Which DVC Villa is Your Favorite and Why?

[speicher46]

We love Old Key West. It is very quiet and relaxing.

 

[speicher46]

We also like Sarasota Spring when we want to be close to Downtown Disney.

 

[LVSWL]

LOL! Well, we have 4 people in our family, and 3 favorite resorts. M
My all time favorite is VWL. The setting, the lobby, 3 good restaurants, smaller size, great pool, boat to MK.
My husband loves BLT. We bought in when they first started selling, and had our first trip this summer. VERY convenient with the monorail!
My boys love the BCV. Easy walk to Epcot, not much farther to DS. The Boardwalk area is great, pool is great.
I think that if I was considering buying, I would really spend some time at each resort, looking at the restaurants, the mercantile, noting how you feel in the lobby. It really is best to buy where you want to stay.
Good luck!

 

[PHILCT]

My choice location for DVC has been BCV, I love this location for primarily EPCOT, and it is convenient to Hollywood Studios by Boat.

Advantages:

1) It is location, location, location. It is not about the decor, which is fine.
It is not about the room views, which is okay.

2) Storm Along Bay. You are among the exclusive people to get to go to this pool adventure area. You want to be here if you love pools. Did I say this pool has a sand bottom? This pool is next to Beaches N Creams, as well as another pool snack bar. They have to put a daily wrist band on people to keep others out.

There is a lazy river kinda section of the Storm Along Bay where it can get over 8 feet deep. Buy or bring a pool noodle, you will love floating on it there.

There are other sections for normal swimming, and for kids as well.

I like Storm Along Bay as much as I like Disney Parks and Water parks.

3) It is actually the CLOSEST resort to EPCOT. And if you have a Hopper or Annual Pass, dining at EPCOT even just for a couple of hours is "WONDERFUL".

4) Easy Access to the International Gate of EPCOT to visit World Showcase, Dine, and watch ILLUMINATIONS.

5) When Illuminations is over, you will be back in your BCV resort room faster than anyone else! Your tired body will thank you after you get back from Illuminations for having picked BCV. You will not understand this unique pleasure until you have been there and walked amongst all the people trying to get back to their resorts, and through their hallways to get to their rooms.
You will beat all others trying to reach their rooms by at least 5 minutes.
Your tired and crying kids and adults will thank you.

6) If you request a room near the lobby entrance or pool view, you will have very little walking to get to the very nearby MARKETPLACE for snacks, drinks, shopping.

7) Between the MARKETPLACE and the SAB area, this is the easiest place to get your refillable mug refilled without walking forever. We have gotten our mugs refilled more in this resort, than at any other DVC resort. We really get our refillable mugs filled an average of 7 to 10 times a day, it is so easy.

8) Cape May Cafe, Beaches N Cream, Admirals Gallery (Yacht Club) are nice nearby places to dine.

If you need more choices, just stroll over to the Boardwalk area. If you need more unique choices, stroll over to the Swan and Dolphin, and use your DVC discount there too. They have a 24 hour cafeteria too at the Dolphin I believe. (Picabu Cafeteria).

The MARKETPLACE is the closest place to pick up a snack, sandwich or salad. Don't forget to bring your refillable mug. It usually takes me 3 minutes to get from my room to the MARKETPLACE.

9) Take the boat to Hollywood Studios and sometimes Epcot.

10) Parking isn't bad there.
----

I like all the other DVC resorts in WDW as well, each has it's own unique advantages. Each has seasonal and event advantages as well.

 

[CrazyDuck]

1) It is location, location, location. It is not about the decor, which is fine.
It is not about the room views, which is okay.

Then it's VGC hands down!. Closer to Disneyland than BLT is to Magic Kingdom. Private gate to DCA (So that's 2 theme parks in walking distance)! Closer to DLR's Downtown Disney than SSR is to WDW's Downtown Disney (Even though WDW's DTD is better). So lets review... 2 theme parks and Downtown Disney and you don't even have to step onto a bus, boat, monorail or car!

