Help Me Plan Our Vacation!!!!

[DVCLiz]

After some family discussion, we have decided that we want to go to WDW for two weeks next summer. Our alternative was the Grand Canyon Adventures by Disney trip, but let's face it, we just aren't a hiking, active vacation kind of family. We are a sit by the pool, ride some rides, go to dinner and see Fantasmic kind of family. Plus, ABD was pretty expensive.

So, here are the particulars:

There are three of us. I'll have an AP and the girls, DDs ages 13 and 18, will have multi-day hoppers from previous trips. I'll have to see how many days they have left - we will either buy another 10 day hopper no-expiration pass for each of them, or I'll get them APs, too. They'll have tickets for as many days as we want to go into the parks.

We'll be driving, so no airfare or rental car costs, just gas down and back, and whatever we use while we are there. This isn't a "budget" trip, but I don't want to go overboard and stay 14 nights at the Grand Floridian, either.

I have 205 DVC points available, I think they are mostly HH points with some BCV banked points. But I think I'll have to make a 7 month reservation. We're giving up our HH week next summer to go to WDW instead.

We REALLY REALLY like the luxury of the 2BR, even though there are 3 of us, and we could easily make do with a studio or a 1BR. I just love having my own room and knowing that the girls have their own room to spread out. Plus, I LOVE that tub and the W/D. But, that takes a lot of points.

We also like the other deluxe resorts, and would like to spend at least one weekend at a deluxe with concierge option.

So, which would you do??? Stay as many nights as you could in a studio and have no additional costs? Stay in a 1BR for part of the trip, and another resort for the second week? Or stay in a 2BR for five nights, add a weekend concierge stay at a deluxe for another two nights, then a moderate for the second week???

We don't mind moving, in fact I really like it!!!

Also, what about VAKL? Should I wait until they announce and try to stay there, or just book it as a regular room if we want to stay there?


AArrrggghhhh, decisions, decisions!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would make the DVC stay for the later part of the trip. So you can have the washer/dryer access. Plus it's kind of a bummer to move from luxury to a small hotel room.

How about trading those tickets in for APs with the DVC member discount? Especially if you plan on staying two weeks.

If you stay at OKW, you'd have a bigger place to spread out in a one bedroom. And it would cost fewer points. Try to stay as early in June as possible since points are less until about June 10. You can get a one bedroom OKW villa before June 10 for 20 pts per night (excluding Fri and Sat) and 22 points per night for June 11 and after. You could stretch those points a long way at OKW. You could even stay at a value for the two weekend nights.

 

[DVCLiz]

I would make the DVC stay for the later part of the trip. So you can have the washer/dryer access. Plus it's kind of a bummer to move from luxury to a small hotel room.

How about trading those tickets in for APs with the DVC member discount? Especially if you plan on staying two weeks.

If you stay at OKW, you'd have a bigger place to spread out in a one bedroom. And it would cost fewer points. Try to stay as early in June as possible since points are less until about June 10. You can get a one bedroom OKW villa before June 10 for 20 pts per night (excluding Fri and Sat) and 22 points per night for June 11 and after. You could stretch those points a long way at OKW. You could even stay at a value for the two weekend nights.

Ah, good idea about the DVC AP discount. I'll do that!!! Also, I'll definitely make the DVC part the second week.

And - I forgot to add, but we have to go in July. DD is in camp all of June, and other DD will have a J-O-B for May and June. Shh, don't want anything to make her think she can't work for actual money instead of going to the bank of Mom!!

 

[rogerram]

you could look to see how many points you need for a 1 bedroom stay and try to get some from someone in a transfer. I might be a better deal than the cost of a deluxe, unless you really have your heart set on that. I also recommend if you are a pool person, try BCV. We stayed last July and it was great.

 

[ro80]

Okay - here goes. If you stay at OKW in a 1 BR from August 12-16 then
2. On the 17th & 18th (Fri. & Sat. nights) stay in say AS resorts
3. Then from the 19th-23rd, go back to OKW in the 1 BR.
4. For the last 2 nights the 24th & 25th (F & S nights again), go back to the AS.
The total for the OKW will be a total of 208 pts. You could probably get another 3 pts. from someone at $10 per point. You will still have your bedroom to yourself and the girls can stay on the pullout. Maybe that'll work for you. Good luck !!

 

[lisareniff]

I would take the middle road..

1- Spend the first either 3 nights (Sun-Tues) in a 1 bedroom at BWV,BCV or VWL or 4 nights (Sun-Wed) in a studio or std. 1 bdrm at BWV. You will have the most energy at the beginning of your trip and can be in the action.

2- Next move to your deluxe hotel of choice for 3 nights using your AP rate. If you stayed at the Epcot resorts in #1 then perhaps the Poly. How about AKL to check out the new villa location.

3- For the last segment (Sun - Thurs nights) stay at OKW in a 1 bedroom and have a little more space to realax and spread out. Have breafast on the deck, hang at the pool,etc.

You should be able to do this using your 205 points for #1 & #3 and cash for #2.

Or you could bump the hotel to 4 nights, reducing OKW to 4 nights and then having a few more points to have a 1 bedroom for 4 nights at the beginning. That would be splitting it 4, 4 and 4.

 

[DVCLiz]

Thanks for the replies!!! So it looks like no one is going to let me indulge in a 2BR!! Well, that would take a huge number of points, and we can easily have a 1BR and still have the tub and W/D. DD18 can sleep on the pull-out, and DD13 will probably sleep with me in the Master Bedroom. Heck, we've been known to fall asleep in the king bed while watching TV and all three of us stay there all night!!

Thanks for the June and August suggestions - and sorry I didn't post about needing to go in July in my first post.

Also, I'm waiting until I hear about VAKL - I might just have to do an add-on so we can stay there for one part of our trip!!! Now that would be ideal - a Sunday - Thursday stay at BCV, Friday and Saturday nights at a deluxe concierge, then another five night stay at VAKL!!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you have your heart set on a 2 bedroom, how about this scenario?
Arrive Saturday and stay in a Deluxe.
Sun. check into an OKW studio and stay until Friday (55points)
Friday and Saturday nights again at a deluxe
Sun. check into an OKW 2 bedroom and check out on Friday (150 points).

This gives you 1 night short of 2 weeks and uses 205 points. You will have the luxury of the large 2 bedroom at OKW at the end of the trip.

 

[DVCLiz]

Thanks! That sounds good to me!! I'm still going to wait until I know about AKV - that would be a great choice for us, too.