Grand Villa differences

[pinnocchiosdad]

I am thinking of taking the family to WDW to stay at a Grand Villa in 2/2011 for my big FIVE-0. Has anyone stayed at a variety of villas that they may give me a taste of there experiences at each. I am not sure which property to stay at. I have been to most DVC resorts but have never stayed in a GV. TYIA.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I'm no expert, but I think you might have a difficult time booking anything other than your home resort. There are a very limited number of GVs and it's not easy (if not impossible) to book at 7 months out.

Sorry I can't be more help. We are attempting to book our first GV next fall. I hope we are fortunate enough to snag one.

Oh, and happy 50th in advance! I just "celebrated" mine this year. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Of course, the alternative isn't appealing.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The only two I can comment on is the differences between the GV at Kidani and Jambo.

Kidani is the two story variety of a GV, master bedroom on first level with the living room, dining room and kitchen. The upper floor has a sitting area (with TV) and two more bedrooms. The room sleeps 12.

Jambo is a single story variety of a GV, it has a master bedroom at one end, then a game room (with pool table) dining room, living room and two more bedrooms at the end. The room also sleeps 12.

Jambo is the larger of the two villas for reference (2,349 sq ft v. 2,201 sq ft)

 

[Donna M]

We've stayed at SSR (our home resort) and like it for its decor and large kitchen and dining room. The grounds are very nice too.

AKV was fantastic (Jambo) It felt huge! We loved the pool table and master bath. I felt fenced in though because there really wasn't any place to walk outside, for obvious reasons.

OKW is the most spacious, but not as nicely decorated as AKV. Now that I think about it, AKV may be larger.

We loved the cottage at VB since it's self contained and on the ocean. Nothing beats that!

We were lucky to get Jambo and only stayed there for a Friday night.

When we stayed at VB and OKW we used a friend's points who is an owner there.

You might have a hard time getting a place unless you call on the 11 month mark. We have gotten two 2bd at the same resort a couple of times too. That way we had more bedrooms and space to spread out the families. It's less points than a GV too.

 

[saintstickets]

Studio / 1BR / 2BR / GV
AKV-Jambo 316-365 / 629-710 / 945-1075 / 2349
AKV-Kidani 366 / 807 / 1173 / 2201
BWV 412 / 814 / 1226 / 2492
BCV 365 / 726 / 1083
BLT 339 / 803 / 1152 / 2044
OKW 390 / 942 / 1395 / 2375
SSR 355 / 865 / 1075 / 2113
WL 365 / 727 / 1080

Hope this helps.

 

[rentayenta]

Loved the OKW GV. There are photos of both the OKW GV and a 2 bedroom in Jambo at AKV posted in my DVC pre-trip report. My signature has the link. The OKW GV is huge!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Studio / 1BR / 2BR / GV
AKV-Jambo 316-365 / 629-710 / 945-1075 / 2349
AKV-Kidani 366 / 807 / 1173 / 2201
BWV 412 / 814 / 1226 / 2492
BCV 365 / 726 / 1083
BLT 339 / 803 / 1152 / 2044
OKW 390 / 942 / 1395 / 2375
SSR 355 / 865 / 1075 / 2113
WL 365 / 727 / 1080

Hope this helps.

I think there may be an error or two here, possibly between BWV and OKW.

MG

 

[DopeyDave]

I've stayed at GVs at both OKW and SSR. From what I recall, they were fairly comparable. I remember being ill while at OKW (something like a migraine), and there was very little in the main room to absorb noise, so every sound made there I heard in the master bedroom! I just wanted everyone to go out to the parks so I could be alone!

One nice touch to the SSR GVs (and possible some of the other resorts with 2-story GVs), there's a door to the outside hallway on the upper level. This could provide two advantages... a) if guests staying in the upstairs bedrooms are staying out later, they can come directly in upstairs without trampsing through the whole villa, and b) if someone has difficulty with steps, it IS possible to go out to an elevator and come back in on the other floor.

Also, as I own at OKW, I was able to book SSR at 7-months out. But then I usually call that morning, not 6-months and 29-days!

Just some thoughts!

 

[saintstickets]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saintstickets
Studio / 1BR / 2BR / GV
AKV-Jambo 316-365 / 629-710 / 945-1075 / 2349
AKV-Kidani 366 / 807 / 1173 / 2201
BWV 412 / 814 / 1226 / 2492
BCV 365 / 726 / 1083
BLT 339 / 803 / 1152 / 2044
OKW 390 / 942 / 1395 / 2375
SSR 355 / 865 / 1075 / 2113
WL 365 / 727 / 1080

Hope this helps.

I think there may be an error or two here, possibly between BWV and OKW.

MG
=====================================================

These are the room sizes from Disney's website for OKW & BWV...

OKW - http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/...d=ProspectsOldKeyWestResortAccommodationsPage

BWV - http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/...spectsBoardwalkVillasResortAccommodationsPage

 

[shortypots]

One nice touch to the SSR GVs (and possible some of the other resorts with 2-story GVs), there's a door to the outside hallway on the upper level. This could provide two advantages... a) if guests staying in the upstairs bedrooms are staying out later, they can come directly in upstairs without trampsing through the whole villa, and b) if someone has difficulty with steps, it IS possible to go out to an elevator and come back in on the other floor.

