Ask ten Disney Vacation Club Members which resort is the best, and you’ll probably get ten different answers.
Some Members love being steps away from EPCOT. Others can’t imagine staying anywhere but Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Then there are those who swear by the incredible value at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas or the spacious villas at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
That got us thinking.
Instead of trying to crown one resort as the winner, what if we built the perfect Disney Vacation Club resort by borrowing the best features from each one?
That was the challenge on this week’s episode of The DVC Show. It sounded simple enough…until Derek stepped in with a list of rules that immediately sparked debate. Suddenly, we were arguing over whether neighboring restaurants counted, how transportation should be judged, and what actually defines the “best” Disney Vacation Club resort.
By the end of the episode, we had created what might just be the ultimate “Franken Resort”.
What Makes the Best Disney Vacation Club Resort?
There isn’t one perfect answer.
For some Members, the best Disney Vacation Club resort comes down to location. Others care more about pools, restaurants, transportation, room layouts, or overall value.
That’s one of the things that makes Disney Vacation Club so unique. Every resort excels in different ways, and those differences are exactly why many Members enjoy trying new home resorts over the years.
Rather than ranking resorts from best to worst, we focused on individual categories to see which properties stood out.
Best DVC Resort Location
This category was surprisingly competitive.
The Polynesian received several votes because it checks almost every transportation box imaginable. You have the Monorail to Magic Kingdom, the EPCOT Monorail connection, boat transportation, walking access to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and one of the best places on property to watch Happily Ever After and the Electrical Water Pageant.
It feels like you’re right in the middle of everything.
On the other side of the debate were Disney’s BoardWalk Villas and Disney’s Beach Club Villas.
If you’re someone who spends most of your vacation in EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s hard to beat walking to two theme parks without ever waiting for transportation. The International Gateway entrance into EPCOT remains one of our favorite ways to start a park day.
We also gave honorable mentions to Bay Lake Tower for its unbeatable walk to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Riviera Resort thanks to its Skyliner access.
There wasn’t complete agreement, but one thing became obvious. Your favorite location depends entirely on how you vacation.
Best Disney Vacation Club Rooms
This may have been my favorite category because every resort offers something different.
Pauline made a compelling case for The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and it’s hard to argue.
The bathrooms are gorgeous. The soaking tubs feel luxurious. The villas have an elegance that few Disney resorts can match, and waking up to views of Cinderella Castle or the Monorail gliding past your balcony is a special experience.
She also reminded us about one of Grand Floridian’s unique perks: room service. Watching breakfast arrive on a white linen-covered cart felt less like a Disney hotel and more like a luxury resort vacation.
Others leaned toward Disney’s Riviera Resort, praising its sophisticated design, thoughtful layouts, and subtle Disney artwork throughout the villas. Riviera feels intentionally designed for Disney Vacation Club Members, with kitchens, storage, and décor all working together.
Then came the surprise contender.
Several of us landed on the Polynesian Island Tower.
The modern island-inspired design feels completely different from the original longhouses while still fitting the overall Polynesian atmosphere. Add in every room category from Duo Studios to overwater bungalows, and the Polynesian offers one of the most diverse villa collections in Disney Vacation Club.
Which DVC Resort Has the Best Pool?
If you’ve ever stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, you probably already know where this conversation was headed.
Stormalong Bay remains the gold standard.
The sand-bottom pool, lazy river, multiple slides, and expansive pool complex continue to make it one of the most impressive resort pools anywhere at Walt Disney World.
But our discussion also reminded us that there are other incredible options.
Several of us gave serious consideration to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Between Rainbow Reef snorkeling, multiple pools, a lazy river, water slides, splash zones, and an infinity-edge hot tub overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it’s difficult to find another Disney resort that offers so much in one place.
Amy made a great case for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where the peaceful atmosphere, spacious pool deck, and nearby animal habitats create an experience unlike any other resort.
It wasn’t necessarily about finding the biggest pool.
It was about finding the pool where you’d happily spend an entire vacation day.
Which Disney Vacation Club Resort Offers the Best Value?
This category sparked one of the most interesting conversations because value means different things to different Members.
