Grand Villa or not?

[Dan Murfman]

Well I know what I should do but I was wondering if anyone could give me a reason to splurge and go with a Grand Villa. We are taking my wife’s family next year and I was just trying to figure out what rooms I should book. There are 13 of us going. Basically there are 5 couples and 3 teenage nephews. The first and cheapest way to go would be to book a standard view 2 bedroom and 4 standard view studios.
But then I was thinking I have always wanted to do a Grand Villa. So we could get a Grand Villa and 3 studios but this option would cost an extra 172 points. Could anyone justify the extra points to stay in the GV?

 

[DisneyMeMa]

Dan, if you need just a little encouragement to splurge, remember all GV at BWV are preferred views. The GVs have very large common areas (ie living room, dining space and balconies with very good views). IMHO they are a real treat-especially if you want time altogether. Maybe you could "get by" with 3 studios plus the GV and save a few of the 172 extra points.

 

[fkj2]

Do the couples all want their own room or is sharing with one of the teenagers a potential?

If I recall correctly, the OKW GVs have two bedrooms with two beds plus the master bedroom and the pull-out sleeper sofa in the living room, which surely one or two of the teenagers could use.

 

[Dan Murfman]

We want all the adults to have their own rooms. And figured the 3 boys could share a room. If we go with the 2 bdrm the boys would get the studio part of 2 bdrm. And the others would each get their own studio. If we go with GV, Grandma and Grandpa would take the third bdrm and the others would use the studio. We own at BWV so that is where we are booking. So it just comes down to whether a GV is worth the extra points.

 

[DougL]

With that large of a group, I would consider the common area of the GV to be an added plus as a gathering place after a long day in the parks.

 

[mikesmom]

Do also consider how well all of these people will get along. We had 3 couples, 2 teens and a 3 year old to WDW last May and I badly wanted a GV for the group. Because all of the BWV Grand Villas were in rehab at the time we traveled, we ended up with a 2 bedroom and 2 studios. By mid-trip I was VERY glad that we all had separate accomodations. All of us get along just fine, not a bad feeling in the bunch, BUT it turned out we had very different vacation styles.

DH and I have a fairly laid back style, one couple went at it commando style and one couple was what I can only describe as hyper-commando- literally had attractions timed out including the walk between them ("You can't go on that ride unless it takes less than 15 minutes- then you have 10.2 minutes to run to the next ride") YIKES! Had we all been under the same roof I'm sure we would eventually driven each other crazy.

There are plusses and minuses to both, of course, just wanted to add another point of view.

 

[Dumbo]

Dan,

You may want to look at the points chart for booking two 2 bdr. villas. Two 2 bdr. villas will sleep 16 and they are a lot less points (two of them) than one Grand Villa. Two 2 bdr. are 80 points (40 each) compared to 108 points for a summer Grand Villa at Boardwalk Villas.

Dumbo

 

[Dean]

One other thing to consider is that unless you're planning on eating out most meals, a 2 BR at BWV will not adequately service that group of people. If you were at OKW, you might get by but I see no way 13 people can eat in 1 2 BR at any of ther other resorts. Actually, you could likely get by with a GV and 2 studios very easily. Alternatively I'd look at two 2 BR units plus another studio or 2.

 

[pwoodham]

We had 17 people eat in our 2 bdrm at BCV in September. We did it by having the folks in the 1 bdrm bring all their plates, utensils, etc. and then sending the kids and some adults to eat on the long balcony. We all got some kind of nourishment, but it wasn't conducive to visiting or comfort. We also had a time getting all the right equipment back to the other room. Luckily, my sister and bil have several timeshares and were very careful to note what went out of their room. It took us 2 days to get everything back where it started from!!

 

[Dan Murfman]

He did make a good point and I did listen. I booked 2 2 bdrms and 2 studios. Thanks for all the advice it did really help. I'm sure I could have got by with just one studio or such but we want everyone to have their bathroom and bed. This will eat up 2 years of points but it will be well worth it. Now I just have to book the last 4 days on Monday and Tuesday and wait the 319 days until we all arrive.

 

[Dean]

Great, I'm glad things work out and we could all help. Enjoy.