Favorite WDW DVC Resorts Ranked

Love this idea! Below are my rankings. 😊

1. BWV** - Home resort and our first stay (lots of sentimental value)

2. PVB** - Second home resort and love the island tower vibe

3. AKV* - Love the theme and dining options

4. VGF* - Love the theme and dining, albeit slightly less than AKV

5. BCV - Proximity to Epcot and the theme, although seems near impossible to get into

6. RIV - Theming, but location less ideal than BWV and BCV

7. BLT - Overall resort theme seems lackluster, but new rooms seem to be a major upgrade

8. CCV - Not as ideal location, although overall vibe seems great for a laid back trip

9. BRV - Same as above, but prefer theme of CCV rooms more

10. OKW - Love the Key West theme and the larger rooms, but location does not feel deluxe

11. SSR - We’re not Disney Springs people, so the major perk of staying here doesn’t appeal to us

12. CFW - While the cabins are beautiful, the added expense of needing a golf cart or rental car take away the value here

FUN!!!! Here are mine...

1. OKW - best vibes!

2. POLY - so much fun just to hang there

3. SSR - we are definitely Disney Springs people

4. BWV - balconies with a view!

5. RIV - haven't stayed there yet but VERY high on the list to do so soon!

6. AKV - such GREAT food and drink options!

7. BRV - definitely want to try!!! Geyser Point is awesome!

8. BCV - so many family memories!

9. CCV - cabins look awesome, but holy cow the points

10. VGF - always seems insanely crowded, but cool stuff to see and do

11. CFW - not my thing

12. BLT - great spot, but pretty bland

1. RIV - Our favorite for style, restaurants, and skyliner

2. POLY - Love the theming and the new tower and bar puts it over the top

3. AKV - (caveat it has to be a Savannah view) but love to see animals from my balcony, Great bar at Jambo, theming is cool and different

4. BCV - I LOVE a lazy river and walking distance to EPCOT

5. BWV - My other favorite theming, I love that time period.

6. OKW - You just get the feel of it being the original resort from cast member treatment and spacious rooms

7. CCV - Favorite place to stay at Christmas and love Geyser Point

8. BRV - Our backup to CCV or if you want a quieter vibe

9. BLT - need some upgrades to lobby areas but you can watch fireworks from your room with music which is awesome, and dining

10. SSR - If the Turf Club gets a good renovation this would be much higher on my list

11. VGF - I just never have a good vibe there, Enchated Rose is cool but usually super hard to get a seat

12. CFW - Not an outdoors person

I only rated the resorts I’ve stayed at!

1. Polynesian- love the theming and the food, I think this report has the best options for transportation

2. Riviera- close second, I love this for a laid back trip, food is just so good! I love Bar Riva

3. Beach Club- I wish the rooms were a little better but the resort is great, although Beach Club Marketplace needs a food revamp

4. Wilderness Lodge- not my vibe when I go to Florida but doesn’t miss the mark in any categories I think it’s a hidden gem

5. Grand Floridian- love the resort but the food options aren’t toddler friendly and that’s my stage of life!

6. Saratoga- love the rooms and the walk to Disney springs, very awesome pools

7. Old Key West- needs room refresh in the studios and elevators lol

Ranking only the resorts we have stayed at!

1. Riv - Each stay makes me enjoy this property even more. I wish we had more points here. So peaceful, great CM's, great dining (banana bread) and the Skyliner!

2. VGF - Tough choice between Riv and VGF but Riv wins because of how crowded VGF gets. I love the OG VGF building. We bought as soon as the resort went on sale and added on a few times throughout the years. I love the large rooms and the entire resort feel. Also love being able to walk to MK and the Poly/TTC

3. Beach Club - Truthfully, the rooms here are not the greatest, but with the great point charts and walking distance to EPCOT and HS plus the pool make this a favorite resort. I love the running route.

4. BLT - Would be higher if you could walk to Poly/TTC from here. I love the rooms and short walk to MK though. I wish they had a nicer pool area and running trail outside.

5. Poly - I love the resort, the theme is fantastic. Every time we stay here reminds me of why I do no own points here. Our tower stay had a lot of weird noises coming through the ventilation system. The original longhouses are very worn even with newly applied makeup but paper-thin walls. How I love being at the resort though, Wailulu is amazing. Trader Sams is a lot of fun. Just walking/running through the grounds is great. Basically, the Poly is like Chicago to me; love to visit but not live there. Top 5 are very close - would never be disappointed at all to stay at any of these resorts.

