What is your least favorite DVC resort and why?

[Disney Doll]

I can't say I have a least favorite. They all have their plusses and minuses. I love OKW for the laid back feel and room size. I love BWV and BCV for their proximity to MGM, Epcot, & the BW, I love WL for it's very serene feel, and the cute little boat to the MK.

 

[d-r]

Originally posted by Disney Doll
I can't say I have a least favorite. They all have their plusses and minuses. I love OKW for the laid back feel and room size. I love BWV and BCV for their proximity to MGM, Epcot, & the BW, I love WL for it's very serene feel, and the cute little boat to the MK.

That's the best post I've ever seen on this topic.

 

[DVCcollector]

Villas at Wilderness Lodge far to quiet for our taste and to far from anything remotley fun for the kids like the main pool and the restaurants. Second would be OKW again far to quiet and the lack of at the time a pool slide yes I know that is being remedied now.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by DVCcollector
Villas at Wilderness Lodge far to quiet for our taste and to far from anything remotley fun for the kids like the main pool and the restaurants.

Really? I haven't stayed there yet, but I always thought the beach area, petting zoo, and the DVC boat and bike plan would be ideal at WLV. Boats would have access to a huge lake area. Seems like the boat to MK is also a positive. It's not far from Hoopdy Doopty Review (or something like that) is it? Ahhh.... different tastes for different folks.......

 

[russct]

I have only stayed at SSR and Boardwalk. I can honestly say that I think once SSR is completed I will like it over Boardwalk. Boardwalk is great location to MGM and Epcot, but I think SSR has a lot more to offer such as Pleasure Island and DTD. But I'm sure they are all great in their own way!

 

[DVCcollector]

CM we only use the boat to get to MK or to hop over to the Contemporary when we stayed at VWL. We usually take the bus everywhere we never drive our car once we get there it gets parked and left. Our kids liked the pool at WL but not the members pool as it didn't have a slide etc and the water was colder in the membvers pool than the main pool area not sure why that was though.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by russct
I have only stayed at SSR and Boardwalk. I can honestly say that I think once SSR is completed I will like it over Boardwalk. Boardwalk is great location to MGM and Epcot, but I think SSR has a lot more to offer such as Pleasure Island and DTD. But I'm sure they are all great in their own way!

I think that's true only for a smaller subset of members. I suspect most people will look at SSR as a method to get into the system rather than a destination unto itself. Frankly, I hope most members prefer SSR and don't compete for other resorts.

 

[littlestar]

My least favorite DVC resorts at Disneyworld are the ones without hotels attached. SSR is dead last for me. Then OKW (and I'd probably like OKW pretty well as long as the weather is good). SSR just felt too much like offsite to me. It reminded me of Marriott Grande Vista or Wyndham Palms (which they are nice condos) but I like to feel like I've got a Disney hotel nearby and SSR felt too spread out and had those tall buildings like offsite. I love a resort feel and it didn't have it for me. I like interior hallways (if it rains I can go to the gift shop, lobby, etc., without getting wet). But, everybody has different preferences. That said, I would stay at SSR or OKW in a heartbeat if I couldn't book BWV, BCV, or VWL!

 

[Simba's Mom]

You are so right that everyone has different preferences. Good thing-otherwise we'd all be fighting for the same resort! Although you prefer interior corridors, DH much prefers the exterior, one reason he's such an OKW fan. He doesn't like the hotel feel so much, probably because he has to spend so many nights in hotels on business-for him, hotels remind him too much of being at work. I probably least like the VWL-the theming doesn't "fit" the climate, so I feel out of sorts there once I go outside. But really, I'll stay anywhere as long as it's WDW!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by Dean
I think that's true only for a smaller subset of members. I suspect most people will look at SSR as a method to get into the system rather than a destination unto itself. Frankly, I hope most members prefer SSR and don't compete for other resorts.

