DVC 2 bedroom villa or 3 seperate rooms at a deluxe?

[Jennasis]

That is the question! 7 adults (maybe 8). Dad footing the bill as a 60th b-day gift to mom. Mom not sure where she wants to stay (would be happy with Pop and so would I frankly but dad wants to go whole hog on this!). After exploring BWV and BCV mom wasn't super enthused about the resorts (I have no idea why...BC is fantastic! But BW does have the scary clown pool).

So mom may be leaning towards doing a deluxe. In the interest of not bankrupting my dear dad, I have been pushing either the WL or AKL as they are the least expensive deluxes. But wouldn't they also have the possibility of a 2 bedroom villa?

What to do? I've stayed at WL and loved the resort even though it was on my honeymoon with my ex many moons ago. I'd love to try the resort again and give it the chance to produce some GOOD memories. AKL is an amazing resort too! We love the whole feel of it.

So would you do a 2 br villa at one of those two, or go for 3 seperate rooms? And which one would YOU pick?

I'm sure mom and dad will change their minds a dozen more times between now and next september/october when we are planning to go!

 

[vicki_c]

Yes 8 people can do a 2 BR villa. So, there's VWL and AKL if you're looking for the resort-type accommodations.

I *think* that would have to be cheaper than 3 rooms at the resort, but I'm not really sure of that, you'd have to check the rates.

I'd pick VWL, but it's just my own personal preference. Either are great resorts.

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Also (you probably know this, but I'll say it just in case), it's usually a better deal to rent DVC points for the 2BR than to pay cash for it.

 

[TagsMissy]

I would look at renting points from a DVC member and staying there... I am going away with 7 people and we are staying in 2BR villas... SSR, AKL Kidani and then BLT. I can't wait!

 

[BCV23]

With 7 or 8 adults, I would do 2 or 3 deluxe rooms rather than a villa. More privacy and no sleeper sofas. OKW might be an exception to this as the 2 BRs there are much larger. But still someone (or 2) would be on a sofa bed.

Much would depend on the makeup of your party though.

Have fun planning!

 

[Jennasis]

No dice on renting points. We're hoping they will offer free-dining next year.

 

[TosaTrio]

Eight Adults in a 2 bedroom may be uncomfortable. Are the adults grown children or are you referring to 4 couples?

Most 2 BRs are a studio plus a one bedroom, so you would have 4 sleep in the studio, 2 on the pull out coach and 2 in the Master bedroom. If you are comfortable with that sleeping arrangement, then having a kitchen would be great and having a living room to gather is a BIG advantage.

AKL Kidani 2 Bedrooms and BLT sleep 9 so they are a little bit bigger.

In terms of renting points, if you have firm dates planned you will need to rent from someone who owns at the resort you want to stay at and try to firm it up 11 months out to get what you want.

Good Luck with your decison.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Since you are all adults, I'd seriously consider a 3-bedroom or a 2-bedroom plus a studio at a DVC resort renting points thru the rent/trade board. You will be very crowded in just the 2-bedroom.

If the 2-bdrm is the only option - then you should consider only renting at a resort where you can request the 2nd bdrm has two queen beds. (BCV/VWL/OKW) - not sure if AKL has any. Make sure you rent well in advance for this.

 

[Bribrittmom]

I would look at renting a 3bdrm. grand villa at AKL or OKW. The OKW grand villa is huge and cheaper.It has a much bigger balcony.With a 3bdrm. you'll have three baths,a washer dryer and lots of room to stretch out in.The OKW villa has a huge balcony with a table and chairs and a celing fan.

 

[Jennasis]

We're ok with the sleeping arrangments at the 2 br villas. DH and I can do the sleeper sofa, mom/dad in the master br, sister and fiance in Queen and my other siswter on the other sleeper.

Also, CANNOT RENT DVC POINTS FROM A MEMBER. We need the free dining.

 

[TagsMissy]

Eight Adults in a 2 bedroom may be uncomfortable. Are the adults grown children or are you referring to 4 couples?

Most 2 BRs are a studio plus a one bedroom, so you would have 4 sleep in the studio, 2 on the pull out coach and 2 in the Master bedroom. If you are comfortable with that sleeping arrangement, then having a kitchen would be great and having a living room to gather is a BIG advantage.

AKL Kidani 2 Bedrooms and BLT sleep 9 so they are a little bit bigger.

In terms of renting points, if you have firm dates planned you will need to rent from someone who owns at the resort you want to stay at and try to firm it up 11 months out to get what you want.

Good Luck with your decison.

This is not necessarily true... I am booked in a dedicated 2BR at SSR, AKL and BLT.. so there's a king bed, 2 queens, then a sofa bed and in the case of AKL and BLT and additional single sleeper chair

You can look at THV as an option?

 

[TagsMissy]

We're ok with the sleeping arrangments at the 2 br villas. DH and I can do the sleeper sofa, mom/dad in the master br, sister and fiance in Queen and my other siswter on the other sleeper.

Also, CANNOT RENT DVC POINTS FROM A MEMBER. We need the free dining.

You may want to look at the price difference between free dining and renting points... it may still be cheaper to rent points and pay for the dining plan especially when you get that many adults you need to pay a surcharge per adult over 2 adults in a room.

You often find rental of points @ $10/pt so purely as an example...

