Help needed ~ DVC (Rental) or direct through Disney

[darcoops]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is not the appropriate place/forum to request help from.

Anyway - planning a trip from Australia to WDW in 2018 (Late September) with 14 days at WDW. Considering renting DVC points through Dave's.

Firstly we are a family of 5 - Kids will be 15, 12 & 9. Considering a studio at Boardwalk or Beach club if they are available. Will a studio be to cramped for the 5 of us? We recently just did 10 days at POR in the one room and found this to be OK (We had the trip of our life - now want to better it!!).

Are the rooms similar in size.
Difference between Deluxe Villa & Moderate. (We did love POR)
Is Dave's a safe bet?
If going through DVC can tickets/Photopass etc still be linked on the Mydisneyexperience app/website & magic bands?


The one concern I do have is if free dining become available? However in saying that, I have been doing my research and it appears rooms at POR have gone up by $50+ a night for late september -just checked the website - is that normal for that time of year. (We stayed there this past January and the cost of the room was around the $190 mark per night). Therefore I would say doing DVC and pay out of pocket for the DP would probably still put us in front on what Disney could offer. Does this sound right?

Anyway after all opinions, thoughts and experiences using DVC (Dave's) Vs Disney.

Thanks in advance and looking forward to any info provided.

 

[davper]

You might find Beach Club and Boardwalk tough to get in late September unless you can book at 11 months.

I believe POR has the murphy bed for a small child. I am pretty sure DVC doesn't have these. If I were in your shoes, I would consider a 2 bedroom and save money by cooking in the room.

Dave's is a great way to go.

Free Dining is not possible on DVC points.

Yes, all can be linked through MyDisneyExperience on DVC.

 

[crisi]

But both would have the pull down bed under the TV which would be sufficient.

I wouldn't want to spend two weeks in a studio with five people, but its worked for you.

Put in your request early. There are more people looking to rent at BW/BC than there are owners looking to rent out their points. Don't count on BW Standard View in your calculations. And remember the reservation is set once its made - you can't change it - you can't move dates or cancel it - and the lead name has to remain the same. Not for any reason if you book through David.

One big difference will be in a DVC Studio you are going to have one real bed and a pullout sofa, plus the murphy under the TV. There will not be room to do much with the beds all pulled out, but with the sofa and murphy refolded in, there is room. You won't have daily housekeeping - someone will come in twice during your 14 day stay (I think) to change sheets and clean bathrooms. That will make a big difference with five in a small space.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is not the appropriate place/forum to request help from.

Anyway - planning a trip from Australia to WDW in 2018 (Late September) with 14 days at WDW. Considering renting DVC points through Dave's.

Firstly we are a family of 5 - Kids will be 15, 12 & 9. Considering a studio at Boardwalk or Beach club if they are available. Will a studio be to cramped for the 5 of us? We recently just did 10 days at POR in the one room and found this to be OK (We had the trip of our life - now want to better it!!).

Are the rooms similar in size.
Difference between Deluxe Villa & Moderate. (We did love POR)
Is Dave's a safe bet?
If going through DVC can tickets/Photopass etc still be linked on the Mydisneyexperience app/website & magic bands?


The one concern I do have is if free dining become available? However in saying that, I have been doing my research and it appears rooms at POR have gone up by $50+ a night for late september -just checked the website - is that normal for that time of year. (We stayed there this past January and the cost of the room was around the $190 mark per night). Therefore I would say doing DVC and pay out of pocket for the DP would probably still put us in front on what Disney could offer. Does this sound right?

Anyway after all opinions, thoughts and experiences using DVC (Dave's) Vs Disney.

Thanks in advance and looking forward to any info provided.

Are rooms similar in size?
No. Studios tend to be larger than hotel rooms but that space includes the kitchenette area. Touringplans has a size comparison chart for Disney rooms.
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/0...world-number-crunching-part-3-square-footage/

Difference between Deluxe Villa & Moderate.
Plenty of differences. Interior corridors. Balconies. Multiple dining options. Moderate will have 2 real beds. DVC will have one real bed and a sofa bed + Murphy bed (in studios that sleep 5). No daily housekeeping at DVC. No kitchenette in the Moderate.

Is Dave's a safe bet?
It will be as safe as any rental can be.

If going through DVC can tickets/Photopass etc still be linked on the Mydisneyexperience app/website & magic bands?
Yes. No problem. Tickets and Photopass are independent of room reservations.

IMO, two weeks with 5 people sharing a studio, especially when it's 2 adults and two teens, is just asking for misery. Those studios are not generous with space. When the Murphy bed is opened, you lose your table. There's not a lot of storage space because that Murphy bed takes up what used to be drawers. I don't know where 5 people would store 2 weeks' worth of clothing and luggage.

