Disney World Deluxe Villa Resort Rankings
Which Deluxe Villas Resorts are best & worst at Walt Disney World? These Disney Vacation Club rankings cover our top picks and least favorite based on theme, rooms, restaurants, pools, location and more. We cover the pros & cons of each property, and why we love each of them. (Updated February 5, 2024.)
We’ve re-ranked the resorts on this list once again for 2024 following room redesigns at a couple of resorts (with a new #1 pick!) and more on the horizon. As Deluxe Villas are our favorite category of accommodations at Walt Disney World, this list is in large part not just our favorite DVC properties, but our favorite resorts at Walt Disney World, period.
Before you close this post out as “irrelevant” if you’re not a Disney Vacation Club member, it’s worth noting that you do not need to be in DVC to stay at these resorts. For one, all are bookable directly from Walt Disney World, they’re the “Deluxe Villa” tier, which is treated just like a traditional hotel. For another, you can use our Tips for Renting Disney Vacation Club Points to step into the shoes of a DVC member–and save money in the process!
With that said, we do want to make clear is that there’s nothing objective about these Disney Vacation Club resort rankings. We initially tried that approach, but realized it’s a fool’s errand. For one, we have a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in our various vacations, and it’s tough to separate out our own biases from the basics of each property.
For another, this involves inherently apples to oranges comparisons. Unlike hotels as a whole, there are quirks to the DVC resorts. How does a purpose-built resort like Old Key West compare to an add-on like Bay Lake Tower or room conversions like the Polynesian Villas? Speaking of the Poly, does it get penalized for not yet having 1-bedroom units? Are common areas shared with the hotel included? Are sister resorts ranked separately? Does point cost come into play? What about the difficulty of booking certain resorts or categories if they’re not your home resort?
It’s impossible for a simple list of rankings to account for all of those variables. As a result, this is more about our personal preferences and where we’d recommend family and friends stay, with some caveats in mind, than it is an attempt at anything definitive or comprehensive. Such a list is not possible, so we’re not going to try.
There’s also the reality that this list is really competitive. Several of the resorts that had major weaknesses–quite often a result of room refurbishments in the last decade that removed the charm while not adding any functionality–have since remedied those. In some cases, this has been via upgrades and enhancements to the amenities, but it’s mostly been the result of a new wave of room reimaginings that has better balanced form and function. As those projects continue throughout 2024 and into 2025, we anticipate the gap to narrow further between the best and “worst” resorts on this list.
Finally, even the bottom resorts are places we enjoy. Some of my best adult memories at Walt Disney World are at Saratoga Springs, where we stayed on our first real trip together. Walking back to Saratoga Springs after a night at the Adventurers Club was great, and proximity to Disney Springs gives it a lot of appeal. Likewise, Bay Lake Tower’s short walk to Magic Kingdom might be enough for many to put it at the top of this list.
Really, it seems like each resort has a strong selling point that could make it #1. From the spacious rooms and laid back vibe of Old Key West to the wildlife and self-contained “resort” experience of Animal Kingdom Lodge, each brings something to the table. Beyond that, so much depends upon the purpose of our trip (e.g. is dining at Disney Springs a priority?), time of year we’re visiting (is enjoying Christmas in the Pacific Northwest important?), and more. All resorts compliment one another incredibly well, and part of the appeal of Disney Vacation Club is the ability to experience its many, varied resorts.
All of this leads to the caveat that this is all either just for fun or an exercise in futility, depending upon your perspective. With that on mind, on with the rankings…
10. Old Key West Resort
Although these rankings are entirely mine, Sarah’s dislike of Old Key West does influence me a bit. By contrast, I love Old Key West. I love that it’s so spread out (walking it gives me something to do in the morning), and I love that the foliage has really matured here. It also has the largest Disney Vacation Club rooms, and was recently refurbished. It also has Olivia’s, which is beloved among longtime DVC members–and for good reason.
Even viewing Old Key West in the most favorable light, though, it pales in comparison to other resorts, which have more well-rounded dining rosters, better entertainment, and more convenient locations. Pretty much everything that OKW does well, another resort does better. Whether it be the isolation and seclusion of Animal Kingdom Lodge or the rooms at Saratoga Springs, which compares to OKW in a lot of ways and gets the edge in most of them.
