My first post... I have DVC questions!

[DizGirl20]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post and I really hope it works. I have been perusing the DISboards for about a week now looking for DVC info. You guys are an incredible wealth of info. So here's the deal...

Hubby and I would both LOVE to purchase BLT but I am reluctant about buying into something I haven't seen (with the exception of online pix). Feels like buying a car w/o taking a test drive! The Magic Kingdom is my first love, so I would like to be at BLT or VWL. Epcot DVC would be 2nd choice.

BUT, my biggest priority is finding a quiet resort. I have a difficult time sleeping in hotels - although I have recently discovered the joy of earplugs

My questions are:
1. What do you think is the quietest DVC resort? We were recently at OKW and I am thinking it might be a resort that opens to the outside vs. a hall?

2. Is VWL a quiet location? We stayed in the main hotel last year and it was a bit noisy - are the Villas quieter?

3. Other than cost, can you think of any disadvantages to buying at BLT?

I am open and thankful for all suggestions!

Thanks,
Robyn (who needs to figure out how to create a signature!!!)

 

[Sandisw]

Magic Kingdom is my favorite resort as well and never bought into DVC until now because I loved staying at the Contemporary and nowhere else.

I am not sure about which resort will be the quietest, as I am new to DVC, but I would think that SSR (being a big and spread out resort) is pretty quiet.

However, if you love MK and really think BLT is for you, then "buy where you want to stay". I have stayed at the hotel and never found it to be overly noisy as it didn't have the same level of guest that we ran into when we stayed at Port Orleans.

I know the cost is more, but for me, paying the premium rate is worth it for the vacation that I will be getting. I have tried to stay elsewhere and most of the time, ended up moving mid vacation to the Contemporary so I knew that BLT is right for me. I like to be able to walk to MK every night and being at BLT will allow me to do that.

 

[disneynutz]

You are off to a great start and you make a very good point. How do you buy into a resort without staying there first?

I believe that every buyer should rent where they are interested to try the resort and rooms out first. It doesn't make sense to buy at a resort that you don't absolutely love.

VWL is very quiet and it is a wonderful resort. The big question is will you feel the same about the MK in a couple of years? MK was our #1 but Epcot has now become our favorite.

 

[wdwnut]

Here's a post that goes the other way. We declined to purchase OKW in 93 and waited for BWV and bought sight unseen. If we knew then what we know now, we would make that same decision again regarding BWV but would probably have bought OKW as well. As far as sleeping goes, we have had "noisy" guests staying at all the different resorts, so I wouldn't let that make or break your decision.

 

[oakmanner]

Welcome to the DVC boards here on the DIS. We own at SSR and it is very quiet and peaceful.

 

[robandkelly13]

We stayed at SSR for 10 days over Christmas - it was very crowded, and we never heard anyone.

 

[stopher1]

We own at AKV and absolutely love it. It's large and sprawling, but quiet. Being able to stand on the balcony and animal watch is very peaceful and relaxing.

But I agree with disneynutz - perhaps it would be good to rent points first and sample resorts. Taking the plunge and buying is great, but it's not like you can return it if you don't like the color (or in your case, the noise). Take your time and research them all and ask as many questions as you feel you need to. If you have friends or know other people locally that are DVC members, pick their brains as well. We did that before we joined and it really helped.

 

[Cmbar]

I agree that SSR is very quiet. I don't know why that is but we were there the week of July 4th and never heard anyone one around us, pools were quiet (not the main one) and we always were able to wait at the bus stop with little or no people around us. It was very relaxing!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post and I really hope it works. I have been perusing the DISboards for about a week now looking for DVC info. You guys are an incredible wealth of info. So here's the deal...

Hubby and I would both LOVE to purchase BLT but I am reluctant about buying into something I haven't seen (with the exception of online pix). Feels like buying a car w/o taking a test drive! The Magic Kingdom is my first love, so I would like to be at BLT or VWL. Epcot DVC would be 2nd choice.

BUT, my biggest priority is finding a quiet resort. I have a difficult time sleeping in hotels - although I have recently discovered the joy of earplugs

My questions are:
1. What do you think is the quietest DVC resort? We were recently at OKW and I am thinking it might be a resort that opens to the outside vs. a hall?

