VGF or CCV

[DVCBeachBum]

DH reminded me to suggest buying enough points minimum for a lake view 1br. That's what you'll get if booking the roll-in shower. The tub-shower combo generally has a portable bench, and there are some SVs in those for fewer points.


You don't want to know. It's a pain, done only if you're desperate for a full-length stay at a busy time.

Admittedly, wise to learn as you might need it for December bookings--a hot time in DVC.

Also, no jet tub when you need accessible; it's one spacious bathroom for chair maneuverability. I know the sadness of that.

You can either walk/roll to Poly in about 15 minutes but may not be able to once Poly Tower construction starts. The boat ride from GF to Poly is lovely, though, about every other one is large enough to take a chair.

You probably would not want to walk to Poly, thinking you'd do the 10-minute walk from there to TTC and Epcot monorail. The Poly courtyard is like Medieval cobblestones. DH hated it. We'll never stay there again for that reason.

Walking a reservation means that people start looking for their room type earlier than they really want. As soon as they are able to get it, they move it forward..."walk it" until it gets to the actual dates.

So, say you want to go Dec 1st to Dec 8th. Your 11 month window is January 1st. However, you know it will be hard. So, you start looking for the room for dates starting in October...2 months early...now your 11 month window is November 1st.

You book your room for October 1st to October 8th...then ever so often, you modify and move it forward, dropping days at the beginning and picking up days at the end. Because you can book 11 months + 7 days, you get your room a little bit a head of everyone. You must move it before the 11 month window opens for the last day of your walked trip.

You simply do this until you get your real dates. The only element is that you can't cross a UY when walking using the online system, so that requires calls to MS.

OK, WOW, You guys have taken me to a totally new Jedi level. I always say this about Disney—-you *think* you know what you are doing and then realize you have been playing in the sandbox while the grownups were having their wine.

Thank you!!

 

[DVCBeachBum]

So I as I understand it walking either of these will be an issue for me first week of Dec since I am a Dec use year.

 

[Her Dotness]

It’s what I expected. I appreciate having someone who gets it!!

How does it work in a 2 bed? Is one bathroom accessible or both? Cause my dream is a lock off where his “studio” is accessible and our room isn’t.

No idea about the 2br from experience as we need only a 1br.

I think you'd get the accessible studio if booking a 2br, because a lot of 2 brs are lockoffs with connecting studio. DH says he's pretty sure the accessible studios we've had were lockoffs. However, we've had only roll-in shower accessible studios.

No idea if there are accessible 2 br dedicateds. Probably a few? Member Services could advise you, I expect, via chat or call. We've had great luck with chat for simple queries like that.

Glad to be of assistance. As you indicate, not many know the ins and outs of the accessibles or understand how accessible needs can differ.

 

[Her Dotness]

Btw, something occurred to me that you may want to consider if booking a VGF 2br became challenging.

When people were panicking that 1brs would become impossible to get once VGF2 sales began, I checked and discovered that 2 resort studios were fewer points than a week in a 1 br, significantly fewer than a 2br.

In a pinch, if you don't especially need to be in general shared space or need the full kitchen/washer-dryer, booking 2 resort studios might be much easier to get since you aren't needing accommodations for a young child in a wheelchair. The VGF laundry room is very nice, said to be the case for BPK/VGF2 also.

The BPK/VGF2 rooms are even larger than the VGF1 studios and might work very well.

 

[wnielsen1]

OP, the answer is CCV and it's not particularly close. Don't let the VGF zealots try to convince you otherwise.

 

[Her Dotness]

OP, the answer is CCV and it's not particularly close. Don't let the VGF zealots try to convince you otherwise.

Ummmm, no. Decidedly no.

The CCV floorplans and floorspace stink in comparison with VGF, particularly important for those needing accessible villas.

That they are converted WL hotel rooms is all too obvious.

 

[Sandisw]

I was able to book at 2 bedroom at VGF beginning of Dec when I added on points there in March. So, it was 9 months out.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

It depends what you prefer. My sisters favorite resort is CCV and AKV. I like all the resorts. I would buy CCV better point chart value and you already own VGF

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So I as I understand it walking either of these will be an issue for me first week of Dec since I am a Dec use year.

Correct.

 

[cellomom]

CCV & VGF are great resorts & beautiful at Christmas.
Buy where you want to stay, where you will be happy. For the last few years I have been able to get a CCV dedicated 2 br for the 1st part of Dec. I did have to do some walking to make it happen. . CCV's point chart is better but the rooms are smaller than 2brs at VGF.
CCV : 2br @ 1,051 sq ft, # of rooms: Dedicated- Qty 56, Lock off- Qty 36
VGF: 2br @ 1,232 sq ft, # of rooms: Dedicated-Standard view Qty 30 & Lake view Qty 17. Lock off- Standard view Qty 30 & Lake view Qty 17
If you want to purchase direct, VGF has incentives for direct purchases.
Only you can decide on what is best for your family.

