Best DVC Rooms?

[dakotix]

We'll be renting DVC points for the first time and I am curious if the rooms offered through DVC are better than others depending on the resort you stay at?

 

[chalee94]

Not sure what you mean.

Different people prefer different views or sections of any given resort.

The hotel rooms of the Beach Club Resort or Grand Floridian or Animal Kingdom Lodge are generally better maintained than the timeshare side...but if you want to be a short walk from Epcot, on the monorail or have giraffes outside your balcony, the DVC villas get the job done.

1BRs and 2BRs provide space and kitchens and washer/dryers that are preferable to a hotel room or studio for many.

But what is "best" depends a ton on personal preference.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I agree with comment above. It’s a matter of preference and taste. Personally we have never stayed in less than a one or two bedroom because of the kitchen, the space, the laundry, etc. but we have lots of dvc points so we can spend them as we see fit. If the cost of renting points to get a one bedroom is equal to or less than or even slightly more than the cost of a reg hotel room than I would definitely choose to rent dvc points to get more space. The better question is which resort would you pick? That again is preference. Do you want to be close to Mk? Then bay lake, grand Floridian and poly are good choices. Do you like a second bathroom in a one bedroom? Animal kingdom or bay lake have two bathrooms? Do you like good ambiance? Then wilderness or animal kingdom are good choices. Do you like big rooms and a homey feeling and good access to Disney springs? Old key west is the choice.

 

[Matty B13]

I would start with which Park you are planning on visiting the most during your stay. We like being close to MK so VGF, Poly, and BLT would be our first choices. If you want Epcot resorts then BWV and BCV are good choices. If you want something away from the Parks then AKV, SSR, BRV/CCV, and OKW are good choices.

 

[dakotix]

I'm sorry that was a little vague. I guess my question is more regarding the quality of the rooms not whatever themeing or park floats your boat. Are the rooms bigger or have more bells and whistles depending on which resort you rent from? I'm looking at the standard Studio DVC rooms.

 

[Ben E N]

How many people are you looking for? OKW has 2 queen beds and the most square footage, as well as being the cheapest, while Poly can sleep 5 and has a great location. BLT and BCV are the closest to theme parks, but are a bit smaller and pricier.

 

[LilyJC]

The quality is just fine if not better IMO. I love the kitchenette in the studios which hotel rooms obviously don’t have. DVC also has access to free laundry room and parking.

Something you should be aware of is that studios for the most part do not have two queen beds (only OKW has two queens in the studio). You’re looking at one queen bed (no studios have king size), one sleeper sofa, and a few resorts have a little pull down bed.

Studios are great when it’s just DH and me, but we opt for at least a 1 bedroom when our two kids join the fun.

 

[dakotix]

It's for two adults and a 4 1/2 yo boy (who loves to swim). We're think POLY but have never stayed there. We don't care whether we have a monorail or not. It's definitely a perk but we're accustomed to staying moderate so that doesn't really matter too much for us. We just want a nice, CLEAN, modernized room.

 

[Fob]

I would recommend Saratoga Springs with a 4 1/2 year old who loves to swim. It's my home resort and is nice, CLEAN, and modernized. Plus, you should be able to request the Paddock (standard view room so less points). The Paddock has a great pool with a big slide and a splash pad area as well.

 

[Firebird060]

Poly is good for standard, they also have both a Tub and a Separate Shower, which is different then other rooms that tend to just have a Shower tub combo. Its not Super theme as Disney except for the hideway bed which is a Lilo Stich theme backdrop. There are decent walkthrough Videos on Youtube. Also the Poly DVC was recently rehabed

 

[dakotix]

We were looking at Poly for the double bath but also because of the pool (and obviously QUICK monorail service to/ from MK doesn't hurt). I never considered Saratoga Springs but we'll look at that one too.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It's for two adults and a 4 1/2 yo boy (who loves to swim). We're think POLY but have never stayed there. We don't care whether we have a monorail or not. It's definitely a perk but we're accustomed to staying moderate so that doesn't really matter too much for us. We just want a nice, CLEAN, modernized room.

Polynesian DVC is the second newest resort. The main place that you see the difference is the bathroom particularly the showers. In example they had started rain and showers in the larger villas going back to BLT. Starting with VGF studios then Polynesian I walk in showers in the studios with rain head shower heads. CCV also has a booking option for a studio with walk-in shower which has the rain head shower too. In the rooms themselves they all have kitchenettes and will have one queen bed and a sleeper sofa. Some will have a bunk size pull down Murphy bed as a third sleeping option.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But DVC studios tend to be used a lot (consider occupancy is at least 95% or higher all the time versus hotel rooms more like 80%). Renters tend to prefer studios because they can get them for the same cost as a moderate (studios book up the fastest). Studios were originally only four people until DVC started adding the murphy bed. So crowding/stuffing is the order of the day, especially when you can add one little one under the age of three without going over occupancy. DVC also does renovations less frequently than Disney (that's because member fees pay for all the renovations). So the most popular studios could appear worn to you if you are used to the hotel rooms.

Finally, DVC villas get limited housekeeping service during points stays to keep costs down. So if a guest doesn't vacuum up the mess their kid made and just grind it into the carpet (where they still have carpet and not vinyl flooring), it can be a problem. The vacuum cleaner in the closet isn't just there to take up space in the closet.

 

[dakotix]

Thanks for the advice Deb&Bill!

 

[dakotix]

A little more detail on our trip (and Disney travelling habits). This will be a 10 day trip. If it were just the two of us we would go-go-go from morning until night. But with our son we learned last fall when we took him for a little mini 3 day trip that that kind of pace isn't realistic. Don't get me wrong, our little one definitely has the stamina to do the parks HARD, but he also needs an early afternoon break whether he wants to at the time or not. Knowing that the Poly rooms are on the newer side might make our decision for us.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Worth a reminder that DVC rental is best undertaken 11 months out, and the later you try, the less likely you will be able to rent your booking of choice. Rental is in very high demand, and DVC is designed to run at full capacity all year around.

 

[cruisin5]

Most DVC reservations are non-refundable. Planning and committing prior to the 11 month mark is important.

Enjoy! You'll love the Poly.

 

[Matty B13]

Poly has a nice kids splash park with a structure and slides, would be great for a 4 year old. Also, you can wheel a stroller right onto the monorail if your kid is sleeping, which you can’t do with the buses if they crash in the stroller.

 

[kboo]

If you are only taking 1 child, I would also strongly suggest getting a studio that has the pull down murphy bed, so you can leave the sofa as a sofa. The studio will feel much larger that way.

 

[Henwen88]

If you are only taking 1 child, I would also strongly suggest getting a studio that has the pull down murphy bed, so you can leave the sofa as a sofa. The studio will feel much larger that way.

Agree!!! Poly is very nice for this purpose, and lots of flexibility with the split bathroom situation. Other fave is GFV