best child pool DVC & cruises/adv trips & Grand California

[JoRo]

Hi

So we are looking at being new DVC owners (live west coast) and thought that if we bought the resale points at one of the florida DVC, then we could use those cheaper points towards our stay at the Grand Cal Villas and the DLH. Since we will be going to DL (every year) more often then WDW (every couple). Sounds like a good idea?

Then we were wondering if any of you know which resort has the best young child pool? We have a 3 and 2 year old and so big pool swimming is out for a couple of years.

We looked into buying Grand Cal Villas but think we can get a better deal by buying a resale home location in WDW and using the points at GCV (5 nights 222) or DLH (5 nights 132). This is all new for us its hard to decide.

We are really really disappointed that using the points for a cruise or one of the adventures is not really a good deal. I found a little informaion that DVC get 30 % an adventure (maybe). We are not sure of the cost of cruises. Also that booking through RCI is not a good investment, our yearly beach trip would cost us more by about $500 by using RCI instead of Cash. So the only incentive for DVC is purely Disney Parks.

Thanks for the input -

 

[nunzia]

Well, I'm sure others will chime in, but, although your idea makes sense in theory, there is speculation that Grand Californian will be hard (to impossible) to book at 7 months, so the savings may not be worth it if you can't get to stay there when you want. Also, I don't know, but they may begin charging a 95.00 fee for the other hotels at the resort, just as they do in Florida. As a little bonus, MF are the lowest at the Grand so you'd make up some savings there. They also had some pretty good incentives going for the Grand (like a cruise) that you wouldn't get with a resale.
In this case, the old adage to buy where you want to stay would apply IMO.

 

[Tara]

So we are looking at being new DVC owners (live west coast) and thought that if we bought the resale points at one of the florida DVC, then we could use those cheaper points towards our stay at the Grand Cal Villas and the DLH. Since we will be going to DL (every year) more often then WDW (every couple). Sounds like a good idea?

I don't think this is a good idea given the fact that you won't have home booking advantage at the resort you want to use the most. Yes, you could save money on a resale, but if you can't then stay at DL, what good is the savings - you'll have wasted money in effect.

Then we were wondering if any of you know which resort has the best young child pool? We have a 3 and 2 year old and so big pool swimming is out for a couple of years.

Beach Club's Stormalong Bay is the best IMO. It's a huge pool complex, but it has a zero entry beach area that is awesome for little ones who can wade in very shallow water but can't swim. Plus there are tons of guided activities and games for little ones each day at the pool.

We are really really disappointed that using the points for a cruise or one of the adventures is not really a good deal. I found a little informaion that DVC get 30 % an adventure (maybe). We are not sure of the cost of cruises. Also that booking through RCI is not a good investment, our yearly beach trip would cost us more by about $500 by using RCI instead of Cash. So the only incentive for DVC is purely Disney Parks.

Thanks for the input -

I'm not sure why you are disappointed - the prices for Adventures by Disney trips are high (much higher in some cases), and like cruises, they include most meals along with lodging. DVC resorts just include lodging.Plus you aren't paying fees in to provide maintenance like supporting booking and administrative costs.

DVC is best used for DVC properties. That's the way the system was designed long before cruises and ABD were even a reality. If doing cruises or ABD are important to you, you should consider not sinking a lot of your vacation dollars in any timeshare.

 

[wishiwereindisney]

as for the pool - IMHO the new pool at kidani village will be great for little ones. it has a great water play area.

 

[pyrxtc]

If you want to mainly stay at DL (GCV) then buy there. Why chance wether or not you'll be able to get what you want and stay there. Most people on this board are specualting that GCV will be practically impossible to book at 7 months out (hoping this is not true and won't believe it until I see it) That same thing has been said about a few other resorts and I ahve seen much luck getting to stay there, I ahve stayed at BWV's and BCV's at 7 months out and booked SSR at about 5 months, all for periods over 5 days. My BCV was even over marathon weekend and have stayed at BWV's during flower and Garden festival.

Still, I would buy where you want to stay . That is why I bought at AKV's. I LOVE staying there and it is my go-to resort. If I can't change at 7 months then I am very happy to be "stuck" there. My current "stuck" room for September in concierge instead of BLT where i wanted to switch to wiht a MK view. Not enough rooms were open though.

I will stay there someday, just like I know I will be in CA over labor day weekend next year. I have faith and patience ! But I would not count on it every year !

 

[JoRo]

Thank you all for the input this is why we posted! I will ask our guide about the cruise and see what he says it was not intially offered they just have 8 dollars off each point (dont know if that is a good deal or not)

That is another concern we have is that we will not be able to get into the GC because it is always full. We are used to last min trips cause we stay at a good neighboor hotel. Also a good point about the $95 fee to stay in another hotel I will ask him that too....poor guy so many questions.

We want to invest in DVC because we go to DL and WDW lots - we just thought the saving would be a little more for the RCI.

