PVB vs. VGF vs. BLT - I am torn, please help

[jhammond3966]

I am starting to think about our October 2016 WDW Trip and am torn on the DVC monorail resorts. Who am I kidding, I have been thinking about this since our last trip.

Last stay was October 2014 with DW, DS (7), and DD (5) at a BLT 1 BR Lake View room.

Likes: the easy walk to/from MK, especially at the end of the day. Sitting on the balcony in the morning and at night after the kids went to bed. View from higher floor even if not facing MK.

Dislikes: lack of theme, just felt like another nice hotel suite. Lack of restaurants or convenience shop at resort - although the walk to Contemporary isn't that bad. Pool area was equally dull. Last stop on the DME bus for a late evening arrival.

Here are my thoughts on the three monorail DVC resorts for our 2016 Trip.

(Kids will be 9 and 7 for the next trip in 2016)

(1) we stayed at Poly every time I came as a child and thus I would love to go back.
(2) I really liked having the extra space in the 1 BR - especially during mid day breaks and after the kids crashed at night. (A negative of staying in a Studio at PVB). My wife REALLY appreciated being able to take her own break/nap in the bedroom during our mid day break and her own tv at night. Laundry in the room was so nice. We like coming home with clean clothes. Big fridge and freezer is nice but we don't use the full kitchen.
(3) We love dinner at Ohana and I kept trying to justify breakfast at Kona Cafe when we stayed at BLT but couldn't due to a shorter trip, transit time and trying to get to parks before rope drop. Food is a plus for PVB, but it sounds like the walk from VGF to Poly is super easy too.
(4) VGF 1 bedrooms look beautiful and my DW would love that decor (lack of 2nd shower stinks, but not a deal breaker).
(5) DW DS and DD are not seafood fans, so the restaurants at VGF are not as much of a plus for us like they would be for others - I highly doubt we would make reservations at any of the GF restaurants (although I t sounds like the counter service restaurant by the VGF pool is good at least)
(6) i remember walking to the TTC from Poly as a child and how convenient that was to not have to transfer to the Epcot monorail. But that transfer didn't seem like much of a big deal last October, just some extra time
(7) horns on the boats at PVB seem like they would be annoying, but seems like a room request if granted may mitigate that
(8) how much of a pain is transport from VGF to MK and everywhere else? Can we all chip in a few bucks and crowdfund a drawbridge over the canal from GF to MK?
(9) always wanted to stay at GF after it was built, but never have due to cost (until now)
(10) PVB volcano pool certainly will be a lot cooler/more fun for DS and DD than either BLT or VGF pools.
(11) DW thinks the PVB theme is kinda corny, but I think she would appreciate the resort feeling that BLT is sorely lacking. I love both the Poly theming and VGF theming. Kids probably would like Poly theming best.
(12) point cost is not a deciding factor, nor is availability at 11 or 7 mo window. I am renting points (hopefully from someone directly like I did last time or will just go with a broker)

Basically, other than convenience of the walk to MK, I was not wow'd by BLT. VGF certainly seems to have a lot nicer 1 BR than BLT and an actual theme. PVB is a nostalgia stay for me, food is best there, convenient middle ground for transportation, best pool for kids, but a Studio instead of a 1 BR. If PVB had a 1 BR, I would be staying there, but do the plusses of Poly overcome the lack of a 1 BR over a 5-6 night stay. Is VGF close enough to Poly to get the benefit of both? Is transportation from VGF to everywhere that much more of a pain than BLT or PVB?

Discuss

All opinions and thoughts welcome and appreciated.

Jeff

 

[Mpadovani2]

1 BR VGF gets my vote. My wife loves it and so will yours...the extra space, the decor, the cleanliness, and the service. It truly is a flagship property. We enjoy riding the monorail so transportation never seems taxing to us. Although I will say that the HS bus service has been terrible the last 2 times we have stayed there. It was a very long time between buses. We will be trying PVB in January during low season to see what it's like, I am afraid I will be disappointed having stayed our last 3 trips at VGF. You just can't go wrong there.

 

[disneynutz]

VGF 1 bedroom lake view which isn't great, but you know where your room will be and what you will see, doesn't matter what floor. The standard view could put you anywhere, looking out the front of the resort, towards the GF, lower floors don't see much.

Bill

 

[dizfan]

If you are considering a VGF 1BR, you may want to also consider two PVB rooms. It is similar total points. Provides the extra space and separation.
While connecting studios at PVB are not guaranteed, it is treated as the top request. It is extremely likely this request would be granted. 358 of 360 studio rooms connect.

A downside is no laundry in the room. It also doesn't have the large living room area or kitchen. No king size bed or Jacuzzi tub.
Connecting studios would provide 2 toilets and 2 tubs (like BLT 1BR). It would have 4 shower areas, 4 bathroom sinks, 2 kitchenettes (so 2 mini-fridges), 2 balconies. It does provide 2 queen beds, 2 queen size pull out sofas, and 2 Murphy beds. Your children may argue over which bed to use.

This option certainly does not work for everyone. I am sure several posters will immediately criticize this as an option, but it does work for some.

Much like you, I remembered staying at PVB as a child and enjoyed the short walk to TTC. It was my last Disney trip with my father, so it will always have special memories for me. DW and I stayed there in May. I didn't spend much time looking at the outside of the PVB buildings. I was enjoying the tropical foliage, beach, and lake views. By October 2016, PVB construction will finally be completed.
As much as we enjoyed it, we decided we would not return to PVB until they finished the construction. Not a fan of paying full price for a product that isn't complete. We are currently planning a PVB connecting studio trip with DW's niece for Sept/Oct 2016.

Based on what you have written, I would go for either VGF 1BR or two connecting studios at PVB.
If you want to save money, I would look at BLT 1BR or a single PVB studio.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would go with 2 connecting studios at the Poly. I am headed to Poly right now, lake view studio. Like others here, we stayed at the Poly with our sons back in the 1980's and I am thrilled to stay there again.

 

[mouseclick1]

I voted for VGF over Poly only because of the 1BR vs studio with two kids. DH and I stayed at PVB right after it opened in April and loved it, but it was just the two of us. With kids, I would want the extra space plus the ability to do laundry.

 

[lisaviolet]

I still daydream about my stay at VGF and it was a studio. Just lovely. I would go VGF. The Polynesian will be easy to nab in the future.

And since you love it, my VGFroom faced the Polynesian, lovely view and short walk over. The proximity of the Polynesian to VGF is a definite joy.