6. Boardwalk - Great location, not so great rooms. Would be much better if ample hills and Big River Grille were still around. Haven't been to Cake Bake but was not a huge fan of ESPN.

7. SSR - Love the calm at this resort, do not love having to bus to every park though. Another resort we had great CM interactions at. Being so close to Disney Springs is great.

8. BRV - Only one stay here and did not think much of the rooms. Being able to use the boat to get to MK also is not a plus with how long it takes unless you get lucky with the timing. The grounds and dining options are great. Geyser Point is a huge stand out!

9. AKL Kidani - We had a great stay here summer of 2020 when it just reopened but since then it went downhill fast. Less animals roaming around (at least during out stays), rooms were awful (haven't stayed since the refurb), the gym's A/C was not working, so it was a sauna inside. I let them know at the front desk and they said they'd report it, just kind of shrugged like they did not care. During our entire stay, they never had it fixed our posted anything about it, building was still open. Had to use Jambo House's gym. I am very active but those hallways!! Definitely can see us trying it again in the future especially since the refurb but hoping they have better CM's. Love the dining options here. Still hoping the Skyliner makes a route to this resort eventually.

Ranking? So hard. But choices must be made.

So here are mine, with both the abbreviation and the full name for new forum guests who haven’t memorized the secret code book:

1)        CCV/Copper Creek ** – Fell in love with Wilderness Lodge when the hotel first opened in 1994. I was too poor to buy in at Boulder Ridge (originally called Villas At Wilderness Lodge). Delighted to purchase when Copper Creek was announced. Boating to and from Magic Kingdom is fun. CCV’s Cascade Cabins are probably the most luxurious glamping accommodations anywhere in the world, especially during the Christmas holiday décor season.

2)        SSR/ Saratoga Springs Resort (and Spa…but alas, no spa..) ** – Sentimental favorite. My first DVC purchase in 2006. Say what you will about “Florida apartment complex” vibes, it’s a peaceful and quiet retreat from the frenzy of the parks. Best morning walk pathways in DVC. And just minutes away from an infinite range of food and entertainment at Disney Springs while others are fighting for a space on the 78th floor of some fruity parking garage. First of the really nice refurbishments. Great point chart, too. I miss the spa. Heck, I miss the resort’s predecessor: Disney Institute. Let’s campaign for more performances in that beautiful but rarely used concert auditorium just outside SSR's check-in lobby.

3)        BLT/Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary ** - This one gets a lot of hate. too. But ever since a picture of the Monorail going through the A-frame hotel hit my 6th grade Weekly Reader, this resort has held a special place in my heart. BLT is my go-to for first time stays hosting family and friends.  Its theme park views is an amazing way to close out the night with Magic Kingdom fireworks from the comfort of your own balcony , but without the crowded chaos of Main Street. Quick, easy access from Magic Kingdom has saved untold numbers of lives for tired adults with small kiddos nearing meltdown.

4)        AUL/Aulani – Joe Rhode needs to come back and Imagineer more DVC resorts. Aulani’s level of detail, friendly cast members, and authenticity is incredible. I live in the lazy river most of the morning, then come back to chin-and-elbows-on-the-rail relaxing in the infinity spa at sunset. If I didn’t own a Hilton Grand Vacation timeshare on a better island – Big Island – Aulani would probably rank higher in my list.

5)        VDH/ Villas at Disneyland Hotel ** - Mid Century Modern décor vibes remind me of watching Walt on TV Sunday nights after church. VDH is a favorite time-zone acclimation stopover on my annual trip to Hawaii. And I like that my DVC discount works on counter service dining in those parks, too (WDW are you listening?). Yes, I hate the transient tax. Yes, VGC/ Villas at Grand Californian would be more convenient…but harder to book. But…hey…VDH is attached to the original Disney-themed hotel. No DVC resort has more Disney history behind it.

6)        RIV/Riviera Resort – tasteful continental theming, rare family pictures of Walt in the hallway off the lobby, nifty Skyliner access, and Topolinos. Let’s keep the secret about how nice EPCOT’s fireworks can be from RIV’s lower-points Resort View rooms.

7)        BWV/BoardWalk Villas – Near Flying Fish (a dining must do), easy walking or boating distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and a great home base for interesting walks morning or evening to wind down after a busy park day. Great point chart, too.

