help me plan our next few trips...

[snoopy5386]

So I am trying to work this out for our next two trips. We are planning on going in January 2011 and then again in December 2011. Not sure yet about after that - either October or December 2012.
First question - Our January 2011 stay will be from Jan 2-7. That means my 11 month window starts on February 2nd 2010, right? That is when I need to call MS? Can you tell this is only our 2nd trip?

Next where to stay when...
We have a 100 pt contract at AKL and do to banking some of last year's points we'll have a total of 234 points to split between these two trips (134 from my 2010 use year and 100 from my 2011 use year - we have a June use year) - both will be 5 night Sun -Thurs night stays. I'm willing to borrow a few points for the trips if necessary but would rather not. We stayed at AKL in October 2009. Right now my plan is to book both trips in an AKL value 1 bedroom at the 11 month window. BUT we want to stay somewhere else for one of the trips - either the beach club or the boardwalk if we can get standard view at the 7 month window (yeah right!) So my question is - would you try to stay at BCV/BWV in January or December? I know it will be much harder to get in December but I also know that chances of us having "swimmable" weather will be much better in early December (we plan to go the 4th-9th) than in early January.
For our 2012 trip we'll either end up at AKL or OKW due to low points and I don't want to burn out on AKL.....
Thanks for any input!

PS - It will be me, DH, DD4.5 and DD9 months on the trip. As for the pool, I would be the one doing the majority of the swimming with DD4.5 and I am short, so much of SAB is above my head - it is my fave resort, we've only stayed in the hotel part pre-kids though.

 

[ClockWork23]

Beach Club, Beach Club, Beach Club

Simply amazing is all i can say. Great pools...yes that's plural

Lots of activities

Walk to Boardwalk, Epcot and boat to MGM

Just amazing

P.S. Beaches and Cream...you'll thank me when you eat there... two words, Kitchen Sink

 

[Petraman]

So I am trying to work this out for our next two trips. We are planning on going in January 2011 and then again in December 2011. Not sure yet about after that - either October or December 2012.
First question - Our January 2011 stay will be from Jan 2-7. That means my 11 month window starts on February 2nd 2010, right? That is when I need to call MS? Can you tell this is only our 2nd trip?

Next where to stay when...
We have a 100 pt contract at AKL and do to banking some of last year's points we'll have a total of 234 points to split between these two trips (134 from my 2010 use year and 100 from my 2011 use year - we have a June use year) - both will be 5 night Sun -Thurs night stays. I'm willing to borrow a few points for the trips if necessary but would rather not. We stayed at AKL in October 2009. Right now my plan is to book both trips in an AKL value 1 bedroom at the 11 month window. BUT we want to stay somewhere else for one of the trips - either the beach club or the boardwalk if we can get standard view at the 7 month window (yeah right!) So my question is - would you try to stay at BCV/BWV in January or December? I know it will be much harder to get in December but I also know that chances of us having "swimmable" weather will be much better in early December (we plan to go the 4th-9th) than in early January.
For our 2012 trip we'll either end up at AKL or OKW due to low points and I don't want to burn out on AKL.....
Thanks for any input!

PS - It will be me, DH, DD4.5 and DD9 months on the trip. As for the pool, I would be the one doing the majority of the swimming with DD4.5 and I am short, so much of SAB is above my head - it is my fave resort, we've only stayed in the hotel part pre-kids though.

OK... here we go!

You have 234 points to use for the next 2 years, so you have several options. Some of the options I will mention would require borrowing 1-4 points and some would leave you with just a few points to bank for 2012. Let me just say that if DVC decides to punish you again next year (you are a Sun-Thu traveler) with another increase, it is going to be impossible for you to do a 5-day trip on 100 points, so think keep that in mind when making your 2011 choices.

You said one stay will be AKV value 1BR. Points would be the same either of your trips since you are going both in 2011 and both in Adventure Season.
This 5day stay at AKV will cost you 95 points

234-95 leaves you with 139 points to use on other trip.

Beach Club Villa Standard View 1BR = 135 points!
Pros...Fantastic pool (maybe best pool in DVC), nice facilities, close proximity to Epcot and DHS, near Boardwalk
Cons...can be a pain to enter though the front entrance of Epcot (if that is important to you)

Boardwalk Villas Std view 1BR = 100 OR Premier view 1BR = 140 points
Pros... Close to Epcot, right on the boardwalk
Cons... IMO the pool is not that great, some rooms are so-so, boardwalk may not be something you will take advantage of

Saratoga Springs Resort Std view 1BR = 125 points
Pros... Pool is pretty good and they are re-doing one of them now which will be a nice change, close DTD, quiet
Cons... Not that kid friendly IMO, Far away from most resorts so longer bus travel times

Bay Lake Towers std view 1BR = 130 points
Pros... New resort, incredible view of MK fireworks from private balcony, cool pool, right next to MK and monorail to Epcot, best character dining at WDW IMO
Cons... rooms can be a little small, but since you are getting 1BR should be no big deal

Wilderness Lodge Villas std view 1BR = 140
Pros... rustic "woods" feel, nice pool,
Cons... Like SSR, this one is off the beaten path and bus service can be poor

I have a diffferent option for you as well. A lot of folks with limited points (that includes my family) have learned to use a "Split Stay" approach to maximize our stays. Our fam is DH, DW, DD10, and DD15. What we do is stay the first couple days in a studio room at a low point resort like AKV, then we do something nicer for the rest of our days. This way we stay in a hotel room setting , move to place where we can do laundry, cook meals, etc and have a premium view, resort or whatever. Example: In March we are at BCV in studio for 3 nights, then we move over to AKV 1BR Savannah view OR Concierge level !

So here's an idea if you think it is something you might like...
SSR 2 nights in studio then 3 nights in TreeHouse Villas!! = 128

or how about...
Bay Lake Tower 2day std view studio + 3 day 1BR Magic Kigdom View = 139 points!

As you can see, by sacrificing a 1BR conveniece for couple nights gives you ability to do some cool stuff.

All these opstions have advantage, but if it were me, I would do either of the split stays ( I wantto try the MK view @ BLT and the THV BAD!!!)
or for a standard stay I would go with BCV or the BLT 1BR options

One more thing... you hinted in your post that you were afraid you wouldn't get choices at the 7-month window. Let me just say that we have only booked one time in our own resort and even that time we booked at 7-month window. We have gotten our first choice every single time... including this next trip during Spring Break!
Since you are goin in the slowest season of all, your chances are pretty good. The only challenge ones may be the THV's (very few available) and the BLT MK view room (very popular). Also, the BWV 1BR std view "may" become harder to get now that they have made some changes in that category.

Hope this helps! Soon you will be a DVC vet! And remember, half the fun is dreaming and planning!!!