Which DVC for our 2 year old in Dec?

[tofubeast]

We are hopefully going to be renting points for a studio in early December. Our daughter will be just over 2yo at that point. Which DVC has the best grounds/studios etc... that you think would work best for us? We will have a car.

I have stayed at SSR. It was nice, but I think I want to do something different. AKV seem nice (we've done dinner at AKL before), but seem kinda remote from the rest of the WDR. The BCV seem cool because then you get to enjoy Stormalong, but of course the weather could put a damper on that. As I live in Fl, I know you can get a cold front. The Wilderness Village looks neat, and I like the fact that there is a boat ride to MK.

So tell me what you would do if you were me.

 

[jmpurdy]

We love the Boardwalk/Beach Club area. A 10 minute walk into Epcot and 20 minute walk to Disney Studios in the other direction. If your child naps, it is great to be able to keep in stroller for walks to/from DVC's to parks. The Boardwalk area is nice after dinner and before bed to walk around and you can even walk around the back of Epcot and be home for bed without using transportation in minutes. Request Epcot view and you can watch the fireworks right from your balcony! Our grandsons did this every single nite with our daughter and loved it. They watched in their pajamas in the comfort of the villa and went right to bed afterward. No fighting the crowds and we have such fond memories of doing this. We are leaving for WDW next week and are staying at BCV.

 

[emlutz23]

We stayed at BLT with my 2 yr old twin niece and nephew back in August, and it was very convenient to walk back to the resort at nap time! That was also the park they enjoyed the most.

 

[sweetdana]

If weather were garenteed, I'd vote 1st BC. with only 1 child the walk in sand bar will be easy to keep track. The location cannot be beat. Walking to epcot, boat to HS, and walk through Epcot to monorail for MK. There is also a quiet pool if need be and a lazy river with pool noodles.

Due to weather in Dec is iffy, (for use of the pool.) If you want to try WL. It is a perfect time. They have some of the best holiday decor of arguably all the resorts.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We took our son when he was 2, and this past winter, our niece was 2 when we all went. They both loved AKV for the animals, and the pool. The distance has never been an issue for any of us, and we don't usually eat at the restaurants, so that was never a concern for us.

 

[lilpooh108]

My daughter is now 2 1/2. Her first stay was in at AKV Jambo, and our most recent stay was also at AKV Jambo savannah view. She still talks everyday about seeing the animals from the balcony and how it rained while she was watching giraffes have breakfast. So cute!

 

[bgraham34]

Personally I would just choose VWL or BLT. You will end up spending most of your time at MK in most cases. This will enable you to just take the boat back to your resort if it is VWL or walk back to BLT.

 

[LSchrow]

definately BLT. you most likely will wind up spending most of your time at MK, and BLT gives you the option of a short walk back to your resort for naps, etc.

 

[texasteacher35]

IMO, I would say BWV or BLT...Epcot area or the monorail, either would be an awesome choice! We love BCV also, hard choice...but I would say to decide to stay on the monorail MK loop, or Epcot area...either has fantastic transportation options!!

 

[hakepb]

Kidani essentially has a parking garage under the resort, and with animals, Savannah view (having animals to lookm at really does make room time easier as if your room is an attraction) would make a unique, enjoyable and memorable stay if you are using a car a lot.

OKW would have larger rooms and easy parking like SSR (but most bldgs have no elevators)

But its hard to discount boat and monorail transportation from BWV/BCV/BLTif you are using a stroller. (Only 1 of the 2 VWL boats can roll on a stroller)

 

[tkillini99]

For that time of year, I think VWL is hard to beat. And the boat to the MK is very convenient for a 2 year old.

BLT is nice and even more convenient to the MK, but it doesn't have the holiday feel, IMO.

I love AKV-Kidani, and if you plan to use your car, the parking there is super convenient!!

We also love BCV, but only if you plan to spend a lot of time at Epcot and/or the Studios.

 

[tofubeast]

You guys are helping me narrow down to at least 4 DVCs! hahah. The 2 at Epcot and BLT and VWL. I guess it will depend on availability and point rental. I do like the idea of being close to the MK.

I have never wandered around VWL or the WLR for that matter. Am I right in assuming the decor heavily influenced DGC at DLR? When I walked around the lobby of the Grand Cal I loved the whole look.

hmmm hmmm How are the pools at BLT and VWL? hehe

 

[OKWMom]

definately BLT. you most likely will wind up spending most of your time at MK, and BLT gives you the option of a short walk back to your resort for naps, etc.

