Help a newbie make some resort decisions ?

[WIBadgergirl]

my family is going to Disney December 4-11 2016. My son will be almost three and my daughter 6.5. This will be our first long trip there with the kids.

I have it stuck in my head that I want to stay at a monorail resort. I think that with the ages of my kids this is the trip to do so.

In the research that I have done it appears that the week we are going is a value week and not typically free dining. We have the ability to stay at a monorail resort but my husband is big on deals- he wants to feel that he is getting a good one (or the best you can do for Disney ). I am considering renting DVC points through one of the big brokers if possible (I know December is a tough time to do so and if we go this route will have my request in for the 11 month window). So my questions:

1. Which the the DVC rental stores would you use? Should I try more than one ?
2. Which monorail resort ? I was thinking maybe put all three in as possibilities- poly, Blt and GF in that order? All studios.
3. I know that some people talk about agency exclusive room discount etc- if renting doesn't work what is the best we can hope for? Although we could "afford" it I don't think I can get my husbad on board for $500 a night.

Looking for any thoughts any one has to make this trip magical for my kids! Thank you !

 

[mmafan]

we have stayed at animal kingdom lodge for the last 6 years and this year we tried the poly...it was worth a try transportation was very quick and convenient...but we will be going back to animal kingdom lodge jambo house from now on sure the bus takes alittle longer...but the Christmas deco is sooo much nicer the pool is nicer and EVERYTHING is more convenient and simple inside the resort food is better and closer to get to also there is no leaving your building going out to get food ect..and the mono rail resorts are always crowded with people from outside the resort just looking around wich I don't like. Also animal kingdom lodge is cheaper and to me there is more to do at the resort..

 

[kadrachb]

I can't answer #1 (have never rented DVC), but I really like BLT / CR for the monorail resorts, along with the GF. I personally think the Poly decor is slightly tacky, and am not a huge fan of the layout. I'd second AKL though, we stayed there last year, and staying there again next May. While the monorail is nice to have, I found the bus system not bad at AKL. However, since your kids will be prime age for MK, BLT has a walking path to MK, you can't get much closer than that.

 

[dmaxphil]

my family is going to Disney December 4-11 2016. My son will be almost three and my daughter 6.5. This will be our first long trip there with the kids.

I have it stuck in my head that I want to stay at a monorail resort. I think that with the ages of my kids this is the trip to do so.

In the research that I have done it appears that the week we are going is a value week and not typically free dining. We have the ability to stay at a monorail resort but my husband is big on deals- he wants to feel that he is getting a good one (or the best you can do for Disney ). I am considering renting DVC points through one of the big brokers if possible (I know December is a tough time to do so and if we go this route will have my request in for the 11 month window). So my questions:

1. Which the the DVC rental stores would you use? Should I try more than one ?
2. Which monorail resort ? I was thinking maybe put all three in as possibilities- poly, Blt and GF in that order? All studios.
3. I know that some people talk about agency exclusive room discount etc- if renting doesn't work what is the best we can hope for? Although we could "afford" it I don't think I can get my husbad on board for $500 a night.

Looking for any thoughts any one has to make this trip magical for my kids! Thank you !

December points will cost you a premium at 11mos out at a Monorail resort. Should still offer savings over rack rates.

1. Google searching "DVC rental" will reveal a couple of trustworthy brokers at the top of the list.
2. VGF is a longer walk from the villas to the main hotel and refill mug station if that is a concern. BLT is walking distance to MK. Poly is always a favorite. Check construction schedule to make sure you are ok with whatever is being done at the time of your arrival. VGF is a relatively short walk to Poly.

 

[bababear_50]

DVC member here and when I have needed more rooms,
I have used "David's Vacation rental' and was very happy with his service.
My home resort is OKW.
In terms of resorts I would do a bit of research to see which ones offer you and your family the best
amenities you are looking for.
My family (wedding proposal) choose AKV (Jambo House) due to
close proximity to Disney Springs/Epcot.
night vision animal observation
pink flamingos/animal observation areas
dine with an animal specialist/Sanaa restaurant
Mara quick service is great
cool pool and ability to use both Kidani village and Jambo house pools
movies under the stars
s'mores by the pool
Cookie baking at Boma restaurant,,they have Simba's club for kids and many resort activities.
My sons love the gym.
Lobby and resort is decorated (Jaw dropping gorgeous at Christmas).

Each resort has little hidden gems that are worth learning about before you make your choice.
Do a little research on your choices and then give the broker your top three.

Have a wonderful Magical Holiday!
Hugs Mel

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You will not get VGF as a rental studio in December. So really, it is BLT or Poly.

Poly will be an attempt to book at 7 months. Very few Poly owners are renting their points yet.

 

[Sue M]

WDW does release discounts for that time of year, check on Mousesavers.com they have a historical discount chart that shows what type of discount was released and when. For regular rooms.
I would rate GF as # 1.
For DVC many like David's DVC rentals. BLT studios are tiny from what I've been told. Friends stayed in them. But CR regular rooms are among the largest. Poly & GF rooms are spacious too. I haven't stayed in the DVC studios.
Or you could search for a Magical deal!

 

[queenofharts]

We use David's DVC rentals as well and it's gone great every time. Personally, I would recommend the Polynesian--great atmosphere, great theme, and Dole Whips! (What more could you ask for than Dole Whips?)

