Choosing a MK area Home Resort

[Minniemoo15]

We own at the Poly and we love it. Studios are fine for our family. We go with my parents and get two connecting studios which is even better.
The rooms and balconies are much bigger than the studios at other resorts.
The Transportation is very convenient and the theming is our favourite on property.

 

[RaymOOOnd]

Polynesian is the best one, along with BLT.

 

[sethschroeder]

The shortest walk to and from MK is from Wilderness Lodge.

Same thing the Riviera people try to pass off. It's only a benefit if you have serious issues walking at which point I question Disney but that is each person's choice.

You can walk 0.3 miles to the dock and then to the entrance or you can walk 0.5 miles and be at the park.

Why people like the walking option is you avoid needing transportation, avoid unforseen circumstances, and can 100% plan on when to get somewhere.

I will 100% walk an extra 0.2 miles to avoid a 15 minute boat ride and unknown wait for the boat to arrive.

Plus GF and Poly both have boats as well if it matters but BLT is the only one right now that is walkable to MK.

By the way someone with a powered scooter also doesn't have to worry about loading and unloading from a boat as well.

 

[rkstocke5609]

Same thing the Riviera people try to pass off. It's only a benefit if you have serious issues walking at which point I question Disney but that is each person's choice.

You can walk 0.3 miles to the dock and then to the entrance or you can walk 0.5 miles and be at the park.

Why people like the walking option is you avoid needing transportation, avoid unforseen circumstances, and can 100% plan on when to get somewhere.

I will 100% walk an extra 0.2 miles to avoid a 15 minute boat ride and unknown wait for the boat to arrive.

Plus GF and Poly both have boats as well if it matters but BLT is the only one right now that is walkable to MK.

By the way someone with a powered scooter also doesn't have to worry about loading and unloading from a boat as well.

Spoken like someone thinking strictly in the “moment”. My analysis was based on thinking about how things would look 5, 10, & 20 years down throughout the use of a contract. Hey, to each their own — and God bless anyone that is comfortable adding more walking time to their day. I hope that down the road a few years you’ll think the same as you do today. Maybe, just maybe, I’m a little more realistic about the aging process. So, I’m not trying to “pass off” anything but a bit of forward thinking — try it sometime.

 

[sethschroeder]

Spoken like someone thinking strictly in the “moment”. My analysis was based on thinking about how things would look 5, 10, & 20 years down throughout the use of a contract. Hey, to each their own — and God bless anyone that is comfortable adding more walking time to their day. I hope that down the road a few years you’ll think the same as you do today. Maybe, just maybe, I’m a little more realistic about the aging process. So, I’m not trying to “pass off” anything but a bit of forward thinking — try it sometime.

Locked in the moment how? BLT is very literally the only resort today that you can walk from. There is a small assumption but VGF and POLY will also be two resorts you can walk from (small assumption as there is always a chance Disney cancels finishing construction).

CCB, BRV, and REF will also need to take a boat (unless they add a skyliner) to Magic Kingdom.

Don't try and attack me for not thinking of the future. I am hopeful but my parents live on a bike trial in the country and walk/bike every day during the summer. If they or I get to a point of not being able to walk that extra distance (0.2 miles) on a day encompassing 10 miles of walking we will have a scooter.

Guess what taking a scooter and just driving it down the sidewalk is better than needing to load it on a boat or monorail. It also is easier now with a stroller as well.

So, I’m not trying to “pass off” anything but a bit of forward thinking — try it sometime.

If you were forward thinking then you would understand and see individuals who have issues getting their scooter on and off the boats, busses, skyliner, and monorails. Again its 0.2 miles on a day of you walking 10 miles. Maybe I am strange but I do not have so much self pride in that the second I feel I need a scooter I have zero issues getting one. Heck I could even just rent it and ride it from BLT to MK then park it somewhere and leave it for the day.

By the way I am looking at MK resorts right now to add on 100 points direct and its between BLT and CCV. I like CCV because there is theming (even though its like some resorts my area) and point charts but the main downside is the boat.

 

[glamdring269]

I think folks can rationalize this call a lot of different ways. I did not see a boat ride vs. 0.2 mile additional walk after a day in the parks vs. potential monorail outage to be the hill we'd battle over.

 

[rkstocke5609]

Locked in the moment how? BLT is very literally the only resort today that you can walk from. There is a small assumption but VGF and POLY will also be two resorts you can walk from (small assumption as there is always a chance Disney cancels finishing construction).

