The Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts at Walt Disney World
Where to Stay Resort Features by Price Resort Kid Appeal Large Families
Large Family Value Prices Large Family Deluxe Spaces Beds/Sleeping Spaces
OVERVIEW: THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS
The Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts at Walt Disney World are time-share resorts whose rooms can also be reserved by anyone like any other Disney World resort hotel rooms.
Moreover, the rooms at these resorts can also be gained (usually at a huge cost saving) by privately renting “points” from Disney Vacation Club members on websites like SellMyTimeshareNOW.com, a sponsor of this site. See this for how.
For most first time family visitors, the Disney Vacation Club Resorts are worth considering only under a few circumstances:
- Large families—especially those aimed at a Deluxe property—who are not willing to bet on actually getting connecting rooms. (You can request connecting rooms at WDW, but getting them is not guaranteed.) See this for more on large families. “Villas” which can sleep 8, 9 and 12 people are available.
- Families aimed at a deluxe hotel, but who can only pull it off through the cost savings of renting DVC points. See this for more on renting DVC points
- Families who for one reason or another have targeted a resort with which a DVC property is paired, find it is sold out, but can get into the DVC resort
- People who already are DVC owners
For other first-time visitors looking for deluxe lodging, the Polynesian remains the best choice. No DVC property has the combination of kid appeal and convenience that the Polynesian presents.
See this for more on where to stay, this for more on Walt Disney World resorts ranked by kid appeal, and this for Walt Disney World resorts ranked by convenience.
THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS
There are currently 7 DVC resorts at Walt Disney World.
DVC Resorts include five paired with regular resorts, and two standalone DVC resorts.
The paired resorts are the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, the Animal Kingdom (Lodge) Villas, the Beach Club Villas, and the Boardwalk Villas, each paired with the regular resort of similar name, sharing services, restaurants, pools, transportation, etc., and having the same convenience and kid appeal as the regular resort.
The two stand-alone resorts are Disney’s Old Key West Resort, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. The “Treehouses” are a separate section of Saratoga Springs.
Because the two sets of resorts at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs are so different, for review and ranking purposes I count a total of nine resorts.
Their overall ranking for first time family visitors is as follows:
- The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, main resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Treehouse Villas area
There’s variability within these overall rankings by room type–click the reviews themselves for what’s what.
DVC RESORT ROOM OPTIONS: STUDIOS THROUGH GRAND VILLAS
All DVC resorts have three room types: Studios, One Bedroom Villas, and Two Bedroom Villas.
In addition, most DVC resorts also have a fourth room type, Grand Villas (the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club Villas do not have Grand Villas).
The Treehouses section at Saratoga Springs offers a unique fifth room type, a three bedroom layout that sleeps 9.
Studio rooms sleep 4 (either in two queens, or a queen and a couch that folds out into a full size bed) and are similar to regular deluxe hotel rooms with the exception of having a microwave and (usually) a little more space. For first time family visitors they are without merit except under two circumstances:
- as a backup means of getting into a resort whose normal rooms are sold out, or
- for getting a major price break compared to the regular rooms at that resort by successfully renting points from a DVC member to pay for the room.
This material continues here.
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12 comments
Hello,
Thanks for the great information on this site.
There is one scenario that you left out wherein first-time WDW visitors are best served to stay at DVC properties: DVC members! I am a DVC member from California. We typically spend our points at the Grand Californian Villas at Disneyland (or, more precisely, Disney California Adventure Park). I have already put a significant capital investment into DVC with the expectation that I will realize significant savings in my hotel costs, especially when staying at DVC properties. Thus, I am not going to go to WDW and spend cash on hotel.
