Best Villa for family with young kids

[Coastwood85]

We are planning a trip to Disney the first week of December. We will have a 5 year old, an almost 3 year old and a 6 month old. We are traveling with both sets of grandparents, this will hopefully help with the crazy idea of going with 3 kids under 5.

We are trying to decide which grand villa to stay in. We are thinking BLT bc of the close proximity to MK. But are also considering AKV. Any thoughts on which would be better for our age group? Is there another property we should be considering? We are thinking about using David's DVC Rental service for this trip. Any and all advice and thoughts are appreciated.

 

[spiceycat]

gv are very expensive.

would go with a 2-bedroom and a studio - lot less money - change that 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom - more expensive - but a studio at BLT is tiny.

now the GV especially the theme park view are lovely and have excellent views.

would think the walking path to the MK alone would be a good reason for your family to stay at BLT.
does anyone in your family really love the Studios - then BWV might be a better choice.

that say with your kids ages can't really seeing your group spend alot of time at any of the other parks besides the MK.

 

[SamSam]

I admit I'm biased, but I would go with AKV. It's our favorite resort, and it's really the only DVC we want to stay at any more because we find it so relaxing.

Last year we celebrated our 40th anniversary at Kidani and had 20+ family members join us...a grand villa, a 2 bedroom and 2 studios. We had ages from 1 year twins to 85 year old grandparents...everyone loved it. We all had Savannah View, which was awesome for everyone. Ages of our parties:
Kids: 2 - 1 years olds, 4 year old, 8, 9, 9, and 10 year old. They all loved it!
Adults ranged in age from 25 - 85...they all loved it.

Like I said, I'm biased.

 

[DizBub]

Grand Villas for the first week of Dec....OKW is 349 points, SSR is 485 points, AKV is 501 points for a standard view and 545 for a savanna view, BWV is 561 points and BLT is 618 for a lake view and 750 for a MK view.

Grand Villas go really fast, OKW especially since the point requirements are so reasonable. SSR probably has the most GVs, you may get lucky and get one of those.

Good luck getting what you want.

 

[Sammie]

If you are talking about this December, getting a Grand Villa, you might be too late.

Have you checked on what is available? Early December is a very busy time for DVC members and there are not that many Grand Villas.

 

[bookwormde]

Even if a villa is avalable finding enough points for that specific resort to book now can be challenging.

You have also picked one of the most popular DVC times of year due to the low points.

If cost is no option my order of preferference would be BLT, OKW, AKV, BWV, SSR

You may be in luck for OKW if you move quickly

good luck

 

[Coastwood85]

Thanks so much for all the thoughts and suggestions, I just put in a request to see what we can book. I hope something is still available. I didn't realize that is such a popular time. Touring Plans lists it overall as a pretty low crowd week.

 

[DannysMom]

Thanks so much for all the thoughts and suggestions, I just put in a request to see what we can book. I hope something is still available. I didn't realize that is such a popular time. Touring Plans lists it overall as a pretty low crowd week.

While it is a lower crowd time, in the parks, it is one of the busier booking seasons for DVC, as PP mentioned because of the lower point costs & the holiday decor.

If a GV is what you want, you may have to jump on what ever is available, perhaps OKW or SSR. Good luck.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos or autocorrects!

 

[hakepb]

Good luck!
FYI, since you mentioned grandparents, the only 1 floor GV's are AKV Jambo and a few at BWV. Only Jambo would be guaranteed 1 floor.

Personally, I would jump on Jambo in the unlikely event it was open (Jambo has an extra game room with a pool table, huge dining room table, huge balconies, and the master bath has its own flat screen you can watch from the tub) then BLT, then Kidani, then OKW, then SSR. (I left out BWV just because it is least likely)

But, yes, DVC members loooove the great bang-for-the points in December, plus they love seeing Disney decorated for Christmas, plus they love avoiding summer heat, plus the annual DVC "condo" meeting is near that time.
It's odd, as a cash guest, I never seriously considered taking a Christmas trip. (Mostly did late-May) After becoming a DVC member, my first trip was near Thanksgiving so we could try out the Christmas decorations...and we loved it, so we did Christmas 2 more times, and I know we'll be back for more

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Good luck!
FYI, since you mentioned grandparents, the only 1 floor GV's are AKV Jambo and a few at BWV. Only Jambo would be guaranteed 1 floor.)

You can't beat a GV anywhere but the issue of 3 little children, the long stairs, you would need a baby gate. And you would need to sleep upstairs with the kids to be able to tend to their needs. I think the idea of a 2 bedroom, plus a studio for the grandparents suggested by Spiceycat might work better for you to manage and care for the little ones, irregardless of the cost! And the grandparents could help you and still have their own accommodations without stairs!

I think the kids would probably enjoy the animals/ savanna more than BLT.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks so much for all the thoughts and suggestions, I just put in a request to see what we can book. I hope something is still available. I didn't realize that is such a popular time. Touring Plans lists it overall as a pretty low crowd week.

Touring Plans don't follow DVC timeframes. Just general park attendance.

 

[Coastwood85]

The Grand Villas are available but neither David or DVC Rentals has enough points from a member... What to do?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Grand Villas are available but neither David or DVC Rentals has enough points from a member... What to do?

You pay cash.

 

[Apopper74]

The Grand Villas are available but neither David or DVC Rentals has enough points from a member... What to do?

An option is to use the boards to find an owner on your own, but that is a lot of points.