A Disney-Addicted mom plans an August, 2013 Autotrain Trip for 7! *Big Update! 11/19*

[DrMomof3]

OMG Amanda that is great news!!!

We LOVE the BC and I often lurk on that board. I know you have stayed there a few times and love it too!! So it makes perfect sense it is your "home" resort.

Hope it all works out!!

Teena will be psyched!!!! Lol

It's such a great location and I know how much we enjoy the pool!

Sorry about the double post! I didn't think it sent the first time.

You were just extra excited!

Fabulous news about the BC contract keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Thank you so much!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Now I don't promise that we won't change our minds again. But....
I've come to realize that when we travel to Disney, location is the single point important amenity a resort can offer.
We recently stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations SeaWorld. The 2 bedroom villa was beautiful. Probably more spacious and luxurious that a similar DVC unit. One bedroom with a king sized bed. Master bath with both stall shower and huge whirlpool tub. Second bedroom with 2 queen sized beds and a full bath. Sofa bed in living. Dining room table with 6 chairs. Nice kitchen. The property was nice (one negative was no water slide at the pool - the kids were quite disappointed). It was a bit of a hike from our unit to the main pool which was annoying. But what was really hard is the distance to Disney. We ended up spending much longer days in the parks because it was too far to leave and come back.
With all that in mind I realized that even with a car, the Treehouses were going to be a poor choice for us. Although the Treehouses have their own pool, it doesn't have a water slide. Which means that even something "simple" like going for a swim becomes an ordeal. We hated driving to the main pool last month! Also the one time we stayed at Saratoga in the past, the bus service was spotty. The first few days we had NO problem but the end of the week was just torture. Of course at that time we had 2 strollers and a 25 pound one year old who didn't walk yet! We still have a stroller. And even with a car, what are the chances that all 7 of us will want to do the same thing all the time? Staying in a more convenient location (and having 4 adults instead of 2 adults) means that we can split up if the kids want to do different things.
Although I'm dying to stay at AKV, the same reasoning that went into NOT staying at Saratoga also ruled out AKV. And Tom's never been particularly interested in staying there.
That left BLT vs. Epcot area DVCs. And I was pretty neutral about which of the 3 we chose. So ultimately it came down to fate. Only one of the resorts had a 2 bedroom villa available with our discount. And that was....

Boardwalk Villas!!!

And the only view available was standard view. I've been curious to stay at Boardwalk and now we get our chance. Unfortunately it means that Nathaniel and Jessica will have to share a double sofa bed in the same bedroom as my step-dad. But it should be ok. Zachary and Karin will share the sofa bed in the living room, unless I decide to bring the air mattress for Zachary (hmmmm. maybe I will....).
There are many positives: Walk-able to both Epcot and Boardwalk. Tons of good restaurants in the area, including at the Swan and Dolphin. The pool looks nice with a fun slide (scary clown issues aside - my kids have seen pictures and are ok with it!). I'm sure it'll be a little bit cozy as we've enjoyed a 2 bedroom villa without the extra guests!

Amanda

 

[ddluvsdisney]

BWV sounds fabulous!!!

But I'm a little confused. What if you get the DVC at BC? Do you just need to make this reservation just in case?

So exciting!

 

[DrMomof3]

BWV sounds fabulous!!!

But I'm a little confused. What if you get the DVC at BC? Do you just need to make this reservation just in case?

So exciting!

It'll take at least 60 days for us to become DVC members and then we won't have any points in our account until August 1, 2013. I guess in theory we could "borrow" those points in advance but 160 points isn't going to pay for a 2 bedroom villa. And since it'll likely be June (or later) before we're members, it's unlikely there would be any availability at BCV for our dates. So we really can't use points for our August trip. I'm thinking using the points to run the Princess in 2014. Maybe.

Amanda

 

[cogero]

The kids and I have stayed at BWV and it was nice to walk to Epcot and DHS.

We are staying there again in 2 weeks and I am kind of excited about it again.

 

[natebenma]

On Friday I noticed an 160 point contract for Beach Club Villas with an August Use Year. I made an offer and today I heard that our offer was accepted. We still need to sign contracts and then Disney has the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) - which means Disney may decide it's TOO good a deal and buy the contract themselves. All of this will take at least a month or so but we may find ourselves DVC members....

Amanda

The Beach Club, huh? I've heard of that place!



I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get over here! I only make it onto the PTR boards when I see postings from people I know, so last night I saw your posting, but my computer was overworked and not cooperating with me.