Interesting perspective. I didn't get teh impression that people were looking at SSR as a method to get into the system rather than a destination unto itself. That would put more pressure on other resorts, BCV perhaps being one of those due to its smaller size.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

After I wrote a big long post explaining my least favorite resort, I came back to delete it.
It just seemed as though I was bashing one particular resort (although not my intention).

Anyway, all DVC resorts exemplify the Disney standard, and I think they are all awesome in their own way...

MG

 

[Beca]

Originally posted by Dean
Frankly, I hope most members prefer SSR and don't compete for other resorts.

Beca

 

[chrissyk]

BCV is my least-favorite DVC resort. We stayed there twice, and the resort was so noisy that we couldn't sleep BOTH times. We haven't been back there since.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
Interesting perspective. I didn't get teh impression that people were looking at SSR as a method to get into the system rather than a destination unto itself. That would put more pressure on other resorts, BCV perhaps being one of those due to its smaller size.

The reality is that even if most SSR owners want to stay there most of the time, it'll will still put a tremendous amount of pressure especially on the smaller onsite resorts and HH summer. VWL followed by BCV will be most affected due to their smaller size and location. Plus certain times and unit sizes will be further impacted. At some point, it will be essentially impossible to get into the "destination" DVC resorts during any time that's at all desirable. And don't even think about getting a difficult unit size or type OR certain resorts at the 7 month window. My guess is we're essentially at that point with SSR sales. And before anyone posts that they haven't had any problems, remember that the affects will lag by a year or two and that there are far more points to be sold at SSR than have been so far. SSR will make up some 35-40% of the total DVC members and points

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Dean
At some point, it will be essentially impossible to get into the "destination" DVC resorts during any time that's at all desirable. And don't even think about getting a difficult unit size or type OR certain resorts at the 7 month window. My guess is we're essentially at that point with SSR sales.

I don't want to derail this thread too much, but I only think that's true to a certain degree. Barring other outside influences, demand RIGHT AT seven months is unlikely to change drastically. The changes will be most noticable as one gets closer to check-in date.

Fictional example:

Let's assume that historically BCV is 60% booked at 7 months prior to a given check-in date. Since BCV is not adding any new members (without building new units), we still have the exact same audience with access to BCV in months 11-8. Regardless of how many owners DVC adds at SSR, Eagle Pines, Contemporary, etc., these additions would have no direct impact on the occupancy level of BCV when the phone lines open right at 7 months.

So, regardless of Home resort, I firmly believe that any member willing (and able) to book a non-Home resort right as the 7 month window opens will have a very high chance of getting the room they desire.

What will change is how quickly resorts book once that 7 month window opens. If a particular date currently fills-up completely at 4 months out now, it may fill at 5 months or 5 1/2 months as DVC continues to add new members.

The waitlist will also play a more important role down the road. Just within the last few days we've seen people getting rooms for December trips...even at difficult-to-book resorts. If members are making their reservations earlier than they did in the past, that will equate to a higher percentage of cancellations in the long run. We all know that the earlier you try to book a trip, the more likely it is that conflicts will arise causing a change in plans. More cancellations mean more waitlist success.

And, I'll also add that the construction of another "destination" resort (such as the Contemporary) would skew demand in ways we can only dream of. I know that you aren't a big believer in that particular project, but only time will tell.


Speaking as a SSR owner, my personal philosophy is this: I have every intention of using my points at resorts other than my Home when the nature of the trip and room availability allow me to do so. But, if demand dictates that we are "stuck" at SSR 75% of the time, I would have absolutely no problem with that.

 

[MartinToronto]

Originally posted by Dean
The reality is that even if most SSR owners want to stay there most of the time, it'll will still put a tremendous amount of pressure especially on the smaller onsite resorts and HH summer. VWL followed by BCV will be most affected due to their smaller size and location. Plus certain times and unit sizes will be further impacted. At some point, it will be essentially impossible to get into the "destination" DVC resorts during any time that's at all desirable. And don't even think about getting a difficult unit size or type OR certain resorts at the 7 month window. My guess is we're essentially at that point with SSR sales. And before anyone posts that they haven't had any problems, remember that the affects will lag by a year or two and that there are far more points to be sold at SSR than have been so far. SSR will make up some 35-40% of the total DVC members and points

I totally agree - that's why I bought resale at BCV rather than new at SSR. I want the 11 month window at a smaller resort.

