okay. next dvc puchase is for grand villa. please help with your opinion

[MIALIAS]

I already have 100 pts at BC that we will use for little trips.

The next step is to get points to have a "grand villa" vacation every 3 years.

So my question(s) are:

1) Please give me your vote/opinion/rank of all the Grand Villas in your order of prefernece.

2) How do I work out how man points to buy? If we buy lets say at AK just the right amount of points for a week every 3 years. Whta happens if I want to do BLT which requires more points - or BW which requires less.

3) Also my daughter is a teacher so I might be stuck to the traditional vacation times, does that factor into the thought process on where to buy?

Thanks all - cant wait to hear your thoughts!

 

[ELMC]

I already have 100 pts at BC that we will use for little trips.

The next step is to get points to have a "grand villa" vacation every 3 years.

So my question(s) are:

1) Please give me your vote/opinion/rank of all the Grand Villas in your order of prefernece.

2) How do I work out how man points to buy? If we buy lets say at AK just the right amount of points for a week every 3 years. Whta happens if I want to do BLT which requires more points - or BW which requires less.

3) Also my daughter is a teacher so I might be stuck to the traditional vacation times, does that factor into the thought process on where to buy?

Thanks all - cant wait to hear your thoughts!

1) I haven't stayed in any of the Grand Villas, but from the pictures I would have to say that BLT looks the most impressive.

2) I think that's a moot point because I doubt you'll be able to get a Grand Villa at the 7 month window.

3) Well it will determine how many points you will need and you should combine that with your budget to determine what is reasonable to you.

Those are my thoughts, hope they're helpful.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Agree. You won't get a GV for a week, especially during a traditionally busy time (school's out) at 7 months out. So buy where you want to stay. OKW requires the fewest points (unless AKV now is the lowest, but I don't think so). Most of the GV are two floors. Jambo House all are one floor.

 

[princessaloha]

I already have 100 pts at BC that we will use for little trips.

The next step is to get points to have a "grand villa" vacation every 3 years.

So my question(s) are:

1) Please give me your vote/opinion/rank of all the Grand Villas in your order of prefernece.

2) How do I work out how man points to buy? If we buy lets say at AK just the right amount of points for a week every 3 years. Whta happens if I want to do BLT which requires more points - or BW which requires less.

3) Also my daughter is a teacher so I might be stuck to the traditional vacation times, does that factor into the thought process on where to buy?

Thanks all - cant wait to hear your thoughts!

Have you tried youtube for videos of all the grand villas? When we first started researching we went there and under search use terms like "dvc grand villas" or "dvc animal kingdom villa" etc. There are some really nice videos. That might help with your decision.

 

[MIALIAS]

So for Feb break/christmas/thanksgiving/easter (the times teachers are off) - I cant get a grand villa anywhere for a 5-7 nights 7 months in advance?

 

[Deb & Bill]

So for Feb break/christmas/thanksgiving/easter (the times teachers are off) - I cant get a grand villa anywhere for a 5-7 nights 7 months in advance?

They are few in number and members who own at those resorts want them for longer periods of time. You might get a few nights, but not 5-7 nights at 7 months out.

That is why most members who have been around for a while suggest that you buy where you want to stay the most. So if you can't change at seven months out, you still have your favorite place booked. And with a lot more members, those GV that might still be left at 7 months out are going to get booked up very fast. Anyone arriving the day before you books the day before you do at seven months out.

 

[dianeschlicht]

They are few in number and members who own at those resorts want them for longer periods of time. You might get a few nights, but not 5-7 nights at 7 months out.

That is why most members who have been around for a while suggest that you buy where you want to stay the most. So if you can't change at seven months out, you still have your favorite place booked. And with a lot more members, those GV that might still be left at 7 months out are going to get booked up very fast. Anyone arriving the day before you books the day before you do at seven months out.

