Resort Treks: How would you plan visiting DVC resorts in 2 days?

[Tiggerette]

Sean and I are planning to take a tuesday and wednesday to walk through most of the resorts at Disney. We're considering investing DVC, and want to see the various resorts that we could use our points, and which one to select as "home." I know we won't see individual rooms aside from the showroom at Saratoga, but we'll get a good feel for the lobbies, pools, overall decor and sensibility of each resort. We'd like to see as may as possible in the two days, which leads me to asking the experienced and wise DVC DISers....

1) How would you group your resort trek over two days? (Which in the morning, afternoon, evening?)

2) Are there ideal routes using publicly available Disney buses/monorail to group a resort trek?

3) Is there a tip or two that we should consider when trekking across the resorts? (Beyond the usual good shoes, hydration, camera, notebook, patience and Disney magic )

Thanks so much for reading, your time and for any insights.
Warm regards, -krista

 

[AirGoofy]

Sean and I are planning to take a tuesday and wednesday to walk through most of the resorts at Disney. We're considering investing DVC, and want to see the various resorts that we could use our points, and which one to select as "home." I know we won't see individual rooms aside from the showroom at Saratoga, but we'll get a good feel for the lobbies, pools, overall decor and sensibility of each resort. We'd like to see as may as possible in the two days, which leads me to asking the experienced and wise DVC DISers....

1) How would you group your resort trek over two days? (Which in the morning, afternoon, evening?)

2) Are there ideal routes using publicly available Disney buses/monorail to group a resort trek?

3) Is there a tip or two that we should consider when trekking across the resorts? (Beyond the usual good shoes, hydration, camera, notebook, patience and Disney magic )

Thanks so much for reading, your time and for any insights.
Warm regards, -krista

This sounds fun.

VWL to MK, boat/ monorail to PVB & VGF, monorail to CR, walk over bridge to BLT. Walk back to MK. Bus to OKW. Check out OKW, boat to DTD, and boat back to SSR. When you get to SSR, there is one feature pool at main area and then bus over to Paddock if you want to see both. Bus over to AK and then bus to AKL. Bus to DHS. Walk to BWV, or boat to BCV. After one, boat or walk across to the other.

I think that gets them all in a whirlwind tour with as few bus rides as I could think of. If you are walking, time those for cooler temps.

While it isn't on your list, one of the things to keep in mind is that you can have a different experience at the different resorts, especially at OKW or SSR depending on the section.

 

[Tiggerette]

This is great AirGoofy! Thanks so much for your time and ideas!
-Krista

 

[disneynutz]

Sean and I are planning to take a tuesday and wednesday to walk through most of the resorts at Disney. We're considering investing DVC, and want to see the various resorts that we could use our points, and which one to select as "home." I know we won't see individual rooms aside from the showroom at Saratoga, but we'll get a good feel for the lobbies, pools, overall decor and sensibility of each resort. We'd like to see as may as possible in the two days, which leads me to asking the experienced and wise DVC DISers....

1) How would you group your resort trek over two days? (Which in the morning, afternoon, evening?)

2) Are there ideal routes using publicly available Disney buses/monorail to group a resort trek?

3) Is there a tip or two that we should consider when trekking across the resorts? (Beyond the usual good shoes, hydration, camera, notebook, patience and Disney magic )

Thanks so much for reading, your time and for any insights.
Warm regards, -krista

I would call the sales number and talk to them about where there are open models at the resorts.

I know that BWV and VGF still has a model, I am guessing that AKV, BLT still have model rooms and the Poly might be open at the Poly.

Bill

 

[Tiggerette]

Thank you DisneyNutz Bill,

My DVC guide mentioned that the only poly models are currently at the sales center due to construction. I imagine that will change in the Spring. We'll still plan to swing by the poly on our "resort trek." Sean hasn't seen the resort since the early 80s and I've never been. Thank again for writing! Warmly, Krista

AND, my response to your helpful post is my tenth post, which should allow me to use the PM feature now. Yay!

 

[nkosiek]

Oh, a logistical challenge. I think I like Wilson's ideas, but I'd separate things a bit so they aren't crowded in 1 day.

Things to consider, in the MK area you've got 4 resorts within a boat/monorail trip of one another (and can walk between the Poly and the GF).

You can walk between BWV and BCV. You can catch a boat using Downtown Disney between SSS and OKW.

Then you have AKL all by itself.

Since you're doing this over 2 days, I think I'd group it MK resorts one day with AKL, and the other one I'd do is do the EPCOT resorts and OKW/SSR on the other day.

