Which DVC resorts are finest & worst at Walt Disney World? These Disney Vacation Club rankings cowl our high picks and least favourite Deluxe Villas based mostly on theme, rooms, eating places, swimming pools, location and extra. We cowl the professionals & cons of every property, and why we love every of them. (Updated December 5, 2022.)
We’ve re-ranked the resorts on this checklist as soon as once more following room redesigns at a few resorts (with a brand new #1 choose!) and extra on the horizon. Admittedly, our opinions have additionally…let’s use the charitable time period and say “evolved” for the reason that final time we refreshed this checklist, and that performs a job within the rising and falling inventory of some DVC resorts.
Before you shut this submit out as “irrelevant” in case you’re not a Disney Vacation Club member, it’s price noting that you simply do not must be in DVC to remain at these resorts. For one, all are bookable straight from Walt Disney World, they’re the “Deluxe Villa” tier, which is handled identical to a conventional lodge. For one other, you need to use our Tips for Renting Disney Vacation Club Points to step into the sneakers of a DVC member–and get monetary savings within the course of!
One factor we wish to clarify is that there’s nothing goal about these Disney Vacation Club resort rankings. We initially tried that method, however realized it’s a idiot’s errand. For one, now we have a variety of nostalgia wrapped up in our varied holidays, and it’s powerful to separate out our personal biases from the fundamentals of every property.
For one other, this includes inherently apples to oranges comparisons. Unlike accommodations as an entire, there are quirks to the DVC resorts. How does a purpose-built resort like Old Key West evaluate to an add-on like Bay Lake Tower or room conversions just like the Polynesian Villas? Speaking of the Poly, does it get penalized for not having 1-bedroom items? Are frequent areas and facilities which can be shared with the lodge included? If two separate resorts are very comparable however one has distinct benefits, does the opposite fall considerably?
One change on the horizon–beginning with our first 2023 replace to this checklist–is that we are going to quickly be breaking this down additional. It hasn’t made sense to lump collectively Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village and Jambo House for some time, however we did it anyway for comfort. With an increasing number of Disney Vacation Club additions, this makes even much less sense.
This follows an enlargement on the Grand Floridian this yr that transformed one constructing of lodge rooms to ‘resort studios’ which can be very completely different from the present villas. This pattern will proceed in 2023 and 2024 because of new additions on the Polynesian and adjustments to Boulder Ridge that’ll additional distinguish that property from Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge. In any case, this checklist will increase from 10 entries to 14 over the course of 2023 and 2024.
There’s additionally the truth that even the underside resorts are locations we get pleasure from. Some of my finest grownup recollections at Walt Disney World are at Saratoga Springs, the place we stayed on our first actual journey collectively. Walking again to Saratoga Springs after an evening on the Adventurers Club was nice, and proximity to Disney Springs provides it a variety of enchantment. Likewise, Bay Lake Tower’s quick stroll to Magic Kingdom may be sufficient for a lot of to place it on the high of this checklist.
Really, it looks like every resort has a powerful promoting level that might make it #1. From the spacious rooms and laid again vibe of Old Key West to the wildlife and self-contained “resort” expertise of Animal Kingdom Lodge, every brings one thing to the desk. Beyond that, a lot relies upon upon the aim of our journey (e.g. is eating at Disney Springs a precedence?), time of yr we’re visiting (is having fun with Christmas within the Pacific Northwest vital?), and extra. All resorts praise each other extremely nicely, and a part of the enchantment of Disney Vacation Club is the flexibility to expertise its many, various resorts.
All of this results in the caveat that that is all both only for enjoyable or an train in futility, relying upon your perspective. With that on thoughts, on with the rankings…
10. Old Key West Resort
Although these rankings are fully mine, Sarah’s dislike of Old Key West does affect me a bit. By distinction, I like Old Key West. I like that it’s so unfold out (strolling it provides me one thing to do within the morning), and I like that the foliage has actually matured right here. It additionally has the most important Disney Vacation Club rooms, and was lately refurbished. It additionally has Olivia’s, which is beloved amongst longtime DVC members–and for good cause.
Even viewing Old Key West in essentially the most favorable gentle, although, it pales compared to different resorts, which have extra well-rounded eating rosters, higher leisure, and extra handy areas. Pretty a lot all the things that OKW does nicely, one other resort does higher. Whether or not it’s the isolation and seclusion of Animal Kingdom Lodge or the rooms at Saratoga Springs, which compares to OKW in a variety of methods and will get the sting in most of them.