8)        VB/Vero Beach Resort – Best for a chill, laid back beach vacation. Surprisingly nice – though limited – dining options.

9)        AK/Animal Kingdom Kidani and Jambo House – Jaw dropping Jambo House lobby, courtesy of the same architect who designed Wilderness Lodge and Grand California. Some of the most accessible yet exotic dining options on property. Restful. And the stars of this show: the resident animals.

I’ve been blessed to stay at all the other DVC properties except Cabins at Fort Wilderness and Hilton Head. All nice. Very nice. But the ones above are tops of my list.

** Denote my Home Resorts, so yes, I’ll be unashamedly biased in favor of these

1. CCV - it was our first home resort and our home away from home. Love the dining and lounges and it's impossible to beat at Christmas

2. BWV - our other WDW home resort - love the Crescent Lake location and all of the dining options in neighboring hotels - falls to second due to the lack of a real QS (and for the love of God find something to replace everything they have closed!)

3. BRV - never stayed there but it's still my beloved Wilderness Lodge.

4. AKV - Animals!! and great dining options

5. Poly - the new tower is a great addition as we prefer 1 or 2 BR's - love the vibe, lounges, dining and location though the crowds can be a bit much

6. BCV - as note above, Crescent Lake is hard to beat - prefer the views at our beloved BWV but Stormalong Bay is pretty terrific

7. BLT - walk to MK is so easy and a TPV room is fun - still the constant walk back and forth to the Contemporary for literally everything gets old

8. Riv - beautiful resort and love the Skyliner (though prefer Crescent Lake for foot or boat access to EP and HS) - point chart is rough, but nice dining options

9. GFV - great dining options but the vibe is just not for us - crazy busy in the public areas as well

10. CFW - never stayed here - Cabins look nice but being so spread out is a negative

11. SSR - Too spread out, not a fan of internal bus loops but elevators puts it over the next one

12. OKV - Again, too spread out and lack of elevators in most buildings is a bummer

If we don't limit this to WDW I'd put Aulani at #2 (only because it's so far away), and HHI tied for 1st - it's our happy place. GCV would probably rank just below Aulani. We're staying at VDH this fall, so we'll see where it falls.

OKW at #1? Love it since we’re going there in a couple months for the first time lol. Wouldn’t be mad if we like it more than AKV. Actually, that would be awesome!

1. Boardwalk- so many reasons, too many to list for me

2. Riviera- food is great and resort is beautiful

3. Grand Floridian- our first on property stay, will always have our hearts. Probably our next add on.

4.Polynesian- great location, good food.

5.Beach Club-location is great. Don’t care for much else

This is where we haven’t stayed but would like to in order:

6.CCV/BRV- beautiful resort with great dining. Super relaxing atmosphere. Will likely be looking for 7 month availability here for our Feb 2027 stay

7.BLT- would love a theme park view stay here. Other than that, the contemporary doesn’t excite us much

8.SSR- proximity to Disney Springs is great. Availability is always solid, good point charts

9.OKW- boat transportation to DS, original dvc resort. Low point charts

10. CFW- just not really interested in spending time here

1. BLT

2. Grand Floridian

3. Poly

4. Riviera

5. Boardwalk

6. Copper Creek

7. Beach Club

8. Animal Kingdom Lodge

9. OKW

10. Saratoga

11. Cabins at FW

1. Grand Californian

2. Aulani

3. Grand Floridian

4. Polynesian

5. Disneyland Hotel

6. Boardwalk

7. Beach Club

8. Riveria

9. Animal Kingdom

10. Copper Creek/ Boulder Ridge

11. Bay Lake Tower

12. Old Key West

13. Saratoga Springs

14. Hilton Head/Vero Beach

15. Cabins

1. BCV**- 1st deluxe we stayed and were hooked

2. RIV**- Love the rooms, food and Skyliner

3. CCV*- Wish we owned here. Vibe is ❤️

4. VGF**- location to MK mostly

5. AKL - Next on our list to stay at

6. BWV*- location is great..room was musty and far, far away

7. Poly- love the food and would like to stay in the towers

8. CFW - Looks relaxing and fun

9. SSR - Would try

10. OKW - too big but point chart looks great

11. BLT*- Felt like a nice concrete dorm room

1. RIV - great theme, awesome rooms, the place always feels immaculate, skyliner access, good dining.

2. Saratoga - best point values, super relaxing and quiet, feature pool is underrated, dining is not great, busses are not great.

