A few resort choices, would like some opinions!

[All Tangled Up]

We are planning to stay September 5-14, 2017 and have a party of 4 currently (with another possibly jumping in). We love the parks and plan on doing them most of the time but arrival and departure days are at the resort as well as one additional day. I am planning on renting DVC points and splitting the cost between everyone in the group. As we all agree we'd rather pay a little more and go deluxe than stay in the value resorts So right now here are our options for the resort prices which include the whole stay divided among all of us.

Old Key West - $360 a person (but can only sleep 4)
AKL standard view - $387 (sleeps 4)
Poly - $450 a person (assuming 5th person comes)
Wilderness Lodge - $411 (sleeps 5)

So far we all want to stay at the Poly. It's my dream resort and I would love to stay there again and everyone else loves the idea of it. But if person 5 can't come the price would raise significantally and even if she did it's still the most expensive option.

I guess I'm asking for a second opinion as I'm the only one in the group who has been to WDW before this (although little to no experience with these resorts) would also love to hear experiences with each resort.

Thanks in advance

 

[Lisann]

With the exception of Poly, are these all studios?

 

[Babsy]

Also, is everyone an adult? 5 adults in one DVC studio would be VERY cramped! One adult would have to be quite small to sleep on the fold down bed in the Poly studio. My 7 year old grand daughter sleeps on it fine, but I can't imagine an adult on there! Plus there is almost no storage for your stuff in a studio. Where would you put everything?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I have to agree with the others. There is no way I would put 5 adults in any DVC studio. Have you considered two rooms at a mod? POR and POFQ are lovely. Or even 1 cabin at Ft. W?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The bed that sleeps the fifth person in Boulder Ridge Villas (used to be Villas at Wilderness Lodge) is a murphy bed that drops down. It is smaller than twin size, shorter and narrower. They call it bunk size. The sleeper sofa at AKV (second bed in the studio) is double sized, so smaller than the queen sized bed also in the villa. The Polynesian studio has one queen bed, one queen sleeper sofa and the same murphy bed as BRV. OKW studio will give you the most space in the villa and has the larger bathroom (though Polynesian studio will have a separate shower and tub with shower, plus two sinks - only one toilet).

 

[Babsy]

The bed that sleeps the fifth person in Boulder Ridge Villas (used to be Villas at Wilderness Lodge) is a murphy bed that drops down. It is smaller than twin size, shorter and narrower. They call it bunk size. The sleeper sofa at AKV (second bed in the studio) is double sized, so smaller than the queen sized bed also in the villa. The Polynesian studio has one queen bed, one queen sleeper sofa and the same murphy bed as BRV. OKW studio will give you the most space in the villa and has the larger bathroom (though Polynesian studio will have a separate shower and tub with shower, plus two sinks - only one toilet).

I suppose that if only 4 people go, they could manage in the OKW studio?

What do you think, Deb & Bill?

 

[Lisann]

Is the party all adults?

 

[All Tangled Up]

Thanks for responses guys- these are all studios. We are all adults. We are aware the 5th sleeping spot is a murphy bed and more than happy to utilize it (my 14 year old brother who is quite tall and a big guy has slept in it back at CBR and was fine). We also go to anime conventions and are used to overcrowding (this past weekend actually there were 10 of us in a hotel room that slept 4- not saying we will be overstuffing our room at Disney as we want MagicBands for everyone but we'll manage with the tight space). So sleeping on a pullout or murphy bed is okay as alot of us are used to sleeping on the floor or bathtub lol

OKW looks most appealing to us if person #5 can't go. Although I am struggling to find information on it in these forums (No information and questions thread for it in this board).

 

[All Tangled Up]

I should also mention another reason we are strongly considering Poly is the fact there are two showers- sleeping arrangements we don't care about but at conventions everyone tends to fight and get stressed out about bathing arrangements- to the point where we have to draw straws in order to determine the order people got to shower Another shower would really help us out there especially if there are only 4-5 of us!

