Hotel Options

[StarSpeckledSky]

A while ago I posted a thread about hotel options, but since then I've sort of rethought. I'm not sure if Deluxes are really... worth the cost. Our main things are transportation and cleanliness. Quiet would be great as well. We love pools so a good one would be nice but not a must as long as the pool isn't really dirty. Any Disney hotels you've stayed at that check these boxes?

Other notes -
Right now I'm thinking of renting DVC points for BCV. First off BCV has good location and second off DVC is like getting a deluxe for moderate price. Any other DVC properties you recommend? Considering maybe Poly or AKL... Trip will be something like two days MK, 1.5 days EP, 1 day Typhoon Lagoon, 1 day AK. One or two break days.

Moderates or values you recommend? Also, I've heard that room quality is worse at moderates and values - does this mean less clean? More dated? Or just less spacious? Because if it's less clean and more dated then we'll probably pass, otherwise we'd strongly consider ones with good transportation.

Thanks!

EDIT: Party will be my mom, dad, me, and sister(3)

 

[chalee94]

What month are you traveling?

I would research BLT, poly and BRV since you have an extra day at the MK. (BLT studios are kinda small depending on your travel party but the location is great.)

DVC does require a lot of advance planning - especially if you are traveling in the fall - and be aware that point rentals are typically final. No refunds or changes, typically.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Boulder Ridge for the win! Amazing views of the lake and an 8 minute boat ride to/from Magic Kingdom. And then there is Geyser Point... and two great pools... and excellent dining choices... and the quiet and serene location with views of MK fireworks...

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

A while ago I posted a thread about hotel options, but since then I've sort of rethought. I'm not sure if Deluxes are really... worth the cost. Our main things are transportation and cleanliness. Quiet would be great as well. We love pools so a good one would be nice but not a must as long as the pool isn't really dirty. Any Disney hotels you've stayed at that check these boxes?

Other notes -
Right now I'm thinking of renting DVC points for BCV. First off BCV has good location and second off DVC is like getting a deluxe for moderate price. Any other DVC properties you recommend? Considering maybe Poly or AKL... Trip will be something like two days MK, 1.5 days EP, 1 day Typhoon Lagoon, 1 day AK. One or two break days.

Moderates or values you recommend? Also, I've heard that room quality is worse at moderates and values - does this mean less clean? More dated? Or just less spacious? Because if it's less clean and more dated then we'll probably pass, otherwise we'd strongly consider ones with good transportation.

Thanks!

EDIT: Party will be my mom, dad, me, and sister(3)

Imo the value rooms are like motel rooms: small, utilitarian, not very comfortable, doors opening to the outside walkway, you can't leave curtains open without passersby being able to look in... We stayed at Pop for a week once and liked the transportation, the lobby, and the theming and landscaping of the grounds, but we disliked the room. We tent camped at Fort Wilderness the next year & actually liked that more. Disney's deluxe rooms are more comfortable and you feel like you're staying in a real hotel.

If budget were an issue I'd rather stay in a nice offsite hotel on Disney grounds, like Bonnet Creek Hilton (they get EMH access & 60-day FP benefits, at least until the end of 2020), rather than stay at a Disney value resort.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

Imo the value rooms are like motel rooms: small, utilitarian, not very comfortable, doors opening to the outside walkway, you can't leave curtains open without passersby being able to look in... We stayed at Pop for a week once and liked the transportation, the lobby, and the theming and landscaping of the grounds, but we disliked the room. We tent camped at Fort Wilderness the next year & actually liked that more. Disney's deluxe rooms are more comfortable and you feel like you're staying in a real hotel.

If budget were an issue I'd rather stay in a nice offsite hotel on Disney grounds, like Bonnet Creek Hilton (they get EMH access & 60-day FP benefits, at least until the end of 2020), rather than stay at a Disney value resort.

Budget's not the issue, we just don't like spending a ton.

 

[Hopefully]

DVC Villas are not refurbished as frequently as the hotels are. They are likely to be more dated.

 

[loves to dive]

Renting DVC points is not as easy as you would think and in most cases, once rented that is it, no changing your mind, you've paid. I've done it but I've found just getting a room saves me just as much money. Lately, I've been going to Swan/Dolphin. Still get most of the perks from the Disney resorts, less expensive but just as nice and we love Epcot so being walk to Epcot and HS is bonus. As far as the values and moderates, I think of the values like Motel 6 with theming. It's a bed, a bathroom. The rooms are in the process of being renovated at most of the values and the updated ones are pretty nice but they are motels. They don't have the smaller quiet pools and don't have hot tubs, the only eating options are the QS dining rooms. The moderates are a little step up, still motel like but the rooms are a little bigger and they are being or have been renovated lately. I think they all have at least one TS restaurant, quiet pools and hot tubs at the main pool.

As far as transportation goes, it really doesn't matter where you stay, there are going to be good and bad experiences at every single level. The value resorts do not have covered bus stops but they do have actual ques, which cuts down on the mad rush to get on the bus that happens at the moderate and deluxe resorts. The moderate resorts are all pretty big except POFQ and have multiple stops so depending on where you get on the bus, there is a chance you are going to have to ride it through a few stops and if you are the last stop a good chance you might have to stand or wait for another bus. The moderates do have covered stops. The deluxes have covered stops and usually only only stop although AKL does have two resorts and every once in awhile BW will share will BC/YC. Swan/Dolphin share and also have covered stops. I've stayed at just about every resort at WDW except Music, AoA, POFQ and Fort Wilderness and have had to wait for up to a hour at times for a bus and have had great experiences with buses.

