NYE resort dilemma

[mouseclick1]

My family just made the decision to go to WDW at the end of December, including NYE. It will be my husband and I, my adult son and girlfriend, and possibly my other adult son and possibly his girlfriend. They won't know their schedule for a while. I was able to get a 2BR at the VGF for 3 nights, but only a 1BR at the BWV for New Year's Eve. Now that will be fine if my second son & gf don't join us, but we are all hoping they do.

I can't book at other resorts until Tuesday, but there currently are several 2 BR available in other resorts at this point. Of course I realize that others may be waiting to do the same and that may not even be an option by Tuesday. I hate to give up the BWV because 1) it's our favorite, and 2) it's NYE!

So I see my options as:
Keep BWV and hope the waitlist comes through for a 2BR. I currently have a standard 2BR waitlisted.
Give up BWV and book 2BR at other resort.
Book studio at other DVC if available. Points would need to be borrowed and could not be returned if the room is not needed.
Keep BWV and book value resort for 2 people in our party so I could cancel if it is not needed.(don't know who would take that).
Keep BWV and book room at BWI for big bucks (over $700 including tax)

Any thoughts? I have never waitlisted a room before, so I'm not sure what my chances are that BWV will come through.

 

[mouseclick1]

I just came up with one more option, though it seems a little far fetched even to me.

Cancel VGF and BWV. Book 2BR at OKW for first 3 nights, then add a Poly Bungalow for NYE, if it is still available to book. Not sure if 3 days at VGF is worth the trade off of one night in a bungalow. At least there would be room for everyone in one place if everyone ends up going.

 

[pinklotusflower]

you might be better wait listing a boardwalk view, I'm not one for short spit stays and would try and get a two bedroom for all the nights at the same resort

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I would add a BWV studio wait list for the one night you have the one bedroom already. In the meantime check if BW has a studio for cash, easy to cancel if the wait list comes thru.

For my second wait list, I would go with a BW 2bedroom for the 3 nights at VGF. Plenty of time yet for changes

 

[js]

Im really not a split stay person especially if there are potentially six of you so my suggestion would be to book a two bedroom at OKW, SSR or AKVs. Good luck! We will be at SSR THVs day after Christmas until New Years day with our 22 and 18 year old children. Enjoy!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you really could get a Poly bungalow for NYE, I would do that! Two years ago, before the bungalows were in use, (but they were built, so maybe it was 3 years ago) our Fireworks NYE boat cruise stayed by them for fireworks viewing. It was a grand fireworks view! Truly memorable place to view the awesome fireworks!!


Other than that, I would not give up the BWV for NYE. I would have a wait list there because the Boardwalk location is so perfect for getting back to your resort after the NYE fireworks at Epcot. BCV would have the same convenience. Also from either you have the option to going conveniently to DHS for those fireworks.

I've been to WDW for 5-6 NYE's and have only stayed at BCV, BWV or BLT because I've heard about the traffic around the World and it's not something I care to experience.

Bobbi

 

[js]

If you really could get a Poly bungalow for NYE, I would do that! Two years ago, before the bungalows were in use, (but they were built, so maybe it was 3 years ago) our Fireworks NYE boat cruise stayed by them for fireworks viewing. It was a grand fireworks view! Truly memorable place to view the awesome fireworks!!


Other than that, I would not give up the BWV for NYE. I would have a wait list there because the Boardwalk location is so perfect for getting back to your resort after the NYE fireworks at Epcot. BCV would have the same convenience. Also from either you have the option to going conveniently to DHS for those fireworks.

I've been to WDW for 5-6 NYE's and have only stayed at BCV, BWV or BLT because I've heard about the traffic around the World and it's not something I care to experience.

Bobbi

Hi Bobbi. Can you please let me know more about what you have done on NYE during your trips?
If we end up going to Epcot, can I arrive about 5 and get in? I think from my questions this week, it should be ok.
What time did you make your dinner reservations and where were you on your NYE visits?
I know many have said not much goes on in DTD during NYE but with us being at SSR and having adult children (and one over 21 to drink), thinking
I want to be at Epcot or DTD. DTD would be SOOO much easier for us since staying at SSR.

Thanks so much!

 

[supersnoop]

f we end up going to Epcot, can I arrive about 5 and get in? I think from my questions this week, it should be ok.
What time did you make your dinner reservations and where were you on your NYE visits?

We were at Epcot for NYE 2014/2015. We were staying at BLT. Around 10:30 AM, we hopped on the monorail to the TTC. There we found that the Epcot monorail was down, so they routed us to a bus. Traffic was backed up getting into the TTC parking lot; backed up past the Epcot exit. We probably sat in traffic for 90 minutes. Then we waited in a long bag-check line. Then we waiting in a long line at the turnstiles. I think we made it into the park around 2PM. You'll get in if you arrive at 5PM, but it will take a while to get to the park and take a while to get into the park.

