DVC vs deluxe resorts

[Dreaming of Main St]

About a year ago, we were very close to buying a BCV contract. We have been to Disney World and Disneyland many times and will continue the visits. We almost always stay in the deluxe hotels. I did all of the research and the $ numbers definitely made sense. We decided we'd take a trip to the Poly (our favorite resort with the exception of Grand Californian) and split the stay at the Beach Club Villas to try it out. I had wanted to stay at the Beach Club for years. Love the location and I thought I'd love the decor and feel of the resort. Then, the unthinkable happened...we didn't like it....not one bit =-O I can't put my finger on the exact reason why, but I think part of it is that we don't really want the "home away from home" feel. We like hotels. Fast forward to today and I'm still thinking about DVC because I do see a lot of benefits (mostly financial). I've been thinking more about BLT now because I don't think it has as much of that "homey" feel. My house is far from contemporary so it would still feel like that escape from reality that we love.

So, after that long winded explanation...my questions are... What do you think are the positives and negatives of staying DVC vs. deluxe resorts? Is there anything you miss about the deluxe resorts when staying DVC? Do you find the DVC buildings to be more crowded/noisy?

Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

If you vacation at WDW at least once a year, you will save money on your room as a DVC Member. With that savings comes the headache of Disney changing the DVC rules and policies as they see fit with 95% of the changes benefiting Disney, not the members.

The DVC resorts are not noisy or crowed, also you do not get Mousekeeping everyday.

Use the membership every year, buy where you love to stay and make sure you love it before you buy, and book 11 months in advance and you will be ok.

Bill

 

[mdsd8700]

We are new to DVC, less than a year. We love the ability to stay in larger accomodations then a regular size room. Once you have done a 1 Bdrm it is very hard to go back. We also like the fact that we will never have to worry about the cost of the room again. Of course we are left out of any deals or promotions Disney may having going on, but prefer the idea that the room is pre-paid for the next 48 years.

I thought the lack of daily mousekeeping would be an issue, but I actually prefer not having it. Although I don't cook or do laundry while on vacation it is so nice having the kitchen for quick breakfasts and the washer dryer just in case I may need it for something.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[diding]

If you go every year, it definitely makes sense. We bought at BLT because i definitely like the convenience of the monorail line being right there or being able to walk to MK. But most definitely, buy where you want to stay and take advantage.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We go every year and are a family of 6, so it made a lot of $$$ sense to go DVC. We were either getting two value rooms or jamming into a family suite. We bought at AKV, and we love how different it is, the pools, the lobby, the laundry, a full size kitchen and I can not do with out my master bedroom with a king size bed and master bath. We are so spoiled now the thought of sharing the same room with our kids on vacation horrifies my husband and I. I am a bit of a hotel snob and I didn't love the values and couldn't afford two moderate rooms, this way I have the luxury of a Deluxe and my 2bedroom villa. We have also stayed at BWV, and loved it. We will be staying at BCV for a split stay. My kids want to swim at SAB! I love we can try all these resorts. When they add DVC at Poly we are adding on!

 

[csmommy]

We purchased a smal contract at OKW, 70 pts. We go every other year for at least 7 nights in a studio. We book OKW at 11 months out & then have always been able to change at our 7 month window. We have enjoyed every resort we have stayed in & split stay each time to try something new.

 

[ToddyLu]

Have you looked at AKV ore VWL--the same architect did them as VGC?? We like the hotel indor hallways at AKV. It is one of the features that we love there actually.

 

[honeymo78]

For us, we feel we get more from DVC than the deluxe resorts. Before DVC we loved staying at WL or CR. Getting a room with a king bed and a bathtub was nearly impossible yet those are our preferences no matter where we go. With DVC we can stay at BLT (and we've found some new loves as well) with our king bed guaranteed and an amazing whirlpool tub. DH and I don't use the kitchen but having the full fridge is nice and depending on who travels with us, they may use the kitchen. We also like having more than one room rather than having to hang out in the bedroom area all the time. For all of the attached DVC resorts, the resort amenities are identical to the deluxe rooms with the exception of mousekeeping.

