Read and then help me answer my own poll!

[gopherit]

Ok, here's the deal. You have 319 pts to play with. No, you aren't going to borrow more (but you don't have to use all 319... you just are maxed by that amount.) Your family likes long (i.e. 9-14 day trips) to WDW, and needs a 2BR. This time around, you will spend 3 nights in an offsite hotel (US/IOA resort) before moving into your WDW "home". You would like 7 nts min in your "home"... 8 would be nicer. (Heck, 365.25 would be better still, but let's try to stay focused and realistic...)

The resort contenders:

OKW: Has cheapest pts (only 262 for 7 nts, 299 for 8 -- doable!)
It was your first "love" in DVC resort and what made you buy in '99
DH (aka the AntiValet) loves having car right near villa
Haven't tried new pool /slide there yet
Been a long time since you went there - you're due for a return!
Did I mention the great parking? (DH made me type that again.)
Downside -- distance from the action

BCV: Kids love the pool
Family loves B&C and Cape May (and also ESPN)
Location: EPCOT is your fave park, MGM very close 2nd
Did I mention the pool? (Kids made me type that again).
Downside: points costlier. (332 for 7 nts, 366 for 8)

VWL: It's VWL. And you just LOVE that lodge!
Family loves WCC, and also HDDR over at FW
Location: Boat ride to MK
Did I mention the lodge? (I made myself type that again.)
Downside: points costlier again (same as BCV).

(yes I know there are other resorts but this is what we have narrowed it down to to reasons I'll not digress into.)

So now that you know the details, what would you try to do?
(See poll... vote on poll... additional comments welcomed!)

 

[magicalmcwho]

Hi,

How about paying cash for the weekend days to make your points/vacation longer.

Jim.

 

[lllovell]

Ok...here is my $0.02

First of all - the Antivalet comment made me giggle! I remember your posts in the hoity toity thread!

Ok...how about this...either this year or next you decide to stay at OKW. If its this year then bank the rest of the points for next year and you will have enough to stay at BVC or VWL next year. If you really want to do BVC or VWL THIS year then borrow those points from next year with the understand of your whole family that it means that you will be doing OKW next time around for this similar trip.

I know this will only work if you do a similar trip every year, but to me it seems like a good option. The following year, do which ever one you skipped this time around (BCV or VWL) then back to OKW in between! Just keep alternating.

You might have to give up one of the 8 days for a 7 day stay when you are at the more "expensive" resorts, but I think this is VERY doable!

 

[gopherit]

Ok...how about this...either this year or next you decide to stay at OKW. If its this year then bank the rest of the points for next year and you will have enough to stay at BVC or VWL next year. If you really want to do BVC or VWL THIS year then borrow those points from next year with the understand of your whole family that it means that you will be doing OKW next time around for this similar trip.

I know this will only work if you do a similar trip every year, but to me it seems like a good option. The following year, do which ever one you skipped this time around (BCV or VWL) then back to OKW in between! Just keep alternating.

Sadly, our great minds have thought alike... a year ago. We went to BWV and SSR, and we just went to HHI, and I rationalized it to family that "It's ok -- we have enough pts to still do 8 nts next trip at OKW." And it all seemed peachy, right? Except absence has a way of making the heart grow fonder... and forgetful. Curse those darn DVC commercials that ran all week at DVC-HHI, too! My kids watched them and started pining for SAB and the lodge. (Trouble is, the little scooter tooters don't remember OKW -- we last stayed there in 2001). I really am tempted to just say, It's OKW and there ya have it - cope! Lord knows a day at OKW is better than anything I have going on here!!! ANd DH will smile every day he exits the villa and sees his vehicle safely stowed at his door... On the other hand, the convenience of BCV to EPCOT, MGM, and the restaurants (and of course SAB) is VERY appealing. ANd that lodge... we didn't stay there at all last trip, and when we visited for dinner, we were in love all over again and the kids were all saying, "WHY didn't we come HERE again? We LOVE this place!" Ok, truth is, we love ALL the places.... WHY does this have to be SO DANG HARD!?!?
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_4_20.gif' alt='Insane' border=0></a>

 

[Muushka]

gopherit You crack me up.

Did you mention what time of year this 'alleged' vacation is to take place??

If it is spring or fall I would probably do BCV. If it is either very hot or very cold I would choose VWL. The Epcot resorts just don't appeal to us during extreme weather (hot-cold), but VWL is great in those extreme temps! And just reading your post seems like you are pulled toward the VWL or BCV.
(Let the AntiValet deal with it!)

We are staying for 4 nights at BCV this December (and VWL ) so we are hoping for mild temps.

 

[bobbiwoz]

What time of the year?

Bobbi

 

[gopherit]

Ooops -- sorry. Timing: Summer 2006 (August timeframe). Trying to get my 2006 plans in order to appease my depression at having just completed Vacation 2005... <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_7.gif' alt='Crying Into Tissue' border=0></a>

 

[Muushka]

Poor baby. Our thoughts are with you.... .

OK, I know everyone will say BCV because of SAB, but for us it would be just too hot.
VWL is so cool and shady.....YMMV

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I like the OKW. If you haven't been there in awhile. you'll have 20 points to bank. I also like the cash idea but it's your choice. Have fun!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I picked OKW because you could stay all 8 nights without having to pay out of pocket and have points to bank.

