Wilderness lodge, akl or old key west with 2 small children?

[Mflaherty]

Which is your favorite for a 3 and 5 year old? My husband likes space and convenience to the parks. I like being close to restaurants etc. I know the kids would love the animals. We are Dvc members so we don't have to spend all day everyday in the parks. Resort time is nice because we know we will be back. I know a lot about these 3 resorts but I wanted to hear personal preference and why. I love love the boardwalk villas; close to shops, restaurants and parks. But I feel like I HAVE to try something else? I've stayed at BLT-loved the walk to MK and TOp of the world lounge but I definitely missed the boardwalk stroll and everything it has to offer, not to mention the proximity to Epcot and HS.

 

[DVCTiff]

You know this is like asking parents to choose a favorite child...we stayed at AKL with our niece and nephews, and they loved it. Spent every morning at the pool and then went to parks in the afternoons (not how I would do it, but I'm not their parents). I think the animals just make it a little extra special and a great treat if you haven't stayed there yet.

 

[SDmouse]

A couple of things to consider from your list. AKL kidani has an extra bathroom in the one bedroom. We stayed there when our kids were about that same age and the extra bathroom was great. Kidani also has a water play area for kids about that age. There are also many activities throughout the day for kids at the resort.

OKW has lots of room and is very quiet. The pool was nothing too exciting, and there was not as much to do with kids that age.

VWL has the smallest rooms, but will have many extra activities for kids with the campground and lake close. As far as proximity it is in the MK area, but feels different than the other MK resorts, as the only transportation other than a bus is a long boat ride from MK.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We went to WDW a few months ago with a 2 and 4 yo and everyone loved it. We went there because DH was paying for the trip and he loves OKW. DS and DDIL couldn't argue too much since it was a free trip but they probably would have picked elsewhere. But they became real fans! Loved the casual feel for the little kids and loved all the pool activities for the kids. The kids loved riding the boat to DTD and being able to run around outdoors.

 

[delilah]

My favorite resort is AKV. We like best the 1BR savanna view at Kidani because it has lots of room, and our son enjoys the privacy of his own bathroom. Have never stayed at Wilderness lodge. We stayed at OKW once, the first time we stayed at a DVC resort. We rented points. We obviously liked it well enough to buy into the program. I remember the OKW studio to be odd shaped. There was no safe in the room. Our son was about 3. It was sort of spread out, and we had to rely on either driving or a bus to get anywhere. Have never stayed there again, because we like AKV so much better.

 

[Msmithmd]

VWL has the smallest rooms, but will have many extra activities for kids with the campground and lake close. As far as proximity it is in the MK area, but feels different than the other MK resorts, as the only transportation other than a bus is a long boat ride from MK.

I thought this was funny, as last visit I timed the boat ride from MK to WL, and it was eight minutes. I figure the time waiting to board the boat or a bus is usually a wash/ chance of luck. But it is far from a long ride.

Anyway, IMO I would stay at Animal Kingdom if I wanted to focus on the pools or was doing the savannah view; Wilderness Lodge if I were staying in the Thanksgiving-to-New Years season, and OKW if I wanted to spread out and have lots of room in my villa. And OKW is also the most centrally located of the three.

We've stayed at all of them within the last 12 months. You won't go wrong anywhere.

 

[NoleFan]

We love BWV for the same reasons you mentioned. For the summer, we love BCV for SAB and same great location. We also like to stay at BLT primarily for close proximity to MK (MK is our favorite park). We did not love AKL (Jambo or Kidani), SSR, VGF, or VWL- they were all nice but a different level of enjoyment at the BW area.

 

[Judique]

Which is your favorite for a 3 and 5 year old? My husband likes space and convenience to the parks. I like being close to restaurants etc. I know the kids would love the animals. We are Dvc members so we don't have to spend all day everyday in the parks. Resort time is nice because we know we will be back. I know a lot about these 3 resorts but I wanted to hear personal preference and why. I love love the boardwalk villas; close to shops, restaurants and parks. But I feel like I HAVE to try something else? I've stayed at BLT-loved the walk to MK and TOp of the world lounge but I definitely missed the boardwalk stroll and everything it has to offer, not to mention the proximity to Epcot and HS.

You may be ready for a split stay if you are staying a week or so.

I love the other resorts but not quite as much as the BWV area. So I book a few days first at AKL, BLT, etc, and then I move to BWV. Gives me variety and then I'm glad to be home at the Boardwalk.

This Jan-Feb I'm doing AKL Club, BLT and then 8 nights at BWV. Less then a month away!

 

[lovin'fl]

With little kids I might go with VWL for proximity to MK. And VWL is absolutely stunning. AKV is also pretty stunning and has GREAT dining and the animals. OKW has size and layout of the villas, ability to park right by your villa and the best busing on property (if staying near the HH so you can take the HH buses out to parks and then get off at 1st stop, at Penninsular, coming in from parks). You don't have much for dining but can boat to DtD for all kinds of stuff.

 

[Sur]

OKW stairs, with little ones, is a game changer- end of long day, bus ride back, stroller folding, no elevator...ugh! AKV bus ride but has elevators. VWL, no folding of stroller on some boats, so end of long day the youngest ones can sleep and not be disturbed, but single stroller, not double, fits best.

 

[DreamerWDW]

I would choose VWL for several reasons. The beauty of the resort is breathtaking, the boat to MK is awesome, the boat to the CR/Monorail route is nice too, and I love the quiet pool. I've stayed at all 3 and would easily choose VWL.

 

[Lincolnshire]

We just did VWL with two littles and it was fantastic. However we almost always seemed to get a boat where the stroller had to be folded, which was rough with an infant and 2 year old but I think would be worlds easier with a 3 and 5 year old because they don't have to be carried onto the boat. Even with the boat issue I would happily do VWL again. My biggest complaint there was the QS place - yuck. We are going for AKL next time though because we want to try their pool and loved the food there.

 

[sleepydog25]

Your title suggests you're attempting to decide between just the three resorts you mentioned. Of those, the one that comes closest to your family's (and your) desires seems to be VWL. AKL is a gorgeous resort and we loved our stay there; however, it is the most isolated of the three. There are lots of activities at the resort (though that can be said of most), but you have to ride a bus or drive to get anywhere. OKW has space and is lovely, and you have access to DTD which is a plus. VWL is also a stunning resort, and as mentioned, has boat access to both MK and CR (as with a pp, the boat ride isn't really long, certainly shorter than most buses from AKL, for example). With the access to CR, you have their shopping and the monorail to take you to other venues and resorts. Though not as spacious as OKW nor possessing a second bath as at AKL, it has enough space to suit you just fine. Good luck with your decision.