Funny, most DVC folks love DVC because it is not connected to the noisy WDW parks. No lines, no sweat, no running around trying to get to a dining reservation or attraction reservation with the family detractor of a magic band. Just quiet coastal resort with good food and drinks. Paradise to some. Not if you plan on going to the over stuffed and over priced Magic Kingdom.

We have belonged to DVC since 1993. Best investment we ever made, has tripled in value since then, but that is not why I say that. OKW was the first and the rooms are the largest on the property. You can park right in front of the building anytime, day or night. Access to everything is close by, Pools are busy but not so bad you won't want to go. Stayed at AK villas, animals were great but took forever to get to our rooms, valeted all the time. We're heading back in time for New Years. Found HILTON HEAD dark and dreary. Give me OKW every time.

The Grand Californian is one of the best places I have ever stayed hands down! So disagree there. My wife would agree about AK because it's far out there, but is beautiful and love the pools and animals. WL does feel like an afterthought which it was, would have liked a more direct connection to the main building. That is the only negative there. SS is just crazy spread out if you dont have a car is our dislike.

I live in Vero Beach, & have been to Vero's Disney Resort many times. You're really choosing a 'bug infestation' as a reason to make this resort top a worst list? Seems like a weak stretch just for the sake a writing an article. Yes, there are no-see-ums here, however...they are rarely a problem. Maybe you need to do a bit more research.

Vero Beach is our favorite place to vacation and relax. I have been many times and have never had an issue with noseums (however you spell it). If you are visiting in the summer months please use some common sense and use a bug repellent. It's location is supreme having it's own private beach. Vero Beach is beautiful and a nice change of pace from other crowded, touristy beach towns. I love the activities for kids, pool, splash park, mini golf and biking trails. The campfire with s'mores at night is a favorite for my kids. We have such wonderful memories there. I think this was an extremely short sighted and not well researched article. Such a shame for anyone who listens!!

You must live in Florida or a neighboring state to prefer WDW over DLR. The DLR experience is sooooooo much more enjoyable than WDW. I like the different hotels in Orlando, and some of the dining options are really good at WDW (none of them can touch Carthay Circle or Club 33), but there's really no attraction at the 4 parks of WDW that isn't matched in LA (Except the Safari). So much time is wasted traveling in Orlando and all the extra space, 4 parks, is wasted on souvenir shops. And don't even get me started on the crowds and lines (and the uncomfortable weather!), but it makes sense that the lines would be long since they only have a handful of attractions at each park. Only reason I would ever to Orlando Would Be For HP attractions at Universal.

I am really glad that you chose AKV as one of the worst 6 DVC resorts, because it is the one that I own, and my absolute favorite of all the resorts. But, then, Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, Hollywood Studios my least favorite, as in, I think we'll just skip it this trip. Maybe it will discourage others from staying at the resort. Over the years, I have stayed at Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Towers, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Beach Club Villas, and Board Walk villas, along with some of the value resorts. I guess you may get as many opinions as there are members of DVC.

The Grand Californian is great - as you note. It's especially beautiful inside dca as you walk past the grown in trees that have filled in around the hotel. Or the gorgeous view in all directions from the pool. You can barely tell there is a theme park beyond the thin line of trees.

That said - Disneyland is the best of the resorts. It has the 2 best disney parks in the Usa ( Epcot has sadly slipped to third in my book). The renovations of dca took it from worst to second best US disney park. Again, just opinions here. But so many of the classic disney rides in their arguably best versions can be found in Anaheim. That plus two other simple facts- better maintenance at DL and the overall walkability of the DL resort make it #1 for many people. Give it a try!

Must have known this would stir the pot, 3 of my favorites are listed lol. With all the choices DVC offers we all have favorites

Thanks for your insight. Please let us know about your top 6 DVC destinations so I know which ones I would not want to visit.

I'm very sorry to disagree with you, but I believe that DAKL should not even be on this list. Tell me another resort anywhere on Disney property (either coast) where you can get up in the morning, look out your window/door and see beautiful African animals (most who are either threatened or endangered in the wild). The buildings are beautiful; complete with thatched roofs done by African craftsmen who were brought in specifically to do this job (and the roofs in Harambe village at DAK). I seriously doubt that you know a good place when you see it IMHO. It is also very quiet there and a nice respite from the noise, glitz and glitter of the big parks. Not everyone has to be in the center of the universe, and for that DAKL is the perfect location.

I haven't stayed at all of the DVC properties yet and I've never been offsite, but I would say that my bottom three are SSR (my home resort), AKL, and Boardwalk. My favorite is Wilderness Lodge, followed by BLT and OKW.

i am sorry to disagree with you, I like the Hilton Head property. By the way it is Broad Creek view. It is a very nice, relaxed, and easy resort with plenty to do and includes beach access for an island made up of private communities. It offers accessible biking and running options not found at WDW, great opportunities to kayak, fish, visit wildlife areas, great naturalist programs, and the staff is excellent both friendly and helpful with local information for touring and visiting Savannah. I am there to relax and have options for playing, it serves that purpose well and I can do that with the safety and ease that people expect from Disney.

