Help me choose - studio for Mar 2019

[BlueFairy]

Hi,

I am working out what to request for a points rental. I know we have missed the 11 month mark. We are looking to use a broker instead of direct from owner. I have studied some points charts and feel comfortable with 5 nights (including a Fri/Sat) during spring break. Anything bigger than a studio is out of the budget, but we are quite fine with standard hotel rooms.

My question is which resort?

Concerns - (not sure if in this order)
1) maximize space
2) DH wants easy transportation
3) kids are petite 10 & 13, so something that sleeps 5 might be helpful for them to spread out, but not mandatory
4) theming - kids have always wanted AKL, I know that the value studio is probably sold out. I can find pros for staying at any deluxe area. Not so much with SSR or OKW
5) availability - what can I reasonably expect to find at this point?

We plan to have 1 1/2 resort days, 1 day at AK and 1 day at another park (probably MK) after splitting our week with UOR.

 

[Ben E N]

To me, it sounds like the Polynesian checks the most boxes off for you. Big, sleeps 5, close to transportation, good theming, and most likely to be available.

You could go AKV, but you are correct that there would be no value rooms available, and they are small anyway. The Kidani studios would be your best bet. It does not have "easy transportation" compared to the other deluxe resorts, though.

 

[BlueFairy]

Does Kidani have the Murphy bed?

 

[Ben E N]

I don't believe so. BWV may, but I'm not speaking from any certainty.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Spring break actually isn't really a fast booking time so you'll probably have most resorts available, just not all categories at the resorts. Value would be one I'd expect to be difficult but you still could inquire. That would be asking for the smallest studio at AKV though.

The studios with sleeping surfaces for 5 because of the murphy bed are: VGF, PVB, BWV, BCV and BRV. OKW has 2 queen beds otherwise all other studios have a queen bed and a sleeper sofa (varies a bit between doubles which is most likely, but a couple like PVB have queen sleeper sofas. I think VGF does also).

In some ways AKV has quite easy transportation - it's buses everywhere and they are dedicated to AKV unlike many other resorts which share. And now I've heard that you can check bus times via MDE which would help a lot as it's usually the wait for them that is the most uncertain and costly in time.

OKW and SSR do have their points too. OKW is a relaxing tropical theme with nice boat access to DS. SSR has quite a few resort amenities - spa, large community hall, golf course as well as boat or walking to DS. But we find things at all the resorts we like. With AK and MK park days I'd probably look at either an AK or an MK resort for the stay.

 

[Ben E N]

Spring break actually isn't really a fast booking time so you'll probably have most resorts available, just not all categories at the resorts. Value would be one I'd expect to be difficult but you still could inquire. That would be asking for the smallest studio at AKV though.

The studios with sleeping surfaces for 5 because of the murphy bed are: VGF, PVB, BWV, BCV and BRV. OKW has 2 queen beds otherwise all other studios have a queen bed and a sleeper sofa (varies a bit between doubles which is most likely, but a couple like PVB have queen sleeper sofas. I think VGF does also).

With Easter, and the high point week that goes with it, being so late in April, I see spring break 2019 being a big DVC rental week. I'm sure the hotels are set to spring break prices, but due to the DVC point structure, they are not. That makes renting DVC that much better of a deal this upcoming spring.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With Easter, and the high point week that goes with it, being so late in April, I see spring break 2019 being a big DVC rental week. I'm sure the hotels are set to spring break prices, but due to the DVC point structure, they are not. That makes renting DVC that much better of a deal this upcoming spring.

I don't think that will make a difference as Spring has been a slower booking time for many years. For Oct-Dec you have to be at it right at 11 months but most other times that don't include a national holiday or a race weekend as long as you get in on the home resort booking you'll have something. Spring is a higher point requirement for DVC - it's not adventure or choice season. And spring break isn't just set to a particular week. I'm going in early April and know the availability for that time and around it and though somewhat dependent on what week OP is planning there's likely going to be options at most if not all resorts.

 

[Ben E N]

I don't think that will make a difference as Spring has been a slower booking time for many years. For Oct-Dec you have to be at it right at 11 months but most other times that don't include a national holiday or a race weekend as long as you get in on the home resort booking you'll have something. Spring is a higher point requirement for DVC - it's not adventure or choice season. And spring break isn't just set to a particular week. I'm going in early April and know the availability for that time and around it and though somewhat dependent on what week OP is planning there's likely going to be options at most if not all resorts.