2. Is VWL a quiet location? We stayed in the main hotel last year and it was a bit noisy - are the Villas quieter?

3. Other than cost, can you think of any disadvantages to buying at BLT?

I am open and thankful for all suggestions!

Thanks,
Robyn (who needs to figure out how to create a signature!!!)

Here is one plug for BLT....it has the lowest maintenance fees, and probably will stay that way for a long time. If you can get past the higher purchase price, the lower MF's will more than make up for that cost. Now, I say this because if you don't like it there, you can most always get reservations at OKW and SSR, which I think are the two most quietest DVC resorts. Just another purchase angle here.....

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post and I really hope it works. I have been perusing the DISboards for about a week now looking for DVC info. You guys are an incredible wealth of info. So here's the deal...

Hubby and I would both LOVE to purchase BLT but I am reluctant about buying into something I haven't seen (with the exception of online pix). Feels like buying a car w/o taking a test drive! The Magic Kingdom is my first love, so I would like to be at BLT or VWL. Epcot DVC would be 2nd choice.

BUT, my biggest priority is finding a quiet resort. I have a difficult time sleeping in hotels - although I have recently discovered the joy of earplugs

My questions are:
1. What do you think is the quietest DVC resort? We were recently at OKW and I am thinking it might be a resort that opens to the outside vs. a hall?

2. Is VWL a quiet location? We stayed in the main hotel last year and it was a bit noisy - are the Villas quieter?

3. Other than cost, can you think of any disadvantages to buying at BLT?

I am open and thankful for all suggestions!

Thanks,
Robyn (who needs to figure out how to create a signature!!!)

1.We have not had major issues with noise in many DVC resorts, but we find OKW to be very quiet UNLESS you are underneath a Grand villa!

2. VWL is a quiet location and also the smallest DVC resort.

3. I think it is way too hotel urban much like the main Contemproary resort.

I think you should at least wait until you can visit BLT and see for yourself. I'm not a good one to advise on BLT, since it does not appeal to me at all, but then, I'm into quiet and natural versus urban and glitz. I much prefer OKW, AKV, and VWL.

 

[Cmbar]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post and I really hope it works. I have been perusing the DISboards for about a week now looking for DVC info. You guys are an incredible wealth of info. So here's the deal...

Hubby and I would both LOVE to purchase BLT but I am reluctant about buying into something I haven't seen (with the exception of online pix). Feels like buying a car w/o taking a test drive! The Magic Kingdom is my first love, so I would like to be at BLT or VWL. Epcot DVC would be 2nd choice.

BUT, my biggest priority is finding a quiet resort. I have a difficult time sleeping in hotels - although I have recently discovered the joy of earplugs

My questions are:
1. What do you think is the quietest DVC resort? We were recently at OKW and I am thinking it might be a resort that opens to the outside vs. a hall?
To answer this, yes it would seem that those that open to the outside would be quieter. OKW and SSR are both quiet resorts and I would think it is partly due to them not having hallways. However, some people hate this about SSR and OKW. They don't think it feels like a deluxe hotel, more like a condominimum.
2. Is VWL a quiet location? We stayed in the main hotel last year and it was a bit noisy - are the Villas quieter? We stayed in the end of the hallway not anywhere near the Lobby. So depending on where you are staying I think the noise factor would be different at VWL. I would think (but don't know since we have not stayed in the Villas) would be quieter. I know that people who love this resort say it is because you feel isolated a bit and relaxing but are close to the MK.
3. Other than cost, can you think of any disadvantages to buying at BLT?

Sure there are some: No daily housekeeping. Having to worry about Point allocation changes, having to worry about banking deadlines and losing some points. Maintenance fees going up. These are all things you have to weigh against your future vacation spending. This probably shouldn't be an expenditure based on an investment, it really is more of a prepaid vacation expenditure. If going to Disney once every year (or every other year) is important to your family, then you should definitely consider it!
I am open and thankful for all suggestions!

Thanks,
Robyn (who needs to figure out how to create a signature!!!)

Finally Welcome to DIS! You will get wonderful information here. Not all of it will be what you want to hear, but remember that every person here has different wants and expectations!

