DVC rental first timer...advice needed

[danceteachermom]

Considering a DVC rental for the first time...

Can a DVC rental vacation be awesome without going into the parks?

What are the best accommodation and recreation facilities for DVC properties?

We have a DD, 13 and a DS 6. We love to just relax, hang by the pool, be outside, and enjoy great meals. Not really sure if we will do parks. We have been to Disney a lot and will go in January so this trip will be just to relax. We want private sleeping arrangements for the adults (the only thing we do not like about Coronado) and the two rooms would provide other benefits.

 

[Sandisw]

First, I had to edit your post to remove specifics. General questions about DVC rentals are welcome in this thread.

You could do 1 bedrooms at any of the resorts and get this. At BLT, OKW, and AKV (most), they also have a sleeper chair in the living room so your children don't have to share sleeping space either.

We love BLT and the Epcot area resorts. The pool at BCV is one of the best and if you are planning a lot of down time and not park time, that would work well.

I just got back from a trip to AKV--it was planned only 2 months in advance so we couldn't get our favorites. It wasn't a big park trip and have to say, it was a really relaxing place. We were at Jambo and loved it.

Good luck!

 

[juncker]

If you're not going to the parks, I'd recommend my home resort Saratoga Springs. First, it is probably the easiest DVC resort to get a room at. Second, it is close to Downtown Disney with convenient boat transportation (you can walk, but we love the boats). Third, the property has great amenities. They have 2 feature pools with slides and a number of other smaller quieter pools. They have a spa, arcade, bike/surrey rentals, and they do schedule a lot of activities out of the community hall.

Search the disboards for ideas on which area of SSR you want to request (not guaranteed). I might suggest Congress park to be close to DTD, or Springs or Paddock to be close to the feature pools.

My second recommendation would be to look into Boardwalk or Beach Club as they are by the boardwalk. This is another fun area that doesn't require park admission.

... and yes, you can have a great time in Disney without a park ticket.

 

[BabsBunny]

One bedroom at:

SSR - If you like DD.

BCV - If the pool is your main attraction.

AKV - If you want a unique getaway.

 

[tjkraz]

If you're not going to visit the parks, I would look for options outside of Walt Disney World. I know it's blasphemy to some but there are many hotels in the Orlando area (if you're sure you want to go that route) much better than Disney properties. You can probably get an impressive vacation home rental for the same money.

To me the benefit of staying on-site will always be the proximity to theme parks. There are other hotels with much nicer restaurants, pools and most in the Orlando area probably even have gift shops with the same Mickey souvenirs.

 

[chalee94]

If you're not going to visit the parks, I would look for options outside of Walt Disney World. I know it's blasphemy to some but there are many hotels in the Orlando area (if you're sure you want to go that route) much better than Disney properties. You can probably get an impressive vacation home rental for the same money.

To me the benefit of staying on-site will always be the proximity to theme parks. There are other hotels with much nicer restaurants, pools and most in the Orlando area probably even have gift shops with the same Mickey souvenirs.

i'd agree for the most part. i still think animal kingdom lodge/villas is a pretty unique resort. AKV has giraffes/zebras on the savanna, great pools and interesting restaurants that make it more of a destination apart from the parks.

a 1BR at AKV-kidani offers a second bathroom as well as the separate sleeping spaces...that would be a great option...

here is a link to a sample resort activities list for AKV.

 

[Sammie]

I have to agree with TJ and would say that for me personally unless I lived close which I see you are in Michigan, I would never pick Orlando for a vacation unless going to the parks.

Are you planning on going to Universal or Sea World.

 

[PrincessaC]

We just booked a spur of the moment weekend getaway at AKV. I did it online yesterday and the only thing available was a Studio Savannah View at Kidani.

We check in Friday 7/20 and check out 7/23. We don't plan and going to any of the parks. Just hanging out at the resort, eating good meals, and DTD.

I have two boys 15 and 12.

We have never done a resort only trip. I hope we are not left feeling empty. We do have a longer trip planned in Oct and do plan to visit the parks then just in case.

 

[danceteachermom]

We do like other things Disney....DD and we may do a watermark.