I totally agree with Deb and Bill on this. As for the GVs. I've only stayed in several of the OKW ones, but I have toured all the others, and my favorites would be OKW and AKV with the one level BWV being close behind. I was not impressed with the BLT GV. I thought it had impressive windows, but over all seemed small compared to the others. I felt the SSR one was kind of "chopped up" feeling and boxy. OKW is very roomy and has 4 bathrooms plus that whole room for the laundry ends up being a great place to store lots of stuff like swim gear etc. AKV is just so spectacular and very large. The BWV single level GV is extremely impressive as well, but I think there is only one or two of those, and I've not seen the two level BWV GV. I also have not seen the 2 level AKV GV at Kidani.

All that being said, there is much to be said for having access to a GV for nearly half as many points as other places. For that reason, I'll likely only ever stay in OKW GVs.

 

[disneynutz]

I already have 100 pts at BC that we will use for little trips.

The next step is to get points to have a "grand villa" vacation every 3 years.

So my question(s) are:

1) Please give me your vote/opinion/rank of all the Grand Villas in your order of prefernece.

2) How do I work out how man points to buy? If we buy lets say at AK just the right amount of points for a week every 3 years. Whta happens if I want to do BLT which requires more points - or BW which requires less.

3) Also my daughter is a teacher so I might be stuck to the traditional vacation times, does that factor into the thought process on where to buy?

Thanks all - cant wait to hear your thoughts!

What's more important, staying in a GV or staying in a GV at a resort you love. If you only care about staying in a GV buy the chepest points that you can find, if you want to stay at your favorite resort, buy there.

Bill

 

[jennypenny]

I loved the BW 1 level GV, but I don't think you can guarantee that when you book. I WISH BCV had 3bd units. We are in the same position as you and we've decided to hold off and see what the GFV 3 (or 4?) bd looks like. For a once-every-three-years vacation I think I might want the GF or Poly if it gets built. And I would definitely buy at GFV if they offered 4bd units*. (planning on lots of grandkids )

*Or (if you're listening DVC!!!) connecting 2bd units. I wish they could figure out a way to do this. I would be in heaven if they could retrofit the BCV with connecting doors on some 2bd units to connect to studios or other 2bds.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Our extended family stayed at OKW in a GV before I purchased. We loved it..yep, cheapest points, but wanted to make sure everyone liked the facilities. So we purchased a contract with 220 points to ensure a GV every three years with room for different seasons (not Xmas or Easter though). Hummmm but I love, love love the pool at BCV so we bought a small contract there too. HUMMMMM I still covet the VWL, and was lucky to trade my BCV for VWL this November...

BUY where you want to stay is the best advice I got from our friend here. If you can trade out at 7 months BONUS. If not, you're happy to stay at your home resort.

 

[MIALIAS]

So I'm thinking the best option might just be buy enough points at BLT for 3 nights in the GV and buy points at AK for 3 nights in the GV?

Does that make sense? It gives me more options for places to stay.

The only downside is paying for 2 closings, and of course finding the ame UY.

But is this a good idea? Am I missing something?

 

[madelyn]

For the last couple of months I have been checking on last minute cancellations at OKW for Grand Villas for our stay in late May/early June. No OKW cancellations but it surprised me how many openings there appeared to be at Grand Villas well within the 7 month timeframe. Saratoga was wide open and there was also availability @ AK (not sure whether Kidani or Jambo). OKW was the only one I was checking for due to the lower points requirement so I guess AK and Saratoga also came up since there was availability there. Maybe not for a full week but definitely for 3 days at a time. I did not check for the "more popular" resorts. I assume they may have been booked.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For the last couple of months I have been checking on last minute cancellations at OKW for Grand Villas for our stay in late May/early June. No OKW cancellations but it surprised me how many openings there appeared to be at Grand Villas well within the 7 month timeframe. Saratoga was wide open and there was also availability @ AK (not sure whether Kidani or Jambo). OKW was the only one I was checking for due to the lower points requirement so I guess AK and Saratoga also came up since there was availability there. Maybe not for a full week but definitely for 3 days at a time. I did not check for the "more popular" resorts. I assume they may have been booked.

