Value Resort with an 8 mos. old?

[kjs1976]

DH and I are looking to take a 5-7 day trip in late Aug with our 8 mos. old. Ideally, we'd like to rent points for a DVC studio. However, if my brother and parents decide to go, we'd need to stay at a value. I have no issues staying at a value for the fun pools, good bus service, and food court. My only concern is the size of the room and no fridge. We'd most likely help my bro pay for his room and we'd switch off staying with him while one slept with the baby so there'd be the option of having our room to keep quiet and sleep and his to hang out in and watch tv.

Anyone stayed in a value with an infant? Any advice?

Thanks!!

 

[Jaymie]

We stayed in a value when my son was 5 months old. We had no problem. I have diabetes so they provide a fridge for free, but I was still nursing so no need to keep formula cold. But you can get a fridge for $10/day. Or if you're going to do 2 rooms, why not try the family suite? That you would get you a fridge.

 

[stephgles]

We have done a value resort for the past 3 years and started off when dd was 8 months old. You can request a fridge it is $10.00 a day. Since we didnt spend much time in the room except for sleeping it wasnt a problem.

This year we are upgrading our resort but part of me would still like to stay at AMovies.

 

[Ratpack]

We have stayed at value with our kids when they were infants with no issues at all. Just rent the fridge for $10 a day if you need one or as we have done many times, bring along a cooler and keep it filled with ice. It adds a little work to the vacation, but saves the $10 a day.

However, my suggestion would be that if you need two rooms, why not pool all the money and rent DVC points and get a 2BR. At AKV, you can get a 2BR value for a lot less than the other DVC locations and it will most likely be a 1BR and a studio combined, thus two rooms in reality. A lot of room, more than two value rooms, and you get a full kitchen.

 

[logan115]

If you end up having 5 adults and the little one, a 2BR at BCV (for example) in late August is 34 pts/night (drops to 32 pts/night Sep 1) for Sun-Thurs nights. For our trip last year and our upcoming May trip we did split stays, rented a ressie for Sun-Thurs nights at a DVC, then stayed at POP Fri-Sat nights as those nights are about twice as expensive as weeknights.

If you were able to get a 2BR ressie for Sun-Thurs from a DVC owner charging you $12/pt for example, it would cost you $2040 (34 pts * 5 nights * $12), which works out to about $408/night. When you rent DVC you don't pay sales tax, so that $408 is like paying $362 + tax - a savings people don't always think about. Let's say with tax you rented 2 rooms at a value for $125 a piece, the DVC would be $158 more per night, but you can save quite a bit having at least one meal (if not more) a day in your room. Numbers obviously get better if you only have to pay $10-$11/pt, and it will rarely be cheaper to stay at DVC than Value, but you need to decide if paying a little extra is worth it.

For us, we're paying about $160/night for a studio, room-only at POP for the same dates was about $130-140/night (including tax), and for the extra $100 we felt it was worth staying at SSR over POP (but we do LOVE POP !)

My vote is for a split stay whether it's 3 or 6 of you making the trip, renting a ressie and then staying at a value. One thing that would change that is if free-dining or some other great promotion was being offered, so start scouting out the "codes" threads for you time frame.

Chris

 

[Ratpack]

Just wanted to build on my other post about the AKV option. I am assuming, as it is not real clear, but if your brother and parents come, you are looking at 3 rooms total. If that is the case, then the 2BR value at Animal Kingdom Villas would be adequate sleeping room for everyone since it has a 1 BR which is a BR, Ba, LR and Kitchen and then a seperate studio which has two beds (1 bed and 1 pull out). The cost for that in late Aug is 225 points for the entire 7 nights which is $2700 at $12/point. Divide that by 3 parties and you get $900 per party for 7 nights or roughly $129 per night. That would get you a deluxe resort and a full kitchen with refridge, DW, stove and oven. You and hubby can take the master in the 1BR section and brother and parents can share the studio for sleeping. Then you have the LR for watching TV and socializing. When little one wants to sleep, either the BR or the Studio would be plenty quiet for that since they are totally seperate from the LR and has a door to further dampen noise. AKV / AKL also has a zero entry pool which is great for toddlers and everything is under one roof. We all know about the summer rains in Florida, but there it wouldn't matter as you can go to the shops, food and even buses without getting drenched which is not an option at the values. Now, one of the drawbacks would be all of you in the same room, but size wise it is still better. The 2BR is roughly 1000 sf and the value rooms are 260 sf, you would be in the same area as 4 value rooms. If this situation would work for you, I think it would be a steal. You'll pay close to $129 a night for a value anyway, especially if you get the fridge. Worst case, your brother rides free and it costs you and your parents $193 a night each, which is still cheap for a deluxe resort.

 

[kjs1976]

Wow...that is a lot of info on how we could stay at a DVC!!!! I've thought of that as well. It's just that with an infant, it would probably be best that we all had our own space. Plus, my dad snores. And I'm not real certain if my parents would be coming. They also may say no now and then change their minds this summer and want to go. It would make renting points difficult.