Your favorite DVC resorts ranked

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I think your list is closest to my preferences of anyone else here. Where do you own? Grand Floridian and Kidani?

Yes we own those 2. I didn't mention in my list but I'm really looking forward to the renovations for Jambo and Kidani. Those pullout sofas are terrible for our family.

 

[RickNJane]

1. BWV We bought there in 1996, our first DVC Resort so a little nostalgic
2. AKV Jambo. Gotta love the vibe. We had to add on there after visiting.
3. BLT. Was #2 until stayed at Jambo. Location Location Location. New refurb is fantastic
4. AKV Kindani. Prefer Jambo, but Kindani is kinda special as well.
5. OKW. Always loved the vibe and relaxed atmosphere. Rooms are huge. You can also park very close to your unit.
6. SSR Tree Houses. Stayed in these in the late 90's. Before DVC or SSR. A little out of the way, but very unique.
I suppose we would love any of the Wilderness Lodge villas. The theme and vibe are top notch.

Places I don't like and won't stay.

1. RIV. I just don't get it.
2. CFW. Not for us.
3. PIT. Poly Medical Center vibes.
4. BCV. Lobby is a Zoo. Great pool, but we don't usually use the pool. Besides We own at BWV.

 

[TCRAIG]

I own at BLT, BC, BWV, BRV, VGF, SS, PIT, and HH…I’ve also stayed at AK/K, OKW and RIV. My favs are BRV (in Dec), BC, BWV, VGF and PIT…I liked SS and AK/K a lot too and would stay there again anytime…and while BLT doesn’t ’wow’ me, you can’t beat the location. I have no desire to stay at CCV since I own BRV and prefer to be there than the main building. I love OKW but the lack of elevators is a no go for me (use ECV and don’t like first floors). I probably would never stay at the WL Cabins…that said - my absolute hands down least favorite - won’t stay there again DVC resort - is RIV.

 

[J-Dog]

1. RIV
Nails modern luxury without losing Disney soul.

This is an excellent comment. Exactly how I feel. Some of the resorts (mostly the Values resorts but even some of the DVC resorts are borderline) are almost cheesy with the theming, IMO.

 

[JMOR80]

1. SSR - feels more like a home vs a tower hotel and we always have a car. We love having access to all the restaurants at DS. My sons favorite DVC pool slide at the Paddock pool.
2. AKV-K - Savannah View, 2 bathrooms in a 1 Bedroom, great pool, covered parking.
3. OKW - we just love the relaxing feel when we are there. Like SSR it just actually feels like your home when you pull up to your building.
4.AKV-J - great restaurants but prefer Kidani
5. BCV - Stormalong Bay, Epcot
6. BWV - easy access to DHS and Epcot one of the best community halls.
7. BRV - We would stay here before CCV. The WL area atmosphere is great.
8. CCV - I guess if I had cabin level points it would move up the list.
9. CFW - haven't stayed in a cabin but used to go to the campground as a kid. Love the environment just not sure about the layout.
10. GFV - Not really interested in staying here.
11. Poly - maybe the long houses but not PIT
12. BLT - great location for MK but not the type of vacation we do.
13. RIV - I would just stay at the J.W. Marriott

 

[jcolvin5]

This is an excellent comment. Exactly how I feel. Some of the resorts (mostly the Values resorts but even some of the DVC resorts are borderline) are almost cheesy with the theming, IMO.

Thanks, I love RIV. Have from the first time we visited. We aren't into the in your face, sometimes over the top, "theming" with Disney.

My wife and I weren't "Disney people" until we brought our girls in 2022 for the first time. Honestly took a 2nd/3rd visit before I was hooked. For me, it was more about the planning.

I think Riviera is perfectly away from everything, but also uniquely connected at the same time. Love, love, love the skyliner. My happy place is sitting at the pool, sipping an adult beverage, and gazing at the majesty of the skyliner just above. And the food is excellent!!

