Disney Doll
DIS Security Matron
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2000
This is my opinion of the 4 WDW resorts. I will start off by saying that I am a very happy DVC owner, and think each resort is lovely in it's own way.
We are owners at OKW. At the time we purchased, we had OKW and BWV to choose from. We chose OKW because it was a little less expensive overall, with less expensive dues. We did see both properties before we decided. OKW has the largest rooms square foot wise of all the DVC resorts. It is a fairly spread out resort, winding through a golf course. It has a little boat that takes you to Downtown Disney. It has a nice pool area, but there is no super duper themeing or big slide or anything at the pool. It is a nice big pool, with a little bit of a curve to it and a nice bridge going over it. The children's play area which is near the pool area is also nice, but there are other DVC resorts that offer a snazzier pool area. It also has several nice quiet pools scattered throughout the rest of the resort. The restaurant, Olivia's, is very nice. There is a cute little (and I do mean little) bar near the main pool area. I think it's a very laid back, relaxing resort. There is apparently a path that you can walk to DD also, although I have never personally done that. There are boat and bicycle rentals, which DH and I have done the boat rental,which is fun.
I have stayed at BCV. The biggest plus to the BCV is the location. You can't beat it. It is more expensive points and dues wise than OKW, but if that particular location is important to you, then that's the place to stay. You obviously have all the benefits of the entire Boardwalk area, quick access to Epcot and MGM, not to mention all the Boardwalk stuff...restaurants, entertainment etc. You are even a relatively close walk to the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf course, which is across the street from the Swan. There is the Stormalong Bay pool sysytem, which you can only use if you are staying at the BCVs...there is no pool hopping allowed to SAB. The rooms are not as big as OKW square foot wise, but still very amply sized for a vaction condo IMHO. They are very nicely decorated, with a sort of beachy, pastel colors theme, which I personally find very appealing.
I have stayed at the BWvs, although I will admit not in quite a few years. But, they are also a lovely resort. The rooms have sort of an old-fashioned seashore theme. They are not huge rooms, but again, like BCV, very amply sized for a vacation condo, IMHO. Again, cost per point and dues are more expensive than OKW, but BWV offers all the same benefits as BCVs, and I think their overall cost is less expensive than BCVs...any DISers know for sure? You get the proximity to Epcot, MGM, the Boardwalk, the restaurants etc. It's a very busy area, so it may not be quite as relaxing as BCV or OKW. They have a nice pool with a decent slide.
I have never stayed at VWL, but have toured them and have stayed at the WL hotel. They are more rustic, a little out-of-the-way feeling, very serene. Again, smaller room sizes than OKW, more comparable to BCV and BWV, but amply sized for a vacation condo. They have a nice pool area, both the villas and the hotel, and you can use either. They have a nice boating area, bike rental etc. The Electric Water Pageant goes right by the resort at night, which I think is a great little show! The geyser erupts on a regular basis, which is quite impressive as well. There are some good restaurants in the hotel. There is a boat that takes you to the MK on a regular basis. The rest of the parks are accessed by bus, which to me always seemed to take a long time. I said earlier in my dissertation about the VWL that it seems a little out of the way...that can be either a positive or a negative. If you're looking for an action filled vacation, then this is not the resort for you, because it is somewhat secluded. If you're looking for a relaxing vacation, this is the spot. It is a little more of a rustic feel here. If I were to stay here, I would probably want to have a car, so I could be a little less dependent on the bus system for transportation.
When DH and I were buying, we asked ourselves one question:
"If we could never stay anywhere else for the rest of our lives when we cam to WDW, could we be happy here?" We asked it in reference to OKW,and our answer was yes. That's why we bought there. Don't make cost your primary deciding factor...make sure you really think about where you like to stay and what type of vacation you like.
We are owners at OKW. At the time we purchased, we had OKW and BWV to choose from. We chose OKW because it was a little less expensive overall, with less expensive dues. We did see both properties before we decided. OKW has the largest rooms square foot wise of all the DVC resorts. It is a fairly spread out resort, winding through a golf course. It has a little boat that takes you to Downtown Disney. It has a nice pool area, but there is no super duper themeing or big slide or anything at the pool. It is a nice big pool, with a little bit of a curve to it and a nice bridge going over it. The children's play area which is near the pool area is also nice, but there are other DVC resorts that offer a snazzier pool area. It also has several nice quiet pools scattered throughout the rest of the resort. The restaurant, Olivia's, is very nice. There is a cute little (and I do mean little) bar near the main pool area. I think it's a very laid back, relaxing resort. There is apparently a path that you can walk to DD also, although I have never personally done that. There are boat and bicycle rentals, which DH and I have done the boat rental,which is fun.
I have stayed at BCV. The biggest plus to the BCV is the location. You can't beat it. It is more expensive points and dues wise than OKW, but if that particular location is important to you, then that's the place to stay. You obviously have all the benefits of the entire Boardwalk area, quick access to Epcot and MGM, not to mention all the Boardwalk stuff...restaurants, entertainment etc. You are even a relatively close walk to the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf course, which is across the street from the Swan. There is the Stormalong Bay pool sysytem, which you can only use if you are staying at the BCVs...there is no pool hopping allowed to SAB. The rooms are not as big as OKW square foot wise, but still very amply sized for a vaction condo IMHO. They are very nicely decorated, with a sort of beachy, pastel colors theme, which I personally find very appealing.
I have stayed at the BWvs, although I will admit not in quite a few years. But, they are also a lovely resort. The rooms have sort of an old-fashioned seashore theme. They are not huge rooms, but again, like BCV, very amply sized for a vacation condo, IMHO. Again, cost per point and dues are more expensive than OKW, but BWV offers all the same benefits as BCVs, and I think their overall cost is less expensive than BCVs...any DISers know for sure? You get the proximity to Epcot, MGM, the Boardwalk, the restaurants etc. It's a very busy area, so it may not be quite as relaxing as BCV or OKW. They have a nice pool with a decent slide.
I have never stayed at VWL, but have toured them and have stayed at the WL hotel. They are more rustic, a little out-of-the-way feeling, very serene. Again, smaller room sizes than OKW, more comparable to BCV and BWV, but amply sized for a vacation condo. They have a nice pool area, both the villas and the hotel, and you can use either. They have a nice boating area, bike rental etc. The Electric Water Pageant goes right by the resort at night, which I think is a great little show! The geyser erupts on a regular basis, which is quite impressive as well. There are some good restaurants in the hotel. There is a boat that takes you to the MK on a regular basis. The rest of the parks are accessed by bus, which to me always seemed to take a long time. I said earlier in my dissertation about the VWL that it seems a little out of the way...that can be either a positive or a negative. If you're looking for an action filled vacation, then this is not the resort for you, because it is somewhat secluded. If you're looking for a relaxing vacation, this is the spot. It is a little more of a rustic feel here. If I were to stay here, I would probably want to have a car, so I could be a little less dependent on the bus system for transportation.
When DH and I were buying, we asked ourselves one question:
"If we could never stay anywhere else for the rest of our lives when we cam to WDW, could we be happy here?" We asked it in reference to OKW,and our answer was yes. That's why we bought there. Don't make cost your primary deciding factor...make sure you really think about where you like to stay and what type of vacation you like.
I think another point that has not been made, is that OKW is the only townhome style DVC. The others are all hotel style with inside halls etc. I like the private entrance at OKW, and consider it one of the BEST features for me.
