THV questions

[tink_n_pooh]

We are considering taking a trip to WDW next January-ish with family. It will be me, DH, the baby (8 months old at that time), DH's mom & dad, and my dad. I know there is enough bedding for us all to be in a 2 bedroom but sharing the room with 2 queen beds just isn't going to work for us. We have also considered doing a 1 bedroom for us and studios for each of the parents (one for DH's parents, one for my dad) or a 2 bedroom and a studio, lots of options.

The THV seem like a good option, enough bedrooms & bathrooms, enough space and a place we have never been. Of course a grand villa elsewhere would also work but it seems like "too much"

So.. my questions about the THV are:

How bad are the buses? We don't normally have a car there and only use WDW transportation. I'd rather not have to transfer buses too much with the baby and all her gear. DMil has bad knees too, I'm not sure how much walking she is going to be up for during the trip.

There are stairs only going up into the villas, correct? Not sure how much of a hassle that will be for DMil and all the baby's gear.

Food, is everything only at SSR? Or do the THV have eatery options as well?

Anything else I should be considering? Other options that may be better for us? Any suggestions are welcome

 

[alanapapa]

We are considering taking a trip to WDW next January-ish with family. It will be me, DH, the baby (8 months old at that time), DH's mom & dad, and my dad. I know there is enough bedding for us all to be in a 2 bedroom but sharing the room with 2 queen beds just isn't going to work for us. We have also considered doing a 1 bedroom for us and studios for each of the parents (one for DH's parents, one for my dad) or a 2 bedroom and a studio, lots of options.

The THV seem like a good option, enough bedrooms & bathrooms, enough space and a place we have never been. Of course a grand villa elsewhere would also work but it seems like "too much"

Grand Villas are NEVER too much, they are fantastic.

So.. my questions about the THV are:

How bad are the buses? We don't normally have a car there and only use WDW transportation. I'd rather not have to transfer buses too much with the baby and all her gear. DMil has bad knees too, I'm not sure how much walking she is going to be up for during the trip.

We were near enough that it was not too far a walk to catch the SSR buses to the parks rather than catch the SSR/THV shuttle. We were also close to the boat dock to catch the boat to SSR/DTD

There are stairs only going up into the villas, correct? Not sure how much of a hassle that will be for DMil and all the baby's gear.

I believe that there are a few HA that have ramps. The stairs are not bad though.

Food, is everything only at SSR? Or do the THV have eatery options as well?

No, there are no options at THV other than walking/riding somewhere or eating in the unit. We had groceries so we ate in the unit a lot. We had a few ADRs for Character Breakfast and a Adults Night out.

Anything else I should be considering? Other options that may be better for us? Any suggestions are welcome

I thoroughly enjoyed the THV and would like to stay again, but not with 9 people, Your group seems a great size for it.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Thanks alanapapa!

I think if we could be pretty sure we could get a room close enough to walk to the grandstand bus stop I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

Out of curiosity, do you remember how long of a walk it was for you?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I'm a big, big fan of the THV and have stayed there several times. Once with a car and once without. The trip with the car was certainly much more convenient, but we also found Disney transportation to be very workable. For us, we found that walking to/from the Grandstand bus stop was more convenient than taking the internal shuttle.

The stairs were a PITN when we loaded the luggage in and out from the car and when we got groceries, but other than that didn't cause us any issues. We didn't have a stroller to deal with, though.

Also, how tall (and wide) is your father? The beds in the 3rd bedroom are a twin-sized bunk bed. It's not like he'd have to climb up to the top, but the bottom bed isn't quite as long as a normal twin bed. My tall brother in law's feet stuck over a little.

All in all, we love the THV and always recommend them to friends and here on the boards.

Considering the mobility concerns with your DMIL, though, I'm wondering if you wouldn't be more comfortable in a room serviced by an elevator and along the main bus route. Also consider that, since you mentioned your trip will be in January, that the points for THV go up in 2013. Right now, it's the same number of points for a 2-bedroom as it is for a THV. In 2013, the THV are more than the 2-bedroom. To stay a week in a 2-Bedroom plus a studio would only cost you 13 more points than to stay in the THV.

 

[alanapapa]

Thanks alanapapa!

I think if we could be pretty sure we could get a room close enough to walk to the grandstand bus stop I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

Out of curiosity, do you remember how long of a walk it was for you?

