First Timer Resort Advice for Five: 3 Adults / 2 Kids

[rkstocke5609]

Point cost varies by day & week. I think they rent for about $15/point but it can vary between Boulder Ridge & CCV (the newest timeshare at Wilderness). For a 7 night trip just guessing it could be 400 points but point charts can be found easy. I would check with David’s vacation rentals for specific numbers

 

[Babsy]

Thank you! Yes, you both seem to be in line with my original line of thinking. Paying more for less space in the deluxe monorail room (vs more rooms in a value or mod) altogether but a much more convenient location with little kids during a very peak season makes sense to me.

It sounds like Beach/Yacht Club might be a better options should we return again with our family of four sometime when the kids are older and can enjoy the pool without fear of losing sight of a preschooler, so maybe squeezing into the Poly would be the way to go. (Or we maybe compare against the one bedrooms in WL).

For those of you who have been to the Poly, what are the best room requests to put in, in your opinion... patio or balcony? Can you say fireworks view? Or any others, like a specific house thats better...

You will need to book Theme park view if you want a fireworks view. Patio is ground floor, which means no elevator but less privacy from passers by. We prefer the third floor balcony for privacy and nicer views.

If you plan to stay in the Poly, are you interested in staying Club Level? That would put you in Hawaii, which is an excellent location. Also, I believe that you all would get an extra 3 FP+ to use each day. Finally, with 5 in one room, you would get free breakfast every day (continental) which would really help offset the extra charge for CL. Add in free beverages, snacks, evening appetizers and desserts and you are doing pretty well. Book a pool view room for the lowest price in a CL room. Plus you will have the lounge to spread out in if you feel cramped or to meet up in or to wait for others when getting ready. The Poly has the best lounge with beautiful views of the MK and fireworks.

This is extremely helpful. Thank you! I'm not really sure why GF wasn't on my initial short list but it seems it should be!

You are welcome!

 

[happymommy]

You will need to book Theme park view if you want a fireworks view. Patio is ground floor, which means no elevator but less privacy from passers by. We prefer the third floor balcony for privacy and nicer views.

If you plan to stay in the Poly, are you interested in staying Club Level? That would put you in Hawaii, which is an excellent location. Also, I believe that you all would get an extra 3 FP+ to use each day. Finally, with 5 in one room, you would get free breakfast every day (continental) which would really help offset the extra charge for CL. Add in free beverages, snacks, evening appetizers and desserts and you are doing pretty well. Book a pool view room for the lowest price in a CL room. Plus you will have the lounge to spread out in if you feel cramped or to meet up in or to wait for others when getting ready. The Poly has the best lounge with beautiful views of the MK and fireworks.



You are welcome!

Club level you can book extra FP+ but you have to pay for them, minimum 3 days at $50 per person per day. That really adds up.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thank you! Yes, you both seem to be in line with my original line of thinking. Paying more for less space in the deluxe monorail room (vs more rooms in a value or mod) altogether but a much more convenient location with little kids during a very peak season makes sense to me.

It sounds like Beach/Yacht Club might be a better options should we return again with our family of four sometime when the kids are older and can enjoy the pool without fear of losing sight of a preschooler, so maybe squeezing into the Poly would be the way to go. (Or we maybe compare against the one bedrooms in WL).

For those of you who have been to the Poly, what are the best room requests to put in, in your opinion... patio or balcony? Can you say fireworks view? Or any others, like a specific house thats better...

The room category you choose will really determine which longhouses you have a chance to be put in. Theme Park View is a bookable category at Poly, so, if you want a fireworks view, you would need to book that. Everyone is welcome to watch the fireworks from the beach (or other areas) of Poly, however. As another PP mentioned, if you book CL, you are automatically placed in the Hawaii longhouse (even within CL, you have three categories - garden, lagoon and theme park view). At Poly, (in the non-CL longhouses) along with theme park view, there is also lagoon, standard, and pool or marina views. I'm not a "view" person, LOL! My personal preference is to book a standard room. If you book standard, I would request Rarotonga, third floor (keep in mind, it's only a request). Rarotonga is very close to the GCH, the path to TTC, the quiet pool and is much quieter than some of the other longhouses which are closer to the electric water pageant and fireworks in the evenings. If you book CL, I also recommend garden view just to cut down on the noise.

 

[Sue M]

This is extremely helpful. Thank you! I'm not really sure why GF wasn't on my initial short list but it seems it should be!

GF would be a great choice. Has large double sink area outside bathroom and most rooms have balconies.

 

[Babsy]

Club level you can book extra FP+ but you have to pay for them, minimum 3 days at $50 per person per day. That really adds up.

Thank you. Good point. Obviously we haven't tried this yet.

 

[Sue M]

All of this. My sister meets us at Disney about every year and we've done a variety of arrangements. Fortunately nobody snores. Poly is our favorite for a vacation-y feel but the bathroom set up is not awesome. I wish they had a sink outside of the bathroom.

We also like getting two rooms at a value with connecting doors (not guaranteed but we've fortunately always gotten them). It's nice having two bathrooms. It can be hard getting everyone showered in a timely manner with one bathroom. One thing we do is if we've been at the pool I'll have my girls shower at the pool (at BC or Poly) before going to the room and my sister is showering in the room meanwhile and then I shower in the room once I get upstairs with the girls.

