3. Animal Kingdom Villas

Given the proximity of Jambo House and Kidani Village to Animal Kingdom, it’s a bit silly not to visit the park while you’re here. Even so, these villas represent the rarest opportunity of any DVC property. Guests at these resorts can enjoy the sort of view generally only witnessed during an African safari, and you receive the benefit of such amazing scenery without having to leave your room.

The breathtaking views at Animal Kingdom Villas are singularly unique not only across all Disney hotels but realistically for any major hotel chain in the world. At any moment, the view from your balcony may include frolicking giraffes, zebras, or other creatures you ordinarily must visit a zoo to watch interact. Animal Kingdom as a theme park offers a more detailed exploration of the same premise, but there is no reason to fight the crowds there when you have the same scenery looking out the window of your room.

Even if you are not a fan of the local (but imported) wildlife, the twin hotels still offer a lot of entertainment. The restaurants are renowned for their African delicacies. Whether you are a Boma, Jiko, or Sanaa fan or love all three, some of the best table service options at Walt Disney World reside at these two hotels. And if all this still isn’t enough to sell you on hanging out at the hotel, the African-themed pools are dynamic. Plus, these twin DVC sites are only three miles away from Blizzard Beach.

4. Beach Club Villas

An argument could be made for Boardwalk Villas instead, but my thinking here is simple. Beach Club is only a walk across the bridge away from the same features that Boardwalk claims, and it has an ace in the hole.

Beach Club Villas is home to Stormalong Bay, a mini-water park located onsite. Easily the best Disney resort pool in Orlando, Stormalong Bay is so popular that there are restrictions about who can use it. If you are not staying at the hotel, you will not be able to swim there. While this is technically the rule at several DVC properties, Beach Club Villas is the only place where it’s always enforced. The pool is three acres in size, and it features a 230-water slide plus a serene lazy river that I daydream about more often than I should.

The way that Beach Club mirrors its DVC counterpart across the water is that it offers convenient access to the throwback shops on the Boardwalk. There are several clothing stores and multiple restaurants including the hallowed ESPN Club. Since ESPN is a Disney property, there are even occasional tie-ins between the restaurant and broadcasts being made for the various ESPN networks. In other words, you may see a few celebrities during your meal if you eat there.

What Beach Club Villas offers DVC members cannot be matched. It has a mini-water park onsite, and it is only about 200 steps away from a stylized miniature version of Downtown Disney. Plus, you can even see Illuminations from some hotel rooms, which adds the perfect romantic touch to a day of relaxation.

5. Grand Floridian

This selection may be a bit controversial to some. In terms of onsite activities, Grand Floridian is a bit thin compared to other DVC resorts. It is still a wonderful place to be when you’re not spending a day at the park, though. Perhaps no other DVC participant is better for indulging oneself. Senses Spa is the type of splurge that elevates a vacation into the memory of a lifetime. Plus, the restaurants at Grand Floridian represent some of the finest of any resort in North America. Citricos, Narcoossee, and the 1900 Park Fare character meal are all top-flight table service options. Then, there is the crown jewel of all Disney restaurants, Victoria and Albert’s. If you ever want to eat the finest meal imaginable at a theme park resort, this is the place. It’s been a AAA Five Diamond Award winner every year since 2000 and recently won a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award as one of the best 25 restaurants in the United States. It was even ranked higher than the legendary Le Bernardin. And it’s just an elevator ride away from your hotel room!

I would also suggest spending a few minutes enjoying the Alice in Wonderland splash pool. Without giving anything away, it’s an unusually exciting way to get wet. Also, Beach Club Villas and Grand Floridian offer an additional fun way to pass time when you're not at one of the parks. They have "beachfront" areas where you can walk barefoot through the sand. It's like sneaking in a quick trip to the beach while still in Orlando.

To a larger point, Grand Floridian deserves a spot on this list. After all, if you want to enjoy the best of DVC without hitting a park, there is no better place to be than the signature Walt Disney World resort.