Old Key West will doubtless at all times be divisive amongst Disney Vacation Club homeowners, and I think most will place it close to the highest or the underside of their very own lists. I actually don’t hate it and would fortunately ebook a keep right here, which ought to additional underscore the top-to-bottom energy of the DVC lineup at Walt Disney World.
9. Bay Lake Tower
With every subsequent replace to this checklist, Bay Lake Tower falls additional. One of the large causes for that is that our expertise with the rooms in the previous couple of years has been adverse, with them trying worse-for-wear and prematurely worn. The construct high quality and finishings are simply not on par with all the things that got here after BLT, and it exhibits.
Another cause is that Grand Floridian can also be inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom, that means that Bay Lake Tower has misplaced its most important promoting level for us. Previously, that made up for a lot that BLT is in any other case missing. Another huge adverse for us is the dearth of Top of the World Lounge, which nonetheless has not reopened. We’re beginning to surprise if it’s gone for good.
As a results of all that, we can not think about what circumstances would persuade us to ebook Bay Lake Tower over the Villas at Grand Floridian, because the latter is superior on each single entrance. Same goes for the Polynesian Villas, which aren’t as straight comparable, however are additionally far superior so far as monorail loop DVC resorts go.
Nevertheless, Bay Lake Tower is an effective choice in case you have small children who will continuously wish to take a noon break–or be in mattress ~10 minutes after exiting Magic Kingdom on the finish of a protracted day within the park. Even although it’s now not the one DVC resort inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom, it’s nonetheless the shortest stroll, which counts for one thing. Bay Lake Tower additionally has entry to the monorail, and strong eating on the Contemporary.
On the opposite hand, the rooms are smaller than counterparts at different resorts, the ending isn’t fairly as good (we’ve had rooms right here in tough form a few instances, which I’m instructed just isn’t unusual). Nevertheless, we actually like Bay Lake Tower. We simply don’t find it irresistible, as we do the opposite entries on this checklist! Here’s our full evaluation of Bay Lake Tower.
8. Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
I’m admittedly a nostalgic individual. The Disney Vacation Club resort for which I’ve essentially the most nostalgia is Saratoga Springs. This is as a result of Sarah stayed right here once we took our first critical Walt Disney World journey collectively as adults. It’s what precipitated us to fall in love with Walt Disney World once more and it’s the resort we finally selected as “home” for our Disney Vacation Club buy (for purely financial causes).
Despite this, Saratoga Springs landed in final place on this checklist for some time. It was too bland, too removed from all the things worthwhile, and the rooms had been nothing particular. For years, it reminded us an excessive amount of of a apartment group we might discover at dwelling, and supplied nothing to make us overlook these parallels.
However, Saratoga Springs Resort has aged like a high-quality wine. (It’s like the alternative of Bay Lake Tower, in that regard.) Over the final decade, thematic enhancements have been made to the swimming pools and different frequent areas, and it now seems actually themed (albeit extra frivolously than different resorts) whereas additionally feeling contemporary.
The latter level is because of a complete, multi-year refurbishment venture that introduced good new rooms. All of that, plus the superlative eating and buying choices inside strolling distance at Disney Springs makes Saratoga Springs a winner. Years after Pleasure Island closed, Saratoga Springs is as soon as once more a spot we beloved staying. Read extra in our Saratoga Springs Resort Review.
7. BoardWalk Villas
We place a excessive worth on location and the resort’s general theme, and BoardWalk scores extremely in each regards. Walking from the Crescent Lake resorts to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one in every of my favourite issues to do at Walt Disney World, and the general ambiance at BoardWalk Inn is outstanding.
However, the final room refurbishment at BoardWalk left them boring and like an bizarre chain (a pattern you’ll see proceed with different entries on this checklist). The simple approach to offset that’s by reserving a BoardWalk View room–you’ll wish to spend all of your in-room time on the balcony! Suffice to say, there’s a lot to like about this resort. Read our full BoardWalk Villas Review.
6. Disney’s Riviera Resort
I’ll admit that Disney’s Riviera Resort has grown on me because it opened 3 years in the past. Perhaps I’m getting used to the thematic shortcomings or possibly I’m focusing extra on the practicalities of really visiting Walt Disney World and utilizing the lodging–in all probability a little bit of each. Regardless, it’s a resort we discover ourselves desirous to ebook greater than most on this checklist, and it arguably deserves a high 5 spot on account of that.
