Newbie looking for advice...

[KelB40]

hi, everyone... i'm new to the DIS. here's my story, sad but true...
i haven't been back to WDW since i was about 16 yo, and i just turned "40"!! so, "Santa" finally left a trip to WDW under the tree for my kids (ages 6 & 8) this past dec., so i'm trying to reacquainted... alot has changed!! this will be my kids' 1st trip to WDW! after visiting WDW website, i kinda had my heart set on a savannah view rm at the AKL (not sure if i'm using the right acronyms, lol?!) then, i discovered the DIS and the concept of "renting" DVC pts for our trip ... but realize the AKL is not a DVC resort... so, looking for some experienced advice on:
1) are DVC perks/member servs the same if pts are used at AKL, or ONLY at DVC home resorts?
2) which theme parks will be best for kids ages 6-8, esp re: attraction restrictions (and, we only have about 5 days planned for this trip)? and,
3) which DVC or other WDW resort/hotel will be most convenient to those age-appropriate parks, as well as offering cool features for younger kids?
4) also planning to take a day for Seaworld/Discovery Cove??

any advice/suggestions welcome... thanks!!

 

[Caskbill]

Keep in mind that DVC is a timeshare featuring Studio, 1-B/R, 2-B/R and 3-
B/R villas. DVC is not hotels. AKL is a regular Disney hotel. While you can use DVC points at the regular WDW hotels, it is an inefficient use of points. At AKL during Value season, a regular savannah view room is 32 pts/night weekdays, and 58 pts/night weekends. You can get a 2-B/R fully equipped villa at OKW for 22 points weekdays and 54 points weekends during Adventure season.

If you're thinking of renting points, figure about $10/point. To use them at AKL would be equivalent to paying $320/night weekdays and $580/night weekends. I'm sure you can get regular cash prices through CRO much cheaper than that.

It's been almost 25 years now since our kids were the ages of your kids now, so I'll let someone else answer your other questions.

 

[KelB40]

thanks! but what's CRO? (it'll take me awhile to learn all the acronyms... gotta key or legend to those somewhere on the site, lol?!)

 

[KelB40]

P.S. ...also, anyone have an opinion on the villas vs. the campground cabins at Wilderness Lodge? thanks again!

 

[Scoootch]

thanks! but what's CRO? (it'll take me awhile to learn all the acronyms... gotta key or legend to those somewhere on the site, lol?!)

CRO stands for Central Reservations Office...which is who you are calling when you call the phone # you see on all the Walt Disney World comercials to book at the regular WDW hotetls : 1-(407)W-DISNEY

P.S. ...also, anyone have an opinion on the villas vs. the campground cabins at Wilderness Lodge? thanks again!

While I haven't personnaly stayed at the FW Cabins I do know enough about them that I can tell you the differences between them and a DVC villa.

The FW Cabins will give you a full kitchen with a murphy bed that pulls out of the wall in the Living room,a separate bedroom that will have a queen bed and a set of bunk beds and 1 bathroom as well as a deck to sit on outside. The resort is nice...it's a campground, woodsy. Lots of criter watching and you'd have the ammenties like the petting zoo ( ~ not sure how everyone's feeling about that though at the moment) and bike trails I think...they have a pool though not very themed and you can see the electrial water pagent at night from the FW campground beach as well as you'd be close the MK by boat Often you can get a great deal on the cabins for less than what you'd pay for the deluxe resorts and you can save on a few meals if you so choose with the kitchen or just have the convenience of being able to have leftovers in the fridge .

The DVC villas on the other hand will have:

In a studio: sleeps 4 ~ with either 1 queen bed and a pull out sleeper sofa (or 2 queen beds ~ at OKW only),a large bathroom,kitchenette w/microwave,sink,mini-fridge,toaster,cofee maker and a balcony.

In a 1 bdrm: sleeps 4 ~ with 1 king bed in the master bdrm,a jacuzzi tub and stand up shower in the master bathroom,a full kitchen with all the ammenities,in room washer and dryer,living room with a sleeper sofa and a balcony.

In a 2bdrm: sleeps 8 ~ with 1 king bed in the master bdrm,a jacuzzi tub and stand up shower in the master bathroom,a full kitchen with all the ammenities,in room washer and dryer,living room with a sleeper sofa, a 2nd bedroom with 2 queen beds (or 1 queen bed and a sleeper sofa), another bathroom, and a balcony.

In a 3 bdrm Grand Villa: sleeps 12 ~ All the same that a 2bdrm will have plus an extra bedroom with 2 more beds and another bathroom plus another bathroom in the common area off the living room.

Depending on which DVC resort, will depend on the theming. All are excellent with great pools and hot tubs. Some are withing walking distance to the parks (i.e. BCV's or BWV's walkable or boat to Epcot & MGM). Some have room service available. Renting the points for a DVC stay can cost DRAMATICALY LESS than to book through CRO .

