Do you switch resorts to avoid the Fri/Sat nights?

[bookwormde]

I am a serial mover; we do 3 or 4 way splits often and pack light (go during the summer). We do CRO or off site on weekends. Never seemed like that big a deal to me and we get to have a “home base” near each of the parks. We are doing it this year with a GG. Of course we are all “low maintenance” people

bookwormde

 

[kaguilbeau]

Thank you all for the replies.

We are not DVC members - but are renting points. I didn't want to mislead any of you!

The weekend at the end of the trip will be the weekend prior to Christmas. I'm thinking the crowds will start to pick up by then. We will have been there six nights. That just might be good enough. (although no trip is ever long enough!)

I do appreciate the opinions.

 

[Disneyhappy]

We rarely use points for the weekends unless it is for a weekend only trip. We'd rather use those points for an extra trip. We stay Sun-Fri and use the weekends to stay at one of our favorite resorts at one end of the week and then over to Universal for the other end of the week (we LOVE Universal resorts!). We don't have little ones anymore so it is much easier to make the moves.

 

[quentina]

I just keep going back over this in my head.

We have seven in our party - so will rent a 2BR villa for Sunday night through Thursday night. I really want to get to Disney on Saturday before our reservation and would like to extend the trip through the following weekend.

It just seems like an awful lot of trouble to start and end the trip at a value (where I would need two rooms).

We 'could' stay at an off sight hotel at one end of the trip - but I was really wanting some of the college age kids to be able to use DME in case they fly in different days than we do.

And I won't know yet if we'll drive or fly. Depends on the cost of airfare that time of year.

So - the question to you is: Do you move in and out of the DVC to save $/points - and do you find it too much of a hassle?

While it may not be for some of you, cost is an object on this trip.

Thanks!

We have been VERY successful using priceline. I bid $60.00 on a 4 star resort near Disney and ALWAYS get the Hilton across from downtown disney.

I have had success with this 3 times.

We are going in February and staying at BCV. I am trying to save points for the cruise and am thinking of trying this again.

Hilton gets all of the on-site options (extra hours etc)

 

[kaguilbeau]

We have been VERY successful using priceline. I bid $60.00 on a 4 star resort near Disney and ALWAYS get the Hilton across from downtown disney.

I have had success with this 3 times.

We are going in February and staying at BCV. I am trying to save points for the cruise and am thinking of trying this again.

Hilton gets all of the on-site options (extra hours etc)

Now THAT's my kinda deal!! I love Priceline - wonder what other hotels are in that 4 star category just in case it wasn't the Hilton.

 

[southtexasmom]

We usually plan our trips to fly in on sunday and fly home on saturday, we move to Nick Hotel on Friday. It saves us points but not money but my kids love to stay there.

 

[paults]

we have 4 trips on pts booked for 2009 now and only DEC trip is using weekend pts. If we decide to do more days on the other trips we stay at CSR on the weekends because we like it there.
So yes we save pts by not doing weekends.

 

[johde]

I normally get a hotel near Universal for one of the weekends. The last 2 trips when I traveled on a Saturday I flew into Tampa and spent the night there to go to Busch Gardens.

 

[Inkmahm]

we have 4 trips on pts booked for 2009 now and only DEC trip is using weekend pts. If we decide to do more days on the other trips we stay at CSR on the weekends because we like it there.
So yes we save pts by not doing weekends.

This made me think about it as we have 4 trips planned, too.

March: We're staying both Fri and Sat (Tues-Tues trip)
August: Using points to stay at the Grand Californian to do DL. NOT staying a weekend but we're there for T, W, Th nights only
Oct: Th-Tues for Food and Wine festival long weekend so both F and Sa nights.
Dec. Wed-Sat before a 1 week Magic cruise and then Sat night after the cruise, so both F and Sa nights.

So, for all trips to WDW we are staying both a F and Sa night. Just DL in the middle of the week we are not.

 

[spruce]

We do switch but not to save points on weekends. We own at 3 resorts and often move between the 3 during a trip. BC gives us pool and spa days, BW is convienent and OKW is restful. The only savings we had during our 12 night December trip was the first 2 days (Fri/Sat) were in a studio at BC. The remainder of the trip was split in 1brs at both BW and OKW which went through the next weekend.
I played golf with a couple that are members on one of the Saturdays and I commented "So, I guess you don't subscribe to the save points on weekends practice either?" " Oh no they said, we're staying offsite till Sunday."
I'll never understand that. Spend all that money to buy then spend more money so you can conserve points and travel down again to spend even more money during another trip.
Everyone figures it their own way though.

 

[Carolc]

Now THAT's my kinda deal!! I love Priceline - wonder what other hotels are in that 4 star category just in case it wasn't the Hilton.

Check out BiddingForTravel.com and BetterBidding.com. They are great sites to research before bidding. BetterBidding also covers Hotwire.

I definitely know what you mean about cost being an object... seems like it always is for me (or at least I'm always very frugal and trying to stretch my dollar as far as possible). I'm looking to buy a resale, but am only looking to buy enough points for Sun - Thur. There are still so many other Disney resorts we haven't stayed at yet, so I think staying at one of them for part of the trip works out as a nice compromise for us (my family rather enjoys trying out different hotels, and doesn't seem to mind when I move us... though it's best if I limit it to one move, and ideally we'd move from non-DVC to DVC in that order).

But, your case is a little different since you are dealing with a larger group and several unknowns at this point. Maybe go ahead and reserve DVC for the whole trip, and look at your options when you know more about everyone's travel plans. If you fly in Saturday, you could always stay at the airport Hyatt that night (it is sometimes available at a good rate thru Hotwire or Priceline), and take DME on Sunday morning.

