number of days vs. room views

[supersuperwendy]

My husband wanted me to get your opinions on this. Would you shorten the length of your trip to get a better view that costs more points? We always seem to book standard view to maximize the points, but yesterday I suggested dropping off a day next summer and book a nicer view. He thinks thats nuts to do. Do any of you stay shorter and have a nicer view or are you like us and always go standard view to get the most days in WDW???

 

[katrina1122]

We don't own DVC, but will be renting in 2012. We are renting the cheapest studio we can get so we can go the most days. We've talked about buying into DVC in the next few years and will buy as few as points as possible. View doesn't matter, vacation time does.

Sure I don't want to stare at a dumpster, but that's rare anyway. We are rarely in our room, so it's just a a place to sleep. If we are on a cruise, then we do upgrade for a balcony view, but for WDW, it's all about length of stay!!!

 

[wbl2745]

My husband wanted me to get your opinions on this. Would you shorten the length of your trip to get a better view that costs more points? We always seem to book standard view to maximize the points, but yesterday I suggested dropping off a day next summer and book a nicer view. He thinks thats nuts to do. Do any of you stay shorter and have a nicer view or are you like us and always go standard view to get the most days in WDW???

Good question. Normally we don't go for view, since we intend to spend most of our time out of the room, doing things. However, during our trip to WDW last December (trip report is here) on our last day we had a Savanna View at AKV. I loved it! I spent the whole morning just sitting on the balcony watching the animals. Of course by then I was really tired and just didn't want to move, but having the view that day was worth it.

I think you have to know what you want. Some times just sitting and watching the world (or animals) go by is worth it. Maybe a split stay, which has its own problems, is a way to get the best of both worlds.

 

[AKLFan3]

My husband wanted me to get your opinions on this. Would you shorten the length of your trip to get a better view that costs more points? We always seem to book standard view to maximize the points, but yesterday I suggested dropping off a day next summer and book a nicer view. He thinks thats nuts to do. Do any of you stay shorter and have a nicer view or are you like us and always go standard view to get the most days in WDW???

It depends on which resort you are staying at and whether you are focusing on relaxation at the resort or if you are going to spend most of your time in the parks. For example, at AKV, I know I want to spend 5 nights at WDW for Christmas and Food & Wine Festival. So I will get a view that has fewer points so I can spend as many days there as possible. But if I am just going to WDW just to have fun without focusing on a specific event at the parks, I don't mind staying 3 nights or 4 nights and having the more point heavy savanna view room.

 

[cvjw]

Since purchasing DVC, and spending more time at Disney, we aren't park commandos anymore. We enjoy our DVC villas, and spend much more time in our villa than we did when we stayed in a regular Disney room. We want the best views because we enjoy sitting out on the balcony, and we don't want to look at a parking lot! That being said, we have enough points for good views and longer stays. If I could only pick one, I would pick longer stays.

 

[goofydad99]

We drive so we would rather stay longer with less of a view.

That being said, no matter what view you have you're in Disney so we are happy.

 

[rentayenta]

I guess it depends on the resort. I'm a view junkie and couldn't imagine AKV without a savanah view. The horror!

 

[BeesKnees]

If you always go for the longer stays over the views then you have not given the better view a chance to win you over. You are going to be a DVC member for a very long time it would be silly, IMO, to have rules or policies about resorts, rooms, or views. Nothing posted here will beat experiencing it first-hand. Even if it turns out that you regret it next year 5 years from now you may decide that a more relaxing trip with a nice view is a higher priority and you will have the experience to plan accordingly.

 

[schewy]

If you spend more time in the parks than in your resort, I would choose the standard view. If you spend more time in the resort, I would choose the view.
At AKV and BLT I always choose the standard becuase I can walk down to see the animals and rock in the rockers, or go to the roof to see the fireworks.

 

[katrina1122]

If you always go for the longer stays over the views then you have not given the better view a chance to win you over. You are going to be a DVC member for a very long time it would be silly, IMO, to have rules or policies about resorts, rooms, or views. Nothing posted here will beat experiencing it first-hand. Even if it turns out that you regret it next year 5 years from now you may decide that a more relaxing trip with a nice view is a higher priority and you will have the experience to plan accordingly.

That's not necessarily true. I've stayed at AKL Savanna, BWV pool view and WL pool/MK view. WL was an upgrade from parking lot because WL gave us keys to an occupied room, the other views were by choice. We loved the views, of course, but we love being in the parks more, so paying extra points for the view doesn't make sense to us. We've been there, done that. Sure if we can get a veiw great, but I'd rather spend a few extra days any time.

