GF/GFV or Poly/Poly Villas at Christmas with Kids

[lchuck]

This will be our first trip staying onsite and we're planning on 3 nights, likely Dec 7-10, 2017 (Thurs-Sun). It will be a surprise for the 2 kids and we're looking to splurge a little. We're REALLY into Christmas as a family, so the atmosphere is an important factor. We'll likely be doing a MVMCP, time at Epcot, and also resort/Disney Springs hopping to take it all in. The kids will be 7 and 9 at the time of the trip. I'm just looking for help in choosing a resort and also whether we should rent DVC points for the first time ever. I know I'll need to get the renting done soon, as I'll need to put in a request and get it filled in time for the 11 month deadline. If you're advocating the point rental, any advice you can offer would be well received. Thanks in advance for any assistance offered!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Renting points will probably not get you GFV unless you rent from an owner who can book your stay first thing when booking opens (and they do it on line) at 11 months out. GFV is really, really small and most of those owners aren't renting out their points. Polynesian villa (only a studio or megapoints bungalow) might be easier, but, again, having an owner there who can book before seven months out will make it a lot easier. The other issue you have is that the first week of December is usually the hardest to book at anything less than 11 months out. If you consider SSR, AKV or OKW for villas, you might have a better chance. Those are all larger resorts and might have something left at seven months out if you can't find an owner there to book at 11 months out. For your selected time in December, you probably need to rent from an owner and not a broker. And you'll also pay a premium.

Otherwise, I'd go with the GF hotel. Very into the holiday decorations with the full sized gingerbread house and other decorations. You'll be very close to the MK (just a monorail ride or boat ride away).

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you are really into Christmas and are only considering Poly and GF, I would definitely go with GF. The GF lobby at Christmas time is spectacular. There is a gigantic Christmas tree in the lobby and a life-size gingerbread house where they sell gingerbread cookies, houses, etc. While other resorts decorate for Christmas, nothing compares to what they do at GF.

The GF resort rooms are beautiful and spacious. I have stayed in garden view, lagoon, 1-bedroom suites and in RPC. Honestly, they are all great. I, personally, would rather have a regular resort room over a DVC studio as you will have more real beds. I have never rented points and, especially 11 months out, would hesitate to do so. I would never want to be locked into a non-refundable room so far in advance. Simply booking a GF resort room will offer you much more flexible change and cancellation terms and conditions.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FWIW, I have heard the first week of December at Poly was full for DVC before 7 months this year, so even Poly that week I would recommend a private owner.

That is the single highest demand period for DVC all year long. It's not a "low season" for DVC, and VGF that week for a studio actually typically requires walking the reservation.

DVC rental isn't just putting in a request before 11 months; it requires that the owner own at the right resort, have the right points and use year, and are willing to rent it for the price being offered. And the unit has to be available. At VGF, that's a hard confluence, especially via a broker; at Poly, most Poly owners are pretty new, and still using their own points for themselves. Very few people buy retail points to rent them out in the first 2-3 years of ownership.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree that when people consider renting points, realize that it is more complicated then just placing the request and BOOM! My friend is an owner and could not book at her home resort 5 months out. Thank goodness I had booked a bounce back, so we kept that one. IF I had not planned on that amount for the room I would have been shell shocked, and forced to rethink my budget. She sure was floored at the cost since she has not stayed without points in years.

If I was choosing a resort for a holiday stay I would choose either the GRand or the Beach Club. I know that you did not add it to your choices, but given you are looking at Holiday, I thought that you may be thinking about atmosphere as well. I think that for sheer Holiday splendor, you cannot beat the GF. It is stunning. But thinking a little further out, I would consider the Beach Club for convenient access to great resort decorations all over the Boardwalk. Walk into Epcot and you are in the middle of a Holiday wonderland as well.

We always make a point of resort hopping to see all of the decorations, but find it very easy to hop on the monorail and see all of the monorail decorations when we are in the area for dinner. I tis a little more complicated to ge tto teh Epcot resorts if you are not plannig a meal in the area, and if you are all booked on your epcot day. With a three day trip you are going to be very busy, so location is key, IMO.

 

[lchuck]

Thanks for the advice thus far. It sounds like my best bet is the hotel side, not DVC rental. It also sounds like the GF is the way to go for holiday atmosphere. We will definitely be doing a "quick" tour of the Epcot resorts as well, so we'll get to see the Boardwalk area decorations.

Since we haven't ever stayed onsite, what's my best bet for getting the room at the GF? Should I go direct to Disney or through a travel agent? If I do a TA, will they update me if future discounts are released? We'll be AP holders at the time of the trip, so we won't need a package and thus won't be eligible for free dining, so I'm hoping for a room only discount. Any thoughts on my chances of getting something like that for the GF? Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[Nancyg56]

I have done both, TA and booked on my own. If you are familiar with Disney and comfortable watching for discounts, book yourself. If not, use the TA.

Either way, discounts are not automatically applied. You need to rebook and book the dates for which the discounts are offered.

Consider if you will go with or without a discount. If you are going anyway, boom the resort and level you want for the days you plan. If your stay depends on a discount I would wait until they are offered and then book.

Your TA will be able to rebook for you if you choose to use one. The TA owns the reservation though, so if you think you may want to make changes you cannot. The TA will need to. It depends on how much control you like over your reservation. It turns out I am a control freak. You may not be.