Off-site to DVC -- worth the hassle?

[CK1]

If we stay off-site for our 1st night then check in to BWV the next am -- is this worth it for us?

We have 8 folks in our group (4 adults, 4 kids aged 4 to 9) and of that group, 3 are flying in, 5 are driving. The driving group has seating for 6 only in their car. So if we go to off-site hotel, then have to relocate to on-site, either we will have to run our own form of a "shuttle" from off-site to BWV, or half the group takes a cab, or have the 3 carless folks rent a car for their stay -- something.

The 3-some is paying for any non-DVC nights and wants to try Sea World. All would probably enjoy it, and we've never done it before. But if we do this, wouldn't we need 2 nights to make this work? (Fri night arrival to hotel near SW, Sat night at hotel to recover after SW, then check out Sun am and check into BWV). I am afraid that if we arrive Sat night and use the Sunday to do SW, that it will be a real mess trying to race over to BWV, check in, have NO idea what we're gonna get (leaving it to the hands of CM and fate), race back to SW, then after SW try to haul everybody back via car/taxi/bus whatever to BWV at night... that sounds pretty messy, doesn't it?

If our BWV is std view, fairly simply requests (NS, No HC, upper floor facing BWI direction), does it make sense to stick around to assure ourselves a room (or does it even matter with a std view)? The first 2 requests are really "musts". We will be there for 10 nights (possibly 11). Truly could not handle a S room... med need definitely. And were it just a day or two we could manage with a HC... but not for 11 days with all those kids and low dials/knobs, lack of counter space for 8 folks' stuff, etc.) Is there a real risk here, since we aren't trying to secure an elusive BW view, or paying pref. pts? Could we just wing it with an 8 am check-in and take our chances on whatever the desk gives us when we get in at 8 that night? Are we "wasting" a day by checking into a DVC resort and then hoofing it over to SW all day (when we could be using it to do WDW things, checking out resort, etc.)

Is a hotel near SW a good idea, or should I tell 'em go on-site to make our transfer to BWV easier? And if the SW hotel option is the way to go, would we need 1 night or 2?

What a mess.

CK1

 

[Maistre Gracey]

How about checking into BWV before heading to SW? You don't need to move all your stuff, but rather just get a room and check your requests.

-Just a thought...

 

[CK1]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
How about checking into BWV before heading to SW? You don't need to move all your stuff, but rather just get a room and check your requests.

-Just a thought...

Well, that's sort of what I'm asking -- if I try to check in at BWV and then leave BWV to go to SW, is that wise, since I'd have to go back/forth from hotel to bWV, then back to hotel, get with my group, go to SW (and never know what room we're gonna get 'til we roll back into BWV later that night!)

Would it be easier to stay in an on-site resort and just find a way to get my party of 8 over to SW sometime later that week? That way, bags would be transferred readily, I could be on-hand to insure BWV room meets needs, and we could all enjoy the resort without a "rushed" and racing feeling.

I may have just made up my own mind... maybe I'll jump over to the SW board and see what those folks think!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I guess I would hang out and get the room I wanted. Perhaps it's just me, but the room I'm staying in at Disney for 11 days is more important than an extra couple of hours at SW. If it were me, I would just tell the others you'll meet them for lunch.

I'm sure you'll get other opinions....

 

[Granny]

From what you've described, I would use Sunday to check in at BWV and do Sea World later in the week.

Sea World is a wonderful park and I think that if you try to check in at BWV then do Sea World, two things will happen:

1. You'll feel rushed because you'll be at BWV tapping your toes waiting to check in, wasting "Sea World time". Likewise, you'll rush over to Sea World.

2. While at Sea World, you'll feel anxiety over your room assignment and won't truly enjoy SW.

I think you've already talked yourself into it, but it looks like you should check into BWV on Sunday and stick around until you are comfortable with your room assignment.

Then go to SW on another, low stress day.

Good luck!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Granny
From what you've described, I would use Sunday to check in at BWV and do Sea World later in the week.


I think you've already talked yourself into it, but it looks like you should check into BWV on Sunday and stick around until you are comfortable with your room assignment.

Then go to SW on another, low stress day.

Good luck!

Ya, that's it.... why didn't I think of that?

 

[Bcat]

We just returned from 5 nights in a 2 bedroom at BWV and 2 nights in a 2 bedroom at VB. In between (saving those Fri and Sat points) we stayed 2 nights at the Caribe Royale. It's just down the road from the Marriott World Hotel, a couple of miles east of Downtown Disney. We have stayed there for some Tupperware Conventions in the past. All the rooms are 2 room suites with 2 queen beds, sofa bed, refrig, microwave, etc. Nice pool with a slide. Last Fri and Sat we paid $109/night. 5-10 minute drive to BWV.

 

[vernon]

Do you all need/want to do the same things at the same time? If not you could have some/most of you visit SW while a smaller group organise the check in/hang out at the pool for the morning, then later in the week those that didn't make SW could go then. Those that went to SW earlier might have the chance to use up a 2nd day free on their original day (their cost would only be transportation to and from SW) , or they could have a day at WDW. This might also help your transportation problems if someone dropped the check in group at BW with some of the luggage, then returned to the SW group , spent the day there and brought the rest of the people and luggage that evening.

It would seem to me there is a chance the flyers would have more difficulty (potentially) if they have already booked flights, so it might be a workable option if just the driving group went a day earlier (Friday), checked into an I-Drive hotel for 2 nights ,did SW Saturday and checked into BW Sunday early to make sure of a good room choice. The flyers arrive Saturday, check into the I-Drive hotel for 1 night do SW on the Sunday and meet up with everyone else on the sunday night at BW. You would then all probably have the choice of a second (half) day together for free at SW within 7 days.