First stay as owners- opinions and thoughts on my plans & questions

[kc10family]

I would love some opinions, advice, etc please.
We are new DVC owners with GF as our home. We have only been to WDW once, stayed at AOA and SOG.Our preference for this stay is, 1st Beach Club, 2nd BLT, 3rd GF and then no clue. My kids want fun pools and from what we saw when we visited, the pools at these locations looked fun. We hope to go in late Jan to the first part of Feb.

My questions are….
If you switch hotels do they move your luggage to the other hotel or do you?
Would you pick different locations and why?
Would you pick a standard room or 1 bedroom for four people?
What hotel first? (we did AOA then SOG and glad it was in that order)
I am sure I have more questions but this is all I have for now.

Thank you

 

[com_op_2000]

OP some questions:
How old are your kids?
How do you visit when you come to WDW; commando or do you take it easy on the parks?
What do you like to do outside the parks?

Based on your information so far it appears that you have not figured out that you are staying at resort villas not in hotel rooms.
Remember you will be visiting at least every other year for the next 50 years, learning to take it easy and go with the flow is part of the transition from hotel stays to resort stays.
The pools at AKL/AKV are very good and the play area at AKV-Kidani is one of the largest at any DVC resort.
Transferring between resorts on move day:
Call Bell Services and have them come pick-up your luggage and refrigerated items. Be sure to inform them that you have items to keep cold.
Tell them where you are transferring too.
Check-in to your new resort.
Go do whatever you want that day.
After getting your room text and you are back in it (items are not at your new resort until 2 - 4 PM), call Bell Services to have the items delivered to your room.
NOTE: You must be in the room for the pick-up and delivery.
If you want to go straight to the parks, not go to the resort first to check-in, and not get the text; yes you can do that.

 

[kc10family]

OP some questions:
How old are your kids?
How do you visit when you come to WDW; commando or do you take it easy on the parks?
What do you like to do outside the parks?

Based on your information so far it appears that you have not figured out that you are staying at resort villas not in hotel rooms.
Remember you will be visiting at least every other year for the next 50 years, learning to take it easy and go with the flow is part of the transition from hotel stays to resort stays.
The pools at AKL/AKV are very good and the play area at AKV-Kidani is one of the largest at any DVC resort.
Transferring between resorts on move day:
Call Bell Services and have them come pick-up your luggage and refrigerated items. Be sure to inform them that you have items to keep cold.
Tell them where you are transferring too.
Check-in to your new resort.
Go do whatever you want that day.
After getting your room text and you are back in it (items are not at your new resort until 2 - 4 PM), call Bell Services to have the items delivered to your room.
NOTE: You must be in the room for the pick-up and delivery.
If you want to go straight to the parks, not go to the resort first to check-in, and not get the text; yes you can do that.

My kids are tweens.
We have only been to WDW once so I cant say how we "visit". We are DL vets but DL is a different animal.
I forgot they are villas, again this will be our first stay and I am clueless. Our first and only stay at WDW was this past Jan and we stayed 5 days at AOA in the LM rooms, cute but small for 5 days. We transferred to SOG and wow what a size change. It was still one room but much bigger and we didn't step on each other.

Thank you for the info on AKL/AKV, we didn't give them much thought but I will now.
Yes we will be on a learning curve for a bit I am sure and we are thankful for all the great help from those here on the DIS.

 

[bwvBound]

FWIW, we've visited WDW each "late Jan/early Feb" since 1996. Most years have been too cold for pools at that time of year. (Granted, we are SoCal people so anything <60 degrees keeps us out of the swimming pools?)

 

[drusba]

Agree with the above. For a late Jan/early Feb trip, I would not make the decision as to where to stay based on the pool. We have been several times that time of year and the vast majority of the time has been too cool for the pools. You may get one or two good pool days in a week but don't expect daily visits to the pool unless you are fine dipping when it is no more than 65 degrees out.

We don't personally do split stays, including because there are those in my family who believe packing is an all day affair, but many are fine with it although even most of those would not do more than two in a trip. Also, if you do a split stay, why choose two places like VGF and BLT that are in the same area? Strategy should be choosing based on access to different parks and thus get an MK resort and possibly an Epcot resort for proximity to studios and Epcot, or AKV for proximity to AK. Just note that if you are planning late Jan as a start date, you are already or just about 7 months out and you better be making your reservations for your first resort quickly. Moreover, as an owner of VGF, you better go on line immediately and book the days you want there if you want a studio because those could already be gone. For four people, we would get at least a 1BR but we like space and having kitchen and w/d. Others are fine with studios but be aware of a truism applicable to many: once you stay in a 1BR you will never want to go back to a studio.

 

[disneynutz]

Just do it.

Pick a resort, experience the place, learn as you go, keep notes for future reference, next vacation pick a different resort, repeat.

Bill

 

[DMKEDM]

I suspect that you and your kids will LOVE whichever resort you choose (or can get, based on availability)...we've stayed in all the WDW resorts, multiple times (except for Wilderness Lodge)...we love them all...