3. OKW - pretty much the same notes as SSR. Falls a spot below due to the rooms and lack of elevators in most buildings. Hard to beat 8-10 points a night for a studio though.

4. Jambo House - The savanna view rooms are delightful, the lobby is incredible, dining is great, pool area is often overlooked for some reason, bus transportation seems better here with no sharing busses(other than kidani), the rooms are a big knock against it at the moment. I could see this one being top 2 for me after the refurb is done.

5. BCV - The best location on property, I didn’t love the rooms but I haven’t stayed since the last refurb, no real QS restaurant to speak of, pool is nice if not a tad overrated.

6. CCV - I love WL, the theming is second only to Jambo IMO, but the rooms are too small here, transportation to the parks is slow, and the pool area can be super noisy when your trying to catch an afternoon nap. I prefer to visit rather than stay here.

7. Boardwalk- Is it walking distance to Epcot and DHS? Yes. Is it a pleasant walk to Epcot and DHS? Probably not. It seems I spend the first two days of any stay here trying to locate my room. The boardwalk area is a shell of its former self. I’ve stayed here three times. I want to love it, but I just don’t.

8. Disneyland Hotel - This would be top five without the tax. The rooms are nice, the grounds are awesome, the staff is incredible. Having to pay that tax wipes all of those perks out, especially since they’ve gutted all onsite perks for Disneyland. I can get a room on Harbor that’s closer to the front gate for the same price, and use my DVC points for a stay at WDW or the beaches. It’s a one and done for us.

I have yet to stay DVC for Grand Floridian, Contemporary, or Poly. I have stays at all three booked for this summer, and have plans for Aulani in 2027 so my rankings will be changing soon.

I will never understand why people would rather cross a street on Harbor and pay a TOT at a hotel vs staying at VDH with points. One is a hotel that requires you to leave a protected bubble and cross a major street and the other is a continuation of a themed experience.

Hey…. easier for me to get a table at Trader Sam’s or Palm Breeze…..

1 Animal Kingdom Lodge - We love the Savana and the restaurants. Our first resale property.

2 Saratoga Springs - We love the proximity to Disney Springs.

3 Bay Lake Towers - We love to monorail hop and be able to walk home from Magic Kingdom.

4 Riviera - We love the theme and the Skyliner

5 Old Key West - Very relaxing but the Bus was an experience

6 Polynesian - We love the resort but haven't tried the Towers yet.

7 Boardwalk - On our stay here we seemed to walk forever to find our room and it wasn't till the end of our trip we

located all the different elevators

8 Grand Floridian never stayed

9 Beach Club never stayed

10 Copper Creek never stayed

I get your point, but it’s just not a great use of my DVC points. I earn tons of Hyatt points through work expenses, so I usually pay very little—or nothing at all—for a stay at the Hyatt House on Harbor. It has great rooms and free breakfast, and it doesn’t feel like a lesser experience at all. Walking down Harbor doesn’t feel any more dangerous than most things I do on a daily basis. That said, I still really enjoyed my stay at DLH and would definitely consider staying there again under the right circumstances!

You mentioned a number of things you liked about the Disneyland Hotel and then said the TOT “wipes out all of those perks”.

It sounds like it’s not as much of a “TOT” thing as it is another option is “free” thing.

Rating the places we have stayed:

1. CFW**- We love the cabins and everything the campground has to offer. We are a (RV) camping family. We love driving a golf cart around and there are so many fun activities to do. I wish there was a washer and dryer in the cabin though.

2. AKL*- Best food by far! The animals! Lots of activities (ie: community hall, basketball court, etc.)

3. BWV*- Love the location, community hall, and energy of the boardwalk at night

4. CCV/BRV*- The food and vibe

5. VGF*- Beautiful and I think it is the best location for MK

6. BLT*- Love the views and architecture of the Contemporary

Rating where I've stayed:

1. Polynesian - My all time favorite resort! From the moment I walk over that bridge with the waterfalls, hear the music and smell that lobby I feel like a weight has been taken off my shoulders! It truly feels like home. Trader Sam's, Tambu Lounge, Kona Cafe, Ohana and Wailulu Grill are all high on my list. Access to the monorail and the boats and the incredible view of the castle fireworks put it over the top. One of my all time silly favorites goes by every night, the electrical water pagent! One of my earliest memories as a kid visiting with my Mom.

2. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House - We loved the dining there. The lobby is stunning and one of the best views in resort property. We loved watching the animals from our savannah view room.

3. The Grand Californian - Another stunner of a lobby and the access into California Adventure is pretty awesome.

4. Saratoga Springs - Definitely lowest on my short list of DVC stays. The rooms were nice and large and the walk to Disney Springs was great but the "resort" just feels like a Florida condo park to me. The Turf Club had a pretty great dinner too. Since my mother lives in the real Saratoga Springs, NY the theming just feels minimal and unimpressive to me.

Rating where I'd LOVE to stay:

1. Aulani - Visited on a family trip to Hawaii but couldn't stay there. Joe Rhode did an incredible job theming it! The lobby and that view down to the water are incredible!

2. The Grand Floridian - The lobby and view of the lake are beautiful. I've gone to see the gingerbread house here at Christmas and look forward to trying the Bird Cage bar in the lobby.

3. Wilderness Lodge - ANOTHER amazing lobby! I've gone and had breakfast at the Whispering Canyon Cafe and loved it! I'd love to see it at Christmas with the tree.

4. Boardwalk - We visited and walked around from Epcot. The stroll along the boardwalk was so relaxing and the proximity to Epcot is fantastic!

5. Riviera Resort - We took the Skyliner over to check it out and walked around. I'd love to stay there and take advantage of the dining and Skyliner access.

1. Grand Floridian

2. Bay Lake Tower

3. Boulder Ridge

4. Copper Creek

5. Animal Kingdom Kidani

6. Animal Kingdom Jamboree

7. Old Key West

8. Boardwalk

9. Riviera

10. Cabins at Fort Wilderness

11. Beach Club

12. Polynesian

13. Saratoga Springs

A lot of these ratings are marginal - I could probably swap around any of the top 5 or 6 to be honest. I've followed the buy where you want to stay rule :)

Where I've stayed:

1. Beach Club Villas - Location Location Location, love the feel of the resort, Crescent Lake is my favorite place to stay, can walk to 2 theme parks - 2042 though

2. Villas at Grand Floridian - my favorite 1-bedroom, so many great things to do, can technically walk to MK even though its a little far. Best resort imho for holidays. Point heavy.

3. Villas at Grand Californian - Not a WDW resort, but the location is great and I love Disneyland - refurb was a disappointment, hopefully the 2nd refurb will fix it and maybe it will move up the list - only DVC resort with its own private entrance to a theme park, short walk to Disneyland Esplanade.

4. Bay Lake Tower - Shortest walk to MK, haven't stayed in a refurb room yet, maybe will bump up my rating after we stay in June

5. Boardwalk Villas - I wasn't the biggest fan of BWV pre-refurb but the refurb has made things a lot nicer - walk to your room can be far, hopefully over time the rooms don't start to smell musty again. Great transportation options and walk to 2 parks, entertainment on the boardwalk, Flying Fish is my favorite restaurant.

6. Polynesian - Island Tower is gorgeous imho, the Longhouses are also great. But it is really point heavy. Can't really walk to any parks.

7. Boulder Ridge Villas - The refurb is amazing, the walk to your room can be far though, boat access to MK can take awhile - buses for everything else.

8. Villas at Disneyland Hotel - rooms look great - but I worry about how they'll hold up because less than a year after opening the rooms had some significant wear and tear, seems like they used cheap materials, some awful room views though (my view was of the HVAC and it was loud enough I could hear it all night long), not every room has a balcony and having to pay taxes when you stay there stinks

9. Riviera - Rooms are nice, I'm not the biggest fan of the skyliner though and that is its primary form of transportation. Resale restrictions. Topolino's is great though!

10. Animal Kingdom Villas - Great resort, but I hate taking the bus - refurb rooms look great but haven't stayed to see a refurb room, Savannah views are cool but not something we spend a lot of time looking at

11. Saratoga Springs - refurb was great here, but still my resort of last resort. Bus is the only option to parks and depending on where you stay can be the last to be picked up, resort is very spread out.

Still need to stay at CCV, OKW, Cabins at Ft Wilderness in WDW as well as Aulani, HHI, VBR

1. Grand Floridian **

1. Beach Club **

2. Bay Lake

3. Boulder Ridge

4. Boardwalk

5. Polynesian

6. Riviera

** Own

Ranking Ones I have stayed at below thus far...

