I'm feeling so guilty now...

[gopherit]

After reading threads saying the Marriot Grande Vista and Cypress Harbor aren't so very bad, possibly even roomier and just as nice, I am hit with pangs of guilt. Sorry if this is lengthy... I am venting!

We are treating SIL,BIL and their 2 boys to 8 nights at BWV this summer. THey offered to pay for one Sat night before we check in to BWV (thus giving us an extra night, and allowing an nice early check-in at BWV). Originally, BIL had asked if we wanted to stay at a Marriott resort (like the one near Sea World). As I recall, the cash rates weren't that bad for a 2br villa... 200 a night or less). But... since there are 9 of us (4 adults, 4 kids, one baby), and BIL and SIL are flying in and have no car, we just decided it might be easier to stay on-property and let Disney do the moving. We considered tacking on the Sat night to our BWV stay but the rooms we have booked are std view -- I doubt std view comes up for cash! So we would be switching rooms anyway. SO... then we arrived at a plan to stay at BCV for the first night -- eat at Cape May, enjoy SAB, then the next day have Disney move our bags over to BWV. MS said we would have use of SAB all that day, even after we check out. So I could walk over in the a.m. and check into BWV, then we could all enjoy SAB and eat lunch at B&C, get groceries, yadayada, until room was ready that afternoon. Sounded like a grand plan.

Except.... the cost of the 2br at BCV is $545. With DVC discount, you're over $400 for 1 night, then adding all that lovely TAX. And trouble is, we haven't been able to get a 2br on discount yet -- I do have a studio and 1br for the DVC discount reserved, which they linked the ressies on and requested as a lock-out on the ressie. BUt that comes to $679, or just over $500 with the DVC discount. Woof.

So..... do I stuff my guilt and just say, that's the price one pays to swim in the SAB and do DVC sans-pts? I am still trying (phoning every few weeks) to get the 2br at BCV at a discount. BIL and SIL keep saying, "WHatever you want! We're getting 8 nights from you... you pick this one night!" I think I was swayed towards BCV because it was close to BWV and because I felt they maybe had hoped to stay there (but it was too many points, relative to a 2br std view at BWV, and our fam of 5 wants to have some pts left for HHI the following spring). More guilt in the making.

Should I look harder at Dolphin, Swan, or some other non-DVC resort for the sake of my in-laws wallets? I have heard now that Swan and Dolphin will move you to WDW properties. Is BCV worth the $$ difference?

(So help me -- If we stick with this plan and it rains or SAB is otherwise closed during the 2 days we have "access" -- I'm gonna cry!)

 

[Granny]

Is BCV worth the $$ difference?

Actually, the question is...Is SAB worth the $$ difference?

I would have a hard time shelling that kind of money out for my family for the short stay. And I know you are "treating" for 8 nights in a great accommodation. I'm just giving you my feelings...which I think mirror your guilt feelings.

I think I'd have to look at the Swan/Dolphin. And yes, I've seen posts here that they will move your luggage for you the same as from WDW resort to resort.

 

[ErinC]

I understand your feelings.I would have a hard time shelling out that kind of cash. What about regular BC rooms, or 2 studios. What about the possibility of renting points for that night? Hope you can find something that will make you feel better. Have a great trip!

 

[ErinC]

Gopherit, if you don't mind me asking, what are your trip dates? The Dolphin has been showing up on Hotwire for some of the summer months for around $90. Check out www.betterbidding.com if you are interested.

 

[CarolMN]

I think you should make your decision without planning on a discount. The 2 bedroom units are rarely available for cash (even for rack rate), so I think the chances are not good that a member discount will become available. (It's still worth trying for, though. You never know).

I am kind of in the same boat (I'm the one who asked about the Marriots), but refuse to pay that much cash for a room. We're not going until December though, so it's a gamble that we'd even want to swim. December can be downright cold! (Even for those of us who inhabit the frozen tundras and think nothing of swimming anytime the sun is shining, LOL).

Anyway, we decided to do a day at Sea World and that makes the Marriots very, very attractive! A day at Universal, Sea World or just enjoying the Marriot resort activities might be fun and worth paying for a Towncar service (you'll need a van) to move you to Disney. It'll be cheaper than paying for the room at BCV.

Best wishes -

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by gopherit
snip...We considered tacking on the Sat night to our BWV stay but the rooms we have booked are std view -- I doubt std view comes up for cash!...

