First time staying DVC - Any advice?

[BernardandMissBianca]

We will be checking out of the Dolphin and checking into the Boardwalk on July 2 for 2 nights.

Is there any advice? Mostly like where do I check in? I'm assuming I can walk from the Dolphin down the Boardwalk and up the back steps to the main lobby, is that where I need to check in or does DVC have a separate entrance?

Do they use the standard check out procedure that other hotels use?

There is not mouse keeping every day right?

I'm really excited because this is kind of a test run for us to see if DVC is for us. I'm really hoping we like it.

Any help would be appreciated!

Chuck, Jim or CarolAnn feel free to move this if it's not in the right place!

 

[LoveKermit]

Sounds like you won't have a car.

Yes, you could go up to the lobby from the back. If you need an elevator, it's on the left side as you look at the BW from the water--"behind" Flying Fish.

The check-in is the same for both the hotel and villas, I believe. We did online check-in.

I don't remember check-out. I do think I recall that we couldn't use express check out. Could that be because we did online check-in? Or I could be remembering another hotel in another city altogether. So that was great help.....

Mousekeeping is every 4 days. We checked in LATE Thurs. night and checked out Monday. We got trash and towel on Sunday as that was our 4th day--though we arrived at night. For two people, all you really would do is make your bed. We also ran the dishwasher the last night.

Do you have a 1 BR or a studio? The 1 BR will be the way to go WHEN (if) you decide to buy points. You can always do more stays on a studio with a 1 BR worth of points.

That was long--sorry. Enjoy! The Dolphin is great if you qualify for the discounts. But a 1 BR is so nice and spacious. And, you know, the location cannot be beat.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

thanks for the info

No car, we get a driver to haul us around and then rely on Disney transportation.

We'll only have back packs with us, we tend to travel light and I do laundry 1/2 way through the trip.

We got a 2 bedroom because there is 6 of us.

The kids like AKL but we are an Epcot family so staying there is our first choice when we buy DVC.
Right now we get great rates at the Dolphin because DH is a Starwood member. But we have to get 2 rooms which still adds up.

I know we'll need a ton of points since we usually stay the week of Xmas plus a long weekend in April but this will be a dry run for us to see if we should make the costly leap.
Some friends are thinking of selling their DVC and we may buy it off of them. They have Saratoga Springs but we had no issues booking at BWV last week, I was shocked!

 

[cindy_k]

Enjoy the Boardwalk.
Its a nice to place to stay.
Some of the hallways can seem really long, especially if you have a room at the end of the hall closer to Hollywood Studios.
I had a room down there the last time I was at Disney.
It was really convienent to the Community hall and quiet pool.

I've always used express checkout at DVC. I never have to go back to the lobby. They will just charge and charges to your credit card that you left at Check In.

Both the Boardwalk Inn and Villas share a lobby in the middle of the hotel.
From the Boardwalk side of the resort you are on the Ground Floor.
The Lobby is on the 1st Floor.

If you walk from the Dolphin down the Boardwalk to the hotel, you will need to go into hotel from the downstairs entrance and either take the elevator or the stairs up to the lobby.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/boardwalk.htm
Go in by the number 7 on this map.

Have a Great Trip!
Cindy

 

[LoveKermit]

Before you buy SSR hoping to stay at BWV, you might poke around the boards a little more. I think Dec. is pretty busy for DVC resorts despite being slow for the hotels--except for the week between Christmas and NY--that's crowded everywhere.

That is the impression I get. You may not get 7 months out at BWV for the time around the holidays. I could be wrong. But it's a pretty big risk.

THOUGH--if you travel with 6, SSR gives you the advantage of the treehouses.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

thanks for the info Cindy!!
I couldn't make heads or tails from the map the last time I looked.

Now I see that we come in from the left side of the map, head towards the docks and head up from there, that's easy.

I'm starting to get excited now. one month out at this point. Trying to get all my ducks in a row!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Before you buy SSR hoping to stay at BWV, you might poke around the boards a little more. I think Dec. is pretty busy for DVC resorts despite being slow for the hotels--except for the week between Christmas and NY--that's crowded everywhere.

That is the impression I get. You may not get 7 months out at BWV for the time around the holidays. I could be wrong. But it's a pretty big risk.

THOUGH--if you travel with 6, SSR gives you the advantage of the treehouses.

Good luck and keep us posted.

DH would kill to have the treehouses which is the only reason we are leaning towards buying their SSR. We've been eyeing those since 2004 when we first discovered Disney.

We usually come in the week before Xmas and stay for 10 days, typically the 18th - 28th. Think that is a better window?

