Alternative DVC Resorts If You Can’t Book Your First Choice
With renting DVC points, your ability to book a stay heavily relies on availability. While you can improve your odds of getting the room you want by placing your request 11 months out from your check-in date, it also helps to have some alternatives if you can’t get your first choice.
There are some obvious close matches such as Kidani Village if you can’t get Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Villas or Boulder Ridge if you can’t get Copper Creek since both are at Wilderness Lodge, but here are some other alternatives that you may not have considered.
If Your First Choice Is Beach Club, Consider BoardWalk as an Alternative
One of the reasons why the Beach Club is very popular is its prime location near EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. However, it can be hard to book because it is a relatively small DVC Resort. If you want that same picturesque location along Crescent Lake that’s walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, the BoardWalk is just across the lake from the Beach Club and can be a great alternative. The BoardWalk is so close to the Beach Club that you can easily walk over or take a Friendship boat across the lake to visit, enjoy some sundaes at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, or see Minnie and her pals for Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Cafe.
While also popular, the BoardWalk is larger than the Beach Club and can be slightly easier to book, especially if you are open to staying in a Garden/Pool View room. This booking category has the most room inventory at the BoardWalk and helps increase your odds of finding a room.
If Your First Choice Is Grand Floridian, Consider Riviera as an Alternative
If you love the Grand Floridian for its beautiful rooms and upscale dining, Riviera can be a good alternative. Although the resort themes differ, the room layouts at Riviera are actually quite similar to those at the Grand Floridian. The Deluxe Studios at both resorts have a split bathroom, and the One-Bedroom Villas at both can sleep up to 5 guests with a queen-size bed, Murphy queen-size bed, and single pull-down bed. Plus, the luxe finishes of the Riviera rooms like the crystal chandeliers and marble floors feel comparable to those at the Grand Floridian, even if the styles are different.
While Riviera doesn’t offer as many signature dining options as the Grand Floridian, it does have a solid signature restaurant with Topolino’s Terrace. On the menu you’ll find French- and Italian-inspired cuisine with dishes such as classic sole meunière, red wine-braised beef cheeks, duck à l’orange, and chicken sugo rigatoni. Plus, you get beautiful EPCOT fireworks views from the outdoor terrace.
Riviera is substantially larger than the Grand Floridian when it comes to DVC rooms and therefore tends to have better availability. As a point of comparison, there are only 47 Deluxe Studios at the Grand Floridian versus 186 at Riviera.
If Your First Choice Is the Polynesian, Consider Animal Kingdom Villas as an Alternative
This alternative is probably less than intuitive. However, if you love the Polynesian for its destination-worthy restaurants and its immersive atmosphere that makes it easy to forget you’re in the middle of Florida, Animal Kingdom Villas can be just as magical. Animal Kingdom Villas is incredibly well themed and transports you to Africa with its savannas that are home to more than 200 animals and its large collection of African art—one of the largest in the United States.
Many guests also enjoy staying at the Polynesian for its dining options, including ‘Ohana, Wailulu Bar & Grill, and Capt. Cook’s. While you clearly won’t find Pan-Asian dishes at Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village and Jambo House are home to wonderful restaurants with crave-worthy dishes, whether it’s the bread service and butter chicken at Sanaa, the filet and bobotie mac and cheese at Jiko, or the tamarind BBQ pork ribs, chicken corn chowder, and zebra domes at Boma.
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