Need Advice about Aug. trip PLEASE!!!!!

[edk35]

Okay. Our very first trip HOME is Aug. 15 for 9 nights. Our home resort is SSR. I currently have us booked at BWV 2 bedroom Preferred for 4 nights and then moving to SSR for 5 nights. We are only planning on going to EC two days. It is our fave park right now.So I thought being close to EC would be fun. The reason is that we were at Disney in Jan. and we did the parks then and got so much done with low crowds. We LOVE THE PARKS but now since we are DVC members....and we are going in THE HEAT OF AUGUST....I want to really take advantage of the resorts, the pools, sleeping in, lazy days, going to DTD, doing Disney Quest ( first time for us), trying the two water parks (another first time for us) and just having a laid back vacation compared to COMMANDO PARK HOPPING....which we have done every trip. We are planning on going back to Disney in Jan. for 5 days at which time we will do just parks. SO....SHOULD I JUST STAY AT SSR our entire trip, will I regret cancelling those BWV (but they are much higher in points...we are staying preferred and two weekend days) because that resort looks fun too. What are my chances of getting BW in Jan. for our shorter trip. I would love to be close to EC for that trip too We spend a lot of time at EC than the other parks. I am just so excited about going back as DVC members I want to make sure I do this RIGHT FOR OUR FIRST TRIP. I am scared my kids will love the BWV pool and the action there and be disappointed at SSR after we move. PLEASE PLEASE.....HELP ME SEE THIS MORE CLEARLY. Thanks so much. You guys ARE THE BEST.

 

[jakenjess]

I would personally stay with the split stay, because I like the experience of two different resorts. You can get your Epcot fix while you're at BWV and then finish with some relaxation time at SSR.

We stayed at BWV the last week of Jan. 05 and were able to get three out of the four nights we wanted in a 2BR standard view, but we only booked it about four or five months in advance. If you book early you should be fine, as long as it's not over New Years. I know the marathon is the first weekend in Jan., and that can sometimes be busy, too.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[edk35]

I would personally stay with the split stay, because I like the experience of two different resorts. You can get your Epcot fix while you're at BWV and then finish with some relaxation time at SSR.

We stayed at BWV the last week of Jan. 05 and were able to get three out of the four nights we wanted in a 2BR standard view, but we only booked it about four or five months in advance. If you book early you should be fine, as long as it's not over New Years. I know the marathon is the first weekend in Jan., and that can sometimes be busy, too.

Good luck in your decision!

It would be checking in the Wed. after MLK Day for 5 or 6 nights.

 

[Pinmaniac]

I would think you won't have much trouble during that time period booking BWV - we didn't while we were SSR owners.

As to your other concern - that is exactly what happened to us. We had an extended stay at BWV although it was after staying at SSR and decided that we would much rather own at BWV than SSR in order to book at 11 months. We just finished selling our SSR contracts and are waiting for the right BWV contract to come along.

 

[bjakmom]

Here's my .02 - I would not cancel the 4 nights at BWV (my home resort, so I am a bit biased) for the August vacation. We have also gone the end of Aug and it is HOT and miserable waiting for transportation. When my kids were teens they LOVED being at the BWV (and still do) - at 16 and 13 your kids can always find something to do on their own - mine loved to just hang out and we kept track of them from the balcony most nights. You can walk to Epcot and take the boat to MGM during those days- very quick and easy transportation - and no standing on buses with hot, sweaty bodies. When you move to SSR you will have another whole area to enjoy and DTD for the kids to have fun at. In Jan (we were just there the end of Jan at AKL) we don't mind staying further away from the parks - buses and parks aren't crowded - it doesn't take as much out of you to travel back and forth like it does in the summer months. It was too cold for us to swim this Jan - and your kids will love the BWV pool- it even has a kiddie pool and play area - and I almost forgot to mention Community Hall (BWV) for the kids - great resource when you're spending more time at the resort - game tables, etc. for them!
PS: another thought - at the end of Jan the boardwalk area tends to be very quiet in the evenings - my experience has been that most of the nighttime entertainment there is only geared up (scheduled) during the spring, summer and fall seasons - so much fun to sit on your balcony at night and watch (or wander the boards).

 

[dis-happy]

The boardwalk area has such a charm of its own, especially at night. I think you and your family will really enjoy wandering around there in the evening, just steps from your room, watching the street performers, etc. Plus you can see parts of Illuminations even though when you're not in the park itself. Make sure you visit Beaches and Cream, one of our favorite places to eat. My kids also LOVE to go to the Community House and play games or do the arts and crafts projects. Lots to do and see just hanging around the resort there. Those weekend points can add up, maybe one night you can pay cash form the room using the member discount---might be worth it to you in the end.

 

[edk35]

The boardwalk area has such a charm of its own, especially at night. I think you and your family will really enjoy wandering around there in the evening, just steps from your room, watching the street performers, etc. Plus you can see parts of Illuminations even though when you're not in the park itself. Make sure you visit Beaches and Cream, one of our favorite places to eat. My kids also LOVE to go to the Community House and play games or do the arts and crafts projects. Lots to do and see just hanging around the resort there. Those weekend points can add up, maybe one night you can pay cash form the room using the member discount---might be worth it to you in the end.

How does the whole cash/discount work if you already have a ressie? Would we have to switch rooms? Do I call MS to ask for the cash option?

 

[Granny]

We LOVE THE PARKS but now since we are DVC members....and we are going in THE HEAT OF AUGUST....I want to really take advantage of the resorts, the pools, sleeping in, lazy days, going to DTD, doing Disney Quest ( first time for us), trying the two water parks (another first time for us) and just having a laid back vacation compared to COMMANDO PARK HOPPING....which we have done every trip.

It seems to me that your main focus on this trip is to RELAX. That is an excellent goal , and a key part of my suggestion below

We are planning on going back to Disney in Jan. for 5 days at which time we will do just parks. SO....SHOULD I JUST STAY AT SSR our entire trip, will I regret cancelling those BWV (but they are much higher in points...we are staying preferred and two weekend days) because that resort looks fun too. .........I am just so excited about going back as DVC members I want to make sure I do this RIGHT FOR OUR FIRST TRIP. I am scared my kids will love the BWV pool and the action there and be disappointed at SSR after we move.

My suggestion is to book your entire trip at SSR. Based on your comments, I think that would be best for you for a number of reasons:


- If your main goal is to relax, why spend any time moving from one resort to another? I can tell you that we found a big difference in staying at a resort for 9 or more days vs 5 days. After a few days, you really start to settle in and relax.

- I think your first stay as a DVC owner should be at your home resort. As your first DVC vacation, you will start making new memories and new vacation habits and personally I think that doing so at your home resort makes the most sense. In a way, it lets you start "bonding" with your resort as you find a new way to vacation at WDW.

- I think your concern about the kids (and yourself) being a bit disappointed in SSR after BWV is valid. SSR owners....don't flame me. It has nothing to do with SSR. It has to do with where you first start building your DVC memories. I'd say the same thing if the resorts were in reverse order for a BWV owner.

- You say that you don't want to commando tour and that the parks are not the emphasis of this trip. So why would being close to EPCOT matter then? It's not like you can't get there from SSR! Relax, enjoy the Disney transportation and you'll be able to enjoy EPCOT and all the parks just fine based from SSR.

So I'd suggest moving the entire reservation to SSR, pocket the extra points that you save and start building wonderful memories with your new HOME. You have plenty of time to stay at other DVC resorts, but you only have one first trip home!

I probably am in the minority opinion here, but thought I'd give you some food for thought. Enjoy your trip!