how important is a resort? - sorry, long....

[Beca]

Seriously....if there are 7 of you for 10 days...$900 is not that much of a difference. That comes down to $13 per person, per day...seriously, how far would that money go in WDW?

But, if you have wegoshop.com do your shopping and deliver your groceries (they are VERY reasonable)...you could save SOOO much more. If you made everyone eat bfast before you leave for the park you could save a bundle. Then, add eating one meal a day in the room even if it is just the days you are at MGM or Epcot....that would save a bunch right there!!

It is SOOO hot right now....you really may find yourselves doing the parks early in the morning and late at night...and, taking a break during the heat of the day. It's a really smart thing to do, and being at BWV would be PERFECT for this!!! You could come back around 1:00, take a rest or "cat nap". Take a shower, grab a bite of something to eat (much more healthy and cheap). The kids could go for a swim in the awesome pool with the Keister Coaster, or go play at Community Hall...free air hockey (I think you would be eligible for this). They could also spend time checking out the sights on the Boardwalk or over at Beach Club. And, you could shower, change clothes and head back out for the night time activities in the parks.

And....best of all....you could throw in a load of clothes to wash every day either before you go to bed, or when you get up in the morning...it's just SOO easy!!! And, with the heat, humidity and rain.....clothes can get REALLY stinky!! I remember the first time we went to WDW in July. It rained every day, and we just "kept going". By the time we got back to our room in the evening and took off our shoes....our socks smelled like something was rotting (who knows...maybe it was our feet!!). We threw our socks away every night, and we all threw our tennis shoes away before we left. It was SOO disgusting!!! But, seriously...you are likely to get rained on every day, and those clothes will be really stinky with a rain and sweat-soaked mixture that can be pretty disgusting!!! Plus, if you know you have a washer and dryer, you can pack fewer clothes....a BIG "selling feature" in my opinion.

Plus, with a full-size fridge you can "stock up" on water bottles. We usually buy about 3 per person, and then buy gallons of filtered water and "refill" our water bottles at night. There is NO way you could get enough water for 10 days and 7 people in a mini fridge. Even if you put everyone's water just for one day in that fridge...there wouldn't be room for ANYTHING else!! And, water can end up being a BIG part of your $$$$ in the summer. WDW water is so gross, and you need to consume so much of it to stay cool.

Seriously, I cannot imagine how much this trip is costing your family...but, I don't think the $900 is a significant chunk of that. But, it is SOOO easy to just spend money on "nothing" in the parks...when your hungry, spending $12-15 per person on food is not a big deal...but, at the end of the day it all adds up. I would MUCH rather spend less on food, and more on other things. I don't know how much money you were planning on allocating per person, per day...but, you might subtract the $12.85 per person, per day and see where you stand on that. I personally, would rather forego one not-so-good counter service meal each day if it means I could stay in a 2 bedroom villa at the BWV. But, if you can fix a good bfast each morning...you may make up a good chunk of that $12.85 per person right there.

Granted, I am a resort snob, and I HATE Pop and the All-stars...too many people, too far away from the "magic", buses as only transportation option, "people soup" at the pools in the summertime....but, if you have never stayed in a BWV 2 bedroom....you just do not know what you are missing!!! They are GORGEOUS, and the room your family will have to "spread out" will be priceless!! If getting to stay at this resort is a "one time shot" for you...I think you'd be crazy not to take it. IMHO, where you stay at WDW makes a HUGE difference in how you remember the trip.

Have fun!!!

Beca

 

[robinb]

Didn't even know about the grill! One more reason...nothing like a meal cooked on a charcoal grill! After our stay at FW cabins my Dh insisted that we buy a charcoal grill.....we prefer if over the gas grill!

You can also buy bags of pre-made BBQ veggies and potatos at the grocery store or make your own with a bit of foil. A couple years ago the MEN went out and grilled the steaks (with beer!) while we WOMEN made the taters and veggies on the stove back in the Grand Villa. We were cooler in the A/C, but I think they had a better time. I coulda been a "man thing", though: Charcoal, beef and beer make a lethal combination .

The grill at BWV is near the quiet pool. The one at BCV is on the path between the pool and the valet parking circle and I think they have them at every quiet pool at OKW. I have not used them at SSR or VWL.

 

[antkim]

Seriously....if there are 7 of you for 10 days...$900 is not that much of a difference. That comes down to $13 per person, per day...seriously, how far would that money go in WDW?

But, if you have wegoshop.com do your shopping and deliver your groceries (they are VERY reasonable)...you could save SOOO much more. If you made everyone eat bfast before you leave for the park you could save a bundle. Then, add eating one meal a day in the room even if it is just the days you are at MGM or Epcot....that would save a bunch right there!!