Pools are heated, so swimming is ok, even when it's very cold (it can get below freezing in Jan, altho it usually doesn't)--it's the getting in and out of the pool that can be "painful"...but some folks (especially tweens!) have much higher tolerances for wet-cold so if pools matter to your kids, well they're as good a factor as any for making your resort choice! But for us, "the problem" is that we really like all the feature pools...they all have slides and theming (and the water in them is wet, in all of them--grin)...so looking at website pix makes sense to see what appeals to your kids...the only one that "stands out" for us is Stormalong Bay (Beach Club) and its water is no wetter, and its slide is no "slide-ier" than the other theme pools...but it does have its own "lazy river current" and a sandy bottom where the littlest ones play (which may not be a "draw" for your tweens!)...and its shape can let you pretend you're in several different pools on the same pool visit!

Other factors you may wish to consider:

1. Size: There is considerable variation in villa sizes...the studio at BLT is very small while the studio at OKW is very large...most are "in between" these two extremes...we've never minded four-in-a-room and like to increase the length of our stay or take extra trips so we get studios more often than one-bed's...but we do enjoy the one-bedroom villas when we go that route (usually it's because studios aren't available when I get to booking)...as for laundry; it's nice having it in the room (one bedroom)--I more often do a load when it's "right there"...lugging the dirty clothes to the (free) laundry room is usually something I don't quite get around to doing--especially since usually there's a wait for a machine...

2. Park proximity--at BWV and BCV you can walk to both Epcot and the Studios; at BLT you can walk to MK...monorail access is also a nice transportation alternative--and it's available to both MK and Epcot (altho you have to walk down and then up steep-ish ramps to transfer to the Epcot monorail) at GFV and BCV (and, when it opens, the Poly)...there's also a boat--a pleasant ride, but very slow--to both Epcot and the Studios from BCV and BWV...SSR and OKW are close enough (and have paths) to walk to Downtown Disney (and both have boat service there too). VWL has boat service to MK and a walking path to the campgrounds, which is nice...really, only AKV doesn't have an "access to the parks w/out taking a bus" option...but AKV has its own charms...can't beat the "in resort" entertainment at AKV!

3. Points usage--there's quite a range in the number of points it'll take to reserve at the various resorts--generally, highest point per night requirements are at GFV and BLT; lowest at OKW (and BWV Std view and AKV value)...just to illustrate: I did two nights in a std view studio last week at GFV for 55 points; then five nights at OKW for 70 points...BIG difference in "cost" (altho the GFV nights were Fri & Sat, and weekend nights "cost more" at all resorts)--

Bottom line: you'll love wherever you go, I'm certain...each resort is wonderful in its own way...but the above may give you some "choosing factors" to consider...

(And yes, Disney will move your luggage (for free, except for tips) if you do a split stay...it's easy-peasy!

Have fun!!!

 

[DVCMomBLT]

I would love some opinions, advice, etc please.
We are new DVC owners with GF as our home. We have only been to WDW once, stayed at AOA and SOG.Our preference for this stay is, 1st Beach Club, 2nd BLT, 3rd GF and then no clue. My kids want fun pools and from what we saw when we visited, the pools at these locations looked fun. We hope to go in late Jan to the first part of Feb.

My questions are….
If you switch hotels do they move your luggage to the other hotel or do you?
Would you pick different locations and why?
Would you pick a standard room or 1 bedroom for four people?
What hotel first? (we did AOA then SOG and glad it was in that order)
I am sure I have more questions but this is all I have for now.

Thank you

IF VGF is your 3rd choice, why did you buy there? Using VGF points anywhere other than VGF seems very expensive to me.

FWIW, I would say:

BCV
BLT
AKV

Keep in mind that pool weather in January/Feb can sometimes be iffy. Especially later in the day.

 

[ToddyLu]

Well you could be married to a DVC purist like my husband who DOES NOT want to stay any where other than AKV....and thanks to one night at BLT that is now set firmly in stone. It wasn't anything at BLT that was wrong, per se, it was just blah...well and then there was the shower curtain that would attack you because of the vent. These are the nuances you will learn and love.

Have a great trip..we love our DVC.

 

[kc10family]

I suspect that you and your kids will LOVE whichever resort you choose (or can get, based on)

True, just trying to be a good mom and give them one they saw and liked.

IF VGF is your 3rd choice, why did you buy there? Using VGF points anywhere other than VGF seems very expensive to me.

FWIW, I would say:

BCV
BLT
AKV

Keep in mind that pool weather in January/Feb can sometimes be iffy. Especially later in the day.

Bought GFV because...... no real good answer, it was what the guide offered and that was that. Why stay some other place? Again not a real great answer but it's because we can I guess and the kids liked the pools at the other resorts (never saw the GFV pool)

Just do it.

Pick a resort, experience the place, learn as you go, keep notes for future reference, next vacation pick a different resort, repeat.

Bill

I am sure this will be how it goes. The learning curve will be a ride of its own

Agree with the above. For a late Jan/early Feb trip, I would not make the decision as to where to stay based on the pool. We have been several times that time of year and the vast majority of the time has been too cool for the pools. You may get one or two good pool days in a week but don't expect daily visits to the pool unless you are fine dipping when it is no more than 65 degrees out.

