Some questions for the experts...

[Katy]

In the last few years we seem to be visiting WDW once or twice a year. It's getting pretty expensive. We like to stay at moderates and sometimes deluxe if we get a good deal. We try to stay at least a week or sometimes more. My dilema is that I have four children and need two rooms. I would like to look into DVC since it doesn't seem like we'll stop visiting anytime soon. My three girls are in their teens so won't be coming with us on all visits and my son is 8.

My questions are:
1) Is it that difficult to get reservations during school vacation times?

2) Should I wait to look into this untill my visit in May? We also have a visit planned in November (this is why I think I should try buying!)

3) How many people does a one bedroom sleep? Would I be able to have 5 in that room?

4) Are there any deals on new home resorts when they open? (Beach Club)

5) It sounds like a resale at OKW might be a good idea and a good deal, but will we like it as much as the newer resorts?

6) What are the benefits of DVC - when I calculate costs plus maintenance fees - seems like I could stay at a deluxe or mod and get good AP discounts.

Thanks for any insight you can give me.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

katie, yes you can fit 5 in a one bedroom. Depending on the size of your children, will determine on how crowded you are in it.

The main reason my DW and I joined is that we love disney, we plan on visiting at least once a year if not two and with DVC we have locked in our cost for rooms for the next 42 years. You will notice that since WDW opened, room costs have never gone down only up.

Although OKW is an older resourt, it is very well maintained and the rooms are hughe and clean and beautiful. It is a very low key resourt, very laid back.

I would think that if you purchased in may while down there, you could possibly still make reservations for Nov. after you close.

Either way, DVC for us has been nothing but a wounderful experience.

Good Luck

Scott & Peg

OS-1976
AS-1994
AS-1996
PO/cruise-1999
OKW-08/00
OKW-05/01
BWV-12/01

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

1) school vacation times should not be a problem as long as you take advantage of your 11 month booking window.

2) kinda up to you, but one way to look at it is the money you spend staying in a deluxe or moderate could become your downpayment.

3) a 1BR sleeps 4 adults and one child under 3.

4) Not that I've seen. usually the price for points goes up right before a new resort opens.

5) We love OKW. BWV is also very nice and actually might be better with your teens since there's a lot of things going on right on the boardwalk and it's walking distance to MGM and EPCOT. You'll get more bang for your buck at OKW though (in terms of point usage).

6) Hotel costs at Disney have been going up about 10% each year (or more). Once you purchase DVC, your cost for accomodations is effectively fixed for the next 41 years; DVC maintenance costs have been going up an average of about 3%. In a 1BR or larger, you get a kitchen and one heck of a lot more space than a typical hotel room.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Firefighter made very good points.
I would add that I think you should decide first where you want to be and then decide where to buy. If you like the room size and value at OKW, look for a resale there. If you like the hotel atmosphere and lots of activity, try BWV resale. If you like the atmosphere at Wilderness do VWL.

Because of the ages of your children, you will want to consider a two bedroom as the size to plan for. Your girls wont mind sharing a room, but my guess is your son will take over the Living room.

We prefer the OKW atmosphere and size of units as well as lower points needed and lower maitainance fees. 6 nights in a 2BR at OKW ranges in points from 164 in adventure season to a high of 305 during the holidays. Summer would be 223.
Conversly, BWV those same times for a 2BR 6 nights is: 210 adventure, 356 Holiday, and 275 summer. VWL would be the same as BWV. Use that formula to decide how many points you would likely need to buy.

Disneydiane

 

[ripleysmom]

The main rule of thumb with DVC is to buy where you plan to stay. The 11 month window at your home resort can be very important if you are trying to book during school vacations, especially if you are looking to stay at the BWV.

One other thing I would like to mention is that the paperwork for DVC specifically limits occupancy for the Studios and 1BRs to 4 plus 1 child under 3. This policy is rarely enforced, however, and MS will accept a reservation with 5 in a room. This lack of enforcement has also been the source of a great deal of bitter contention on this board. So do not let any curt, tactless or abrupt posters get you crazy about it. DVC's unwritten policy does allow 5 in a studio or 1BR in spite of what the paperwork says.

Please be advised though that the 5th person though will have to sleep on the floor so bring a sleeping bag or a blow up bed.

I will mention to you that with 3 teenage girls you might want to consider a 2BR just for the extra bathroom and space.

If you are do go as often as you say, DVC is the way to go. It allows you flexibility in terms of room size and allows you to have a deluxe room including kitchen and washers (in a 1BR and up) for the price of a value resort. You get space and utility without sacrificing Disney quality.

Also you can trade your points to take the cruise or stay at the other resorts. While this is not the best use of points, it certainly allows for other options.

Good Luck with your decision. I will say that you should probably look at a resale for BWV. This resort is much more attractive to the teen population and is walking distance to Epcot and MGM.

I hope this helps!

Kimberly-Lucas and Ripley's Mom

 

[wdwnut]

hi: just adding my 2 cents to the postings. a 2br is a better choice just for the room and extra bathroom. i put 5 in a 1br once (don't blast me Rich, i didn't know any better and i was renting at the time)and it was quite crowded. my youngest is now 14 and loves bwv for the location and things to do. it's really easy to pool hop over to stormalong bay as well. your points will go further and the units are larger at okw, but the location is a bit further from the parks. vwl is basically the same size and points as the bwv(preferred view). the kids still like the setting of wl, and it's a short boat trip to the mk. it really does pay for itself fairly quickly if you continue to vacation as you said. our only regret was not purchasing into dvc in 93 when we started looking into it.

 

[goofyforwdw]

People here have every thing cover real well but one of the thing DH and I liked is that as our kids grow older (Have 3 teens now ) and are not able to come with us as often is we can down size to a studio and maybe do an extra vacation or longer one with out the kids or may be just 1 or 2 .Then hopefully when they are married and have kids of their own we could do a grand villa and all vacation together again. Guess what i an saying is we like the felxabilty of the rooms and the points. On the five in a room We have stayed in Beach club and the Grand Florian with the five of us in the room and if that is legal (and up to fire codes)then i have no problem with five in the one bedroom villa . Though we have never done it we usually have extended family with us so we do a two bedroom , yet usually bring a blow up bed anyways cause of the boy/ girl issue. and the fact that my boys are 6'5' and take up a whole bed each Any way good luck with your decions We thinks it was the best move we ever made and have add on twice and my do so one more time at WLV.
HH 1996 BWV 2000

 

[NFalzon]

2 STUDIOS...

Since you've been used to Hotel rooms, two studios might suit your needs just as well as a 2 bedroom, and it's less points...

I realize the kitchen/washer/dryer are beneficial, but at WDW I only eat out, and the studios have fridges for drinks and snacks...

Just a thought!
Nick