Why not WL... SSR...AK...OKW

[mouseofdvc]

My DF and I are in DVC. This is going to be our first DVC trip. I have been asking many questions about which resort would be good to stay at with a 3 year old boy, 12 year old boy, and a 14 year old girl. The only ones I have heard from are BCVor BWV. I think WL, SSR, AK, OKL look very nice, but I have only heard from people I know to request those resorts. So do you agree with BC and BW please tell me and add other DVC resorts you and your family like. If you don't like BC and BW please tell me why and what resort you think is better. I think all of them look amazing so I would like to try all of them in my life time,but I would like to try one of the best ones first.Thank you for your time

 

[kikiq]

So many ways to answer your question. And a lot depends on how you plan your WDW time. Are you park commandos or do you want downtime to enjoy other things?

BWV/BCV - close to Epcot/DHS, great pools, hotel style villas

VWL - close to MK, many like the lodge theme, close to Fort Wilderness activities, hotel style villas

AKV - unique theming, buses to all parks, hotel style villas

OKW/SSR - close to DTD, buses to all parks, condo style villas, spread out resorts, SSR has the new Treehouse villas

You said you wanted the best and you will get many best depending on the owner. We have stayed at BWV, AKV and SSR. Our home resort is SSR. We still think SSR is the best FOR US. We enjoy the grounds and truly feel we are on vacation there. Our DDs are older and not park commandos although that may change since there will be a new DGD in the near future. But SSR has plenty of space for an active toddler, we don't anticipate changing our favorite resort until we buy our VGC points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

When I was a kid the most important thing in picking a hotel was if it had a pool. All the DVC's do so I'd say they're all good! And it's Disney so they all have activities and amenities geared towards children.

Personally, I would have liked VWL (and still do!) b/c of it's theme, location on Bay Lake, proximity to FW to visit the horses and animals over there, bike path to/from FW, boat ride to MK and nice theme pool.

 

[ldo]

well, for a 3 yr old, I might want a zero entry pool--that votes out WL, OKW and BW. Otherwise, there is not best--they are all so different--here are tidbits from my kids:
For your 12/14 yr olds, WL has a "boring" pool slide and does not have a community hall (CH) (where there are games, crafts, PSP players, etc.)--but they can take the boat to Ft W, where they can fish, ride horses, do archery, rent bikes, etc. (I took many vacations to Ft W as a tween and had a blast). And, WL is just a quick boat ride to/from MK.
BCV does not have a CH either, but it's not too hard to get to BW to use that one. My kids did not like BW--don't ask me why.
My kids love SSR for the pool and CH and they like taking the boat to DTD (with Mom, of course). They also really like OKW (fast pool slide) and like its CH. and also taking the boat to DTD. The studio and 2nd BR at OKW are always 2 Q beds. I prefer OKW over SSR b/c of the layout--you have more sq ft and more space in the living area (looks on allears.net at the photos--you can have your older kids look at the pool photos and let them pick their favorite). Our favorite is most likely AKV--which will try next. As you can see, everyone will have their favorite (I prefer those attached to hotel, which gives is a more resort feel)--the great thing is you can try a new one each year and it really feels like you are at a different place. have fun, Elaine

 

[eporter66]

Our daughter DD5 has been to WDW with us 5 times (10/06, 1/07, 2/08, 10/08, 10/09) and we have stayed at SSR, OKW and AKV with her. The only con I can think of for these resorts is having to rely on Disney Transporation as they are further out than some of the other resorts from the parks. We rent a car, so we do not have this problem

OKW/SSR - You have DTD very close. We have gone with our daughter most evenings when we stayed at these resorts. Easy to get food and ice cream for quick snacks during the evening. The resorts are spread out, so you may not always be close to the main building. But, we bring a stroller and do a lot of walking, so no problem there. SSR has the zero entry pool at the main building - great for kids

AKV - We just got back from a week and this is a great resort for kids. Our daughter was mesmerized with the animals (we saw a lot), and loved the pool area. It has a zero entry pool in both Jambo and Kidani - great for kids

BC/BW - Great location, a walk to EPCOT or the monorail (as long as you have park hoppers, you need to go through EPCOT to get to the monorail for MK).

All the resorts we have stayed at (SSR,OKW,BWV,AKV) have great activities for the kids and their own unique charm. You will figure out which one you like best. I dont think you can really go wrong at any of them to be honest, with or without kids. That is just my opinion.

 

[wrighter]

It sounds like you're getting lots of good info on the differences between the resorts so you can make your decision. I just wanted to make sure you knew that no matter WHERE you stay, it will be amazing. I drive myself crazy sometimes, pondering where to stay and why I think we should stay there for any given trip. But the bottom line is that they ALL have their pros and cons, and as long as you go into your trip with excitement, anticipation, and an open mind, you will all have a great vacation.

Viva la DVC!

 

[eporter66]

But the bottom line is that they ALL have their pros and cons, and as long as you go into your trip with excitement, anticipation, and an open mind, you will all have a great vacation.

Viva la DVC!

Agreed, and if you are honest with yourself, the cons are very minor in the overall scheme. You are staying at a Deluxe Resort in WDW. I am sure you will have a blast regardless of where you stay.

 

[Sammie]

Best is relative to who you are asking, personally I don't think there is a best DVC resort. They all offer pros and cons.

If spending most of your time at Epcot or Studios and fun pools choose BWV or BCV. If going to AK more then AKL, Magic Kingdom, then BLT or VWL.

If you want to have large, very spacious accommidations with big balconies, then choose OKW.

If you want a resort that offers alot, Spa, golf course, walking distance to DD, very quiet, great pools then choose SSR.

It just really depends on your focus.

 

[MissyDVC]

Best is relative to who you are asking, personally I don't think there is a best DVC resort. They all offer pros and cons.

If spending most of your time at Epcot or Studios and fun pools choose BWV or BCV. If going to AK more then AKL, Magic Kingdom, then BLT or VWL.

If you want to have large, very spacious accommidations with big balconies, then choose OKW.

If you want a resort that offers alot, Spa, golf course, walking distance to DD, very quiet, great pools then choose SSR.

It just really depends on your focus.

This is a great way to sum it up

 

[Golden Rose]

We just got back yesterday from a trip split between BWV and AKV with our 4.5 year old and my DM and DSF. Our son loved both resorts... as did we. He loved the pool and water play area at AKV, and he absolutely loved having the animals right outside our room. We spent a lot of time on our balcony.

He also liked BWV. He didn't like the pool as much, although he does enjoy the water spurting elephants. He loved the entertainment on the BW in the evening, and we all really enjoy people and firework watching on our balcony. (We had Boardwalk view.) We all liked being able to walk to parks.

I got sick on this vacation, so I spent a lot of time on our balconies. We always enjoy a nice view, but this trip, the views turned out to be essential. The rest of the family could go into Epcot for dinner, but I could at least watch the fireworks from the room.

When we asked DS what his favorite thing about the trip was, he said, "Animal Kingdom Lodge." (Of course, when we'd asked him earlier in the trip, he said the Boardwalk...)

We've also stayed at BCV and SSR on previous trips. We all loved BCV, for the proximity to Epcot and the pool. We spent a lot of time at the pool when we we were. SSR was my DM and her DH's favorite. They loved the golf there, and the proximity to DTD. They went to DTD pretty much every day, and couldn't have been more pleased with the location. It's a nice resort, but DS wasn't as crazy about it as he was about AKV, BWV, or BCV. Don't get me wrong, we found things for him to enjoy, but he was really enthralled with the animals and the pools at AKV, with the Boardwalk and the spurting elephants at BWV, and with the pool at BCV.