ARGH! LOL, I cannot make up my mind re: rooms! HELP!

[thesoldtrain]

Okay, so as soon as I THINK I make up my mind on a concrete plan for our Xmas/New Year's trip, another option pops into my head and I am back to square one! My hubby is making fun of my "number crunching" and my dining room table is covered in scratch paper detailing different choices for resorts and their point values, !

Okay, so here is what my "dilemma" is....LOL, the best dilemma to be in! I have boiled it down to 2 options....looking for votes on which you would do from you experts wo have been there, done that! This will be a 1st trip as DVCers, and we will be resort hopping as my hubby wants to experience more than 1 resort since we have an extended 19 day stay...We are a family of 5, myself, DH, DD age 7, DD age 3, and DS 1.

Okay, points are within 1 point of each option, so oranges and oranges.....---

Option 1) First 7 nights at VWL in a 1 bdrm (will include Xmas day). Move to studio at OKW for 4 nights. On 12/30, move to SSR for 8 nights in a 1 bdrm. Pro: Being settled for New Year's eve! Con: Hubby wants to try a 2bdrm somewhere in there.

Option2 ) First 7 nights at VWL 1 bdrm (Xmas). 6 nights in studio at OKW. On New Year's Day, move to 2 bdrm at SSR for 6 more nights. Pro: Get to experience the different sizes of accomodations! Con: Changing rooms on New Year's Day and I am not as excited about OKW, but it was the only thing available in a studio....you OKW fans, sell me on it!

Which would you do?

Thanks!
Jeanette

 

[CarolMN]

Are you planning for Christmas 2006?

If so, unless you already have a reservation, you may have trouble getting any accomodations in any of the DVC resorts for New Year's Eve.

I also think you are going to have trouble getting into VWL the week of Christmas if you don't already have a reservation.

My advice is to call tomorrow and book your home resort if you haven't already.

With 3 small children, my opinion is that you are moving too much - especially since you are visiting during the peak season. All of the resorts will be at or near capacity -because of that, you are almost certainly going to be without a room for much of the day when you move. Will that work out OK with the littlest 2?

If it were me, I would not move at all the first trip home, especailly if my first trip was scheduled for THE busiest time of the year. For sure I wouldn't move more than once.

Again, unless you already have a reservation at the VWL and one somewhere for NYE, you may not have either of your options available. If I had a choice, I'd pick VWL for the first half of the trip (would not move on Christmas Day) and SSR for the last half. NYE fireworks from PI are said to be awesome.

Best wishes -

-

 

[sleepydog25]

I agree with CarolMN. If you haven't done so, book somewhere now if it's available. Christmas is THE peak season and rooms can be difficult to come by even at the 11 months out point, especially at VWL. If it were me, I would make one ressie for a 2BR wherever it was available and stay put. With a family of 5, I wouldn't want the hassle of moving during peak season. . .heck, I wouldn't want the hassle with just us 3 during off-peak!

Keep in mind that you will be making future visits to WDW with your DVC membership, and you can experience the different room types on subsequent trips. Frankly, we're spoiled by the 2BR suites. One other thing, both studios and 1BRs are only equipped to deal with four folks (someone with more knowledge than me can tell you, but there is a limit to the number of people allowed in each type suite) though I have heard of some exceptions.

Best of luck with your search. Hopefully, we haven't discouraged you, just shared our experiences for what they're worth.

 

[thesoldtrain]

YIkes, guess I should have clarified that! Yes, we already have the rooms booked at this point....just need to add on 2 more days to OKW if we choose the 6 nights there. We would not be moving on the actual holiday for Xmas, but instead the next day. I guess our thinking is that for 19 days, that is a long time at one resort (and a studio for that long just isn't going to work! LOL), and our kids are pretty easily manageable, so we are looking at 2 resorts minimum. The reason I have to throw in the 3rd is for points during those specific days....we don't have enough to stay continuously in 1 bdrm during those days between Xmas and New Year's, so we have to switch to a studio anyway, which is why we figured what the heck, we could try a 3rd resort. I guess another option (Here I go again! ) is to do the WLV and then go right to SSR for a few studio days, then move to the bigger accomodation after the 1st when points aren't so high....at least that wouldn't be too major of a move.

