Is there anything lost by staying at a DVC resort?

[chasgoose]

I was just seeing what sort of prices I could get for my January 2008 trip by plugging dates during value season in in December. We were looking to book Poly LVC. Just for fun I looked at what a 2 bedroom villa would cost at the Beach Club Villas for the same dates. I was shocked to find that BCV was only $45 more expensive for my 5 night stay! I know Poly LVC is their most expensive standard room, but I don't understand how a regular hotel room can compete with a 1000+ square foot villa. How come the Beach Club Villas are so much cheaper? Do you lose anything that you would usually get at a typical deluxe resort when staying (I know if you book using points you don't get maid service)?

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Cleaning service on points is the only thing I can think of but it sounds like you would be paying cash anyway. I would def. go for a 2 bedroom over a regular resort.

The villa will give you more privacy, a kitchen, and a washer/dryer.

Don't get me wrong, I love Poly, but I love the location of BCV and BWV even more You're within walking distance to Epcot and MGM - paradise. And the boardwalk has plenty to offer as well.

I say go for the villa!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Are you booking BCV through CRO or renting points?

The concierge addition is enough to bring the cost up on the Polynesian Lagoon view room. You can't get concierge in the villas if that is what you really want.

 

[chasgoose]

I would be booking through CRO so I would get the daily maid service (that would be a MAJOR dealbreaker for me as one of my favorite parts of vacation is having my room cleaned every day). I recognize that the Concierge is what is making the price difference so little between the two, but it might be worth it to gain the extra space. I like the EPCOT area but we always stay at the Yacht Club and I kind of wanted to try something different on this trip, hence the look into the monorail resorts, but the DVC villas are tempting. I would be sold if I could book into the AKL Villas. Hmmm.

 

[Sammie]

Polynesian LVC, you are paying for concierge service and a fabulous view.

At BCV, you will get much more room but no concierge and definitely not a view to compare with even a garden view at the Polynesian.

 

[stacy6552]

We have stayed at a DVC resort as cash guests. You loose nothing. Its the same wonderful experience that you would get anywhere at a deluxe resort. Plus you get plenty of space and the kitchen is a great plus.

 

[PlainJane]

I would personally stay at the Poly in a CL room over a one bedroom at BCV. Both are wonderful hotels, but the Poly definately has an edge in this situation.

 

[Cass]

I would take concierge over a DVC, I don't want to cook and do laundry on my vacation!

 

[Chloesmom]

Do you still get Magical Express if you rent points? I have been thinking aboyut doing this in August since apparently I am going to miss free dining.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would take concierge over a DVC, I don't want to cook and do laundry on my vacation!

I see where you are coming from but you don't have to cook and do laundry in a DVC unit. Its nice to have washer and dryer but if you don't use it no biggie. I have stayed in my share of one and two bedroom units in DVC's and believe me the only thing I cooked was maybe a piece of toast and a cup of hot tea! Having separate bedrooms, a jacuzzi tub, free DVD rentals, a living room area is pretty nice. And at the Epcot DVC's you also have room service etc., just like a regular hotel. And if you are on points at a DVC you can pay $25 a day for maid service. Given the great deal you are getting by renting, you still come out way ahead.

 

[Cass]

When I'm on holiday I don't even want to SEE a washer/dryer LOL

 

[BCV23]

We've stayed in both Polynesian LVC and BCV one and two bedrooms a number of times and often on the same trip. In fact, that's the combination we'll be enjoying on our Fall WDW trip.

We love them both. Very different experiences. I agree with Sammie and Amy's comments.

And I don't even notice the kitchen ornament when we're at BCV. We do put the larger refrig to very good use for beverages, leftovers and snacks.

 

[Cass]

And I don't even notice the kitchen ornament when we're at BCV.

That's a good point, maybe I could just drape sheets over all the appliances

 

[Deb & Bill]

The king bed in the master bedroom is way better than two queens in a single room.

But all the goodies prepared by Concierge might also be nice - as long as some of the guests don't take whole trays of them back to their room like I have heard some people have done.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Do you still get Magical Express if you rent points? I have been thinking aboyut doing this in August since apparently I am going to miss free dining.

Yes, DVC members (and their guests) get all the perks of staying on site, including DME.

 

[luckee37]

We have rented points several times to stay at villas were always able to use ME and the Dining Plan.

Even though we stayed in a villa we definitely didn't cook in there, although it was very nice to have a refrigerator and washer and dryer. Plus, it is really nice to have some privacy between the rooms.

 

[lovmy2girls]

I like the DVCs that are connected to a resort like Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk Beach club.

We took the tour of SSR and It just didn't do anything for me. Sounds crazy I know.

I love the fact of having a washer and dryer in the room.

 

[Slakk]

When I'm on holiday I don't even want to SEE a washer/dryer LOL

We use the dryer a lot for bathing suits and towels. Plus it is nice if you drip something on a shirt to have the ability to pop something in the washer.

We love DVC accomodations. I would never go back to a room again! And for the record I have yet to cook! We just love the huge bathrooms and extra space.

 

[Mary626]

We rented points for the Boardwalk Villas for our vacation last month. While we had tons of fun I'm not sure if I'd stay at a villa again. It just didn't seem as "magical" to me. It was a lot of little things, like no "Stitch & Mickey" wake up call on the phone, how different the decorations in the room were from a regular room, how the tv didn't automatically turn on the WDW channel when you turned it on.. I know silly stuff! It was a great price but I'm not sure if we'd do it again. Just my two cents, i understand why a lot of people love the villas though. Especially if you get the bigger rooms!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We rented points for the Boardwalk Villas for our vacation last month. While we had tons of fun I'm not sure if I'd stay at a villa again. It just didn't seem as "magical" to me. It was a lot of little things, like no "Stitch & Mickey" wake up call on the phone, how different the decorations in the room were from a regular room, how the tv didn't automatically turn on the WDW channel when you turned it on.. I know silly stuff! It was a great price but I'm not sure if we'd do it again. Just my two cents, i understand why a lot of people love the villas though. Especially if you get the bigger rooms!

I can't speak to BWV because I haven't stayed there, but SSR had the Stitch & Mickey wakeup, and the TV turned on to the park information channel. I guess it's a matter of personal opinion, but I can't say I noticed any less attention to detail in the design and decoration of SSR than I see at the other deluxe resorts we've visited.