My fingers and toes are crossed that you get the contract!!!

 

[natebenma]

for a stay at Boardwalk Villas!!!

I totally agree with you that location is one of most important factors in a Disney resort, which is the number one reason I am such a fan of the Beach Club.

I have heard many good things about BW and BWV- pixarmom and her family have enjoyed their stays there.

Look forward to hearing more about your trip.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

It'll take at least 60 days for us to become DVC members and then we won't have any points in our account until August 1, 2013. I guess in theory we could "borrow" those points in advance but 160 points isn't going to pay for a 2 bedroom villa. And since it'll likely be June (or later) before we're members, it's unlikely there would be any availability at BCV for our dates. So we really can't use points for our August trip. I'm thinking using the points to run the Princess in 2014. Maybe.

Amanda

Gotcha

 

[DrMomof3]

The kids and I have stayed at BWV and it was nice to walk to Epcot and DHS.

We are staying there again in 2 weeks and I am kind of excited about it again.

Glad to hear about your good experience!

The Beach Club, huh? I've heard of that place!



I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get over here! I only make it onto the PTR boards when I see postings from people I know, so last night I saw your posting, but my computer was overworked and not cooperating with me.

My fingers and toes are crossed that you get the contract!!!

Too awesome, right?

for a stay at Boardwalk Villas!!!

I totally agree with you that location is one of most important factors in a Disney resort, which is the number one reason I am such a fan of the Beach Club.

I have heard many good things about BW and BWV- pixarmom and her family have enjoyed their stays there.

Look forward to hearing more about your trip.

I saw that pixarmom was lurking over there!
I think SAB is a better pool than Luna Park (is that what the pool is called?) but I find it hard to watch the younger ones at SAB so maybe this is better for this year.

Gotcha

Resale DVC is actually more complicated than I imagined!

Amanda

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Honestly Amanda you are living my dream life -running and completing (more to the point) races, and now buying DVC Really hope it all works out and you get the contract! Cant wait to hear all about Boardwalk villas too. Love this location so much Life is so much easier with kids when you can escape back to the pool from the parks easily

 

[DrMomof3]

Honestly Amanda you are living my dream life -running and completing (more to the point) races, and now buying DVC Really hope it all works out and you get the contract! Cant wait to hear all about Boardwalk villas too. Love this location so much Life is so much easier with kids when you can escape back to the pool from the parks easily

You are too kind!!!
I agree that with young kids the location of the resort is so important!!!

Amanda

 

[wiigirl]

You are too kind!!!
I agree that with young kids the location of the resort is so important!!!

Amanda

Location, location, location....

 

[DrMomof3]

Location, location, location....

Amen.

 

[DrMomof3]

We signed our resale contract and the sellers signed the contract and it's being sent to Disney to see if they will allow the sale to go forward. Super exciting!

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

We signed our resale contract and the sellers signed the contract and it's being sent to Disney to see if they will allow the sale to go forward. Super exciting!

Amanda

That is AWESOME!!!

 

[DrMomof3]

That is AWESOME!!!

I'm in shock! Everything has gone so quickly.... Now the waiting game begins. They have 30 days to decide.

Amanda

 

[ddluvsdisney]

So exciting!!!

I wish our closing for condo was going that smoothly. It has been awful! UGH over a month now and nothing. Apparently getting a condo in FL is such a high risk for mortgage co. They make it near impossible. We just switched to a bank so hopefully it will be quicker. Fingers crossed.

We leave in 29 days!!! Woohoo

 

[DrMomof3]

So exciting!!!

I wish our closing for condo was going that smoothly. It has been awful! UGH over a month now and nothing. Apparently getting a condo in FL is such a high risk for mortgage co. They make it near impossible. We just switched to a bank so hopefully it will be quicker. Fingers crossed.

We leave in 29 days!!! Woohoo

Oh no! Sorry it's so stressful!
There's a huge difference between buying a condo and buying a relatively small resale contract on a timeshare. We picked a contract small enough to pay cash.

Amanda

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

We signed our resale contract and the sellers signed the contract and it's being sent to Disney to see if they will allow the sale to go forward. Super exciting!

Amanda

Good luck! Fingers crossed everything goes according to plan

 

[momto3gr8boys]

We signed our resale contract and the sellers signed the contract and it's being sent to Disney to see if they will allow the sale to go forward. Super exciting!

Amanda

Woohoo! Fingers crossed it goes smoothly and quickly from here!