 

[gonzalj1]

Great question and an issue DW and I struggle with every trip.

We tend to go for more time in the world over view. Heck, even over room size. This trip we're doing 6 nights in a OKW Studio before moving to 7 nights in a AKV 1BR just to maximize the time on property.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

A book better views for short 2 day stays, like for a savana view at AKV and I hope in the near future an MK view at BLT, living close by makes this possible for me. Other than that, my typical stay is Sun-Thu and I make requests for Congress Park at SSR, or Turtle Pond at OKW but none that cost me extra points. I absolutely do not shorten my stay for a better view. For Example, at BWV I don't mind the view of the lawn at the entrance, a view of the BW isn't important to me.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've only tried a BW view once and although it was a nice view, neither DH nor I thought it was worth the extra points. So, at BWV, we book standard view, it's a great bargain, especially since we like to go for NYE and stay there at the BWV!

Now AKV has me compromising my ideals because I can book a value and can get a savannah view, and in fact, many of my AKV stays have been in a value room and most of the time, the view has been of the savannah! However, with my DGC when we stay at AKV I will always book a savannah view.

BLT is another story because of the high point costs. I have a waitlist for a BLT standard view that is the same number of points that our reservation of AKV savannah view is. If I get the BLT, fine, if not, we'll enjoy the animals. This is a family vacation and those were the two places that were picked to stay, so either way, people will be happy. I don't own at BLT, so I imagine that most of my stays there will be Lake View. I can't imagine any sort of trip where I will get the Theme park view. I recently made a BLT 1 bedroom reservation and my choice was lake or theme park, I chose lake.

Then there's VB, and if I could spend a week in a 2 bedroom or 3 days in a BC, the BC would win...that's without a doubt for not only me, but DH as well. Now, an OVIR would also win over the 1-2 bedroom villas and that's what I have picked for my January stay. I just have to see the ocean from my room when I'm there. We recently stayed in a 2 bedroom with sea grapes as the only view. I enjoyed the trip because I love VB and we were with the DGC, so we wanted to be together and not just in individual rooms, but I must say that at first, I had booked 3 OVIRs!

Bobbi

 

[jekjones1558]

If your vacation purpose is maximizing park time, go for longer stays. If you are ready to spend more time relaxing and enjoying the different vacation style that being a DVCer can provide, then book a great view and relish the resort. We have APs and so we no longer feel obligated to put in long park hours as we did when we used MYW tickets. We so love really making our DVC villa our home-away-from-home and a big part of that is enjoying the balcony and the view.

 

[BeesKnees]

That's not necessarily true. I've stayed at AKL Savanna, BWV pool view and WL pool/MK view. WL was an upgrade from parking lot because WL gave us keys to an occupied room, the other views were by choice. We loved the views, of course, but we love being in the parks more, so paying extra points for the view doesn't make sense to us. We've been there, done that. Sure if we can get a veiw great, but I'd rather spend a few extra days any time.

What is true for you and your experiences may not be true for someone else and, again, actual experience is the only way to know.

In 10 years we have gone from being in the park all day every day to a couple of days per trip. We have even been when we didn't go to the parks at all. Some people may change, some people may not. 5 years from now whatever your favorite resort is now might change or it might not.

We have stayed at most of the properties with and without views for varied lengths of times. So far the only constant is that we absolutely hate studios.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I appreciate your replies everyone...thanks!! We are still park commandos and most likely will be until our kids are grown I think. Or even beyond that! Our next three trips after this year are during high point seasons...June 2012, Easter Week 2013 and Thanksgiving 2014. I have penciled in a value 2 bedroom or standard view at Kidani if the value isn't available at 11 months for all three. Yesterday I suggested at 7 months trying for something with higher points but it would mean losing a day or two. He said that's a bad idea and ask the experts what they think! You guys are right...at this point it's a good idea to maximize our points. We should be thankful we can take advantage of the value category at 11 months!

 

[sweetdana]

I like split stays, to use what each room/resort has to offer.. IE 2 days with a view 4 days without. (Or 4 nights with a studio and 4 nights in a 1 bedroom. Or 4 nights at BC and 4 nights at AK Stand).

I wouldn't trade a whole say for a view, but I like adding in 2-3 nights with something extra for us, it is usually a diff resort and a 1 bedroom.


No answer is wrong, we also do not live by our years points. I am all about borrowing, or transferring in and then banking. Getting the FQ for 4 nights to get a 1 bedroom for 4 nights. I do not use my points as a spcific # of points for a trip, or even for a yr. Only as a starting point. If I run out.. back to the rental board for a transfer.