1. Riviera** - Never even went on property before we purchased, but we absolutely loved the vibe and quietness of the resort. The best meal I ever had on Disney was at Toppolino's Terrace

2. Boulder Ridge - Again resort had this quiet feel that our family loved.

3. Beach Club - Our very first DVC stay was here in a 2 Bedroom and all the things to do within walking distance was a favorite of our family.

4. Old Key West - Felt very different than most Disney stays for us in a good way. I am a morning walk person and this resort had the best layout for it.

5. Kidani Village - Easily our least favorite thus far. Resort was just so massive and everywhere we went felt crowded. We want to stay at Jambo next time and see how it all compares!

Upcoming Stays in June 2026 - Ploy Island Tower & Bay Lake Tower!

If you own at Kidani, you own at Jambo, they're interchangeable.

Ok Here's mine! We have stayed at the following.

1) BWV. Hard not to love your first!

2) BLT. Location Location Location

3) AKV. Could move this up a notch. Hard choice

4) VGC. #1 for DLR DVC

5) OKW Great condo vibe. always our #1 fall back

6) VDH. Would rather stay at VGC

7) BCV lobby is too chaotic and loud. Would rather stay at BWV. Hit or miss on balconies.

Resorts we would like to try

8) Boulder Ridge.

9) CCV

Resorts we have not stayed at and probably never will

10) SSR. Except for tree houses.

11) Grand Floridian

12) Poly

13) Cabins at Fort Wilderness

Technically, the unit we own is at Kidani.

@Ryan C Gotta agree with your VDH assessment. Our first stay over looked the loading dock for the convention center. Heard truck backup warnings starting at around 5:30 AM. Not a good wake up call. We were just there for our second stay. Rooms are really shabby around the edges. Closet Doors are hard to open or won't stay closed. Lots more wear and tear than there should be. This time the view was great, over looking the main pool. Could even see Fireworks.

OTOH VGC looked great. The 1 br has tons of space! Real good layout. Our bathrooms were in better shape than VDH, so I guess we got luck. Spent a lot of time on the balcony. Could not see a lot of CA because of the trees, but could listen to the crowds.

Now a big decision. Do I punt and sell off VDH and get more VGC? Or just stand pat. Nice problem to have I guess.

Fi

I will rank where I have stayed:

1. Poly -second home. Love the vibe away from the grand ceremonial house. I never get bored there with 3 pool choices. Annoying that I haven't gotten a ressie at Ohana in a long time, but love Wailulu. Don't love the tower rooms however, but love the tower staff. The old poly rooms are my fav. Love the wood and theming. All pools have good food choices.

2. Grand Flo-I spent my honeymoon there when it opened and love how pretty it is-good DVC pool and kids play areas. Wish the QS would be better like it used to be. Don't love the "beverage cooler" in the Big Pine rooms, need real mini cold fridges and wish it had a murphy bed so there is regular seating like in most DVC rooms.

3. BLT-my original home. It reminds me of our first DVC visits with the kids, love the big rooms, easy access to MK and of course the monorail. Shopping is good and restaurant choices are good. Not my fav. decor, but it is a classic. Why does the DVC pool here have no chair service? Wish the pool bar had better choices of food.

4. **Wilderness Lodge-never stayed in the DVC part, love the theming and want to stay DVC-hoping for Cabin!!! I am putting it here...just in case!

5. Riviera-So pretty and new. Love the tower vibe and no excessive walking. Pools are good too. QS and Topolino top choices!! Skyliner fun, however...I do prefer the monorail view-more "Disney bubble"

6. Beach Club/Boardwalk-I can't comment fairly here. Only have done a 2/1 night stay in each. The sand bottom pool did not impress me! Loved the location to Epcot/HS, rooms were a far walk for BC however the BW view was amazing. Need to return to really experience this location.

7. Saratoga-preferred. LOVE being close to Springs. QS was ok, buses not so good for park accessibility, however boat to springs was a plus!

8. OKW-Really fun place, rooms huge! I found I could not stay there for a full week with the limited food/pool options. Short stay awesome or using it as a homebase for non disney stuff maybe?

Would love to check out a Fort Wilderness Cabin and interested in the Lodge when it opens, however it looks huge, not sure I would like that.

Yeah, you’re right—it’s not just the TOT that kills VDH for me. It’s really just basic math… and the math isn’t mathing.

