which resort would you choose?

[HARVEYSGIRL]

My husband and I are considering the DVC. We have looked at new and resales. We have 3 children ages 13,9, and 8. What I would like to know is what property is your favorite?

 

[smshick]

Hi. We just bought 200 points at Bay Lake Tower at $96 per point via Disney's incentives that ended 6/15/09. I love the location that it is across from Magic Kingdom. We can either walk 15 minutes to MK or take the monorail over. The contemporary style might not be my style, but I definitely bought it for the location.

Siao Mei

 

[wdrl]

There are lots of things to consider if you are picking a resort. If walking directly (rather than taking a bus or driving) to a Park is high on your list, then I'd choose BLT if I wanted walking access to the Magic Kingdom, and Beach Club or Boardwalk if I wanted direct access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. If I wanted access to the beach and a specific type of accommodation during prime season, I'd pick Vero Beach or Hilton Head. If I wanted to easy access to Downtown Disney, or if I wanted to assure that I could book a treehouse villa, I'd have Saratoga Springs as my home resort. If I wanted to have the largest studio room with two beds, then Old Key West gets my vote. If I wanted to sit on my veranda and watch African animals cavorting just a few feet away, then Animal Kingdom Villas would be choice #1. If I wanted to be able to walk to Artist Point (my favorite restaurant at WDW), as well as take a leisurely boat rides to/from the Magic Kingdom, then how could I pass up the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Of course, if I wanted to make sure I could book a DVC room while visiting Disneyland in California, then the Grand California Villas has to be my home resort.

My problem is that I want ALL of these things. But until I have better luck playing the lottery, I'll have to settle for just one.

Good luck on picking a resort!

 

[tay72699]

We started with a SSR resale of 100pts and then added on 100pts at BLT direct with the incentives. Now we have the best of both worlds -- BLT with the great location and transportation options and SSR for the more relaxed times, but still close to DTD. We prefer BWV but choose the SSR resale for the contract length (more for the money). That's also why we added on BLT as opposed to more SSR or AKL with the incentives -- more years. Also, BLT annual fees are currently less per point than SSR or AKL.

 

[thelionqueen]

I'm glad I looked into DVC for a couple years before "diving" in. What I didn't take into account in the beginning of deciding which resort I wanted to buy, was the taste change in my children.

My kids are still young enough to LOVE BLT, and it has a special place in my heart as far as being the first (and favorite) resort I stayed in @ WDW (my hubby and kids included). So when it was announed (and even years before) I knew that was the one for us.

However, on our recent stay @ SSR, I had NO IDEA how much the kids would LOVE LOVE LOVE the Community Hall activities, I never even took it into consideration. We also love the proximity to DTD @ DisneyQuest which is their favorite.

Take all this into consideration before you decide!!

 

[DVCGeek]

My problem is that I want ALL of these things. But until I have better luck playing the lottery, I'll have to settle for just one.

No kidding! My 160 @ BLT & 50 @ VGC are all I can squeeze out of my budget and even if I had the $$$ I don't have the vacation time from work to make too many more trips each year since there are some Non-Disney commitments in my life! FYI, I chose those two based on contract length & dues = lower total cost per point and the fact that I LOVE the hotels they are both connected to! (But I see good points to ALL the resorts and hope to stay at each one someday...)

Which resort is the "just one" you own at?

 

[backyardponder]

If you can, leave the kids at home and go on a resorts only trip to WDW. Rent a car since taking a bus between resorts requires a transfer at a park or DTD. If you need to, stay off site (use something like hotwire.com) or one of the value resorts. Visit each of the resorts (this is much easier if you have a car). Stop at the front desk and tell them you are thinking of DVC and would like to wander around the resort. Ask for a map and also ask where the best places are to wander to. Spend a couple of hours at each of the resorts.

After you get a feel for each resort, I have a feeling you'll come up with a favorite.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

My husband and I are considering the DVC. We have looked at new and resales. We have 3 children ages 13,9, and 8. What I would like to know is what property is your favorite?

We have two daughters near the ages of your children, and we've owned dvc for five years. We bought the Villas at Wilderness Lodge at reasale (timeshare guys, see above-they were really nice), and we have 350 points. We bought VWL because of how wonderful it looks in december (our fave time to go), the boat to the Magic Kingdom, and we really enjoy walking around and goofing off in fort wilderness and we enjoyed that proximity as well.

I would estimate we stay about 60% of the time at Old Key West, however, because it's less expensive, the kids love the slide, and since we drive we can park right in front of the rooms.

However, I needed that 11 month window to get VWL in December, and there were no time/booking issues regarding staying at OKW so that's why we went with VWL.

There are a few (shall remain nameless) DVC's that we don't enjoy staying at, so my best advice to you would be to rent points from a member at the resort you're thinking of buying, and if you like it, then take the plunge.

 

[Sandisw]

BLT because of it location near MK. We just bought in, even though we have been going to WDW almost every year since 1994. We love the CR and MK is our favorite park and the ability to walk back and forth (we are not fans of the buses and drive to all the parks).

