Which would you choose VWL, SSR, OKW

[barbanm]

Exchanging through RCI for the week before Thanksgiving and all three of these resorts are available. We stayed a BCV last year and loved the easy walk to Epcott and Hollywood and were hoping to get there.. we could wait and see if it opens up but not sure we want to take the chance.

Anyway.. I have on hold throught midnight tonight the VWL.. but could also get SSR or OKW.

Opinions on which one would be best, great things about each resort, pros, cons... whatever advice you can offer!

We are family of 4.. my daughter will be 8 and my son 5 when we go and we will be getting a one bedroom!

Thanks for any advice you can offer

Barbara

 

[disneynutz]

VWL due to location.

Bill

 

[mjc2003]

VWL, in my opinion, would be great for the kids. The other two are more "adultish", though nice. I would add that the new pool at SSR will be open by then, but the VWL pool is supposed to be great (we stopped by the resort but not the pool).

Don't hold your breath for BCV. I have points at BCV, and have called basically every other day for weeks to get in there that week and finally got a few days here and there, and was able to piece together 5 days. However, I have two waitlists, and as of yesterday there is not one studio, 1 BR or 2 BR available for any days that week. My waitlists are for 2 individual days (just ONE night) and nothing so far. I can rather safely say that you will not get 7 days at BCV that week....but I guess you can never say never.
I would take VWL and run with it. We have friends who just stayed there on their first WDW trip and can't stop raving about it, and they have two children similar in age to yours. They loved the proximity to the MK and found it easy to get to the other parks on the buses.

 

[mjc2003]

One more thing: I just called my brother, who has traveled to WDW each of the last 3 years with 5 kids. They stayed at VWL, OKW, VWL in that order. He said they really enjoyed all the room they had at OKW, and the laid back feel of the resort, but said it's a "no brainer" with kids that VWL was better (hence their return there last year). He said they were really impressed with VWL. And keep in mind, they stayed in an OKW Grand Villa 2 years ago, which they really loved. He said if accommodations are the sole criteria, then OKW hands down--but taking into consideration all the other factors, he recommends VWL.

Also, here is a walk through vid on youtube about VWL. Worth a view. These vids don't always do a place justice but it's worth a look.

 

[Havana]

As much as I love SSR, I would recommend WL. The boatride to the MK is lovely

 

[Tramp68]

OKW has by far the biggest rooms for a 1BR or 2BR. They are also the least amount of points other than the tiny AKV Value rooms. BWV standard comes close to being as cheap, But I am not a fan of BWV

If you are in a studio, then I say VWL...beautiful place....

 

[wink13]

I would vote VWL. Very easy boat ride to MK.

 

[paults]

our first trip with pts was at VWL (we 0wn BWV) do to timing. I can't wait to go back to VWL. We like all of them. We do stay at BWV a lot.
I would go with VWL

 

[Brian Noble]

We are family of 4.. my daughter will be 8 and my son 5 when we go and we will be getting a one bedroom!

For that party, it might be worth considering OKW, with the sleeper chair and larger unit, even though VWL would be "more fun". It's a tough call between those two. My kids are older, but if I were making the same choice (1BR OKW vs. 1BR VWL) I'd go OKW. SSR has the small units of VWL without the location and more kid-friendly theme to make up for it, so it is third.

If it were a 2BR, the choice would be easier---VWL all the way. We have Thanksgiving week booked in an SSR 2BR, but it is a Saturday check-in. I'm hoping a Sunday might turn up, but am not holding my breath.

(If we are talking Weeks, there is a 2BR at OKW for that week with a Friday check-in. Might be worth getting, as it has the same trade power requirement.)

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are getting a one bedroom and have the 2 children, I'd definitely do OKW over the SSR or VWL. For one thing, at OKW you will get both a pull out queen sized sofa sleeper AND a twin sized pull out chair. With children those ages, I'd probably not even pull out the sofa, but make a bed on top of it for one child and pull out the chair for the other. OKW has two sofas in their huge living room. One is a big full sofa, and the other is love seat sized. There is so much more room there than SSR or VWL, that it would bea no contest in my mind.