I wonder if this is the case with AKV kidani? My dad is handicapped so would be a lot easier for him if they had a separate entrance.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saintstickets
Studio / 1BR / 2BR / GV
AKV-Jambo 316-365 / 629-710 / 945-1075 / 2349
AKV-Kidani 366 / 807 / 1173 / 2201
BWV 412 / 814 / 1226 / 2492
BCV 365 / 726 / 1083
BLT 339 / 803 / 1152 / 2044
OKW 390 / 942 / 1395 / 2375
SSR 355 / 865 / 1075 / 2113
WL 365 / 727 / 1080

Hope this helps.

I think there may be an error or two here, possibly between BWV and OKW.

MG
=====================================================

These are the room sizes from Disney's website for OKW & BWV...

OKW - http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/...d=ProspectsOldKeyWestResortAccommodationsPage

BWV - http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/...spectsBoardwalkVillasResortAccommodationsPage

Well.. I didn't say YOU made the mistake..

... But I do believe it to be in error.

MG

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I've stayed in an OKW GV 3 times and thouroughly enjoyed each and every time. I've only ever had the 2 story model. Though it's my home resort, I usually book 6 months ahead and I've never had a problem. The point structure at OKW is much better, but If I could, next time I would book a GV at Kidani, the pictures look fabulous.

Good Luck!

 

[DopeyDave]

I wonder if this is the case with AKV kidani? My dad is handicapped so would be a lot easier for him if they had a separate entrance.

The floorplans on the DVC website appear to have the separate entrance on the second floor of the Kidini grand villas.

It also appears to have a nice seating area overlooking the main living room on the second floor with a pull-out sofa. Seems the Kidini grand villas would actually sleep 14 people then!

 

[drusba]

The BWV room sizes are not as large as shown above; that Disney site page is an old one that was up for only a little while before it was changed to one you get now on the site which does not provide sizes. The sizes of studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are very close to BCV, VWL. The error is historical. Orginally those were supposed to be the room sizes. Design and sizes were changed to smaller sizes during construction but the wrong sizes crept into some promo materials and filings in some states. For a long time on Disney's site they had the BWV room layouts with the correct (smaller) sizes. About three years ago the site was redone and somehow the wrong sizes got put in (the page noted above) and then that page was replaced with the current site page that does not provide room sizes.

As to OP's question, personal view is that the best GV's are the single floor GVs which give you a huge sense of space. They have some at BWV but there is no guarantee you will get a single floor GV there since they also have 2 story. Moreover, the absolute best GV's I have seen are the single floor ones at Jambo at AKV and if you reserve a Jambo GV it will be single floor.

Nevertheless, as noted above, trying to get a GV at 7 months out will not be easy.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The BWV room sizes are not as large as shown above; that Disney site page is an old one that was up for only a little while before it was changed to one you get now on the site which does not provide sizes. The sizes of studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are very close to BCV, VWL. The error is historical. Orginally those were supposed to be the room sizes. Design and sizes were changed to smaller sizes during construction but the wrong sizes crept into some promo materials and filings in some states. For a long time on Disney's site they had the BWV room layouts with the correct (smaller) sizes. About three years ago the site was redone and somehow the wrong sizes got put in (the page noted above) and then that page was replaced with the current site page that does not provide room sizes.

As to OP's question, personal view is that the best GV's are the single floor GVs which give you a huge sense of space. They have some at BWV but there is no guarantee you will get a single floor GV there since they also have 2 story. Moreover, the absolute best GV's I have seen are the single floor ones at Jambo at AKV and if you reserve a Jambo GV it will be single floor.

Nevertheless, as noted above, trying to get a GV at 7 months out will not be easy.

Thank you for the explanation..

MG

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Seems the Kidini grand villas would actually sleep 14 people then!

I wish...still set at 12, although there is an addition pull-out that could accomodate. We have a GG next year and there is 14 (possibly 15, but most likely 14) going, it would be nice to all be in 1 GV, but instead we're going to do two 2-Bedrooms.

 

[saintstickets]

Mea Culpa...thanks for the correction...I trusted your website Disney...I think you owe me a discount on the points I want to purchase!
Here are revised room sizes (hattip to WebmasterDoc - he da man!)

Here are some reported room size averages for DVC resorts:

OKW
Studio: 390 sq. ft.
1 BR: 1005 sq. ft.
2 BR: 1410 sq. ft.
GV: 2375 sq. ft.

HH
Studio: 455 sq.ft.
1BR: 856 sq.ft.
2BR: 1311 sq.ft.
GV: 2362 sq.ft.

BWV
Studio: 359 sq. ft.
1 BR: 712 sq. ft.
2 BR: 1071 sq. ft.
GV: 2142 sq. ft.

VB
Studio: 375 sq.ft.
1BR: 880 sq.ft.
2BR: 1265 sq.ft.
GV: 2125 sq.ft.

VWL
Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 727 sq.ft.
2BR: 1083 sq.ft.
GV: None

BCV
Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 719 sq.ft.
2BR: 1075 sq.ft.
GV: None

SSR
Studio: 355 sq.ft.
1BR: 714 sq.ft.
2BR: 1070 sq.ft.
GV: 2113 sq.ft.

AKV:
Studio: 316- 355, 366 sq.ft.
1BR: 629-720, 807 sq.ft.
2BR: 945 - 1075, 1173 sq.ft.
GV: 2340, 2201 sq.ft.

BLT:
Studio: 339 sq.ft.
1BR: 803 sq.ft.
2BR: 1152 sq.ft.
GV: 2044 sq.ft.

GCV:
Studio: 379
1BR: 865
2BR: 1257
GV: 2426
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