Alternatives for staying the whole week?

[notsogrumpy]

I like the idea of using my points from Sun-Thurs since point values are more favorable. But, if I want to stay the extra 2 or 3 days to make it a whole weeks vacation, what are the best options? We need a 2 bedroom unit since we have 6 in our family. Is there a place I can go to find some good alternatives?

 

[jekjones1558]

Not sure I totally understand your question, but staying at OKW or BWV standard view rooms during adventure season would be the cheapest way to get a 2 bedroom for 7 or more days. (This is assuming you want to be in DVC accommodations the entire time and not check into a value resort for the weekend days.)

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, we always look at it as a WEEK rather than a per day point cost. A week at OKW in a 2 bedroom in Adventure season is 218 points. That's a great bargain for that much room!

 

[byoung]

We will use the AP discounts for the friday and saturday stays a lot. We like seeing the other resorts and donn't mind moving.

 

[Plutofan]

From what I have seen several times using points at your WDW DVC for Friday and Saturday if you need a 2 bedroom may still be a good value but it is not as good of a value compared to other nights. Be sure to check out the cash rate with the 25% DVC discount if available to compare to using points on Friday and Saturday

 

[Cinderella]

Split your stay if you have to - but a whole week in one of the villas is pure luxury if you have enough points. I used to try to be economical with points - but i added on.

 

[gothmommie]

Interesting thread.....am I looking at things correctly that if I were to get a (regular) deluxe room at the AKL Concierge level (rack rate plus 11.5% tax) it would actually be cheaper on Friday and Saturday nights than a villa at say BCV???

Now I know you are talking different classes of rooms here but still. (I'd pay cash for the AKL room then move to a DVC room Sunday - Thursday).

Did I mess up or is that true????

If so, that's what we're doing next trip!

 

[gothmommie]

From what I have seen several times using points at your WDW DVC for Friday and Saturday if you need a 2 bedroom may still be a good value but it is not as good of a value compared to other nights. Be sure to check out the cash rate with the 25% DVC discount if available to compare to using points on Friday and Saturday

Can you use that DVC discount off the rack rate for AKL Concierge?

 

[DisFamily2006]

You could stay at a Moderate or value resort the other days. Just get ajoining rooms. Many members will do this to save points for future trips. (As long as you don't mind moving...)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can you use that DVC discount off the rack rate for AKL Concierge?

Nope, no DVC discount on non-DVC rooms. +

 

[Beca]

We sometimes start our vacation on a Fri, and stay in a studio. In your case, you might want to stay in two studios on Fri and Sat, and then move to a 2bdrm on Sun (I'm not sure if this would work for your family). I don't know how many points this would save, but I'm sure it would save you some.



Beca

 

[gothmommie]

Nope, no DVC discount on non-DVC rooms. +

ahhh...I thought that sounded too good to be true! Thanks for the info!

 

[Dean]

You might also look for holding account or other distressed points that can be transferred in to your account. weekends are usually much easier to reserve short notice. We never pay points for weekends but then 5 days is enough for us generally. When we do stay over weekends it's usually by getting an II exchange in or paying cash which gives us a chance to try other resorts.

 

[cobbler]

I stay weekends and don't look at it as a per night point cost, but I take the total points for the week and divide by 7 nights. It doesn't look so bad then.

 

[crisi]

Consider offsite. Particularly if the kids want to go to Universal, staying in a Universal hotel can be a good deal. There are several suite hotels in the Orlando area that might work for your family.

We used a Saturday night last trip to stay for cash at AKL. We just used a AAA rate. It wasn't cheap, but it was cheaper than the DVC unit we were in, and we got a chance to stay at a hotel I'd always wanted to try.