Entertainment for Kids at DVC Resorts
One of the practical advantages of DVC ownership that families with children appreciate most is that the resorts themselves provide real entertainment. When you're staying in a DVC villa rather than a standard hotel room, you have space and amenities that change the dynamic of a Disney trip. Kids who need a break from parks have somewhere to actually be, not just a room to wait in.
Every DVC resort has its own character and its own specific offerings for children. Some have elaborate pool complexes that could fill a full vacation day on their own. Others offer organized activity programs, evening entertainment, character dining, and resort amenities that extend the magic beyond park hours. Understanding what each resort actually delivers for kids helps DVC buyers match their home resort choice to their family's specific needs.
Pool Complexes: More Than Just Swimming
Disney's investment in pool facilities at DVC resorts is one of the more compelling arguments for ownership over standard hotel stays. The pools at most DVC resorts are not simply swimming areas. They're themed environments with waterslides, interactive elements, splash zones for young children, and comfortable spaces for parents who want to supervise without being in the water themselves.
Beach Club Villas offers Stormalong Bay, which is widely considered one of the best resort pool complexes in the entire Walt Disney World area. The sand-bottom lagoon, shipwreck waterslide, lazy river section, and dedicated children's areas create a pool environment that many families spend full days in. Some guests plan their stays specifically around having Stormalong Bay access.
Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani Village features Samawati Springs, a pool area with a 128-foot waterslide that curves around a rock formation, plus Uwanja Camp, a dedicated water play area for younger children with ground sprayers, jets, and interactive elements that don't require swimming ability.
Aulani in Hawaii centers on the Waikolohe Valley aquatic complex, which includes multiple pools, a lazy river, two waterslides, and a snorkeling lagoon stocked with tropical fish. Kids can swim through snorkeling equipment in a protected lagoon environment. The scale of Aulani's water facilities is such that some guests barely leave the resort grounds.
Saratoga Springs, despite being one of the more understated DVC resorts aesthetically, has a well-regarded pool area called High Rock Spring with a waterfall feature, a zero-entry section for toddlers, and an adjacent kiddie pool. The resort's multiple pools across different buildings mean less crowding than single-pool properties.
Transportation as Entertainment
Disney's transportation network becomes part of the experience when you're staying at DVC resorts, and for many children, the journey itself is a highlight.
Bay Lake Tower guests have monorail access directly from the Contemporary Resort building, accessible via the Sky Way Bridge. For a child who has never been on a monorail, riding through the Contemporary Resort's main building on the Magic Kingdom line is memorable in its own right. The monorail connects to the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian, creating a route that kids often want to ride for its own sake.
The Disney Skyliner gondola system connects Riviera Resort and several nearby properties to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via aerial gondola. The views from the Skyliner over the Disney property, particularly the crossing near Epcot and Hollywood Studios, are genuinely scenic. Young children often find the slow-moving aerial perspective exciting in a different way than ground transportation.
Water launches run between the Magic Kingdom area resorts and the park itself. Staying at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, or Wilderness Lodge area means you can arrive at Magic Kingdom by boat, which changes the approach to the park in a way that ground transportation doesn't provide.
Fireworks Viewing from Resort Grounds
For families with young children who tire early, one of the practical advantages of certain DVC resorts is being able to watch Magic Kingdom or Epcot fireworks from resort grounds without being inside the parks. Children in pajamas watching Happily Ever After from a Polynesian beach, or watching Epcot's fireworks from a BoardWalk balcony, is a specific kind of Disney magic that requires nothing from the child except being awake.
The Polynesian Village Resort's beach faces directly across the Seven Seas Lagoon toward Magic Kingdom. On fireworks nights, the beach fills with resort guests who want to watch without park crowds. The view is excellent, and the setting around the resort itself, with the Grand Ceremonial House lit up and the lagoon in the foreground, makes for a memorable evening that doesn't require anyone to fight crowds.
Bay Lake Tower offers fireworks views from balconies of Magic Kingdom View rooms and from common area decks. Parents with children who've hit their wall for the day can watch from the room.
