2 Rooms at a Resort or a 2 BDR Villa?

[KBFinFan]

Hope this is an appropriate place to ask this question-

I figured many of the DVC members on this board are familiar with their properties and the "regular" resorts than in other sections of the boards.

Anyway, I am planning to head down to Disney 1/1 to 1/7 and am thinking about renting points for a two-bedroom villa (that is if I can even get one...). We are going with 6-7 people who are all more or less adults ( a couple 17 year olds and two 21 year olds, understanding we will sleep 2 per bed/couchbed). Would we be comfortable in a 2 BDR villa? It is more spacious... or should I just go with two rooms at a resort?

Thanks everyone!

 

[rocketriter]

You'll have to do your own cost analysis. But the DVC 2-bedroom is definitely more spacious. It also includes a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and jacuzzi. (On the other hand, the maid service is limited to 1 trash-and-towel and 1 cleaning within each 8-day period, unless you choose to pay for more.)

 

[pumpkinboy]

I was not sure if you planned on 6 or 7 nights, but for a 2BR DVC rental, I would expect you would pay ballpark $2,000 to $2,700 for a 6 night stay, or $2,500 to $3,200 for a 7 night stay (those weekend nights are pricier). That assumes that there is such a room available, of course (1/1 might be tight). I think you would be more comfortable in a 2BR, with the full kitchen and washer-dryer (meaning you can pack less) and it will likely be cost-effective compared to the Deluxe resorts (even if you pay for some supplemental maid service - which might not be a bad idea with so many adults in the suite). Of course, the most spacious rooms on property are at OKW, which fortunately still has the most rooms of the DVC resorts, usually meaning better availablity - and it doesn't hurt that it has the lowest points costs.

You might do better on a cost basis going with one of the Moderate resorts, and certainly will with the Value resorts.

Good luck!

 

[erikthewise]

A 2BR at OKW is likely to be your best bet, but here's a few thoughts.

If you pick a Value resort you would likely need to get 3 or 4 rooms -- if you put more than two adults in a Value room for a whole week, you will regret it!

If you get two deluxe rooms at a resort that sleeps five, and use the daybeds, then everybody or nearly everybody can have their own bed, plus you have two bathrooms. But it's likely to be expensive.

If you have seven adults, even a 2BR may be a little cozy. If you can swing it, consider 2BR+studio or even two 1BRs.

If you can't find what you want at DVC, consider Fort Wilderness Cabins.

 

[KBFinFan]

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

Value wise it seems by far renting points is the way to go. I think the 2 BDR will give us more room to move around then two rooms at a deluxe would anyway, so I am leaning towards it.

OKW is probably the best choice, but I kind of wanted to try SSR (as long as I get a dedicated 2 BDR). Now to rent some points...

Also, how long is t he walk to DTD from OKW?

 

[southtown]

I would say if you can do the 2br villa then go for it. If you get 2 rooms at a resort you are basically just getting two bedrooms. Where if you went with a DVC villa you are getting two bedrooms plus a living room/kitchen area and a W/D. You could also save money by cooked 1 or 2 meals in the room(spaghetti is cheap,quick and easy) plus by having breakfast foods and snacks and drinks in your fridge in the Villa then having to go to a food court or restuarant when you are hungry. That can really add up.
I looked at the point charts for you and if you went to OKW 5 nights from check in Sun-fri checkout it would be 110 points or $1,100 if you rented for $10/point. If you really wanted to stay a whole week in there it would be 218 points or $2,180. That another thousand for those two extra nights. SSR would be 135 points for a Sun-Fri stay or $1350 or 243 points for the entire week or $2,430. Again over another thousand for those two weekend nights. So if you wanted to go for a week but those prices are a bit steep and you dont mind being off property for fri+sat night there are alot of places where you can rent a 2br villa from. I checked expedia and I found a 2br at Sheratons Vistana resort for the nights of the 1st and 2nd coming to a total of $324 for those two nights. That will save you $700. Thats a nice chunck of change.Its like 2 almost 3 5 day park hoopers. I have stayed there before and liked it alot. My favorite place out of all the places we have stayed off property.We plan on doing this for our first two nights when we are going down in Nov. Its two miles from downtown disney, seven pools,the shuttle is complimentary. Easy to get to.Heres a link to some info on the resort

http://www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/welcome.jsp?resortID=5

The only thing weird about the floorplans was the room where we stayed two storys and didnt seem as nice as these rooms. But dont worry the rooms were still nice. I think we might have been put in an older section because we were with another couple who did a timeshare trade and I hear when people do that they get the less desired rooms and the resort saves the newer ones for there paying guests. But like I said before we still had no problem with the room and I would stay there again. Wait a minute,I am in Nov.haha
Anyways I am not trying to tell you what to do,just giving you some options.
Have a great trip no matter what you do

 

[12BNWDW]

Take the 2 Bdrm!I've stayed twice at the BWV in a 2 bdrm and they are wonderful!The bathrooms are huge and there is plenty of room for everyone to "sprawl". The full kitchen and washer and dryer are a plus too.So if cost isn't too much of an issue-go for it!

 

[OneMoreTry]

I think the first choice is "monorail or not-monorail." It's hard to beat a monorail resort.

If monorail is not critical, then a 2BR is much better than 2 rooms. You have the bedrooms plus living area and kitchen. OKW is less expensive and condos are MUCH bigger if space and/or price are important. BWV and BCV are smaller but extremely close to Epcot.

With that many adults you'd need to agree who was going to use which bed before deciding on accomodations. The master bedroom has a king and beautiful bath suite area with 2 person jacuzzi tub. The second bedroom has a queen bed plus sleeper sofa and smaller bathroom. Then there is a sleeper sofa in the living area. In other words, two people would have MUCH nicer accomodations than the others. If that's a problem, don't get the 2BR.

 

[Geezer]

Originally posted by KBFinFan
Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

Value wise it seems by far renting points is the way to go. I think the 2 BDR will give us more room to move around then two rooms at a deluxe would anyway, so I am leaning towards it.

OKW is probably the best choice, but I kind of wanted to try SSR (as long as I get a dedicated 2 BDR). Now to rent some points...

Also, how long is t he walk to DTD from OKW?

If you walk to DTD from OKW, it is about 12 -15 minutes. You can also take the boat that runs once an hour. I think those times might actually be similar from SSR. You will love the space at OKW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with Geezer. We love the space at OKW and you will have much more stretching out room than you will at SSR. We will be staying at SSR for a couple of nights next month before we head to the 3 bedroom GV at OKW. I'll get a better feel for it then. We also love the transportation from OKW. It is easy to take, and saves the hassle of parking and finding your car etc. Makes for easy park hopping.

 

[KBFinFan]

Thank you everyone! I was really hoping that the 2BR sounded good to everyone as well as myself. There are 4 "children" going, but we are either 17 or 21... and really will sleep wherever. The sleeping arrangements won't be a problem. The points I need are Saturday to Thursday, so I am only paying for one weekend night. It's 164 at OKW and up to 210 at the others. I really want to try VWL, but I think we'll likely do OKW for the price and space.

Thanks again, and also I think I may take the DVC tour as I want to join sometime next year... since I have heard such good things from the boards.