Kid friendly pool...off Disney time share

[brownsoup]

Planning our trip to DIsney....we are hoping to be able to trade timeshare into the Beach Club Villas and the "legendary" Stormalong Bay pool. If we do not luck out with our exchange and stay off property - does anyone have any reccomendations for other time share properties that have great villas and a very kid friendly pool? THanks - Steve

 

[xlstacey]

Are you exchanging thru RCI or II? You may want to check this link http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=463765

The top rated resorts have great kid friendly pools.

 

[brownsoup]

thanks xlstacy - good link w/ good info. We trade through II....we have been able to get on Disney 2x's in the past....hoping for a third time next year....Steve

 

[spiceycat]

DVC is only listed with II.

I have heard very good things about the Marriott's Horizons - if that is availablity take it -

Sheraton Vistana is also a good pick (I can't say for sure I haven't stayed there yet) - they recently went to II as well as RCI.

Orange Lake is only on RCI

If you really want OKW - go look on the tug site - the sighting, distress exchanges - are great for locating hard to find exchanges - you must join tug to be able to access this site.

there is also a wonderful person from II Craig - that is great!!!

it your case you should call an II advisor and ask her/him what are your really chances - some II exchanges will never get on DVC property because the resorts they are exchanging from are not (in II) opinion good enough....II much more than RCI goes like for like...

if you have a nice timeshares - I go over to the DVC rental/trade and see if you can't have a direct trade with a DVC member. If you trade with a DVC member - your ID will say DVC member you get the discounts and you get to pool-hop......then you don't have to pay the II exchange plus the $95 fee that DVC charges you - also the DVC member doesn't have to pay the $75 exchange fee - DVC has a corporate membership - the individual members don't have a membership with II.

I have one because I brought another timeshare.

hope you get what you want....OKW does not have a great swimming pool....but it has the biggest rooms on site.

 

[brownsoup]

wow! Thanks Pat.

We own through Hyatt Vacation Club at the Beach House in Key West.....an awesome resort. We have traded for places that, well, suck! I have wondered how the trade process worked (insofar is getting into DVC).....our property is "trade worthy" of DVC.....the people who own at the "Schooner" in Myrtle Beach would not be able to trade into DVC....I see....

Good info and I'll have to see what plays out.

One question - does DVC give owners the option of trading into II? As far as I know they do not.....if that is so then how can I trade in?

Thanks again - Steve

 

[spiceycat]

yes DVC owners can trade into II (but just certain resorts) I am pretty sure your is one.

when are you trying to trade and what week (or weeks) do you own????

You can also go list your timeshares on the trade/rental board on the DVC rental/trade.

I told someone else - but she isn't giving enough information to be able to trade.

the name and place of your resort - your week (or the weeks you can get) -

Key West is pretty popular - you should have some takers - just check it often to make sure that your post is not gone to another page - there is an awful lot of activity on some reason on the DVC rental/trade board.

there are weeks that DVC does not put in - so if you are trying for Thanksgiving, Christmas to NY, or Easter - then you won't ever get this with II....

 

[brownsoup]

We are looking at the first week in Octocer 04. Our week is week 48 in Key West Beach house. I will first try to change via II but posting on the DVC board is a great idea! Thanks Pat. My Brother is a DVC member and we are trying to coordinate a "magical gathering" in October.

Pat - a question.....my brother has MS....wheelchair bound. He loves OKW (they have always stayed there) as they have a dedicated handicaped section. I am trying to convince him that BCV would be a good choice (he could "wheel" to two parks and the Boardwalk)....any thoughts on this (since you are very informed)

Thanks a bunch - Steve

 

[brownsoup]

Also Pat (et all) we are really trying to get into BCV as we have two children - age 4 and 3. OKW would be great as well as would any Disney property. -Steve

 

[spiceycat]

OKW has really big rooms - BCV or BWV does not - so he might be concerned that his wheelchair won't fit in this places - he would not have a problem - Disney designs their room better than that - but if he wants more space over getting to the parks easier - then he will always preferred OKW.

OKW is definitely more home-like.

the other DVC resorts are attached to a hotel and in some ways are like an extension of that hotel - it is great if that is what you expected - but some tug members have complainted loudly that is not what they expected....

I love all the DVC resorts
VWL - beautiful - you can't believe you are at WDW - but you can see the MK....I love the EWP - Electric Water Pagen - this is the only DVC resort that has it - MK resorts

BCV - lovely - it is a great resort - I was given a room that looks out on SpaceShip Earth - to see that 24 hours....great... you can also walk to Epcot easily - the studios you might need to take the boat.

BWV - you can walk to both Epcot/Studios fairly easy - you can also use the boat, but it is the night time when BW comes alive - there is enough to do for little ones - I think teenagers might get bore here.

OKW - if you want to stay at a DVC resort that rooms are as big as other timeshares - this is your only choice - has a very relaxed, laid back style - most people are comfortable here - you can walk, boat or bus to DD - all other transportation is by bus. the teens are happy because they can walk to DD....

I don't even know about trading to BCV - the owners are new - this resort has not been opened for very long - would you be happy at BWV? you might have a better chance there - is this week during the food/wine festavial at EPcot? if not - yes I would think you would find someone to change with you at BWV - not sure about BCV.

most members don't trade out of their resort until around the 5th year - or at least that was what OKW was....of course you might just be very lucky!!! hope so!!!

I have posted on the DVC board - so you can add your information there - I haven't posted anything on the DVC rental/trade board.

 

[SueM in MN]

For wheelchair access, you can't beat OKW because you have a lot of space to work with. A wheelchair can also go out on the porch.
We have not staying an accessible room at BCV or VWL, but staying in a regular 2 bedroomw ith DD in her narrow adult sixe wheelchair was kind of tight. We found we had to do a lot of planning movements because if a cahir was out of place, she couldn't get from here to there. I expect the accessible rooms would also have an accessible porch, but the regular rooms don't. We also found the long hallways to be a hassle. It seemed like we were always at the other end of the building from the elevator we needed to be at.
But, it is nice to be able to walk to 2 parks from BC. For WL, you do need to be aware that the boats are sometimes not accessible to wheelchairs because of the water level in the lake making the boat too high or low compared to the dock. It wasn't a problem for us - we just picked up DD in her wheelchair (lucky she's not very heavy), but someone who is not able to get up or be lifted would need to take the buses and go to TTC and then get the monorail to MK if they can't use the boats.

 

[sha_lyn]

For a non WDW timeshare I've heard great things about the Liki Tiki Village. They have their own water park that looks great. While we haven't been there, my massage thearpist stays there every yr. http://www.islandone.com/ior/rjrorlando.html
http://www.clubnavigo.com/resorts/orlando.html

 

[brownsoup]

Thanks again for the good info. My Brother and I are getting together over the holiday and "talking Disney". All the input is very helpful. I better understand now why OKW is his first choice. -Steve

 

[wuv tigger]

Horizons by Marriott. If you have young children it is the best. They have a pirate pool with slides, water cannons, etc. and pirates who play with the kids and do activities. You definitely do not have to do the parks every day if you do not want to. It is close to Sea World, so it took us about 15 minutes to drive to Disney in October. Don't know how long when I4 is crowded.

We traded our other Marriott lockoff for OKW in January, so we will see how Disney compares. We are excited to be on site. We almost always see trade availability at OKW in the fall, but I have never seen another DVC resort. You will probably have better luck with an ongoing search than looking online.

David