 

[Babsy]

Thanks for responses guys- these are all studios. We are all adults. We are aware the 5th sleeping spot is a murphy bed and more than happy to utilize it (my 14 year old brother who is quite tall and a big guy has slept in it back at CBR and was fine). We also go to anime conventions and are used to overcrowding (this past weekend actually there were 10 of us in a hotel room that slept 4- not saying we will be overstuffing our room at Disney as we want MagicBands for everyone but we'll manage with the tight space). So sleeping on a pullout or murphy bed is okay as alot of us are used to sleeping on the floor or bathtub lol

OKW looks most appealing to us if person #5 can't go. Although I am struggling to find information on it in these forums (No information and questions thread for it in this board).

Have a look on the DVC forum. You should get lots of info on OKW there.

(I can't imagine sleeping in a bathtub or on the floor! Yikes! And 10 in a room? Doesn't that break fire regulations?)

I should also mention another reason we are strongly considering Poly is the fact there are two showers- sleeping arrangements we don't care about but at conventions everyone tends to fight and get stressed out about bathing arrangements- to the point where we have to draw straws in order to determine the order people got to shower Another shower would really help us out there especially if there are only 4-5 of us!

OK, that makes sense. If you need extra bathing then the Poly is a great choice for you. The huge amount of space allocated to bathrooms in the Poly doesn't work for us, but may be tailor made to your group.

Have fun!

 

[loves to dive]

Have you already checked to see if anything is available to rent at these resorts? Sept. is F&W and DVC books up fast. If I had to choose between the ones you listed, I'd go with AKL or WL. I've stayed at all of the resorts except WL, not all in the studios, some just the resort and I'm not a fan of the MK monorail resorts. Since the monorail can be iffy, you are sort of stuck with Poly and while the OKW rooms are huge, I wasn't a fan. AKL is beautiful and I've visited WL many times, it's beautiful as well.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I've stayed at all of these except AKL. I'd rank them like this, personally:

1. Poly
2. WL
3. OKW

I think that Poly is a good choice during F&W -- we did it last Nov. You can walk to TTC and just hop on the monorail to Epcot -- very convenient. You can obviously get there most easily from OKW, but I liked that resort MUCH less -- and I wonder if it'll even be available during F&W. I know that BCV and BWV are already pretty much full.

I wil echo others' comments: I would not try to stretch and get 5 adults in a studio, personally. But if that's ok with all concerned, obviously go for it!

 

[Lisann]

I would do two connecting rooms at POR. 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. Would that work for you? You would be a big step up from a value resort. And I think you would really enjoy your stay much more at a moderate (more room, etc).

 

[All Tangled Up]

I would do two connecting rooms at POR. 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. Would that work for you? You would be a big step up from a value resort. And I think you would really enjoy your stay much more at a moderate (more room, etc).

That sounds like a good idea but I really wanted to stay at a deluxe. Main reason being the bus lines for the values and mods were AWFUL.... I stayed at CBR back in June and had to wait years to get on the bus lol meanwhile the lines for the deluxe resorts at the end of the day were not so bad. But it's definitely something to consider if it's around the price as the others... although space is not that much of an issue for us.

Have you already checked to see if anything is available to rent at these resorts? Sept. is F&W and DVC books up fast. If I had to choose between the ones you listed, I'd go with AKL or WL. I've stayed at all of the resorts except WL, not all in the studios, some just the resort and I'm not a fan of the MK monorail resorts. Since the monorail can be iffy, you are sort of stuck with Poly and while the OKW rooms are huge, I wasn't a fan. AKL is beautiful and I've visited WL many times, it's beautiful as well.

I will be filling a form with our broker today and discussing options with them. I would book AKL in a heartbeat but I've heard it's so far from the other parks and we are big parks people.

 

[loves to dive]

That sounds like a good idea but I really wanted to stay at a deluxe. Main reason being the bus lines for the values and mods were AWFUL.... I stayed at CBR back in June and had to wait years to get on the bus lol meanwhile the lines for the deluxe resorts at the end of the day were not so bad. But it's definitely something to consider if it's around the price as the others... although space is not that much of an issue for us.



I will be filling a form with our broker today and discussing options with them. I would book AKL in a heartbeat but I've heard it's so far from the other parks and we are big parks people.