I'd do it similarly but differently than Wilson. I'd start at Poly, maybe even breakfast at Kona or O'Hana (if I liked character dining), then stroll along the walkway to VGF, poking my head around at the different buildings, stores, taking a peak at the pools too. I'd catch the Monorail over to the MK, walk to the boat dock and take a boat over to VWL, walk the path to the pool, to the lobby and over to the DVC building. Back out to the dock to catch a boat to the Contemporary/BLT, walk around both of those resorts before making the 7 minute walk back to MK where I'd catch a bus to AKV and end the tour there. Obviously lunch/dinner are where ever you'd want them.

The next day I'd start at either OKW or SSR and walk around, take the busses around before boating to DD and connecting to the other resort (now, you could drive between these two if you were so inclined). After poking around at whichever the second was, I'd catch the bus to DHS and stroll over to BWV and walk around there, get something from the bakery (mmmmmmmmmm, can't wait until July, mmmmmmmm) and then over to BCV around the lake. End with dinner at either Beaches & Cream or using the backdoor to Epcot, somewhere in there.

 

[jlovesee]

Just got back from a stay at BWV, you may like to know that there is a model open just off the Boardwalk of a BWV studio and 1 bedroom, this is located near the Big River Brewery. This will give you an idea of the layout of the "older" 2042 DVC's (except OKW which is much larger) BWV, WLV, BCV layouts are virtually the same, decor of course is different.

Jennifer

 

[dizfan]

I know that BWV and VGF still has a model, I am guessing that AKV, BLT still have model rooms and the Poly might be open at the Poly.

Bill

The BLT model room at the resort was declared into inventory a few years ago, so it's no longer available.

 

[dizfan]

Make sure to explore the entire area.

MK area (GF, Poly, CR, WL, and FW). Essentially they are close enough together that it's fast/easy to spend some time at each area.

Epcot area (BW, BC, Swan, Dolphin, and the Boardwalk area). Make sure to explore the Boardwalk area at night because it is much different than the morning/early afternoon.

DTD area (OKW and SSR). Take the boats between them. Walk across the new bridge from SSR to DTD. Enjoy the shops/restaurants in the area.

AK (make sure to visit both Jambo and Kidani). They have different feels. Some like them both, some like one, some like the other, ...
Also, I would plan either breakfast or dinner at Boma's (or one of the other sit down restaurants).

Sit and enjoy the ambiance each one offers. We spent time walking through resorts and didn't love some. When we stayed there and found they became some of our favorites.

Have fun on your great adventure!

 

[Tiggerette]

Dear Dizfan, Jennifer and nkosiek,

Thanks so much for your insights and ideas. I adore the different perspectives and ideas for travel. My resort map is going to look like either a crazy pirate treasure hunt, or something like Indiana Jones travel by map (lots of dotted lines, travel icons) It's great! Thank you very much for these wonderful ideas and the time to write them!

 

[Anal Annie]

Just got back from a stay at BWV, you may like to know that there is a model open just off the Boardwalk of a BWV studio and 1 bedroom, this is located near the Big River Brewery. This will give you an idea of the layout of the "older" 2042 DVC's (except OKW which is much larger) BWV, WLV, BCV layouts are virtually the same, decor of course is different.

Jennifer

Actually, the VWL and BCV studios have a similar layout but the BWV studios are different. I really like the BCV and VWL studios in that they have 2 large closets. One is right inside the entrance and one is adjacent to the vanity / sink area. BWV studios only have 1 closet. The VWL kitchenettes are larger than most and have a nicer (longer) countertop area. The kitchenettes in the AKV Kidani studios are almost an afterthought they are so tiny. BLT has AWESOME kitchenettes if you can get past how small the rest of the unit is… As strictly a studio user these can be important amenities for some of us…

 

[Tiggerette]

Morning DISers,

Thanks Annie for your insights. So helpful. We happened to honeymoon at Beach Club (my first visit to Disney since 19080s!). I agree about the closets, it felt like luxury to have "coat closet" and a "clothes closet."

Onto fun logistical updates:
- Through the generosity of a DVC member, we are renting points at a value that enables us to stay at the Animal Kingdom. We are just delighted at the extra "magic" of staying at a DVC location. This means that we'll trek AKV on Monday night (our arrival night) and make use of your great suggestions for the other resorts Tues/Wed.

- We have a 9am appmt Tues morning (which is our all-day-Disney-day) at the Sales Center (Saratoga). I think this means that we'll look at SSR and OKW that morning.

- On Wed we need to leave AKV by 4pm to sing along with Peter, Paul and Mary… leaving' on a jet plane… Maybe we'll get a Zebra Dome for the road.

Thank y'all for your time and your suggestions. It's been great!
-Krista