At your kids' ages I unless the adults greatly minded I would be inclined to get two rooms at a value. Personally, Movies or Music are my favorites. It sounds like only one place to eat but there are different stations so I actually feel there's more variety and it's quicker. We usually only do a few true table dinners.

We take shifts. One does shower at bed time, the other 2 have morning shower. I know GF has shower/change rooms at the Beach Pool. I used them once, took toiletries from room, it’s helpful when everyone needs a shower!

 

[Steph1673]

We take shifts. One does shower at bed time, the other 2 have morning shower. I know GF has shower/change rooms at the Beach Pool. I used them once, took toiletries from room, it’s helpful when everyone needs a shower!

yes, this helps. My Mom is a night showerer anyway. And the kids can take baths earlier at night than the rest of us, or even midday on a park break after the pool, etc.

 

[Steph1673]

Point cost varies by day & week. I think they rent for about $15/point but it can vary between Boulder Ridge & CCV (the newest timeshare at Wilderness). For a 7 night trip just guessing it could be 400 points but point charts can be found easy. I would check with David’s vacation rentals for specific numbers

Thank you! I checked out his site and these really do look like a great, more affordable option to rent points for a villa to get the space we would like. A little hesitant to go this route on my very first booking/visit but it seems like the small risk may be worth the reward...

 

[rkstocke5609]

Thank you! I checked out his site and these really do look like a great, more affordable option to rent points for a villa to get the space we would like. A little hesitant to go this route on my very first booking/visit but it seems like the small risk may be worth the reward...

I suggested David’s because they seem to have a great reputation from everything I have heard. Under no circumstance should you rent points from a private party unless you personally know them in real life IMHO.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you! I checked out his site and these really do look like a great, more affordable option to rent points for a villa to get the space we would like. A little hesitant to go this route on my very first booking/visit but it seems like the small risk may be worth the reward...

If you decide to rent points be aware that for most situations your dates need to be in stone. They are non refundable. Also, the room is basically a timeshare, so housekeeping, towels, etc is not daily. You wnat to knwo ahead of time the limitations so you are not disappointed when you arrive.

 

[SharonZ]

I would definitely look at two rooms at a moderate.

 

[Steph1673]

If you decide to rent points be aware that for most situations your dates need to be in stone. They are non refundable. Also, the room is basically a timeshare, so housekeeping, towels, etc is not daily. You wnat to knwo ahead of time the limitations so you are not disappointed when you arrive.

I'm ok with those things, although someone just told me that most DVC villas you have to bring all your own linens!!! That's a definite no-go for me since we are flying. I can hardly believe that! She said I was safe in BLT but in beach club I'd have to bring my own. Can someone else confirm this?

 

[Vern60]

I've never rented points myself, but DVC rental store is another one, supposedly pretty highly rated if you are thinking of going that route.

 

[Vern60]

Oh, and I can't imagine you have to bring your own linens, ha ha, no way. I think I've heard they just don't have DAILY room service, meaning the towels and linens won't be changed every day, is it like every 3 days I think?

 

[Steph1673]

Oh, and I can't imagine you have to bring your own linens, ha ha, no way. I think I've heard they just don't have DAILY room service, meaning the towels and linens won't be changed every day, is it like every 3 days I think?

I know, but this is an acquaintance who IS a DVC member herself, so it had to come from somewhere...

 

[klacey1]

I know, but this is an acquaintance who IS a DVC member herself, so it had to come from somewhere...

She is grossly misinformed. Such nonsense. Of course all DVC properties provide linens, they are just changed at less frequency than the non-DVC rooms.

 

[Denise W]

I'm ok with those things, although someone just told me that most DVC villas you have to bring all your own linens!!! That's a definite no-go for me since we are flying. I can hardly believe that! She said I was safe in BLT but in beach club I'd have to bring my own. Can someone else confirm this?

Perhaps she was referring to staying at BWV in a one bedroom on points. It only has beds for 4 but DVC members can bring a fifth as long as they supply their own bed/linens/towels. Cash bookings do not allow this.
Denise

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm ok with those things, although someone just told me that most DVC villas you have to bring all your own linens!!! That's a definite no-go for me since we are flying. I can hardly believe that! She said I was safe in BLT but in beach club I'd have to bring my own. Can someone else confirm this?

No, you do nto need to bring your own linens. AS @Denise W mentioned above, thee is one extenuating circumstance that guests may need to bring linens, but under normal conditions? Nope.

 

[Steph1673]

She is grossly misinformed. Such nonsense. Of course all DVC properties provide linens, they are just changed at less frequency than the non-DVC rooms.

Perhaps she was referring to staying at BWV in a one bedroom on points. It only has beds for 4 but DVC members can bring a fifth as long as they supply their own bed/linens/towels. Cash bookings do not allow this.
Denise

No, you do nto need to bring your own linens. AS @Denise W mentioned above, thee is one extenuating circumstance that guests may need to bring linens, but under normal conditions? Nope.

Phew! Thanks!

Since Poly DVC is only studios and still doesn't give us separate sleeping areas, just an extra half bath, renting points there is probably off the table. Could squeeze in a rack room for less and have the option to cancel, etc. Currently now considering renting points for a 2BR Villa at either BLT or BCV through one to the two above brokers.