Need Help With Planning--Not for the Faint of Heart!

[goodferry]

Thanks in advance to all who offer help, I truly appreciate all the support the members of this board offer. My family of six, plus my parents, are planning a trip, for about a week, maybe a little more, next December. My dad is going because my mom wants to go with the kids, he is not a big disney, or theme parks in general, fan. So, I am trying to keep that in mind as I plan. My family has been numerous times, but this is their first.
So, taking into account that my dad might need otherwise occupied while we toured, I decided to rent points from a DVC owner and reserve a 2 Bdrm preferred view at the Boardwalk Villas. My kids would rather stay in the Polynesian, but we have stayed there the last two visits with them and I think my dad will like sitting on the balcony watching people on the Boardwalk. Plus he could walk over to Epcot and look around and I think he would like that best.
Second, my dad is cheap and if he takes a look at the menu pricing, he is liable to have a stroke, so I think the meal plan would be a good decision for us, that way it's already paid for and he just orders what he wants.
So, I found a DVC owner willing to rent me points for the 2-Bedroom, here comes the complicated part. We are arriving on a Friday (maybe a thursday )and he said we would be better off getting the room through disney the weekend and then renting the points from him for the rest of the weekend.
So, here are my questions. How does the dining plan work with DVC? Would we have to purchase two separate packages for this to work? If that's the case, I would think the savings of getting the room from disney would be eaten up by the fact that we were buying a two day package and then a five day package, follow me?
Also, if I reserve a 2bdrm at the Boardwalk through Disney, would I be able to use my AAA discount?
Please feel free to point out any flaws in my thinking or anything I might be missing.
Thanks!
Linda

 

[rahrah]

My dad is going because my mom wants to go with the kids, he is not a big disney, or theme parks in general, fan. So, I am trying to keep that in mind as I plan.

Given your dad's level of interest, I would consider Saratoga Springs. It has good access to Downtown Disney (no ticket required), and you can park your car near your room if he wants to drive somewhere. It is also right on top of a golf course.

 

[mickeywho?]

So, I found a DVC owner willing to rent me points for the 2-Bedroom, here comes the complicated part. We are arriving on a Friday (maybe a thursday )and he said we would be better off getting the room through disney the weekend and then renting the points from him for the rest of the weekend.
So, here are my questions. How does the dining plan work with DVC? Would we have to purchase two separate packages for this to work? If that's the case, I would think the savings of getting the room from disney would be eaten up by the fact that we were buying a two day package and then a five day package, follow me?
Also, if I reserve a 2bdrm at the Boardwalk through Disney, would I be able to use my AAA discount?
Please feel free to point out any flaws in my thinking or anything I might be missing.
Thanks!
Linda

Throwing my 2cents in!
The DVC owner is right. Book a 2bdrm through disney for the Friday and Saturday night , if you need to add Thursday night you can call yourself at a later time to arrange it . Book it as a package (includes ddp, park tickets for whatever length of time you need including the balance of your week). You will not be able to have AAA discount as that is for room-only bookings. And that option may not even be available as they limit the amount of rooms they allow this for. Depending on any promotions going on when you go you may get your dining for free or savings on your tickets.
Then have the dvc'r rent you your room for the balance of your stay. You already have your park tickets from your first reservation and will need to request the ddp be added to your reservation. DVC'rs don't get packages so everything - ddp & tickets - are purchased seperately anyways.
As a DVC owner I'd be doing it this way for myself.
Hope that helps!

 

[goodferry]

Thanks soooo much, that's exactly what I wanted to know! We did consider the SSR, however, my parents are from Saratoga Springs!! So we decided they would like something not similar to what they are used to. Although, from pictures, the SSR doesn't resemble the actual Saratoga Springs. I think (make that hope) he will like the resort choice, my second choice was Wilderness Lodge, which I think he would like for the decor.
The next decision will be to rent a car or not...We have always gone the limo route with the grocery stop, but the price of the Magical Express is appealing and we could always have groceries delivered. We have almost a year to decide, I will feel better though when we have our resort booked.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Also, if you are booking a preferred view at the BWV, it will not be have a Boardwalk view. It wil be a view of a pool or the canal. Boardwalk view is a separate guaranteed booking category. It cannot be booked with both points and cash.

Your Dad can still watch the activity on the Boardwalk, but he will need to go out to the big porch off the lobby (or the Boardwalk itself) to do so.

Best of luck in your decision. -- Suzanne

 

[goodferry]

I realize that the two reservations will be seperate, and that we may not end up with the same villa and may have to transfer. However, I was under the impression that BW view was a request under the preferred view category, is there a different category I am missing other than standard and preferred?