DVC Resorts at WDW - Ratings etc.

[cy1229]

We've talked a lot about this one vs. that one, so I wanted to really dissect this. I'm seriously, honest-to-God-ly, planning on us doing the 5k in January 2015. And seriously considering renting DVC points for it. So, I went to the WDW site to check out photos etc. of the various DVC resort studios (which is all the hubby and I would need, assuming we could get away with not bringing the girls! ) So, here's what I've determined:

Old Key West
Pros: BIG condos, nice theming, lots of space available
Cons: Really spread out, far from everything

Saratoga Springs
Pros: Reasonably sized condos, very quiet location, easy to get to DTD via boat
Cons: far from everything but DTD, not really well themed

Beach Club
Pros: Great pool, great location
Cons: Frumpy decor (seriously, who chose the colors and patterns?), studios looked smallish in the photos

Boardwalk
Pros: Great location, looks like a really fun place to stay, great restaurants on site
Cons: Frumpy decor (I think the same decorator who did Beach Club did this one. Peach and mint green florals? Yuck.)

Wilderness Lodge
Pros: Decent location, quiet, nice theming, great restaurants on site
Cons: Decor looks like someone's mishmashed version of everything about the old west, from Arizona to Montana

Bay Lake Tower
Pros: GREAT location, modern, new, nicely decorated
Cons: Studios are TINY, everything except the rooms is located in another building, transportation to parks other than MK is time-consuming

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Pros: GREAT theming, views, restaurants on site
Cons: Far-removed from everything. Plus, I couldn't find any description of the difference between a value studio and a regular studio.

Would you guys add anything? Also, which would you choose, all things being equal? Thanks!

[Amy]

Wow ~ looks like you took a little time with your comparisons! I would pick based on which park you would likely spend the most time in. Beach Club and Boardwalk sound the best as far as location and transportation options go. You can overlook bad decor for a few days when you aren't spending a lot of time in the room anyhow right? Animal Kingdom Lodge would be cool as well with the animals being right outside your windows

[theBIGyowski]

Great topic! Here are my thoughts as well based on experience and research I have done myself.

Old Key West
Pros: Agree these are very large. It's also quiet if you want a place you can retreat to. Of all of the DVC resorts...I think it is the prettiest to walk around. Olivia's (restaurant) is actually very good.
Cons: It is not RIGHT next to a park like a few of the others...it is technically close to Epcot though...about 3,000 ft from it...as the crow flies.

Saratoga Springs
Pros: very close to DTD...rooms aren't all that bad...they have a spa which is supposed to be nice
Cons: agree that it is farther from everything...and extremely spread out...takes forever to get to parks mainly because of the bus stops in the resort

Beach Club
Pros: best DVC pool...you are literally right next to Epcot...all the perks of the Beach & Yacht Clubs at your finger tips
Cons: expensive if you don't plan on spending a lot of time in your room...theme could be updated

Boardwalk
Pros: awesome location...agree on the restaurants as well...cheaper than BCV and you are still in the same general location
Cons: I think these rooms are hard to get because of the lower price and great location

Wilderness Lodge
Pros: not a bad location...amenities of WL is right there
Cons: travel to parks isn't all that great...if you get a bad room location you can be a LONG way from the main building

Bay Lake Tower
Pros: perfect for familes with small kids...you can walk to MK...all amenities of the Contemporary just a short walk away...MK views give you a view of Wishes each night
Cons: odd layout for the studios...you have to walk to the Contemporary for transportation...not ideal for any park other than MK

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Pros: Probably the best themed of all of the DVC resorts...great restaurants at your finger tips
Cons: You are far from everything except for AK...and even that requires a bus. The value rooms are a good bit smaller than the standard rooms...and there are a limited number of them.


If I had to pick any DVC resort to stay at...I would probably go with OKW...just because of the cost per square foot and the theming. But here are reasons I would choose each one:

OKW: PRICE...size of rooms...relaxing
SSR: Always available...easy to get at the last minute
BCV: Right next to Epcot for F&G or F&W...more upscale for a "nicer" vacation
BWV: Ditto on F&G and F&W...great price
VWL: Theme via the main Wilderness Lodge area...location to MK
BLT: Location to MK...perfect for being there at Rope Drop...newer and nicer than other DVC resorts...pricey though
AKV: Theme...can look at animals from your balcony...location to AKL restaurants

[Sharonofwindham]

To me location is everything when it comes to staying in WDW. I can get over the décor if the theming is good and the pool is great, which these all have something going for them in that respect, but I just can't give up a good location. I love Epcot, so I would go with the obvious. Before I sold it BWV was my home resort, and it's fantastic...LOVE IT! I would love to stay at the Wilderness Lodge someday though, as I think it's an incredible resort.