Character Dining at and Near DVC Resorts
Several DVC resorts are home to or adjacent to Disney's most popular character dining experiences. These meals offer structured character interaction that is often more personal and relaxed than what's available in the parks, where lines for character meet-and-greets can be long.
Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort, accessible to Bay Lake Tower guests via the Sky Way Bridge, brings Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto to every table. The buffet format gives families control over the meal pace, and the characters rotate continuously so children get multiple interactions without waiting in line.
The Polynesian's 'Ohana character dining features Lilo and Stitch along with Mickey and Pluto. The family-style meal format with shared dishes of Hawaiian-inspired food and a relaxed pace makes it a consistent family favorite. The resort setting adds to the experience.
Makahiki at Aulani is the character dining option in Hawaii, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto in their Aulani resort-specific outfits. For families making a rare Hawaii trip, this Disney experience in a Hawaiian context has a specific appeal that you can't replicate at Walt Disney World.
Community Halls and Organized Activities
Most DVC resorts operate Community Halls that run daily organized activities for children and families. These facilities offer scheduled programming including arts and crafts, movie screenings, games, resort-specific scavenger hunts, and themed activities that tie into the resort's character.
The programming varies by resort and by season. During school holiday periods, Community Hall activities often run throughout the day and into the evening. During slower periods, scheduled activities may be more limited. The Community Hall is particularly valuable on rainy afternoons or on days when the family wants resort time without the intensity of full-park visits.
Some resorts also run evening events on resort grounds: campfire gatherings, outdoor movie screenings, and seasonal programs. Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge, for example, connects to the broader Wilderness Lodge resort's campfire programs. Aulani runs extensive evening cultural programming that draws guests of all ages and serves as a legitimate alternative to park evenings.
Choosing the Right DVC Resort for Families with Young Children
For families whose children are young enough that resort amenities matter as much as park proximity, the choice of home resort deserves specific thought. Beach Club Villas, for its pool complex, is a perennial strong choice for families who want world-class water amenities. Bay Lake Tower, for its Magic Kingdom proximity and fireworks viewing, works well for families whose children are Magic Kingdom obsessed. Animal Kingdom Villas, for the savanna animal viewing from villa balconies, delivers a unique experience that children who love animals remember for years.
Aulani is in its own category for families who are open to a non-theme-park Disney destination: a full Hawaiian resort with water amenities, beach access, and cultural programming that genuinely entertains children without a single theme park visit required.
Browse our full resort guide to see detailed information on each DVC property's amenities and character. Our current listings show available contracts across all resorts, and our annual dues page covers the ongoing cost structure. If you want to talk through which resort might be the best fit for your family's specific vacation style, our team is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do all DVC resorts have pools with waterslides?
Most DVC resorts have at least one feature pool with a waterslide element. The scale and elaborateness varies significantly. Beach Club's Stormalong Bay and Aulani's Waikolohe Valley are among the most extensive. Some smaller resorts, like Hilton Head Island or Vero Beach, have pools suited more to relaxed swimming than active play. The specific amenities at each resort are detailed on our resort pages.
Q: Are the Community Hall activities free for DVC members?
Most Community Hall activities at DVC resorts are included in your resort stay. Some specific programs, particularly organized evening events or instructional activities, may have optional fees. The base programming, including arts and crafts, movie screenings, and games, is generally included without additional cost.
Q: Do resale DVC buyers have access to the same resort amenities as direct buyers?
Yes. Resort amenities, including pools, Community Halls, transportation, and all on-site facilities, are available to all DVC members and their guests regardless of how the contract was purchased. The differences between resale and direct purchase relate to certain Disney member benefit programs, not to resort access.
Q: At what age do children typically enjoy DVC resort stays most?
In our experience, DVC resort stays add the most value for families with children roughly between three and twelve years old. At this range, the pool complexes, character dining, and organized activities are genuinely engaging. Teenagers often prefer park time over resort time. Toddlers benefit from the villa space and in-unit amenities like full kitchens and laundry. Every family is different, but that middle range tends to be when resort amenities are most actively used.