Old Key West will likely always be divisive among Disney Vacation Club owners, and I suspect most will place it near the top or the bottom of their own lists. I certainly don’t hate it and would happily book a stay here, which should further underscore the top-to-bottom strength of the DVC lineup at Walt Disney World.
9. Bay Lake Tower
With each subsequent update to this list, Bay Lake Tower falls further. One of the big reasons for this is that our experience with the rooms in the last few years has been negative, with them looking worse-for-wear and prematurely worn. The build quality and finishings are just not on par with everything that came after BLT, and it shows. (This overdue room overhaul is finally going to happen in late 2024 and throughout 2025.)
Another reason is that Grand Floridian is also within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, meaning that Bay Lake Tower has lost its main selling point for us. Same goes for the Polynesian Villas, which aren’t as directly comparable, but are also far superior as far as monorail loop DVC resorts go.
Previously, being the closest resort to Magic Kingdom and a less than 10 minute walk to the park made up for a lot that BLT is otherwise lacking. And it’s still pretty compelling, especially if BLT has availability and Villas at Grand Floridian or the Polynesian does not. But otherwise, we won’t book Bay Lake Tower over the monorail loop alternatives (or even Wilderness Lodge) until the rooms are redone.
Nevertheless, Bay Lake Tower is a good option if you have small kids who will frequently want to take a midday break–or be in bed ~10 minutes after exiting Magic Kingdom at the end of a long day in the park. Even though it’s no longer the only DVC resort within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, it’s still the shortest walk, which counts for something. Bay Lake Tower also has access to the monorail, and solid dining at the Contemporary.
On the other hand, the rooms are smaller than counterparts at other resorts, the finishing isn’t quite as nice (we’ve had rooms here in rough shape a couple of times, which I’m told is not uncommon). Nevertheless, we really like Bay Lake Tower. We just don’t love it, as we do the other entries on this list!
8. Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
I’m admittedly a nostalgic person. The Disney Vacation Club resort for which I have the most nostalgia is Saratoga Springs. This is because Sarah stayed here when we took our first serious Walt Disney World trip together as adults. It’s what caused us to fall in love with Walt Disney World again and it’s the resort we eventually chose as “home” for our Disney Vacation Club purchase (for purely economic reasons).
Despite this, Saratoga Springs landed in last place on this list for a while. It was too bland, too far from everything worthwhile, and the rooms were nothing special. For years, it reminded us too much of a condo community we could find at home, and offered nothing to make us overlook those parallels.
However, Saratoga Springs Resort has aged like a fine wine. (It’s like the opposite of Bay Lake Tower, in that regard.) Over the last decade, thematic enhancements have been made to the pools and other common areas, and it now looks truly themed (albeit more lightly than other resorts) while also feeling fresh.
The latter point is thanks to a comprehensive, multi-year refurbishment project that brought nice new rooms. All of that, plus the superlative dining and shopping options within walking distance at Disney Springs makes Saratoga Springs a winner. Years after Pleasure Island closed, Saratoga Springs is once again a place we loved staying. Read more in our Saratoga Springs Resort Review.
7. BoardWalk Villas
We place a high value on location and the resort’s overall theme, and BoardWalk scores highly in both regards. Walking from the Crescent Lake resorts to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World, and the overall atmosphere at BoardWalk Inn is exceptional.
I can already tell you that the ranking of the BoardWalk Villas will skyrocket in the second half of 2024, as I’ve seen photos of the newly-redone rooms and they’re a colossal improvement. (We haven’t stayed in them yet and they’re not totally done, so no re-ranking just yet.) Prior to this, the last room refurbishment at BoardWalk left them dull and like an ordinary chain–and we’ve avoided BoardWalk as a result.
Between those new rooms and the exceptional BoardWalk View rooms (alternatively, the cheapest studios are a great way to conserve points), we can’t wait to return to the BoardWalk Villas. Even though the pool isn’t as good as Stormalong Bay over at Yacht & Beach Club, there’s so much to love about this resort.
6. Disney’s Riviera Resort
I’ll admit that Disney’s Riviera Resort has grown on me since it opened. Perhaps I’m getting used to the thematic shortcomings or maybe I’m focusing more on the practicalities of actually visiting Walt Disney World and using the accommodations–probably a bit of both. Regardless, it’s a resort we find ourselves wanting to book more than most on this list, and it arguably deserves a top 5 spot as a result of that.