When WOC (> Illuminations) is over you'll be back in your villa before they turn the lights back on in Paradise Pier!

There are only 50 villas and they all View Rooms! Pool/Fireworks or Park/WOC view!

It still has the "Hotel'esque" touches. Robes, Logoed stationary etc...

ETA... Oh yea... A 2060 Lease expiration date! (+18 years on most DVC's)

 

[adminjedi]

We own where we like to stay:
BCV = location to 2 parks, pool, good food at market place and nearby
AKV = location to 1 park, unique experience, great food, concierge

 

[Doris1962]

SSR, at congress park for DTD and the quiet pool if i'm travelling solo, and Treehouse if friends are coming
OKW If my DH is coming... for the large balcony
BWV If my in laws are coming for the boardwalk
AKL if my DD is coming for the food court and pools proximities
BC for the pool

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW is our favorite! We purchased originally at OKW over BWV because we didn't like the smaller rooms at BWV. Then DVC started making all the rooms like BWV layout, so we were especially happy with our decision (when we purchased, those were the only DVC resorts). I always hoped that AKL was going to be DVC (which was rumored when it was being built), so when AKV came into existence, we HAD to buy there as well.

We consider OKW to be our "vacation home" and AKV to be our destination Disney vacation. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the size and layout of the villas at OKW, and also love how you don't feel like you really have neighbors there.

LOVE the embiance of AKV and the ANIMALS are the big draw there. I must say I'm not fond of the long halls and "hotel" type atmosphere though.

For those of you who think you need a car at OKW....WHY??? We find it has the best bus service of all the DVC's. Actually, even though AKV is a lot more remote, it too seems to have excellent bus service. Maybe their locations are actually why they have such good bus access.

 

[speicher46]

We have two different home resorts...Old Key West and Sarasota Springs. Both of these have their advantages but I would have to say that OKW is our favorite. We love the laid back atmosphere and I really think you get the most value for your points there.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

OKW is my absolute favorite.... can't beat the large villas, especially when you're trying to get alot of trips on a few points and staying in a studio. Also, those huge balconies, and the peaceful view from every villa.

A close second is VWL, the theming, the peacefulness the location, the restaurants- I could totally deal with life if I had to stay here every trip

 

[msp2mco]

We love BWV for its location, decor, and amenities surrounding it. We stay there without renting a car and find ME adequate in getting around.

We also own at SSR which is beautiful and quieter. I like the proximity of the parking to the villas, and I usually want a car there to drive to the parks (I feel this way about OKW too). I probably would not buy here again though.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

OKW hands down for us. We fell in love with it the first time. The relaxing feeling. The music. The decor. The gurgling suitcase. The feeling you are in another place all together even though you are so close to the chaos of the parks. Able to park a care practicly outside your door. I guess just everything about it.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

OKW, is my favorite resort. It has huge rooms, lush landcaping, and the tropical theme I love. It's close to DTD and also since we do go offsite quite a bit, it's central to other eateries, the grocery stores and the Outlet malls. It has Disney theming but it's more subtle, which I really appreciate after a full day at the parks.

My 2nd favorite is BWV, it's my son's (14) favorite. We both like walking over to Epcot, and he loves walking around all of the resorts in that area with his buds. It has more of a night life.

We mostly alternate between the 2 and then once in a blue moon head over to AKV for a night or 2 if we miss the savanna!

 

[disneygram11]

we take our grandchildren ages 4 - 2 and 1 and love the conv to magic kingdom from bay lake we also like wilderness lodge also easy to get to magic kingdom where we spend ost of our time

 

[bobbiwoz]

VWL is my absolute favorite DVC and the others come in second. What I love about VWL is the ambiance, the whole package, from the lobby of the lodge to the little springs in the villa pool, to the nooks and crannies around the villa and the lodge where you can chill out, and read. I've seen a bald eagle over the lake, and many times I've seen deer on the path/bicycle trail as we go to FW. Every stay at VWL just seems better than a stay any place else. We often go over there to visit when we're not staying there.