 

[Jayeso]

My favorites for proximity/transportation are those in the Magic Kingdom area...Contemporary, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, etc. I prefer Wilderness Lodge because the boat back and forth is never crowded and the pool is fantastic.

 

[holden]

We own DVC at BLT. The location can’t be beat. Our family of 4 stays in a 2 bedroom unit. We like the extra space. It’s also nice to have a full kitchen (we don’t cook but do eat breakfast in the room - frozen waffles, yogurt, etc). Also, we pack for half of the trip because we throw in a load of laundry each night.

I don’t like the theming of BLT, but walking back to our room after the fireworks is priceless.

 

[nkereina]

BCV can be hard to get since its small and popular. Be prepared to engage a broker or BCV owner at the 11 month mark for your best shot at it, and have a backup plan just in case.

If transportation is one of the most important factors for you, I would rule out AKV. Beautiful resort, but one of the biggest deluxe appeals for me is alternate transportation to the parks, AKV is all buses so that takes away some of the value for me. IMO, BCV or BWV are great because you can walk to two of the four parks. Poly is also great because you can monorail to MK and also walk to TTC to get on the monorail to Epcot. SSR is also nice for quiet, and being able to walk to Disney Springs. The Disney Springs bus ride from other resorts can suck sometimes.

 

[Micca]

We own DVC at BLT. The location can’t be beat. Our family of 4 stays in a 2 bedroom unit. We like the extra space. It’s also nice to have a full kitchen (we don’t cook but do eat breakfast in the room - frozen waffles, yogurt, etc). Also, we pack for half of the trip because we throw in a load of laundry each night.

I don’t like the theming of BLT, but walking back to our room after the fireworks is priceless.

Holden is spot-on here(except I like the BLT theming) The amenities in a one or two bedroom villa make a vacation so much better. Whether or not budget is a concern, having drinks and snacks in the fridge makes a big difference, sometimes it's just nice to get away from the heat and all the people and have a drink that didn't cost $5 or more. And the washer/dryer allows us to make our trips with just carry-on luggage.

If you can be comfortable locking in dates that can't be changed, DVC rental is a terrific option.

 

[Marionnette]

A while ago I posted a thread about hotel options, but since then I've sort of rethought. I'm not sure if Deluxes are really... worth the cost. Our main things are transportation and cleanliness. Quiet would be great as well. We love pools so a good one would be nice but not a must as long as the pool isn't really dirty. Any Disney hotels you've stayed at that check these boxes?

Other notes -
Right now I'm thinking of renting DVC points for BCV. First off BCV has good location and second off DVC is like getting a deluxe for moderate price. Any other DVC properties you recommend? Considering maybe Poly or AKL... Trip will be something like two days MK, 1.5 days EP, 1 day Typhoon Lagoon, 1 day AK. One or two break days.

Moderates or values you recommend? Also, I've heard that room quality is worse at moderates and values - does this mean less clean? More dated? Or just less spacious? Because if it's less clean and more dated then we'll probably pass, otherwise we'd strongly consider ones with good transportation.

Thanks!

EDIT: Party will be my mom, dad, me, and sister(3)

You mentioned in that previous thread that you are 13 years old. I have to say that I am quite impressed with the degree to which you are researching this trip.

What struck me from that thread is that you mentioned that your little sister needs it to be dark and silent in order for her to fall asleep. Will the entire family sit quietly in the dark while she nods off? If that’s not doable, you need some place to retreat while she falls asleep. Moderates and Values lack a balcony or any seating outside of the room where you and your parents can talk, use your iPads or just relax. For that reason, a DVC studio or 1BR might be the answer.

BCV would be a good choice. The pool is very impressive and the quick service market is convenient. It is also a relatively small resort as far as DVC is concerned and rental requests for it run quite high.

Poly is all studios and there are a lot of them. They are more spacious than the BCV studios and even the standard views are quite lovely. (BCV studios tend to either face the woods or the canal.) Transportation to MK is by boat or monorail. You can easily walk to TTC to catch the Epcot monorail. Transportation to HS and AK is via bus.

AKV is divided into Jambo House and Kidani Village. Kidani is all DVC. Jambo is mostly hotel rooms with some DVC villas mixed in. Quick service is almost non-existant at Kidani and it is famous for its never ending hallways. Jambo is smaller, more compact and has more dining options. Both have only bus transportation to/from the parks, with Kidani being the first to be picked up and the first to be dropped off.

As mentioned upthread, DVC villas are not refurbished as frequently as hotel rooms. They also run at nearly 100% occupancy. That pretty much means that these rooms get a lot of hard use before the soft goods are changed out and they go even longer before they get a fresh coat of paint or new furniture and flooring. You don’t get daily housekeeping...no one wipes down your bathroom or makes your beds. Fresh towels are provided on Day#4 of a stay that is 7 nights or less. Renting requires the renter to often pay in full at the time that they make their reservation and is likely to have a no changes/no refunds clause in the rental agreement.

I recommend that your parents take a look at the rental websites if they are interested in going that route. David’s is a good place to start. https://www.dvcrequest.com/default.asp

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

What struck me from that thread is that you mentioned that your little sister needs it to be dark and silent in order for her to fall asleep. Will the entire family sit quietly in the dark while she nods off? If that’s not doable, you need some place to retreat while she falls asleep. Moderates and Values lack a balcony or any seating outside of the room where you and your parents can talk, use your iPads or just relax. For that reason, a DVC studio or 1BR might be the answer.

Typically my mom or dad will stay with my sister and either nap with her or use iPhone. The parent not staying with my sister will take me to the pool and/or walk around. Once my sister wakes up she and the parent staying with her will join us. So if there’s no balcony or something it’s normally fine.