HELP......... choosing villas or suites???!!!

[wdwnutze]

We (myself, dd10, dd4 and my mother)are planning a 2003 trip to wdw. Not sure if trip will be end of Aug 2003 or end of Nov/beginning of Dec. 2003. Would like to have some room and comforts. Trip won't be commando and we plan on relaxing quite a bit. Trying for 7 nights and maybe 4 days of parks.
My trouble is that I am trying to get info on villas and suites. Can villas be booked if you are not DVC members? Where can I find prices on suites and do any of the suites have kitchens? Are the suites conceirge? I would really like to get some idea of the cost of my options. I know I have some time but if I choose Dec. my time to make reservations is drawing near.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Janet2k]

If you want a kitchen, then a DVC villa is for you. Yes, you can reserve one without being a DVC member, however, availability is sometimes limited (especially depending upon the time of year you want to reserve one in).

There are tons of suite photos posted on the Internet. Some of my favorite photos are found on the Our Laughing Place website (click on the radio button for the resort that you want to view, click on the "view reviews & pictures" radio button, followed by clicking on "Go"). I also have some of the photos of the suites & villas that I have stayed in posted in my on-line photo albums. A suite gets you concierge service. Or at least it has lately (that wasn't always the case when I stayed in a WDW suite).

 

[Janet2k]

I should note that since there will be four of you traveling, a one-bedroom suite or villa might suit your needs. You'll need to verify this when you book your accommodations. The parlor room usually always has a queen-sized sofa sleeper in it. The master bedroom usually has a king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds in it (at least that has been my experience with the suites that I have stayed in).

Don't forget to check out Disney's Vacation Club website in order to view their villa accommodations: DVC Resort website. I adore the villas.

 

[lemstar]

it has been my experience that villas are less expensive than suites, and villas can be discounted, whereas suites tend not to be discounted. wl villas (nice and convenient) and okw villas (not my fave) tend to have more availablity.
jayne

 

[JillU-DVC]

Another option for booking a DVC villa is to rent points from a member - there's a message board here on DIS that's devoted to point rentals.

You may also want to look up on teh DVC board for the FAQ, so you understand how DVC works before you try to rent points.

I second the suggestion of a 1 bedroom, although bedding will be tricky. You're within the limits for guests in a room, but in a 1 bedroom there is a king sized bed in the master bedroom, and a queen sized sleep sofa in the living room. So you'd need to figure out who would sleep where.

But the villas are WORTH it - the 1 bedroom has a tv in the master plus a TV and VCR in the living room; a HUGE bathroom, complete with a whirlpool tub, and a full sized washer/dryer. Plus the full kitchen (with a real full sized fridge), dishwasher, stove, pots, pans, utensils, etc.

Can you tell I LOVE my DVC membership - we always stay at Old Key West, which is least expensive in points to stay at.

 

[shelly3girls]

I am a new DVC member, so maybe not the best to answer, but I will try. It seems that renting points would be the cheapest way to go. We have stayed at the GF in a suite and I would much rather stay at the villas. Our suite basically cost twice the cost of a regular room and basically was just that, two rooms connected one set up as a bedroom, one as a living room. There was a small refrigerator. No other added conveniences except the concierge. Staying in the villas is cheaper (especially if you rent points) and you would have the added bonus of a kitchen. My vote would be the villas