Say I want to stay three nights in June. That’s 69 points for a standard view studio at VDH during the week, plus about $204 in TOT. Or I could stay at the Hyatt House on Harbor and Katella for around $500 all in. Same distance to the parks, same park perks—which is to say, absolutely nothing.

So for roughly $300 more, I can stay offsite, get a similar room (minus the Disney theming and “magic”), and still keep my 69 points. And those points go a lot further somewhere else—like VGF in WDW, where I could book a similar room for 54 points during the same season.

And here’s the kicker: there’s no real offsite equivalent to what VGF offers. Walk to the park, hop on the monorail, early entry, extended evening hours—all actual perks. At Disneyland? You get vibes, I guess.

Even if I was only doing Disneyland, I could rent out those 69 points at around $19 each and walk away with about $1,300. Hard to justify burning them on VDH when that’s the alternative.

So yeah, unless Disney decides to add some real, tangible benefits for staying onsite at Disneyland, VDH just isn’t it for me. I’ll be sure to be a little less kind to it the next time I’m asked about it.

In 7 years, I really worry what the VDH rooms will look like. The number of scratches we saw on the closet and the table near the murphy bed was crazy and we stayed there in April 2024, so it was just 7 months after it opened.

Here is my Standard View with balcony room the first time I stayed at VDH (Oct 2023, 1 month after opening). I could hear those large fans the entire time inside the room with the doors closed. Outside, you couldn't even have a conversation on the balcony. I also recall being woken up to the trucks backing up early in the morning too.

I understand, its Anaheim and they have much less space than Disney World, so it isn't comparing apples to apples when you consider Disney World has much more space so most views aren't like this (even though there are some equally bad ones). I really just worry in 7 years the rooms will be falling apart based on what it was like just 7 months after opening.

Ranking DVC resorts where I’ve stayed:

1. Animal Kingdom Lodge - coffee with the animals each morning.

2. Old Key West - relaxing on the balcony overlooking the fairways and landscaping.

3. Disneyland Hotel - nostalgia everywhere, beautiful gardens.

4. Vero Beach - watching sea turtles nest on the beach.

5. Beach Club - awesome pool and steps from Epcot.

6. Saratoga Springs - walking distance to Disney Springs.

Where I can’t wait to try:

1. Aulani

2. Grand Californian

3. Hilton Head Island

4. Saratoga Springs - Treehouse Villas

We stayed at the Tree Houses back before Saratoga Springs, around 1996. They had a bedroom downstairs at that time. It has since been removed. We would love to stay there again.

Very interesting, I didn’t know they had a history pre-SSR. I am looking forward to seeing what they look like after the refurb.

Yup back then it was the Disney Institute.

Two lists: DVC Resorts and then US Disney Resorts.

DVC

1) Aulani

2) Wilderness Lodge

3) Grand Floridian

4) Beach Club

5) Grand Californian

6) Polynesian

7) Animal Kingdom Lodge

8) Boardwalk

9) Disneyland Hotel

10) Contemporary

11) Saratoga Springs

12) Riviera

13) Old Key West

14) Hilton Head

15) Vero Beach

16) Fort Wilderness

US Disney

1) Aulani

2) Wilderness Lodge

3) Grand Floridian

4) Yacht Club

5) Beach Club

6) Grand Californian

7) Polynesian

8) Animal Kingdom Lodge

9) Boardwalk

10) Disneyland Hotel

11) Port Orleans French Quarter

12) Contemporary

13) Saratoga Springs

14) Coronado Springs

15) Riviera

16) Old Key West

17) Hilton Head

18) Vero Beach

19) Port Orleans Riverside

20) Art of Animation

21) Pixar Place

22) Caribbean Beach

23) Pop century

24) Fort Wilderness

25) All Star Sports

26) All Star Movies

27) All Star Music

*Not technically a Disney hotel but so immersed in the bubble it’s impossible to exclude: Swan/Dolphin slots in just under #16.

Quite a list!

So interesting to see people's view on the DVC Resorts, I'll play along. I've enjoyed every WDW DVC Resort they all have pros & cons. I'd stay at any of them again.

