Just want to check myself here before purchasing.

[num]

We have been going to disney often since having children, they are now 2 and 5 and we are stuck traveling during school breaks which kinda sucks.

I looked into DVC a while back and direct just doesn't seem to pay off for me, this is a financial decision, not a "oh this would be cool to have" decision.

What's important to me, is the early park hours for resort guests which we typically get by staying at wilderness lodge or the dolphin. I love the Dolphin because of the walkability to epcot which is my favorite park, however the DVC resorts in that area are not themed to my liking or the contracts end in 2042 so I'm not super interested. We, a family of 4 go once or twice a year for 4-5 days at a time. I would say once a year because going twice a year was a fluke as it's just hard to find some place to go with kids that doesn't suck for adults. As the kids age, I can see us still enjoying Disney to some degree.

I'm looking at Grand FLoridian and Copper Creek

• Copper Creek:
  • Resale Price: $138/point.
  • Annual Dues: $8.09/point.
  • Years Left: 44 (ends in 2068).
  • Effective Cost per Year per Point: $10.23/year.
• Grand Floridian:
  • Resale Price: $166/point.
  • Annual Dues: $7.57/point.
  • Years Left: 40 (ends in 2064).
  • Effective Cost per Year per Point: $10.72/year.
    
    I've calculated the price per point by Effective Cost per Year per Point= Resale Price per Point+(Annual Dues per Point×Years Left) / Years Left These were the lowest total cost per pot in the Orlando area. I've looked at ones like SSR Effective Cost: $11.67/year/point. and the timeline / dues just make it expensive in comparison.
    
    
    Now, I know Grand FLoridian has an expensive point chart but I find these two to be the most beautiful, with boardwalk a close close third but again, 2042 is just ruining the math for me.
    Lookin in the 200 point range, I'm not sure what kind of experience I'm going to have with these resorts, but i'd guess limited to studios for the weeks I want to go which is fine while the kids are young. What is important to my wife, is access to laundry facilities while on vacation... that's just her thing. For me, it's kind of all the same since boardwalk is the best location in my mind but ends too soon, so we are very flexible here.
    
    
    If anyone can give me a different angle or show me where I've made a mistake i'm happy to hear it. Again, My goal here is to come out just a little ahead because paying 900 a night for a room is tough to look at around this time of year.

 

[crvetter]

Copper Creek is hard to book a studio during Fall Frenzy (and busier DVC times, which do not align with Disney busy times necessarily). Though it won't be as difficult to book as a standard or boardwalk view studio at Boardwalk.

If laundry is important, I would not consider VGF, unless you plan on fighting to book a Deluxe Studio (in the DVC building) vs the Resort Studios (in Big Pine Key). The Resort Studio building has only 2 washers for all those Resort Studios. VGF Deluxe Studios are also difficult to book during busy DVC times, though if you are okay going Lake View, you will find it isn't nearly as hard (not even close) as CCV as long as you book at 11 months.

My question is when would you be visiting, are parks or resort more important. If you feel resort is more important, I personally vote CCV as the resort experience there is leagues above VGF, which honestly has mediocre pools. Sure it has a lot of dining option, though they are usually booked out, and not available as walkups very often. Plus CCV has Geyser Point which is the best resort bar on property, hands down.

If access to the parks is important, I would give VGF the lead only slightly so for being able to walk to MK (and boat). I personally don't rate it very high for monorail access; it often times is standing room at GF (since it is the last stop) and getting to Epcot isn't that great via the monorail in terms of time over buses. Now granted if you have children in strollers still it is nice to use the monorail.

Personally, I value resort a lot more and owned CCV. Though I did eventually want a better balance between resort and park access and bought Riveira direct (though that comes with its own baggage). I just always caution GF has a resort stay because it is often overburdened with day guests not making it very enjoyable. Sure it is pretty, but I just don't find it relaxing. CCV is pretty, relaxing, and unique (much more themed than GF).

 

[disneylandtour]

What's important to me, is the early park hours for resort guests which we typically get by staying at wilderness lodge or the dolphin.

Early entry is available to all resort guests, even those at Value, such as Pop. The evening hours are DVC/Deluxe only, usually Monday and Wednesday.

