DVC resort reviews....(yes I'm reading this whole forum also!)

[MouseMagic]

Hey all...

Anybody have any good links to reviews of the current DVC resorts?

So...here is why... my dream would be to buy into the KT, or BLT...or since my beloved Contemporary really does look a toaster I like someone's nickname of "the Sandwich", oddly it goes together.... but as I'm reading all the rumors etc, I can't help but think I'm going to be priced out of them.

My goal is to try to have some backup choices and since each of the Disney Hotels has its own flavor.... try to pick the one that suits our family's personality.

Basically;

1. We like smaller/more intimate
2. Ease of getting to the parks... I've never been one to just hang out at the resort more than a day or so, and I grew up going every year to Disney...heck when I did the college program I went into a park almost every night.
3. We'd like to avoid the rental car situation since it seems so expensive for an "extra"...but then again, I grew up either at FW or on staying on the monorail.
4. I personally love the feel of 'elegance'

Dora

[administrator]

Hey all...

Anybody have any good links to reviews of the current DVC resorts?

So...here is why... my dream would be to buy into the KT, or BLT...or since my beloved Contemporary really does look a toaster I like someone's nickname of "the Sandwich", oddly it goes together.... but as I'm reading all the rumors etc, I can't help but think I'm going to be priced out of them.

My goal is to try to have some backup choices and since each of the Disney Hotels has its own flavor.... try to pick the one that suits our family's personality.

Basically;

1. We like smaller/more intimate
2. Ease of getting to the parks... I've never been one to just hang out at the resort more than a day or so, and I grew up going every year to Disney...heck when I did the college program I went into a park almost every night.
3. We'd like to avoid the rental car situation since it seems so expensive for an "extra"...but then again, I grew up either at FW or on staying on the monorail.
4. I personally love the feel of 'elegance'

Dora

Sigh. No matter how much work I do, sometimes, it just doesn't seem to matter....

If you look at the top of your navigation bar, all the way to the right, you will see a link to "RESORT REVIEWS."

If you don't want to click there, you can click HERE (http://www.mouseowners.com/reviewpost).

You can also peruse our main site (http://www.mouseowners.com) for descriptions about each of the resorts, what they have to offer, etc. There's also a general Disney map (so you can figure out where each of the resorts is located) in the Program Basics/FAQs section.

Good luck.

[MouseMagic]

Hi,

No... thank you for all the work admin, those were the first I read... I was looking to read more... all different sorts of reviews... I'm in google land right now but I thought people who read all the sites might know of more. I'm slowly getting the negatives of each.

But take last night....

I was chatting with my mother and talking about a larger WL contract I've got my eye on.

Her first response

"Don't do that! You forget how it is to try to get around with FW transport!".

I actually remember loving the boat ride etc...but she insists I'd hate it....:idontgeti

So honestly didn't mean disrespect for the work you've done... just was looking for additional input.

Dora

[glypnirsgirl]

You might try trip advisor. I have found that they normally have enough reviews to get a feel for how things are. They also tend to be the high and low - really rave or really critical - reviews.

Elaine

[JimP]

You might try trip advisor. I have found that they normally have enough reviews to get a feel for how things are. They also tend to be the high and low - really rave or really critical - reviews.

Elaine

Or you can save the time... and just choose BWV. :)

/Jim

[mountainjourno]

Or you can save the time... and just choose BWV. :)

/Jim

Ptthh. He means BCV.

[administrator]

I'm not sure what you're looking for, but I've put together this list for the main site. I'm also posting it in the Resort forum here. Fwiw....


Below are listed some of the characteristics (pro and con; beauty is in the eye of the beholder) of the DVC resorts located at Walt Disney World. This list is not comprehensive and should not be viewed as set in stone. However, it is hoped that it will provide those people who are interested in learning more about the DVC resorts with a starting point in terms of the ins and outs of the resorts.