There’s a lot to like…but also a lot to dislike…about Disney’s Riviera Resort. The biggest downside is that Disney has taken a region rich in beautiful architecture and lavish design, and made one of the most thematically boring and uninspired resorts. That’s a huge disappointment, and it feels like so much potential has been squandered here.
The biggest upside is the luxurious accommodations and the high end finishing of the rooms. Moreover, the restaurants slate is formidable and Disney Skyliner access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is huge. The location is less appealing than Crescent Lake or Magic Kingdom DVC resorts, but Riviera Resort has enough to put it above Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. Read our full Disney’s Riviera Resort Review for more.
5. Beach Club Villas
The Beach Club Villas score highly because of the amazing pool, location within walking distance of two parks and the Skyliner gondola station, and reasonably good dining options. This is also another resort that received a room overhaul in the last year, but we got unlucky and stuck with the old (and underwhelming) rooms last summer.
Delving a bit deeper into the location, the Beach Club Villas are the closest resort to Epcot and the International Gateway Skyliner station. Beach Club Villas offer the amazing Crescent Lake ambiance of the other resorts around there, but also has its own secluded, popcorn light-lit pathway. Given everything else that the Beach Club Villas offer, you will find yourself far less worried about the room here than you will anywhere else. Read our full Beach Club Villas Review for more.
4. Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas & Kidani Village
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House and Kidani Village arguably should be broken out and ranked separately given that the former is a room conversion and the latter is a quasi-stand alone resort. Yet, they’re a short walk from one another, have similar rooms, and largely share amenities. We see no material differences between them, and book interchangeably (with a conservation of points being our main goal).
The strength of both has long been the savanna, which is perhaps the best “amenity” offered by any Walt Disney World resort that no other hotel in North America can offer. This alone makes AKL a great “staycation” or resort-only experience, and would be enough to secure Jambo House and Kidani Village spots in the top half of this list.
But that’s not all that they offer. Both sides of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas offer solid rooms that do a good job of balancing theme and quality, the dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge is among the best at Walt Disney World, and the feature pools are underrated gems at both.
So what faults do they have? Well, location. That can be minimized if you’re a fan of Disney’s Animal Kingdom or if you’re taking a trip to enjoy the resorts. It’s also amazing at Christmas, which is when I would encourage anyone to stay here. This is the one resort that should sneak to number one for a lot of you if you don’t agree with my number one. Read our full Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village Review for more info and photos.
3. Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows have a laid back South Pacific theme, plus a convenient location on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. Now that the hotel overhaul is finished, the arrival experience is even better and the grounds are looking nicer. (Undoing a bit of the damage from the previous reimagining.)
The recent room refurbishment to the Polynesian Villas also elevates the resort. Although this project was a soft goods refresh rather than a full reimagining, it was one of the most thorough soft goods renovations in recent years. The functional improvements to these new rooms coupled with the finished resort refurbishment are big wins for the Poly Villas.
The style here hits the nail on the head, balancing Disney theming with high-end luxury. The atmosphere at this resort is top-notch, the pools are great, transportation is a breeze to Magic Kingdom or Epcot (a short walk to TTC), and the dining options are good (don’t sleep on Kona Cafe–despite its ordinary appearance, it’s better than ‘Ohana).
However, the Poly Villas are lacking in room varieties and are on the precipice of another colossal construction project that’ll impact the Polynesian for the next two years. As a result, the resort made the List of Worst Hotels for 2024 at Walt Disney World. The impact won’t be as significant to the DVC Villas, but it’s still enough to drop the Poly a few spots from #1 to #3.
2. Villas at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Less than two years removed from its big room overhauls that massively improved its standing, Grand Floridian falls out of the #1 spot. Nevertheless, we love the new rooms at the standalone Villas at Grand Floridian, which replaced the sofa sleeper with the innovative pull-down Murphy bed that first debuted at Disney’s Riviera Resort. We’re also huge fans of the transformed Big Pine Key, which converted hotel rooms into “Resort Studios” (see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a look inside).
There have also been a slew of subtle improvements to the resort as a whole. The Villas at Grand Floridian benefit tremendously from the walkway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. That’s a game-changer, and makes VGF really attractive for us, as we’d rather walk than wait in long monorail lines at the end of the night. Grand Floridian also has excellent dining, pools, and entertainment. It’s one of the best resorts at Christmas, and there’s always something happening here.