 

[JeffT1976]

Totally agree on going OKW since it has the bigger 1 bdrm....2 bdrm better at VWL!

 

[wvulion]

I agree with the room size argument. The rooms at OKW are just so much larger by comparison..I couldn't believe it even though I'd been warned in advance (we stayed there for the first time last year). That said, if it's a tie, go with the one that's closer to your park of choice--if you're huge MK fans, then go with that one, but if you have another park of preference go for time and travel convenience.

 

[barbanm]

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions. As for the ones that are saying go with OKW for the room size, is there anything else about the resort that would swing you that way? We stayed at the BCV last summer and we were fine with the size there... of course extra space would always be nice but since are kids are still small it is not really a huge issue for us yet.

We are looking for a great place for the kids to enjoy and ease of getting to parks. Know the boat is a huge bonus to MK. Kids also love to swim so a nice pool area would also be nice. While we wnjoyed the pool comples at the BCV it was always super busy and harder to keep track of the kids than other places we have stayed.

Waiting hor my husband to get home from work so we can make our final decision this evening.

Any other thoughts would be great!

Thanks again for all your help.

Barbara

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Love the sandcastle slide at OKW. Never seen a kid not enjoying themselves there. There is a list of activities of things to do there. There is a full sized marina and they do have movies there at night. Our first stay at OKW was in 2001. Fell in love with the place right away. Very relaxing. After a long day in the parks it is so nice to get back to at the end of the day. DTD is just a short boatride away. It does have internal bus stops but it does not share bus with any other resort.There are no interior coridors and because of the way that the buildings are confingured you will not have kids running up and down the hallways all night. There are only 2 buildings with an elevator so if the stairs are an issue ask for a ground floor but the views are better on the upper ones as the vegetion in more mature then at some of the other resorts. There are several bus stops so you are never really far from one except for a couple by turle pond. When you arrive at HH for check in you will hear the Jimmy Buffet and steel drum music playing in the background. It always makes me happy when I get there.

 

[Sammie]

VWL, it is very possible they will be putting up the Christmas tree then. Also the boat to MK is fantastic and the quick service there is very good.

My next choice would be SSR, due to quick service and the new pool at Paddocks will be open and it is going to be really nice.

 

[barbanm]

Thank you everyone for your input. Since we plan to do the MVMCP and a day at MK we decided to go with the VWL for our trip! We figure no matter what we really can't go wrong!

So we are officially booked for November 12th - November 19th in a one bedroom at the VWL... now to the rest of the planning

 

[Sammie]

Thank you everyone for your input. Since we plan to do the MVMCP and a day at MK we decided to go with the VWL for our trip! We figure no matter what we really can't go wrong!

So we are officially booked for November 12th - November 19th in a one bedroom at the VWL... now to the rest of the planning

You will love it, especially at the end of MVMCP and others are standing in line for the buses, and you are getting on that big boat to go back to the lodge, it is one of the most relaxing ways to travel at Disney and at night the Lodge is beautiful from the water as you approach.

 

[Crystal_27]

Since you'll be there for the holidays, VWL hands down! Happy planning!

 

[Cee]

Love them all, so you can't go wrong! SSR and OKW for the close proximity to the DTD area and wonderful walking paths and boat rides. More square footage and more relaxed "get away from it all" feel. VWL is a gorgeous resort with the benefit of the deluxe hotel "perks" within reach and easy access to MK, beach and monorail. You'll get around to all of them eventually so just pick one!

 

[TravelingJen24]

OKW for size, VWL for location. We have stayed at both and enjoyed our stay each time. The lobby at VWL is beautiful, whereas, OKW is more spread out. Either would be a great choice. I don't have an opinion on SSR.