There’s lots to love…but in addition lots to dislike…about Disney’s Riviera Resort. The greatest draw back is that Disney has taken a area wealthy in lovely structure and lavish design, and made probably the most thematically boring and uninspired resorts. That’s an enormous disappointment, and it looks like a lot potential has been squandered right here.
The greatest upside is the luxurious lodging and the excessive finish ending of the rooms. Moreover, the eating places slate is formidable and Disney Skyliner entry to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is big. The location is much less interesting than Crescent Lake or Magic Kingdom DVC resorts, however Riviera Resort has sufficient to place it above Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. Read our full Disney’s Riviera Resort Review for extra.
5. Beach Club Villas
Although the Beach Club Villas room replace was actually uninspired and underwhelming, we nonetheless love the resort as an entire. The rooms could also be missing within the character division, however the frequent areas greater than make up for that. Moreover, the Beach Club Villas rating extremely due to the superb pool, location inside strolling distance of two parks and the Skyliner gondola station, and fairly good eating choices.
Delving a bit deeper into the situation, the Beach Club Villas are the closest resort to Epcot and the International Gateway Skyliner station. Beach Club Villas supply the superb Crescent Lake ambiance of the opposite resorts round there, but in addition has its personal secluded, popcorn light-lit pathway. Given all the things else that the Beach Club Villas supply, you will see your self far much less nervous concerning the room right here than you’ll wherever else. Read our full Beach Club Villas Review for extra.
4. Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas & Kidani Village
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House and Kidani Village arguably ought to be damaged out and ranked individually on condition that the previous is a room conversion and the latter is a quasi-stand alone resort. Yet, they’re a brief stroll from each other, have comparable rooms, and largely share facilities. We see no materials variations between them, and ebook interchangeably (with a conservation of factors being our most important purpose).
The energy of each has lengthy been the savanna, which is probably the most effective “amenity” supplied by any Walt Disney World resort that no different lodge in North America can supply. This alone makes AKL an important “staycation” or resort-only expertise, and can be sufficient to safe Jambo House and Kidani Village spots within the high half of this checklist.
But that’s not all that they provide. Both sides of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas supply strong rooms that do a superb job of balancing theme and high quality, the eating at Animal Kingdom Lodge is among the many finest at Walt Disney World, and the characteristic swimming pools are underrated gems at each.
So what faults have they got? Well, location. That might be minimized in case you’re a fan of Disney’s Animal Kingdom or in case you’re taking a visit to benefit from the resorts. It’s additionally superb at Christmas, which is after I would encourage anybody to remain right here. This is the one resort that ought to sneak to primary for lots of you in case you don’t agree with my primary. Read our full Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village Review for more information and images.
3. Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows have a laid again South Pacific theme, plus a handy location on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. Now that the lodge overhaul is completed, the arrival expertise is even higher and the grounds are trying nicer. (Undoing a little bit of the harm from the earlier reimagining.)
The latest room refurbishment to the Polynesian Villas additionally elevates the resort. Although this venture was a gentle items refresh fairly than a full reimagining, it was probably the most thorough gentle items renovations in recent times. The useful enhancements to those new rooms coupled with the completed resort refurbishment are huge wins for the Poly Villas.
The type right here hits the nail on the pinnacle, balancing Disney theming with high-end luxurious. The ambiance at this resort is top-notch, the swimming pools are nice, transportation is a breeze to Magic Kingdom or Epcot (a brief stroll to TTC), and the eating choices are good (don’t sleep on Kona Cafe–regardless of its bizarre look, it’s higher than ‘Ohana).
However, the Poly Villas are missing in room varieties and are on the precipice of one other colossal building venture that’ll impression the Polynesian for the following two years. As a consequence, the resort made the List of Worst Hotels for 2023 at Walt Disney World. The impression gained’t be as vital to the DVC Villas, but it surely’s nonetheless sufficient to drop the Poly a number of spots from #1 to #3.
2. Villas at Wilderness Lodge (Copper Creek & Boulder Ridge)
Wilderness Lodge is way and away my favourite resort at Walt Disney World year-round, however I actually find it irresistible at Christmas. Love really may be too tame of a phrase. Looking at this picture takes me again to the night time it was taken. Admittedly, I’m biased in the direction of Wilderness Lodge at Christmastime because of my very own private experiences there.