There are a couple of reasons why it drops down to #2 for 2024. The first is that Wilderness Lodge has improved. More directly, there’s the wildcard of the ongoing overhaul of the lobby and other common areas. Even as the outer buildings are all fully finished and walls are down, what’s going to happen with the main lobby is (somehow) still unknown. It could have phased construction for pretty much the entirety of 2024, or simply have the furnishings refreshed during the overnight hours over a couple weeks. That’s quite the wide range of possibilities, but enough of an excuse (honestly, we were looking for one) to knock Grand Floridian down to #2 for now.
Nevertheless, if I had to be more objective and recommend a resort to someone else without knowing anything about their personal preferences (e.g. you), it would be the Villas Grand Floridian. Thanks to the room quality and layout, proximity to Magic Kingdom, and the overall atmosphere, this is the flagship Walt Disney World resort once again.
1. Villas at Wilderness Lodge (Copper Creek & Boulder Ridge)
Remember how I said this was not an objective list of rankings? Well, this is where my bias potentially comes into play. For a Walt Disney World first-timer debating where to stay, the Magic Kingdom monorail loop resorts or Crescent Lake hotels within walking distance of EPCOT are hard to beat. Wilderness Lodge offers boat transportation to Magic Kingdom, which I love and think is underrated, but admittedly, the consensus on it isn’t as strong as other non-bus transportation.
Wilderness Lodge is far and away my favorite resort at Walt Disney World year-round, but I really love it at Christmas. Love actually might be too tame of a word. Looking at this photo takes me back to the night it was taken. Admittedly, I am biased towards Wilderness Lodge at Christmastime due to my own personal experiences there.
Objectively, Wilderness Lodge has great theming, solid pools, and great food. Geyser Point is an underrated gem and Storybook Dining at Artist Point is now one of the hottest character meals in all of Walt Disney World. And then (again)…there’s Christmas at Wilderness Lodge. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has stayed there around Christmas who doesn’t absolutely love the place.
Note that we don’t differentiate between Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge here, but I prefer Boulder Ridge. That might be an “unpopular opinion” given that Boulder Ridge isn’t in the main building, but it’s such a short walk that it doesn’t even matter, and the new rooms in Boulder Ridge are excellent–my favorite in all of Walt Disney World and a big part of what pushes Wilderness Lodge into the top slot. You can read about the pros & cons of each in our Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Itching to Do DVC?
If this article has you excited about the prospect of becoming a Disney Vacation Club member, we highly recommend that you read our Disney Vacation Club Buying Guide to see if membership is right for you. That Guide includes every variable you should consider, and provides an objective approach to buying into Disney Vacation Club, rather than the emotional pitch the Disney salespeople will give you.
If you’re not interested in buying into Disney Vacation Club, but still want Deluxe Villa accommodations at Moderate Resort prices, we highly recommend renting points Disney Vacation Club points, as you will save considerably over booking directly from Disney (typical savings over even a discounted Deluxe Villa price are around 50%). Renting is also a great way to try Disney Vacation Club before buying to see if it’s really right for you.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What are your Disney Vacation Club rankings? Favorite resort? Least favorite? Are you considering buying into Disney Vacation Club or renting points for your 2024 Walt Disney World vacation? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I haven’t stayed at Poly, Boardwalk, Riviera, or Floridian yet, so can’t comment on those. But I will say that while I understand the OKW and SSR rankings because of location … I actually love both. They wouldn’t generally be my first choices because of location, but for a non-park trip SSR is amazing for proximity to Disney Springs, and I actually thought the pools and grounds there were really nice. We stayed there for a Universal Studios trips and we really loved both — recently refurbished rooms, beautiful landscaping, etc. I liked both better than Beach Club (but would still stay at Beach Club for location).
Love Wilderness & Bay Lake Tower and would be happy to stay there anytime. Animal Kingdom is wonderful but the location is rough with long bus rides (and then a potentially very, very, very long walk to the room from the bus-stop).
We would likely need at least a 1bedroom with 2 adults and 3 kids but do like to “save” money at WDW. Of course my wife loves the GF but heard the walk to QS for coffee and drink refills is very long so not sure. I always make a beeline for coffee first thing. Where does beach club do their coffee and drink refills? Thanks for any help.