By the way it does sound like you have stayed at a few of the resorts, but if you are able to get back to stay at the contemporary or want to wait to purchase until you have had a chance to stay at BLT, I don't think the incentives are going to dissappear. I would expect them to at least stay the same or get better! I see people renting their BLT points for later in the year. The resort opens August 4th. Good Luck!

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Welcome to the board. There is a wealth of information available.

 

[CarolA]

I have stayed at all of them and find the outside corridors generally seem to be much quieter That's because parents at Disney think that it's just fine for junior to run SCEAMING down the hall at all hours. (Seriously what is it with these parents!!!!! The hall is NOT a playground!) There's also less "slamming" of the doors etc...

 

[Brancaneve]

I agree that SSR is very quiet. I don't know why that is but we were there the week of July 4th and never heard anyone one around us, pools were quiet (not the main one) and we always were able to wait at the bus stop with little or no people around us. It was very relaxing!

I have to agree that the grounds of SSR are very quiet but I was awoken every morning by people walking in the cement hallways. If a child was running(and talking/laughing/screaming) then there would be an echo of voices and footsteps. I thought AKV was quiet because of the carpeted hallways. Good luck!

 

[tomandrobin]

Great first post questions!

We have a hard time sleeping in regular hotels. So noisy, people loud in the halls, in the rooms next to us, above us, etc.

The quietest resorts are Saratoga and Old Key West, in that order. Saratoga has terrific sound proofing of the rooms.

The Wilderness Lodge Villas with having enclosed hallways will still be noisy.

BLT will be a terrific resort. Point costs are high, so is the current buy-in cost, but maintenance fees are the lowest.

If you have to have BLT, then that is what you should buy. If the resort location is not important, I would consider SSR and OKW resales.

 

[PinkTink63]

My opinion is probably going to be different than most on here! For one thing, we bought DVC knowing we would probably always stay in a studio. We haven't had the pleasure of anything bigger, which I know I would love even more! We are only a family of 3, so we would rather stay twice as long!

We bought SSR sight unseen. We had always stayed in moderates until we rented from an owner off of ebay. We stayed at OKW and BWV that year and it didn't take us long to decide that we loved DVC! We came home from vaca that year and I started researching it here on the DIS. (This place really is a great source of information! )

Anyway, we were considering buying resale when the Friends & Family incentive came about for SSR. I checked it out on the internet and thought it was nice. We loved the idea that we would be able to stay at all the DVC resorts, but if SSR was the only thing that would be available that would be okay too! We have been able to stay at all the DVC's except for one and I would have to say that SSR is the most quiet and peaceful, with OKW coming in a close second. JMO!

We love all the resorts and think each one has something special to offer. We have not regretted our purchase of buying sight unseen, but knowone can really make that decision for you. I for one, would love to buy BLT, again sight unseen, if we could afford it!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[dbprimeaux]

I would suggest renting before buying....that is what we did. We are owners at SSR and we LOVE it!! We have stayed there 4 times, and each time it is like we are the only ones around.... We were there for Thanksgiving/Christmas 2008 and even though everything was maxed out - it was still VERY peaceful!!

 

[dbprimeaux]

oh....and WELCOME to disboards!!

 

[DizGirl20]

Thanks for all your input!!!
Still having discussions w/hubby trying to decide what to do. How long did it take you to sign on the dotted line???

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for all your input!!!
Still having discussions w/hubby trying to decide what to do. How long did it take you to sign on the dotted line???

We have been seriously considering it since BLT went for sale in the fall. We looked into it a few years ago (we go to WDW almost every year), but realized that we really love being at the Contemporary and didn't think we would be happy staying at the other DVC resorts.

Once they announced BLT, we went back and forth for months on what to do. We finally decide to get in through resale (small VWL contract) in January with the intention of looking at the BLT models when we went for our stay at the Contemporary in August.

But I got so excited about the prospect at owning at BLT, that it only took me a week to add on ther--but because I was a member, I didn't have to buy the 160 pt minimum.

I am very excited and don't regret the decision at all. We are fortunate enough to have a yearly vacation budget. When I ran all the numbers--MF, financing, tickets, planes, food, etc.-we realized we would be spending a lot less than we currently do each year from that budget so we went for it!!!!

Good luck and happy planning.