You may be right on this, but we were able to get BWV std view 2BR for cash with DVC discount for two weekend nights in November at a bit more than 9 months. Rented out some of the points, and came out $180 ahead after sales tax (arbitrage is such a great thing).

And don't feel at all guilty; your BIL is right; they are getting 8 nights from you and only covering one for you, so...

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, it is more expensive, that is true, ut if your BIL doesn't mind, then why are you worrying??? I mean, there are some benefits to it...you'll be on property, WDW will do the moving(rather than packing up, renting/hiring a van), schlepping over to WDW, checking in, storing your bags etc. It is vacation, and money shouldn't be your only consideration...less aggravation should be considered too. And if BIL is OK with it, then I think you should leave things as they are, maybe get your name on a waiting list for a cash 2BR at BWV, hope for the best, but if oyu end up paying a little more for some convenience and the ability to be right there, so be it.

 

[gopherit]

THanks, folks. Still feelin' the guilt. So how ARE the pools at Swan / Dolphin? Is one of those resorts preferable to another? Are there other resorts I should consider (hey if I'm gonna let my guilt change my mind, I should at least be thorough about it....)


Most of the current discounts don't extend into August yet. I had priced the BC rooms -- we would need two (and still not sure that totally accommodates our fam of 5 and their fam of 4?) With 2 rooms, the BC rack rate was definitely well above the DVC rate and certainly the cash-discount DVC rate. We don't have APs (no codes for us...) and since it's a Sat night, renting pts for the BCV isn't feasible (it's 75 pts, I believe, for a 2br -- even at a nominal $10 per pt, that's 750 for one night!)

Seems unless you go "deluxe" most of these resorts can't do "5" -- including Swan/Dolphin. Is it true Doplhin beds are doubles? In a DVC room, we could always put dd in the king with us -- no biggie, we're used to a queen at home, so we just put a bed rail on one side and let her have the "edge". She invariably ends up with us when on vacation anyway! But with 2 double beds -- hmmm, where do we put her? THat's pretty tight. Do they provide roll-aways? If I could get a good deal on BC this summer, I would consider it but again -- how can they fit 5?

Someone mentioned putting my name on a waitlist for the 2br cash ressie at BCV-- but is there such a list? When I secured the 1 br and studio back in August, the MS folks told me to call back every so often and check again on availability for a 2br instead. I've done so, and each time, with each new MS person, they tell me, no, still no 2brs available for cash. There has been no mention of a waitlist for this -- only a "call back again in a few weeks" sort of answer. Not sure I'll ever get it, but at least I do have the studio / 1br combo reserved at the cash discount price.

THanks again for your help thus far....

 

[zurgswife]

The Swan does have Queen size beds and the Dolphin has over sized Doubles....and there are rooms with just kings...

You could get a Jr. Suite for your famliy and a regular room for the other family for one night and you would probaly come in under $500 for the one night but not by much...The do have a nice pool though not as fantastic as SAB.....

It would cost about 480 for 3 moderate rooms....they are small enough that you can't put 5 people in one...

So, If you could get the BCV for $600 per night it isn't so bad....and if it's just too high I'd go with the Dolphin and get a jr suite and a reg room...OR...get a 2 bdrm suite and see if you could get a discout....these 2 bdrm suites are larger then DVC just no kitchen or jacuzzi....but sometimes with a discout they can be had for around $500 per night....

PS...I'd stay at BCV if I could or Swan would be my next choice...

 

[gopherit]

Thanks, Zurgswife. Right now we are just over $500 with our DVC discount on the 1br and studio at BCV. Realistically, unless some bargain comes through on BC or we see a Swan-dive in pricing, I guess I'll just stay with the reservation we have, keep trying for the 2 br on cash (that would drop us to $400), and meanwhile praaaayyyyyyy it doesn't rain and that any kids in the pool before us don't have any SAB-closing accidents!

Sounds like for a party of 9 we would be looking at a $500 price tag, unless we drop back to moderate or value or off-site, which, when you add in the whole relocation aspect, just doesn't sound appealing. I had asked them originally if there were any WDW resorts they particularly wanted to "try" (perhaps AKL?) -- they expressed no interest there. They are "beach folk" (they are even moving this summer to the beach, very near the REAL Cape May, in fact). Asked about Poly -- didn't seem interested there either. They just kept saying -- Whatever, you decide, you know best. Oh well. Hope their faith isn't misguided!