I forgot to say in my lengthy (sorry), post that I have stayed at Bay Lake Towers, AKL, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Swan and Dolphin, Boardwalk Villas , Saratoga Springs, moderates except for Coronado, Pop Century, all stars, and I’m probably missing some, but in my opinion even as much as I love AKL and Geyser Point, if I could choose a resort to stay at it would be Grand Floridian Villas unless we weren’t going to go into the parks, then it would be Animal Kingdom Lodge. For what it’s worth. MO
So funny thing is one of your awesome pictures of Grand Floridian Villas Lobby with those playful penguins frolicking in the fountain made me book a Studio Villa in 2019 through DVC. I first had to figure out where it was since I go to WDW lots and spend time at GF eating, or looking at Easter Eggs, Gingerbread House etc, but had never stayed there. My sister loves Mary Poppins and I decided to book there and do a surprise birthday trip for her. She is a big Disneyland fan and a bit of a snob when it comes to WDW even though she had never been. Pandemic hit, never thought we would make it but we not only ended staying in that magical, oh so convenient location, but were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a one bedroom villa. Surprised her and myself, for sure and now I’m not sure I can ever outdo myself again. Even though we couldn’t do everything in the parks, there were no crowds and it couldn’t have been more magical. After being there the day they closed the parks in March for my sons Star Wars birthday trip and doing Star Wars so easily and every single ride every single day with no crowds, to the awesome stay at GF Villas, I’m not sure I will have have such a great time there again. I know 2020 sucks, but it was great for my 2 epic trips! Thanks for the photo!!!!
These are pretty accurate. I am on team Animal Kingdom Lodge for sure, so it would be my #1. I am perfectly happy getting Sana’a bread service to go and eating it on my balcony, so the dining part doesn’t bother me too much right now, although I really miss those options. I would be interested to see your 1 bedroom rankings. We mostly book studios, but we have started venturing into some larger rooms for our longer stays and I don’t know as much about those room. I imagine that the resorts with the extra bathrooms are going to take the top spots, but I am curious to hear what you think.
Having just returned from a bunch of DVC resorts I must say I would avoid Jambo at all costs! Stopping by to see it would be fine. I think it’s criminal Disney is even allowing it to be open being there there is no food there. Resort is beautiful but it’s essentially closed. Traveling w kids quick service is crucial, and having to walk to kidani is really not fair to Jambo
Love the list, just not the order…….The Points chart at GF puts it halfway down my list…….Both Monorail DVC resorts offer close enough or better amenities for way fewer points……….Also, kids don’t seem to appreciate the GF theming as much as the other resorts……plus, having the Contemporary and all it has to offer made BLT a favorite
I’m one of those that would rank OKW near or at the top. Granted it’s our home resort, but I love that it’s spread out. I also like that Olivia’s Cafe is an unrealized hidden gem. The food is great, the service is wonderful….but then again, we stay at OKW enough and eat here often enough we know the people that work there. As beautiful as the villas at the Poly are, I’d rank them near the bottom for one reason only….cost. The amount of points it requires to stay there are so high that hardly anyone can afford to stay there more than one night, if at all.
Tom….but go ahead, keep ranking OKW there. That means I can nearly always get availability there.
I’ve read this ranking several times over the years and now that we own at the Polynesian, I can agree that it is a wonderful resort and is in the very top of tier of all WDW resorts. But I think you (Tom) may have an opportunity for another ranking based on “type of vacation stay” a DVC owner or renter is likely to take: park centered and “on the go” verses resort centered focused more on relaxing, shopping and dining. The park centered would be for those up early to the parks and back late from them every day; go go go types. The resort centered would be for those who want to relax, have a few meals in their unit, swim, go golfing or shopping, while also throwing in a few evenings or mornings at the parks, but not necessarily everyday. Given that you have stayed at all of the resorts and know a lot about them this could be a cool analysis as I think this ranking is more for a vacationer staying in a studio hitting the parks every day. Some of the resorts like the #1 Polynesian feel over run from morning to night by non-guest due to the popularity of the restaurants, location on the monorail, and because people have a general curiosity about the resort and want to visit to check it out. The lack of 1 and 2-bedroom options would lower it in a “DVC ranking” for the very reason that for many, DVC is about being able to make the resort a “home” for your family vacation, hence the bedrooms, washer and dryer, and full kitchens. For many, DVC is about having that “home away from home”. A ranking of all resorts (studios only) for what would be describe as “hotel type guest” and a separate ranking of just DVC resorts for what DVC is intended would be really interesting. For instance, “Sarah doesn’t like how spread out OKW is”, and I wouldn’t either if I was a hotel guest at WDW for the first time with just my wife for 1-3 nights, park hopper tickets, and a refillable mug that requires a 15 minute walk to the hospitality house. I would not stay at OKW for that long weekend, park centered vacation.