I love the Dolphin because of the walkability to epcot which is my favorite park, however the DVC resorts in that area are not themed to my liking or the contracts end in 2042 so I'm not super interested.

The only non-2042 EPCOT resort is sorta Riviera, which I personally would not buy on resale because of use restrictions. Alternatively, you can take the monorail to EPCOT (with a monorail transfer at the TTC) from any monorail loop resort. It would be way easier to do this from GF than from Copper Creek.

We, a family of 4 go once or twice a year for 4-5 days at a time. I would say once a year because going twice a year was a fluke as it's just hard to find some place to go with kids that doesn't suck for adults. As the kids age, I can see us still enjoying Disney to some degree.

I'm looking at Grand FLoridian and Copper Creek

Copper Creek is a good value now. I can be more difficult to book Copper Creek, as a non-home resort, during certain times of the year than GF. The other good value right now is Bay Lake, IMO.

Also, in terms of activities, I'd say that Copper Creek is a little more family centered than GF, if you have young kids. GF has more of a couples and empty-nesters vibe to me.

Lookin in the 200 point range,

200 will be overkill for a studio once a year at Copper Creek for a week.

...laundry...

At Copper Creek you won't need to leave the building to access DVC guest laundry. I've never had an issue doing laundry at CC. Someone else can chime in for GF, but from memory, I think it's in most--but not all--of the buildings that have DVC rooms. If you're staying in Big Pine Key, there are only two washers for a LOT of studio rooms. At the end of the day, it can be hard to find an empty machine.

 

[kilik64]

We have been going to disney often since having children, they are now 2 and 5 and we are stuck traveling during school breaks which kinda sucks.

I looked into DVC a while back and direct just doesn't seem to pay off for me, this is a financial decision, not a "oh this would be cool to have" decision.

What's important to me, is the early park hours for resort guests which we typically get by staying at wilderness lodge or the dolphin. I love the Dolphin because of the walkability to epcot which is my favorite park, however the DVC resorts in that area are not themed to my liking or the contracts end in 2042 so I'm not super interested. We, a family of 4 go once or twice a year for 4-5 days at a time. I would say once a year because going twice a year was a fluke as it's just hard to find some place to go with kids that doesn't suck for adults. As the kids age, I can see us still enjoying Disney to some degree.

I'm looking at Grand FLoridian and Copper Creek

• Copper Creek:
  • Resale Price: $138/point.
  • Annual Dues: $8.09/point.
  • Years Left: 44 (ends in 2068).
  • Effective Cost per Year per Point: $10.23/year.
• Grand Floridian:
  • Resale Price: $166/point.
  • Annual Dues: $7.57/point.
  • Years Left: 40 (ends in 2064).
  • Effective Cost per Year per Point: $10.72/year.
    
    I've calculated the price per point by Effective Cost per Year per Point= Resale Price per Point+(Annual Dues per Point×Years Left) / Years Left These were the lowest total cost per pot in the Orlando area. I've looked at ones like SSR Effective Cost: $11.67/year/point. and the timeline / dues just make it expensive in comparison.
    
    
    Now, I know Grand FLoridian has an expensive point chart but I find these two to be the most beautiful, with boardwalk a close close third but again, 2042 is just ruining the math for me.
    Lookin in the 200 point range, I'm not sure what kind of experience I'm going to have with these resorts, but i'd guess limited to studios for the weeks I want to go which is fine while the kids are young. What is important to my wife, is access to laundry facilities while on vacation... that's just her thing. For me, it's kind of all the same since boardwalk is the best location in my mind but ends too soon, so we are very flexible here.
    
    
    If anyone can give me a different angle or show me where I've made a mistake i'm happy to hear it. Again, My goal here is to come out just a little ahead because paying 900 a night for a room is tough to look at around this time of year.

My only input is are you sure you're done having kids? (yea super personal question I know) because if you MIGHT have a 3rd, CCV is NOT going to be good for you, hard limit on studios and 1br for 4, so if you had a 3rd youd have to book at 2br at CCV if not able to get a 5 person studio or 1br elsewhere. Just something to consider as well.

 

[lowlight]

For just 18$ a point you get home resort priority at every resort and someone else gets to do the heavy lifting of booking hard to get rooms, aka any room at a decent resort at a decent time. And you don’t have to put down 30 grand up front. If you’re set on buying, you are choosing two difficult to get studio choices.