AKV
a highly-themed resort; some people complain of its "darkness"
offers extra official space for one person (in 1BR and larger) in form of sleeper-chair
offers extra bathroom (in 1BR and larger in Kidani Village section)
the only DVC resort to offer concierge category
offers many different view categories that are points-dependent (including savanna view: you can see animals right outside your window)
a hotel-style resort; connected to hotel
when finished, will be second largest of DVC resorts
remote from most other activities and parks
offers Studio - Grand Villa accommodations
home of the highly-regarded restaurant "Jiko"
contract ends in 2057
BCV
beach theme
only DVC resort to offer lazy river and large water play area (Storm Along Bay - SAB)
a hotel-style resort; connected to hotel
long walk from main areas to villas
occasional complaints about cleanliness of villas
desirable location between Disney's Hollywood Studios (DHS) and Epcot
offers only Studio - 2BR accommodations (no Grand Villas)
water activities available via BWV
home of popular Beaches and Cream as well as Yachtsman Steakhouse
across from BoardWalk, where restaurants and entertainment venues abound
contract ends in 2042
BWV
beach theme
offers different view categories that are points-dependent (including board walk view)
a hotel-style resort; connected to hotel
long walk from lobby to villas
desirable location between Disney's Hollywood Studios (DHS) and Epcot
offers Studio - Grand Villa accommodations
many restaurants and entertainment venues located in immediate vicinity
water activities available (including "Breathless")
contract ends in 2042
OKW
Old Key West theme; most "well-developed" of all DVC resorts
oldest of all DVC resorts; fairly large, too
offers largest villas of all WDW DVC resorts
Studio is distinct in that it offers 2 queen-size beds
offers lowest point values for the accommodations
condo-style resort; can offer close parking
offers Studio - Grand Villa accommodations
offers wide variety of water activities
not close to parks; take bus or car
only DVC resort to offer its owners an ownership extension
contracts end in either 2042 (non-extension) or 2057 (extension)
SSR
Saratoga Springs, NY theme (some people complain that it's not "Disney" enough)
largest of all DVC resorts
condo-style resort; easy access to parking
next door to Downtown Disney with its shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues
offers Studio - Grand Villa accommodations
contract ends in 2054
VWL
highly-themed Western / Wilderness theme; some people complain of its "darkness"
smallest of DVC resorts
hotel-style resort; connected to hotel
close to Magic Kingdom, but must take boat to get there; must take buses everywhere else
offers only Studio - 2BR (no Grand Villas)
close to Bay Lake and thus, close to many water activities
noted for its Christmas decorations
home of popular restaurant "Artist's Point"
near Hoo-Dee-Doo Revue
contract ends in 2042

[JimP]

This is a really great list. I would offer the following suggestions:

OKW - lowest point value for accomodations

AKV and BWV - Standard views available at lower point values

[BWV Dreamin]

Or you can save the time... and just choose BWV. :)

/Jim

My you have good taste!:D

[carolina_yankee]

Basically;

1. We like smaller/more intimate
2. Ease of getting to the parks... I've never been one to just hang out at the resort more than a day or so, and I grew up going every year to Disney...heck when I did the college program I went into a park almost every night.
3. We'd like to avoid the rental car situation since it seems so expensive for an "extra"...but then again, I grew up either at FW or on staying on the monorail.
4. I personally love the feel of 'elegance'

Dora

The only objective choices, based on your criteria are BCV and VWL. BWV has the location, but not the intimacy. If BLT comes online, that would also provide location, but not intimacy. I'm not sure any of them would provide 'elegance.' As understood by the travel industry, Grand Floridian is probably the only Disney resort to offer that, but it's not DVC. As for car, some of the more distant ones (AKV for instance) get better bus service than the smaller and closer resorts (BWV and BCV can have long bus routes hopping to multiple resorts, and VWL shares with other monorail resorts on some routes). Also, with AKV, once you're at the resort, you don't need or won't want the car to move around the resort, unlike SSR and OKW.

As for reviews, the best I think anyone can do is read up about what each resort has to offer, then visit them and see which ones appeal to you the most. One person's negative (distant! large! over-themed! under-themed! Not part of a hotel!) is another person's positive. However, all the resorts are reasonably well maintained, have workable transportation, and similar amenities, so the only negatives you're likely to find are temporary things like housekeeping or customer service issues. Enough complaints, and those get better.

