Book 2 rooms or go DVC?

[myhoney]

We are a family of 6. Our next trip won't be for a while, but by the time we go, we will have 2 real adults, 2 "Disney adults", and 2 children. We will probably go late January, and for 10 days. (6 at WDW, 3 at Universal.) Would love free dining, but it doesn't seem like it is often offered at that time of year.

We could book 2 mod rooms, or do we splurge and go DVC? DH and I figure it will be the one and only time we go with all 6 of us. Our first trip was before the last 2 kids were born. We will go on this next one with everyone, and then in all honesty, by the time we could afford to go again, the older ones will be in college (!), so we would be back to us and 2 kids!

I like the idea of having extra space with the DVC, but DH loves the dining plan (free or not!), so having a kitchen isn't necessarily a big deal. And if we get 2 rooms, there would be some space...If there isn't free dining, I would hope for a room discount. DH and I refuse to sleep in anything less than a queen sized bed, so we are looking at mods. I'd rather not stick the kids on a table bed, either.

This will be a relatively expensive trip for us, but doable, especially if I can rough plan and start saving now. The ages of the kids at the time would be 12, 10, 5, 4. Would you recommend getting 2 mod rooms and splitting the family (hopefully connecting rooms, but no guarantees) or renting a 2 bdr villa through DVC? If you suggest DVC, does it really matter which one?

Thanks!

 

[totallytigger]

What about the cabins at FW? You will have a kitchen to use for breakfast while everyone gets ready--and you can still use the DDP for the other meals. FW is a family fun place to stay and its quiet. Kids usually love it there.

 

[Marionnette]

We are a family of 6. Our next trip won't be for a while, but by the time we go, we will have 2 real adults, 2 "Disney adults", and 2 children. We will probably go late January, and for 10 days. (6 at WDW, 3 at Universal.) Would love free dining, but it doesn't seem like it is often offered at that time of year.

We could book 2 mod rooms, or do we splurge and go DVC? DH and I figure it will be the one and only time we go with all 6 of us. Our first trip was before the last 2 kids were born. We will go on this next one with everyone, and then in all honesty, by the time we could afford to go again, the older ones will be in college (!), so we would be back to us and 2 kids!

I like the idea of having extra space with the DVC, but DH loves the dining plan (free or not!), so having a kitchen isn't necessarily a big deal. And if we get 2 rooms, there would be some space...If there isn't free dining, I would hope for a room discount. DH and I refuse to sleep in anything less than a queen sized bed, so we are looking at mods. I'd rather not stick the kids on a table bed, either.

This will be a relatively expensive trip for us, but doable, especially if I can rough plan and start saving now. The ages of the kids at the time would be 12, 10, 5, 4. Would you recommend getting 2 mod rooms and splitting the family (hopefully connecting rooms, but no guarantees) or renting a 2 bdr villa through DVC? If you suggest DVC, does it really matter which one?

Thanks!

Personally, I would choose a 2-bedroom DVC over 2 Moderate Resort rooms any day. If money comes out to be equal, then I would go with renting the points.

Having said that, you need to understand how DVC works. First of all, the number of points needed will vary, depending on the time of year that you expect to visit. You can get a feel for the number of points required bu checking here:
https://www.dvcrequest.com/cost-calculator.asp

Then, you have to think about availability. DVC members begin booking their home resort 11 months prior to their arrival. The smaller resorts will book up faster than the larger ones by virtue of the small number of villas. If you're about the resort you want, you will probably be okay now, but you shouldn't wait too long to start making the arrangements to rent points.

If you rent DVC points, the refund/cancellation policy will be more strict than it will be with Disney. Make sure that you understand the implications of canceling before you agree to rent points. Terms for payment will also differ greatly from Disney's terms.

You can get the dining plans if you wish. You will have to pay for them in full at the time that you request them because the owner that you rent from will also have to pay for the plan at the time that they make the arrangement.

You will not get daily housekeeping. You will need to make your own beds, take out your trash and tidy your own kitchen and baths. You will get a trash & tidy visit from mouskeeping on the 4th day of your stay but it will not be full housekeeping service.

IF you are okay will the negative of renting DVC points, you will be able to save a considerable amount of money over what it would cost to stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort. However, I'm not sure that it will be less expensive than staying in 2 Moderate Resort rooms, especially if *free* dining is offered.

 

[mjkacmom]

We rented points for a 2 bedroom villa at the Beach Club with 5 kids ages 4 - 12 - best decision ever! It was huge, and I did laundry daily, which cut down on luggage needed. My kids almost fainted when they saw the room! We could walk to Epcot and DHS, and listened to Illuminations every night. The cost was pretty close to 2 moderates, but so much better!

