How "deluxe" are the DVC rooms?

[Hunnypaw]

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Our favorite place in the world.

Ditto! Abd Jackson Hole!

 

[jarestel]

DVC rooms are a notch down from the resort hotels you named. The Polynesian, GF, YC, BC, BWI are all rated 4 diamonds by AAA. The associated DVC properties (BWV, BCV) are 3 diamonds. It's an individual preference as to how important that extra level of service and comfort is, but it will be noticeable in most cases.

Good luck!

 

[parlay]

On the mattresses....I have to say we came home and shopped for the closest thing to the Disney king mattress at AKV. We LOVED it and actually bought the closest model to it. ......
To each his own, and if you're in Disney, heck, that's a GOOD thing!

I completely agree about the King Mattress at AKV. I am usually awake by 5 am in most hotel beds, but the mattress at AKV made it harder to make Park Openings, since I didn't want to wake up!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

DVC rooms are a notch down from the resort hotels you named. The Polynesian, GF, YC, BC, BWI are all rated 4 diamonds by AAA. The associated DVC properties (BWV, BCV) are 3 diamonds. It's an individual preference as to how important that extra level of service and comfort is, but it will be noticeable in most cases.

Good luck!

I wouldn't read much into the AAA Diamond Rating, much of that comes from the fact there is not daily housekeeping at DVC resorts. Additionally, AAA rating systme is flawed just as much as the other systems (ie. Mobil, Independent - Hotels.com, etc.).

The GF could possibly deserve a 4 star, but just barely, the balance of the resorts at least on a general standard would be 3.5 - 4 Star, with the DVC's being no different.

 

[DenLo]

. . . . . . .
The GF could possibly deserve a 4 star, but just barely, the balance of the resorts at least on a general standard would be 3.5 - 4 Star, with the DVC's being no different.

I think you are correct in your assessment. But I don't think I would be willing to take our families to a 5 star resort as I don't think of those resorts as family friendly. A five star hotel is more formal and I can't imagine seeing anyone wearing Mickey Mouse Ears while dining. But when comparing the DVC villas to other all inclusive Caribbean resorts that are family oriented, then the DVC villas are luxurious. And you have the advantage of being on a Disney property.

 

[jarestel]

I wouldn't read much into the AAA Diamond Rating, much of that comes from the fact there is not daily housekeeping at DVC resorts. Additionally, AAA rating systme is flawed just as much as the other systems (ie. Mobil, Independent - Hotels.com, etc.).

Guests staying on cash would receive daily housekeeping so unless AAA is a DVC member, they would have to pay cash for the rooms they evaluate. So they would receive daily housekeeping. There are probably many reasons why DVC rooms are not rated as highly as their hotel counterparts but I don't think daily housekeeping would be one of them.

Whether or not one totally agrees with the hotel ranking associations, they are more or less independent and probably a bit more objective than many of us can be regarding the properties.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Marriot Grande Lakes is beautiful and is what most consider deluxe the rooms are tiny. We stayed there the first night of one of our trips. The hotel was beautiful as was the room but we were tripping over each other. We were 2 adults and 2 kids at the time. So if what you are comparing it to is like that then I would still much prefer going to OKW or some of the other DVC properties.

 

[Stinger5]

Related question: Are DVC rooms a similar quality to other rooms at the same resort? I realize you get more at a studio(like kitchenette) but are the rooms less decorated/less quality?

Ex: DVC BCV vs regular single room at BC

 

[Sammie]

Related question: Are DVC rooms a similar quality to other rooms at the same resort? I realize you get more at a studio(like kitchenette) but are the rooms less decorated/less quality?

Ex: DVC BCV vs regular single room at BC

they are not the same. Different decor, different beddings, different rehab schedule.

 

[arpasquajr]

Personally.... I do not need mousekeeping everyday. I actually LOVE the fact we do not have someone in our room everyday. That being said...we always book a 1 or 2 bedroom unit which has a washer & dryer. We will wash are towels and sheets if need be. Pesonally... if not for needing toilet paper, I don't care if I never have mousekeeping in my villa.

 

[Stinger5]

they are not the same. Different decor, different beddings, different rehab schedule.

Can you compare the quality of each? Is one a notch above the other?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can you compare the quality of each? Is one a notch above the other?

To me, that would be like comparing a W Hotel with a first class B&B. Totally different decor, but both very nice. A BCV villa doesn't look anything like a BC room.