Thanks!

 

[kerickson]

Thank you all for the input this is why we posted! I will ask our guide about the cruise and see what he says it was not intially offered they just have 8 dollars off each point (dont know if that is a good deal or not)

That is another concern we have is that we will not be able to get into the GC because it is always full. We are used to last min trips cause we stay at a good neighboor hotel. Also a good point about the $95 fee to stay in another hotel I will ask him that too....poor guy so many questions.

We want to invest in DVC because we go to DL and WDW lots - we just thought the saving would be a little more for the RCI.

Thanks!

Home resort booking won't mean much to you if you can't book 8-11 mo out, and you probably won't ever get VGC no matter where you buy if you can't book 6-7 mo out. You would still be able to use your points at the DLH and PPH, but as the PP stated, they will probably start charging a $95 fee at some point. If you do end up buying a WDW property, I'd buy a smaller contract resale and plan to bank/borrow for a every few years trip. (look at MF's though, not just the initial purchase price. MF's are a much bigger impact on total cost) Then maybe add on a small contract at VGC for an every so often trip you can plan a year out. The villas are going to be beautiful!

 

[d-r]

I have three words for you, and they are storm along bay.

And this is imho why no pool can top it for young children around the age of 2 and 3:

1. There is a little "baby" pool that the two year old can walk in and splash in that has water sprayers.

2. There is "toddler beach" - a sandy area that preschoolers love, they can walk in the sand, it is all "zero-depth," play with buckets and shovels etc.

3. Across the way, there is a little slide (it is on the "ship" that is the ladder up to the big slide). You can't go down it with a child on your lap anymore, but put some water wings or a life vest on them, station one parent at the top and the other at the bottom, and away they go down the little slide.

4. While they have that life jacket on, float around with them in the whirl pool, then make your way down to the little lazy river. There are a few waterfalls to splash in on the way.

It can not be beat. And you can always go to the quiet pool if you want as well.

Here are my imho honorable mentions:

1. Kidani - we went by here about three weeks ago, and we are staying here next month and it is going to be a lot of fun. Water play ground looks great. A little slide as well as a big slide.

2. Believe it or not, saratoga springs. It is a good one for little kids, with a small "water squirt" area that is small, but is interesting for kids because donald duck is there. Also, there is a small slide here - again, no sliding on laps, but floaties and parent stationing allows for sliding. And there is a small zero-dept entry part there as well, that has some water spickets.

3. The pool at jambo house is good for little ones, too, with a zero depth entry point and a decent baby pool.

4. wilderness lodge. The "big pool" is a carry only sort of pool for children that age, but there is a big water fall. There is also a good sized baby pool here, and the quiet pool has bubbles.

5. old key west, because of the sand play area and the large baby pool.

If you can count vero beach I would put it as tied with Kidani. Peter Pan ship with water canons and a slide, and the atlantic ocean.

 

[arthur06]

We want to invest in DVC because we go to DL and WDW lots - we just thought the saving would be a little more for the RCI.

Thanks!

Not really sure that I would INVEST in DVC. If your intentions are any thing other then vacations at deluxe resorts at Disney Properties, then DVC is probably not the way to go.

I bought a small BWV resale, paid cash. Then added on at VGC for how many points I would need to stay when I wanted to go there. I figure that I can alternate DL and WDW trips, and if I ever wanted to guarantee a DL trip, I needed to own there.

the biggest lesson that I ever learned here was buy where you want to stay. I waited for a small BWV resale with about the # of points I wanted and a UY that worked well for me. you wouldn't buy a Branson timeshare with the intent of going to Hawaii every year. If you really want to stay at VCG, you almost have to own there, and USE the 11 month window.

 

[CarolMN]

...... We are used to last min trips cause we stay at a good neighboor hotel. ......

DVC doesn't work very well for those who make last minute reservations (0-3 months in advance). If you don't think you will be able to plan your stays 8-11 months in advance, DVC will end up being a source of frustration for you more often than not. That's especially true since you want to stay mostly at the VGC, which will be the smallest of the DVC resorts. It appears that most who buy VGC plan to stay there and those members will be booking mostly 11 months in advance. That means it is very likely that availability will be quite limited at 7 months.

 

[rmonty02]

Thank you all for the input this is why we posted! I will ask our guide about the cruise and see what he says it was not intially offered they just have 8 dollars off each point (dont know if that is a good deal or not Thanks!

If you have a referral there is an additional $6-$8 point discount, instead of the cruise. Send me a PM or email me if you want more info on that and want a referral, rebecca_montgomery@excite.com. (I received a referral when I purchased VCG last month and saved a good deal of $$$.)

Also, you may know that the incentives are due to change on June 15. So the timing of a purchase right now may be crucial to take advantage of the current incentives or the next set of incentives, which ever works are best for you. And I second, the "purchase where you want to stay the most" advice.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.