Clueless

[gskywalker]

I have no idea where to start, so here is the situation. We are renting this years points (250 pts at Baylake) from our friends who needed a year off. We are coming from Toronto and are annual passholders. We are a family of 6(4 kids 12 and under).We could try to break it up into two 5 day weekends or a longer stay. We would like to get as many days as possible out of the points. I have looked at the points seasons charts I could find, With that said, help because I have no idea what I should want, what is realistic, etc.

 

[disneynutz]

David's DVC has a cost calculator that is a tool that will help you with the point use.

https://www.dvcrequest.com/cost-calculator.asp

Hope this helps!

Bill

 

[chalee94]

The biggest thing is planning way ahead.

The season with the lowest point costs (Fall) is also the busiest for booking, with many owners booking at 11 months out. Availability for Fall 2019 is probably long gone by now.

For BLT, lake view villas are the most common, so I'd start with that expectation.

Weekend nights will cost more than weeknights - that should be clear from the point charts.

 

[tjkraz]

Your only two room size options for a party of 6 are either a two bedroom villa or connecting studios at the Polynesian. (Poly is the only DVC with connecting Studios.)

Sharing targeted trip dates will help. DVC members can book up to 11 months in advance. Most of 2019 is already off the table and some early 2020 dates will start to get difficult soon, too.

 

[katandmouse]

Do you know what month your friends’ use year starts? That will affect what travel dates you could go. So for example, a February 2019 use year, you’d have to check out by January 31, 2020, but if it’s a December 2019 use year, you could travel anytime between Dec 1, 2019 - November 30, 2020.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have no idea where to start, so here is the situation. We are renting this years points (250 pts at Baylake) from our friends who needed a year off. We are coming from Toronto and are annual passholders. We are a family of 6(4 kids 12 and under).We could try to break it up into two 5 day weekends or a longer stay. We would like to get as many days as possible out of the points. I have looked at the points seasons charts I could find, With that said, help because I have no idea what I should want, what is realistic, etc.

When are you hoping to go?

 

[gskywalker]

When are you hoping to go?

We would likely look to go during a season we can stretch the points. We wondered about the first week of January 2020. Perhaps time in December before Christmas. IE we are looking to go during the times that less points per night/week are required, while still hoping our kids will miss less school. My problem is I have read so many places that it could be really difficult to get the studios(in our case 2 studios) during "certain times" but I don't know what those times are and which studios would be tough to get. My ideal would probably be Boardwalk or Old Key West studios in the lowest season because our points could stretch to 11 1/2 nights. thanks.

 

[gskywalker]

Do you know what month your friends’ use year starts? That will affect what travel dates you could go. So for example, a February 2019 use year, you’d have to check out by January 31, 2020, but if it’s a December 2019 use year, you could travel anytime between Dec 1, 2019 - November 30, 2020.

I was told I can use their points anytime through the end of 2020. We wouldn't be trying to use them in 2019 as we already have had too many disney trips this year(listed on my signature)

 

[tjkraz]

We would likely look to go during a season we can stretch the points. We wondered about the first week of January 2020. Perhaps time in December before Christmas. IE we are looking to go during the times that less points per night/week are required, while still hoping our kids will miss less school. My problem is I have read so many places that it could be really difficult to get the studios(in our case 2 studios) during "certain times" but I don't know what those times are and which studios would be tough to get. My ideal would probably be Boardwalk or Old Key West studios in the lowest season because our points could stretch to 11 1/2 nights. thanks.

You won’t get any Standard View rooms at Boardwalk in 2019 so just cross that off your list now. DVC members like to economize, too, and you’re already behind others. 2020 is possible if you plan ahead to book right at 7 months, but I’d still give you maybe a 10% chance of snagging just one Standard View Studio.

Early December likely has little available anywhere. January isn’t bad but you need to avoid the WDW marathon week and probably MLK holiday weekend.

Also to repeat from a prior post, the only DVC resort that has connecting studios is the Poly. There are no other DVC resorts with studios that have an interior door linking them together. If you book two rooms, you need to make sure there’s an adult in each room and your two studios could be on different floors, different buildings, etc. In short, splitting a family over two studios is not advisable.