As others have said, you may want to take a trip and visit the resorts to see what you like and your preferences as well as how important staying at a particular resort is to your vacations.

For some DVC members, where they stay is not that important. If they can trade out of their home resort and stay elsewhere, great. If not, they are okay with that. If you are like this, then buying a contract that saves you money may be the way to go!

For me, I was not willing to take any chances at 7 months of not getting BLT, so I bought where I wanted to be so that I can book my whole trip at 11 months.

Good luck!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

You've got good advice and opinions so far.

We have a lot of points and own at three resorts. VWL, OKW, AKV. We purchased at OKW during presales. We purchased VWL to have the 11 month window for the holidays, and we bought AKV because we loved AKL so much.

Take your time and consider all of the resorts that you might enjoy and why.
Best of luck.

 

[jar]

We bought BWV after staying there once and really liking it. Long term, I think we'll like being next to Epcot. But my kids are young, so we've actually switched our reservation over to VWL the past two years at the 7-month mark since we love the boat to MK (and the lodge itself). If we were buying again (in 2006), we'd have bought VWL. If we were buying today, I'd go BLT because, to me, there's nothing that compares to being on the monorail. But no regrets at having BWV, which I'm sure will get plenty of use by us. In my opinion, I'd only want a resort that is close to a Epcot or MK, our two favorite parks so my four choices for staying would always be BLT, VWL, BWV and BCV.

 

[ssawka]

We are buying at BLT for the following reasons:

1. Walking distance to MK
2. Access to monorail and MK buses
3. Longer contract
4. Potential higher resale value

 

[littlestar]

My favorite for the theming would be the Wilderness Lodge. My favorite for location would be the Beach Club. My favorite for relaxing and closeness to Downtown Disney/restaurants would be SSR. Also, SSR has the treehouse villas - I can book a 3 bedroom for the same amount of points as a 2 bedroom.

 

[katieandemismom]

We own at AKV and just had an offer accepted on a BWV contract.

AKV is my all-time favorite resort. There's something magical there for me (probably b/c it was our first resort stay and my first Disney experience). It's also got multiple types of rooms with different point requirements (i.e. you can get value, standard, savannah, or consierge level studios, one and two bedrooms, or amazing grand villas). The points to stay there are some of the most reasonable on-site plus it's new so the fixures are all in great shape.

BWV was one that never entered my thought process until last week. We were going to add-on direct from Disney at either AKV or BLT. Then I saw a thread with the info about the renovated rooms and the fact that they would be completely updated within the next 6 months. I actually like the clown slide (and my girls and dh love big slides), and I appreciate that I'll be able to see the girls easily at the BWV pool. There is also a standard view there that doesn't need as many points. I requested info from **** the agent who sold us AKV resale, and within hours he found a contract that had our use year at a great price. If we pass ROFR, we'll have enough points for a one bedroom for 8 -9 days in the times we like to visit.

 

[5DizFans]

We bought AKV - we love the resort and enjoy that the buses are dedicated to that resort only. Some feel that it is out of the way - but we like that!

 

[kmaach]

I just bought BLT for the location. I am not sure how others posting say they like BLT the best as the building is not open yet. One could have a terrible experience there.....walls are too thin making the room noisey, for instance.
Posters will know better in a few months after it actually opens.

 

[Modeltrf]

I just bought BLT for the location. I am not sure how others posting say they like BLT the best as the building is not open yet. One could have a terrible experience there.....walls are too thin making the room noisey, for instance.
Posters will know better in a few months after it actually opens.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Tigger031266]

My advice is buy BLT. For a couple reasons:

1. Because it is a smaller resort, it will be tough for you to stay at if you do not own there (SSR, AKL and OKW are frequently available at 7 mo window)
2. Great restaurants
3. Monorail to MK and Epcot and more restaurants
4. Bay lake (Boats to MK, other hotels, beach, and very pretty)
5. Wilderness campground is only a boat away
6. Firework shows Nightly
7. Great arcade for Kids
8. Nice pool
9. Walk to MK
10. It is in the heart of WDW. I think BLT, BWV and BCV have the most magic feel to them.

 

[extremesoccermom]

We have been wanting to buy in since 1994 but just didn't have the money. When we found out about resales in 2006 we started looking for a 50 pointer we could pay cash for. We decided on SSR since it had the longest time and I knew I would still be vacation after the others expire (I will only be 79 by that time).
After that we added on to AKV because we LOVE AKL - we visit there every trip since our stay there.
Now we just added on to BLT because we have used up all our points, we need more and we have the cash. (Plus we have always wanted to go on a cruise - we bought 100 BLT last week under the old incentive)
I know after bringing my 70ish yo parents last year that we will still want to vacation but we will also want to spend more time in the room and at the resort.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

My main criteria for any resort is the location to the parks. We own BW and BLT for that reason. IMHO, nothing is better than being so close to 3 parks.