If you decide to go with a resale purchase, may I humbly suggest at least looking at BLT. I know, I know, the outside is not as lovely as the other DVC resorts and it is not know for its Christmas decor BUT it is a short walk to MK, the bus stop and parking lot. Elevators are near by even if your room is at the end of the hallway! Short walk across bridge for shopping and restaurants. 3 bathrooms in 2brs (3rd bathroom is small but a full bathroom). Larger inventory of rooms for booking. 2brs are larger than CCV's but smaller than VGF's.
You can hop on the monorail to visit Poly or GF.
The point chart is decent. example: 1st part of Dec. 2023- CCV 2br 41-47, BLT Lake view 2br 46-54
BLT: 2br @ 1,152 sq ft Dedicated- Standard view Qty 15 Lake view Qty 74 Theme Pk Qty 31
Lock off-standard view Qty 30 Lake view Qty 101 Theme Pk Qty 16
DVC Fan article about BLT
The Lesser Known Perks of Bay Lake Tower

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

CCV is my favorite resort but in your case I think I’d go with VGF for the direct points. I know you are already a direct owner but I think more and more restrictions are coming and it will be so much more convenient to just always know whatever points you’re staying on will qualify for extras. Isn’t MM already saying you have to be staying on points that qualify and can’t just be a direct owner with some? Unless you just love CCV more, but it sounds like you don’t.

 

[DVCBeachBum]

CCV & VGF are great resorts & beautiful at Christmas.
Buy where you want to stay, where you will be happy. For the last few years I have been able to get a CCV dedicated 2 br for the 1st part of Dec. I did have to do some walking to make it happen. . CCV's point chart is better but the rooms are smaller than 2brs at VGF.
CCV : 2br @ 1,051 sq ft, # of rooms: Dedicated- Qty 56, Lock off- Qty 36
VGF: 2br @ 1,232 sq ft, # of rooms: Dedicated-Standard view Qty 30 & Lake view Qty 17. Lock off- Standard view Qty 30 & Lake view Qty 17
If you want to purchase direct, VGF has incentives for direct purchases.
Only you can decide on what is best for your family.

If you decide to go with a resale purchase, may I humbly suggest at least looking at BLT. I know, I know, the outside is not as lovely as the other DVC resorts and it is not know for its Christmas decor BUT it is a short walk to MK, the bus stop and parking lot. Elevators are near by even if your room is at the end of the hallway! Short walk across bridge to access shopping and restaurants. 3 bathrooms in 2brs (3rd bathroom is small but a full bathroom). Larger inventory of rooms for booking. 2brs are larger than CCV's but smaller than VGF's.
You can hop on the monorail to visit Poly or GF.
The point chart is decent. example: 1st part of Dec. 2023- CCV 2br 41-47, BLT Lake view 2br 46-54
BLT: 2br @ 1,152 sq ft Dedicated- Standard view Qty 15 Lake view Qty 74 Theme Pk Qty 31
Lock off-standard view Qty 30 Lake view Qty 101 Theme Pk Qty 16
DVC Fan article about BLT
The Lesser Known Perks of Bay Lake Tower

Thank you for all this advice. We have a stay at BLT in Aug. Looking forward to checking it out. If we go VGF it will absolutely be direct right now.

 

[RoseGold]

I stayed at BR with a wheelchair user, and it wasn't ideal. WL runs two kinds of boats, some little boats that aren't accessible and some big boats that are. It is not fun to wait at the dock for the next boat. The monorail (or VGF walking path) is much easier, if we are talking about transport to MK. I'd say the Poly boat from the TTC is easiest.

You are trying to book a very narrow category of room (large suite) and then an even narrower category on top of that (accessible). I would call a guide and get actual numbers. This is a big commitment if maybe we are talking about a handful rooms in that category. CCV only has 36 lockoffs and VGF has less than 50, I would want to know how many are accessible. You might be setting yourself up to fail if there just aren't many to book.

You might be better off with cheap SAP and take what's available at 7 months. AKL shouldn't be too hard in this category most of the time and I think it's a great pick if you are driving to parks anyway. You don't need direct points to book that.

I also think BLT meets all your needs for transportation and accessibility. I might also consider Poly if you want two studios. The TTC boat is awesomely accessible and always running, and monorail transfer to Epcot is easy.

