Is it worth the splurge???

[DisneyDad1974]

Hi everyone, I'm taking my family of four in May. We are so excited! It is my wife, 6 year old daughter and 7 year old son. We are booked at CSR but I am thinking of upgrading us to a villa at another resort. The reason being to give the kids their own space as well as my wife and I having a place to relax.

This would be a surprise as I was fortunate enough to get my annual bonus earlier this year. I obviously know this will be a significant cost so my question is.... Do you think it's worth it? Has anyone done this? Are there any opinions of where to stay? Please help. I just want to make sure it is money well spent and we are first timers.

Thanks everyone!

 

[lsenquiz]

We always stay in a 2 bedroom villa and to me it is totally worth it. My husband and I like our own room while on vacation Our favorite is the Boardwalk because of the location and atmosphere. I love being able to walk to 2 of the 4 parks and love being able to stroll along the boardwalk in the evening and watch movies and roast marshmellows on the beach at the beach club.

 

[rachellm]

It's hard for anyone else to say what's worth it for you and your family

I'd think about what your overall vacation style/plan is like. Do you plan to be commando vactioners using the room as just a resting place, or do you plan to relax a bit more and enjoy the resort amenities and space?

For people who are at the parks by rope drop, stay until closing and eat all meals in the parks - no it's probably not worth it. If that's not going to be your style, than maybe it is worth it.

 

[DisneyDad1974]

We will use the room as a resting place. I would anticipate a rest every day for a few hours. We also plan on having a few days where we will be spending time utilizing the pool.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I do love the Villas, but once you stay in a Villa, it can be hard to go back to a regular room.

Have you considered a cabin at FW? The bedroom has a double bed and set of bunks, also a tv. There is a full kitchen, if you want to cook any meals. The living room has a murphy bed, couch & tv. There is a deck & grill. Easy boat to/from MK.

 

[Tara]

Sounds like it's already something you see value in. For me, it's well worth it.

You might consider renting points from a DVC member (there is a rental board here) or if you'd prefer, using DVCrequest.com to procure a DVC reservation - both are at considerably less cost than reserving through Disney, with the direct method being somewhat cheaper in most cases than going through DVCrequest.com (they are an advertiser here).

You do give up daily free housekeeping when you rent rather than book through Disney directly...you'll get new towels and have trash emptied on the 4th day and a full cleaning on the 8th day if you rent.

 

[I Run Long]

I think it would be worth it, particularly if you want to have some space to rest and relax. Plus having a full kitchen and washer and dryer is so handy. We'll be staying in a 1 bedroom this year at BCVs. Like you it is a total surprise. My family thinks we are staying in a studio like we did during our previous trip. Imagine their surprise when they open the door to discover it's a 1 bedroom! As the previous poster said, if you can, try and rent points, that's what we do.

 

[patty57]

With the ages of your kids, you could get a one bedroom and they could sleep on the queen pull-out sofa in the living room. We did that with our two boys even through their teens. You get the advantage of a full kitchen and a washer and dryer in the room, which can be a huge plus. I would also suggest looking to rent points, but I doubt if there are too many resorts that have DVC available this close to May. The DVC rooms are a different group than the ones Disney rents, so even if you see that Beach Club Villas has a one bedroom available, it doesn't translate to having a DVC rental available. Only one way to find out...contact some owners and see what is there. The Dis has a points rental forum for you to look at.

 

[HANDYMOM]

There are only two things to consider:
1. Can you afford the upgrade
2. How much time will you actually spend in your room?

We've stayed value, moderate and deluxe. Deluxe is a splurge for us and will be felt elsewhere in our overall budget. That being said, cost isn't the big decider for me here. We aren't in the room enough to make the splurge worth it usually.

Only you can decide. Either way, I don't think you'll come home regretting your decision.

 

[lsenquiz]

I would also suggest looking to rent points, but I doubt if there are too many resorts that have DVC available this close to May. The DVC rooms are a different group than the ones Disney rents, so even if you see that Beach Club Villas has a one bedroom available, it doesn't translate to having a DVC rental available. Only one way to find out...contact some owners and see what is there. The Dis has a points rental forum for you to look at.

I agree. we always rent points to stay in the villas but usually book 11 months in advance. I think the only place you might be able to stay at at this late date would be SSR or OKW. It is definately a HUGE savings when you rent though.

