts, (monorail + WL) Epcot-area resorts, (BC/YC, BW, S/D, and CBR) AK-area resorts, (All Stars, AKL... and Pop? not sure where they put Pop) and Bonnet Creek area resorts (OKW, SSW, POR and POFQ.) Maybe they say Bonnet Creek/Downtown Disney, can't remember. So their groupings have always stuck in my mind, although I guess it is geographically unclear.

 

[boatboatboat]

SSR, tons of stuff at DD that is free and your children will have a hoot without having to go to a park.

 

[cobbler]

I too would go with OKW or SSR.

I actually think SSR just because it is closer to getting offsite, even though it is down the road from OKW.

SSR also has a community hall where there are kids games and crafts to do. Boat/walking to DTD.

Either way you go - SSR or OKW those would be for you.

 

[byoung]

I agree with OKW. Also lower point cost.

 

[mom2alix]

For this trip I think you should try SSR - Isn't it the only one with a zero entry pool? I think that's much more toddler-friendly.

Save VWL for a trip where you'll be doing the MK, you'll love it too!

 

[tigger2on]

I have a disabled 9 yr old and a 1 yr old.... we went to OKW last October.
OKW...parking at the door. Building 26.... 3 minute walk to main pool which wasn't very busy at all. Community hall was nice ... older dd did a craft activity one afternoon. Bus stops very convienent and trip to DTD very easy. Loved having the extra "room" in the room and the big kitchen. We had a 2 bedroom. It was HUGE!!!

We just joined to. Bought a resale but decided not to go with OKW and went with SSR. We did the tour and liked the feel. Love the main pool with the splash pad and the fact that they have 2 waterslides. 1 small and the regular big one. My disabled daughter can not sit up alone so she's never been able to go on the slide. The small one allows her to do what other kids do. Plus the playgrounds are very nice looking. Brand new ones like the ones Step 2 or Little Tykes make. Not made of metal and wood like other ones are. We also liked the fact that DTD was only a "walk" or boat ride away for my "shopping addiction" I could basically live in the HUGE Disney store there!!!

And it is true that BCV have the best pool for all ages .... sand bottom and great themeing but the points are higher than SSr and OKW. We want to do an add on eventually for BCV so we can stay and use the pool.

Don't forget that now as a DVCer, you can pool hop with your kiddies too! Everywhere except BCV and AKL. I suggest trying out each pool and touring the other DVCs to see what works for you and your family for future trips. That way you can see how crowded each pool gets, look at the activities offered at community halls,check out resturant menus..... we did that when we stayed at BWV during our honeymoon.

 

[Beca]

For this trip I think you should try SSR - Isn't it the only one with a zero entry pool? I think that's much more toddler-friendly.

Save VWL for a trip where you'll be doing the MK, you'll love it too!

BCV's pool is zero entry as well.



Beca

 

[tigger2on]

I always forget tthe other side of the pool where the tube float area is! Oh yeah.. they have that too!