 

[katandmouse]

I believe from late-September through mid-January are the busiest DVC times, and hardest to book studios at 7 months. You may find better luck with a 2 br and/or shorter stay. I'd think Old Key West would be easier to get than Boardwalk, but like PP said, those studios are not connecting, and OKW is especially spread out (multiple bus stops).

You could check this post for an idea about 7 month availability: https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-studios-1-bedrooms-june-2018-update.3689931/

I'll defer to more experienced DVCers on this.

 

[zavandor]

If you don't dislike the heat of the Florida Summer and you're willing to accept the risk of the Hurricane season, you might want to look at the first 3 weeks of September. At 11 months shouldn't be difficult to book two standard studios at BLT. Standard view at AKL during adventure season is a great value too.

 

[gskywalker]

You won’t get any Standard View rooms at Boardwalk in 2019 so just cross that off your list now. DVC members like to economize, too, and you’re already behind others. 2020 is possible if you plan ahead to book right at 7 months, but I’d still give you maybe a 10% chance of snagging just one Standard View Studio.

Early December likely has little available anywhere. January isn’t bad but you need to avoid the WDW marathon week and probably MLK holiday weekend.

Also to repeat from a prior post, the only DVC resort that has connecting studios is the Poly. There are no other DVC resorts with studios that have an interior door linking them together. If you book two rooms, you need to make sure there’s an adult in each room and your two studios could be on different floors, different buildings, etc. In short, splitting a family over two studios is not advisable.

Thanks everyone. Having an adult in a room isn't a problem, in terms of having two studios far away from another....yeah that wouldn't be so great. As I had said, we are not looking for anytime in 2019, so non issue there. So does that mean I should try for two studios at Baylake because they can be booked at 11 months?

Mainly within the parameters of what I am looking for I am trying to give dates and hotels that are the most likely to work for my friend to book. Here are the details as I see it right now:

1) Dates: 2020 not 2019 any time school is off or close to, IE 1st week of January, last week before Christmas, 1st week of Sept, we actually liked the cooler weather this year in December and January as opposed to the extreme heat we are going to face this summer
2) Would prefer Studios, but could consider 2 bdrm
3) Look to get as many days as possible
4) Happy to get suggestions of what is most likely and realistic.

 

[gskywalker]

I believe from late-September through mid-January are the busiest DVC times, and hardest to book studios at 7 months. You may find better luck with a 2 br and/or shorter stay. I'd think Old Key West would be easier to get than Boardwalk, but like PP said, those studios are not connecting, and OKW is especially spread out (multiple bus stops).

You could check this post for an idea about 7 month availability: https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-studios-1-bedrooms-june-2018-update.3689931/

I'll defer to more experienced DVCers on this.

FYI, I looked at this link, its a great help thanks.

 

[Frederic Civish]

I don't know the exact details right now, but I think you need to make plans quickly, or else put off your visit until later in the year. If you are talking about Jan 2020 you are 8 months out. BLT could be reserved now. But BLT already has almost no Standard View rooms for Jan next year. You might have a better chance getting 2 adjoining studios at Poly. We did exactly that, last October. But, either way, it looks like you will either be using more points at a different time of the year, or more points at the time you want, but on a room upgrade that you would not prefer.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We would likely look to go during a season we can stretch the points. We wondered about the first week of January 2020. Perhaps time in December before Christmas. IE we are looking to go during the times that less points per night/week are required, while still hoping our kids will miss less school. My problem is I have read so many places that it could be really difficult to get the studios(in our case 2 studios) during "certain times" but I don't know what those times are and which studios would be tough to get. My ideal would probably be Boardwalk or Old Key West studios in the lowest season because our points could stretch to 11 1/2 nights. thanks.

Adventure season (Jan, Sept and Dec 1-14, 2020) will be the cheapest point requirements at WDW. Choice season is often the same or very close for some rooms (Oct-Nov 24, Nov 29-30 and Dec 15-23). Those are the timeframes that will get you the most for the points. Weekdays require fewer points than weekends too.

For availability DVC members also really like to get the most value they can for their points. The first week in December is the busiest week for DVC bookings. The second week of Dec is not far behind. Any time around races can be difficult too and then the very end of Sept-Jan 1st. For those times they should be booked right at 11 months and even then you can't assume you'll get standard view at BLT.