CCB, BRV, and REF will also need to take a boat (unless they add a skyliner) to Magic Kingdom.

Don't try and attack me for not thinking of the future. I am hopeful but my parents live on a bike trial in the country and walk/bike every day during the summer. If they or I get to a point of not being able to walk that extra distance (0.2 miles) on a day encompassing 10 miles of walking we will have a scooter.

Guess what taking a scooter and just driving it down the sidewalk is better than needing to load it on a boat or monorail. It also is easier now with a stroller as well.



If you were forward thinking then you would understand and see individuals who have issues getting their scooter on and off the boats, busses, skyliner, and monorails. Again its 0.2 miles on a day of you walking 10 miles. Maybe I am strange but I do not have so much self pride in that the second I feel I need a scooter I have zero issues getting one. Heck I could even just rent it and ride it from BLT to MK then park it somewhere and leave it for the day.

By the way I am looking at MK resorts right now to add on 100 points direct and its between BLT and CCV. I like CCV because there is theming (even though its like some resorts my area) and point charts but the main downside is the boat.

When I read your earlier post I took it as an attack on me in the sense that it came across like if I wasn’t willing to walk the extra .2 miles I shouldn’t be at Disney in the first place. That’s how you came across to me. I’m done with this debate. Think what you want, I certainly will. And, by all means, enjoy your walk.

 

[sethschroeder]

I wasn’t willing to walk the extra .2 miles I shouldn’t be at Disney in the first place.

It was not meant to be an attack on you personally. I just don't see the difference between walking 10.4 miles (.2 each way) vs 10 miles in a day.

Let me expand on that since you seem to have taken offense with it. If you have a serious issue with walking then you should not be walking around Disney. Disney does a great job allowing scooters pretty much everywhere and making it not too inconvenient although the disability board I know goes way more in-depth on the subject. It's why I pointed out the benefit of not needing to use a boat, bus, monorail, or skyliner with a scooter.

If someone that has used a scooter wants to say how much easier going to CCV is over BLT with a scooter then I am all ears and will adjust my opinion accordingly.

Also sorry if it came off aggressive towards you.

 

[rkstocke5609]

So, a google search told me the distance on the path BLT/Contemporary to MK entrance is .4 miles, so if you walk it both ways .8 . BTW, I have walked it many times. All I was saying is that after a day at the park I prefer to get under the canopy and take the boat as it gives my feet a rest before getting back to the resort. And, that as I get older I can see that increasing. Scooters were never part of my discussion. I can see a scooter wanting to hit the trail and not wait for a monorail, boat, or bus. I don’t plan on being scooter bound for quite some time. I think we’ve beat this horse to death.

 

[jamesweikamp]

We own at the Poly and we love it. Studios are fine for our family. We go with my parents and get two connecting studios which is even better.
The rooms and balconies are much bigger than the studios at other resorts.
The Transportation is very convenient and the theming is our favourite on property.

I know its just a "request" and not a "guarantee" but do you pretty much always get your connecting rooms?

 

[Minniemoo15]

I know its just a "request" and not a "guarantee" but do you pretty much always get your connecting rooms?

From my understanding, Poly is the only DVC with connecting studios. I read somewhere that all of the rooms (except 2) at Poly connect so your chances of getting the request filled are very high. We got our connecting request with no issues, as did our friends who were staying with their parents at the same time as us this year.

 

[jamesweikamp]

From my understanding, Poly is the only DVC with connecting studios. I read somewhere that all of the rooms (except 2) at Poly connect so your chances of getting the request filled are very high. We got our connecting request with no issues, as did our friends who were staying with their parents at the same time as us this year.

That's great. And, looking at the 2021 point charts, two standard studios isn't much different than a 1bd at Grand Floridian. Just adds complication to my decision of where to add-on at MK....

 

[Minniemoo15]

That's great. And, looking at the 2021 point charts, two standard studios isn't much different than a 1bd at Grand Floridian. Just adds complication to my decision of where to add-on at MK....

The connecting studios definitely played into our decision to buy there. They are great for our needs - 4 bathrooms, 6 separate sleeping surfaces...We miss out on the full kitchen and in room laundry, but we don’t cook at Disney and only do laundry once mid-trip so we don’t find it a big deal to go to the laundry room to do it.

 

[sethschroeder]

So, a google search told me the distance on the path BLT/Contemporary to MK entrance is .4 miles, so if you walk it both ways .8 . BTW, I have walked it many times.