AND also because it's been a while since you were last there. Got to get it back into rotation - lol! How will your kids know if they like it if they don't remember it.

I went through a similar decision. I had a longing for OKW after staying at BWV this past April and not being back at OKW for so long. But since our next trip in October is during F&W festival, I couldn't pass up staying at BWV again. My solution was another trip in February 2006 to OKW to use our APs and DDE card one last time before expiration. If we didn't have the APs/DDE, and didn't plan on another trip so soon we might have stuck with just OKW this time.

OKW means a longer trip in a more spacious unit. If your kids still insist that they want to stay elsewhere, have THEM come up with the money somehow (savings, extra chores, getting rid of their old stuff at an garage sale) to make up the difference.

Faced with the choice of 8 FREE days at OKW and having to work and pay for elsewhere, I think they will choose the former. Especially, since they know that they will be back and can stay at the other places next time.

Now if they choose the latter, at least they are helping to pay for the difference and it is a good lesson about working and saving for something desireable.

On the other hand, if you are really the one that is on the fence. I guess that you are the only one to make the decision. Wait until next year to stay where you long to or PAY UP some $$ to do it earlier.

Also, the time of year of your trip will make a difference of where I would pick, as someone else mentioned. Hmmm... summer is hard. VWL is nice and "cool" feeling, BCV has SAB, but OKW is nice and relaxing, a true refuge from the heat and crowds.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[JimC]

You could also do 4 at OKW and 4 at either BCV or VWL.

 

[gopherit]

You could also do 4 at OKW and 4 at either BCV or VWL.

SInce we're dong the 3 nts at a US/IOA resort, I didn't want to chop the trip up too much. We did 3 resorts last year, and concensus was that it was about 1 resort too many, LOL! (Actually, that "concensus" part isn't true... the kids loved moving around -- I think they would have gladly stayed in a different place EVERY night! It was the baggage-packing adults that felt otherwise!)

Hmmmm... as I consider the options here, I may have some logic to apply by stating that SINCE we're doing US/IOA, we have to do OKW to conserve. Really, it HAS been a long time since we were there. I should ALSO note that I'm a BW owner, so ANY of the resorts I'm considering here will be made at the 7 mos window. Usually, that's not a problem for OKW, and hasn't been an issue for VWL, but I recall that last Aug, BCV was filled to the brim.

Someone asked if it was ME that's on the fence... well, sort of, but not for the reasons you might think! I was totally content to give OKW a try... but then got worried that it wasn't where everyone else wanted to stay. Don't get me wrong -- I LOVE that lodge, and if I were the only person on the joyride, that's where I'd take myself! I am just reacting to everyone's comments about wanting to stay more in the "thick" of it, I guess....

Thanks!

 

[mrsdon]

i voted for OKW because you can stay 8 nights and not have to move.
Its nice to unpack once and not worry anymore.
Having points to bank may mean that the folowing year you can stay 7 at one of the others.

 

[Geezer]

OKW for a longer stay.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you left the kids home, you'd save lots of points for next year! Actually, I would rent points from a fellow DISer or pay cash, and make the kids happy. I was in Florida last week, and it was HOT. We spent most of our time at the BW pools, spent the evenings at the parks, and everyone was happy.

 

[CarolMN]

It's vacation - IMHO, it's best if you can agree as a family. Mom & Dad get to decide the amount of points to spend. Then let the kids have input. Do they want to stay 8 nights at OKW or stay at BCV/VWL for 5 or 6 nights (not sure how far the points will stretch). My guess is that everyone will decide OKW is the way to go for this trip.

I'm a BWV owner and I love it there. That said, I don't consider "distance from the action" to be a downside. It's nice to stay in a place that gives you a chance to get away from the action. Sometimes you need that - especially if you are going to be visiting parks most every day for 10 or 11 days.

Best wishes-

 

[Granny]

VWL: It's VWL. And you just LOVE that lodge!
Family loves WCC, and also HDDR over at FW
Location: Boat ride to MK
Did I mention the lodge? (I made myself type that again.)
Downside: points costlier again (same as BCV).

Sounds like a pretty easy decision to me!


I voted to "Stay 8 nts @ VWL; pay cash for 2 nts ($570+tax/nt). Use 260 pts, bank 59."

But really what you could do would be to stay at VWL for seven nights, paying cash for 1 night ($570) and have a higher number of points left over. Rent out 60 or so of those points and cover your cash payout for the one night.

Net, you don't have to borrow points, you still get your full week of vacation and you are not out any additional cash.

Hey, it's a thought!

 

[rayelias]

Wow, am *I* in the minority.

Logically, I would've have chosen OKW, but what changed my mind is that it seemed like you REALLY WANTED to stay at VWL.

I say, go with your heart.

 

[JimFitz]

You really need to do an add-on.

 

[CarolA]

I'd go for the 8 nights at OKW and then bank the others for a BCV trip next year.

Plus the space at OKW is SO MUCH bigger that you are less likely to kill each other over the 8 days and DH will be so happy with the car!

No it's not SAB, but most kids do survive. Take them to a water park one day to help them over the trauma and if they complain suggest that they get part time jobs to buy more points (LOL!)