Most Bang for Buck DVC Studio?

[cruella4me64]

Thinking about trying to rent a DVC studio December 7-14, 2013. Two adults so a studio is perfectly sized. I've read that December DVC is a very busy time and that I should try 11 months out, which is January.

Which DVC studio do you feel gives you the most bang for your buck? SSR and OKW are lower on my general interest list, but certainly are to be considered. AKV and BWV are at my top because I think BLT, WLV and BCV would be too expensive or not available anyways.

Would you risk staying a week in a standard view? We've stayed probably 20 times at the moderates, only occassionally paying for an upgraded room. A balcony/patio to actually sit on is a whole new consideration.

If you were trying to get a feel for December 2013 prices, is the December 2012 price list the best gauge?

Thanks your opinions!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

I Would try to get BWV, low points and excellent location!

I would definitely stay in a standard room... If I could get one.. They go quick

 

[MMS1125]

You can price 2013 the points chart is available

Dec 1-14 is value season so you should get a great price

AKV is 11/13 for standard 81/week
BWV standard is 10/13 76/week

 

[lsenquiz]

BWV standard view. We stay in a two bedroom with a standard view every year and love it. You do have to book 11 months out to get one of these though.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree, BWV standard view. It's great being right in the middle of the action.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I would say AKV if you like the theme - in my mind having giraffes at your resort is a lot of bang for your buck. AKL is one of a kind unique.

BWV - for Boardwalk location.

or WLV for a Christmassy - Wilderness theme near MK.

 

[goodferry]

OK well when you say bang for the buck from a studio I think of OKW because for the point cost they are the biggest rooms and you can get two queen beds instead of a queen and a pull out sofa. In terms of location, SV at BWV would be great too

 

[cruella4me64]

Thanks for your replies! I googled 2013 DVC point chart and found one. Thanks! I had been looking on Disney's site and never did see it. So I see where this information is from:

You can price 2013 the points chart is available

Dec 1-14 is value season so you should get a great price

AKV is 11/13 for standard 81/week
BWV standard is 10/13 76/week

BWV standard 76/week looks like a winner, if available. Does 10/13 mean points generally rent for 10 to 13 dollars per point? Depending on from whom you rent?

Thank you so much.

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks for your replies! I googled 2013 DVC point chart and found one. Thanks! I had been looking on Disney's site and never did see it. So I see where this information is from:

BWV standard 76/week looks like a winner, if available. Does 10/13 mean points generally rent for 10 to 13 dollars per point? Depending on from whom you rent?

Thank you so much.

That is the points per night, weekdays/weekends. DVC doesn't actually rent in weeks, they just provide that information for planning purposes. In other words, the weekly rate would just be the total of the individual nights added together.

 

[LaurenT]

One more thing to consider. AKL has what they call "value" studios. There are only a few of them. They are a tiny bit smaller than the standard, but MUCH lower in points. If you are renting from an owner, it would probably be very hard to get one, since the owner would have to go out of his/her way to make sure they got one of them.
I'll be trying for 2 of these myself for late August next year....

 

[fla4fun]

I don't know that OKW would give the best value for a party of two. I like having a sofa to sit on instead of trying to sit on the side of the bed. For one or two people, I think the regular studios are a better configuration.

For four people though, the OKW studios are great because no one has to sleep on a sofabed.

I think the best choice depends a lot on location and theme. Where are you spending the most time? Which theme is more appealing to you? For me, December is all about the Epcot resorts because of all the holiday happenings at Epcot and DHS. So BWV is an excellent choice. It's midway between the two parks, so it's perfect for walking back at the end of the night if the boats are full.

 

[spiceycat]

would go with akv - value or standard
bwv - standard (hard to get for Dec)
blt - standard (also hard to get for Dec)

blt standard is pointwise the same as VWL or BCV or pref BWV.
standard at blt can be great - only floors 1-5 - but if you get lucky you can get a side view of the MK.

bwv standard view will have either a parking lot or, driveway - that say they also have a garden even closer.

akv standard (jambo house only) is pool view
akv value (jambo house only) is either parking, pool or savannah - you can't request (or couldn't)
akv standard (kidani ) can be parking lot, driveway, pool or garden.

so yes recommend standard views.