Dirk

[JimP]

The only objective choices, based on your criteria are BCV and VWL. BWV has the location, but not the intimacy. If BLT comes online, that would also provide location, but not intimacy.

Dirk,

Are you basing the "intimacy" evaluation on resort size? It looks that way. If so, then I personally do not think that the smallest resorts are really more "intimate" than the larger ones. The two smallest VWL and BCV are both attached to large resorts... and the combined size probably contributes more to the overall feeling than the DVC portion alone.

If you are not basising it on size... I think the asthetics come more into play... and we all probably have different views. I would probably put OKW top on the list because each condo has a somewhat detached and private feel to it.

/Jim

[carolina_yankee]

Dirk,

Are you basing the "intimacy" evaluation on resort size? It looks that way. If so, then I personally do not think that the smallest resorts are really more "intimate" than the larger ones. The two smallest VWL and BCV are both attached to large resorts... and the combined size probably contributes more to the overall feeling than the DVC portion alone.

If you are not basising it on size... I think the asthetics come more into play... and we all probably have different views. I would probably put OKW top on the list because each condo has a somewhat detached and private feel to it.

/Jim

Jim, I was focusing more on size than design - but you're right about OKW - you can have a pretty intimate experience there if you stay in your own 'neighborhood' since each section is somewhat isolated (in a good way).

I think the same could be said of Grandstand at SSR. If you have a car, and don't need Artist's Pallette, you don't really have to engage with the rest of the resort.

I still think BCV and VWL have an intimate feel, despite their larger sponsoring resorts. Both are in separate wings, and you can come and go from those wings to parking, buses, and parks fairly easily without engaging the rest of the resort (thus, not seeing many people). Also, the pools for those wings are very close, and usually not crowded.

Given the OPs desire to avoiding car rental, I still stand by recommending VWL or BCV since you can't guarantee Grandstand section of SSR (which is doable with or without car) and OKW is fairly difficult without a car if you need the main pool/store/food amenities.

Dirk

[MouseMagic]

This is very good information. I'm not going to be able to tour them all in September... I was in the college program the year the BW opened but only toured the main hotel (they let us come in right before it opened to guests and look around...I LOVED the little perks like that)... Anyhow... BWV didn't enter into my thoughts as intimate size but now it is back on the list.

I really am hoping to avoid car rental... even with my corporate discount the car rentals just seem a waste.

Intimacy for me is size....the mega resorts scare me a bit with my back... I'm terrified of being stuck in a hotel room because the walk to the pool or worse the transportation etc is substantial.

I am all for 'theme' also... I want to feel like I'm at Disney…but if I have to I’ll live without it (I travel for my job and I am used to Marriott cookie cutter life, heck there is almost a “second home” feel to it at this point).

I'm supposed to call my old college friends CM Tony (the college friend has DVC already at BWV) today and talk about setting up a time to meet with him when we're down there in September.

AKV... okay.... so you don't need a car to get around easily??? I am an animal freak and a half but this one was off the list because of my back again... I was afraid that I'd find it to large to take advantage of and the reviews made it seem sprawling and far away from everything.

Admin... I'm printing the list to refer to, thank you!

Thank you everyone!

[carolina_yankee]

AKV... okay.... so you don't need a car to get around easily??? I am an animal freak and a half but this one was off the list because of my back again... I was afraid that I'd find it to large to take advantage of and the reviews made it seem sprawling and far away from everything.

Admin... I'm printing the list to refer to, thank you!

Thank you everyone!

AKL/AKV aren't resorts you can drive around. All the areas area accessed from the main building since the savannas surround the building on 3 sides. Consequently, there can be a lot of walking involved, but you can request locations that are convenient to the main lobby (and thus the amenities). Now, if you want to move from Jambo House to Kidani Village, you might prefer a car - but it looks like it would be like moving a car from one end of a large mall parking lot to the other end. Time will tell how the pathways work.

Dirk