Just another perspective…
Best regards,
Dave Krimsley
Dave you are absolutely right! Will change in a minute…and I love the Grand Californian…
Dave… we are not first timers to Disney, but not frequent visitors either. We are leaning toward the Villas (Beach Club & Old Key West are the favorites so far.). We will probably be getting 3 villas. My family of 3 will room in a two bedroom with my brother in law and his family of 4. (7 of us total – 3 kids ages 15, 11, 9). The second villa would also be a two bedroom for friends who have 6 total in their family (all college age or older). The final villa leads us to my question. It will be for my parents who are 80 and want to go to Disney World “one more time” (mom was just diagnosed with the early stages of cancer). The cancellation policy looks good in case they can’t go. They won’t spend as much time in the parks as we will….they like to just sit outside and take in scenery and fresh air. (but they will go to the parks some…). Which Resort would you reccommend for them? They love the one bedroom units. If we don’t do Villas, then what resort would be best? (all of us in our own rooms of course.). We have stayed in Pop Century, French Quarter and off site. Thanks for any advice.
Forgot to mention that your site is one of the best out there with the floor plans of the resorts! This site is not only good for first timers…but returnees too!
John, Villas are a great–though expensive–solution. I’d avoid OKW with the group you describe, though, as only 3 of the buildings there have elevators, which may be an issue for your parents–see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/17/review-disneys-old-key-west-resort/
Instead I’d go with savanna view rooms at either Kidani Village or Jambo House villas. This will give the best views to the older ones…see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/31/review-kidani-village-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/ and http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/08/24/review-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas-jambo-house/
Picking a less expensive alternative is messed up by the group of 6, as there aren’t many options for a group that size that creates an affordable alternative for the rest. The best choice I can think of is three regular rooms at Wilderness Lodge for you, your BIL, and your parents, plus a “Deluxe Room” for the family of 6. See this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/25/review-disneys-wilderness-lodge/ for the Lodge overall and the 4 person rooms, and for the 6-person room see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/29/review-deluxe-rooms-at-disneys-wilderness-lodge/
Thanks John! And feel free to tell your 1,000 closest friends about it
Awesome website!!! I think I’ve seen just about all of them by now…and this one is by far the most helpful! Our family of four is returning to WDW in January and we usually stay at OKW, mainly for the extra space, kitchen and washer/dryer. My twins are six years old though and you’ve really made me consider Polynesian for the kid appeal and monorail. There are no washer/dryers there though, correct? I’d love to see/hear a little more about your opinions on the villas and how they compare. Thanks!!!
Hi Katie and thanks!
Yup, no washer/dryer in the room, but there is a building at Poly with washers and dryers in it for guest use.
You have, in effect, spoiled yourself with the 1BRs, (I’ve done this to my own family!) so Poly, frankly, may be a let down. There’s some one-bedroom villas with great kid appeal at WL and AKL, so those might be a better choice!
Or if it’s the monorail that’s most fun to think about, then go with BLT…though it has little kid appeal… see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/picking-your-resort-based-on-appeal-to-kids/
Hi,
I need some advice. We will be traveling to WDW in 10/13. My family of 5 has always at pop century on previous visits. This time my kids ages will put us over the occupancy limit (no one in a crib). What would be the best option for us? Renting points, or some other option? We may be traveling with my parents and in-laws (they would haves seater rooms). We prefer to stay on property, i have enough to do…
Hi, the least expensive option on site is a 5 person room at POR Riverside. Its Alligator Bayou rooms sleep 5, 4 in two queens in the fight in a fold-down bed. For details and other options, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/15/lower-priced-options-for-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/
Hi Dave, need some advice. Looking to travel to WDW for first time this summer. Will be taking wife and 3 kids ages 1, 4 and 6. We have the option of staying at a Disney Vacation Club property but not sure if I should go with that option over a Disney Resort like the Polynesian. The convenience for me and my wife is important, but equally as important is ensuring my kids have a great time. What would you recommend? Thanks in advance.
Sonny, with kids that age, the only DVC resort with great convenience to MK, which is what you should focus on, is Bay Lake Tower–see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/09/13/review-bay-lake-tower-at-disneys-contemporary-resort/ Not quite as convenient, but with much better kid appeal, is the DVC Villas at the Wilderness Lodge–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/02/07/review-the-villas-at-disneys-wilderness-lodge/
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