Need Advice on Deciding Which DVC Resort, Please!

[Disneymooner07]

We are contemplating buying into DVC (through Disney or resale) in the not so distant future and I'm trying to narrow down the resort choices. Here's my dilemma:

We would like to go every year or two to WDW with just our little family (me, DH, DD). But we would also like to be able to stay in a Grand Villa (at any resort) with extended family ideally at Christmas every few years (maybe once every 3-4 years). Problem is, I'm leaning toward the Beach Club Villas and they don't have any Grand Villas. How difficult will it be to get a Grand Villa at another resort at the 7 month mark? I know it would be possible to get a 2BR and a studio at BCV, but I'd really like to have us all stay together in one unit. I know different resorts have different numbers of Grand Villas which will affect availability, so any specific experiences with a particular resort would be very helpful!

Thanks in advance for any information!

 

[DVC Mike]

See the Choosing Your Home Resort - What to Consider? thread.

 

[crisi]

Buy your BCV points if that is where your heart is.

Buy enough points for an every three year vacation in a GV over Christmas at whatever resort is most appealing.

GVs are tough to get over Christmas at seven months anywhere.

(Or vice versa, buy another resort for their GVs, and then buy enough points at BCV for your every year/every other year trip).

 

[Disneymooner07]

See the Choosing Your Home Resort - What to Consider? thread.

Thanks, DVC Mike. I'll take a look at the thread.

Buy your BCV points if that is where your heart is.

Buy enough points for an every three year vacation in a GV over Christmas at whatever resort is most appealing.

GVs are tough to get over Christmas at seven months anywhere.

(Or vice versa, buy another resort for their GVs, and then buy enough points at BCV for your every year/every other year trip).

Ooo, I like your vice versa suggestion, though I'm not sure we're ready to buy in at two resorts just yet!

I guess my question boils down to: just how hard is it to get a GV reservation at 7 months? (At Christmas or at any other time of the year?) If it's really impossible, I may just have to forego BCV and buy in at a resort that has GVs in order to guarantee that we can get into a GV.

 

[cj9200]

We bought at BWV and booked a Grand Villa at the 11 month window for January. Getting it at the 7 month mark I think would be tough. We love BCV during the summer and have successfully waitlisted twice. If your heart is getting a Grand Villa, then I would buy where there is one so you can use the advance booking to your advantage. If not, you can always get 1 or 2 bedrooms at BCV.

 

[crisi]

Its not impossible. Its not even impossible at Christmas. But neither is getting a royal flush in poker (the Christmas part)

Unless you are looking to BCV in December or October (over F&W) you'll probably have better luck getting BCV at seven months than a GV.

 

[delaneyc52]

Up front I will say I have never tried for a GV at Christmas...however, whenever I wanted a Grand Villa (and I've done it now 3 times with a ton of teenagers), I was always able to get one at the end of August in Old Key West which is not even my home resort. The plus is also that OKW GV's are cheaper point wise.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Perhaps you should look at which Grand Villas you like best and buy there. I've seen videos on youtube of the BLT lake view grand villa and I think it's breathtaking! I like that at AKV you have two styles of grand villa to choose from. The single level at Jambo is something to behold and includes a pool table! Like someone else said you could most likely snag BCV at 7 months if not trying to book during F&W. Also, BLT and AKV have later contract ending dates then BCV which was an important deciding factor for us. We went with AKV and are glad we did!

 

[pickles]

I would buy points at 2 places..BCV(lesser points) and whereever you like the grandvilla most

and then play the bank and borrom game as needed

your points all pool together at 7 months so you can use your grandvilla points at bcv..just may need to waitlist at 7 months for the extra days your smaller contract couldnt get

However, you may find after visiting several resorts your tastes change over time

 

[jekjones1558]

I agree with Crisi that your odds are better at booking BCV at 7 months than a GV at 7 months, except during a slow season (like August) when an OKW GV may be relatively easy to get.
We bought points at OKW specifically for the ability to book a GV at 11 months. We like the layout of the OKW GV and they cost fewer points to stay. Buy-in at OKW is pretty cheap on the resale market also.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[BigEeyore]

Just to be sure - have you seen how many points a GV is per night? It can really eat up your points.
Other options - consider SSR for the treehouses - you can get a 3BR treehouse for same pts as a 2BR.
Also - look at the floorplan for AKV Kidani 2BR - there would be plenty of room for your family and the grandparents (3 bathrooms, 3 beds, one sleeper chair and a sleeper sofa).
I truly believe though that you should buy where you love - especially if you think you will be travelling during busy times (Christmas, etc). Good luck!

 

[crisi]

Just to be sure - have you seen how many points a GV is per night? It can really eat up your points.

Worth repeating. Especially over Christmas. Your own family is rather small and doesn't sound like it travels to Disney that often. Paying for extended family (at least in terms of their room) is a great thing to do (we've done it - frequently) but something to think through. Know your family and their enthusiasm for something like this - or you may find your small family rattling around the GV by itself. If your primary motivator is elderly parents - how many more years of travel do you have?, DVC is likely to be a long term thing. Make sure you can afford to "treat" family.

There are a ton of horror stories around here from people who try and bring family - and a ton of wonderful stories as well. Get a feeling for the risk - particularly if this is a prime motivation for purchase.