 

[RickNJane]

1. SSR - feels more like a home vs a tower hotel and we always have a car. We love having access to all the restaurants at DS. My sons favorite DVC pool slide at the Paddock pool.
2. AKV-K - Savannah View, 2 bathrooms in a 1 Bedroom, great pool, covered parking.
3. OKW - we just love the relaxing feel when we are there. Like SSR it just actually feels like your home when you pull up to your building.
4.AKV-J - great restaurants but prefer Kidani
5. BCV - Stormalong Bay, Epcot
6. BWV - easy access to DHS and Epcot one of the best community halls.
7. BRV - We would stay here before CCV. The WL area atmosphere is great.
8. CCV - I guess if I had cabin level points it would move up the list.
9. CFW - haven't stayed in a cabin but used to go to the campground as a kid. Love the environment just not sure about the layout.
10. GFV - Not really interested in staying here.
11. Poly - maybe the long houses but not PIT
12. BLT - great location for MK but not the type of vacation we do.
13. RIV - I would just stay at the J.W. Marriott

Pretty much agree with OKW. Never stayed at SSR, but can see how it would feel similar. BLT is the only tower that we stay at. Does not seem out of place next to Contemporary, unlike RIV, PIT, and soon perhaps LL. We love BLT because it is the kind of vacation we take with the grandkids. Otherwise BWV or AK-Jambo for us.

Share your opinion of RIV and PIT. I know there is a lot of love for them both and that's ok. It is not for us. Differences is what makes things interesting.

 

[WillRad]

1. RIV- We split stay often and this is our favorite for the Epcot/HS leg. Has a lot of things we like. Small size with easy access to all amenities. Good food options, nice pool area. Easy skyliner access which is our kids preferred mode of transportation. Another major pro is think this is the smallest Disney resort by room count. Never felt crowded there to us. Never had an issue finding chairs at the pool unlike GF where you’re sharing the pool with the a much larger resort (hear Poly is even worse from this standpoint).

2. BLT/VGF- Used to be VGF but now starting to favor BLT after room refurb. VGF definitely has a more luxurious feel to it at the expense of a higher point chart. We stay in 1BRs so extra bathroom nice at BLT. Also, our kids have grown out of the kids pool/play areas so the BLT pool is actually not that bad for our kids. Nice waterslide and never crowded. Needs a better bar/pool restaurant though. We find the restaurants/shops at Contemporary (which rival the GF imo; kids love the fantasia toy store) actually seem easier to get to than VGF DVC building if you request a room on the sky bridge side (which so far we always have gotten). I’m almost certain the Contemporary QS restaurant is closer than VGF one in this situation. Also, Cali Grill probably favorite place for wife and I to eat at. Plan is to go BLT this summer and VGF around Christmas for the MK leg of our split stays.

3. BCV - Only done single night stays in a studio. Going to try a longer 1BR stay this summer. Pool was nice when we did it late afternoon in October although worried about crowds this summer. Haven’t tried any restaurants other than the QS.

4. BWV - Stayed here a couple of times for single nights. Nice point chart with some good food options. Downside is the boardwalk can get really hot in the afternoons from all the direct sun especially with the long summer days. Haven’t tried the pool.

Haven’t tried any other resorts although hope to eventually try out the PIT. Have considered doing a couple of nights at AK resorts after refurbs finish. Seems a potential good spot to end a trip when kids have done all the parks and more interested in pools and resort amenities in the afternoons/evenings rather than park hopping.

Disney springs has little appeal to our family at this stage although may become more interesting as kids get older.

 

[The Mayor]

Given that we've only stayed at three of them I'll rate those only.
1. BWV (when my wife and I go alone)
2. BCV (when we go with our children and grandchildren - the pool for the little ones is the deal breaker here)
3. Polynesian (did not care for our stay here - I think staying at Aulani first and because it is so perfectly themed ruin the vibe at the Poly for us)