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

I say no because you can stay two nights at CSR including meals and tickets for each night in a deluxe but If I had the money to blow yes I would go for the deluxe. If you have extra time to stay those extra days then do CSR.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

In all my travels, I've slept in everything from a backpacked tent 8 miles from the nearest road, to some really nice resorts. It's not always in my budget to splurge on a nice place to stay, but when it has been, I've never regretted it

 

[Perditamarie]

I would put that $ towards your next trip...I bet you will be ready to book right away (maybe you will get a bounceback offer!). The mods really offer a lot so you are absolutely not scrimping w/your current accomodations (just check to see if any conventions will limit your enjoyment of your resort)...since you cant see and do it all the first time, how great would it be to go home knowing you have a chunk of the next trip paid for! Think of MNSSHP or Christmas at Disney!

 

[nickymaria]

We much prefer the villas for the extra room for the kids. It keeps DH much more sane (especially because this trip we're going for 9 nights!). But if you can't rent points villas can be very spendy. It might be worth comparing the price of a villa to just booking two adjoining rooms or perhaps a FW cabin or a family suite at a value? There are lots of options. We've stayed at SSR and BC in 1 BRs and in CBR in adjoining rooms. All were very nice, though I am partial to the deluxe villas (I like a "real" hotel - I don't care for the outdoor corridors). This spring break we'll be at BLT and BWV, so I can give you that review when we return!

 

[cecilia]

is the villa worth the money if your not going to cook . i do not cook on vacations ever we budget for 3 meals 2 snacks per person .

 

[rentayenta]

Having your own space, space for the kids, and living space is 110% worth it. Vacation is about relaxing and having everyone on top of each other is not relaxing. Tip toeing around to make coffee isn't relaxing. Living out of a suitcase or trying to watch the tv on mute is not relaxing. Go for it. I want to be as comfortable on vacation as I am at home.

 

[summermac]

I could be wrong but I swear when we were booking, it was actuallly CHEAPER to get two rooms at a moderate than a 2 BR villa. I think. Or maybe it was 2 rooms at a value.

I personally do not think it's worth the added cost. I wouldn't be able to not think about what else I could have done with that money. Now if we were spending a week on the beach in a house, yes I'd splurge but at WDW, nah.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We've stayed in moderates, deluxes and a one-bedroom villa at the Beach Club. We've had magical trips each and every time! We loved having the extra space in the villa -- two TVs is great as well as the kitchen, place to sit down and eat food we brought back to the room as well as the washer/dryer.

For me, the splurge on a DW vacation is being able to stay at resorts where we can easily walk to some parks rather than having to take a bus. We did a split stay between the Contemporary so that we could walk to the MK on a few days and then moved to the Beach Club so that we could easily walk to EPCOT. Being able to walk out the door and be on our way to a park was the real splurge. It just made it all easier and for me, easier means more enjoyable. I guess I'm saying "location" could be the key, rather than extra space in the room.

How many nights will you be there? It's hot in May, you are wise to plan afternoon breaks and a resort day or two. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET SPENDING DOWN TIME AT YOUR RESORT!! Or, possibly at the water parks. They are often overlooked by many guests who choose the other parks instead, but some of our very best days at DW have been the days we've spent at the water parks. Love them. Awesome family there for sure.

Sorry to go off on a tangent there! Just trying to offer opinions and suggestions since this is your first visit. Have a wonderful time!!

 

[DisneylandDad]

I went through this same dilema for our Fall 2011 trip (which was a first for me and the kids). I think that we started by deciding on CSR, then AKL and then the Poly. We were all set at the Poly and happy until some really good discounts came out--40% off I think. I applied that to a 1 bedroom villa at BLT and am so glad that we did. My 2 kids (boy and girl--same ages as yours), my wife and I loved our stay at BLT. We had a king bed and bath and the kids slept in the living room--2 pull out sofas (twin and queen) and they had their own bath. It was a quiet resort--we never heard our neighbors and the walk to the MK was very quick and easy. It was so nice having a kitchen for breakfast/snacks, the washer/dryer and the extra space for my wife and I at night once the kids were in bed. I would do a villa if you can! Renting points is a great option unless you can get a good discount through disney. Good luck!

 

[mfd25wife]

We own DVC now, but even before we did, we preferred the step up to the deluxe. We like having the washers & dryers, extra toilet, space, etc. We have DD and whichever friend she brings stay on the pull out sofa bed.