Where would you stay?

[eeyoreali]

Looking to go next year. There'll be 4 adults (my husband, my parents, and myself) and my two children (will be 1 & 5 when we go).

I've stayed in OKW studio before and enjoyed it. I'd love to try BWV or BCV, maybe AKV. We'll be looking to stay in a 2 bedroom. I like BCV so the kids can use the great pool, BWV because there's so much to do, and of course the animals at AKV would be a hit with the kids.

Out of OKW, BWV, BCV, or AKV - where would you stay & why?

 

[browniemtb]

What time of year??
I am biased BWV owner, but that being said both the BCV and BWV would be my choices. #1 for entertainment value would be BCV because of Storm-A-Long Bay and the close proximity to Epcot. #2 would be BWV, though my kids prefer our home resort because of the night life and the performers on the Boardwalk during the evening. But even being at the BCV you can still walk to the boardwalk. Good luck in your decision!

 

[jekjones1558]

I think your kids are the perfect age for AKV. There is a great water play area for younger kids and that age usually really likes watching the animals. The Epcot resorts are handy with a stroller because of the ability to walk or boat to 2 parks. The SAB pool is a huge draw for families, especially if you go when the weather is definitely warm enough to swim. I found SAB very hard to watch kids, especially since the slide requires them to cross the path that goes around the lake. And that is far away from the sandy pool area where you are likely to be with the 1 year old. But I am always nervous around swimming pools with kids, so take that into account.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As you've already tried OKW, I would opt for Kidani, 2bd! You get a third bathroom, a beautifully themed villa and the kids, and you as well will love the giraffes, zebras etc.!

The SAB area has never been important to my kids, and frankly I don't care for the crowd levels there and the layout of the area!

 

[rowlands57]

For me it depends on resort vs. park time. AKV is a great resort but the trip to all but the AK on the bus is quite long I think, particularly at the end of the day. Cannot sensibly comment on OKW from that point of view. I find that if you want to catch the animals at AKV you can just hop over there when at the AK park and see all you need to and then head out.

The ability to walk to 2 parks from BCV and BWV is a big plus to me, but my family is much older now. We really enjoy ending the day at EPCOT, catching the fireworks and walking 'home'. The fact that the pool is great at BCV is a big plus too, if you have the weather for it.

Just my $.02.

 

[ParkHoppers]

I know you didn,t mention it as a choice but BLT is always a good option with young children. About four minutes down the sidewalk and you are in the Magic Kingdom or just hop on the monorail for Epcot. For me the less time on the buses the better.Especially with the little ones.

 

[disneynutz]

Looking to go next year. There'll be 4 adults (my husband, my parents, and myself) and my two children (will be 1 & 5 when we go).

I've stayed in OKW studio before and enjoyed it. I'd love to try BWV or BCV, maybe AKV. We'll be looking to stay in a 2 bedroom. I like BCV so the kids can use the great pool, BWV because there's so much to do, and of course the animals at AKV would be a hit with the kids.

Out of OKW, BWV, BCV, or AKV - where would you stay & why?

If you are an owner, just pick a resort and go for it. Next year, a different resort, and so on until you have stayed in them all.

Bill

 

[spiceycat]

of your choices would go with BCV - that say there are only 25 villa that are 2-bedroom w/2 queens in the second bedroom.

all the the other dedicated have 1 queen and double sofa bed in the second bedroom. just like a lock off

BWV only has lock off - 1 king in the master, 1 queen in the second bedroom plus a double sofa bed, all have the queen sleeper sofa in the living area.

think I would agree with ParkHoppers and go with either BLT - you can walk to the MK or VWL bus or boat to the MK.

now older and definitely slower - so it takes me around 10 to 15 minutes from my room to the MK at BLT walking.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I like BCV so the kids can use the great pool

With children your age, Stormalong Bay could be a nightmare. Unless you plan to stay at the children's area over on the Yacht Club side. But your 5 yr old might hate staying with the babies over there. You'll need to split up with your family to have both children enjoy the pool. Plus the other side (closer to BC), has some very deep areas (over 8' deep) with swift currents.

I'd save SAB until your children are much older and able to swim really, really well.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the amenities at AKV, Kidani make that my choice in your situation. An extra bath, the 2 queen beds in the dedicated, the animals, community room will have activities your 5 year old would like, and the splash area at the pool would be great for both kids, all would tip the scale to that for me!

 

[DisneynBison]

We did the same thing you are doing but kids were 6 and 1 last January. Beach club 2bedroom worked great for us. Storm a long worked well and being close to Epcot was great.

Trying a 1 bedroom at AKL Jambo this year as my patents are not coming this year. We would have went back to Beach Club but didn't decide to go early enough.

 

[Dean]

Looking to go next year. There'll be 4 adults (my husband, my parents, and myself) and my two children (will be 1 & 5 when we go).

