Best Overall DVC Resort for 1-Bedroom Stays?

[ML_LovesDisney]

BLT is on fire in these boards right now. The layout is great. It has 2: bathrooms, reasonable points chart and convenient transportation to Magic Kingdom. It's also a short walk to the Contemporary, where you can find food.

When you have some spare time, watch YouTube videos of all of the one bedrooms. Make sure the date of the video is current as there's been a lot of changes. I've watched 2-3 of each resort because they are presented differently by different people. When you find the one bedrooms that you like, watch the videos of the property at large. Sometimes the property is amazing, but the room isn't ideal. So, start with the room first.

I agree with BLT. The 2nd bathroom is amazing. I believe AKV Kidani also has 2nd bathroom. I love both, but haven't been at Kidani in awhile and people are saying it's run down at the moment while waiting on refurb to complete. The 1 BR at BLT feels very large.

 

[Tatebeck]

People adopting this strategy will typically be realistic in what's possible. Here's an experiment for you. Take a look at 2 and 3 bed availability in January (within the 7 month window) for one week stays. I can get VGF, PVB, BLT, etc. I can enjoy those having paid a fraction of the price for those points by buying at OKW or SSR.

For wheeler-dealers there are probably some great trades. A week in a 2 bed at VGF in Jan (431 points) might cost around $10k via the rental market. You might be able to buy a 150 point resale contract at VGF for $150 a point ($22,500) and then bank/borrow to get the required points for that stay (every 3 years). However, I could pretty easily find a double points contract at OKW for $80 a point on a 210/230 point contract ($18400). I could nab the one week at VGF with all those points. Even in the most ridiculous scenario, I could then immediately sell that contract for half price return (given it's stripped, commission, taxes, etc) and it's still cheaper than going through the rental store. But I might just keep it and use your VGF every two years instead of your three years. I only need to be a tiny bit flexible on my stays and I'm dollars in by going for OKW/SSR SAPs.

It may not work for more popular studios, but I'm looking at go big or go home!

FYI most of January is NOT in the 7 month window right now. Only stays starting January 1st. I just tried your experiment with stays starting Jan 1st and the ONLY 2/3 bedrooms available for 7 nights at WDW at this moment are SSR and the Bungalows which are notorious for not booking because they are expensive.

 

[CVG]

FYI most of January is NOT in the 7 month window right now. Only stays starting January 1st. I just tried your experiment with stays starting Jan 1st and the ONLY 2/3 bedrooms available for 7 nights at WDW at this moment are SSR and the Bungalows which are notorious for not booking because they are expensive.

My bad. Do you fancy a wager on me getting a one week at those resorts when available to book?

 

[Tatebeck]

My bad. Do you fancy a wager on me getting a one week at those resorts when available to book?

If you are looking for just any time (very flexible booking dates) in January (not a super busy time), at rooms other than studios (not the most popular rooms) and at just any of the other resorts then I wouldn't want to bet against you. One member getting a 7 month reservation in those circumstances is probably realistic. The hardest part will be getting the 7 days in a row available, so the chances of success are probably best right at the 7 month window to try and grab rooms that weren't booked up from the 7-11 month window. After that 7 unbroken days may be tough. And a member who is more motivated (like someone incentivized from a bet lol) to book right at 7 months, then stalk and put in waitlists will definitely increase their chances even further.

My point is not that one member can't get a room. Each booking will be a case by case basis with a large number of things determining if if will be successful or not. Time of year/booking date popularity, length of stay, type of room, which resorts you try to get into, how many members from those other resorts have been trading their points out creating 7 month availability, etc.

One member if they try hard can definitely be successful, but it is never guaranteed. But the more members that try to buy SSR points for SAP points, the less likely it is for each member to be successful. SSR is a huge resort and every owner there simply cannot treat them as SAP or the system will not work. And if availability at the other O14 resorts gets tighter, that will incentivize the owners there to book in the 7-11 month window more regularly, further reducing 7 month swapability.

It is like many other systems that work when a few people do it, but will fail to work when too many people do it

 

[CVG]

If you are looking for just any time (very flexible booking dates) in January (not a super busy time), at rooms other than studios (not the most popular rooms) and at just any of the other resorts then I wouldn't want to bet against you. One member getting a 7 month reservation in those circumstances is probably realistic. The hardest part will be getting the 7 days in a row available, so the chances of success are probably best right at the 7 month window to try and grab rooms that weren't booked up from the 7-11 month window. After that 7 unbroken days may be tough. And a member who is more motivated (like someone incentivized from a bet lol) to book right at 7 months, then stalk and put in waitlists will definitely increase their chances even further.

My point is not that one member can't get a room. Each booking will be a case by case basis with a large number of things determining if if will be successful or not. Time of year/booking date popularity, length of stay, type of room, which resorts you try to get into, how many members from those other resorts have been trading their points out creating 7 month availability, etc.

One member if they try hard can definitely be successful, but it is never guaranteed. But the more members that try to buy SSR points for SAP points, the less likely it is for each member to be successful. SSR is a huge resort and every owner there simply cannot treat them as SAP or the system will not work. And if availability at the other O14 resorts gets tighter, that will incentivize the owners there to book in the 7-11 month window more regularly, further reducing 7 month swapability.

It is like many other systems that work when a few people do it, but will fail to work when too many people do it

Agreed. I wouldn't expect that much intelligence and wheeler-dealing from the larger DVC community - only the obsessed on this site.

 

[Sandisw]

My bad. Do you fancy a wager on me getting a one week at those resorts when available to book?