 

[vicki_c]

I recommend you go view some photos over on either the Resorts board photo thread, or try allears.net - Deb has lots of resort photos.

 

[McCrae]

DVC rooms are not the same quality as GF rooms - no fancy edging on the granite countertops, no deluxe toiletries, no plush bathrobes. DVC rooms also lack the "little touches" that regular cash guest rooms have in the same resort. If you stay in a studio in BWV or VWL, the studio will lack the crown molding and other architectural touches that the regular guest rooms have. I love DVC, but the rooms aren't deluxe compared with nicer hotels either at Disney or off site (Marriott, Westin, etc).

Not always the case...when we have stayed at VGC deluxe toiletries, plush bathrodes have been included in the rooms. Biggest difference at VGC is no daily house keeping.

Each DVC resort is not the same standard.

Even the quality of rooms at DVC resorts and the GF can vary.

Last year when staying at the GF our room was not in as good a condition as our room in BLT.

IMO VGC is better quality than GF. I am a huge fan of GF and have spent more than 10 weeks at the hotel over the last 4 years. So for me to prefer VGC to GF says a lot.

 

[Sammie]

Can you compare the quality of each? Is one a notch above the other?

As Deb said decor is different, one it not necessarily better, just different.

Bedding, linens and mattresses, Beach Club is higher quality product. than the villas.
Rehab schedule, deluxe resorts are rehabbed more often than DVC.

 

[Stinger5]

As Deb said decor is different, one it not necessarily better, just different.

Bedding, linens and mattresses, Beach Club is higher quality product. than the villas.
Rehab schedule, deluxe resorts are rehabbed more often than DVC.

Have to admit, this caught me by surprise. I wasn't factoring this in when considering a DVC purchase...

 

[mintwax]

Thanks everyone for your responses. This really helps. While some seem to think that some DVC resorts don't quite match the quality of some of the deluxe resorts, DVC does have some other advantages. In any event, it is really important to get our expectations in order before we make a purchase. The bottom line for us is that the DVC resorts still seem really nice -- but just a little more "condo" living. If we ever want slightly more "deluxe," we may try to go to AKV concierge now and then.

 

[Deb & Bill]

... If we ever want slightly more "deluxe," we may try to go to AKV concierge now and then.

You will need to own at AKV and book at 11 months out exactly to get CL at AKV. There are only five two bedroom lockoffs and they go very quickly.

 

[crisi]

Thanks everyone for your responses. This really helps. While some seem to think that some DVC resorts don't quite match the quality of some of the deluxe resorts, DVC does have some other advantages. In any event, it is really important to get our expectations in order before we make a purchase. The bottom line for us is that the DVC resorts still seem really nice -- but just a little more "condo" living. If we ever want slightly more "deluxe," we may try to go to AKV concierge now and then.

DVC resorts DO have advantages. I actually like deluxe hotels a little better in terms of the thread counts on the sheets, the room decor, daily housekeeping (a lot of DVC members like not having daily housekeeping, not me - I LIKE having someone make my bed for me. And the last few high end hotel chains I've stayed at, the maids have picked up after me too - setting my laundry aside, tidying my makeup mess in the bathroom).

But I can't afford a Deluxe suite, and therefore my kids are in the same room with me. DVC lets us have them sleep in a different room for a reasonable amount of money. And since we have that, we have a washer and dryer - and while I love having someone pick up my dirty clothes off the floor - there are advantages to going for seven days with four days of clothes. We can cook up eggs in the morning, make a pot of coffee and have space to spread out.

Once the kids are gone, I suspect my husband and I will go back to high end hotels. But with kids, DVC has been wonderful for us.

 

[jade1]

You are getting very good info here. We usually stay at Deluxes on the ends or begining of our stay at Disney-often XMAS week because everything in DVC is long gone. Then we always have at least 5 nights reserved at 11 months at a DVC resort-either a 2BR at BCV/BWV/VWL or a 1BR or 2BR at BLT.

Have also felt that the Disney Deluxe was a little nicer details, maybe bedding as well as mentioned-but certainly no difference in location etc, as many DVC's are connected to great deluxe resorts (BW/YC/CR/WL).

What sets DVC far higher on our preferred stay over the deluxe-is the room being 3 separate rooms, the privacy, the kitchen, the 2 or 3 baths, the 3 TV's, the washer/dryer...it crushes a deluxe hotel room-thread count and all. Now a deluxe suite-a little different.