This is exactly what I was going to say. BLT has my vote too.

 

[texasteacher35]

You guys are helping me narrow down to at least 4 DVCs! hahah. The 2 at Epcot and BLT and VWL. I guess it will depend on availability and point rental. I do like the idea of being close to the MK.

I have never wandered around VWL or the WLR for that matter. Am I right in assuming the decor heavily influenced DGC at DLR? When I walked around the lobby of the Grand Cal I loved the whole look.

hmmm hmmm How are the pools at BLT and VWL? hehe

WL looks more like a log cabin, not like DL's GC. GC looks more modern ski lodge to me and WL looks more old style log cabin...I don't like the way the rooms look. You should google one bedroom or studio WL and look at a video of the decor. That's how I decided which DVC I would even consider. You can't go wrong with BLT...it's all brand new, modern decor, and on the monorail. BCV are very nice and you have a super short walk to the International Gateway to enter Epcot. DHS is also a short boat ride away. Same with BWV. Very nice decor...out of all the DVC, my least favorites would be SSV and OKW (because mostly of location) and WLV...Animal Kingdom's Villas are MUCH nicer!!! IMO

 

[surfer_ed]

Beach Club for the Pool. Nothing beats the sand at Strom Along Bay.

BLT or WL for the location if you are doing the parks. With the stroller it is so much better. Travelled allot with our kids when they were that young.

 

[henderkm]

We stayed at AKV, Savanna view, this past summer and loved watching the animals from our balcony in the mornings and evenings. AKV is not as far from everything as we thought, but we did not return to our room during the day.

For our trip in two weeks we opted for BWV, because BLT, VWL, and BCV were not available. With our 4 yr old granddaughter, we wanted to have easier access to some of the parks.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these resorts but my choices in order would be BLT, BCV, VWL, BWV.

 

[ckpoodge]

If your child likes animals, stay at AKL. We had our granddaughter (1.5 years old) with us for our wedding, and we stayed there. Every morning, she woke up and went right out to the patio to see the animals. While we were walking down the hall, she kept looking out the windows. On her last day with us, she grabbed on to the hand rails and ropes and WOULD NOT let go. I had to pry her little fingers off the ropes.

We heard that when she went home, the next morning she woke up and tried to go see the animals. Well, when they weren't there, she cried and cried and cried.

The next time we take her and her little brother (next summer), we plan on staying at AKL again so they can see the animals.

BTW - we were in a value room at Jambo and were able to see the animals.

 

[SuperRob]

If your child likes animals, stay at AKL.

On her last day with us, she grabbed on to the hand rails and ropes and WOULD NOT let go. I had to pry her little fingers off the ropes.

We heard that when she went home, the next morning she woke up and tried to go see the animals. Well, when they weren't there, she cried and cried and cried.

The next time we take her and her little brother (next summer), we plan on staying at AKL again so they can see the animals.

Can you say, "intentional infliction of emotional distress?"

Personally, that 6 minute walk to the Magic Kingdom is an unbeatable perk of staying at BLT. But I don't have kids, so if the resort conveniences are paramount, there's something to be said for the awesome pool at BCV.

 

[tofubeast]

Thanks everyone for your responses!!

We booked at BCV for this trip. But with it being Disney and all (and esp. with us only a few hours from WDW), we will of course go again...and again. So we will certainly try out the other DVC properties as well. Variety is the spice of life!

 

[melodyka]

Thanks everyone for your responses!!

We booked at BCV for this trip. But with it being Disney and all (and esp. with us only a few hours from WDW), we will of course go again...and again. So we will certainly try out the other DVC properties as well. Variety is the spice of life!

You will love it! We were just there with our 2 year old. HS actually has lots of great stuff for that age (we went 2 days), and she would nap in the stroller while we walked home along the lagoon. We had parkhoppers, so we would walk through Epcot for a meal or a few rides and then hop on the monorail to MK. We ended up barely using the buses. We lucked out with the weather, and were able to enjoy Storm along Bay on several days. My daughter loved playing in the sand and walking in the water. Lastly, my favorite memory of the trip was toasting marshmallows at the nightly campfire and watching a movie under the stars on the beach.

Have fun!