Help wanted please- Family first time trip in Nov

[JB Smooth]

So i guess if i decide against booking through Davids and go through the Disney website, when do you think is a good time to book for Nov 2 arrival? Now, or do i have time?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you want to book via DVC rental, November is high season. I would be booking now. If you wait any later than early February, you are likely to be unable to book a complete stay. In past years, availability for DVC member booking of a studio at VWL has had holes (unavailable dates) starting 9-10 months out from check-in date. At 7 months, you won't be able to get a 5-day stretch.

 

[JB Smooth]

good to know. so people said they prefer to go through disney to book packages because of deals. do i just ask for a deal or how do i find them?

 

[Hopefully]

Sleeping arrangements is an issue no one has mentioned. OKW studio has two queen-size beds. VWL (BRV) has one queen size bed, one twin sofa sleeper and one pull down bunk. My daughter prefers a real bed. Your girls may prefer separate sleeping arrangements. If you can get a studio near the Hospitality house, the size of the OKW property will be less of an issue. OTOH, Wilderness Lodge!

Not correct
In all DVC Studios, other than OKW, have 1 Queen bed , a double sleep sofa and in some a pull down Murphy bed

As @_auroraborealis_ stated for rental stays of 7 nights or less, you will only get the trash emptied and clean towels on day 4. Coffee and toiletries are replaced then. There is no additional housekeeping unless you pay extra. Clean towels cost extra.
You will need to sign a contract. You will not be able to cancel for a refund, in most cases. It is very different than renting a room in a hotel by night.

Try looking at Orbitz or Travelocity's web sites for deals.

Check out the Moderate Resorts too

 

[wilkeliza]

So i guess if i decide against booking through Davids and go through the Disney website, when do you think is a good time to book for Nov 2 arrival? Now, or do i have time?

You can book now at the price point you are comfortable paying and then later if a discount comes up you can call and try to have that discount applied. I always find that if you know the specific place you want to stay and the price point you are willing to pay to book sooner rather than later as deals can often be applied later. You could also book through an agency like Dreams Unlimited if you want a reservation in a regular room or a villa for direct with Disney. If you go with Dreams they will look for discounts so you don't have to.

 

[sndral]

Disney usually releases their discounts closer to arrival date. Figure 10-20% off the room rate for a moderate. Which resorts & how big the discount depends on how bookings are going. Looking at POFQ, it appears the price of the room for a week would be w/in a hundred or so dollars of a DVC rental studio stay at OKW or VWL. If a discount comes out later you can always call Disney and have it applied.
I'm curious if David's has AKV points, it's a big resort & the standard view villas would cost just a little more than VWL or OKW.
A lot of people rent DVC points w/out a problem. David's will refund your money if the owner is unable to deliver the points (very rarely an owner may fail to pay their MFs or loan and have their reservation canceled by DVC hence the importance of using a broker or a trusted private renter.)
As mentioned there are pros and cons. If you want to lock in savings now, don't mind not having housekeeping, and are ok w/ a sleeper sofa in VWL and are ok w/ not being able to cancel, then DVC rental via David's is a good choice.
If you want a bit of flexibility & 2 real beds and can live w/ rack rate if Disney doesn't release a discount later on the moderate resorts really are lovely & close to the price of renting points for a DVC studio.

 

[JB Smooth]

this is good stuff. i cant thank you enough for your thoughts

If i go through Davids i will buy trip insurance. Whats a ballpark figure to insure a family of 4? Does that include cancelling for whatever reason?

 

[wilkeliza]

this is good stuff. i cant thank you enough for your thoughts

If i go through Davids i will buy trip insurance. Whats a ballpark figure to insure a family of 4? Does that include cancelling for whatever reason?

Insurance depends on what you buy. Some will include any reason including work or pre-exsising medical conditions others will not. For work or medical most have a clause that say you have to book the insurance with in 14 days of first deposit.

 

[sharkyandbones]

One thing we've learned over the years is that all of the resorts are far away from something

Seriously, unless you're on a monorail resort (Contemp, Poly, GF), transportation is what it is. Buses I like VWL but not sure what the current state is with construction. We just stayed at OKW last trip and while it was really nice with spacious rooms, it just didn't seem like a very magical resort. The resort is very spread out and has multiple bus stops. I would still probably stay there over French Quarter but that's just because we tend to spend more time at the resorts these days.

Whatever you decide, have a great first trip!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You have to ask, though, if the trip insurance won't raise the total cost of the room to the point you'd have been better off booking direct with Disney anyway.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Seriously, unless you're on a monorail resort (Contemp, Poly, GF), transportation is what it is

Even if. Poly and GF share buses to DHS and AK. Contemp shares with either the Fort or WL many seasons. The monorail sometimes needs to be rebooted and you have to wait 20 minutes while they do that.

 

[KSR0330]

Check out Undercover Tourist. You can get discounted Disney hotels and park tickets. I've used them before for tickets and it was great. I'm about to book POFQ for our Nov 2017 trip and will save about $100. Every little bit helps!

 

[JB Smooth]

here are my two options for Villas at WL


1. Davids rentals- $1472 with tax and fees. no insurance or housekeeping. With insurance and housekeeping it would be $1800 give or take
2. Book through Disney- $2,572 with free cancellation and housekeeping

which would you choose? worth the extra $750?

 

[clayfolks]

David's, but I am a DVC member and like no housekeeping. We stayed at VWL for the first time, a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed it. The villas building is right next to the bus stop. It is only a very short walk, under a canopy, to the lodge. The CMs were all great, the transportation was fine, and the food options were excellent. We are the freaks who actually enjoy looking at construction so I can't give an honest opinion about it.

 

[wilkeliza]

here are my two options for Villas at WL


1. Davids rentals- $1472 with tax and fees. no insurance or housekeeping. With insurance and housekeeping it would be $1800 give or take
2. Book through Disney- $2,572 with free cancellation and housekeeping

which would you choose? worth the extra $750?

Is that room only and same exact type? Just making sure as I don't think Davids includes tickets but sometimes Disney defaults to include tickets.

 

[JB Smooth]

Yes that is all things equal for a studio at the villas. Tax and fees includes

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Why does it have to be a villa, though? Have you compared the price of DVC rental with a booking at a Moderate, on which you might be able get a discount, and that can be changed or cancelled?

Most guidebooks actually recommend against Villas for a one-shot or first-time trip, unless your family is very large or needs a kitchen, and neither of those would seem to apply to someone renting a studio, which only sleeps 5 and has no kitchen.

 

[JB Smooth]

Why does it have to be a villa, though? Have you compared the price of DVC rental with a booking at a Moderate, on which you might be able get a discount, and that can be changed or cancelled?

Most guidebooks actually recommend against Villas for a one-shot or first-time trip, unless your family is very large or needs a kitchen, and neither of those would seem to apply to someone renting a studio, which only sleeps 5 and has no kitchen.

Yes. Like I've said, for wilderness lodge, it's about $800 more to go through Disney for a studio vs a villa though davids.

Of course that's rack rate and not sure if they will have any future discounts

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yes. Like I've said, for wilderness lodge, it's about $800 more to go through Disney for a studio vs a villa though davids.

Of course that's rack rate and not sure if they will have any future discounts

I said "booking at a Moderate." WL is not a moderate. It's a Deluxe.

 

[JB Smooth]

I said "booking at a Moderate." WL is not a moderate. It's a Deluxe.

Wife doesn't want rooms on the outside like a motel and we want a fitness room

Any ideas? Best bang for our buck?