That may solve part of your problem as some of the resorts might not be available. AKL isn't any farther away from Epcot/HS than most of the moderate resorts are. Everything except the monorail resorts and WL is far from MK.

 

[Apopper74]

Poly was my dream resort, at least until I stayed there. It is a beautiful resort and you can't beat the location but I realized my heart is at AKV. That is even with a standard view room. The transportation isn't as bad as everyone wants you to think at AKV, but it is also the one resort when staying at I can actually justify a rental car just for pure convenience not because transportation is a hassle. Due to medical problems, if not doing well I may get a scooter and I really hate taking those on the buses. I do love that when staying at a monorail resort I can make a last minute decision to run to MK and be there in 15 minutes from room to main street. AKV is absolutely beautiful and the only resort I get that awe stepping into the lobby. So much to do at the resort and the theming really does take you away.

 

[DG25]

My favorite out of your choices would be WL, we own DVC at Poly and have stayed, and for your with the split bath would be perfect, but out fav is WL. The Murphy bed, is not as small as they are saying, at least not as small as the ones at POR. Have you checked GF, last time I looked they have the split bath and the price was lower than poly, but not by much. You stated you are planning on renting, have you looked up Disney prices, that time of year you are going to get a discount, I would say at least 30%, with that WL and AKL would be down around $350 a night, SS would be around $240, at that price, I would consider a one bedroom that sleeps 5, putting you back up to the prices you quoted but with a full kitchen, and much more room. You also may want to rethink your renting points for other reasons, and believe me I'm all for DVC, I own in. But if you won't be in the room a lot, and if you don't need a kitchen, why rent. That time of year you may get free dining, or you may get a 35% off room. It would open you up to lots of rooms that sleep 5 with beds rather than Murphy and sofa beds. A room atblike BWI has two queens and a daybed. Almost all the resorts in deluxe have that configuration, except WL and AK. I know in may, GF and Poly the most expensive is at your $450 for a standard room. But BWI, CR, are only $300 to $320, BC and YC would be closer to $400. All six resorts have the 2 queen beds and 1 day bed. The discount have not come out yet, but in years past this is what discounts have been for this time of year 30 to 35%, so give it a month or two and see if the discounts come out. Another choice when discounts do come out would be two rooms at a mod, you could probably find rooms at POR, CSR and CBR for about $170, putting you at $340 mark, but you would have 4 beds. A cheaper choice would be the cabins, running about $240, with a queen bed, a queen sofa and a set of bunks. The AoA would be about $300 for a queen bed, a double Murphy, and a double pull out. You just need to wait for discounts.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If your main reason for staying at a deluxe is bus lines, I would suggest considering using uber to get around WDW. Even when we stay deluxe we use uber to go from resort to resort and even when there are long lines from park back to the resort. Most trips cost around $5 - $10 and you don't have to worry about car seats for children as it's only adults going. Uber is super quick at WDW! We hated the transportation at WL the last time we stayed there, but now with uber onsite, we are going to stay there again in August and just use uber to get everywhere except MK.

 

[Lisann]

That sounds like a good idea but I really wanted to stay at a deluxe. Main reason being the bus lines for the values and mods were AWFUL.... I stayed at CBR back in June and had to wait years to get on the bus lol meanwhile the lines for the deluxe resorts at the end of the day were not so bad. But it's definitely something to consider if it's around the price as the others... although space is not that much of an issue for us.

.

If there are only four going, you would each have a bed if at two rooms at a moderate.

 

[Mike_Mac]

My family's favorite is WL for the ambiance and proximity to MK by boat and easy bus service. We love visiting at Christmas.

As an FYI, a previous thread did a nice job two years ago tracking DVC availability by resort from 11 months out all the way down to one month, which may help you visualize how likely what you want is available or not:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

Many resorts have availability 7 months out, but the popular resorts and lower priced villas seem to go quickly, especially for particular weeks throughout the year.

In our case, we wanted a studio at WL BRV for mid-December. Based on the charts, there was only spotty availability 10 months out and none at 7 months. We put our request in right at the 11 month date, and two weeks later we were matched with a DVC owner. I don't know how accurate the charts truly are, but at least it's some kind of guidance.