 

[GotLabradors]

We rented DVC points this past September at VGF. It was wonderful. I love all 3 monorail resorts, but GF is my absolute favorite. We went with a 1 bedroom. The space was really nice. We initially went through David's, but the only inventory they had for the week we were going was at OKW and SSR. We ended up renting from an owner we found here on the rent/trade board in the DVC section. I paid the same per point price I would have paid at David's. It ended up being about $460/night for the 1 bedroom and it was worth every penny. It was nice having a separate bedroom from our kids. They slept on the pullout and murphy bed in the living room. You will definitely need to find someone who owns at one of the resorts to get a studio for December. The DVC building at VGF is a short walk from the main building and is completely covered. There is a mug refill station at the Beach Pool Bar which is just outside the VGF building at the zero entry pool. Every CM we encountered at the GF was on point with us.

 

[kwdw]

Personally - with a 3 and 6 year old - I wouldn't book a DVC studio. The studios have a queen bed and a sofa bed - and really aren't that large. If you can afford a monorail resort - I'd just book one of those regular rooms unless you really need a microwave in your room. You'll get two real queen beds that way. Once that sofa bed is unfolded - the rooms seem small - smaller than a regular resort room, IMO. The DVC studios are great for a couple, or maybe with one kid, but once you hit two kids - I'm not sure they are worth it.

If you want more space - you could rent a 1 bedroom using one of the main brokers - but you'll pay premium rental point rates for those resorts - I'd book a different resort = one that is cheaper in terms of point rate and number of points.

Unless you really want a monorail resort - you could also consider other deluxe, mods, and values with kids that age. Kids that age LOVE the big bold theming at the values - but admittedly - the beds aren't as nice for adults....

Anyway - for us - even when taking a kid in that age - "on the monorail" wasn't the priority for us - (though it is for many folks) - anyway - just my two cents. Staying at a monorail resort has to be for the adults - not the kids. They won't care.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Personally - with a 3 and 6 year old - I wouldn't book a DVC studio. The studios have a queen bed and a sofa bed - and really aren't that large.

This is especially true at BLT. Those studios are a tight squeeze when you open the sofa bed.

 

[chalee94]

Personally - with a 3 and 6 year old - I wouldn't book a DVC studio. The studios have a queen bed and a sofa bed - and really aren't that large.

i think the VGF and poly studios have a queen bed plus a sofa bed PLUS a fold out twin bed - very small IMO but would work fine for a 3 year old.

they can be a bit cramped but some people can make it work.

VGF will be a tough get from an availability standpoint but that would be my first choice for early December if you luck out. the tree in the main lobby is amazing (as is the gingerbread house).

poly might be tough since it is new.

BLT should be do-able at exactly 11 months out, but it will be very cramped. on the bright side, you can walk to the MK which is great with little ones - no waiting in lines for buses or the monorail.

if you cannot get monorail, VWL also has a boat to the MK (and also has the fold out twin bed) with impressive theming.

the best deal if you skip the monorail is the AKV-jambo house. love the theming, giraffes and zebras outside your balcony and a big tree in the lobby. (but it can feel like a long way from the MK with little ones.)

 

[Micca]

my family is going to Disney December 4-11 2016. My son will be almost three and my daughter 6.5. This will be our first long trip there with the kids.

I have it stuck in my head that I want to stay at a monorail resort. I think that with the ages of my kids this is the trip to do so.

In the research that I have done it appears that the week we are going is a value week and not typically free dining. We have the ability to stay at a monorail resort but my husband is big on deals- he wants to feel that he is getting a good one (or the best you can do for Disney ). I am considering renting DVC points through one of the big brokers if possible (I know December is a tough time to do so and if we go this route will have my request in for the 11 month window). So my questions:

1. Which the the DVC rental stores would you use? Should I try more than one ?
2. Which monorail resort ? I was thinking maybe put all three in as possibilities- poly, Blt and GF in that order? All studios.
3. I know that some people talk about agency exclusive room discount etc- if renting doesn't work what is the best we can hope for? Although we could "afford" it I don't think I can get my husbad on board for $500 a night.

Looking for any thoughts any one has to make this trip magical for my kids! Thank you !

1. Can't help here, my apologies.
2. I think your order of resorts with kid appeal is correct. There have been some issues with the monorails lately, they are occasionally delayed or stopped altogether for periods of time. Of course they move hundreds of thousands of people with no problems, but no one who pays the rate for a monorail resort is going to be pleased if the monorail breaks down with them on it. I'll agree that Animal Kingdom lodge is AWESOME for kids, and Wilderness Lodge ain't shabby either.
3. Not sure about the agency exclusive, but if you're going to drop $3500 on a room for a single stay, that makes a nice down payment on a DVC membership.
Something to consider?

 

[RustManFan]

I'll be there much the same time as you but with just my adult son this time. We will be at POR but stayed at CBR when he and his sister were small. We all loved it there and I love how much less it costs for a moderate than for a deluxe.

 

[hsmamato2]

I have stayed at almost every resort over the years with kids of varying ages.....that said all I can recommend is....it depends!!! The thing about disney hotels is they provide a lot of great amenities at different price points.... and they're all fun in their own way! My personal fave,if I had small kids is a Boardwalk area resort,or even Swan or Dolphin. I know, it's a bus ride to MK, but there is a lot to do in the Epcot area too.... and I prefer the walkability of it all over the Monorail loop area. (esp. with a stroller,etc to handle) I also LOVE the Port Orleans French Quarter, it's so small,and cute,and has such a nice pool area,plus a boat option to Disney Springs.... The monorail hotels,while very nice frequently lose out IMHO due to the monorail being out of service.....and I know there are scary bus stories all over these boards, but I've never had much problem using disney transport.(of course, we also brought smart travel strollers that fold up small and easy for buses)