 

[cellomom]

Thank you for all this advice. We have a stay at BLT in Aug. Looking forward to checking it out. If we go VGF it will absolutely be direct right now.

We have had a 2br dedicated LV 9th floor, at the end of the hallway and could see a bit of MK. The next time we stayed in a 2br LV dedicated on the 2nd floor (end of hallway again), with views of the beach, lake and CR. Good memories.
Bring chargers for your phones and electronics, BLT lacks USB outlets (until it gets a refurb)
Enjoy your upcoming trip and good luck on your DVC purchase.

 

[DVCBeachBum]

I stayed at BR with a wheelchair user, and it wasn't ideal. WL runs two kinds of boats, some little boats that aren't accessible and some big boats that are. It is not fun to wait at the dock for the next boat. The monorail (or VGF walking path) is much easier, if we are talking about transport to MK. I'd say the Poly boat from the TTC is easiest.

You are trying to book a very narrow category of room (large suite) and then an even narrower category on top of that (accessible). I would call a guide and get actual numbers. This is a big commitment if maybe we are talking about a handful rooms in that category. CCV only has 36 lockoffs and VGF has less than 50, I would want to know how many are accessible. You might be setting yourself up to fail if there just aren't many to book.

You might be better off with cheap SAP and take what's available at 7 months. AKL shouldn't be too hard in this category most of the time and I think it's a great pick if you are driving to parks anyway. You don't need direct points to book that.

I also think BLT meets all your needs for transportation and accessibility. I might also consider Poly if you want two studios. The TTC boat is awesomely accessible and always running, and monorail transfer to Epcot is easy.

Yeah the transportation is the biggest worry of mine. If you get to MK and then get stuck…boat not running and so on, then you are fighting it out for a spot on the bus. Which is never easy and why we drive. AK is for sure on our list to stay but like you said I don’t feel like I need dedicated home resort for that. They always seem to have a lot. I spent a good deal of time in the threads here and also on that other big site with layouts (never know what names are ok to say and not) looking at where the rooms are. By far the VGF has more accessible rooms. I am honestly leaning towards BOTH contracts at the end of this convo. I have been looking for SAP and with how high ROFR is going these days this contract is looking like a steal that will likely be a good addition but I think I am going to be a VGF Christmas stay person.

 

[kdm31091]

Keep in mind you can go visit / enjoy CCV without actually staying there, and take in all of the wonderful holiday decor. You don't have to have a stay booked there to do so. In terms of actually staying, VGF is undoubtedly the more convenient place to stay, with walking to MK and relatively easy access to Epcot as well via the monorail. Point chart at VGF is worse, but price at the moment (direct) is much better for VGF than for CCV.

 

[RoseGold]

VGF does have a good backup option for accessibility which is two studios. That’s going to be very hard at CCV. I also think direct VGF points arent bad SAP value if you plan to hold for a long time.

I would call a guide and ask how many resort studios are accessible. I’m here now — This floorplan is tough, the entrance to the bathroom is too narrow. I wonder if they put in the cash to move walls or plumbing for accessibility. I really would need to know how many of the new studios are accessible.

 

[Her Dotness]

I think I am going to be a VGF Christmas stay person.

Oh, DO THAT.

GF in the holiday season is my happily ever after. My favorite WDW stay was Christmas in the GF. Just glorious.

And funny, because the bellhop loading our bags onto the cart to leave told us the turret room we had was a favorite of John Stamos and Kelly Ripa--inspiring DH to make very naughty jokes.

No, I'm not telling. Use your imagination.

 

[Her Dotness]

I wonder if they put in the cash to move walls or plumbing for accessibility. I really would need to know how many of the new studios are accessible.

I shouldn't think they had to move much if any, because BPK has to have had accessible rooms, though not all single room ones, of course.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Yeah the transportation is the biggest worry of mine. If you get to MK and then get stuck…boat not running and so on, then you are fighting it out for a spot on the bus. Which is never easy and why we drive. AK is for sure on our list to stay but like you said I don’t feel like I need dedicated home resort for that. They always seem to have a lot. I spent a good deal of time in the threads here and also on that other big site with layouts (never know what names are ok to say and not) looking at where the rooms are. By far the VGF has more accessible rooms. I am honestly leaning towards BOTH contracts at the end of this convo. I have been looking for SAP and with how high ROFR is going these days this contract is looking like a steal that will likely be a good addition but I think I am going to be a VGF Christmas stay person.

Oh if I'd known "buy both" was an option, I would definitely have voted for that one!!

Edited to add: Although if you buy them all at VGF, you may get a pretty good incentive. Not a VGF zealot since I use mine as SAP but the incentives for more points is not too shabby.