My list:

1) Riviera* - The resort where I first became an owner. Yes, I purchased Direct with 150 pts. I love the ambience, I love the beautifully yet subtle theming. The lobby smells so GOOD! The cast members here are superb! Le Petit Cafe is yummy and easy to grab a quick snack. The best QS in Primo Piatto. Topolino's is the best character breakfast. The location is great with the skyliner right there between my favorite parks. I enjoy that is quieter. My number one go-to resort.

2) Copper Creek*/Boulder Ridge - I technically own at Copper Creek with 100 pts. I've stayed at both CC and BR. I love them both. The Wilderness Lodge is great, you feel secluded from the park and the theming is great. My favorite pool on propery. And...Geyser Grill is Awesome!

3) Poly - It's iconic, easy access by walking/monorail to Magic Kingdom. The ceremonial house has everything going on. I can get a nightcap of Dole Whip! The longhouses are good size and love the two bathrooms. And for those that do not like the new tower...I love it! Yes, the outside is bland, but the inside is stunning! It's peaceful and a short walk to main Poly. Wailulu is delicious and a fav! The views are spectacular.

4) Animal Kingdom Jambo/Kidani - Yes, the walk can be long. I've been successful in asking for hear the lobby or elevator and not had a long walk. I love animals and waking up to seeing them. Also, I think the food options are amazing. I love the QS Mara, Sanaa for breakfast...give it a try. The lounges are pretty good and Boma, Jiko, Sanaa are first class. Oh...and zebra domes!

5) Boardwalk - I love the vibe and with the Boardwalk view room, wow! I love to sit on this balcony and watch the happenings on the boardwalk including the fireworks. Too bad, things have closed if they add back a Sports Bar it would move up on my list. So easy to get to Epcot/HS from here.

6) Bay Lake - I know people think this resort is bland; however, the refurbishment made this a winner. It's so nice. I've been lucky and booked resort views, but have had partial theme park views and AMAZING. It is an easy walk to the Contemporary and to MK. My choice for party nights at MK.

7) Old Key West - So laid back and my son always says..."can we move in here". This most feels like my home. I enjoy the close proximity to Disney Springs. Their gift shop is the best. The rooms are huge! Low points.

8) Fort Wilderness - Stayed here in my latest stay. My son & I loved it. It's large, you've got a full kitchen without paying a lot of points. Totally feel out of the Disney bubble, but within the bubble. This is a resort to explore via your golf cart. The Chip N Dale campfire is fun. If doing the Hoop De Doo, this is the place to stay. Very convenient. I'll stay here again (just a totally different experience). Yea...a knock sure wish it had a washer/dryer.

9) Grand Floridian - It's grand, no doubt. However, I've found it overwhelming. It's so loud, too many people. I like at the end of the day or my non-park day, a resort to relax. I've stayed here at Christmas time and never again. I've stayed at the old villas and the Big Pine Key villas...Big Pine paper thin walls when I was trying to sleep. UGH!

10) Saratoga* - My third contract via resale, 100 pts. I think it's a great resort for the value. Sleep around points here. I can always find a room here. It's large and it takes awhile to get your bearings here. Love the proximity to Disney Springs. I like looking towards the golf courses.

11) Beach Club - My hot take...I'm not a fan of the Beach Club. Room is just blah and even in September the pool was packed. Not my idea of relaxing. Did I like Stormalong, yes...but too loud, too many people and a long walk from my room. I do love the location of this resort...probably the only reason I'd stay here again.

This is all subjective, right?

1. AKV

2. BWV

3. PVB

4. VGF

5. OKW

Anything else I would rather stay in POFQ than use my points.

I would say that RIV has some awesome Cast Members but that resort is not for me and those CM’s probably off to Lakeshore anyway.

Love your take. I would rank AKL higher however it’s such a different stay without a savanna view. With one, it’s very hard to beat.

We all need to stop telling people about French Quarter!! lol

We stayed in a partial savanna view in the fall and it was amazing. Took the bus over to HS and then over to POFQ for beignets. We loved POFQ but it was way more crowded than AKL. It was almost too much stimulation for us.

When you say crowded, I'm assuming you mean in the front shopping/eatery area, or rather specifically where you order beignets? I've stayed at both FQ and Riverside and they're very spread out and peaceful.. except for the QS locations of course.

Yes, the QS, playground, and pool. There were people everywhere in that general area.

We did the Treehouses two years ago and we had a ball!! It was a chill, non park centered trip with the Xmas party thrown in...We had a car and didn't use the buses, but the boat to springs and walk to mail lobby worked for us. So much fun!