 

[LSchrow]

don't discount resorts with only one type of view (e.g., BCV), since those have more rooms than BWV standard or BW view (we have often been offered BCV when BWV BW view was unavailable).
o couse, with 2 adults, BWV would probably be the better choice (we find BCV to be geared more toward the toddler/pre-pre-teen crowd).
VWL is supposed to be gorgeous for the holidays, and AKV is simply a beatiful resort.

as others said, low point and certain higher pt catagories go very quickly, at the 11 month mark (especially for december as well as certain other times of year).
good luck

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't know that OKW would give the best value for a party of two. I like having a sofa to sit on instead of trying to sit on the side of the bed. For one or two people, I think the regular studios are a better configuration.....

Ah, but if you like a good night's sleep, each of you can have a real bed.

 

[cruella4me64]

A lot of great ideas that didn't occur to me -- thanks, everyone!

I'm reading the hundreds of pages on the different DVC threads. Which leads me to another huge wonderment ..... how do you feel is the best way for a non-member to try to book a studio? I've read about and visited David's Vacation and the Time Share sites. I have a friend whose home resort is SSR. Is a professional better than a DVC owner? Is it a big, big favor that I would be asking of her to try this for me?

Thanks bunches!

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you can rent from a friend you trust, that will be your best/cheapest bet.

David's is safer than renting from a stranger, but the cost per point is higher since you are paying a middle man in addition to the owner.

There is a DVC rent trade board. If you go that route, do your homework and only rent from someone who has many posts and can give you references.

OKW and SSR will be the easiest to get, we love both and I very much agree that for a couples only trip, a studio that has the sofa will be very nice. For a family, OKW is the way to go.

What I like about SSR and OKW is they are both very peaceful, close/boatride/walk away to DTD and all its dining options and I enjoy the grounds and multiple pools at each. SSR has a great counter serve place we really enjoyed. Again, it was the peace adn quiet of those two resorts we really enjoyed. Being in the hustle and bustle is is just a flip side of the coin of enjoyment and no way is better in our book. Just us!

We loved BWV when we stayed there and being so close to Epcot is invaluable. We also loved the quiet pool at BWV. It just felt like we had everything right at our finger tips when we stayed there. If you like Epcot, this is the place to go! At the holidays, Epcot is wonderful and being able to just walk back to your room at the end fo the night is the very best. The only thing I sort of missed, was again the peaceful walks around the expansive grounds were used to at SSR which was the only DVC we had stayed at up to that point.

Those three are the ones I can comment on personally as far as the resorts themselves. But since I have enjoyed every Disney resort I have stayed at, I imagine any of the DVC resorts I never got to try would be wonderful!

But my vote would be that if your friend can rent you her points, go with that. The renter has the control so having someone you know and trust be in control is the way to go!

But even if you do go that route, do your research to know what the going rate per point is.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Ah, but if you like a good night's sleep, each of you can have a real bed.

But this is just a couple, not a family so no need to pull out the sofa bed. Unless you think even a queen bed can't offer a good night's sleep for a couple sharing a bed?

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Unless you think even a queen bed can't offer a good night's sleep for a couple sharing a bed?

You've got it. The two of us in a queen sized bed is not a good night's sleep.

 

[MMS1125]

The only thing about asking your friend is you can't book at any resort besides SSR til 7 months out vs 11 months out if you went with somebody that owns where you want to stay or with a company like Daves. With wanting a harder to get studio I'd go with somebody that I could rent from 11 months out

 

[Amy&Dan]

You've got it. The two of us in a queen sized bed is not a good night's sleep.

Well I think you are not alone! Dh and I have been sleeping in a queen bed most of the last 20 years so for us, its just like home!