CCV/BRV -> .1 mile -> boat -> .1 mile -> gates
BLT -> .4 mile -> gates

You are at a .2 mile difference each way as you need to subtract out the difference in distance.

Scooters were never part of my discussion

Except they are part of the discussion between the difference between a 10 mile day and a 10.4 mile day is a tiny difference for someone who can walk. So if you have trouble with walking long distances then you should look at a scooter (at least to get to the park and leave it) which is easier from BLT.

I think we’ve beat this horse to death.

And why I responded this time is why I responded the first time. I do not think you are accurately presenting the two sides just like I see with Riviera at times. Its fine for people to love a resort more as personally I think RIV is likely nicer than BWV in many ways and CCV is nicer than BLT in almost every way IMO.

For RIV vs BWV its a .3 mile difference each way to Epcot and about .5 mile difference to HS. (Half way around the world showcase is .5 mile for context)

I also think if Wilderness Resort was on the ground of Contemporary the prices would be in line with Poly instead of discounted because of the location. Just like RIV likely being another 10% more expensive if on the grounds of BWV.

 

[sethschroeder]

The connecting studios definitely played into our decision to buy there. They are great for our needs - 4 bathrooms, 6 separate sleeping surfaces...We miss out on the full kitchen and in room laundry, but we don’t cook at Disney and only do laundry once mid-trip so we don’t find it a big deal to go to the laundry room to do it.

It is a great "discount" way to go about DVC if you have a bunch in your family and do not want to splurge to get up to the 2BR level since the point requirement sits between a 1BR and 2BR price point.

 

[sethschroeder]

That's great. And, looking at the 2021 point charts, two standard studios isn't much different than a 1bd at Grand Floridian. Just adds complication to my decision of where to add-on at MK....

Would you ever go to a 2BR? Poly is not going to have the dedicated eating space and is a better value if you lots in your party that are good all being in the same room. In a 2BR you get 3 total rooms and have more space to spread out which at Poly you could add another room but its not all connected then.

If you never plan on going 2BR then it wouldn't matter or if you do it so little that you can try to get something at 7 months every few years.

 

[jamesweikamp]

Would you ever go to a 2BR? Poly is not going to have the dedicated eating space and is a better value if you lots in your party that are good all being in the same room. In a 2BR you get 3 total rooms and have more space to spread out which at Poly you could add another room but its not all connected then.

If you never plan on going 2BR then it wouldn't matter or if you do it so little that you can try to get something at 7 months every few years.

I have no plans on ever "needing" a 2-bedroom. We have two kids and, to be honest, if we ever take extended family with us, would prefer the "privacy" of two studios v. a 2-bedroom. To your point, I could always grab one at the 7-month window or suck it up and pay for it at RIV (our current home resort).

Also, thanks to all for this thread! Thinking about where to add-on has been a fun distraction from COVID.

 

[Minniemoo15]

I have no plans on ever "needing" a 2-bedroom. We have two kids and, to be honest, if we ever take extended family with us, would prefer the "privacy" of two studios v. a 2-bedroom. To your point, I could always grab one at the 7-month window or suck it up and pay for it at RIV (our current home resort).

Also, thanks to all for this thread! Thinking about where to add-on has been a fun distraction from COVID.

It's funny - when we first bought in, we bought enough points to trade into a 2 bedroom somewhere as we thought that's what we would prefer when traveling with extended family. What we found on this Poly trip was just what you said - 2 connecting studios offers more privacy than a 2 bedroom for us. In Room A is my parents and my 2 adult sisters. In Room B is myself, my DH and our two young daughters. The connecting feature is great - we can leave the door open, put the kids to bed, and the adults can relax together in the evening before all going back to our own space.

If we were to get a 2 bedroom, my parents take the King room, my family takes the room with 2 queens and my sisters are stuck on a pullout couch in the living room with not much privacy. Or, my parents and sisters take the room with 2 queens, DH and myself take the king, and the kids go on the living room pullout. But that kind of defeats the purpose of having a space for the adults to hang out together once the kids are asleep. Either choice is not a great option for us, and I think we were all surprised when we realized 2 connecting studios is what made us happiest and what we should book again for next year.

 

[TCRAIG]

I own at BLT, VGF and BRV and have stayed at all 3 and love love love all 3 for different reasons. To be fair - I always get at least a 1Br - but if ease to MK is your main goal - then BLT wins!

 

[Matty B13]

They are great for our needs - 4 bathrooms, 6 separate sleeping surfaces...

But only 2 toilets......