Hello we go to Disney almost every year
I have been playing with the thought of becoming a DVC member, still not to sure . We still love staying at art of animation and all start movies.
To us they seemed more kid themed and we also get Meal plans and park tickets to go with the room as a package.
Anyone else come across this issue?
Do not buy DVC if you are happy at that level. The cost would dramatically go up for a trip and sounds like you have a good level. I love DVC but it is pricey and really worth it for premium location or true resort desirable features.
Tom,
I agree with most of your list, however, like a few others, I believe you should at least switch SSR and OKW. Proximity to DS alone elevates SSR. Plus, the new renovations are beautiful. My wife and I stayed at OKW one time and promised each other never again. I’m big on a hotel’s lobby and OKW has no draw for me at all. Speaking of lobbies, I also believe this would be the reason to elevate WL over the Poly. We just stayed at WL again this Christmas – what an amazing, cozy, well themed place to be not just at Christmas time, but rather anytime. We also stayed at the Poly recently as well. Although I agree a nice hotel, the lobby is just too busy! Too many people, too loud, not a great spot to just hang out as We can in WL. Just sharing my opinion.
He actually did. SSR is #9, OKW is #10
This is so funny because we bought into Polynesian and love Saratoga Springs. We find the rooms at Polynesian to small. We like space and go for one bedrooms. We also love the gym at Saratoga Springs as well as the Artists Palette. They have a great Saratoga salad and a yummy ham and cheese sandwich. Actually, I love most of the food there. That is a hard thing to find at Disney World….food you love.
I agree with you that the food at Saratoga Springs is surprisingly good and under-appreciated.
Our perspective in these rankings is based almost entirely on studios, as that’s what we primarily book (although we have stayed in all categories). So others with different preferences definitely could have different rankings. Always good to hear/have a range of opinions, so thanks for sharing! 🙂
Love this list, Tom, and thanks so much for the awesome work you do!
A few notes as I understand there’s a lot of YMMV in these rankings, so I hope it’s OK to offer a counterpoint.
As a few others have said, Poly is amazing for all the reasons you state, but the lack of 1-BR and 2-BR (and GVs for that matter… as the Bora Bora Bungalow is definitely NOT comparable) is a total deal breaker. For this reason, it drops to last place for me.
Also, Saratoga Springs is much more appealing to me personally than in reflected here, actually, for some of the downsides that you list. For ex, I personally enjoy the lighter theming, and the more adult nature of the theming that does exist. I love that there’s a very good (though not excellent) spa on site. And perhaps not “on site”, but the restaurant selection within walking distance – such as from Congress Park – is unparalleled due to Disney Springs. For these reasons, plus the new renos which really seem to improve functionality of the rooms (as well as thankfully moving away from grandma’s-place-in-the-country-decor) I put it above OKW and Poly, and likely the Riviera as well.
Final thought: love Kidani, it is our first home resort, but Lordy is it a HIKE after a day at the parks.
Thanks for sharing your perspective–it’s not just okay, it’s appreciated!
It’s definitely valuable for readers to see the pros & cons from the view of others, and my opinions/preferences are hardly the only valid view.
Honestly when we stay at AKL, we use a few extra bucks to take a Lyft to/from the parks (except for Animal Kingdom, of course).
Your list is spot on especially the Top 3 of Poly, WL, and AKL
Dec 2020 update. Location to MK and theming are my major criteria. I usually rent a car so proximity to EP, DHS, or AK are minor factors. Also, amounts of points, theming of pools, and restaurants are minor factors.
