done my homework - still dont know what to do - please advise - thanks

[MIALIAS]

I have been reading the boards for a whille - love the conversation and advice. Last year I purchased 100 BCV resale - very happy. I'll use that for Food and Wine.

My question is my next purchase(s):

My goal is to come down 2x every 3 years for 3 nights in a grand villa. My daughter is a teacher so we are thinking we need to do it during feb break each time for now -

BUT maybe down the road we'll be able do it other times of the year...

SO HOW DO I PURCHASE A SET AMOUNT?

Also, I want to be able to try different grand villas at different resorts...

So all these different scenarios - different resorts/dates - mathamatical combinations. There is no way to get this right.

I'm thinking I'll buy 100-120 pts at 2 different resorts so I can stay at each one every third year - but I'm surely going to end up with too few points or too many points, right? Then what?

Theres also the 7 month/11 month issue. Theres also location as far as park proximity.

So based on my story - and what I'm looking to do...

what EXACTLY would you buy and where?


Thanks for all your advise in advance!

Michael

 

[McCrae]

I would buy the points you need at one resort. That way you can book a Villa at 11 months, at 7 months you can try and book a different resort.

 

[ELMC]

Grande Villas are going to be difficult to get at the 7 month mark, so you don't want to count on being able to do that. I also agree that you could be left with a very sloppy situation of having too many or too few points based on your travel patterns.

If I were you, I would buy enough points resale to stay where I wanted to stay at one resort that has a GV that you want to stay in (based on cost I would recommend AKV or OKW). Then, if I wanted to try another GV, I would rent out my points and then use that money to rent points (or get a point transfer) from another owner for that specific resort and book the GV that way. Yes, it's work, but I think it's probably your easiest way.

 

[DannysMom]

I too would buy the points you need at one resort that HAS GVs. That rules out a few locations. Next base the amt of points you plan to buy on the point charts for the resort you buy at. That way you can book what you need at 11 months & try to change if you want at 7 months.

Yes there will undoubtedly have occasions where you have too few or too many points. Impossible to be absolutely correct for every contingency. For now you can buy the one time use points or get points transferred in from another member if you run short. Or you can transfer points out to another member or rent out a reservation if you find yourself with too many.

Just buy approximately the amt of points you estimate you will be able to use. Work out the details of that usage year by year.

ETA buy these points at a resort that you wouldn't mind staying if you can't switch out at 7 months.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App please excuse any typos and autocorrects!

 

[dmunsil]

Keep in mind that a Grand Villa costs a widely varying amount depending on resort. But the best deal on Grand Villas is at OKW, so I'd buy 1/3 the price of a GV for three nights in February. I assume that's a Thursday, Friday, Saturday?

So looking at our school district, the Feb break starts on Thursday the 13th. To get a GV for three nights (13th, 14th, 15th) costs 196 points at OKW, 259 at SSR, 271-294 at AKV, 303 at BWV, and 339 at BLT. So why not get around 75 points, and then you can get three days in a OKW Grand Villa every three years, with enough left over to stay in a different grand villa once in a while, possibly by dipping into your BC stash.

Unless you really would rather stay in an AKV villa, in which case 100 points would be more reasonable.

But I agree with McCrae - you're probably better off buying everything in one resort, and it should be the resort you would be happiest staying in all the time if that's what works out best. And if you want to stay in a BWV Grand Villa, you would definitely want to own there; they only have 7 GVs.

Personally I think that OKW Grand Villas are the best deal at WDW; they're huge and they cost less than some of the two bedrooms at the other resorts.

 

[MIALIAS]

I have looked at OKW Grand Villa videos on youtube...is it possible that it doesnt translate well on video? It just looks like a plain townhouse you would see anywhere?

 

[Dean]

I have been reading the boards for a whille - love the conversation and advice. Last year I purchased 100 BCV resale - very happy. I'll use that for Food and Wine.

My question is my next purchase(s):

My goal is to come down 2x every 3 years for 3 nights in a grand villa. My daughter is a teacher so we are thinking we need to do it during feb break each time for now -

BUT maybe down the road we'll be able do it other times of the year...

SO HOW DO I PURCHASE A SET AMOUNT?

Also, I want to be able to try different grand villas at different resorts...

So all these different scenarios - different resorts/dates - mathamatical combinations. There is no way to get this right.

I'm thinking I'll buy 100-120 pts at 2 different resorts so I can stay at each one every third year - but I'm surely going to end up with too few points or too many points, right? Then what?

Theres also the 7 month/11 month issue. Theres also location as far as park proximity.

So based on my story - and what I'm looking to do...

what EXACTLY would you buy and where?


Thanks for all your advise in advance!

Michael

I personally wouldn't do GV in this situation. The GV is significantly more points than a 2 BR plus studio and you're already limited. However, if you're set on that option, I'd look at the resort you most want to use for a GV routinely. You'll need to book 11 months out. Personally I'd likely do BWV with AKV second choice and buy all points at one resort. For the 2 BR option, I'd go GF retail or SSR resale. You may be able to get OKW and SSR at the 7 months at times, esp with the WL.

 

[dmunsil]

I guess I'd say they're like a nice townhouse, and compared to other accommodations at Disney, they're quite spacious. You get a large living room, a dining area with a real dining table, a full kitchen, and three large bedrooms. They're about 2400 sq ft, which is approximately 200 more than the next biggest at AKV. The Grand Floridian's might be even bigger, but I can't find the size anywhere. Given that they're the cheapest Grand Villas in points, that makes them a real bargain.

As far as the theming goes, OKW isn't anything exciting; it's themed to look like a Florida resort, which seems somewhat literal for Disney. Personally, my favorite décor is Wilderness Lodge Villas, but they don't have Grand Villas.