2BR OKW = 218 pts in September 2009 *10 = $2,180

Here is the cost to rent the room from Disney.com:
Disney's Old Key West Resort

Total:
$4,292

 

[Deb & Bill]

Eight Adults in a 2 bedroom may be uncomfortable. Are the adults grown children or are you referring to 4 couples?

Most 2 BRs are a studio plus a one bedroom, so you would have 4 sleep in the studio, 2 on the pull out coach and 2 in the Master bedroom. If you are comfortable with that sleeping arrangement, then having a kitchen would be great and having a living room to gather is a BIG advantage.

AKL Kidani 2 Bedrooms and BLT sleep 9 so they are a little bit bigger.

In terms of renting points, if you have firm dates planned you will need to rent from someone who owns at the resort you want to stay at and try to firm it up 11 months out to get what you want.

Good Luck with your decison.

I agree with this. Eight adults in a two bedroom villa will be very crowded. And even the ones that sleep nine versus the ones the sleep 8 are not any bigger. They just squeeze the sleeper chair in the living room making it seem even more crowded.

OKW is the only two bedroom (get a dedicated if possible) that I would consider doing eight adults. You'd have the king bed, two queens in the second bedroom and the queen sleeper sofa in the living room. The only way to get two queens in the second bedroom for other DVC resorts is to get a dedicated two bedroom. And even some BCV dedicated two bedroom villas only have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. BWV has no dedicated two bedroom villas.

We have had eight people in an OKW two bedroom and four of them were kids. It wasn't bad and the kids had fun (cousins together playing). We also had seven in an OKW two bedroom (lockoff) - five adults and two kids. Also not too bad.

 

[Jennasis]

I think the only villas Mom would consider at this point would be AKL or WL but I thought WL didn't have 2 bedrooms. We aren't concerned about space. As long as everyone has a spot to sleep, all is well.

 

[BCV23]

WL has two bedroom villas. There may not be any dedicated 2 BRs with 2 queens though.

If it's down to AKL and WL, one advantage of AKL is that the 2 BRs in Kidani Village (but not Jambo House) have a third full bathroom.

Have you considered BLT?

 

[fla4fun]

WL has two bedroom villas. There may not be any dedicated 2 BRs with 2 queens though.

If it's down to AKL and WL, one advantage of AKL is that the 2 BRs in Kidani Village (but not Jambo House) have a third full bathroom.

Have you considered BLT?

I believe there are dedicated two bedroom villas at VWL - I think most of them are on the top floor. There used to be a room map link somewhere in the posts, and when I looked at it, the whole ground floor seemed to be one bedroom and studios (which could then be combined), the middle floors were a mix of everything, but most of the top floor, especially down the long corridor, didn't show any studios at all - just two bedrooms.

Also, something to keep in mind is how much time you will be spending in the room. I've stayed in one bedroom and studio units at VWL, so imagining them together, I know you would have plenty of space. Personally, I think a lockout villa would be nicer for your group than a dedicated two bedroom, as the studio part feels larger when the sofa is folded up, plus it gives a separate "living room" area if the group is doing two different things.

 

[Figment2]

I agree that 8 adults in a 2BR is crowded. Been there, done that - NEVER going back. Too, depending on the resort, the sleeper in the studio portion could be a double (bed).

As a DVC member, I'd go with the 3 regular rooms. If for nothing else, 3 bathrooms.

Cyn

 

[Ferrillo]

We're ok with the sleeping arrangments at the 2 br villas. DH and I can do the sleeper sofa, mom/dad in the master br, sister and fiance in Queen and my other siswter on the other sleeper.

Also, CANNOT RENT DVC POINTS FROM A MEMBER. We need the free dining.

We looked at booking our 2 br at BCV through disney with free dining versus renting points and paying for dining. The money you save by renting points versus booking through disney far exceeds the cost of dining. We saved over 2 grand.

 

[goofy4tink]

We looked at booking our 2 br at BCV through disney with free dining versus renting points and paying for dining. The money you save by renting points versus booking through disney far exceeds the cost of dining. We saved over 2 grand.

I would have to agree with that. Free dining is a good deal, sort of. Because you have to pay rack rate, the room is costing a fortune. I wouldn't even consider free dining at a deluxe to begin...the rooms are overpriced in my opinion. I always try to stay in a value resort with free dining...now that's a good deal!!!

If you can go with renting points from a DVC owner, you may want to find one person in your group who could get an AP. Maybe there is someone that will be going down again. That way, you can buy the Tables in Wonderland card....costs about $70 or so but gets you a discount of 20% at most table sevice meals...and it's good for up to 10 people in your party!!! That's what we do..it's a huge savings, especially if you order adult beverages!!!

If you decide to stick with paying cash for a 'regular room' in order to get free dining, I would go with WL or AKL. They both have terrific theming. That way you can still get a two bedroom villa, but it will be tight. You will have the two bathrooms, but storage can be iffy...there is a huge walkin closet in the master, but only the TV armoire in the living room area, The 'second' bedroom has the TV armoire as well as a smallish closet for storage. And you do have two bathrooms, but for 7-8, that can get too close for comfort at times.
If you can talk your dad into going a bit less extravagent, try Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter..both very nice resorts, with a deluxe feel. Three rooms at one of those resorts will cost you less and you will have plenty of privacy.

 

[bekkiz]

I could be wrong, but I have some vague recollection that it was hard to get the free dining on any villas except at OKW and SSR. The Villas at the other resorts were very limited with that promotion. Then again, I may be remembering from a couple years ago. Just someting else to consider.