Wilderness, OKW, Boardwalk, Saratoga? Help

[vicky1of3]

Hi all,
I think we have narrowed down our choice to staying on-site at a Disney Vacation Club resort....But, which one should we choose??? And Why???? I've never stayed at any. We are 4 adults and 3 young children - we will be staying in a 2 bedroom villa (that's big enough for us right?)... We love really nice accomodations - luxury yet comfortable and great pools and great beds....We are open to any of the Vacation Club resorts and just don't know which will suit our needs....We will be staying 10 nights and will be spending half our time in Disney and half our time at the resort. The room is important to us because our kids go to bed early and we like to relax a little so we do spend some time in our room aside from just sleeping. Please help....These board and all of you people on it have been amazing with such a great amount of info...Thanks for sharing...

 

[utahkennedys]

For more space and peaceful, quiet, tropical setting, we love OKW. To be more in the middle of the action where you are closer to Epcot and MGM, pick Boardwalk. Saratoga is the newest and you are close to Downtown Disney. Kids will love any of those pools. Boardwalk will offer the most restaurant options close by. We LOVE OKW though -- that's why we bought there. We love parking in front of our villa, which you can also do at Saratoga. This makes it very easy to drive places. I can't comment on Wilderness Lodge much, but people love it there too and you can take the boat to the Magic Kingdom which would be nice.

 

[vicky1of3]

Thanks so much for your reply - i am so confused with where to stay and just want to have a great vacation with my husband and kids. How are the villas in OKW (and any other clubs that you are familiar with?) Is it magical for the kids staying onsite? Thanks again for your reply

 

[twinklebug]

If you have a car OKW is a wonderful choice. I don't recommend it without one as you'd be 100% dependent on bus transportation to get you to/from the parks. With VWL & BWV you have boats as an alternative. BWV allows you the choice of walking the paths to from the park. At VWL you can take the boat to MK and then the monorail over to Epcot (with a change at TTC).

Each resort has it's own set of pluses.

We Loved VWL & BWV. OKW was beautiful, peaceful, and has the best/largest rooms, but was a little too out of the way for us without the vehicle.

 

[Detailor]

Hi all,
We are 4 adults and 3 young children - we will be staying in a 2 bedroom villa (that's big enough for us right?0

Just some accommodation and unit size information to think about...
The two-bedroom units at all of these resorts are set up to sleep 8. While there's a lot of similarity, you should note that the Old Key West units are much bigger than the others. From the layout drawings at the web site it looks like there's more space in the living room area, but the bedrooms might be bigger too. Here's how they compare:
Saratoga Springs (1,075 sq. ft.)
King bed in master bedroom
Either 2 Queen beds or 1 Queen and a Double Sofa Bed in the second BR
Queen Sofa Bed in the living room

Wilderness Lodge (1,080 sq. ft.)
King bed in master bedroom
Either 2 Queen beds or 1 Queen and a Double Sofa Bed in the second BR
Queen Sofa Bed in the living room

Old Key West (1,395 sq. ft.)
King bed in master bedroom
2 Queen beds in the second BR
Queen Sofa Bed in the living room

Saratoga Springs is the newest Disney timeshare resort (some parts are still in construction, but seem to be isolated away from most current buildings) and Old Key West is the oldest DVC. Disney does a great job of theming its DVC properties. Check out the resorts and rooms at the DVC site www disneyvacationclub com (insert appropriate .'s).

Dick Taylor

 

[MiaSRN62]

OKW was beautiful, peaceful, and has the best/largest rooms, but was a little too out of the way for us without the vehicle.

Only some of the rooms are far out. Not sure what building you were in, but many rooms are 1-5 minute walk to the main pool/gift shop/Olivia's. OKW have nice big balconies and it's one of our favorite things about this resort. All five of our family can sit out on the balcony together. Not possible with the other DVC resorts though I know there are a very few amount of larger balconies at BWV. I believe they are only a select end unit ones. Very hard to get.

If you like a food court setting for meals, SSR and VWL would be good choices. You stated you had three "young" children so I'm thinking the MK may be the park of preference for them and VWL has a nice boat ride to the MK. You can walk to Epcot from BWV, but I know when my children were little, that park held little interest to them for the most part. You didn't mention the BCV ? You'd have access to the best pool on property by staying there (Stormalong Bay).

OKW has one sit down restaurant and two small outdoor snack stands. BWV/BCV don't have food courts per say, but there is a new shop called the Marketplace at the BC which offers some quick indoor snack items and breakfast sandwhiches. VERY limited seating in there though. If you like to eat out alot at more fancy restaurants, the BWV/BCV area has many restaurants within walkind distance. OKW/SSR offers a boat ride to DD and the many dining options there as well.

Honestly, as much as I love OKW and the more spacious rooms and balconies, I think VWL might be your best bet. They have the Cub's Den there for children't activities, a food court, 2 sitdown restaurants right inside the main WL hotel and the boat ride to the MK. The themeing is probaby the most impressive of all the DVC resorts----but this might just be my personal take on it.

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/childfaq.htm
There's a beach area at the WL which would also be nice for the little ones. The BCV has a sandy beach area and a sand bottom pool at Stormalong Bay. OKW has a sandy play area near the main pool, but the WL beach overlooks Bay Lake and is just gorgeous imo.