1. Poly – similar reasons to WL but edge over WL because of studio room size and closer to MK
2. WL – I love the theming and location
3. AKV – I love the theming but not as much as Poly or WL plus transportation to MK is incovenient
4. GF – best location but Top 3 theming is far better
(5 thru 8 are sorted by which themes i prefer the most)
5. BWV
6. OKW
7. SSR
8. BCV – Beach Club is low because I live near Cape Cod/Newport RI therefore the theme lacks vacation escapism of the prior 7 resorts
9. Riviera – theming is boring although I liked the character breakfast
10. BLT – i know location is great but i dislike the theming too much
Hey Tom,
You may need to edit the commentary on the Poly. You say that “Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are the newest Disney Vacation Club resort at Walt Disney World, with a laid back South Pacific theme near the Magic Kingdom.”
I believe Copper Creek and Riviera are newer.
You are correct–don’t know how I missed that when updating. Thanks!
Hi Tom! I have read and appreciated all your blogs for the past 2 years!!! We love Disney and I have learned so much from reading your insights. If we want to visit Disney World in 2021 before the 50th anniversary crowds come, would the beginning of May 2021 be a good time for lighter crowds? We would like to rent dvc points to stay at animal kingdom. And possibly split stay that with pop century for use of the new Skyliner. What are your thoughts? I would so appreciate your advice. Thanks.
I feel like you’re missing a big con for the Poly – no 1 bedroom option. As somebody who is traveling with a small child (hopefully 2 in the future) we really prefer 1 bedrooms as we can put our son to bed and relax in the living area. As he gets older and moves out of the crib and onto the pull out in the living room we can put him to bed and still enjoy television in our room. The bungalows are off the charts in terms of points so for us and many others Poly really only offers a studio option. We may try them in the future for a few nights of a split stay when our kids are older and have the same bedtime as us but for now it’s a no-go for us.
Agree 100%. We would love to stay at Poly at least one time (We have tried various resorts). One time I decided to save points and we got a studio for the 4 of us. Not again, it didn’t feel like we were staying at DVC but at a Disney Hotel. We went back to 1 bedroom. We bought into DVC to have a condo at Disney to relax when we were not at the parks plus I make breakfast and snacks.
We LOVE Animal Kingdom with the rooms with the EXTRA bathroom. We only ever found that at AK and Bay Lake. We had a 2 bedroom at the Bay Lake Towers and the bedroom with 2 beds seemed larger than some and the livingroom seemed the largest of any we stayed at other than OKW. (that trip we had 7 people and were not crowded) I wish the crescent lake resorts had them. We have stayed at AK twice but the lack of being able to walk to any parks keeps us from going back AND we like having the quiet pool!
I love that folks aways say you can walk to Epcot from BW and BC but say boat for Studios. We always walk to studios especially from BW.
The Boardwalk Inn is one resort we’ve never stayed at and probably never will because of it’s pool. I know some like that creepy clown, but we don’t. It’s creepy. And my granddaughter loves resorts with slides, but she said she’s not going on a slide that takes you inside the clown’s head and spits you out of his mouth. She keeps looking for red balloons in the photos of the Boardwalk Inn. We also don’t like that it doesn’t have a proper food court. If you’re eating quick service, you’re getting it to go.
Old Key West is one I would have liked to try, but they don’t have elevators. That makes it an impossible resort to stay at if you can’t walk up stairs. You can request a ground floor, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get one, and that scares me.
Bay Lake Towers is another one we’d like to stay at, but I’m hesitant to try. It looks like an awfully long walkway from the Contemporary to Bay Lake Towers. I can barely walk when we get back from the parks. I’m not sure I’d be up to adding that to my mileage for the day. Wish it wasn’t so detached from the Contemporary.
We loved Saratoga Springs. The theming may be lacking, but I didn’t find that we really missed it. We love Disney Springs, so it was nice to be so close to it. Kids liked the pool there, too. The quick service food court wasn’t anything to write home about, though.
Boardwalks pool and hot tub are very dated. They need to close it down in the cooler months and update everything. The hot tub is small and doesn’t hold a lot of water or people. The pool is nothing special. The pool bar has decent quick service food and anyone on the boardwalk does.
The walk from BLT to the Contemporary is very short. There’s a covered walkway that brings you right to the concourse or you can walk from the main entrance which is a bit longer.
Bay Lake Tower is a favorite and the walks are not bad at all, especially compared to the resorts with multiple buildings.