September is easier to book and the earlier in the month the better. Labor Day weekend can be a tiny issue. In general during much of September you'll be able to get OKW studios and perhaps BWV although not necessarily standard view. And of course BLT. SSR standard view is a similar point requirement to stretch the time. And SSR standard view 2BR's as well as AKV standard view 2BR's are generally not too much more in point requirements than 2 studios at some of the newer resorts. Much of January should get you into OKW, SSR standard view and perhaps AKV standard view if a 2BR. In general a 2BR will give you better chance at any time for a 7 month booking vs 2 studios. You're best chance for a December trip booking at 7 months will be that 3rd week.

 

[CMNJ]

When you say first week of January do you mean the week including New Years Eve or the first full week of January? NYE is extremely popular and the last few days of Dec are still peak (Christmas) point charts. Out of curiosity I looked and you can’t get 1 let alone 2 studios at BLT for that week (week ending 1/4/20). There is some more availability the following week but still there are days missing already for lake view and standard studios. If you truly want to go in Jan 2020 you will need to decide ASAP. You should probably be looking at lake view point chart not standard and if you get lucky you might be able to stay an extra day. 5 days were showing avail for standard view the first full week of Jan but that can possibly mean 1 studio is avail for 5 consecutive days not multiple. There aren’t a lot of standard rooms and I wouldn’t expect it to remain avail for long.
If you decide to go later in 2020 you have some time to think about it more but if you want to snag BLT for Jan 2020 I would do it before the 7 month window opens. Or if you want to go elsewhere ask your friend to be ready to book at 8 am the day the 7 month window opens.

 

[Mickey of the Villages]

If you can use the points at any time in 2020 and you understand that 250 BLT points get the best return at OKW . . . I would recommend going to OKW in the first 2 weeks of January 2020. Here's why. It may be difficult to get 11 days at any time in early 2020 because of the madness surrounding SWGE. Also, if you are going to somewhere for 11 days you will want as much room as possible!

 

[Shellyred8]

Are any of your kids under the age of 3 (at the time of travel)? If so, you could get away with a room that allows 5. I would recommend a 1br that accomodates 5, as 6 in a studio will be quite cozy. Some 1br's also have 2 bathrooms, so you might want to look at those. The BLT 1BR might be a really good option for you. There are 2 full bathrooms and lots of space in the living room. It's also walking distance to MK. AKL Kidani 1br might be another good option. It has 2 bathrooms and you can use the pools at both Kidani and Jambo.

 

[GoofyCoaster]

Like previous posters have said, points stretch the most in adventure season like Sept and Jan. It’s sad to give up the BLT home resort advantage and being able to walk to MK with 4 young kids. But I can understand wanting more nights.

Spending 20pts/night by splitting up the family into two 10pt/night studios at OKW or BWV will stretch the points the farthest. Obtaining two studios at 7 months at OKW seems more likely that getting two standard view studios at BWV. The point cost for two studios at BLT is about the same as a 2BR at OKW. But would being in studios on different floors or even opposite ends of a resort add complexity or make it a less cohesive family experience?

A 2BR would guarantee everyone in the same villa. The kitchen and W/D could be very useful for a weeklong vacation for a family of 6. You could get 8 consecutive nights in a 2BR at OKW in Jan for 246 points (if you do 6 weeknights + 2 weekend). That would have 3 real beds and one sleeper sofa. That’s a lot of sleeping surfaces and gives everyone some space.

Some families might choose fewer nights to stay at BLT, some would opt for max nights in two studios, others would choose the middle ground of a 2BR at OKW. With two adults and four kids, I’d choose 6 nights in a 2BR at BLT (location!) or 8 nights at OKW or AKL. But it really comes down to personal preference and how you envision your family’s trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Since none of your kids are 18, you need to split up with the other adult in the group if you book two studios. Otherwise, you need a two bedroom villa. The only studios that could connect are at the Polynesian. None of the others will connect. At OKW, they may be on opposite ends of the building.

You really need to know the Use Year of the points and what year the points are. No points are good from Jan 1 through Dec 31 because there is no Jan UY. For example if they are Dec UY and Dec 2020 points, they are good from Dec 1, 2020 through Nov 30, 2021 unless you borrow them.