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 four 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. Aulani - absolutely beautiful resort and perfectly themed. Plus it’s Hawaii!!
4. 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)

 

[bbn1122]

Stayed

RIV - Elegant, Skyliner, Food, Pools and Spacious Villas
VGF - Beautiful, Restaurants, Monorail and MK (Stayed in both VGF and the Resort Studios)
BLT - Home Resort, Spacious, extra bathroom,Monorail, Restaurants, Bay Lake, MK
POLY/PIT - Theming, Monorail, Food, MK Firework views, Pools (PIT on Bucket List)
AKL/Kidani - Theming, Animals and Food
OKW - Spacious, Close to DS
SSR - Always Available, Close to DS

***********************************************************************
Never Stayed but would love to....

BCV- Bucket List, never available, high points but it looks fantastic and walk to Epcot/Studios, plus the POOL!!!
BWV - Nice Theming, the Boardwalk, walk to Epcot/Studios
AKL/Jambo - Boma, Animals
BRV/CCV - Only stayed in a WL room, food, theming and pool

 

[E2ME2]

My Top 4:
1) Boardwalk -
Walking to 2 parks is unmatched anywhere else. We also had owned at BCV, but occasionally the Resort view at BWV is available, making it a point-miser’s preference.
2) Animal Kingdom Jambo
DW loves the Lobby, the animal viewings, and the restaurants. Very short bus to AK Park. We also like PuttPutt at WinterSummerLand and we like the McDonalds that is close by. Also close to restaurants and shops near Margaritaville
3) Saratoga Springs
We like walking to Disney Springs and the views of the Golf Course. We used to request Congress Park before those came at a premium. Now we request Grandstand
4) BayLakeTower
Only for proximity to MK. MK is our least favorite of the 4 parks, but being at BLT makes it easy to do. It’s also close to the Golf Courses at Shades of Green, and I golf at least 3 times per week when in WDW

Least favorite resorts would have to be:
-Riviera ( too dependent on the SkyLiner, which always is down for maintenance in January, and that’s when we visit)
-Grand Floridian
Just don’t like the “Old Money” Vibe & too many points
-Cabins at Fort Wilderness
Too isolated, too Woodsy -

YMMV

 

[RMDVC24]

1. VGF (Head and shoulders our favourite resort. Love the rooms, the grounds, the vibe, everything!)
2. PVB (Awesome vibe & great amenities! Don't love the OG studios. Haven't stayed at PIT yet, but looks amazing!)
3. BCV (Haven't stayed here but it is on my Disney bucket list. Always love visiting the Beach Club when we're in WDW)
4. BWV (Haven't stayed here either but it is high on the list)
5. CCV & BRV (There are things I like about each over the other so they can share a ranking)
6. AKL (We haven't stayed here yet, so I'm putting Kidani and Jambo in one)
7. RIV (We just got direct points so RIV was never on our radar until now)
8. BLT (Contemporary/BLT just doesn't do it for us. Being on the monorail and walking distance to MK is the only saving grace IMO)
9. OKW & SSR (Haven't stayed at either. As of now, don't have preference between the 2. Being sprawling resorts with limited transportation is why they are ranked here)
10. CFW (Just not interested in the cabins right now)

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

1. AKL - Jambo (home resort): We prefer Jambo's lobby, savannas, gift shop, pool, and restaurant options over Kidani (although we LOVE Sanaa, we prefer to travel to Kidani to eat there and have more choices at Jambo)
2. RIV (home resort): Love the elegant decor, food options, skyliner, etc.
3. CCV: The vibe of WL is great. We love Geyser Point for a meal.
4. Poly/PIT: Disclaimer: We haven't stayed at the tower yet. The videos and images of rooms look beautiful, but we really like OG Poly.
5. OKW: We book "near Hospitality House" so the sprawling nature of the resort is not a factor. We love the set-up of the 1BR (and 2BR lock-off). Overall, we like the vibe of OKW. Always enjoy a meal at Olivia's.
6. BWV: BWV and BCV are close to tied. I give BWV the edge because, even though we like the decor of BCV a little more, when we stayed at BWV, it was Boardwalk view and that was awesome. BCV views were of some shrubs.
7. BCV: See above.
8. SSR: When we first bought DVC, I subscribed to the SSR as "resort of last resort" mindset. We only saw pictures of the building exteriors and the horse-racing theme didn't really speak to me. But after the room renovations, I saw some room tour videos and thought "wow, those are nice looking rooms." We gave SSR a try and loved it! We especially like staying at Congress Park and walking to Disney Springs.
9. GFV: Beautful resort and rooms, but high point charts and so many other choices we love push VGF down the list.
10. AKL - Kidani: Prefer to stay at Jambo. However, we did have the chance to stay at a Kidani 3BR GV on a recent trip. Those rooms are magnificent! But for Studio, 1BR, or 2 BR, we would just as soon stay at Jambo.
11. BRV: Nothing wrong with BRV, but we prefer the decor of the rooms at CCV.
12. BLT: Disclaimer: we haven't stayed here (but that should tell you something). The vibe and decor of the resort just aren't our cup of tea. However, we might stay there in October for proximity to MK and attending MNSSHP.
13. CFW: No desire to stay in little cabin trailers. We don't travel with a pet, so not a factor. We sometimes rent a nice cabin in the Smoky Mountains and that scratches our cabin itch much better than CFW ever could.