I may wind up doing to bulk of DVC at our "dream resort" (have no idea which one that is though) and then take the SSR for April.
DVC is such a huge commitment, I want to make sure we look at all of our options.
I'm doing an overnight with a friend and my mom in August at AKL too so I'll get to see that room as well.

 

[disneynutz]

Another route that may be a little shorter from the Dolphin is to cross the bridge and turn right, walk along the canal until you get to the BWV main pool. Walk through the pool area and check things out on your way to BWV door. Take the elevator up 1 floor to the lobby, exit elevator, turn right and you will see the lobby and front desk area.

Bill

 

[dzorn]

If you plan on going for Christmas buy were you want to stay.

Denise in MI

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Another route that may be a little shorter from the Dolphin is to cross the bridge and turn right, walk along the canal until you get to the BWV main pool. Walk through the pool area and check things out on your way to BWV door. Take the elevator up 1 floor to the lobby, exit elevator, turn right and you will see the lobby and front desk area.

Bill

didn't even think about that Bill! Thanks for the advice.

If you plan on going for Christmas buy were you want to stay.

Denise in MI

I'm pretty sure that is what we will do. So far we have had good luck planning regular rooms but I don't want to push my luck.

 

[spiceycat]

if you rented thru a member - then you will not receive housekeeping.


if you rented thru CRO (WDTC) - you will. you are consider a cash guest.

that might be why you found some villas. Cash vs Points are different.

cash can only be rented with cash. Points go to cash for the last 60 days - but still can be rented with points by members.

before you take your friends up - be sure to check the resalers and see what the current market price is for SSR. It is probably less than what they are offering.

 

[rlovew]

Have a great time! We love our DVC but I would definately agree to buy where you want to stay for Christmas.

You will have a laundry area in your DVC room along with detergent for 1 wash load.

 

[Inkmahm]

If you plan on going for Christmas buy were you want to stay.

Denise in MI

This is THE most important tip that anyone can give you. It is why we own points at 3 different resorts. We travel 3 times each year and have points for where we want to stay at each trip.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

if you rented thru a member - then you will not receive housekeeping.


if you rented thru CRO (WDTC) - you will. you are consider a cash guest.

that might be why you found some villas. Cash vs Points are different.

cash can only be rented with cash. Points go to cash for the last 60 days - but still can be rented with points by members.

before you take your friends up - be sure to check the resalers and see what the current market price is for SSR. It is probably less than what they are offering.

We rented through our friends, the ones that want to sell.
I think I can get a pretty decent deal because her husband just wants it to go away.

This is THE most important tip that anyone can give you. It is why we own points at 3 different resorts. We travel 3 times each year and have points for where we want to stay at each trip.

This is what I was thinking. Maybe SSR for Xmas and Boardwalk or Beach Club for April. Typically April is just for me and DH.
We are in the middle of taking the kids one at a time but they all have their minds set on different hotels, not DVC.

 

[CindeBella]

We stayed at the Swan/Dolphin for years. We love the location and with my husband's Gov't discount, we couldn't find a better rate. However, we are a family of 5 and we needed more room. We purchased a BWV DVC last fall and used it for the first time on the 16th.
I can't say enough about how much we love it. Since most of our time is spent at Epcot and HS, it was the only choice for us and we love the Boardwalk area.
We had a 2 bedroom which gave us plenty of space and I had almost all our laundry washed (that's a big plus as you know!) when we returned home. Our room was directly over Big River Grill. The view was fabulous.
Housekeeping came on the 4 day but only delivered towels and removed the trash ~ no cleaning, etc.

We used express check-out and received our bill under the door so we would not need to go to the counter. We received our boarding passes and baggage tags this way also. It was convenient and easy, just the way we like it

It's true there are long hallways, but this was not a big deal for us but I can understand how some people may not like it.
With long transportation times, I recommend staying where you will spend most of your time. The wait times can be up to an hour for a bus and another hour to get to your resort. We experienced this on more than one occasion during our trip and ended up canceling some of our dining reservations that were not convenient. It takes too much time from our day.
We enjoy the walk to Epcot/HS and the restaurants on the Boardwalk ~ Flying Fish, Big River Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Kimono's, Il Mulino. We also got a pizza on the Boardwalk one evening and brought it to the room when we were too tired to dine out. Boardwalk Bakery is a nice play to go for an easy breakfast and afternoon snack. We also like Seashore Sweets.
The Boardwalk entertainment was fun to watch from our patio as was the Epcot firework display.

With all of that being said, it's the place for us. I hope you have a wonderfrul trip!