I have not been an envious person in my life, but before we gave DVC a serious thought, we were staying at WL and the Villas were going up. I felt so sad that I just "knew" something like that was beyond our reach financially. I suppose it was because of the internet and the disboards that I came to understand DVC better and we made it ours.

Bobbi

 

[JWG]

This should be a poll as I'm curious what the spread would be across resorts.

Favorite of those I've stayed at is BWV (boardwalk view). That's comparing to SSR and OKW.

Favorite of those that exist, BLT (1BR or 2BR) for location, access to monorail, ability to see MK fireworks from your room or the lounge, easy access to 3 hotel properties and their dining options (Easily having access to 6 restaurants and 3 chracter dining options), etc.

We're staying at AKV for the first time come December, we'll see if I change my mind.

 

[mamaprincess]

SSR was my first home and still my 1st love. I love the proximity to DTD for TS and CS options plus shopping. We have another CS location coming soon at SSR plus a lovely TS and an existing CS. We don't usually have AP's so being close to a theme park wouldn't be a neutral for us, we need to be able to go to our dining without burning a day on our tickets. We also go off site quite a bit during our stay so it is super convenient for that. Parking is really convenient. The CM's are friendly. The community center is fun. The THV's look so awesome and unique (we will be staying there in Dec.). It's just a beautiful, soothing resort with gorgeous grounds, classy interior decor and with another feature pool coming soon, you can always find a pool that isn't crowded.

AKV is just a stunner. I will never get over how gorgeous and unique that resort is. I can't believe us owners get to stay in the actual lodge!!! Kidani is a jewel. We bought AKV when it first went on sale. We could not believe they were going to put a DVC in our favorite Disney hotel! Boma is our favorite restaurant in the "World". AKV is an experience you can not have anywhere else in the U.S. It is exotic and other worldly and the point values can't be beat!

 

[Candy Orlando]

We love all the DVC resorts. We always rent a car because we visit all of them. The parks and the resorts make our vacations complete. We are never bored with so many places to see.
We like to stay at OKW because it's like our home in New England but with palm trees. We live in a quiet little town with three golf courses. All the stores are in the towns around us.

 

[LSchrow]

our absolute favorite is the BWVs there is just so much to do: beautiful walks to two parks, community hall, restaurants, tennis, belle vue lounge, the delicious bakery goodies, as well as jellyrolls (nothing like stumbling........
a-hem.... walking back to your room afterwards), street performers and carny games for evening entertainment.
plus there are lots of places to lounge, read a book, go for a quiet walk, or just soak in the atmosphere.
add in the amazing boardwalk view, and it is the perfect resort.

SSR is also stunning, and we found the other DVCs have something special going for them (the only one we don't care for is the BCVs - despite owning there. we find the resort itself just too noisy, and the main pool too chaotic and crowded for our tastes)

 

[Greysword]

BLT is my favorite!!! (yes, it is worth 4 out of 5 emoticons! ...ok here is the fifth )

Reasons:
- The Contemporary is "classic" WDW! It has the look and feel of Walt's vision.

- The monorail runs through the main concourse! (easy access to both MK and EP as well as a high coolness factor)

- Wishes fireworks on the roof (better than Illumination fireworks from BWV and BCV). As a bonus, we get the water pagent each night.

- As mentioned, excellent location! (Hopper passes are useful to MK for parade, fireworks, or just an extra couple hours in the park)

- Pool hopping is easy to CR, Poly, and he GF (BLT has its own exclusive pool like SAB and AKV).

- Multiple restaurant options both in the CR and on the monorail loop

- Time to giveback is...forever!

That said, we really like OKW and SSR as a second choice for the space, easy parking (we usually rent a car since parents ar in Tampa), and the quiet locations.

Good luck with your choices!

- Chris