 

[Dreaming of Main St]

Thank you for all of the replies!
ToddyLu - yes and thanks for the info on the AKV hallways. VWL is probably our second choice after BLT. And, we stayed at AKL a couple years ago and loved it...with the exception of the bus rides. Yes, we're spoiled. But, maybe that would be better with a car - we didn't have one that trip.

 

[Sammie]

I miss the better bedding and sheets that the deluxe resorts get.

The benefit to me in having DVC is the space of a one bedroom or larger. If I had to choose between studios and deluxe rooms I would always choose the deluxe.

 

[Mississippian]

To me personally, BWV has a bit more of the luxury hotel feel the BCV. I just don't like the feel of BC all that much even though I know it is the most popular and desirable DVC resort. You might try a couple of nights at BWV before making up your mind.

 

[HookdonWDW]

As this thread points out, it really is about personal choice. We've stayed at both resorts multiple times, and although we don't mind BWV, we will always choose BCV first. That's why it's our home resort. I could give you all of the standard reasons... long hallways, scary clown pool, busier feel, etc..., but the truth is that those things appeal to others. It doesn't make one resort better than the other, just different. Which you prefer is truly a personal bias, and preference doesn't necessary equal a dislike of the resort.

There is only one onsite resort that we truly don't like to stay at (and for the sake of DVC unity, I'll keep the name to myself, lol).

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

As this thread points out, it really is about personal choice. We've stayed at both resorts multiple times, and although we don't mind BWV, we will always choose BCV first. That's why it's our home resort. I could give you all of the standard reasons... long hallways, scary clown pool, busier feel, etc..., but the truth is that those things appeal to others. It doesn't make one resort better than the other, just different. Which you prefer is truly a personal bias, and preference doesn't necessary equal a dislike of the resort.

There is only one onsite resort that we truly don't like to stay at (and for the sake of DVC unity, I'll keep the name to myself, lol).

Now that's smart diplomacy!

To the OP, if you can, I'd try to book a trial split stay at a DVC resort that you think you'd like to purchase, in the type of room you think you'd be staying at most often. This may be a pricey proposition, but each resort is different and a 1BR is a big difference from either a DVC studio or a deluxe resort.

 

[JWG]

From my perspective...

Deluxe Benefits:
Daily Mousekeeping
Large rooms (especially CR)
Room discounts and package deals

DVC Benefits:
1BR+ size (if desired)
Member discounts (AP, some dining, tours, etc.)
Cost savings (over deluxe)

If you stay at a DVC at a deluxe resort (BCV, BWV, AKV, BLT, VWL) then as already mentioned, mousekeeping becomes the only real difference in the resort differences. But, we don't change our bedding or wash our towels everyday at home, so not a big loss for us.

 

[crisi]

I miss the better bedding and sheets that the deluxe resorts get.

I miss daily room cleaning, better customer service, and frankly, nicer rooms and better maintained rooms.

DVC is great for us right now, and has been great for us in the past. We have our kids stay in another room (which doesn't SAVE us money because we are in a much larger room than if we'd book a regular hotel room). But I REALLY prefer hotels if it were just my husband and me.

Disney Deluxe hotels frankly aren't that nice. And DVC is a step down from those.

 

[keishashadow]

I miss daily room cleaning, better customer service, and frankly, nicer rooms and better maintained rooms.

DVC is great for us right now, and has been great for us in the past. We have our kids stay in another room (which doesn't SAVE us money because we are in a much larger room than if we'd book a regular hotel room). But I REALLY prefer hotels if it were just my husband and me.

Disney Deluxe hotels frankly aren't that nice. And DVC is a step down from those.

IMO

Disney Deluxes/DVC units are very nice and deluxe but more of a 4* at most type. It's hard to argue with an amenity such as MK view. I admit we feel more comfortable and relaxed @ disney vs some of the tonier hotels we've patronized, all a matter of what's important to you.

The DVC units are on par with the deluxe hotel rooms, studios a bit smaller vs traditional deluxe rooms, but certainly a better value for the same resort amenties others are paying $$$ to enjoy.

 

[DenLo]

... What do you think are the positives and negatives of staying DVC vs. deluxe resorts? Is there anything you miss about the deluxe resorts when staying DVC? Do you find the DVC buildings to be more crowded/noisy?