If you’re looking at resale prices, annual dues, point charts, and room sizes together, several resorts stand out.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas earned praise for offering incredible experiences at relatively reasonable point costs. Value rooms and Club Level accommodations can be some of the best redemptions in Disney Vacation Club when available.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa also received strong support.
Its lower resale pricing, longer contract expiration, generous availability, and favorable point charts make it one of the most practical ownership options for many Members. It’s often recommended as a “sleep around” contract because owners can save money while booking throughout the DVC system.
Meanwhile, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas received recognition because of how much location you get for your points. Being able to stay within walking distance of EPCOT often feels like a bargain compared to the points required elsewhere.
Jeff even made a strong case for Disney’s Old Key West Resort, pointing to its enormous villas that still offer some of the best square footage in Disney Vacation Club.
Best Disney Vacation Club Dining
This category nearly required its own referee.
Derek made one rule very clear before we started.
You could only count restaurants located at the resort itself.
No walking over to EPCOT.
No grabbing dinner at neighboring resorts.
No Monorail hopping.
That immediately changed the conversation.
The Grand Floridian impressed us with its combination of signature dining, casual options, lounges, and even room service.
The Polynesian remained another favorite thanks to its iconic restaurants and tropical atmosphere.
BoardWalk entered the conversation several times before Derek reminded everyone that restaurants outside the resort didn’t count.
More than once.
His dedication to enforcing the rules became one of the running jokes throughout the episode.
Best Disney Vacation Club Transportation
Transportation is one of those categories you don’t fully appreciate until you’ve stayed at multiple resorts.
The Polynesian once again found itself near the top thanks to the Monorail, boats, walking access to the Grand Floridian, and convenient transportation throughout Walt Disney World.
BoardWalk and Beach Club earned praise for allowing guests to simply walk to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Meanwhile, Bay Lake Tower continues to offer arguably the easiest walk to Magic Kingdom anywhere on property.
There may not have been a unanimous winner, but everyone agreed that transportation can dramatically change the pace of a Disney vacation.
Best Disney Resort Theming
This might have been the easiest category.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge continues to offer one of the most immersive resort experiences Disney has ever created.
From the African-inspired architecture to the savannas filled with giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife, every corner feels authentic and intentional.
We also talked about Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, whose Pacific Northwest atmosphere makes you forget you’re in Central Florida.
The Polynesian remains timeless with its tropical island setting, while Riviera Resort offers a more refined European-inspired atmosphere with beautiful Disney artwork woven throughout.
Each resort tells a completely different story.
That’s part of what makes Disney Vacation Club so special.
So What Would Our Ultimate Disney Vacation Club Resort Look Like?
By the end of the episode, our Franken Resort looked something like this:
| Category | Our Top Picks |
|---|---|
| Location | Polynesian, Beach Club, BoardWalk |
| Rooms | Grand Floridian, Polynesian Island Tower, Riviera |
| Pool | Stormalong Bay, Aulani, Animal Kingdom Lodge |
| Value | Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk, Old Key West |
| Dining | Grand Floridian, Polynesian |
| Transportation | Polynesian, BoardWalk, Beach Club |
| Theming | Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian |
Would this resort ever exist?
Probably not.
But imagining it made for one of our most entertaining conversations in recent weeks.
Final Thoughts: Is There Really a Best Disney Vacation Club Resort?
After spending nearly an hour debating every category, I think we all came to the same conclusion.
The best Disney Vacation Club resort isn’t necessarily the one with the best pool or the nicest rooms.
It’s the one that fits the vacation you want to have.
If your priority is Magic Kingdom, you’ll probably lean toward the Polynesian or Bay Lake Tower.
If you love EPCOT festivals, BoardWalk and Beach Club become incredibly hard to beat.
If you’re looking for incredible resale value, Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Villas deserve serious consideration.
And if immersive storytelling is your favorite part of Disney vacations, Animal Kingdom Lodge may always sit at the top of your list.
That’s the beauty of Disney Vacation Club.
No matter which resort you call home, there’s always another one waiting to become your next favorite.