I'm not saying that tons of members will be booking there, just that more first time renters will be renting over that time. By using David's, Polynesian studios go for about $370 per night using DVC rental. If you went direct through Disney, they would be $594 per night. It won't be a ton of people who are looking for deluxe accommodations and think to save money by renting DVC points instead, but it would work out more to their advantage this upcoming year than during other years when spring break is also a high DVC point cost.

 

[BlueFairy]

Well, for the record, we are looking at the last week/weekend of March.

Originally the point was to save money. Of course, as amenities at PVB become more tempting, that makes my willingness to spend a bit more go up.

I think DH likes BRV and we are most familiar with WL. But like you say, this is an opportunity to try something like the BC or Poly when otherwise we would not spend the $$. Kids may vote for AK, but then they have to deal with less sleeping space. It's also on the lower end of pricing compared with the others iI've mentioned, besides BRV.

 

[Ben E N]

Well, for the record, we are looking at the last week/weekend of March.

Originally the point was to save money. Of course, as amenities at PVB become more tempting, that makes my willingness to spend a bit more go up.

I think DH likes BRV and we are most familiar with WL. But like you say, this is an opportunity to try something like the BC or Poly when otherwise we would not spend the $$. Kids may vote for AK, but then they have to deal with less sleeping space. It's also on the lower end of pricing compared with the others iI've mentioned, besides BRV.

You could go really all out and book a 1 BR at Kidani for a couple of nights, then the studio at Poly or one of the others for the other few (probably in reverse order). Out of my personal budget, but you could get the best of both worlds, and Kidani 1 BRs have 2 bathrooms (very nice with two tween boys, at least based on my memories of being a 10 year old in the Fort Wilderness sharing 1 bathroom with 5 other family members).

 

[BlueFairy]

You could go really all out and book a 1 BR at Kidani for a couple of nights, then the studio at Poly or one of the others for the other few (probably in reverse order). Out of my personal budget, but you could get the best of both worlds, and Kidani 1 BRs have 2 bathrooms (very nice with two tween boys, at least based on my memories of being a 10 year old in the Fort Wilderness sharing 1 bathroom with 5 other family members).

Yes but resort hopping isn't really appealing to us. And we already are spending 1 night at UOR so we can get onsite privileges there.

The girls are tweens and smelly, but we'll probably have to make do with 1 bath.

Kids vote Poly when given a choice of S/D, PVB and GFV (more expensive) . They vote BRV over BCV and AKV ($300-400 cheaper). SSR, OKW and BWV get no votes. I'm not surprised they prefer Poly, but since they've said over and over that they wanted to try something new, I'm really surprised by the BRV choice.

 

[cmwade77]

If you go either AKV, go with a Savannah view, it really isn't that many more points (at least to us) and it is great to wake up to the animals in the morning.

And club level isn't terrible on points at AKV, but most likely fully booked.

That being said, BWV has the table Murphy bed, Beach Club Villas could be good as well, both have good transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Any of the monorail resorts would be good as well from a transportation standpoint.

From what I understand, the Poky studios have 2 bathrooms, so that may be an advantage there.

 

[CarolMN]

.......(snip)........

From what I understand, the Poky studios have 2 bathrooms, so that may be an advantage there.

Only one of those has a toilet, but since the OP has two female tweens, the extra "primping" space might make for a more comfortable stay for Mom & Dad.

 

[BlueFairy]

Only one of those has a toilet, but since the OP has two female tweens, the extra "primping" space might make for a more comfortable stay for Mom & Dad.

Dad is already loving the idea of staying at the poly while saving $1600 over rack rate. Once he finds out that he can have a shower and toilet available while the kids take their 30 minute showers he might just be sold!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Dad is already loving the idea of staying at the poly while saving $1600 over rack rate. Once he finds out that he can have a shower and toilet available while the kids take their 30 minute showers he might just be sold!

As long as they aren't taking long leisurely baths. The toilet is in the space with the bathtub.

 

[Canadian Girl]

We have often stayed in an AKL studio with my two young teen daughters and occasionally an adult daughter. Many of the standard studios at Jambo are partial savanah view. We did a split stay with the Poly last year and honestly, we found it to be a bit boring after being at AKL and not sure we would go back. I like the fact AKL is all inside for rooms even if it can be a long walk and the quick service restsuarant imho, is much better. Transportation isn’t bad at all and is really quick to AK and Avatar. The single bathroom has never really been an issue in the studios. We love the ambiance of the resort and there are always opportunities for seeing the animals. That’s why we purchased there even though it was essentially sold out. I figured in the future I could see myself staying for a vacation without the need to visit parks.