Which resorts do you prefer?

[Lambert]

My family and I have been DVC members since August 2000. At that time they were winding up sales at BWV. All of my add-ons since have been at the VWL.

In the last five years, we've been to Disney World 10 times. We've stayed at the Contemporary and the Dolphin prior to joining DVC. Since joining, we've used our points to stay at the Grand Floridian (last minute plans), OKW, and VWL. OKW didn't impress us all that much. Perhaps the seemingly long drive to the parks dampened our experience.

The last four trips have been to VWL and we already have two more booked for January & May 2003. This is because once we stayed at VWL we were absolutely hooked. Our daughter is 5, so being a boat ride from the Magic Kingdom is ideal. We're also captivated by the environment of VWL. Not to mention; I'm a 6'4", 240 pound (mostly muscle ) carnivore, thus making the Whispering Canyon a favorite of mine...

My petition to you all is to tell me which DVC resorts are worth trying and why. We didn't join the DVC thinking we'd only stay at VWL. I'm sure the others are GREAT, but we're so in love with VWL we're afraid to try others, thinking we may be disappointed.

Please, fellow DVC brethren, enlighten us!

 

[Geebs]

its funny, i feel totally opposite of you. we have stayed at okw and wvl...and prefer okw hands down. the fact that it is "out of the way" makes it great for us. I have a very stressful job in the investment/brokerage field..so getting away from it all has been a blessing. (esp after the last 2 years of this crazy stock market) we love to open airy, warm feeling of OKW. WL...is way to dark. I guess being from New England, we want bright warm sunshine, esp in the winter. we are already too familiar with dark woodsy places. The main lobby area of wl is wonderful...but in dvc..you are too far out from it. its' funny you say you are a big guy....that is one area i am familiar with..my husband is almost 7 feet tall and nothing beats the all you can eat breakfast at the wilderness lodge..with our favorite waitress.."isabell Ringin'" we have had her several times and is wonderful.
I guess that is what is so great about DVC...options options options..something for everyone. Plus...you can have fun just visiting the other DVC resorts..and think "we could stay here if we want to as well"

 

[DebbieB]

We do 2 trips a year (at least ) and prefer different resorts for different times. Our early/mid May trip works best at OKW, it's more laid back, more in the room, more come and go so it's nice to have the car right outside. Our early December trip works best at BWV, we love being right in the middle of the festive atmosphere, close to Epcot & MGM, we don't use the car much so parking close is not an issue. That's the beauty of DVC! I bought at BWV because I wanted the 11 month window for that early December trip, 7 months for OKW in May is no problem.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just be aware that members of the same family can get "hooked" on different DVC resorts. DH has stayed at VWL and OKW, and is hooked on OKW-won't even try anywhere else now. I've stayed at those two plus BCV and am in love with BCV. However, unlike DH, I'm a Disney fanatic so I'll stay anywhere. But one of the reasons why I like to go solo is so that I can try other DVC resorts than just OKW. As many people say, tastes are different-be aware that they may be different within the same family.

 

[DVC-Don]

Just be aware that members of the same family can get "hooked" on different DVC resorts.

Ain't that the truth. My wife and I prefer OKW, my 11 yo son VWL and my 10 yo daughter keeps asking when we are going back to the Contemporary Tower ( I know, it is not DVC, but she likes it better ) None of us really cared for BWV and we have yet to try BCV.

 

[Debby7]

We like OKW for our whole family summer vacations, HH for our spring break and BCV when it is just my Dh and myself.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Hands down, OKW is our favorite resort. We love the laid back atmosphere and the feeling of really being "home" instead of a hotel room. We both have stressful jobs, and there is just something about being at OKW that melts away all the stress. We also like the fact that the parks seem a million miles away...like having 2 vacations at one time!

If we are having company join us, OKW is the only place we'd bring them. For us, having a large common living area and spacious sleeping areas (without having to have someone sleep on a sofa bed) is great!

We also enjoy the Boardwalk and love to be in this area during the food and wine festival. Can't beat that short stroll back to your room after sampling all that wine! We love the atmosphere of the boardwalk at night too, and the Flying Fish is our #1 favorite dining spot at WDW.

We recently tried the BCV's. They are very nice and the lobby area of the villas is adorable and very inviting. However, if I had the option of BCV's over BWV's, for us, BWV's would win...just for being on the boardwalk and an easy stroll to MGM or EPCOT. I know Epcot is very close to BCV's, but MGM is a longer hike if you're going to walk and not take the boat transportation.

We haven't tried WLV's yet...but Artist Points and the WL is one of our favorite spots to visit during the holiday season. Some day we hope to spend a few nights here.

We always rent a car, so driving to parks etc. has never been an issue for us.

So...long story short, for us, OKW continues to be our #1 choice, followed by BWV's.

 

[BigTigger]

The different resort for each family member certainly rings true in our house. DD's love BWV and want to try BCV. DW loves the laid back OKW atmosphere. I mostly agree on OKW, but yearn to try VWL again. Thank goodness that DVC keeps building and giving us more choices ... still 40 years to try them all out!!

 

[ncligs]

All of the DVC resorts are 1st class and distinctive in there own way.We always take 2 trips a year. One to OKW in Feb........and one to VB in the summer.If you want a non-commando type vacation, try VB for 3-4 days.You won't be dissappointed.
HH is also very non-commando type,and a very nice resort.

 

[drusba]

BWV is essentially our exclusive preference. Its location is ideal, it has its own nightlife, and hotel services are first rate. Over the many years of going to WDW, we stayed at all the Disney resorts except AKL, YC, and All Stars (even stayed at the Shades of Green when it was known as the Disney Inn). We prefer the BW over them all including GF. We also have teen girls and their top preference is BW. I have hit HH once but that was basically a short golf trip; that resort is very nice but I am not big on going to beach areas and thus I view HH solely as a place to go to golf.

However, we do have a black sheep in the family -- my adult daughter. She with her family (husband and our two small grand kids) often go with us to WDW. She does not care for BWV and has a high preference for OKW, a place I find far too docile for my tastes. So every trip I have to lay down the law ... and of course get her accommodations at OKW (with a home that was always all females and me I have learned to live by the adage that a male needs to know only two words: "Yes, dear.")

 

[jcodespoti]

To me all the resorts are great and each one has its own flavor. As was stated OKW is much different in its "themeing" than WLV. I like the WLV because I enjoy the "woodsy" setting. I also love BWV because its in the middle of all the action. Try them all and you'll find out which one or maybe all that fit your needs. I know, I know, its a tough job but somebody has to do it

Joe in CT

 

[nisiemouse]

I agree that all the resorts are special in their own way. The only two that appeal to dh are BCV and OKW. I can live with that. I loved them both after a stay at each. This summer we are going to split between the two with a couple of nights at PBH at Universal.