Which resort has the "Best" Grand Villas

[OffToDWD]

We are looking to get a group of around 10 together to celebrate my dad's 70th (a mix of adults and kids). Thought it'd be a great occasion to spurge on a Grand Villa - and this would be his first time to Disney! Are there much differences between the Grand Villas? If so, which resort's Grand Villa would you recommend? Thanks!!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Watch some videos on YouTube to help you decide since they're all awesome in their own ways! VGF has a movie theater room. BLT has fantastic two-story windows. Rivera's grand villas are very fancy in a modern way. AKV has a pool table if I remember correctly. They're all great, it will be tough!

Wow, first timer at a grand villa!

 

[Pyotr]

I’ve never stayed in any of the grand villas (I could never afford the points) but the three that stand out to me are the ones at the Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Tower, and Copper Creek.

 

[Engineman02]

There are quite some differences between the various grand villas. Some are two floors, while others are single and more spread out. Some have special amenities like the screening room (GF), pool table (Jumbo). If you want more bathrooms, Kidani and BLT have 4 full, where the others have three. As was said, check youtube, and you can look on the DVC site to see the floorplans for each to see what the layout is.

 

[cometdad2010]

We're taking my MIL for her 50th birthday next year, and trying to book a OKW Grand Villa seven months out. Just a heads up -- they're the lowest point cost, at least for us when we're traveling in October.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I’ve never stayed in any of the grand villas (I could never afford the points) but the three that stand out to me are the ones at the Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Tower, and Copper Creek.

Oh yeah, Copper Creek is nice especially if you can get a high floor to get an unobstructed view of Bay Lake. CCV has a lovely wooden table and the villa feels very homey with all the earth tones and wooden columns (although I don't like the column in the kitchen, it blocks the kitchen a bit). I actually think the Cabins at CCV are nicer since they have a jacuzzi and an screened-in outdoor area, and they're closer to the lake, but those only sleep 8.

Grand villas also vary in points. OKW is probably the least? It's two stories but honestly the decor feels less grand (being OKW, it's more relaxed). Maybe it's because my parents live in South Florida but it looks like any house in South Florida. But it is spacious! Saratoga Springs with the new renovations is probably a great choice and likely less points. The renovated ones is the only I have yet to stay at but the videos make it look nice. Another one I loved was Boardwalk. I think I've mentioned all by now since Poly, BRV, and BCV don't have grand villas, so I'm probably not being helpful

If points are no object, I would go for Riviera or Grand Floridian. Both on one floor, both very fancy and spacious. RVA in particular is very new and shiny. But really, any would make for a great place to hold a celebration!

 

[Ruttangel]

We're taking my MIL for her 50th birthday next year, and trying to book a OKW Grand Villa seven months out. Just a heads up -- they're the lowest point cost, at least for us when we're traveling in October.

yes, almost 2 nights for the price of 1 at others resorts.

I thought RIV looked a bit weird, very sterile, more like a generic penthouse hotel room
BLT/VGF much better.
AKV good but does need that savannah view and that’s extra points

This will all come down to which theme he would like the most and of course the budget!!

 

[Marionnette]

One of the 3 bedrooms at OKW has 2 double beds, instead of 2 queen-size beds like other GVs. That can be a deciding factor for some people.

The AKV GV has a loft area between the two second-floor bedrooms. It serves as a second area for hanging out (as in “You kids go upstairs and play while we grownups talk”). The sofa in the loft opens up into a bed, as does the sofa on the lower level. AKV GVs have 4 full bathrooms.

The VGF GVs also have 4 full bathrooms. The GVs are single level, so no stairs to climb. The media room (not a theater room, it’s just a TV in there) has a pull out sofa and you can close the door for privacy. The living room sofa does not open up to a bed. There’s a steam shower in the master bathroom.

 

[Lorana]

AKV good but does need that savannah view and that’s extra points

If I recall correctly the Standard views still have savannah views, they are just at the end of the savannahs near the fences and the road, so it's a limited view. IT's definitely not the same as a full Savanna view, mind you, but you still see animals.

 

[TCRAIG]

We are looking to get a group of around 10 together to celebrate my dad's 70th (a mix of adults and kids). Thought it'd be a great occasion to spurge on a Grand Villa - and this would be his first time to Disney! Are there much differences between the Grand Villas? If so, which resort's Grand Villa would you recommend? Thanks!!

When are you going and how long are you planning on staying and are you using points or paying cash? Depending on all that - you may have to stay at whichever you can book/afford

 

[OffToDWD]

When are you going and how long are you planning on staying and are you using points or paying cash? Depending on all that - you may have to stay at whichever you can book/afford

We are aiming for January for a long weekend (probably 4-5 days). Will be using points. The # of points shouldn't be an issue (thanks to having to cancel our trips this year and bank lots of points...). When we did a quick check last night, seems many of the Grand Villas have availabilities.

 

[OffToDWD]

Thanks, everyone, for all the replies so far!! Very helpful and informative!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Two of the bedrooms at OKW are upstairs and there are a lot of stairs to get to them (one two queen bed, one two double beds and that bedroom is kind of small). Most of them start on the second floor to begin with. Only the master is on the first floor, but there is a fourth bathroom with a shower on the first floor for the guests sleeping in the living room.

 

[WildernessMickey]

Grand Villas at SSR have 4 full bathrooms also.

 

[suebeelin]

I’m obsessed with the BLT and GFV grand villas...

 

[OffToDWD]

I’m obsessed with the BLT and GFV grand villas...

What makes them stand out compared to others?

 

[MickeyWaffles]

At WDW we have stayed in grand villas at:
SSR (many times)
VGF
BLT
AKV-Kidani

The VGF grand villa is ... grand. It is very spacious, bright, gorgeous finishes and details. Truly stunning. It has an extra media room, and we enjoyed that extra space. It is all on one level. Highly recommend.

Kidani savanna view is fun, but the villa is very dark. It is 2 floors.

We stayed in a BLT theme park view in February - this was so fun! We love the location of BLT - the proximity to MK. This grand villa is also 2 floors. The laundry room in the villa is spacious, which is nice.

SSR is our home resort. We love it there! The grand villas are nice, comfortable and feel “homey” to us (we have not stayed in a newly refurbished villa yet though)

If you have any questions about any of these let me know!

 

[Pyotr]

Here’s a walk through of the Copper Creek Grand Villa.

 

[OffToDWD]

At WDW we have stayed in grand villas at:
SSR (many times)
VGF
BLT
AKV-Kidani

The VGF grand villa is ... grand. It is very spacious, bright, gorgeous finishes and details. Truly stunning. It has an extra media room, and we enjoyed that extra space. It is all on one level. Highly recommend.

Kidani savanna view is fun, but the villa is very dark. It is 2 floors.

We stayed in a BLT theme park view in February - this was so fun! We love the location of BLT - the proximity to MK. This grand villa is also 2 floors. The laundry room in the villa is spacious, which is nice.

SSR is our home resort. We love it there! The grand villas are nice, comfortable and feel “homey” to us (we have not stayed in a newly refurbished villa yet though)

If you have any questions about any of these let me know!

Super helpful! Thank you!!

 

[wdwnut]

it depends on how much everyone wants to do. I just came back from a trip where 3 of the people I was with had scooters. The stairs in the 2 story GV were not enjoyed by a couple of them after a day in the park. Each resort has a different feel to it. I love the one story villas; they seem more spacious. I enjoyed the 2 story ones at BLT, OKW, AKK, and SSR as well. Let your dad watch some videos or look at pics