Objectively, Wilderness Lodge has nice theming, strong swimming pools, and nice meals. Geyser Point is an underrated gem and Storybook Dining at Artist Point is now one of many hottest character meals in all of Walt Disney World. And then (once more)…there’s Christmas at Wilderness Lodge. I believe you’d be hard-pressed to seek out somebody who has stayed there round Christmas who doesn’t completely love the place.
Note that we don’t differentiate between Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge right here as we don’t see the variations being vital or consequence determinative, however that can change after Boulder Ridge’s present refurbishment concludes in Spring 2023. If the sneak peek images of the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge are any indication, it’s going to have a giant edge over Copper Creek. You can learn concerning the execs & cons of every in our Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
1. Villas at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Grand Floridian reclaims the #1 spot for a number of causes. The most important ones are that Walt Disney World wrapped up TWO completely different Disney Vacation Club initiatives on the Grand Floridian this yr. The first was a gentle items refurbishment on the standalone Villas at Grand Floridian, which changed the couch sleeper with the progressive pull-down Murphy mattress that first debuted at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Other enhancements additionally enhanced these already-excellent rooms, making them high picks for events desirous to be a brief stroll or monorail journey from Magic Kingdom.
Then there was the transformation of Big Pine Key, changing 200 lodge rooms into “Resort Studios.” These are mainly lodge rooms by a distinct title, and every can accommodate as much as 5 company. Big Pine Key is centrally positioned, whereas additionally being alongside the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon. We love these new Resort Studios–see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a glance inside.
Finally, there have been a slew of delicate enhancements to the resort as an entire, notably on the eating entrance. Looking ahead, the one wildcard that would throw a monkey wrench into all of that is an overhaul of the foyer or different frequent areas. If that happens and is a large venture, it’ll undoubtedly dampen our enthusiasm. However, with an enormous venture on the Poly and Bay Lake Tower falling means down the checklist, it’s unlikely that one other monorail loop resort will dethrone the Grand Floridian anytime quickly.
Even earlier than this, the Villas at Grand Floridian profit tremendously from the walkway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. That’s a game-changer, and makes VGF actually enticing for us, as we’d fairly stroll than wait in lengthy monorail strains on the finish of the night time.
The excessive rating may come as an particularly huge shock on condition that we’ve been detractors of the lodge aspect of Grand Floridian for some time. Instead of the flagship lodge at Walt Disney World, it typically feels dated and failing to over commensurate luxurious for the worth level. This drawback is slowly being mounted on the most important resort, however there’s nonetheless a variety of room for enchancment.
However, the Villas at Grand Floridian have by no means suffered from the identical woes. The rooms are lovely, luxurious, and better-themed. Guests can benefit from the many facilities that make Grand Floridian Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, however with out paying these exorbitant charges. The location is improbable. That’s why if we might keep wherever at Walt Disney World proper now, DVC or common resort, the Villas at Grand Floridian Resort can be our high choose and suggestion.
While my coronary heart is with Wilderness Lodge, if I needed to blindly advocate a resort to another person with out realizing something about their private preferences (e.g. you), it could be the Villas Grand Floridian. We’d even go a step additional–that is our general #1 resort at Walt Disney World for 2023. Thanks to the room high quality and format, proximity to Magic Kingdom, and the general ambiance, that is the flagship Walt Disney World resort as soon as once more! Read our full Villas at Grand Floridian Review.
Itching to Do DVC?
If this text has you excited concerning the prospect of changing into a Disney Vacation Club member, we extremely advocate that you simply learn our Disney Vacation Club Buying Guide to see if membership is best for you. That Guide contains each variable it’s best to think about, and supplies an goal method to purchasing into Disney Vacation Club, fairly than the emotional pitch the Disney salespeople offers you. If you’re prepared to purchase, we advocate utilizing DVC Resale Market.
If you’re not thinking about shopping for into Disney Vacation Club, however nonetheless need Deluxe Villa lodging at Moderate Resort costs, we extremely advocate renting factors Disney Vacation Club factors, as you’ll save significantly over reserving straight from Disney (typical financial savings over even a reduced Deluxe Villa value are round 50%). Renting can also be a good way to strive Disney Vacation Club earlier than shopping for to see if it’s actually best for you.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the things you want to know!
Your Thoughts
What are your Disney Vacation Club rankings? Favorite resort? Least favourite? Are you contemplating shopping for into Disney Vacation Club or renting factors to your 2023 Walt Disney World trip? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!