Thanksgiving travel -- need advice

[mustinjourney]

So I now have a slight problem.

I've got a 7 night split stay reservation coming up over thanksgiving with 3 nights at BWV and 4 nights at VGF -- both in 2 BR standard views.

I started looking at flights and right now, the prices for our arrival day flights are about $100 more per person than if we move our arrival up by a day. With a family of four, that is $400 more in just the flights -- so I started thinking -- maybe we should just add on a day and come in a day earlier. I'd like to think of it as getting a "free" hotel room for the night.

Luckily, I was able to secure a 1BR standard view at BWV just now (still more than 7 months out -- so I had to use my BWV points). Side note -- it would be wonderful if they could make it to where my 1BR is part of the 2BR lock-off I have reserved the following 3 nights, so that we wouldn't have to move rooms after the first night -- not sure how likely that is though.

Only problem with this plan is that the BWV points I have are transferred in points and it messes up my future travel plans. Before booking the 1 BR suite, I had 64 points leftover, which is the exact amount needed for 5 nights for F&W in 2018, so I really didn't want to have to dip into those points to make this reservation. Mostly because I think the 64 points are much more valuable to me for the F&W trip in 2018.

So here are my thoughts.

I could cancel the Friday night reservation at BWV and stay at MCO Hyatt Friday night, and then ride DME the following morning over to BWV. This would free up those BWV points, and still allow us to have fun at the parks on our original arrival date (hopefully be a little more rested too). However, I'm not sure what we'd do on our new arrival day at MCO. Is there anything worth doing at this airport hotel for the day? Or would we have to get a rental car if we wanted to explore?

Normally I would use Uber -- however, with two kids (4, 2), I'm not sure that using Uber would work. From what I can tell, a 1 day rental care will be around $60 all in (including taxes and kid seats) -- so that is not too bad.

If we do decide to get a rental car -- what things would you suggest doing? Assume that Sea World and Universal are not valid options. I was thinking it might be fun to just drive around the resort areas and maybe explore Golden Oaks.

Option #2 -- keep reservation as is. Plan would be to arrive MCO around noon and take DME to resort -- hopefully arrive around 2 pm. From there, we could explore the boardwalk and maybe do some putt-putt until the room is ready. Catch an early dinner around 5 pm and then put the kiddos to sleep super early (or maybe head in to DHS or Epcot for a ride of two). We have APs, so I'm not worried about burning a day on our tickets. The downside to this plan is that I'm left with 29 points in my account that will be more difficult to mess with. I could use them for a trip I have end of January 2018 at PVB -- but I'd prefer to be able to use them for F&W 2018 at BWV with DW if at all possible.

Option #3 -- This one is somewhat complicated...but could work. I'm considering setting up a waitlist using my VGF points for 1 BR BWV room right at 8 am at the 7 month mark. I would then call up MS later that day and have them cancel my current reservation. While that is going on, I would ask them to see if my wait list got picked up, and if it did -- could I then purchase some 1 time use points in conjunction with the VGF points. If that works, then I'd be able to get back my BWV points and then bank all 64 to next year.

This is my preferred option -- however, I do not know how likely it is to work.

Option #4 -- wait for 7 months out and see what is available and book 1 night at another DVC resort. Not wild about this since it would be three different resorts in 8 nights -- but it might be better than hanging out at the MCO Hyatt for one night.


Thoughts?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Since being at the Hyatt already places you in 3 different resorts over your trip my suggestion would be to book a cheaper cash room at WDW for your arrival night and in the mean time see what you can get at 7 months or with a waitlist. With the cash room at Disney you have up until 5 days prior to check in to cancel so that's lots of time to find happen upon some other location with your points. Hyatt MCO does have a small pool and you could wander thru the few shops in the airport but that's it - it's a travel hotel at an airport, not a vacation spot.

 

[NJ Goofy]

Instead of the MCO Hyatt why not book a one night stay at Swan/Dolphin. If you keep a look out you may be able to get a good rate, they also give military and AAA discounts. If you do that the switch to BWV would be super easy and you can make the most of the day. Last time I got my parents a room there it was @ $225 a night.

 

[mustinjourney]

Instead of the MCO Hyatt why not book a one night stay at Swan/Dolphin. If you keep a look out you may be able to get a good rate, they also give military and AAA discounts. If you do that the switch to BWV would be super easy and you can make the most of the day. Last time I got my parents a room there it was @ $225 a night.

Good idea. I completely forgot about the swolphin

 

[mustinjourney]

Since being at the Hyatt already places you in 3 different resorts over your trip my suggestion would be to book a cheaper cash room at WDW for your arrival night and in the mean time see what you can get at 7 months or with a waitlist. With the cash room at Disney you have up until 5 days prior to check in to cancel so that's lots of time to find happen upon some other location with your points. Hyatt MCO does have a small pool and you could wander thru the few shops in the airport but that's it - it's a travel hotel at an airport, not a vacation spot.

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if that hotel was mostly for staying one night following a late incoming or super early outgoing flight.

Based on that, I'm now leaning more towards booking an extra DVC stay of my boardwalk plan doesn't work.

I'm hoping with the opening of CCV, there should be a decent amount of movement going on with ressies, which could open up BWV for me.

Of course, I might just book one night there to check it out.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Just remember, Swolphin does NOT get Magical Express.

 

[mustinjourney]

Just remember, Swolphin does NOT get Magical Express.

Did not realize that. Good to know.

That option is officially dead now. DW was already not wild about staying there. No DME makes it a no go with the kiddos.