We made three table-service reservations for that day and the day before at Magic Kingdom (11AM, 4PM, and 9PM), since we were planning to spend the whole time inside the parks and wanted to rest and relax. That was too much the day prior, so I cancelled all but our 9PM reservation (and slept in a little). We probably camped out in a spot to watch the fireworks at about 11PM. After they were over, we exited through a back cut-through, hopped on the monorail, made the connection, and were back at BLT by 12:35AM.

 

[bobbiwoz]

My biggest mistake was one year making Via Napoli reservations for dinner around 7:30 and not being in Epcot earlier in the day. We got in around 6 at the International Gateway, but it took us an hour and a half to get to the restaurant, thank heavens we left BCV when we did! The crowd was unbelievable, major tie up by Morrocco. On the way going back to the IG, they actually had CM's directing traffic there. Had never seen it before.

It is expensive, but twice we have had an Illuminations cruise for NYE. Cost comes to about $100 per person including the tip, but the captain provides more than the usual snacks, there's champagne and other things, I suppose left to captain's discression, or you can specify.

Once, we booked a December 30 boat cruise for the Midnight fireworks at the MK. That was the time we stopped by the Poly Bungalows. Tom booked the cruise in the beginning oh July, and we had no trouble getting the other 8 folks to join us by asking on the Theme Park Community Board of the Disboards. I think, but am not sure the cost per person, including the tip, came to around $70. The reason we wanted to do this, is because at the MK on The 30th and NYE, there are fireworks set off from an island in the Seven Seas Lagoon. In the park, I found myself turning around to try to take it all in. Last year, we specifically booked BLT to have the TOTW lounge view of those fireworks. I think the boat view was the best. Those Bungalows would be perfect, and just like the cruise view, no crowds at all!

We also have seen NYE fireworks at DHS. They were good, but the Frozen and now Star Wars fireworks they show now are better than the NYE fireworks we had seen there.

I love seeing fireworks! This year for July 3, we'll be at TTOTW, for the 4th Epcot. I would be interested in getting on an Illuminations cruise on the 4th, but have had no luck getting on one, so far.

I have no experience spending the holiday at Disney Springs. If there is something spectacular, that's where I just might be next year!

Bobbi

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks for the input and sharing your experiences with NYE. I switched VGF to 2BR OKW to save a few points, and kept the 1BR at BWV for NYE. I'm waitlisted for a BWV 2BR and keeping my fingers crossed! I also booked a 1 BR at OKW for NYE just in case the 2BR at BWV doesn't come through as a back up. At least I now know that everyone will have a place to sleep! Would love to have gone with the bungalow but we really want to be in the Epcot are for NYE. The bungalow will have to stay on my bucket list a little longer!

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks for the input and sharing your experiences with NYE. I switched VGF to 2BR OKW to save a few points, and kept the 1BR at BWV for NYE. I'm waitlisted for a BWV 2BR and keeping my fingers crossed! I also booked a 1 BR at OKW for NYE just in case the 2BR at BWV doesn't come through as a back up. At least I now know that everyone will have a place to sleep! Would love to have gone with the bungalow but we really want to be in the Epcot are for NYE. The bungalow will have to stay on my bucket list a little longer!

What view category did you waitlist at BWV? There are a lot more preferred pool/garden view rooms than there are standard or BW view rooms, so you would increase your odds by waitlisting for a preferred pool/garden view 2BR. Since you already have a 1 bedroom for NYE at BWV, you might also consider waitlisting another 1 bedroom at BWV, since they are easier to get than 2 bedrooms or studios.

 

[mouseclick1]

What view category did you waitlist at BWV? There are a lot more preferred pool/garden view rooms than there are standard or BW view rooms, so you would increase your odds by waitlisting for a preferred pool/garden view 2BR. Since you already have a 1 bedroom for NYE at BWV, you might also consider waitlisting another 1 bedroom at BWV, since they are easier to get than 2 bedrooms or studios.

I am on the waitlist for a 2BR garden/pool view since I thought that would be easier to come by than a standard or BW view. I did take your advice and added a 1BR to the waitlist to replace the OKW reservation. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[jekjones1558]

I am on the waitlist for a 2BR garden/pool view since I thought that would be easier to come by than a standard or BW view. I did take your advice and added a 1BR to the waitlist to replace the OKW reservation. Thanks for the suggestion!

Good luck!