 

[vicky1of3]

hi Maria and Mr. Dick Taylor thanks so much for all the good info.... The BCV does not have dates available for when we want to go (is it much nicer and worth it for us to push our dates a little to try to get the BCV???- that was our first choice and was really where I wanted to stay......Can you recommend a section of OKW that we should try to request? Also are any of the resorts nicer than the other or are they all pretty nice? Lastly - we were still a little confused between on site and off....Our kids are 4 year old twins and a two year old. Are the rooms in the DVC villas nicer than the Marriott Grande Vista, The Sheraton Vistana Resort and the Hilton Grande Vacation Club? Also would it be easier and more enjoyable for the kids to stay on Disney property?
Thanks again for all the good info.
vicky

 

[MiaSRN62]

The BCV are not necessarily nicer than any other DVC resort, but they are all themed quite differently so it's what you prefer in decor and themeing. The Stormalong Bay pool is the big draw to the BCV for us. But if it weren't for that, I'm not sure I would have much more interest in that resort vs the others. Have you checked out pics on the allearsnet site ? Look under DVC accomodations on the left hand column.
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_hot.htm

When staying at OKW, it depends on what you prefer. If you prefer to be close to the lobby/gift shop/main pool, then request "close to Hospitality House" when you make your reservations. I personally don't mind being a little further out if I get a good water view. My requests are always "non smoking" and "water view". You can look at the map of OKW on the link I sent above. It is in the "photos" section. Just as a "for instance", we stayed in bldg 45 one time and it was maybe a 7 min walk to the main pool from that location and we had a fantastic view of the water and canal.

So make sure you look over the different pics of the DVC resorts. You will know best what you find the nicest. I will say, OKW and SSR are the only two DVC resorts that are not connected to a main hotel so you will have an outside entrance. At the VWL, BWV and BCV, you will have interior hallways and your door will open out to that----like a tradional hotel. So OKW and SSR may feel more condo/vacation home like, while staying in the other DVC resorts gives you more of a hotel feel.

As for the other hotels, I can only speak for Sheraton Vistana personally. Some of the rooms there are just as nice as DVC, while some of the older rooms are not as nice. If you rent outright from them, vs doing an RCI exchange, you should be able to assure that you would be placed in one of the newer sections----but I still think, unless you get a huge savings, the DVC resorts will offer more in the way of onsite perks. If you plan on spending the majority of your time in the WDW parks, it makes sense to stay at DVC for the Extra Magic Hour, package delivery, and bus transportation. I have heard that the Hilton and Marriott are very beautiful resorts and I'm sure some would have more info for you on those.


Hope this all helps

 

[spiceycat]

OKW and MGV are alot alike to me.

the others DVC resorts are smaller.

with small children I wouldn't do BWV. BWV only has lock out - no dedicated units. so in the second bedroom is another door to outside. Plus it would be a queen and double sleeper sofa.

SSR is probably the nicest - it is the newest, and Disney when with a newer theme for it.

I don't think you would like BCV - its theme is grandmother cottage - so despite the fact that everything is new - it doesn't look new. So it has received many comments about the used items. When in fact it cost more to make something look old.....

BWV is Atlantic Seashore in 1930.

VWL is mismatched like POR - it is surpose to be the workmen place of living while WL was build (WDW resort theme have little to do with reality - VWL is several years younger than WL)

SSR is surpose to be like that place in New York.

OKW is like Key west - okay much cleaner.

here are pictures of all the WDW resorts.

the order is value, moderates, FW, DVC, deluxe.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=504

 

[vicky1of3]

Thanks again to you both for great info....Is OKW easier to get around and closer to other things than Saratoga Springs? Are the pools very different - which is nicer - do you think the kids would like one better than the other?

 

[spiceycat]

all the pools are themed as well.

OKW has a sand castle.

SSR has donald duck - and for little kids a very tame slide. I think your kids would love it the best.

SSR is close to DD. OKW is also kinda of close to DD.

VWL is close to MK - a boat or bus ride away.

BWV is close to epcot and studio - you can walk or boat to those parks.

with little kids I might go for VWL - be sure to ask for a 2-bedroom dedicated with 2 queen beds.

although I think with the little kids bunch the pool at SSR is more popular.

however remember that all of these places, except OKW, will be much smaller than the other timeshares you mentioned.

Disney doesn't have to build big to get people to come to their resorts.

look at those picture - it might help you.

 

[spiceycat]

Thanks again to you both for great info....Is OKW easier to get around and closer to other things than Saratoga Springs? Are the pools very different - which is nicer - do you think the kids would like one better than the other?

with SSR and OKW - both pools are nice. OKW is maybe for a little older group.

BWV & VWL - are one building. So everything is pretty close back. I don't like BWV because there is no restuarant at the hotel. you have to go on the BW.

SSR and OKW are multiply building. both can be walk to their restuarants, snack bars. with OKW because of the way it is setup you should be close to a bus stop or quiet pool or both. with SSR you can have a walk.

however, with SSR DVC went with the best and it shows. It is quite fancy especially for a timeshare.

there is no room service at SSR or OKW - pizza delivery is about the best.

with VWL, BWV, BCV - the room service is the same as their hotels.

VWL, BWV and BCV have valet parking.

SSR and OKW since you can park at or near your unit - there is no valet parking.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Is OKW easier to get around and closer to other things than Saratoga Springs?

OKW and SSR are in the same general vicinity. OKW is close to DD (and Epcot ---though you cannot walk to it from there). The only DVC resorts where you can walk to theme parks (MGM and Epcot) are BWV and BCV. The WL is about a 12 min boat ride to the MK.
Also, OKW is the only DVC resort with no elevators. So if you have strollers to contend with, either request a ground floor at OKW (the building there are 2 and 3 floors high), or go with another DVC resort. OKW is the most convenient for parking right outside your door---followed by SSR. So, if you plan to use your car alot, vs disney busses, this is something to consider.

 

[spiceycat]

yes there are elevators but only in building 62, 63 or 64.

Any building under 30 - doesn't include a second entrance for the master bath for the one bedroom and up.

so if you don't want your kids or guest coming into your bedroom to get to the bathroom - then get one with the second door.

the only ones near HH with this door are 62, 63, or 64.