Everyone wants OKW because of the lower points requirement. It's just cost efficient. But the others require so many more points that I can see them being vacant into the seven month time frame.

 

[magicaldisney]

So I'm thinking the best option might just be buy enough points at BLT for 3 nights in the GV and buy points at AK for 3 nights in the GV?

I'm assuming you want a GV because you will be traveling with a large group every 3 years. If I'm reading this post correctly you would buy at two different resorts and switch in the middle of your trip? If that's the case, I would never want to pack up and move a large group in the middle of a trip. That's just my opinion.

 

[lolakat]

So I'm thinking the best option might just be buy enough points at BLT for 3 nights in the GV and buy points at AK for 3 nights in the GV?

Does that make sense? It gives me more options for places to stay.

The only downside is paying for 2 closings, and of course finding the ame UY.

But is this a good idea? Am I missing something?

This would give you the 11 month window to book 3 nights at each resort but you cannot add the points together to get the 11 month window at 1 resort for 6 nights. For example you would have to call at 11months and book 3 nights at BLT and 3 nights at AK. You could call back at 7 months and try to see if you could get 3 more nights at BLT and cancel the AK nights so that all 6 nights would be at one resort. If that didn't work out you would have to move midway through your reservation.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So I'm thinking the best option might just be buy enough points at BLT for 3 nights in the GV and buy points at AK for 3 nights in the GV?

Does that make sense? It gives me more options for places to stay.

The only downside is paying for 2 closings, and of course finding the ame UY.

But is this a good idea? Am I missing something?

My thoughts on this is that moving gets worse with more people. I'm assuming you want the GV because you will have a larger group. If you were booking a GV more than every 3 years than I'd say go for your two favorites and use banking/borrowing to alternate stays. But for every 3 years I personally would just buy at one resort and then see if I was able to change resorts every now and then at 7 months. AKV has more GV's so if BLT is also high on your list then probably buy BLT points and try to get AKV at 7 months.

 

[Caren]

We added on OKW points specifically to book grand villas there. I think they're the most spacious and also most suited for large groups. When I'm talking large groups, I'm thinking not so much even of sleeping space as of dining space--when you have more than ten people spread across two villas and all want to dine together at "home," an OKW grand villa with an extra dining table (they will bring you one on request) is the way to go. And, yes, I do cook for that many people and enjoy doing it.

 

[chainkid]

BWV have 5 one story Grand villas that are specatacular . I have stayed in 4 different ones but I had to walk each reservation at 11 months so you would probably never get 5 days in a row there except at odd times. They also have two two story ones but that is it so you have to be an owner there to get one during most of the year. If you have a large group then you mostly will be using disney transport of some kind rather than a rental car so if you stay at more remote locations it is not as convenient. Bus transportation can be slow at times. Being able to walk to two parks makes the BWV a great choice for large groups .

 

[Deb & Bill]

BWV have 5 one story Grand villas that are specatacular . I have stayed in 4 different ones but I had to walk each reservation at 11 months so you would probably never get 5 days in a row there except at odd times. They also have two two story ones but that is it so you have to be an owner there to get one during most of the year. If you have a large group then you mostly will be using disney transport of some kind rather than a rental car so if you stay at more remote locations it is not as convenient. Bus transportation can be slow at times. Being able to walk to two parks makes the BWV a great choice for large groups .

There are only seven GV at BWV, so they are hard to get.

 

[jekjones1558]

We bought an OKW contract just to get GVs at 11 months. Our first family GV stay was there and I thought it was wonderful. So when I asked the family where they wanted to stay this time every single one said OKW was fine but they really liked BWV location better. So I ended up booking a GV at BWV at 11 months. I can't afford to do that too often!
buy points where you want to stay. And I am another person who would never move between GVs during 1 trip!