We don’t need to argue about this. Yes, those who are flexible with what is available and dates may have very good luck in trading out.

But, getting a week in a 1 bedroom in mid January…and remember to not actually post real time availability…at 7 months is not going to be the same as going in October to December.

Everyone buying should understand that trading is not always going to work perfectly.

Things can and do change. When I first bought BwV back in 2012, I had no problem with resort view studios at 11 months no matter when I traveled and I was an owner.

By 2016, I began to have trouble and had to settle for PV..so I sold in part to buy RIv.

So, it’s wise for anyone buying to understand the pros and cons of owning something like SSR if one would at least not be content to be there if they can’t trade.

 

[Girlstar30]

At the 7 month mark for the fall is 4 nights at beach club consecutive realistic in September or october off the bat without stalking? I noticed there was a lot of June availability, but I wonder if thats because of the pool closure? That would be the perfect summer resort as well.

We don’t need to argue about this. Yes, those who are flexible with what is available and dates may have very good luck in trading out.

But, getting a week in a 1 bedroom in mid January…and remember to not actually post real time availability…at 7 months is not going to be the same as going in October to December.

Everyone buying should understand that trading is not always going to work perfectly.

Things can and do change. When I first bought BwV back in 2012, I had no problem with resort view studios at 11 months no matter when I traveled and I was an owner.

By 2016, I began to have trouble and had to settle for PV..so I sold in part to buy RIv.

So, it’s wise for anyone buying to understand the pros and cons of owning something like SSR if one would at least not be content to be there if they can’t trade.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Quite right. I bought a stacked OKW contract last year for $64 ppt and then used those to try out 5 resorts on a 2 week trip. It absolutely confirmed which resort worked best for us. It also confirmed that you could stay anywhere with cheaper SAPs so long as you have a bit of flexibility.

OKW isnt the best option for SAP because of the dues, it's great if you love OKW. Im glad you love it but just so others understand that dues weigh heavily into how much the contract will cost you. Purely SAP SSR makes more sense even if the price per point is higher

 

[Tatebeck]

At the 7 month mark for the fall is 4 nights at beach club consecutive realistic in September or october off the bat without stalking? I noticed there was a lot of June availability, but I wonder if thats because of the pool closure? That would be the perfect summer resort as well.

Fall is food and wine festival at Epcot so crescent lake resorts will be tough to book. September is still during hurricane season so I think it may be a bit easier than October, even though September is low point season. 1br maybe if you are lucky, studios probably not

 

[gvel]

If I had a $1 for every time you've hated on SSR I could buy more points there!

OP, as someone who bought their first contract there, I can tell you that we've stayed at basically every other resort on those points in the last year. @Tatebeck is pointing out that when the 2042s fall off, everyone will have less resorts to trade into, and all of us at SSR will more than likely be stuck there. While that assessment is legitimate and might become reality in 17 years, no one definitely knows what the lay of the land will be at that time. And your toddler will be an adult. You might enjoy the relaxed vibe and DS proximity of SSR and not care to trade out.

And to answer your question, I would recommend using those points to try as many 1 BRs as possible to decide for yourself what works best for your family. Everyone on here places value on different aspects of each resort. I can tell you that as a family of 5, who would greatly benefit from the extra bathroom in the 1 BRs at BLT, Kidani, and IT, we don't like any of those resorts enough to own there. And that is strictly our take, try them all and see what you love!

Thank you for your post. BTW We love DS that is the main reason why we bought SRR. We tend to visit DS almost daily when we visit WDW.

SSR is kind of a victim of its own success. It’s big, easy to book, and always available—so people often overlook it. But if it were harder to get into, it’d probably be seen as a much more desirable resort. Come 2042, when a bunch of popular DVC resorts expire, those might return as direct-only options at much higher prices. Meanwhile, SSR still runs through 2054 and will likely become a go-to for a lot more members as availability tightens elsewhere.

 

[Tatebeck]

Thank you for your post. BTW We love DS that is the main reason why we bought SRR. We tend to visit DS almost daily when we visit WDW.

SSR is kind of a victim of its own success. It’s big, easy to book, and always available—so people often overlook it. But if it were harder to get into, it’d probably be seen as a much more desirable resort. Come 2042, when a bunch of popular DVC resorts expire, those might return as direct-only options at much higher prices. Meanwhile, SSR still runs through 2054 and will likely become a go-to for a lot more members as availability tightens elsewhere.

Ah well it sounds like you did your research and if you love Disney Springs then SSR is indeed a good choice. I think you'll be fine then and it is a definitely a good value as well. What other resorts do you think you'll like and maybe choose as your possible second home resort and why?

I personally don't see SSR popularity changing much past 2042. It is such a large resort I don't think it will become hard to book unless point charts inflate substantially between now and then at the newer resorts (and any refreshed/reopened resorts) and members want to book SSR as one of the cheaper remaining options. If availability tightens elsewhere I think most members will just use the home resort period and not rely on 7 month bookings as much.

 

[Sandisw]

At the 7 month mark for the fall is 4 nights at beach club consecutive realistic in September or october off the bat without stalking? I noticed there was a lot of June availability, but I wonder if thats because of the pool closure? That would be the perfect summer resort as well.

No, it won’t be easy as Food and Wine is in full swing.

And, this year BCV was much easier for the fist 6 months due to the pool closure.

It is normally not like that.

 

[VGCgroupie]

No, it won’t be easy as Food and Wine is in full swing.

And, this year BCV was much easier for the fist 6 months due to the pool closure.

It is normally not like that.

Yep SAB being closed made BCV much more available than typical I noticed.