Thanks!

Deluxe Resorts positives

Daily Maid Service which includes fresh towels
Usually closer to the resorts restaurants
Some of the Deluxe Resorts standard rooms are larger rooms than a typical DVC Studio

Deluxe resort rooms in square feet:
AKL and WL - 344
BC & YC - 381
BWI - 371
Contemporary Resort - 394
Polynesian Resort - 415
Grand Floridian - 440 Sq. ft.

DVC Studios in Square Feet
AKV Kidani - 366
Jambo - 365
Value - 316
BCV - 365
BLT - 329
BWV - 359
OKW - 390
SSR - 344
VWL - 356
Aulani - 356

The rooms are often more up to date and closer to a deluxe room in other hotel chains. But still they are not really deluxe compared to even truly deluxe hotels.

CONS of Deluxe Resort

Larger families have to rent two rooms.
No kitchen or kitchenette or free laundry (or washer and dryer in 1BR & up)
They cost a lot of money each and every time you stay there.
Nothing I hate worse than paying hundreds of dollars per night and have a view of a roof.
Lack of privacy because of the daily maid service and you have more tips to pay.
You have to pay for your internet service.
More hustle and bustle, everyone is in a hurry because they have a limited number of days and resorts are big and crowded.

BTW, I own at BLT and it does seem more like a hotel. We purchased there because we like high rise hotels.

I like knowing that the majority staying at the DVC resort are members just like me and we take pride in our resorts.

Cons of DVC

You have to buy points which are big $$$$
Annual dues - for 42 to 50 years depending on where you buy

Pro DVC

Everything I said in cons of Deluxe
You find you can travel more frequently to WDW as DVC member than you could staying at the Deluxe resorts as your budge goes farther.
You can get 1, 2 or 3 BR DVC villas in addition to studios
It's easy to invite friends or family to join you because you have enough points

Before DVC we traveled to WDW rarely because we got a better vacation value on cruises or going to Mexico -- anywhere else actually.
After buying DVC we can now afford to to WDW twice a year for 10 days each trip versus the five nights we did before and because we didn't purchase too many points we can still do other vacations too.

 

[Dreaming of Main St]

Thank you for all of the responses! I've enjoyed reading all of your comparisons! I was surprised to hear that the customer service differs between the two. And, the sheets are of lesser quality I'm off to do a search now about the customer service, but if anyone would like to share their experiences I'd love to hear them!

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you for all of the responses! I've enjoyed reading all of your comparisons! I was surprised to hear that the customer service differs between the two. And, the sheets are of lesser quality I'm off to do a search now about the customer service, but if anyone would like to share their experiences I'd love to hear them!

IMO Disney's customer service has decreased everywhere, resorts, parks, DCL. Disney has replaced their full time higher paid people with part time collage kids and older folk to save money and you get what you pay for. Don't get me wrong, there is still some magic left, just not as much as before.

We have had mixed customer service at all of the resorts, it depends on who is working at the time so I don't think that you can choose a resort based on current reports.

At SSR we have had our room ready at 6:00, they apologized, gave us gift cards and made us family of the day.

On another stay there last December, our room wasn't ready until 7:30, they said that it was ready twice and sent us to the room twice. Offered us nothing for our inconvenience and acted like we were unreasonable for not accepting a room with dirty counter tops, food on the kitchen floor and trash still in the trash can.

The two cleaning people that they sent to inspect and clean the room told us that our situation is happening daily and all they do is clean dirty rooms that are reported as clean by Mousekeeping.

Bill

 

[lizanne]

The benefit to me in having DVC is the space of a one bedroom or larger. If I had to choose between studios and deluxe rooms I would always choose the deluxe.

I agree...

As far as customer service the last time we stayed at GF the mousekeeping was terrible. There were several times we came back to the room (3:30 - 4:30 PM) and beds still were not made. We ended up calling front desk and telling them not to bother.

Also the same litter that was in the hall the day we arrived was still there when we checked-out (5 days later).

As far as housekeeping goes, I agree with others that it isn't what it used to be. With DVC I know that they're not going to be there everyday so there's no disappointment in that respect.