I have no problem staying at SSR if that is all that is left when I book at 5-6 months out - but I want the abilty to book BCV 11-7 months out

 

[tjhsr]

Are home is SSR and we didn't join just to get into the system.We joined because of SSR.Not for any of the other resorts.So you don't have to worry about us using the destination resorts.And sense OKW isn't one of those i guess we can use it also.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

We haven't stayed at a DVC resort yet, so we do not have a least favorite. We did tour SSR and loved it. And we though about buying SSR, but we would be one of those just buying to get into the system. With that in mind, we looked at other less expensive alternatives, mainly OKW and HH. We crossed of Vero b/c I doubt we'd ever go and the mf's are too high.

So we've started the process on buying a 200 pt HH contract. Partly b/c of costs and lower mf's but also it allows us to have the 11 month booking window for summers at HH. That way we can alternate summers at HH and WDW with a 2nd long weekend trip to WDW in Nov or Dec each year.

When we go to WDW, we hope on getting VWL/BCV/BWV at the 7 month, but at the times we plan to go, we figured there would be space available at SSR or OKW, then waitlist for the smaller resorts.

To us, the value of the 11 month window of HH was greater than the value of SSR's or OKW's.

Now look at BCV contracts. Those things are being gobbled up, stripped contracts included, at almost $80 pp. So if you are going to pay that much, you'd better use your 11 month booking advantage. So, you may have the same # of owners, but you probably now have a higher % of those using them specifically for the 11 month window at BCV only.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by cruise-o-matic
Now look at BCV contracts. Those things are being gobbled up, stripped contracts included, at almost $80 pp. So if you are going to pay that much, you'd better use your 11 month booking advantage.

By and large, I think that some people may misjudge their own travel patterns over the lifetime of the contract. I kinda chuckle every time someone posts "we want BCV because we have small children." Well, with DVC being a 40 year commitment, something tells me those kiddies will only be young for a fraction of the contract length.

One of the great things about DVC is the variety. I find it kinda hard to believe that over the lifetime of the contract, BCV owners would still choose to visit only their home resort 90% of the time. But there's really no way to prove that one way or another.

So, you may have the same # of owners, but you probably now have a higher % of those using them specifically for the 11 month window at BCV only.

Perhaps. But that still doesn't mean that BCV will be at 100% capcaity by the time the 7 month window opens on any consistent basis. In order for that to happen, every single BCV owner would have to be calling and booking stays prior to 7 months at their Home resort only. Not gonna happen.

Some room types will always be difficult to get, with the most noteworthy being:

BWV Standard
BWV Boardwalk View
OKW Grand Villas

But whether there are 80,000 or 180,000 DVC members, those who are prepared to book right when that window opens and go on the waitlist if necessary will, IMO, rarely be disappointed.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by tjkraz
My problem is that I'm 99% certain which resort would be my least favorite, and thus have little intention of ever staying there. The decor and theme at VWL just doesn't interest me. Too dark. Not really into the whole backwoods / hunting lodge theme. Maybe we'll try one night on a resort hopping trip just to say that we've been there, but it just ain't my cup 'o tea.

Agree, I know what my least favorite resort is (SSR in my case) and won't even bother to try it. Too far off the beat track without the advantage that OKW has in terms of room size - and the decor does nothing for me (sorry, tjkraz, I know its up your alley, but you won't have to worry about me booking it up - on the other hand, we like VWL - its decor is homey to us).

And I also agree with the thought that these kinds of threads are helpful - as long as people don't exaggerate the negatives (you cannot get a beer from the fridge while sitting on the balcony at BWVs!) One person's plus is another's negative (the thought of SAB with my kids gives me grey hair!). When you are making a decision about where to buy or where to stay, its nice to know what people like and don't like.