 

[dsanner106]

I would also agree that the DVC route is the way to go. Having a full kitchen allows you to do anything from really cook meals and save money or at the very list stock the fridge with drinks, snacks etc. The big living room gives you a spot for everyone to gather.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

One bathroom is what keeps me from staying DVC. I think at the ages your kids are, the suites at AOA would be ideal. That said, I have not stayed in one yet, that will happen in June.

Edit.... I see the two bedrooms do have two bathrooms, I stand corrected!

 

[Marionnette]

One bathroom is what keeps me from staying DVC. I think at the ages your kids are, the suites at AOA would be ideal. That said, I have not stayed in one yet, that will happen in June.

Edit.... I see the two bedrooms do have two bathrooms, I stand corrected!

And some even have 3 bathrooms!

 

[kirstenb1]

If free dining isn't likely, then I vote DVC, hands down! We are DVC members, so I'm biased. But, I love having a kitchen/washer/dryer available. You can use the kitchen however you want: snacks/drinks, or full meals. Personally, I don't like eating out after a day or 2. All the salt taste in my mouth gets to me. We typically eat a quick breakfast in the villa: yogurt/cereal/breakfast bar type stuff. We eat lunch in the parks. We return to the villa for an afternoon swim. Then I either prepare an easy dinner (tacos/spaghetti/make your own sub sandwich), or sometimes we order a pizza. We stock plenty of salad stuff, because sometimes if it's hot, you just want something light for supper. Our home resort is OKW, but we often stay at AKL, because the kids love seeing the animals.

 

[MAO]

I only checked Bay Lake Towers (Contemporary resort), Beach Club and Boardwalk. There are currently rooms available at all three resorts for that last week of January, though Bay Lake and Boardwalk seem to have a number of the 'cheaper' (i.e., less nice view) rooms already taken. A couple of months from now (June or so), DVC owners who don't own at one of those resorts will be able to make reservations for themselves, so availability will be even more reduced. Based on the cost calculator mentioned above, it looks to me like you should be able to get a 2 bedroom DVC room (will be 2 queen beds and 2 pull out sofas and possibly a Murphy bed - I'm not sure anymore, with all the refurbishments going on to tell you the truth) for somewhere between $2,500 and $4,000. I'd suggest thinking it will be in the $3,000 ballpark for 5 nights. Depending on the resort, it'll be another $500 to $1,000 per night added on to that. (I started with the assumption of arrival on Sunday and departure on Friday - Friday and Saturday nights are more expensive than Sunday-Thursday nights.)

Please read Marionnette's first post really carefully - I can't think of anything they left out, short of exhorting you more strongly to make the decision and contact someone soon. The timeframe you're looking at is not, to my knowledge, terribly difficult to find availability in; I would have bolded that entire previous sentence otherwise! - but if you have a particular resort in mind, the earlier you start looking the better your chances. "Renting" DVC points is just the terminology; you'll actually be purchasing a previously made reservation (made to your specifications) that can't be changed by anyone other than the DVC owner you 'rent' from. But someone who owns at the resort you want has an advantage over anyone else in that they can make a reservation up to 11 months before the stay while any other DVC owner has to wait until the 7 month prior date. So if you want a resort that is small or is brand new, your best bet is to find someone who owns there and finalize the details *before* that 7 month window opens. There's a rent/trade board here on Disboards, under the DVC set of forums, where you can find DVC owners directly. Or, search for points brokers to work with a middleman service (that calculator, above, takes you to a pretty highly rated broker's site.)

Don't forget that 2 Moderate rooms will require one adult in each room - and there's absolutely no guarantee the two rooms will be on the same floor, much less next to each other! Good luck with your trip, whatever you decide.

 

[Debbie Jean]

For your kiddies and a once in a life-time DVC stay, I'd look at a 2 bed savannah view at AKV. I personally prefer Kidani over Jambo but both are wonderful. Getting up every morning and having coffee wih the little okapi is a memory not to be forgotten. Dedicated 2 bed at Kidani has 3 baths, 2 queens in the second bedroom, as well as the sleeper chair and pull out sofa in the living room. The space is amazing. The pool is wonderful and has an interactive kiddie area. Lots and lots and lots of activities for children throughout the resort with some of the best CM's on property.

It is further out than other DVC resorts and some find this bothersome, though for me the bus service is more than adequate to make up for how completely unique AKV is. Restaurants are also terrific... Boma, Jiko, Sanaa. Availability at the end of January should not be an issue, though booking sooner rather than later is always the best.

BTW, I own at Boardwalk and Saratoga Springs and as an adult like being close to Epcot and DTD. However, my daughter will tell you that AKV savannah is her absolute favorite hands down!