The Boardwalk Inn does not have a creepy clown pool. That’s the Boardwalk Villas.
So, you might actually like a stay at the Inn, which could be described by some as ‘sleepy’, not creepy!
Also, select buildings at Old Key West do have elevators, but you may have to book an accessible room, I’m not exactly sure.
I noticed that there rarely, if every, any comments on the community center. Being an original Vacation Club owner, I have found my children, and now my grandchildren love the community centers, especially Old Key West’s. Thus, OKW, remains on the top of our list.
What I don’t prefer about the OKW is the location of the ice machines, etc. Too far to walk just for ice. I hope when they refurbished the rooms , they added ice machines to eat complex so you wouldn’t have to walk to the office or the closest quiet pool. the resort in general is too spread out to me, just like the Caribbean Resort. Saratoga at least is spread out, but the walk is nicer and everything is more open and grassy.
We get ice from the refrigerator in our rooms.
I guess I should have read and commented a long time ago, as the most recent comment before mine was over a year ago. Nevertheless… I find no fault with Tom’s assessments, but I’d definitely rank things differently. All of this stuff is, of course, personal preference. I have not yet experienced Beach Club, Animal Kingdom or any of the Wilderness facilities, but I’ve stayed at least once everywhere else. My personal favorite is Saratoga Springs, It’s our DVC home, for reasons similar to Tom’s, but it is just so darned comfortable. I’m originally from the north, and it does feel so much like a “resort” that city folks would flock to in the summer to get away from the heat and challenges of the city. I love the decor and the way the grounds are set up. The pool is wonderful, and it is SO easy to get to Disney Springs by boat or a pleasant walk. I don;t use the bus system, but it seems that there are buses headed everywhere all of the time. I really want to try AK soon, but it seems so far away from everything else at WDW – still we’ll do it this year or next. (I make three or four visits a year). Everyone else in my family loves the boardwalk, and my wife and I do enjoy the Poly, but down deep inside, Saratoga Springs really is my WDW home.
I do love reading your blogs, Tom, and your photography is of a quality to which I aspire. Keep up the great work.
We are relatively new to DVC but not to staying on Disney property. Our home base is Poly and I have to say that I do love it. The theming fits perfectly, the studios are spacious including a twin pulldown bed, and they have an extra bathroom! Even though we are just a family of four it was much easier getting ready with the extra bathroom and the sleeping arrangements were much better. On top of that the property is just beautiful, staff is friendly, dining is top notch, and I may be a bit swayed by the Dole Whip on property.
We stayed in AK over the Easter weekend and while our kids loved opening the sliding door and seeing animals right there we all actually hated the amount of walking we needed to take to get to the lobby, drink machines (especially when they are out of order on 3 floors), or just to get back and forth to the pool. That being said the pool closest to us (Kindani?) was well fun and the staff games with kids were fantastic. We didn’t have a chance to to utilize the game or movie rooms as they were closed each time we attempted to go. I wish that had transportation between both resorts though via pedi cab or golf cart:). Those long hallways of nothing to get back and forth in the building were really the biggest distractor for us.
We have also enjoyed an overnight in Bay Lake but found the pool, dining, etc not that thrilling for the kiddos.
We are curious to try the other locations.
Completely agree with the ranking, you have done a very nice job. Complete analysis of the Disney vacation club resort to give such a wonderful information. Thank you so much for the sharing…!!!
Regards,
ChoukiDhani Team. [choukidhani.com]
This site has excellent advice. As the article says, this is very subjective. I too love Old Key West, and that will only become very much better as the rooms are totally refurbished in 2017/2018. I love walking as I have a desk job. Saratoga has also massively shot up the rankings for us with Disney Springs. The restaurants here are now brilliant and it is a large selection right on your doorstep- also many are better value than at resorts and hotels. For me I find Grand FloridIan a little stuffy. Also I am probably in a minority but would prefer ambling over to DS from Saratoga to eat on an evening than having a more limited choice on a very busy and sometimes broken down monorail. I fancy trying AK as the rooms are refurbished and the 1 beds have 2 bathrooms, as well as the unique resort ambience. I like the Bay Lake location and 1 beds are v nice, but it’s a bit utilitarian. As the article says they are very different which is a good thing as you can have very different vacations.