So I am as you all know planning my trip for 2023, I have 6 adults and two children 6 and 3... Should I go with staying at the value and paying for three separate vacation packages or stay at one of the two bedroom villas? Looking to plan wisely with our budget I was looking at the tree house villas can I stay there even if I am not a DVC member? what to do what to do
You can book a THV with cash if it is available. It’s not guaranteed that they will be since DVC members get first crack at them but they tend to not be as popular as other DVC villas, so there’s a good possibility that you will be able to book one for cash.
THVs are very remote from the rest of SSR and very rustic. You can catch a bus that runs internally thru the resort or walk about 5-10 minutes to the bus stop where you can catch another bus to the theme parks. They are not convenient to quick service or the feature pools but they do have their own charcoal grill and there is a small quiet pool. Access to Disney Springs is easiest via boat.
They are elevated one story above ground, so if any of your party has mobility issues, be aware that you must climb stairs unless you book a HA THV, which will have wheelchair ramps.
They are an octagon shape, which makes for rather oddly shaped rooms. The master bedroom is relatively large but the other two are very small. I would not expect adults to sleep on the bunk beds. They are smaller than regular twin beds and not very comfortable. Kids probably would be okay with them. But that means that two adults are going to end up sleeping on the sleeper sofa or sleeper chair, with no privacy.
Bathroom usage can be an issue if you have a houseful given that one bathroom is only accessible by walking thru the master bedroom. If the guests occupying that room are sleeping, dressing or otherwise using that room, you’re down to one bathroom for everyone else.
I have to say that of all the DVC rooms I’ve stayed in (and Poly DVC are the only ones I haven’t tried), the THVs have been my least favorite due to both location and layout. You pretty much need a car if you’re staying there. It’s very dark at night and reminded me of a cabin in the Poconos. But my brother owns at SSR and loves them. So they do appeal to some people.