 

[num]

For just 18$ a point you get home resort priority at every resort and someone else gets to do the heavy lifting of booking hard to get rooms, aka any room at a decent resort at a decent time. And you don’t have to put down 30 grand up front. If you’re set on buying, you are choosing two difficult to get studio choices.

meaning consider renting? I have but if i'm being honest, it's the same reason I don't air bnb, I don't want to deal with another individual.

 

[num]

Copper Creek is hard to book a studio during Fall Frenzy (and busier DVC times, which do not align with Disney busy times necessarily). Though it won't be as difficult to book as a standard or boardwalk view studio at Boardwalk.

If laundry is important, I would not consider VGF, unless you plan on fighting to book a Deluxe Studio (in the DVC building) vs the Resort Studios (in Big Pine Key). The Resort Studio building has only 2 washers for all those Resort Studios. VGF Deluxe Studios are also difficult to book during busy DVC times, though if you are okay going Lake View, you will find it isn't nearly as hard (not even close) as CCV as long as you book at 11 months.

My question is when would you be visiting, are parks or resort more important. If you feel resort is more important, I personally vote CCV as the resort experience there is leagues above VGF, which honestly has mediocre pools. Sure it has a lot of dining option, though they are usually booked out, and not available as walkups very often. Plus CCV has Geyser Point which is the best resort bar on property, hands down.

If access to the parks is important, I would give VGF the lead only slightly so for being able to walk to MK (and boat). I personally don't rate it very high for monorail access; it often times is standing room at GF (since it is the last stop) and getting to Epcot isn't that great via the monorail in terms of time over buses. Now granted if you have children in strollers still it is nice to use the monorail.

Personally, I value resort a lot more and owned CCV. Though I did eventually want a better balance between resort and park access and bought Riveira direct (though that comes with its own baggage). I just always caution GF has a resort stay because it is often overburdened with day guests not making it very enjoyable. Sure it is pretty, but I just don't find it relaxing. CCV is pretty, relaxing, and unique (much more themed than GF).

Thank you for this helpful reply.

 

[kilik64]

meaning consider renting? I have but if i'm being honest, it's the same reason I don't air bnb, I don't want to deal with another individual.

Thats why most people use a broker rental place like the board sponsor DVC rentals

 

[num]

Early entry is available to all resort guests, even those at Value, such as Pop. The evening hours are DVC/Deluxe only, usually Monday and Wednesday.



The only non-2042 EPCOT resort is sorta Riviera, which I personally would not buy on resale because of use restrictions. Alternatively, you can take the monorail to EPCOT (with a monorail transfer at the TTC) from any monorail loop resort. It would be way easier to do this from GF than from Copper Creek.



Copper Creek is a good value now. I can be more difficult to book Copper Creek, as a non-home resort, during certain times of the year than GF. The other good value right now is Bay Lake, IMO.

Also, in terms of activities, I'd say that Copper Creek is a little more family centered than GF, if you have young kids. GF has more of a couples and empty-nesters vibe to me.



200 will be overkill for a studio once a year at Copper Creek for a week.



At Copper Creek you won't need to leave the building to access DVC guest laundry. I've never had an issue doing laundry at CC. Someone else can chime in for GF, but from memory, I think it's in most--but not all--of the buildings that have DVC rooms. If you're staying in Big Pine Key, there are only two washers for a LOT of studio rooms. At the end of the day, it can be hard to find an empty machine.

very helpful, thank you.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Either I'm Disney blind or these sound like 2 fantastic choices to me. Not only do you have home advantage at one of the best resorts, you also have additional options at 7 months... and can modify should something else to your liking open up, waitlist, etc.

Plus, great job on crunching the numbers here. I think it's going to work out well for you either way.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think your math makes sense, but the only thing I'd say is that people often calculate the effective cost per year right to the end of the contract and then think of it in those terms as well, but we do have to at least potentially consider whether we will be using the contract right up to the end. My SSR contract ends in 30 years but I will be in my 70s by then and DH in his 80s, so I don't really know for a fact that we will be doing yearly Disney trips then or for another 10-14 years, if I had a contract that ended in 2064-2068. So for me, the upfront significantly lower buy-in was well worth it.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I’ll be honest. I don’t think you have a true understanding of DVC …
If you think you are stuck with school breaks and your children are still pre-school age… Just wait til you have that 11 month availability booking window that everybody started “walking “ a month earlier . You will discover nothing is available with that 11 month window especially for school breaks!
Members have already starting walking for next years holidays when Jan 1 showed up on the calendars.