[mwehttam]

Great list.

Location does not bother us as most of the time we have a car with us. For OKW I would add probably the most important Pro: it has the cheapest rooms in terms of points. Also, the new pool area is nice.

For BWV I think a Con would be the creepy clown pool. That is the one reason we have not stayed there!

[Amy]

Great list.

Location does not bother us as most of the time we have a car with us. For OKW I would add probably the most important Pro: it has the cheapest rooms in terms of points. Also, the new pool area is nice.

For BWV I think a Con would be the creepy clown pool. That is the one reason we have not stayed there!

We walked through the BWV pool area on one of our last trips. That clown pool is a little creepy ~ especially at night

[theBIGyowski]

yeah...that clown is definitely creepy!

[Sharonofwindham]

Great list.

Location does not bother us as most of the time we have a car with us. For OKW I would add probably the most important Pro: it has the cheapest rooms in terms of points. Also, the new pool area is nice.

For BWV I think a Con would be the creepy clown pool. That is the one reason we have not stayed there!

We walked through the BWV pool area on one of our last trips. That clown pool is a little creepy ~ especially at night

To me, the clowns hair looks like spaghetti-O's, and when someone comes down the slide it looks like he's throwing up . I like BWV's quiet pool myself

[mwehttam]

To me, the clowns hair looks like spaghetti-O's, and when someone comes down the slide it looks like he's throwing up . I like BWV's quiet pool myself

[cy1229]

I don't know how I missed this photo last fall when I was doing our trip report, but today I found it. And laughed.

And then I realized that it illustrates PERFECTLY how small the kitchen was in our 2BR condo at BLT. All that you're not seeing is the range. More and more I'm liking staying in a condo or apartment that has a kitchen in it so we can eat our breakfasts in, and choose to eat in for a dinner or two and go to nicer places for the rest of our meals. That's why the size of a kitchen is important to me.

That's all.

[Amy]

Plus your daughter is away on her overseas trip and can't possibly see you posting this picture of her
I'm not sure how you all managed to not bump into each other constantly in that room set-up...

[cy1229]

Plus your daughter is away on her overseas trip and can't possibly see you posting this picture of her
I'm not sure how you all managed to not bump into each other constantly in that room set-up...

She doesn't frequent Subsonic anyway, so she won't know unless I or someone else tells her.

We WERE all bumping into each other ALL THE TIME. Don't get me wrong, you can't beat BLT's location, and it does not have any typical resort noise. But at breakfast time, we were all jockeying for position around the microwave, toaster, and refrigerator while we prepared our food.

[Amy]

Plus your daughter is away on her overseas trip and can't possibly see you posting this picture of her
I'm not sure how you all managed to not bump into each other constantly in that room set-up...

She doesn't frequent Subsonic anyway, so she won't know unless I or someone else tells her.

We WERE all bumping into each other ALL THE TIME. Don't get me wrong, you can't beat BLT's location, and it does not have any typical resort noise. But at breakfast time, we were all jockeying for position around the microwave, toaster, and refrigerator while we prepared our food.

I've got it! Next time hire a personal chef me to prepare the morning meal. Everyone can sit somewhat comfortably in the dining area and give their orders like at a restaurant. The chef me will happily make toast and cereal for everyone, and pour oj with a smile on her face, and then everyone, including the chef me can go out and enjoy the parks having not been bumped and jostled too much. Although, perhaps the jockeying in the kitchen is good preparation for the jockeying and bumping and pushing the parks
If you decide against hiring the personal chef me, then you could instead hire a extra adult-ish helper me to make sure everyone has a great time in the parks! You can sit in the shade, and send your adult-ish helper me to the food stand to get the snacks, drinks, ice cream, etc. I can then deliver it, after having taste tested it to make sure it is up to Disney park standards and not poisoned by the witch or anything