We just really want a safe, family friendly place to stay with near guaranteed sunshine and warm temps. We prefer swimming areas with life guards and resorts with food and drink available at the pool.

We have been looking at other options and we can find cheaper but so far not nicer accommodations from what we can tell.

Thanks to all who have replied.

We want to go during a holiday week so it may not be an option for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you're not going to visit the parks, I would look for options outside of Walt Disney World. I know it's blasphemy to some but there are many hotels in the Orlando area (if you're sure you want to go that route) much better than Disney properties. You can probably get an impressive vacation home rental for the same money.

To me the benefit of staying on-site will always be the proximity to theme parks. There are other hotels with much nicer restaurants, pools and most in the Orlando area probably even have gift shops with the same Mickey souvenirs.

I have to agree with TJ and would say that for me personally unless I lived close which I see you are in Michigan, I would never pick Orlando for a vacation unless going to the parks.

Are you planning on going to Universal or Sea World.

Agreed. Check out Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO). People have condos that they rent out all over the world. We love the Gulf Coast and there are tons of availabilty on the Gulf Coast. And you aren't tempted to try to go to the parks if you don't plan to go to the parks. Beaches, mountains could be a lot more exciting a vacation than a DVC rental at WDW with no parks.

We are thinking of taking a vacation sometime in the future and not going to the parks because the tickets are so darn expensive. But we are already owners and if we don't use the points we'll lose them.

I was just in Indianapolis last week for business and I found Indy to be a very nice city. Lots of history, a nice zoo and parks. Easy transportation from the airport to downtown. Lots of hotels and restaurants downtown. Football is king there (well, it was until Payton Manning decided to move to Denver).

San Antonio also has lots of history and site to see - the Alamo, the Riverwalk, not too far (you'd need a rental car if you flew) to go to Schlitterbahn.

I'd expand my horizons if I wasn't going to WDW for the parks and I could stay anywhere I wanted.

 

[PistolPeteCO]

Go for it! I know people that have not done parks and still had an awesome time.

 

[joeyrose]

i have done this many times, no parks or only one day. i really enjoyed these trips. i find the older i get, the more i like hanging at the resort...180 degrees from earlier trips that were go, go, go.

 

[woodkins]

We just did this July 4th week! We were able to rent a 1br villa at the Beach Club & spent the entire 7 days without going into any of the parks. It was one of the best WDW vacations we ever had and we have been 20+ times over the past 9 years! We had a great time hanging out at the pool during the day & at night ate at many of the hotel restaurants (Kona, Whispering Canyon, Flying Fish, etc) walking over to the Boardwalk was a fun evening activity, Downtown Disney for desserts and shopping. We did the campfire and movies on the beach, and my dd9 participated in lots of pool activities. We are already planning another non park trip for next summer (as well as our park trip for Sept & Thanksgiving at Aulani!)

 

[jeankeri]

My vote would be for BCV. We own@ BLT & BWV, and my DS15 always comments how he wishes we could go to that cool pool at the Beach Club! Definitely fun for your age group of kids, plus BCV has many onsite food offerings, view of Illuminations, across from BWV, quick walk to minigolf. If we were planning a non-theme park (or park lite) trip, I would be looking into a BCV ressie.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Check out page 138 of the SSR Lover's thread. There was just a discussion there on things to do on non-park trips.

 

[DVCMikey]

Considering a DVC rental for the first time...

Can a DVC rental vacation be awesome without going into the parks?

What are the best accommodation and recreation facilities for DVC properties?

We have a DD, 13 and a DS 6. We love to just relax, hang by the pool, be outside, and enjoy great meals. Not really sure if we will do parks. We have been to Disney a lot and will go in January so this trip will be just to relax. We want private sleeping arrangements for the adults (the only thing we do not like about Coronado) and the two rooms would provide other benefits.

I think the DVC resorts are very nice to just be able to sit and relax at. I would say that your best bet might be beach club or boardwalk. You have the resort and all that comes with them plus you have the boardwalk right there.

If you are planning on relaxing and doing some shopping, SSR might work well since its so close to Down town disney. Where there are shops, restaurants, movies, and a new bowling alley coming.