However, for this thread, we wanted to get other members opinion on which resort has the best 1-bedroom room type.
We have a family of 4, likely 5 in the coming years and believe a 1-bedroom will get us by for the next few years. Then, as the kids get older, we can always add a deluxe studio at the same resort for our trips.
For starters, we
really prefer a 2BR for our family of four.
That said, I've stayed in 1BR or 2BR units at BLT, BCV, BWV, BRV, pre-reonvation SSR, and OKW.
Of those, my favorite is OKW. Tons of space. The patio/balcony is big enough to really spend time there, and the ceiling fan out there makes it comfortable even when it's warm. The sleeper chair gives an added sleep surface, so it officially sleeps five. Caveat: about half the buildings do not have a door from the living room into the bathroom, which IMO is a deal-breaker if people are sleeping in the living room. The good news is that the units that do have the door are less popular and so easy to request. If you manage a canal view (buildings 45 and 46, maybe 55) it is *very* nice.
Second place is BLT. The second bath is a big help, so even though the unit isn't quite as big, and the balcony isn't quite as nice, it's very livable.
The others all come in as a distant third. These are the "2nd generation"
DVC resorts, and all more or less have the same layout---and, IMO, the living rooms in all of these are too small and not well thought out. Maybe the refurbishment nudges SSR above the others? I'll be interested in finding out.
Edited to add:
@sethschroeder makes a good point about 2BRs. As a family of four, we did a 1BR once. After that, we held out for 2BRs. Having a space where night owls/early birds can be without bothering anyone else is a big win for us. The OKW balcony works for this, too but without access to the kitchen.