I also foresee a problem getting two consecutive weeks from a single owner as they may not have a sufficient number of points they're willing to use for a rental. And you're travel during a time period when DVC reservations are at peak demand. At exactly 11 months in advance, an owner can only book 7 consecutive nights. They would then need to call Member Services to add on additional nights. If you were to wait until the last 7 nights are inside the 11-month window, it's quite possible that the first 7 will either be completely unavailable or there will be scattered nights of availability. This would be especially true of the EPCOT area resorts, AKV value studios and VGF studios.

By all means, give it a try because anything is possible. But have a back up plan.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I have been doing my research and it appears rooms at POR have gone up by $50+ a night for late september -just checked the website - is that normal for that time of year. (We stayed there this past January and the cost of the room was around the $190 mark per night).

The rack rate for a room at POR will vary by season. That is the $50/night difference. Most of January is Value season for hotel rates, and September is Regular.
See https://www.mousesavers.com/2017-port-orleans-riverside-room-rates-season-dates/ for the variances.

I do agree with others that trying to rent 14 days at BWV or BCV in late September may be somewhat difficult. That is a good number of points, and owners can only book 7 days at a time.

 

[crisi]

Just as an FYI, no interior halls at OKW or SSR. But otherwise, you get interior hallways. And almost always a balcony (there is a balcony-less room at VWL, maybe a scattering of others I can't recall).

I don't think the number of points will be an issue - maybe, but I think its low risk....its a studio and people put up enough points to rent out two bedrooms for a week sometimes. I do think the fourteen nights might mean you don't get takers on booking until it can be done in a single phone call (so a week in - and F&W is starting by then, and you want studios at Epcot area resorts).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think via rental agencies, although you'd need to inquire of David's, they won't even start soliciting owners for an 8+ night stay until 11 months + Length of Stay.

 

[CarolMN]

If you can swing it, my advice is to go for a 1 bedroom at BLT or AKV-Kidani. Those have 2 full bathrooms, a king bed in the Master, a Queen pull out sofa & a twin sleep chair in the living room. You will have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer right in the unit. It will be a lot more comfortable than 5 in a studio. With a stay of 14 days, you can do some good meals in the room and the convenience of not having to spend a day doling laundry (and competing for the limited number of machines) can't be beat. Also, 1 bedrooms are much easier to book than the studios.

Good luck!

 

[sanibel93]

Just rented 6 nights in February at the Beach Club for a studio from Dave's. I have rented from them before and have not had a problem. If you do rent from them I agree with people in previous posts that you should put in your request when you make up your mind. It can be before the 11 month period and they will hold your request until the 11 month time frame rolls around, also they can start looking for the points needed from there pool of owners. The Beach Club is the smallest of the DVC resorts. I think the Beach Club Studio might be a little cramped. It has 1 queen size bed, 1 double size sleeper sofa and 1 pull-down bunk size bed. Not to try to change your mind, but have you looked at the 1 bedroom's at OKW? Features a master suite with a king-size bed and a living room with queen-size sleeper sofa and sleeper chair, also has a full kitchen. This would be the cheapest of all the resort 1 bedrooms. It also should be the largest one bedroom size wise 1005 sq. ft. Hope this helps?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Beach Club is not the smallest DVC resort, or even the smallest on-site at WDW.

BCV has a maximum of 282 rooms. CCV is 226 + 20 cabins, BRV is 181, and VGF is 147, the smallest at WDW. I'm not even including VB, HHI or VGC here, all of which are smaller as well.

 

[Wakey]

If you can swing it, my advice is to go for a 1 bedroom at BLT or AKV-Kidani. Those have 2 full bathrooms, a king bed in the Master, a Queen pull out sofa & a twin sleep chair in the living room. You will have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer right in the unit. It will be a lot more comfortable than 5 in a studio. With a stay of 14 days, you can do some good meals in the room and the convenience of not having to spend a day doling laundry (and competing for the limited number of machines) can't be beat. Also, 1 bedrooms are much easier to book than the studios.

Good luck!

This is good advice. I'd do the same.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...

IMO, two weeks with 5 people sharing a studio, especially when it's 2 adults and two teens, is just asking for misery. Those studios are not generous with space. When the Murphy bed is opened, you lose your table. There's not a lot of storage space because that Murphy bed takes up what used to be drawers. I don't know where 5 people would store 2 weeks' worth of clothing and luggage.....

Yes. Totally agree. Go with a one bedroom at AKV- Kidani Village or BLT for the second bathroom. You still get a sleeper sofa but it's queen sized plus the twin sized sleeper chair. Full kitchen and washer/dryer.

 

[LAX]

I think OP has gotten excellent responses already, but I think it's worth emphasizing yet again that when renting through a rental agency, there would be very little to no flexibility once a reservation is made since it will require a fairly early commitment (11 months in advance). I think some of them offer an "insurance" type policy that allows some changes (look at the fine prints carefully, though), but it's an added cost that might not turn out to be useful (I have never used it).