Depending on what you'd be paying to stay at the cabins vs. a DVC villa would really be the difference...if they aren't far off in price for similar size villas I'd opt going for the DVC villa...but you really have to find these things out as well as remember that cancellation policies will be much more lenient booking through CRO and the fact that you won't get daily housekeeping if you rent points (not a problem for some...big problem for others ).

All things to consider. Hope that helps some

 

[Scoootch]

P.S. ....I didn't vote in your pole because if you haven't been to WDW in that many years with kids your ages, every Disney resort is good lol. It's really a matter of personnal taste...which theming appeals to you and your family and which will ultimetly fit your budget.

Best of luck and Pixie dust...you'll have a wonderful trip no matter which resort you decide on

~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~*~

 

[KelB40]

thanks, everyone, so far... I was thinking my son would enjoy the wilderness/cowboy theme at the VWL, vs. the "beach" theme (since we typically get to the mid-atlantic beaches every summer... though I know that's like comparing apples to oranges!)
guess it will come down to what pts. we can rent and what availability there is at the time we hope to travel (which I think right now our pref. is Nov. 6-11, '05)??

more advice still and always welcome...

 

[Scoootch]

If you're looking to rent points for this coming NOV. I would start looking now...NOV. is a busy time for DVC

 

[FreeTime]

I voted for the cabins so that the kids can run around in your little yard you will get to get rid of some of their steam. Since it is Nov, you may not want to swim, but if you do, the pool area at FW is terrible, so you may want to stay somewhere else. My personal favorite would be Boardwalk. Our kids 3 & 5 love it there. Just keep in mind with DVC you do not get housekeeping unless you pay extra for it. So if you want someone to make your bed, etc on this trip, you may be better off not going DVC (unless you plan on cooking and saving money that way). Dependent upon your budget, there are tons of places onsite that you can stay, and having not gone in so many years I think there would all be great places to stay.

Have fun planning!

 

[Caskbill]

thanks! but what's CRO? (it'll take me awhile to learn all the acronyms... gotta key or legend to those somewhere on the site, lol?!)

You can see the list of abbreviations commonly used on the DIS boards by looking HERE

P.S. ...also, anyone have an opinion on the villas vs. the campground cabins at Wilderness Lodge? thanks again!

Be sure you understand the campground cabins are located at Ft. Wilderness which is the campground. They are not located at Wilderness Lodge which is the hotel. The two are very different and located almost a mile apart. However, the DVC resort (Villas at Wilderness Lodge) is located next to, and is part of, the Wilderness Lodge complex.


Just for the fun of it, I marked up a satellite image of the main areas of interest.....

 

[KelB40]

wow, thanks for the satellite view... very helpful!!

 

[Girlie Goofy]

I voted for the Wilderness Lodge because it is closest to the Magic Kingdom and because you can get a room with a queen sized bed and a set of bunk beds. This combination always worked so well with our daughters, that we never got to stay anyshere else! They also adored Whsipering Canyon Cafe, very much misnamed.

 

[Girlie Goofy]

Sorry, I gave you some wrong information in the above post. The Contemporary is the closest resort mentioned in your list to the Magic Kingdom. Their rooms have two queen beds, and a daybed. You can walk to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary, and it's on the monorail!

 

[KelB40]

I'm racking my brain to compare DVC rental vs. Magic Your Way vacation pkg.
so, hope this doesn't sound like "silly" ?

i notice that MYW pkgs. incl. diff. ticket options & dining plans, extended park hrs., etc. do DVC rentals incl. any "MEMBER BENEFITS" during the stay, or is the cost for villa ONLY and everything else is ala carte??

 

[Caskbill]

i notice that MYW pkgs. incl. diff. ticket options & dining plans, extended park hrs., etc. do DVC rentals incl. any "MEMBER BENEFITS" during the stay, or is the cost for villa ONLY and everything else is ala carte??

Technically persons who rent points from a member to stay at a DVC resort are not entitled to any Member Benefits. When a member stays at a DVC resort their villa key states "DVC Member" on it so they can use it for the member discounts.

Now having said that, it has been reported by some people in the past that when they rented, they still got cards that said "DVC Member" on them and used it to get benefits. However you should not count on MS to make that 'mistake' and give you a card thus marked.

The only ticket benefit are discounts on annual passes which are available only to the owner of the contract itself, not to anyone who uses those points. Other discounts such as dining discounts require the card say "DVC Member" on it.

 

[JimC]

BCV - best pool on property, beaches and cream (complete with the kitchen sink) right there.

But if it was select park first then best resort to go with it -- MK for the kids and Poly for the resort.

 

[Scoootch]

Just a quick FYI on the question about renters getting DVC member perks...they definetly are cracking down on making sure you're entitled to the perks. We just went to Disney over the weekend and valet parked at WL (we went to Whispering Canyon Cafe' for breakfast ) And they actually asked me "May I see your blue DVC member card please" when I asked the valet to retrieve our car. Not just "are you a DVC member" sooo....you may be able to get the perks you may not...but be prepared they're starting to ask for the actual membership card