Dvc vs resorts

[kapoof]

Aside from having a kitchen and washer/dryer in the one and two bedrooms...what are the other advantages of having a Dvc? The resorts themselves look so much more appealing. Take the bwi much nicer than the Dvc with the 'crest of the wave' hanging overhead. The bc is so much nicer than the Dvc there. The Dvc doesn't even match the pretty blue of the bc!! They must be mighty nice inside I am guessing...but why have a Dvc over staying at a resort???

 

[DizDaD7]

Also some have multiple bathrooms. DVC that is.To me DVC or resort , they're the same..In terms of the grounds and stuff. You're talking about minor things it seems. Such as crest of wave n shade of blue.Cosmetically they're all similar. AKL & AKV are decorated the same pretty much. Theming wise.

 

[spiceycat]

VWL to me is just as nice as WL - now does not have the big fireplace - but definitely has one.

same with AKL/AKV - the big lobby is not there -but no DVC has a big lobby - except BWV - when you check in that area is BWV not BWI.

now never been a fan of CR - but LOVE BLT! again no big lobby.

why does Disney do DVC - well in downtimes the regular resort can and do get in trouble. DVC does not have that problem. DVC member will come to WDW regardless.

BWI would not be half as nice if it was not attached to BWV - who pays thru the DVC members for most of the recreation. Which is why it is on that side of the resort.

now staying at DVC or resorts is up to you. have BIG problems with my food allergies. One of the things that I am allergic to is pepper. for a chef to leave out pepper is really hard. so unless want to wait on my food - it is easier for me to cook it.

have had some bad reactions at WDW - so don't eat out alot there.

plus for resorts that don't have things - like WL did not have a gym before VWL - it can add to the resort for everyone.

for both CR and AKL it added something very real to Disney - profits - before DVC both had problems filling their rooms. Now don't think either do that much.

 

[Lindaland]

I can rent points at BWV for less money than it costs for a moderate resort. Why pay twice as much for the BWI when you can rent points for less and still have all the same amenities?

 

[DizDaD7]

Also some have multiple bathrooms. DVC that is.To me DVC or resort , they're the same..In terms of the grounds and stuff. You're talking about minor things it seems. Such as crest of wave n shade of blue.Cosmetically they're all similar. AKL & AKV are decorated the same pretty much. Theming wise.

 

[buzznina]

Like PP mentioned you can rent points sometimes cheaper then a price of the Mods, but that will only be the studio's. The points double and triple when you go to the 1 & 2 bedrooms. One big issue we have is that the studios and 1 bedrooms (except for OKW) only have 1 bed. The 2nd bed is a pullout and in studios it really makes it cramped when the pullout is opened (specially at CR). It lets you stay at the deluxe resorts cheaper then paying for a deluxe room. Also; you do not get daily mousekeeping and daily soaps/towels...

 

[Marionnette]

Aside from having a kitchen and washer/dryer in the one and two bedrooms...what are the other advantages of having a Dvc? The resorts themselves look so much more appealing. Take the bwi much nicer than the Dvc with the 'crest of the wave' hanging overhead. The bc is so much nicer than the Dvc there. The Dvc doesn't even match the pretty blue of the bc!! They must be mighty nice inside I am guessing...but why have a Dvc over staying at a resort???

I guess that the exterior is not as important to me as the interior and the resort amenities. Does it really make a difference the the "crest of the wave" hangs over the BWI side of the resort instead of the BWV side? Or that the BCV is a greenish-blue and not gray-blue like the BC?

In both cases, the DVC guests can use the same resort pool, eat in the same resort restaurants and use the same resort transportation. It costs a heck of a lot less for me to use my DVC points to get a studio at either of those resorts than it costs me to pay for a hotel room. And if I want something bigger, I would have to drop some really serious coin to stay in a suite at one of the hotels as opposed to what I spend in points to stay in a 1- or 2-bedroom villa.

With all of the other factors being equal, the only real negative, in my mind, is the lack of daily housekeeping. It's something that I can deal without when I think about the amount of money that I save by staying DVC vs. deluxe.

Oh, and another plus: my kids are all over the age of 18. That means that I would have to pay for an extra adult in any hotel room but DVC does not distinguish between adults and children when it comes to occupancy (with the exception of children under 3).