 

[crisi]

I'd do a one night cash room. Pick a resort you've always wanted to stay at - or an old favorite from before DVC days (I have never stayed at POR - I've visited and loved the grounds). Or book whatever is open at seven months. Your fist day with little kids is likely to be pretty wasted as to park time or getting much done. Even with adults, we just get tired from flying and the early morning. Enjoy the pool. Visit DTD after naps. Book a nice dinner at a hotel - or get your character meal checked off at Chef Mickey's.

You can cancel if your BWV night comes through at seven months - I don't think it will - but in the meantime, you have a place to stay and a plan. Moving after your first night isn't a big deal, you basically pack the next days clothes in day bags and never touch your luggage. (We do it for cruising).

Next morning you'll drop your bags off for Disney to move them and be able to be at rope drop if you choose.

 

[aoconnor]

[deleted]

 

[DduzDis]

For back up, I would do Art of Animation for a night. We have stayed there and I think your kids would love it. We stayed in a Lion King Family Sweet and did just fine for a week. For 4 of you, I think even a Little Mermaid room could work. We loved this resort and planned to stay there more before we bought at BLT. We may still before our kids outgrow it. Who knows?

 

[mustinjourney]

I'd do a one night cash room. Pick a resort you've always wanted to stay at - or an old favorite from before DVC days (I have never stayed at POR - I've visited and loved the grounds). Or book whatever is open at seven months. Your fist day with little kids is likely to be pretty wasted as to park time or getting much done. Even with adults, we just get tired from flying and the early morning. Enjoy the pool. Visit DTD after naps. Book a nice dinner at a hotel - or get your character meal checked off at Chef Mickey's.

You can cancel if your BWV night comes through at seven months - I don't think it will - but in the meantime, you have a place to stay and a plan. Moving after your first night isn't a big deal, you basically pack the next days clothes in day bags and never touch your luggage. (We do it for cruising).

Next morning you'll drop your bags off for Disney to move them and be able to be at rope drop if you choose.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like I'd be better off buying one time use points from Disney to book a studio room instead of doing a cash room for 1 night. DVC stay would be a lot cheaper than paying cash -- right? Am I missing something?

 

[crisi]

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like I'd be better off buying one time use points from Disney to book a studio room instead of doing a cash room for 1 night. DVC stay would be a lot cheaper than paying cash -- right? Am I missing something?

Availability. The opportunity to do something different. The ability to book now and have something in place in case availability doesn't work out to lower booking anxiety.

But for me, a lot cheaper isn't the driving force - and since you were thinking of booking the Hyatt, I didn't think it was the driver for you either. If cheap is the goal, use the one time DVC points. Although I might still make a cancellable CRO reservation to sleep better - since that is one of those times of year when "nothing is available" can really mean "nothing is available."

 

[mustinjourney]

Availability. The opportunity to do something different. The ability to book now and have something in place in case availability doesn't work out to lower booking anxiety.

But for me, a lot cheaper isn't the driving force - and since you were thinking of booking the Hyatt, I didn't think it was the driver for you either. If cheap is the goal, use the one time DVC points. Although I might still make a cancellable CRO reservation to sleep better - since that is one of those times of year when "nothing is available" can really mean "nothing is available."

The MCO idea was just a way to do something a little different and that hotel is not nearly as expensive (~$250) as a cash ressie at BWV ($500 for the night I'm looking at). I was hoping there might be stuff close by to do -- but from what I've gathered...it is really just a hotel people hit up if they're getting into the airport late at night. I was also trying to use DME if at all possible, which is why I thought the Hyatt might work out. But after hearing other people's thoughts -- it's not a good option for us.

I think I'll either do SSR, AKV, CCV or hopefully BWV for that first night using one time use points if possible. We'll see how it goes.

I'm actually looking forward to the idea of taking the first two days kind of slow. We usually hit the ground running and have a rest day on the third day -- but easing into it might be a good idea.

First day would be arrival at MCO around noon -- get to resort at about 2 pm, try to check in. If at SSR -- head over to Disney Springs. If AKV -- check out the pool/resort/boma/sanaa. If at CCV -- explore/pool time -- and then check out fort wilderness (we still haven't been there in our last 3 trips). Next morning -- sleep in and hang out until 11 am (no rope drop first full day!). Drop bags off with bell services and then wander around Epcot until our room is ready at BWV.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Since being at the Hyatt already places you in 3 different resorts over your trip my suggestion would be to book a cheaper cash room at WDW for your arrival night and in the mean time see what you can get at 7 months or with a waitlist. With the cash room at Disney you have up until 5 days prior to check in to cancel so that's lots of time to find happen upon some other location with your points. Hyatt MCO does have a small pool and you could wander thru the few shops in the airport but that's it - it's a travel hotel at an airport, not a vacation spot.

This. My mom stayed at the MCO hotel before her cruise and said it was a nice hotel but absolutely nothing to do. There weren't many food options either and everything closed pretty early. I have done arrival day at an Allstar because it was just a place to sleep for a night and prices were good.

A cash reservation would secure a backup plan so you don't have to use your food and wine points. If things are available at 7 months, then great!

 

[alldiz]

I would get a cash dvc price for a studio spend most time at parks that day.
Or like a PP rent 1 time points.
Kerri

 

[NJ Goofy]

Since you want to use DME, I would try to get a cash room or studio at BC, YC, BWI or BWV for your 1st night. That way the move to your points room will be simple.

 

[mustinjourney]

If anyone cares -- quick update.

I was aiming to try and get the CCV studio or 1 BR today, but that didn't work out.

However, I was successful in reallocating my points -- so I was able to get back my precious BWV to be used for F&W fall of 2018. I then purchased 24 OTU points and borrowed 8 VGF points from 2018 UY. Got pretty lucky they were able to reallocate the points.