I've stayed in OKW studio before and enjoyed it. I'd love to try BWV or BCV, maybe AKV. We'll be looking to stay in a 2 bedroom. I like BCV so the kids can use the great pool, BWV because there's so much to do, and of course the animals at AKV would be a hit with the kids.

Out of OKW, BWV, BCV, or AKV - where would you stay & why?

Of those I'd do OKW if you had a car, AKV if you didn't and weren't doing a lot of park time and BWV standard if you were doing park time (esp if you planned to get the kids back for naps). Personally I'd likely try for the other resorts over the one's you've listed due to the age of your kids (assuming the main park is MK), BLT due to monorail access, VLW due to location or VGF due to decor and location. There are no bad choices in this situation for a 2 BR.

 

[Minnie824]

Our 2 homes are BCV and AKV... We LOVE BCV...the pool, the location, beaches and cream, walk to epcot, walk to boardwalk bakery for dessert.

We also love AKV but for different reasons...great pool there for kids your age, as well as the splash area. Plus..the community hall there my DDs loved. They wanted to spend time there every day and actually opted for that instead of the pool some days..this was when they were 8 and 6. Also...I really like the bathrooms better at AKL..they're huge and there are 3 of them in a 2 bedroom, as opposed to 2 bathrooms in the other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our 2 homes are BCV and AKV... We LOVE BCV...the pool, the location, beaches and cream, walk to epcot, walk to boardwalk bakery for dessert.

We also love AKV but for different reasons...great pool there for kids your age, as well as the splash area. Plus..the community hall there my DDs loved. They wanted to spend time there every day and actually opted for that instead of the pool some days..this was when they were 8 and 6. Also...I really like the bathrooms better at AKL..they're huge and there are 3 of them in a 2 bedroom, as opposed to 2 bathrooms in the other.

Only Kidani Village has three bathrooms in a two bedroom villa. Jambo House only has the two bathrooms in the two bedroom villa.

 

[NoleFan]

With children your age, Stormalong Bay could be a nightmare. Unless you plan to stay at the children's area over on the Yacht Club side. But your 5 yr old might hate staying with the babies over there. You'll need to split up with your family to have both children enjoy the pool. Plus the other side (closer to BC), has some very deep areas (over 8' deep) with swift currents.

I'd save SAB until your children are much older and able to swim really, really well.

Totally agree. Would not consider BCV with little ones that are not swimmers or not strong swimmers.

When my DS was younger, we only did monorail resorts. Our favorite is (& was MK) so monorail access was a huge plus. I agree with what others mentioned in BLT, VGF, & VWL. BLT would be my first pick since you can walk or take monorail to MK, they have a community hall, Top of the World Lounge, and you can take boat over to Wilderness Lodge area.

 

[wiigirl]

I think the amenities at AKV, Kidani make that my choice in your situation. An extra bath, the 2 queen beds in the dedicated, the animals, community room will have activities your 5 year old would like, and the splash area at the pool would be great for both kids, all would tip the scale to that for me!

 

[dianeschlicht]

With the makeup of your group, I think it would be AKV/Kidani all the way! So much fun if you have a savanna view, and so much to do there. It's almost a destination in itself even if you didn't want to do parks.

 

[darkwing818]

Our 2 homes are BCV and AKV... We LOVE BCV...the pool, the location, beaches and cream, walk to epcot, walk to boardwalk bakery for dessert. .

Love the 2 bedrooms at BCV.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Another vote for Animal Kingdom.
The kids' waterplay area is great.
You will probably spend time in the room for naps and sitting on the balcony of a savannah room never gets old.
The kids will love the animals.
The extra bathroom at Kidani will come in handy.
We were there last week and the bus ride from the MK both nights was 15 minutes--not bad at all. Maybe would take 10 to Boardwalk or Beach Club but if you share with all the hotels there it adds a lot of time. I am always impressed with bus service at AKL.

 

[DVC_Dreamer]

I typically see two camps on the DisBoards. Those who go for location and those that go for theme/relaxation.
Put me in the camp of location fan. Our home and favorite resort is BLT. A very close second would be BCV. DW and I have stayed a few times at BC before DVC.
We're still hit the parks hard. I wonder if we'll ever slow down.
We did a split stay with BWV and BLT. DD and DW were not as pleased with BWV except for the location. I think they're obsessed with BLT. DD just says she doesn't like the vibe and DW can't believe the drink station situation at BWV. Everybody has a different opinion. I love the boardwalk area!
Do kids at 1 and 5 really care too much which resort? I think they'll have a ball no matter what. Except for the times when they're exhausted.

I'm lobbying for a split stay with AKV and BLT with the bulk of time doing BLT. That way I can check out AKV for a couple days and not have to ride buses too much.
For the adults and location, I'd go with BCV in a heartbeat.
Good luck with your decision.