Really, all the Grand Villas are very spacious compared to the other villas, which is why they cost so many points.

Ultimately you should get points at a resort you like. If you like the Beach Club, you might be happiest staying in that area and getting your extra points at Boardwalk. You should just know that since they only have 7 Grand Villas at Boardwalk, you'll need to book your vacation promptly on the 11-month mark to be sure to get one.

 

[lovin'fl]

Well...VGF and BWV only have 6 GV and BLT has 14. The other WDW resorts that have GV have 22-36 GV, so you have a better shot at getting those at 7 months out. The new VGF will be the toughest to get...not sure if you want to go direct to buy new points there at $145pp. You could buy at BWV and BLT. Though BLT, and VGF for that matter, take a TON of points for a week in a GV. So you could buy enough to bank/borrow and do 5 nights there every 3 years (eliminating Fri and Sat nights). I think it would still be A LOT. Good luck deciding and then happy hunting for your contract(s). Edit to add: Just saw that you only plan on 3 nights in the GV. That makes it better, point-wise.

 

[Dean]

Well...VGF and BWV only have 6 GV and BLT has 14. The other WDW resorts that have GV have 22-36 GV, so you have a better shot at getting those at 7 months out. The new VGF will be the toughest to get...not sure if you want to go direct to buy new points there at $145pp. You could buy at BWV and BLT. Though BLT, and VGF for that matter, take a TON of points for a week in a GV. So you could buy enough to bank/borrow and do 5 nights there every 3 years (eliminating Fri and Sat nights). I think it would still be A LOT. Good luck deciding and then happy hunting for your contract(s). Edit to add: Just saw that you only plan on 3 nights in the GV. That makes it better, point-wise.

Just a slight clarification, BWV has 7 GV.

 

[MIALIAS]

so those who have done grand villas:

how did you do the points?

Have you only stayed at the grand villa at your home resort?

What are your reviews/rankings of the grand villas?

 

[Missyrose]

so those who have done grand villas:

how did you do the points?

Have you only stayed at the grand villa at your home resort?

What are your reviews/rankings of the grand villas?

Grand villas are very tough to get at seven months. So you'd be better off buying points at the resort you wouldn't mind being "stuck" at for a grand villa and then if you *can* switch to a different resort at seven months, see it as a bonus.

 

[dmunsil]

so those who have done grand villas:

how did you do the points?

I just showed up and my sister did the rest. But I know she was able to borrow 1 year and afford an OKW grand villa for a week in a slightly lower season. So she only used two years of points. And she did book at 7 months.

Have you only stayed at the grand villa at your home resort?

I've only stayed at OKW, but I've walked through a Boardwalk Grand Villa.

What are your reviews/rankings of the grand villas?

Most of the Grand Villas are based on a very similar floor plan, so my assumption is that the one I saw at BWV is essentially very similar to the ones at AKV, BLT, and SSR except for theming. OKW has a very different floor plan with a larger living room and slightly smaller bedrooms, or at least that was my impression. VGF seems to have a completely different layout, based on the floor plans. It's all one floor, whereas all the other GVs are two floors.

SSR and OKW grand villas have less stunning views; they aren't as high up and there isn't as much to look at at those resorts. OKW you basically see the golf course. SSR you see the golf course, the rest of the resort, and Downtown Disney. The other GVs are on the top floors of resorts with big views of cool Disney stuff.

Hopefully someone who's actually stayed in multiple GVs will weigh in with more specific info.

 

[lovin'fl]

Some GV are 2 story and some are 1 story. I toured the SSR GV (2 story)...very nice. Also peeked in the VB GV (2 story cottages)...OMG, very very sweet!!!! There are floorplans on the internet. I like BWV (1 story) GV, but would LOVE to stay in any. I am thinking of getting points transferred into my HH account so I can surprise my family with a GV at HH next year. Just have to figure out how to do that?!?!?!?!

Good luck deciding.

 

[dmunsil]

Well clearly my quick walk through BWV was not enough to get me an accurate mental map. I basically looked at the living room and kitchen and left. But I got a clear impression that it was two story like OKW. But it's not, as lovin'fl said. D'oh!

I really like the theming at BWV, which is why that's what we bought for our home resort. We did stay in a 2 bedroom there most recently, also sponging off my sister, and we found it just about perfect for us in terms of location and amenities. I'm hoping to stay at a GV there at some point in the future, which is why I poked my head in while we were there.

 

[Dean]

Well clearly my quick walk through BWV was not enough to get me an accurate mental map. I basically looked at the living room and kitchen and left. But I got a clear impression that it was two story like OKW. But it's not, as lovin'fl said. D'oh!

I really like the theming at BWV, which is why that's what we bought for our home resort. We did stay in a 2 bedroom there most recently, also sponging off my sister, and we found it just about perfect for us in terms of location and amenities. I'm hoping to stay at a GV there at some point in the future, which is why I poked my head in while we were there.

My understanding is 5 one story and two 2 story at BWV

 

[dmunsil]

My understanding is 5 one story and two 2 story at BWV

Glad to hear I'm not crazy! I must have seen one of the two story ones.

 

[MIALIAS]

Can I get some opinions - rankings from people who have stayed in DVC grand villas?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can I get some opinions - rankings from people who have stayed in DVC grand villas?

It is really going to come down to where you own. You'll need the 11 month headstart to get a GV most of the time.

OKW GV are the most point conservative. BLT and GFV are the least point conservative.

 

[MIALIAS]

well thats really the point...I'm going to buy at the resort that has the best Grand Villa/harder to get...

I think AK looks great, but is not near any park

BWV look a little dated? Am I wrong?

BLT looks okay - any one stay at the gv there?

What are the thoughts about the GF grand villas? Plus do you ever think we could get it at 7 months?
Maybe just wait for Poly?