Jeanette

 

[thesoldtrain]

Our family has 5 in it now, but the youngest is still in a crib, so we still can qualify for the studio and 1 bdrm....BUT I do see the 2bdrm in our near future, LOL!

 

[sleepydog25]

YIkes, guess I should have clarified that! Yes, we already have the rooms booked at this point

The pixie dust has already been showered on your family! Congrats! Those aren't easy accomodations to get. In that case and given your two options, and once again I must say that once I'm in a room it takes an act of Congress to get me to move, I'd choose Option 3. The move day would be less stressful and you'd only move once, and you will only be in a studio for a few days. LOL Hey, our daughter is a wonderful child, but I would go stark raving mad in a studio with her after two or three days!

 

[mjmcca]

We stayed at OKW in April for Easter on a cash ressie and loved it. My kids loved Olivias. I have a 4 and 5 year old and I agree you are moving too much. We had to have a split stay over Easter since we were on CM discount and my friend could not get us one ressie. It was a pain to pack up all the stuff and leave in the middle.

 

[thesoldtrain]

Well, that is why I ask the experts here! Okay, so I need to slim it down to 2 resorts maximum....hmmmm, how to do that? Back to the drawing board....VWL is a MUST, and a must for 1 bdrm ( no other availabilty). And I cannot do a studio for the rest, because I would go crazy with the small space and all of our stuff (plus, need that W/D!) Don't have enough points for doing the REST as a 1bdrm or 2 bdrm. ACK! Okay, dining room table, here I come again with my scratch paper! LOL

 

[sleepydog25]

Well, that is why I ask the experts here! Okay, so I need to slim it down to 2 resorts maximum....hmmmm, how to do that? Back to the drawing board....VWL is a MUST, and a must for 1 bdrm ( no other availabilty). And I cannot do a studio for the rest, because I would go crazy with the small space and all of our stuff (plus, need that W/D!) Don't have enough points for doing the REST as a 1bdrm or 2 bdrm. ACK! Okay, dining room table, here I come again with my scratch paper! LOL

Half the fun is in the planning! Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Interesting that you've decided to go with the studio for OKW where the larger units are such a big difference. If it were I and I had to do a studio to save points, I'd likely go with VWL given your basic plan in place already. It may not be available now as noted. Given what you have already, I'd go with the 2 BR for OKW for the 4 nights and keep the rest intact. Assuming you don't have points for that even with borrowing, I'd rent a few points to have them transferred in OR see if you can get any of your nights with a member cash discount. Just check with MS to make sure that unit type is available.

 

[DisFlan]

Three thoughts:

1) That's WAY more moving than I'd want to do in one trip. You'll have more than luggage - you'll also have all the foodstuffs and Disney goodies you'll be accumulating over 19 days.

2) I wouldn't relish spending 6 continuous nights (a third of your trip) in a studio with 3 small children, even at OKW. I'd keep the studio nights to as few in a row as possible.

3) As DVC owners, you'll have many future trips to experience the different resorts. I wouldn't try to do so many in one trip (just my opinion). You'll be spending a good portion of your trip packing/re-packing for 5 people, managing your moves and spending the time to accomplish them. (The Holidays can be chaotic, with long check-in lines, etc. What if your new room isn't ready until late in the day?) There are better things to do at WDW than standing in lines and waiting to check into three different resorts. As someone else mentioned - I wouldn't move at ALL during a Christmas trip, but do what you need to do to get the points to work.

Whatever you choose, have a great trip!


DisFlan

 

[Stitch1404]

I would just stay as many nights as you can in a 1 bedroom at VWL. I don't like staying in studios with more than 2 maybe 3 people. Even if it meant not staying as many nights I think it would be worth it to stay in the same room the whole time with little kids. As others mentioned, you will have many years to try out all the accomodations. Good luck deciding!

 

[Lesley]

I like your option 1 best. With the ages of your children I don't think you'll get much use out of the second bedroom in the 2br (or at least we wouldn't with kids those ages...ymmv) and I'd want to keep the studio portion of the trip as short as possible.

As much as your dh may want to try a 2br....it will really only be a couple years before you'll need one because of the kids. Save the points while you can.

The one thing I do like about your second option is that you have nearly a full week at each resort....but I still wouldn't want to be in a studio that long.