I guess it's not "all" bad that the price at all these places is so high -- it sure makes our DVC points look like a good deal! (Even DH said, wow -- you mean that's how much these rooms would cost if we paid cash? Multiply by 8 -- whoooaaa... Cool....) Maybe we'll get BIL/SIL to join before it's over and be DONE with this cash ressie stuff!

 

[Tigger1]

Can you do Marriet for one night at $200?

It might be fun to see another resort, use there pools. Then you can get a new clean room the next day. Between check ins you can have lunch, do shoping, ect. The money saved could do some nice shopping and dinner,

Tigger

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I just hate moving around, do you have the points to cover all nights, if so, why not just do it, and if you BIL wants to pay for the weekends, just have him give you the cash based on the points needed? Or, come in Friday, do Friday and Saturday at Seaworld or ???Universal, and then move into Disney? At least make the move worthwhile.

 

[DisneyMeMa]

If you want to do an all Disney trip, have you thought about AKL or one of the MK resorts like the PR. CR or VWL? To my way of thinking, if you are going to probably be moving and will not have done your grocery shopping any on site hotel rooms would be a totally different experience. I have never done any of these, but the kids in the group might really enjoy any number of them, including the new PC and the AS, and they might have some good rates. I think Disney will move you from any Disney resort to another. After that first night of all of you getting Disney acclimated, you will have 8 nights all together. Gosh, when you have so many wonderful options, it is so hard to decide. Enjoy.

 

[Frozenfingers]

port orleans is a GREAT resort. As far as I know, they are the only ones with trundle beds so your party of 5 would be cramped, but at least they all would have a bed. Lots to do at that resort.. and they will move you the next day too.

 

[wdwsos]

I know that at least the Swan (and most likely the Dolphin) has rollaway beds for $25/night. I'm also pretty sure that they allow five in a room, assuming three are children.

You also asked about how BC could put five in one room - there are two queen size beds and a daybed. For one night, it's definitely doable! (And think how much they'll appreciate that 2-br when they move over to the BW!)

Good luck, whatever you decide!

Dotti

 

[gazeborob]

Did you think about renting points? We did that for our Christmas trip last year and it worked great. If you more points for the trip, look on the rent board, and then figure out what it is costing per night. If someone else is paying for it, just have them pay you what you had to spend for the extra points. If you do this, make sure that you get points that they can transfer into your account. That way you have controll of them.

 

[Candace]

As far as staying at Swan/Dolphin, if anyone in your party is a teacher, nurse, or govt. employee, there is usually a nice discount. Not a bad deal, especially if they move your things to BWV the next day. Their pool area is beautiful too, although it's not SAB!

 

[paults]

for 1 nt and $500 plus just to use SAB, no way. Go to the swan the kids will love the grotto pool and save some money. JMHO

But also have fun

 

[manning]

the cost of the 2br at BCV is $545

What happened? I was quoted $705.

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by gazeborob
Did you think about renting points? We did that for our Christmas trip last year and it worked great. If you more points for the trip, look on the rent board, and then figure out what it is costing per night. If someone else is paying for it, just have them pay you what you had to spend for the extra points. If you do this, make sure that you get points that they can transfer into your account. That way you have controll of them.

I thought about the rental thing -- they had even offered to help "buy more points", not quite knowing how to do that. Well, trouble is, we're looking at a Saturday night and 75 pts. Even for a modest rental fee ($10 per pt), that's more than the cash DVC discount I already have on the studio and 1 br ($750 versus about $500).

Posted by WDWSOS: You also asked about how BC could put five in one room - there are two queen size beds and a daybed. For one night, it's definitely doable! (And think how much they'll appreciate that 2-br when they move over to the BW!)

I have a confession to make -- that may be one reason I am shying away from the Marriot villas. DH still has this competitive image thing to uphold in front of lil' bro, and if we stay somewhere off-site that's bigger, seemingly as good but much,much cheaper, DH will definitely get teased and hear about it. For the next eternity he will be silently be kickin' me in his dreams for ever mentioning the "M" word (that's Marriot, hopefully not marriage!) Every parent wants others to see the beauty and character they see in their child... and every DVC owner wants nothing less for their investment "baby" either! I will confess that I'll keep an eye peeled for BC room discounts. Those VISA discounts were appealing, but not so great for BC/YC, I noticed -- it would still be $500 for 2 basic rooms. I'd be better of with a villa.