ETA: Just saw your post (#22) about you renting all the points for this trip, so my thought of reserving the entire trip with DVC isn't practical (I was assuming you could just cancel and bank a few nights if needed). I see you want to buy exactly the amount of points you need. Sorry. Which DVC resort were you hoping to stay at? What is the price differential if you don't stay Fri/Sat nights?

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I've never done this, but I'm planning to next time. We will arrive on a Saturday afternoon. But to save some points on the Saturday night, I'm planning on staying in a studio at AKV. When we wake up, all I have to do is check-out, then check back in to my 1 BR. A value studio in October for a Saturday night is 17 points; the savanna view 1 BR is 65. That's a HUGE savings! Also, I don't have to change resorts which to me would be a huge hassle! If my room isn't ready, they will store our luggage until it is. I would definitely rather change rooms at the beginning than at the end. Even if I had to get 2 studios, it would still be cheaper! Good luck with your decision!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Ok I am point poor and admit it. I have planned trips to arrive on Thursday if possible. I try to get a AP rate on a mod room and then on Sunday go to our 1 br at OKW for the remainder of our trip.

We always start in the non DVC and when we move it is such a pleasure to have so much room, a kitchen, etc.

I have paid cash once when we were in a 2 br with a group and I didn't have the points for the weekend.

DH never wants to do the split but knows for now it what we have to do.

I like that the resorts are so helpful in moving us. They get a van and load our luggage and our family up and bring us to OKW. Most of the time it is first thing so they hold our luggage and issue our keys so we can go off and then come back to a beautiful 1 br with luggage delivered.

 

[kaguilbeau]

ETA: Just saw your post (#22) about you renting all the points for this trip, so my thought of reserving the entire trip with DVC isn't practical (I was assuming you could just cancel and bank a few nights if needed). I see you want to buy exactly the amount of points you need. Sorry. Which DVC resort were you hoping to stay at? What is the price differential if you don't stay Fri/Sat nights?

I'm going to rent at OKW. The Sat night before is 54 points (@ 10.00/pt = 540.00). The Sun night is 22 points (@ 10.00/pt= 220.00). To me, that is a significant amount of money. The Fri & Sat after our stay is considered in the Holiday season - so rates are even higher. (56 points) (Reminder that I have seven so need the 2 BR villa).

Thanks for reminding me about Betterbidding. I forgot that I have referenced it before.

 

[tjcj]

We tend to due Sat-Sat and not use on points on weekend nights. For our next trip we will travel on a Sat, stay at shades of green then check in to BWV on Sun-Fri. Friday we will check back into shades of green then travel home Sat.
Seems to work out well as long as we have a car. If not I would look at the values and us ME.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

This is our first time staying as DVC members in June can't wait

This year we are staying at BWV in a 1bd coming in on Mon, then renting a car for Fri and Sat staying at VB at an oceanview inn room, then staying at SSR at a 1bd from Mon and checking out Sat.

I don't like to use the high pts on the weekend, but really don't want to stay in a studio. So at least I can get a great view and it's a break from the parks.

I'm just renting a car for 3 days, right now Almo has a promo for the weekend it's only $10 a day.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We have been VERY successful using priceline. I bid $60.00 on a 4 star resort near Disney and ALWAYS get the Hilton across from downtown disney.

Now THAT's my kinda deal!! I love Priceline - wonder what other hotels are in that 4 star category just in case it wasn't the Hilton.

Just a warning, having stayed at the Hilton, it is probably better listed as a 3 star hotel. I know its categorized as a 4 star, but it is not.

 

[JCLNJ]

We just arrived home from a great trip. We flew done late on Dec 26th and did not arrive to our room until midnight. We stayed in a holiday in the Friday and Sat night and checked into BCV at 9 am on Sunday, we then went over to Blizzard Beach. We checked out of BCV Jan 2 at 10:30 and then checked into the Staybridge suites by downtown disney. Since my husband travels alot he has points available for rooms. We had reserved a 1 bed at staybridge suites and they gave us a 2 bedroom so we were happy. After we checked in there at 11 went over to Disney quest.

We do not find it a problem switching rooms and just do not plan on going into the parks on those days.

Had a great first trip to disney between Christmas and New Years. We brought in the new year at Hollywood studios, what could be better.

 

[Carolc]

I'm going to rent at OKW. The Sat night before is 54 points (@ 10.00/pt = 540.00). The Sun night is 22 points (@ 10.00/pt= 220.00). To me, that is a significant amount of money. The Fri & Sat after our stay is considered in the Holiday season - so rates are even higher. (56 points) (Reminder that I have seven so need the 2 BR villa).

Thanks for reminding me about Betterbidding. I forgot that I have referenced it before.

Yes, that's a huge chunk of change... I wouldn't pay that much, but that's me.

So are you going during the "Adventure" and "Choice" periods? If you decide it's too much of a hassle to move resorts, what about one of these options:

1. For OKW, book 2 studios for the Fri/Sat nights.. each room would cost 20 pts Adventure and 21 points Choice, so the total points per night for two rooms would be 40 or 42, a savings to you of about $140/night. And you wouldn't have to move too far when it's time to move to (or from) the 2br.

2. Stay at AKV for the entire trip, IF you can get the value category. The weekend prices (43 during Adventure and 46 during Choice) are a little less than OKW. I think it'd save you about $120/night for the Saturday at the beginning of your trip, or $110/night for the Fri/Sat at the end.

These options are still more than if you stay at a Value or offsite, but it's a compromise.

 

[Nikisha421]

I usually stay Saturday to Friday, that way only 1 weekend night.

this is such a bright idea...better than my sunday to Friday which incurs no weekend points.