dvc rooms vs resort

[yzguy96]

Hi

I'm still weighing pros and con's of dvc and if its a fit for me. I am a family of 4 and it seems most dvc studios and one bedrooms have a bed and a sleeper sofa? How is the sleeper sofa? Seems like you lose a nice second bed compared to when I stay at the resort? Most likely my kids will sleep on it but when they get older do you guys get a two bedroom and spend more pts?

Also if I go one time a year then is the discount on annual passes still a savings?

I also usually get free dining through the resort but would have to pay oop if I buy dvc. Is the table in wonderland a better savings?

 

[Dean]

Hi

I'm still weighing pros and con's of dvc and if its a fit for me. I am a family of 4 and it seems most dvc studios and one bedrooms have a bed and a sleeper sofa? How is the sleeper sofa? Seems like you lose a nice second bed compared to when I stay at the resort? Most likely my kids will sleep on it but when they get older do you guys get a two bedroom and spend more pts?

Also if I go one time a year then is the discount on annual passes still a savings?

I also usually get free dining through the resort but would have to pay oop if I buy dvc. Is the table in wonderland a better savings?

There are many variables. certainly normally getting free dining and/or a significant room discount decreases any savings of DVC. OKW studios have 2 beds and many of the 1 BR now have a pull out twin plus the pull out queen giving some potential separation if needed. For once a year of say a week or less, an AP isn't likely to be a good choice and if it's not, any savings won't change that much. Now if you can get 2 trips by timing your once a year accordingly, that may change.

I'd suggest you compare to what you normally get and see how they stack up. As for a 2 BR as they kids age, just think what you'd get if you didn't do DVC and compare that way. Ultimately it's unlikely DVC will save you money but it might give you more value for your money.

 

[drusba]

The sleeper sofas are decent, not as good as a real bed but much better than the bar in the back, uncomfortable ones you find all too often in suite style hotel rooms.

If you only go once a year, the AP is likely not the ticket of choice unless that once a year trip is a long one. You should compare the AP price and renewal price with DVC discount to that of other tickets for the same amount of time you would likely go, see http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm. Note some use it twice a year by going on one trip and then a second one that ends one year after the first one began and thus get two trips out of the pass.

The discounted DVC AP is a perk not a built in DVC right. As a perk, Disney could end it at any time at its discretion. It has been around for a number of years but do not purchase on the assumption it will automatically be there every year.

DVC members get some discounts for some restaurants (another perk). You can also purchase a dining plan or the Tables in Wonderland card (also perks) and which is better depends on how many meal days you have and what meals and drinks you have. Tables in Wonderland costs $100 a year and gives a 20% discount on both food and drink, including alcohol. Because of its initial cost, you must spend $500 a year just to break even with the discount. Thus, you need to do some calculations. Also, the dining plan will not be a bargain unless you actually use what is in it, e.g., if you only eat one meal a day at a restaurant and otherwise eat In the room, it is not likely to be the way to go. In any event if you spend well over $500 and have beer and wine with daily dinner meals, it is likely TIW will be the better bargain.

What families do about room size varies. Some are fine with a studio with two kids even if teens. Some get 1BRs and may own at AKV or BLT which have a pull out sofa queen and a pull out chair twin in the living room and a second bathroom in the 1BR. OKW has only one bathroom in a 1BR but does have the pul-out chair. Others do gravitate to e larger 2BR with more points.

 

[yzguy96]

Thanks...I was looking at that angle as well. If I am going to spend x dollars normally and get a reg room but with dvc I could get a 2 bedroom or better room then I'm better with dvc. Also after getting applied with a Mk view at contemporary, I'm liking the deluxe resorts lol. Just booked Floridian in Dec this yr so my mom can ride the monorail plus I liked the monorail over buses now.

Are the sofa beds big? Comfortable?

 

[crisi]

Honestly, I'd rent points - that way you can see the differences for yourself and try the sofa beds.

We get a two bedroom with our two teenagers - its a lot more points - but with teenagers we find we go for a lot less days - YMMV.

 

[yzguy96]

Yeah I was going to try this year but everything I wanted was booked. I was seriously considering dvc this year so I can start earning pts and roll them over for next years trip. Maybe also take advantage of other discounts and if they are having the members merry Xmas thing they did last yr?

It would be a no brained if I lived closer but I have to factor in airfare. I wouldn't mind trying a new years eve trip or f&w show if I was a dvc member and kids are older. Tough decision here.

 

[yzguy96]

Also if I buy resale then are my pts good at california , Hilton head and Hawaii?

 

[lovin'fl]

Didn't read the other replies but AP for a once a year trip, this is what my inlaws do: they get the AP and go one year and then a week earlier the following year. So, if they use their APs for, say, Aug 1-8 this year then they'll use them July 24-31 next year. They don't renew but wait for their next trip to buy new APs again and do the same thing. We get them and do 2-3 shorter trips within the year and then might skip the following year but do a DVC beach resort, like HHI which we own, to save on APs and airfare.

I like TIW. I have a TIW card for the second time...used this one in Dec for 6 night trip and will use in Aug for my DDs and I's girls only 5 night trip.

We bought in 2006 and bought specifically for the 1BRs (we wanted a bedroom for us parents with a separate sleeping area for the kids, 3 kids). Our DDs slept on pull-out and DS would sleep on aerobed. They never had a problem with that. They we little in 2006 but once they became teens (2011, DS was 14 and twin DDs were 12) we started to get 2BRs. Now, DS is 17 and not into WDW so we won't be bringing him anymore and will go back to the 1BR if the girls come. If it's just DH and I, we'll get a studio. We liked AKV and OKW with the sleeper chair, when DS was with us (he loved sleeping in the sleeper chair...was comfy). We also liked BCV's 2BR (Jan 2013) with the 2 queens so that my DDs could each have a bed and DS slept on pull-out in living room (at AKV, over last Xmas, my girls shared the bed in the 2nd bedroom and left the couch as a couch while DS slept on sleeper in living room). Sorry for the ramble...it's late and I am tired . Good luck deciding!

 

[crisi]

Also if I buy resale then are my pts good at california , Hilton head and Hawaii?

Yes, subject to availability.

Availability can be a big deal with DVC - Rooms are not always available at the resorts you want when you want them. So Hilton Head is a nice resort, but a Summer stay is difficult to get unless you own there. Hawaii is nice, but June books up fast. Staying at an Epcot resort for Food and Wine is nice, but it can be really hard to get a room if BWV or BCV isn't your home resort. California is hard all year round - its a really small resort and with as few rooms as there are available, and as many DVC owners trying to book at seven months - it can be a real challenge. And that doesn't change if you buy resale or direct.

 

[lovin'fl]

Also if I buy resale then are my pts good at california , Hilton head and Hawaii?

Yes. You just have to book at 7 months out instead of the home resort priority of 11 months out...and if it's available (HHI and VB are tough to book for summer at 7 months out, not impossible but tough). You cannot use resale points on the Disney collection, cruises, concierge collection. Can use them for ALL DVC resorts plus trade into RCI (for $95 fee).