 

[kapoof]

I guess that the exterior is not as important to me as the interior and the resort amenities. Does it really make a difference the the "crest of the wave" hangs over the BWI side of the resort instead of the BWV side? Or that the BCV is a greenish-blue and not gray-blue like the BC?

In both cases, the DVC guests can use the same resort pool, eat in the same resort restaurants and use the same resort transportation. It costs a heck of a lot less for me to use my DVC points to get a studio at either of those resorts than it costs me to pay for a hotel room. And if I want something bigger, I would have to drop some really serious coin to stay in a suite at one of the hotels as opposed to what I spend in points to stay in a 1- or 2-bedroom villa.

With all of the other factors being equal, the only real negative, in my mind, is the lack of daily housekeeping. It's something that I can deal without when I think about the amount of money that I save by staying DVC vs. deluxe.

Oh, and another plus: my kids are all over the age of 18. That means that I would have to pay for an extra adult in any hotel room but DVC does not distinguish between adults and children when it comes to occupancy (with the exception of children under 3).

Yes the outside makes a difference to me. I just noticed how much nicer the resorts themselves look as opposed to the Dvc. The bwi looks so nice and grand the Dvc looks dumpy, same at the bc. Now I think they stepped up with the akl and the Dvc over there, and at blt. however, they still aren't as nice as the resorts,as another poster mentioned you don't get that nice big lobby. I walked thru the villas at wl and was like 'this is it?' Do they ever rehab the villas?

 

[Denise W]

DVC is a timeshare, the resorts are not. The DVC offers 1, 2, and 3 bedroom "condos" with full kitchens and washer/dryer. Some people (like us) prefer to stay at our DVC unit as it it much larger than a hotel room and costs us much less!

Denise

 

[Gillyrose779]

Yes the outside makes a difference to me. I just noticed how much nicer the resorts themselves look as opposed to the Dvc. The bwi looks so nice and grand the Dvc looks dumpy, same at the bc. Now I think they stepped up with the akl and the Dvc over there, and at blt. however, they still aren't as nice as the resorts,as another poster mentioned you don't get that nice big lobby. I walked thru the villas at wl and was like 'this is it?' Do they ever rehab the villas?

Good thing you are not on the DVC section. DVC members get VERY offended when you call their home resort 'dumpy'. BWV and BC are older than BLT and AKV and it shows in some ways. In order to refurbish they would most likely need to increase the annual DVC dues.

I myself LOVE the kitchen and w/d- it makes for a much better trip. I personally rent points to stay there so I would like to thank all the DVC members who make my stay possible!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

Do they ever rehab the villas?

yes - but don't tell members the schedule any more. it was every 5 years for the soft stuff - but not sure any longer.

especially with BLT - when it first opened it has scrapes on the furniture on the inside part (odd number) most of the even number is okay (there are exception here too)

SSR and the new VGF probably have the nicest stuff.

they made DVC to be used and abused - why is the sofa bed at BCV so sand paper like - because little kids can come in wet from the pool.

You should definitely try a DVC resort before you decide not to like them. They can be an excellent bargin at WDW.

 

[chalee94]

Yes the outside makes a difference to me. I just noticed how much nicer the resorts themselves look as opposed to the Dvc. The bwi looks so nice and grand the Dvc looks dumpy, same at the bc. Now I think they stepped up with the akl and the Dvc over there, and at blt. however, they still aren't as nice as the resorts,as another poster mentioned you don't get that nice big lobby. I walked thru the villas at wl and was like 'this is it?' Do they ever rehab the villas?

sounds like you prefer the resorts and should not bother with the DVC side. that's a good thing to know about yourself.

the BWV resort was rehabbed just a couple of years ago...but the refurbs are paid for by the owners and not by disney, so the villas tend to be on a slower schedule for rehabs and are not updated to quite as ritzy a standard.

on the bright side, i get to stay in a BWV studio for less than $100 per night as a DVC owner while you get a nicer room on the hotel side that makes you happy for $400 per night. (and we both get to hang out at the clown slide and are within walking distance of epcot and DHS.)

some people are happy in a honda accord and some prefer to spend extra to get a BMW.

 

[kapoof]

Good thing you are not on the DVC section. DVC members get VERY offended when you call their home resort 'dumpy'. BWV and BC are older than BLT and AKV and it shows in some ways. In order to refurbish they would most likely need to increase the annual DVC dues.