Good information, thank you. My kids are nuts and being in the North East for the past few years anything semi warm they will ask to be in water. So if a fun pool day works out, bonus points for mom

Well you could be married to a DVC purist like my husband who DOES NOT want to stay any where other than AKV....and thanks to one night at BLT that is now set firmly in stone. It wasn't anything at BLT that was wrong, per se, it was just blah...well and then there was the shower curtain that would attack you because of the vent. These are the nuances you will learn and love.

Have a great trip..we love our DVC.

I want to try them all at some point, it's the stacking order and the "new fun" of it all that has me all nutty.

I wish I could do 3 nights here, 3 nights there, 3 night at that one, etc so I could try them all right now but that is sooooo not going work.

 

[Nanajo1]

The only WDW resorts we have not stayed at are GF and BC. I feel that a three night stay is the shortest stay to really get the true feel of the resort. BLT was the only one that didn't feel like "home". Enjoy you adventure.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are going to be some times during the year when you won't be able to book BCV, BWV, BLT at seven months out. And your GFV might be hard to book at seven months out if you don't book at 11 months out.

Lots of members book at their home resort at 11 months out and then see what is available at seven months out. That way you are sure to get something.

 

[kc10family]

There are going to be some times during the year when you won't be able to book BCV, BWV, BLT at seven months out. And your GFV might be hard to book at seven months out if you don't book at 11 months out.

Lots of members book at their home resort at 11 months out and then see what is available at seven months out. That way you are sure to get something.

I am learn this now. Tried to book today and had to be put on the wait list. Live and learn. Oh well, we will enjoy it and hope the wait list works for us.

 

[crisi]

Agree with the above. For a late Jan/early Feb trip, I would not make the decision as to where to stay based on the pool. We have been several times that time of year and the vast majority of the time has been too cool for the pools. You may get one or two good pool days in a week but don't expect daily visits to the pool unless you are fine dipping when it is no more than 65 degrees out.

Its the time of year where you look at the other person in the pool (all two of you) and say "Minnesota or Michigan?" While you watch people from warmer states walk by the pool with a look of disbelief on their face.

Pools are heated, and if you are from the right (wrong?) part of the country, 65 degrees feels downright tropical.

 

[crisi]

I am learn this now. Tried to book today and had to be put on the wait list. Live and learn. Oh well, we will enjoy it and hope the wait list works for us.

Did you go ahead and book your second (or third) choice?

My advice, you are in this for the long haul - you'll get to all the resorts that interest you over time. Switching resorts can be a pain, and since you now have a long term commitment, don't worry about it unless you LIKE switching resorts. Yes, they handle your luggage, but you still need to repack up. Don't worry about the order, your kids will change from trip to trip and will just go with it. There will be some resorts that are disappointing (we are BWV owners, which we like, we stayed at BCV once - and won't ever bother again. There wasn't anything WRONG, it just wasn't the right resort for us) but your favorite will be different than many of those on this board. And you won't know until you try them (well, some you may know you just don't like due to location or photos).

 

[DenLo]

Just pick one. Personally I'd go with my home resort first. Being close to MK with the kids will be a real plus.

The pools for VGF are okay. The one with the slide is next door to VGF. It's small but kids always have a lot of fun there. There is a bigger pool in the middle of the resort, it has a zero entry but no slide. I think your family could easily use a studio at VGF. The bathroom set up works really well for families getting ready in the morning with two shower areas. And because of the Murphy bed the two kids would not have to share the pull out couch. If you really want to have a kitchen because eating some of your meals in the room would really save some money then a 1BR is the way to go. And the bonus is you have a king bed in the bedroom and some privacy. However a 1 BR would really eat up the points.

The best resort pool is the one at the Beach Club, but I am not sure how many days you will get to enjoy it for the end of January into early February. The second best pool is the one at AKV-Kidani Village. It is because of the water play area that makes that pool so great. Give a kid or their dad a water cannon and the shrieks and giggles begin. Most kids absolutely love the slide at BLT, but adults hate it, they say it hurts their backs. During the summer BLT's pool can really get crowded. For some reason very few people go to CRs pool.

BTW the SOG rooms are over 400 S.F. which makes them one of the largest standard or studio rooms on property. But 1BRs at DVC resorts make them look tiny. Beware, staying in a 1BR for a family can be very addictive.

Here's a comparison of the resorts:

The one bedroom villas have similar rankings as the 2 BRs where OKW is #1, AKV - Kidani #2 and BLT #3.

AKV Kidani - 807
Jambo - 710
Value - 629
BCV - 726
BLT - 803
BWV - 712
OKW - 942
SSR - 714
VGF - 1BR - 844 (sleeps 5)
VWL - 727
Aulani - 756

BLT falls behind everyone (except a Value Studio at Jambo) in comparing Studio villas.
AKV Kidani - 366
Jambo - 365
Value - 316
BCV - 365
BLT - 339
BWV - 359
OKW - 390
SSR - 344
VGC - 379
VGF - 374 sleeps 5
VWL - 356