Boardwalk Inn is the quietest. Unless you get a room overlooking the Boardwalk, then it definitely is not. Especially, and somewhat counterintuitively, in the early morning hours.
Yacht and Beach Clubs have the best pool in the area (and some contend the best pool at Disney World). Yacht Club is my personal favorite because it seems quieter and feels a little more attuned with adult guests (but not as much as Boardwalk Inn). The Beach Club is closer to the pool, so it may be more attractive to families with children. These are my feelings, not objective, data-driven conclusions. I wouldn’t classify any of them as kid or adult unfriendly, and you will encounter families with children wherever you decide to stay. Just some more than others.
Swan and Dolphin are nice rooms, generally less expensive than the Disney hotels (sometimes substantially so). They lack the pervasive theming, but they offer the service you’d expect from a Marriott Category 6 hotel. If you’re a Bonvoy elite member at Gold or higher, you can also pick up some valuable perks on top of your points. And of course you can book with points at any level. To top it all off, you get all the same perks as Disney hotel guests except free magic bands and Magical Express.
Boardwalk is the best for walking to 2 parks. We got a reasonable rate for club level there in December due to discounts. The club is small, but the CMs are fantastic! Always obliging at 9am to go grab a bottle of cabernet so that I could have my “road wine!”
Gran Destino is stunning and the club is much bigger. Less personal with the CMs because of that though. I can’t speak to transportation as we always rent a car.
I would rent DVC points and do a split stay. First half the time at the Boardwalk resort (either BW or BC) which are walking distance to EP and HS. Then I’d finish up at a monorail resort, probably BLT (walking distance to MK.
For dinner, California Grill, Narcoossee’s, Yatchsmans Steakhouse, The Boathouse. Lunch Blaze Pizza, Deluxe Burger, Epcot festival snack around the World (depending on timing).
Do Swan/Dolphin still do teacher discounts? Any teachers in your crew?
However, food and drink can’t be your only priority. Beach/Yacht Club have a mini water park for their pool. Along with Club Level . . .
The Swan/Dolphin have mini golf and miniature golf. We did one course while staying at Beach Club.
I also submit that different every night isn’t necessarily better. On two separate trips we wound up eating at the resort restaurant multiple times - for various (meaning who remembers now) reasons. We were a big group so by the second time almost we were being recognized. Old friends by the third time. People around us were like who are they ?!?
Tho for your adult group maybe it’s ESPN bar or a lounge at Yacht Club. Jelly Rolls.
Also submit that a really nice dinner or three is great. But how much fun is it to try to eat the Kitchen Sink for supper when you don’t have to be an example for kids.
Watching the fireworks from the top of the Contemporary Resort is one choice. If you like sandy toes and umbrella drinks, the Poly Beach is another option.
Monorail service is ok. We tend to take the little launch. I’d stay in the Epcot area and do one evening at MK area. Do a tour of Wilderness Lodge late afternoon, appetizers at Contemporary, supper at GF and drinks and fireworks at Poly.
Either an Epcot resort around the lake or The Riviera or Caribbean Beach. The last two give you Skyliner access and while not quite as convenient as walking from the Crescent Lake Resorts, it’s not too far off.
I would also do Park Hoppers for this event and we never do Park Hoppers. I would do MK/HS/AK during the day and hit EP in the evenings in this situation.
You won’t find me at Boardwalk if I’m planning pool time because of the clown pool.
The Yacht Club felt too formal for me.
If budget is no constraint, my choice would be Beach Club. If budget is a consideration, my choice would be Caribbean Beach.
I wouldn’t choose the monorail resorts because as much as the adult beverage lounges/options are great, you’re severely lacking at MK unless you’re at a Table Service restaurant.
Our Beach Club stay was during a warm spell in December but in 2001. Of course we never had difficulty finding chairs.
Boardwalk was during a pool redo, which was more interesting to watch than annoying. Except for the clown seeming so out of place overlooking a waterless pool full of workmen. At the beginning of the week it was oh look there’s that clown. By the end of the week I was averting my eyes. Cracked me up.
Interesting you mentioned this. I am very curious about renting DVC but worry about the unknowns. I’ve done some searches on here and it’s mostly positive experiences, but need to learn more. Do you feel “Secure” in your reservation? Are there any issues with linking park tickets and Dining plans and Fast Passes? I am just unclear on the logistics.
We rented points in 2017 and had a great experience through David’s - no issues with tickets, dining plans, fastpasses, or magical express.
But the corona/COVID shutdown has definitely revealed some risks/flaws in the points rental ecosystem. There’s a thread on here somewhere, I’ll see if I can find a link. It seems like many/most people have gotten full or majority of their rental refunded or credits for future rentals, but there are still a few lingering cases that may be completely out their rental $.
I agree with going with a Crescent Lake resort, but I also want to throw in that they share buses, so going to AK or MK will have it’s challenges with transportation. But, being able to walk to two parks I think does make up for it. As far as which resort, I’d just see which one you can get the best rate at. I personally love BWI.
I have to admit to being freaked out by that clown slide on our first stay at BWV. But then I stayed there again with friends and realized it’s not so bad (especially since there is bar right there too).
We’ve also rented with David’s and have had great service each time - 2015 (Boardwalk, Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge), 2017 (Boardwalk, Bay Lake, Old Key West), 2019 (Boardwalk, Copper Creek). No problems linking reservations and tickets or setting up dining plans… we love the split stay especially for the dining plan as we only add it to one of our reservations.
While we personally have not had any problems, the agreement with David’s does state that the reservation is non-refundable and they also recommend that you get your own, separate travel insurance to cover any emergencies. We’re big fans of David’s - I highly recommend them, the staff is great to work with and you can can’t beat staying at a deluxe resort for the price of a moderate (or even less!).
I’d be thinking Epcot area like already mentioned.
Swan/Dolphin package through Costco would be high on my list of places to check when looking at prices, OR, figuring out Priceline to narrow the Resort down to Swan/Dolphin if you’re feelin lucky.
Bonus Answer for the Bonus Question:
The Swan/Dolphin restaurants are generally always in the conversation of “Best Of” on property.
Kimonos for sushi (and drunken Karaoke) might be great call if you dig sushi. There’s no chance I’d go for more than 2 days and not go to Kimonos. Bluezoo, Shula’s, and Il Mulino are pretty highly regarded. World Showcase is a quick 10 minute walk, and the Boardwalk is at Swolphin’s back door, over the bridge. Some might say that Swolphin restaurants are better because they are not Disney run.
All of the EP resorts are connected by a walking path - very quick walk between them all. If one is glaringly cheaper than another, you gotta check what’s most important. Swolphin won’t let you have Magical Express or any Dining Plan, but for our needs, that doesn’t matter in the slightest.
I’m waiting for The Cove (new hotel) across the street from the Swan and Dolphin on Epcot Resorts Boulevard, adjacent to the Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course. ‘May’ be ready at some point in 2021, but we’ll see - it may be later in 2021 or 2022.
