Which Rooms Are Requested Most at DVC Resorts?

Have you ever had a friend tell you about the amazing room that they stayed in at a particular Walt Disney World resort? And then you decide if they thought it was so great, maybe you should try to stay in that same room on your next trip. Or maybe you see a spectacular picture of fireworks over Seven Seas Lagoon and you want that same view from your balcony. So you figure out where the picture was taken from, and you request that exact room. Now multiply that one friend or one picture by the number of TouringPlans users. We have over 218,000 different room requests. That’s a lot of data! That means we can figure out if people or references or pictures (or any other factor) are driving a lot of people to request any particular room.

We’ve already looked at the trends for Value/Moderate resorts (typically, convenience and less walking) as well as Deluxe resorts (typically, having a good view). Today let’s explore the most-requested rooms at DVC resorts and see if we can figure out where everyone is wanting to stay! Buckle up … this might compete for the longest post ever. So grab a snack – or just scroll to the resort that interests you most.

Last updated April 23, 2024

Explain the Math!

When you submit a room request through TouringPlans you select a specific room to begin the request. I can pull all of the room numbers used to submit room requests and aggregate the data (add it up) by resort or by individual room. I can use all of that information to pull the room with the highest number of requests at each resort. I can do it for requests across all time, or for a specific period. For today, I’ll look all-time and at the past 2 years. By splitting things that way we’ll be able to see if there are any recent trends or changes that might be caused by renovations or additions.

We’ll also sprinkle in two other pieces of information to better understand the results:

1. The average satisfaction rating for each room based on post-visit surveys
2. The average length of stay requested for each room

Most-Requested Rooms at DVC Resorts

Polynesian Villas & Bungalows – 9,929 total room requests

Almost a quarter of all DVC room requests at the Polynesian are for one room. That’s crazy! Room 3914 has 2,265 requests all by itself. The runner-up has 703 requests, and it’s room 3915 – right across the hall. Goodness, even I’ve requested room 3914 (I didn’t get anywhere close … but it was worth a shot). So what’s the deal with these rooms? They’re both studios with standard views, which means they’ll be the cheapest rooms you can get at this resort. And since they’re corner rooms right behind the bungalows, the views are much more than what I’d call “standard”. The third floor location means that if you look around the corner, you’ve got a better view of the castle than some of the “Theme Park View” rooms in the Aotearoa building. You’re far enough removed from pools that the room is really quiet. And because the Polynesian isn’t a huge, spread-out resort, you still have quick access to the Great Ceremonial House and transportation. We have six reviews from room 3914, and they average 4.83 for satisfaction. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4.8 nights. That means with 2,265 requests, we could book room 3914 just for TouringPlans users for over 30 years!

Saratoga Springs – 9,106 total room requests

Room requests at Saratoga Springs are much more spread out than they were at the Polynesian. But the top room (all-time and for the past two years) still has almost twice as many requests as any other room at the resort. Room 1423 is the big winner here, with 190 total requests – it’s a Preferred Studio on the 4th floor of Building 1 in Congress Park. View and location are key here – you can see Disney Springs from your window, and have one of the quickest walks there. If that’s something that’s important to you, 1423 is the place to be. We have 2 reviews for room 1423, and both are “Very Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for room 1423 is 4.1 nights. So, if we booked the room just for TouringPlans users, we could keep it occupied for over two years.

BoardWalk Villas – 8,129 total room requests

The most-requested room at BoardWalk Villas is another more-than-you-pay for “secret”. Room 5053 is a “Garden/Pool View” studio on the fifth floor in the north building. And it’s the studio closest to being on the BoardWalk without actually being on the BoardWalk. It has 510 all-time requests, more than twice the next-most-requested room. It’s also the most-requested room at this resort for the past two years. The fifth floor location means more stairs or elevator waits, but it also means you have the ability to watch fireworks at EPCOT from your room. Since it is so close to the BoardWalk, noise levels are more elevated in the evenings as people enjoy the area. We have 4 satisfaction ratings from room 5053, and they average 4.75. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4.7 nights. That means that just TouringPlans requestors could keep this room booked for six and a half years!

Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village – 7,572 total room requests

Kidani breaks away from the trend of getting more than you pay for, because the most-requested room at this resort is 7208 – which is a Savanna view on the South Trail. Unlike at Jambo, it’s very difficult to get a sneaky savanna view in the standard category at Kidani. So 7208 takes the top spot with 319 all-time requests (it’s also the most-requested in the past 2 years). It’s a studio, and is steps away from the lobby – and, more importantly, just a stairwell away from Sanaa. Convenient bread service every day?! Why thank you, that sounds excellent. Kidani’s smaller lobby means that the convenient location doesn’t translate to huge noise issues either. We have six satisfaction ratings from 7208, and all six are “Very Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4.2 nights, so TouringPlans users alone could occupy this room for over three and a half years.

Bay Lake Tower – 7,461 total room requests

The most-requested room at Bay Lake Tower is a doozy, and a little bit of an anomaly when I compare it to all other most-requested rooms. 8218 has 286 requests, and is a Theme Park View studio room on the 12th floor. Other than the parking lot in the foreground, there can be no complaints about the view here. You practically get a birds-eye view of all of Magic Kingdom. But you will pay mightily for that view. One night in this studio will cost you anywhere between 18 and 38 points per night. If you want a similar view for 2-6 fewer points per night, 8208 is just down the hall. You’ll have to turn your head to the left to get that birds-eye view. But you can absolutely still see fireworks from your room. We have 4 satisfaction ratings from 8218, and they only average 3.5 – by far the lowest rating for any most-requested room at a resort. Perhaps some buyers’ remorse contributes to that score. The average length of stay requested for 8128 is “just” 3.6 nights, another stand-out compared to other most-requested rooms. That means we could book this room for just TouringPlans users for just over two and a half years.

In the past two years, the most-requested room has shifted to 8410 – it’s a lake view (and therefore quite cheaper) one bedroom. But you still see Space Mountain and the Castle from your balcony and can view the fireworks from there too. We have one rating for 8410, and it is “Very Satisfied”.

Old Key West – 6,216 total room requests

Old Key West is the only resort where the most-requested room is a 2-bedroom villa. 6213 is in the middle of the first floor of Building 62 (one of our top 4 buildings at all WDW resorts). It’s right across the street from the Hospitality House, and overlooks the water. It’s been requested 241 times by TouringPlans users, and is also the most-requested in the past two years. We have 2 reviews from 6213, and both of them are “Very Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for this room is 5.7 nights, so just with TouringPlans requests, we could keep it booked for more than three and a half years.

 

Beach Club Villas – 5,575 total room requests

Beach Club Villas is a relatively small and compact resort, with less than 300 total rooms all in one building. The most-requested room is 555, a Standard View studio located on the 5th floor, with its 281 requests. None of the BCV rooms are particularly conveniently located to transportation, and distance to the lobby is mostly determined by where you are on the vaguely-horseshoe-shaped floor plan. Since all rooms at BCV are categorized as standard views, it probably isn’t surprising that the cool thing about 555 is its view. You can see Spaceship Earth, as well as the EPCOT fireworks. We have four satisfaction ratings from 555, and they average 4.75. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4.7 nights. That means we could keep this room occupied with TouringPlans requestors for over three and a half years.

Over the past 2 years, the most-requested room has shifted to room 105. This is a studio on the first floor, with the most immediate access to the lobby and main building.

Riviera Resort – 4,523 total room requests

Riviera room categories are tricky – preferred views will get you a lovely view of the pool, lake, Skyliner and Caribbean Beach. But standard views will almost always get you a view of fireworks. And on high floors you can get pretty stunning views of EPCOT. So it shouldn’t surprise us that the most-requested room is a Standard View studio on the highest floor with rooms that directly face EPCOT. Room 8827 has 323 total requests, and is also the most-requested room in the past two years. It has more than double the number of requests as the next most-requested room. Not going to lie, I wouldn’t mind waking up to that view of Spaceship Earth every day, or being a few floors away from a nearby Skyliner station. We have three satisfaction ratings from 8827, and they average 4.67. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4 nights. That means we could keep this room booked for TouringPlans users for a little over three and a half years.

Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House – 4,278 total room requests

The most-requested room at Jambo is room 5522, which is a Savanna View studio, more than halfway down on the fifth floor of the Zebra Trail. All of the DVC rooms at Jambo are on the 5th floor, which means really good views over savannas. 5522 has 245 total room requests, and is also the most-requested room of the past 2 years. Since it’s so far removed from the lobby, it’s a very quiet spot. But that also means a little hike down to the lobby, transportation or the pool. The real appeal is the view of the Uzima savanna from the balcony. 12 different people have submitted satisfaction ratings for room 5522, and they average 4.75. The average length of stay requested for this room is 4.5 nights, so if we booked the room only for TouringPlans users, we could keep it for 3 years.

Copper Creek – 3,388 total room requests

Copper Creek is a tale of two resorts – cabins and villas. The most-requested room at this resort is a 1-bedroom villa, room 5133. This room has 275 requests, and is also the most-requested in the past 2 years. All of the rooms are in the same point category at Copper Creek – so you won’t be paying more for any particular view (just for the room type). 5133 faces the pool on the 5th floor. It’s near the end of the hall, next to a Grand Villa, and has a slightly different layout than other 1-bedrooms at this resort. Its location means that you can see high fireworks from Magic Kingdom over the wing of Wilderness Lodge, but you’re also further removed from transportation and the lobby. We only have one rating from this room, and it is “Somewhat Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for 5133 is 5.1 nights. So with 275 requests, TouringPlans users could keep this room occupied continuously for almost 4 years!

Villas at Grand Floridian – 3,178 total room requests

The DVC resort with the highest satisfaction rates was also one of the smallest resorts – thankfully the Villas at Grand Floridian opened a major expansion! Room 1514 is a Lake View Studio on the corner of the 5th floor with 219 all-time requests. Its corner location means that you get gorgeous panoramic views of Seven Seas Lagoon. But it also means a lengthier walk to transportation and the main building. We have two reviews from this room, and both are “Very Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for 1514 is 4.3 nights, so we could book out this room with TouringPlans users for over two and a half years.

In the past 2 years, the most-requested room has shifted to Room 9514 (closely followed by 9414), a Standard View Studio on the 5th floor with a larger footprint than most other studios, and a view of the pool. This means quick access to the main building and transportation, but also increased noise from the pool area.

Boulder Ridge – 2,855 total room requests

Room 4531 at Boulder Ridge is a “Woods View” studio on the 4th floor. All rooms at Boulder Ridge are in the same point category, so room requests here are particularly important to ensure you get something that works for you. 4531 is on the corner, and has a great view of the pool and Bay Lake. Bus transportation is nearby, but it’s more of a walk to dining options or the boat launch. There have been 317 different requests for room 4531 (which is also the most-requested in the past two years), and the average length of stay requested is 4.5 nights – which means that TouringPlans users could stay in the room for almost four years. We have 5 ratings from room 4531 and they average 4.0.

Treehouse Villas – 331 total room requests

The Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs are their own unique style of accommodation. There aren’t many of them, and they serve a pretty niche market. So only having 331 requests isn’t surprising. The treehouse with the most room requests is 7026, with 49 requests. 7026 backs up to the Sassagoula River, and has convenient access to a bus stop and the boat launch. We only have one review from this treehouse, and it was “Somewhat Satisfied”. The average length of stay requested for this treehouse is 5 nights. That means with 49 requests, TouringPlans users could keep this room occupied for over half a year.

What Does This Mean For You?

1. Use that Room Finder tool to see the pros and cons of different rooms!
2. Some rooms have great pictures and great views, but really high prices. Try clicking over, up, or down a few rooms to get an idea of different prices and how that might impact your view. You might stumble upon a hidden gem.
3. Since DVC resorts are (generally) more compact than other WDW locations, view seems to be much more heavily weighted in peoples’ minds than convenient access to transportation or dining, pool, or lobby.

 

Do you have a favorite room at a DVC resort? How do you personalize your room request to try to get the best location for you and your party? Let us know in the comments!