It is SOOO hot right now....you really may find yourselves doing the parks early in the morning and late at night...and, taking a break during the heat of the day. It's a really smart thing to do, and being at BWV would be PERFECT for this!!! You could come back around 1:00, take a rest or "cat nap". Take a shower, grab a bite of something to eat (much more healthy and cheap). The kids could go for a swim in the awesome pool with the Keister Coaster, or go play at Community Hall...free air hockey (I think you would be eligible for this). They could also spend time checking out the sights on the Boardwalk or over at Beach Club. And, you could shower, change clothes and head back out for the night time activities in the parks.

And....best of all....you could throw in a load of clothes to wash every day either before you go to bed, or when you get up in the morning...it's just SOO easy!!! And, with the heat, humidity and rain.....clothes can get REALLY stinky!! I remember the first time we went to WDW in July. It rained every day, and we just "kept going". By the time we got back to our room in the evening and took off our shoes....our socks smelled like something was rotting (who knows...maybe it was our feet!!). We threw our socks away every night, and we all threw our tennis shoes away before we left. It was SOO disgusting!!! But, seriously...you are likely to get rained on every day, and those clothes will be really stinky with a rain and sweat-soaked mixture that can be pretty disgusting!!! Plus, if you know you have a washer and dryer, you can pack fewer clothes....a BIG "selling feature" in my opinion.

Plus, with a full-size fridge you can "stock up" on water bottles. We usually buy about 3 per person, and then buy gallons of filtered water and "refill" our water bottles at night. There is NO way you could get enough water for 10 days and 7 people in a mini fridge. Even if you put everyone's water just for one day in that fridge...there wouldn't be room for ANYTHING else!! And, water can end up being a BIG part of your $$$$ in the summer. WDW water is so gross, and you need to consume so much of it to stay cool.

Seriously, I cannot imagine how much this trip is costing your family...but, I don't think the $900 is a significant chunk of that. But, it is SOOO easy to just spend money on "nothing" in the parks...when your hungry, spending $12-15 per person on food is not a big deal...but, at the end of the day it all adds up. I would MUCH rather spend less on food, and more on other things. I don't know how much money you were planning on allocating per person, per day...but, you might subtract the $12.85 per person, per day and see where you stand on that. I personally, would rather forego one not-so-good counter service meal each day if it means I could stay in a 2 bedroom villa at the BWV. But, if you can fix a good bfast each morning...you may make up a good chunk of that $12.85 per person right there.

Granted, I am a resort snob, and I HATE Pop and the All-stars...too many people, too far away from the "magic", buses as only transportation option, "people soup" at the pools in the summertime....but, if you have never stayed in a BWV 2 bedroom....you just do not know what you are missing!!! They are GORGEOUS, and the room your family will have to "spread out" will be priceless!! If getting to stay at this resort is a "one time shot" for you...I think you'd be crazy not to take it. IMHO, where you stay at WDW makes a HUGE difference in how you remember the trip.

Have fun!!!

Beca

Hey .....

I completely agree with everything you have said.......now can I come stay with you?

Seriously, there are 2 ways of looking at this situation but I honestly think they both come out "even" when it comes to the finances....that being said, I would still go with the villa's!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

THANK YOU...THANK YOU everyone for your suggestions.... Really appreciate you taking time to respond....it's given me and my DH a lot to think about....

I might be one of the only ones to say stick with BW if you are getting a great deal...of course I value a resport and amenities and my kids are not teens yet (teens are HUGE spenders I know) I would cook in the villa and only do a sit down once or twice and alot each kid a budget per day. I think location IS important, esp with teens you will be letting out on the loose...having said all this here I am at the Poly, going to be broke and drinkin' tap water but HEY...I really dig that volcano pool and monorail location

 

[California Mom]

Thanks, again, to everyone for all of the responses! I didn't even consider receiving this many responses, with so many great points of view and items for consideration.

Beca - what a great DETAILED message...a lot of food for thought! Thanks for taking the time....

with everything in consideration, I think that we will be looking for other ares to cut back (spending money, restaurants) to stay in the BWV!

 

[antkim]

Thanks, again, to everyone for all of the responses! I didn't even consider receiving this many responses, with so many great points of view and items for consideration.

Beca - what a great DETAILED message...a lot of food for thought! Thanks for taking the time....

with everything in consideration, I think that we will be looking for other ares to cut back (spending money, restaurants) to stay in the BWV!

Kim

 

[milmore104]

I know it seems like a hard decision to make but really it's not. You want to go on a vacation forget about life for a week. You don't want to spend the entire time thinking about your finances. You won't have any fun at all. Thinking well if we'd only gone w/ the value we could buy that or this. When it comes to a stress free vacation go w/ what will make it one. Stay at the ASSp. Your kids will love it and it's not that bad to get to and from the parks.
I myself have had to drop my BWV ressies to stay at POP. We have decided to bring along my DGM and my niece w/ us. Seeing we are footing their trip I had to make some changes. I was excited to stay at BWV I have been dying to stay there but can't worry about the money I'm spending to do so w/ adding 2 extra people on the ressie! Have a happy and stress free vacation!!!!!