Tips on getting room you want and getting food for the trip?

[moopdog]

I haven't yet, but hope to find someone willing to sell me the points I need (fingers crossed). In the meantime, if I can get the points, is there a way that the member can actually request a specific room for me - based on "room review" section of this site?

Also, since we are spending a little more to get a studio (vs All Stars), I thought we'd save $$ by eating in most mornings and lunches, instead of getting the dining plan. But since we won't have a vehicle, how will we get food?? Is there something within walking distance that will sell some basics like cereal, milk, bread, lunch meat & cheese, etc? If so, is it WAY overpriced or just a little overpriced? Having it delivered is not an option because it would cancel out the savings, you know?! I think we'll pack half a suitcase with dry goods like bagged cereal, poptarts, puddings, etc. but don't know what to do about the rest. Also... do we need to provide dishes, or utensils or paper products??

Thanks - Danielle

BTW, If anyone has 104 pts to sell for BCV for Sept of this year... I'm interested. Thanks!! Already posted on the "right" forum, but no luck so far.

 

[lsutigger2]

Room views are only request and not guarnteed.

If you are flying, which I assume you are since you will be car-less, I've seen many posts about the limo services stopping for a grocery run on the way to the resort. There are some groceries in the gift shop, but I've never bought anything, so I can't comment on cost.

There is a supply of paper bowls, plastic ware, etc. If you think you'll be using lots, you may want to bring some.

Enjoy - hope you get your points!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Each of the DVC locations have a store available that sells the basic necessities for stocking your kitchen. A nice selection of cold foods/beverages, plus canned goods, cereals, breads, some pastries, etc. If you want something very specific, you might want to bring that with you. The prices are a bit higher than you might have at home, but I find all the stores in Lake Buena Vista higher than I have at home. For example, I pay about $2.99 for a gallon of 2% milk at home. At LBV, I haven't found it cheaper than about $3.50/gallon. At the resort store, you might pay a bit more than the $3.50 per gallon, but the store is right there and easy to get to.

As to the room location. Even members don't get a room by requesting a specific room. If that room is occupied, they won't have any idea at all of what you want. So go with the smoking/non-smoking, handicapped/non-handicapped, water view, woods view, lower level/upper level.

 

[ParrotAtOKW]

Hi Danielle,

About getting a specific room - There are no guarantees. But if you make a special note when you book the reservation, AND confirm it again when you call back to confirm the registration AND call the resort directly and confirm with them, AND send them a FAX with your request a few days before you arrive AND check with them in the morning on the day you arrive AND be real nice to them when you show up at the front desk to check in - your chances are pretty good in my experience.


I would recommend to you that you be somewhat flexible and not get stuck on one particular room. There are very few really bad rooms at any of the resorts. At least, I've never been stuck in one.

As for eating in - we usually take breakfast stuff including dry cereal, coffee, etc.. We buy milk and bread when we get there. I don't know what's available at BCV but most food courts at resorts have a dairy case with milk, and some sundries and bread, jam, etc.. Not a huge selection of anything but enough to get you by. Mosth things like milk are reasonably priced but not cheap.

You can get to a full store even without a car by taking a bus to Downtown Disney and walking from there to Goodings at Crossroads mall. It is a fair distance from DD so you probably wouldn't want to carry a lot of stuff, but a couple of small bags of milk, fruit, bread and some snacks shouldn't be too bad.

I hope this helps and that you have a great time when you go!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi Danielle,

About getting a specific room - There are no guarantees. But if you make a special note when you book the reservation, AND confirm it again when you call back to confirm the registration AND call the resort directly and confirm with them, AND send them a FAX with your request a few days before you arrive AND check with them in the morning on the day you arrive AND be real nice to them when you show up at the front desk to check in - your chances are pretty good in my experience.

DVC asks that you DO NOT fax the resort. Have the member make your requests and let it go at that. Since you are not the member, you will not be able to make any requests or changes to the reservation anyway.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, since the room request issue has been addressed, I'll go with the food issue. There are services that will shop for you and then deliver to your resort. Two that I am familier with are netgrocer.com and wegoshop.com...I've used netgrocer twice and will be using wegoshop this June. They both charge a small fee. Very handy.

 

[CarolA]

Personally, you are probably setting yourself up for disappointment with the "specfic room" I would suggest a general area instead. (I mean it is not like they will evict the current guest for you no matter what you do!)

 

[kathleena]

Take a look at wegoshop.com. Yes, you pay a small delivery fee, but I think it is far less than what you would pay for buying the food in the onsite groceries or for eating out!

And don't ask for specific rooms. Go for a general location, view or floor.