Given a choice... Rent DVC points or a moderate

[Mom2Em]

Just curious... If you had a choice, would you rent DVC points for a studio or choose a moderate resort? Thanks!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I think it depends on when you are going. For my last 3 trips, it has been cheaper to rent DVC points. Sometimes, though, the room discounts are good enough to make it cheaper to stay at the moderate. All things being equal, though, I prefer to rent DVC. I just like the studios better - I enjoy the kitchenette for breakfasts and snacks. I also like the extra room. And I LOVE OKW so I would rather stay there if I can.

 

[brianheather]

We are DVC members and decided to throw another trip in there using the passholders discount in may... we are staying at Coronado Springs for the first time...

 

[KatMark]

I think it really depends on what you want out of your accomodations. DH and I are very happy at our moderate and it has everything we want. Since we no longer have kids traveling with us, I don't even want to see a kitchen while I'm on vacation and we don't need a lot of space just for the two of us.

 

[Missytara]

Did the studio at SSR on the 4/3 deal; normally stay at POR.

Felt more cramped with three people in the studio at SSR, then with 4 at a standard room at POR.

So it depends on how many people are going...

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I would choose the moderate. I don't need the kitchenette. Plus, the regular rooms are more themed than DVC rooms typically are and that's important to me.

 

[chalee94]

depends on the deals available for moderates at the time, how far in advance i was planning and how many are going.

1) if a mod booked directly was cheaper than a studio, i'd go with the mod rather than deal with the hassle of renting.

2) if i'm planning far enough in advance to get a room at BCV/BWV and be able to walk to epcot for about the same price as a moderate...no question, i'd take the better location. same with BLT/VWL if multiple MK visits were called for.

3) if it's just a couple travelling, the typical DVC studio set-up with a small kitchenette (minifridge/coffeemaker/toaster/microwave), one queen bed and a sofa for sitting/watching tv is pretty ideal IMO.

if you need two "real" beds, then i'd have to go with the cheaper option between OKW or a mod (and probably CSR to get the 2 queen beds).

 

[design_mom]

We almost always stay at POR, but this time we rented points and stayed in a studio at OKW.

Overall, I really liked OKW and I would definitely do it again as long as it was the same price. (The extra space and the queen-sized beds really made a difference for us. The kitchenette and balcony were nice, too, although we were on DDP so we didn't eat in our rooms much.)

There were a few things that I missed about POR though. They included:
-- Double sinks outside the bathroom area (OKW has one sink in bathroom area, plus a sink in the kitchenette.)
-- The food court at POR (OKW has a counter service/snack stand, but it wasn't anything to write home about. We had no problem finding other places to eat, but at POR we usually end up in the food court several times.)
-- The easy walk to the main building at POR (OKW is much more spread out. We really only ventured to the Hospitality House on the day that we had reservations at Olivia's.)

For us, the benefits of the extra space and bigger beds made the difference and we really enjoyed our stay at OKW. We will rent points again as long as it makes financial sense to do so... but I didn't think *everything* about it was better than a moderate.

 

[Mom2Em]

These are great thoughts... many of them I haven't considered before. We have stayed at OKW once and felt we were in the suburbs of Disney. The other times, we have stayed at WL (which we love) but due to financial restrictions we won't have as much to spend on our room. We have no experience at all with the moderate hotels.

 

[falling2infinity319]

I've stayed in POP Century (once) Coronado Springs (3x) and the Beach Club Villas/Board Walk Villas over eight times.

Albeit, I can't compare OKW to a Mod as I've never stayed in OKW, IMO, there is no comparing the feeling you get at a DVC resort. Everything just seems so perfect. If I could, i'd never go anywhere but the Beach Club. For renting points in July, I would have spent $1280 on either BCV or the BWV opposed to $950 on OKW or $900 going directly thru Disney and getting a passholder rate for Coronado.

If it were available, I'd have gotten a room in BCV or BWV, but since there was no availability, we opted for OKW. DVC resorts just seem to offer more in terms of quiet pools, space, proximity to the parks or in OKW's case, Downtown Disney and more of a peace vacation-y feel. Of course, this is just personal preference and I've been spoiled by having in-laws who are DVC members. I could never, ever stay at a value resort again and find myself wishing we sprung for the Deluxe Resorts when staying at a Mod.

 

[bellebookworm9]

We were all booked at All Star Music when I remembered about renting DVC points. After I set up my ressie through DVC, I got a pin code and looked at POR, but DVC was still cheaper.

Standard View Studio @ Kidani Village =$1350
Preferred Room w/ AAA Rate @ All Star Music = $1375
Standard View w/ Pin Code at Port Orleans = $1380

There's only two of us-Mom gets the bed and I get the pull put couch. We're getting more room, a balcony, a bigger pool, a kitchenette, and animal viewing for $25 less than a value. Sounds like a good deal to me!

 

[RumpleMom]

We really like having the microwave and fridge in the DVC studio. We almost always eat breakfast in the room while everyone is getting ready. We don't like getting ready and then going somewhere to find breakfast.

We like taking some time to have coffee on the balcony.