Maybe 5 minutes walk, I think it was only 15 minutes to The Springs for the big pool. After being in the last unit in Kidani with a 20 minute walk from the bus stop to the villa, we weren't complaining.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I think if we could be pretty sure we could get a room close enough to walk to the grandstand bus stop I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

Out of curiosity, do you remember how long of a walk it was for you?

I'll do you one better... here's a video of the walk. Put a patch behind your ear, though, you may get seasick. I was limping pretty good by the time I took this video, so it must have been near the end of the trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoZIGea3tZM

 

[tink_n_pooh]

That walk didn't seem long at all!

Of course now we are thinking of going with a grand villa and invited a few more people

 

[Breyean]

That walk didn't seem long at all!

Of course now we are thinking of going with a grand villa and invited a few more people

We had a GV at OKW this past January ( 9 nights) for us (3 adults) and another family (parents and 4 kids from 5 through 13). It was great. We took the downstairs and our friends the upstairs.

It was a once in a lifetime thing (we've been members since 1993 and this was our first stay in a GV) and it was a lot of points, but it worked out great. The kids could go to the main pool area to hang out, see the movies and toast marshmallows; everyone loved the easy access via boat to DTD at night for shopping/eating.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We had a GV at OKW this past January ( 9 nights) for us (3 adults) and another family (parents and 4 kids from 5 through 13). It was great. We took the downstairs and our friends the upstairs.

It was a once in a lifetime thing (we've been members since 1993 and this was our first stay in a GV) and it was a lot of points, but it worked out great. The kids could go to the main pool area to hang out, see the movies and toast marshmallows; everyone loved the easy access via boat to DTD at night for shopping/eating.

Did the GV have a separate entrance upstairs?

 

[alanapapa]

Did the GV have a separate entrance upstairs?

I am not sure about the OKW GV but the one we had at Kidani had an unmarked entrance upstairs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Did the GV have a separate entrance upstairs?

Not at OKW that I am aware of. The one we stayed in did not. And the main entrance was on the second floor, so we had to carry stuff up a flight of stairs to get to the villa. Then the guests staying in the second and third bedroom had to carry their stuff up another set of stairs.

You know the THV only have two bathrooms, right?

 

[Natterjack9]

We LOVE the THV!! Stayed there on our last trip, me, DW, DD, and DS, plus DW parents. My father-in-law is a severe diabetic, and has a hard time walking. THV was no problem at all for him. No eateries, but the inter-resort bus was very quick. I would highly recommend THV for what you guys need. Quiet, out of the way, easy to get to the main part of SSR and the Artist's Palate.

Once you get the hang of the shuttle service and how the busses run to and from the parks getting around is pretty easy, and no worse than say the Grandstand. I say try the THV!!!

 

[Cee]

Absolutely LOVE the THV. I long to stay there again. We had four adults and it was very roomy. Enjoy!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I just came across some pics of the bunk beds in the THV, they do look very tiny! Anyone know for sure if they are smaller than a twin? Would it be crazy to have an adult man try to sleep there (about 6 feet tall)?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just came across some pics of the bunk beds in the THV, they do look very tiny! Anyone know for sure if they are smaller than a twin? Would it be crazy to have an adult man try to sleep there (about 6 feet tall)?

We had a bunk bed room at AKL a few years ago and the bunk was smaller than a twin sized bed.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We had a bunk bed room at AKL a few years ago and the bunk was smaller than a twin sized bed.

Ack! It never even crossed my mind that the beds might not be a standard twin size!

 

[jagson]

I just came across some pics of the bunk beds in the THV, they do look very tiny! Anyone know for sure if they are smaller than a twin? Would it be crazy to have an adult man try to sleep there (about 6 feet tall)?

It'd be nice if they had a queen size bed, as an optional room request, instead of bunk beds; especially, if only older adults were staying. Who'd like to be on the top bunk at night, especially an older guy, if you know what I mean.

 

[DVCBrian]

I just came across some pics of the bunk beds in the THV, they do look very tiny! Anyone know for sure if they are smaller than a twin? Would it be crazy to have an adult man try to sleep there (about 6 feet tall)?

The bunk beds in THV are smaller than a twin bed - a "kid-sized" adult would be fine, but no way at 6 feet tall.