Resort Choice- Need Help and Advice!

[ReneeDisney]

My family and I will be in WDW for the 2003 Holiday Season (12/28-1/4). My sister and family are DVC members and have reservations at the BCV.
Since I am not a DVC member and this is a very busy time, I have made room reservations @ the BEACH CLUB ($475 a night) AND room reservations at the SWAN ($225 a night).

Here is my dilemna: My wallet is telling me to stay at the Swan and save so much money, but my heart is telling me to stay at the BC.

Another dilemna: If we stay at the Swan- we can not swim @ the BC b/c we are not staying there. That means we will miss out on quality family time.

We have never gone at Holiday Season before and it doesn't look like they provide any codes or AP rates.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?? SWAN?? BEACH CLUB??

Thanks in advacne for your help!

 

[HM]

Look through the DVC rental board for information on renting points. If you can rent points and stay at the BC Villas, it might be less expensive and solve your problems. -HM

 

[ReneeDisney]

Thanks HM! I just get a little nervous that people wont be honest and I'll have no room when I get there if I rent points. I'm a bit neurotic but I feel it is better to be safe then sorry! Thanks again-

 

[jaygatz]

book at the Swan from 12/26-1/1, and then move to the BC for 1/1-1/4. You'll save a bundle doing that as Value season begins 1/1.

 

[Ratpack]

That is a tough call. Paying an extra $250 per night just to swim in a pool would not be worth it to me at all. Depending on the weather, you may be surprised how little time you spend in the pools anyway. Also, you may want to explain your situation to the CM's at BC and they may let you swim with your family as long as the pool area is not overly crowded already. They are usually pretty understanding of things if people ask before they do something. I am sure they could work something out.

 

[HM]

ooh.....jaygatz..I like your thinking. Look into this Renee! -HM

 

[ReneeDisney]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone! When will the rates become available for 1/1/04 for the Beach Club? Aren't they rack rates now?

I think that splitting our stay would be fun.....
as I'm too nervous to rent vacation points, but I'd sure love to try it... from reading these boards it sounds like it is worth the time.

 

[JLS]

I vote for point rental - don't be nervous about it. Ask someone for references. I have done it twice and it saves a BUNDLE. It is a great way to go. Usually with point rental once the availability of the resort and dates is determined, you send the DVC member a $100 deposit and then they send you the reservation confirmation with your name on it. You can call up the resort yourself once you get the confirmation and reconfirm your reservation. So there is no need to be nervous about it. You will pay the DVC member in full at a time that you negotiate. good luck with your decision. I do NOT think you should pay $475 per night at the BC. It is a nice resort, but not worth that much money, IMO. I wouldn't pay $475 per night to stay anywhere (even concierge!). For a regular hotel room, that seems like a ripoff to me.

 

[ReneeDisney]

Thanks! I'm going to look into all suggestions!
I'd love to hear more... about renting DVC points- if anyone can help.

 

[JLS]

Renee - I would be happy to answer more questions about point rental. Email me - jenninlaca@hotmail.com

--Jenn

 

[chrissyk]

My husband and I rented points to stay at the BWV last November. We already loved going to Disney, but even at discounted rates, the on-site rooms seemed expensive to us. All that changed when we rented points! We got a studio with the rented points for a fraction of what a room at a Deluxe would have cost us. We loved it so much that we bought 200 DVC points of our own on the resale market right after we got home I highly recommend renting points! Don't worry about not having a room when you get there...you'll get your confirmation # from the person you rent points from before you even leave for your trip Have fun on your trip!!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Everyone on these boards is so wonderful and very helpful!!! Thanks again.

 

[dvcmommy]

Point rental may or may not work well in this case. There has to be availability and this is holiday season. Also, owners at the Beach Club could reserve rooms 11 months in advance, so that would have been in January. Plus, owners of the BCV are new owners and may want to use their points instead of rent them out. If someone who owns at another resort wants to rent you points, they will have to wait until 7 months prior to check availability. Also, it takes more points for a reservation than normal Dec 28-31, so the "cost of renting points" in effect, goes up. Just some thoughts.

I think the split stay between Swan and BC may be your best bet. I wouldn't worry about the pool; I've been in January, and we didn't swim at all.

Kim