LAX

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

If you decide on the DVC route, I vote for AKV-Kidani or OKW 1 bedroom, if you can swing it. OKW would be cheapest, but biggest for your 1 bedroom space. BLT would be significantly more expensive. The 2 bathrooms of AKV-Kidani would be great, and the resort is beautiful! Bless your hearts, how you all happily stayed in one POR room for 10 days--wow.
As others have stated, there are no changes or modifying a DVC rental. The quick service dining options at POR are much better than any deluxe. That may not sound like much to consider now, but it is something when you are there and want something to eat, but not go out and drop a couple hundred $ on table service for the 5 of you. Over 14 days, it will really add up. If you are renting a car too, AKV-Kidani has parking under the building, very convenient, and at OKW you can park very close or in front of your building.
If they do have free dining, I think that would save you the most. Free QSDP will probably run $50 per person per night in late Sept. 2018, so that would be $250 for your party of 5 everyday. You don't have annual passes, and have to buy tickets anyway. So given that, since you enjoyed POR so much and would be happy to do it again, maybe that would be the way to go. The problem is, you won't know about free dining for another year. But if you want to rent DVC, you will need to decide in a few months and get your deposit in and reservation. Then there is no turning back. With POR, you can do a lot of modifying.
Good luck with your decision. Let us know which way you go. My experience with David's has been great.

 

[Dean]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is not the appropriate place/forum to request help from.

Anyway - planning a trip from Australia to WDW in 2018 (Late September) with 14 days at WDW. Considering renting DVC points through Dave's.

Firstly we are a family of 5 - Kids will be 15, 12 & 9. Considering a studio at Boardwalk or Beach club if they are available. Will a studio be to cramped for the 5 of us? We recently just did 10 days at POR in the one room and found this to be OK (We had the trip of our life - now want to better it!!).

Are the rooms similar in size.
Difference between Deluxe Villa & Moderate. (We did love POR)
Is Dave's a safe bet?
If going through DVC can tickets/Photopass etc still be linked on the Mydisneyexperience app/website & magic bands?


The one concern I do have is if free dining become available? However in saying that, I have been doing my research and it appears rooms at POR have gone up by $50+ a night for late september -just checked the website - is that normal for that time of year. (We stayed there this past January and the cost of the room was around the $190 mark per night). Therefore I would say doing DVC and pay out of pocket for the DP would probably still put us in front on what Disney could offer. Does this sound right?

Anyway after all opinions, thoughts and experiences using DVC (Dave's) Vs Disney.

Thanks in advance and looking forward to any info provided.

The big difference from a bed standpoint is the one queen plus pullout sofa/murphy bed situation. I personally wouldn't do this more than a night or 2 with 5 either way. I agree with boing bigger but I'd actually do a 2 BR rather than a 1 BR so you actually get real beds for the kids in addition to the kitchen. I'd stay off site rather than in a studio to get the larger villa if the budget required it. If applicable, I'd forego any Dining Plan to get the better accommodations if that were needed also. Since they've extended the Food and Wine event back through Sept, I think FD is less likely to happen for Sept, 2018 but there's no way to know at this time.

 

[darcoops]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses and advise. Will look into 1 bedroom & definitely come up with plan A,B, C & D - also book early..
Thought studio might be OK, as this year the only time we were in the room was to sleep.

 

[crisi]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses and advise. Will look into 1 bedroom & definitely come up with plan A,B, C & D - also book early..
Thought studio might be OK, as this year the only time we were in the room was to sleep.

You may find yourself in the room more than you think you will. If you hit a period in time where there are huge storms, you could get stuck there. With fourteen days, you might need a break from the stimulation and a down day of laying around - and want to stay out of the sun. You might get ill and end up with a day or two in the room. You might end up with shorter park days towards the end of the trip as you are revisiting favorites, but don't feel like you need to see everything twice.

Its pretty normal for a first or second Disney trip to be in the parks all the time, and for subsequent trips to have shorter park days as people start to filter out the things they don't need to see again.

 

[Dean]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses and advise. Will look into 1 bedroom & definitely come up with plan A,B, C & D - also book early..
Thought studio might be OK, as this year the only time we were in the room was to sleep.

For a studio I'd do OKW so you get 2 queen beds rather than the pullout and the rooms are larger.

 

[crisi]

For a studio I'd do OKW so you get 2 queen beds rather than the pullout and the rooms are larger.

Especially if what you are using is just beds because you will just be in the room to sleep and shower. The pullouts in the other DVC units are nice if you are a couple spending time in the room - sitting on a couch is better than sitting on a bed, but if you aren't in the room to be sitting, just sleeping, optimize the sleeping surfaces.

 

[Marionnette]

For a studio I'd do OKW so you get 2 queen beds rather than the pullout and the rooms are larger.

OP has 5 people in the family. The youngest is 9 yo. They won't fit in an OKW studio.