I myself LOVE the kitchen and w/d- it makes for a much better trip. I personally rent points to stay there so I would like to thank all the DVC members who make my stay possible!!!!

Well they don't look as nice as the resorts. And I think disney should make them as nice. They aren't cheap price wise by any means.

 

[kapoof]

sounds like you prefer the resorts and should not bother with the DVC side. that's a good thing to know about yourself.

the BWV resort was rehabbed just a couple of years ago...but the refurbs are paid for by the owners and not by disney, so the villas tend to be on a slower schedule for rehabs and are not updated to quite as ritzy a standard.

on the bright side, i get to stay in a BWV studio for less than $100 per night as a DVC owner while you get a nicer room on the hotel side that makes you happy for $400 per night. (and we both get to hang out at the clown slide and are within walking distance of epcot and DHS.)

some people are happy in a honda accord and some prefer to spend extra to get a BMW.

Makes sense...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well they don't look as nice as the resorts. And I think disney should make them as nice. They aren't cheap price wise by any means.

The eyes of the beholder.

Disney doesn't pay for their upkeep at all. Members do. It's a timeshare.

 

[nolanboys]

For us, it's all about the size and convenience. We would need to get two rooms as we are a family of six. We also love having the kitchen and laundry. We have always eaten breakfast in our room. We brought plastic bowls and silverware when we stayed at moderates, but having a kitchen makes it easier. We also usually eat a few dinners in the room. Again, a money saver. With laundry, we pack less and I love coming home with clean clothes. They may not be as nice as the hotel side, but we'll take having the space, and the amenities any time.

 

[leebee]

Are the DVC resorts really shabby? We rented points for a studio at OKW and had 2 queen beds, a nice kitchenette area (fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee pot), and a gigantic bathroom. VERY nice accommodations for the price of a value (at that time). I have just reserved points at a studio at BWV for October, for just under $200 a night. NOT a bargain, but a bargain if you want to stay on the Boardwalk! To be honest, although we've walked through BWI many times when going to/from the Boardwalk itself, I never knew which "side" of the building was DVC and which was the regular Inn, until I looked at a map when doing this rental. Is it going to be dumpy inside?

(PS we usually stay at Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, etc. when traveling, if you want to know our "expectations" in a hotel!)

 

[Marionnette]

Are the DVC resorts really shabby? We rented points for a studio at OKW and had 2 queen beds, a nice kitchenette area (fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee pot), and a gigantic bathroom. VERY nice accommodations for the price of a value (at that time). I have just reserved points at a studio at BWV for October, for just under $200 a night. NOT a bargain, but a bargain if you want to stay on the Boardwalk! To be honest, although we've walked through BWI many times when going to/from the Boardwalk itself, I never knew which "side" of the building was DVC and which was the regular Inn, until I looked at a map when doing this rental. Is it going to be dumpy inside?

(PS we usually stay at Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, etc. when traveling, if you want to know our "expectations" in a hotel!)

I just stayed in a 2-bedroom lock-off at BWV in Sept. It's basically a 1-bedroom connected to a studio. It absolutely WAS NOT dumpy! However, some people do not appreciate the old-fashion, Atlantic seaside theme that is done so well at the Boardwalk. It is supposed to have an older, somewhat weather-worn appearance. Anyone who was lucky enough to have stayed on the Jersey Shore before all the condos were erected would know what I'm talking about. Take a look at any of the early Miss America photos on Atlantic City's boardwalk and you'll see what Disney was aiming for when they themed this resort.

 

[dgagnon519]

We have stayed at all of the DVC's (except GF). Prior to becoming DVC we could only afford to stay at a Value and maybe moderate. DVC allows us to be at the Deluxe resorts while still paying value/moderate pricing. You get perks and discounts from being DVC. I never seperate the buildings in my mind, to me if i get to use it then it is the same place. It a persoanl preference, some people don't even like Disney

 

[kapoof]

For us, it's all about the size and convenience. We would need to get two rooms as we are a family of six. We also love having the kitchen and laundry. We have always eaten breakfast in our room. We brought plastic bowls and silverware when we stayed at moderates, but having a kitchen makes it easier. We also usually eat a few dinners in the room. Again, a money saver. With laundry, we pack less and I love coming home with clean clothes. They may not be as nice as the hotel side, but we'll take having the space, and the amenities any time.

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