First timer -- split stay 2 or 3 ways -- BCV, BLT, WLV?

[Flacara]

Hi there! First timer here, visiting next year Dec 16 - Jan 1. Done a lot of research on the DVC resorts and parks.
We are interested in the 2 bedroom villas and we had a few decisions to make:

1) 2 way split or 3? If 2, should we drop BLT? Which one on Christmas Day and NYE? Hate losing an extra day moving but is it worth it?
2) Rent points from David or go through travel agent & book w/ Disney? Will it be very complicated to get the right split w/ the point rental, at the 11 mo mark? Can we even get a 2 bedroom via the agent?
3) We're time share skeptics (too much hassle!), but should we consider getting a tiny contract for the perks you can't easily buy, like TOTWL?

We will have 7 and 5 y.o. boys who like playgrounds, pools and water play. They don't like loud, scary rides or roller coasters; they liked Legoland more than Disneyland and did not like the San Diego Zoo at all. We are probably going to the parks in the morning then come to the hotel to rest and go to the pool, not coming back in the afternoon most days. We already have an AP.

Ideas and thoughts?

 

[Lisa F]

I split 3 ways recently and it was fine, but I was only packing for two (myself and my son). It was exhausting to stay in a hotel airport one night, Kidani one night and then BWV the next... it wasn't so bad 4 nights later to go to the Poly. I would probably only do 2 in a week in the future. I did it for proximity to parks I wanted to be in.

If you are not likely to spend a whole day out and about i'd minimize moving. it only really works if you can plan it that you are not waiting around.

 

[Granny]

Hi there! First timer here, visiting next year Dec 16 - Jan 1. Done a lot of research on the DVC resorts and parks.
We are interested in the 2 bedroom villas and we had a few decisions to make:

1) 2 way split or 3? If 2, should we drop BLT? Which one on Christmas Day and NYE? Hate losing an extra day moving but is it worth it?

This is subjective but split stays are not appealing to me. With the minimum of 5 hours that you will be without a room on the resort change day, you could spend that time instead visiting other resorts to see how they're decorated and drink in their ambiance without having to stay there. If you going to do a split stay, my personal preference would be VWL for Christmas and BLT for New Years. At BLT on New Year's Eve you can go up to the top of the resort to the lounge and see the great fireworks at the MK at midnight without fighting the immense crowds at Magic Kingdom.

2) Rent points from David or go through travel agent & book w/ Disney? Will it be very complicated to get the right split w/ the point rental, at the 11 mo mark? Can we even get a 2 bedroom via the agent?

At this point you have a good chance to get what you want through an agent. It will be more complicated if you try to rent points, but a service like David's really makes it a lot easier since you only have one point of contact. And I think you would save considerable money on a 2BR by going through David's. That's what I'd try. But you need to contact them pretty soon since the 11 month window for your reservations start on January 16 and then 11 months before the second resort. That means David's has to find two owners that own at the resorts that you want who are willing to rent points and make reservations at the 11 month mark. You may want to contact that company to see what they think of your plans.

On the other hand, if you are willing to make the reservation straight through Disney or a travel agent, they can lock you down more quickly and assuredly...you would know if you have the reservations a few minutes after they called. So it depends on whether saving the money is worth the hassle of renting points for a high volume Christmas week.

3) We're time share skeptics (too much hassle!), but should we consider getting a tiny contract for the perks you can't easily buy, like TOTWL?

I don't know what the current minimums are but it would be cheaper to just stay at BLT than to buy a DVC contract of any size and then have the subsequent annual dues. To me, buying DVC just for the perks makes no sense since they can be pulled back by Disney at any time....NONE of them are guaranteed.

Good luck to you!

 

[Flacara]

Thanks for all your help! Sounds like only doing a 2-way split is the favorite, even for such a long period.

I thought you only get TOTWL access if you're a DVC member (not if you're just staying at BLT on rented points or via an agent). If that's not right, it would definitely bump up BLT on my list esp. around NYE.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks for all your help! Sounds like only doing a 2-way split is the favorite, even for such a long period.

I thought you only get TOTWL access if you're a DVC member (not if you're just staying at BLT on rented points or via an agent). If that's not right, it would definitely bump up BLT on my list esp. around NYE.

You only get TOTW access as a DVC member. On NYE, you only get access as a DVC member staying at BLT.

Still not worth buying a contract for.

 

[shaunacb]

You only get TOTW access as a DVC member. On NYE, you only get access as a DVC member staying at BLT.

Still not worth buying a contract for.

I had access to TOTWL as a renter. (before we purchased DVC)

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I had access to TOTWL as a renter. (before we purchased DVC)

They are getting more stringent about checking for DVC member cards vs just looking at what the KTTW card said (often the renters would say they were DVC members) or what the MB indicated.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Much more stringent, and NYE is a blackout date and they are especially serious on NYE.

I would not tell a non-member they have a good chance.