Many of the resorts will expire in 2042 - BWV, BCV, VWL, VB, HHI, OKW (only some have been extended to 2057). You can't expect DVC to extend these to 2057. The OKW extension was not well received by members so many are not extended.

Secondly, 99 points might only get you a studio during a low point timeframe. If you want more than a simple hotel room (and who wouldn't), you need double that for a one bedroom in the same resort during the same time. If you need a two bedroom or three bedroom villa, you'll need even more. So different locations, different size villas and different times of the year will require more points.

Many of the resorts will expire in 2042 - BWV, BCV, VWL, VB, HHI, OKW (only some have been extended to 2057). You can't expect DVC to extend these to 2057. The OKW extension was not well received by members so many are not extended.

Secondly, 99 points might only get you a studio during a low point timeframe. If you want more than a simple hotel room (and who wouldn't), you need double that for a one bedroom in the same resort during the same time. If you need a two bedroom or three bedroom villa, you'll need even more. So different locations, different size villas and different times of the year will require more points.

The last sentence of number 4 makes zero sense. If someone was going to want to stay close to one of the theme parks why would they stay at the resort that is furthest away from them. This argument seems like a pretty big stretch to me.

So you make Grand Californian one of the worst DVC hotel based on location? Why don't you just rank Wdw DVC hotels. Can't you do a list based on the actual hotel rather than your East Coast bias?

And it is funny. I have stayed in 7 deluxe disney resorts across the world. The Grand Californian is the winner for me, followed by Wilderness Lodge (I grew up near the Sierra Nevadas) and AKL. I think the Yacht and Beach Club is the worst (though great pool and location)

Poorly edited article. Extremely biased (even with the parentheses on #6 saying 'even if your opinion differs' or something like that)... Just terrible to allow East vs. West coast bias on an article topic people are actually interested in. And "Disney has ten absolutely wonderful DVC properties. They also have two that are not located near a Disney theme park."... So Aulani just does not exist in your world??? I guess that makes sense (apart from mentioning 'the other 2 ')... You are " ThemeParkTourist

The second paragraph under #6 should say "Grand Californian," not "Grand Floridian." And VGC is one of my favorites! Probably second only to BLT. :)

I agree with your assessment - been to all properties - all lovely!
Since I live year round in Vero Beach I MUST take exception! No "seeums" can get bad during the summer wet months, but they are a no-issue 90% of the time.
Our beaches change from day to day. Sometimes they are flat and clear. Other days big waves and rough.
Vero Beach is a quiet small town with some (if you know where to go)interesting restaurants, bars and a pretty terrific Museum of Art. Riverside Theater puts on impressive shows and also has a really great Comedy Club in their smaller theater.
Yes I am "old" 58 to be exact, but I have children (30 somethings) who live and work here - and actually have a great and interesting life.

What about Aulani? it also is not connected to a theme park, and all I have read are wonderful reviews. I would love to check it out on my next Hawaian vacation.
What is your take on this resort?

Agree with all but Saratoga Springs. Have to disagree on location. Can walk or take boat to Downtown Disney for great food and night time entertainment esp.after parks close. As for always having availability ...that is not true. Just there and could only get 2 nights...had to move to Old Key West for the rest of the stay. Also could not get anything for October for Food and Wine. I see a lot of families with lots of kids at Saratoga. By the way we have stayed at all of the DVC resorts except Grand Floridian and Alauni. Have to say Grand Californian was nice but we have only been to Disneyland once.

Or things like All Stars Blech

The answer is simple as the nose on Pinocchio's face. Movement! Last year we had a wonderful holiday of 7 days at the Boardwalk oh so close to HS and Epcot, went on a Disney Cruise, and came back for 3 more days at AKL, and focus our AK visiting days on that time period. And a few well placed dinners as Be Our Guest, California Grill, and Ohana got us out to MK too. Perfect trip, even with an AKL stay.

BTW, next trip (August) we're staying at Old Key West, because we are one couple and one further unattached adult, and OKW is the only DVC property with TWO real beds in the suite level we stay at.

As for Grand Californian, I enjoy Disneyland at lot because its cheaper, but... WDW has massive perks for guests to stay on site. Disneyland has none at all. No Magical Express, no late hours. You can walk park to park, so who needs transportation. And as for Grand Californian's special entrance, it's always a worse line up in the morning than the regular gate. Thanks Disney, but I will always stay at the Best Western Anahiem Inn at a fraction of the cost and enjoy a shorter walk to the gate than any on site resort.

Wow. So many things to pick up on. The first Disney hotel with direct access ro the parks was the Disneyland Hotel in Paris in 1992.

As for the Grand Californian being on here? Wow! Disneyland is the greatest park in America and DCA is still better than DHS IMHO. I actually dislike much of WDW and will not return.

Wilderness Lodge is not real wood. It is faux wood, poured concrete.

And there are more than 2 non park DVC. There is also Aulani (and does the DCL count?)

We opted for Marriott Vacation Club instead of DVC because it suited our needs better living in Europe. We had a blast and felt it was a higher quality product than DVC.

Ahhhhhhhhhh...that explains why you mainly post articles on Disney world and not Disneyland lol.

Speaking of DVC resorts not near a park, how about Aulani. Granted, I'm sure it's amazing, just seems to me that you left out the 3rd DVC away from the parks in the article.