I have noticed the Grand Floridian does have better availabilty for most of the dates you would need … I also think being on the monorail with access to so much more… Including boat transport and visits to Poly and Contemporary .
GF has really fun parties for families on Halloween for example…and viewing the nightly Electric Water Pageant ! Some of the DVC Resorts have really nice family craft room and excellent cast members . Have you visited the one at BLT ? I think the Riviera also has an excellent craft family center.
If you are in a hurry to purchase I vote for GF …
I currently own at BLT and sold my points for the Wilderness Lodge Villas when they built Copper Creek addition and changed the WLV name to Boulder Ridge.

Good luck and keep asking questions . We all want you to be happy with your new home .
I’m pretty sure you will enjoy your membership but it is a big decision !

 

[num]

I’ll be honest. I don’t think you have a true understanding of DVC …
If you think you are stuck with school breaks and your children are still pre-school age… Just wait til you have that 11 month availability booking window that everybody started “walking “ a month earlier . You will discover nothing is available with that 11 month window especially for school breaks!
Members have already starting walking for next years holidays when Jan 1 showed up on the calendars.

I have noticed the Grand Floridian does have better availabilty for most of the dates you would need … I also think being on the monorail with access to so much more… Including boat transport and visits to Poly and Contemporary .
GF has really fun parties for families on Halloween for example…and viewing the nightly Electric Water Pageant ! Some of the DVC Resorts have really nice family craft room and excellent cast members . Have you visited the one at BLT ? I think the Riviera also has an excellent craft family center.
If you are in a hurry to purchase I vote for GF …
I currently own at BLT and sold my points for the Wilderness Lodge Villas when they built Copper Creek addition and changed the WLV name to Boulder Ridge.

Good luck and keep asking questions . We all want you to be happy with your new home .
I’m pretty sure you will enjoy your membership but it is a big decision !

Do you mean there is a loophole where people book something then rebook it earlier than 11 months?

 

[lowlight]

Do you mean there is a loophole where people book something then rebook it earlier than 11 months?

People book a random date in mid June, and then every week they change that date a week ahead until they get the hard to get reservation of say, December 1st. Welcome to DVC.

 

[num]

Well, that's grimy, It does make it easy for me to not want this enough to pay too much though. I appreciate the insight.

 

[robinb]

CCV will give you more bang for your buck. You can do 5 days in summer and 5 days between Christmas and New Years for about 200 points.

 

[Unclelude]

Point chart is pretty good at CCV... Have you considered 1BRs? The laundry thing you mention makes this really nice.

Kitchen, laundry, separate room for kids to nap ( or you )... etc...

We quickly moved out of studios and up (2BR now) Its a fairly common thread on the boards ... You get hooked cuz the extra space and amenities are really nice.

It's cool, because you have choices... I'm not trying to persuade you one way or another, just a thought.

Anyway,

Good Luck! Have fun!

 

[Travel60]

Well, that's grimy, It does make it easy for me to not want this enough to pay too much though. I appreciate the insight.

DVC has said they are looking at doing something to curb walking - like only allowing "x" changes or otherwise making it harder.

 

[Sandisw]

DVC has said they are looking at doing something to curb walking - like only allowing "x" changes or otherwise making it harder.

To clarify, the board never said anything about what they might do…or even to make it harder.

What was said is that they are open to changing rules if they can find a better booking procedure while at the same time be very careful of whether those changes would create unintended consequences.

Just don’t want anyone to think the examples you gave came from DVC. Those are ideas owners have said they would like to see.

 

[ShaneDJ]

For just 18$ a point you get home resort priority at every resort and someone else gets to do the heavy lifting of booking hard to get rooms, aka any room at a decent resort at a decent time. And you don’t have to put down 30 grand up front.

People book a random date in mid June, and then every week they change that date a week ahead until they get the hard to get reservation of say, December 1st. Welcome to DVC.

Well said @lowlight. This made me smile. I give you credit.

Golf clap...