What would you do? BC vs. BCV

[MelaBella]

Our party consists of 2 adults and 3 thirteen year-old girls. Travel dates are late September. I could rent a one bedroom villa for about $1700 or hope for a genral public or annual pass discount of at least 35% and stay in the main hotel for $1653.

I will not be cooking, so the kitchen is not necessary. The washer/dryer would be nice, but I also don't mind schlepping to the communal laundry room, if necessary. Space and bedding are not an issue either. Four of us are perfectly happy in a value size room for a week and the girls are used to sleeping on air matresses for sleep-overs and camping.

Villa
-lock in rate now without worrying about possible discount rate
-decor not as nice as the main hotel
-guaranteed full balcony, but no chance of a good view
-separate rooms for adults and children

BC hotel
-could be late June or July before GP/AP discount rates are released and they may not be as good or cover weekends
-one room for everyone
-nicer decor
-may not get a full balcony
-may or may not have a good view

Please help me make this decision! I am driving myself crazy!!!!!

 

[RMulieri]

We always go with a 1 bdr villa .Just for the space, and though we do not cook in the kitchen , we do pick up some groceries for quick breakfasts and snacks etc.The views are NOT great, but NOT horrendous.We request if possible a Woods View..It gives a view of the Epcot wooded area ( not great)and at night you can see and hear some of Illuminations .

 

[Lisann]

The main advantage as I see it right now, would be in the Villa...you would have two rooms, more space, and that might be a good thing over the course of the vacation.

My vote would be for the Villa just on that fact alone.

 

[suemom2kay]

You mentioned that the four of you say at a value, yet there are 5 of you in your party.

Are all the children yours? If not, I would not feel comfortable sleeping with my husband in the same room as someone else's child.

I would definitely go with the 1 bedroom regardless. Once you go 1 Bedroom, you'll never want to go back to a regular hotel room.

 

[francie57]

Isn't the capacity for a 1 bedroom at the BCVs 4 adults plus one under the age of 3. If that is the case, you would need a two bedroom. The one bedroom would only have the king bed in the bedroom and the sleeper in the living room. I would look into renting points for a 2 bedroom. We usually get a 2 bedroom at the BWVs or the BCVs (even though there are only 4 of us due to kids being one of each) and we never really use the kitchen but it is nice to be able to grab a quick breakfast in the morning and having snacks and drinks available. The washer/dryer are great to have since you don't have to pack at much and can return home with clean clothes.

 

[MelaBella]

Two of the children are ours. All of the DVC properties now allow 5 in a 1 Bedroom Villa as long as you provide the bedding for the extra person (air matress).

 

[vicki_c]

Two of the children are ours. All of the DVC properties now allow 5 in a 1 Bedroom Villa as long as you provide the bedding for the extra person (air matress).

To clarify, this is only true for DVC points reservations and it is an unwritten thing that Member Services has been allowing. It is not the official policy or occupancy. So while I wouldn't expect it to change, it could. Official occupancy of 5 for a 1 BR is allowed only at the resorts with a sleeper chair - AKV, BLT and OKW.

Also this is never allowed when booking through Disney reservations for a cash reservation. They will only allow 4+infant.

 

[MelaBella]

Yes, I suppose I should have clarified. We would be staying in the Villa on points and I realize it is not an offical rule, but something that is now commonly allowed at all DVC properties.

 

[vicki_c]

Yes, I suppose I should have clarified. We would be staying in the Villa on points and I realize it is not an offical rule, but something that is now commonly allowed at all DVC properties.

No problem - I just figured someone would read it and tomorrow would be posting that it's "official" that 5 people can stay in DVC villas. LOL.

 

[MelaBella]

So true!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You have two threads posted. Maybe you can ask the moderator to join them together.

 

[Tara]

To clarify, this is only true for DVC points reservations and it is an unwritten thing that Member Services has been allowing. It is not the official policy or occupancy. So while I wouldn't expect it to change, it could. Official occupancy of 5 for a 1 BR is allowed only at the resorts with a sleeper chair - AKV, BLT and OKW.

I don't know how unwritten or unofficial it is. If you go to the DVC website and book online, it says:

Sleeps 4 – 5th guest can be accomodated, but must provide their own bedding and linens

I've never seen it anywhere in writing until now.

 

[M5ward]

One room with 3 thirteen year old girls? Not me, for sure. For the extra few dollars, I would stay in the one bedroom. I think the girls would also appreciate the extra space.

 

[MelaBella]

I guess that the villa makes the most sense. It's just that I really prefer the decor of the BC over the villas. Silly, I know, but it just feels more deluxe to me.

Also, if I choose the villas, then I have to give up my dream of a free magical upgrade!

 

[vicki_c]

I don't know how unwritten or unofficial it is. If you go to the DVC website and book online, it says:

Sleeps 4 – 5th guest can be accomodated, but must provide their own bedding and linens

I've never seen it anywhere in writing until now.

Thanks Tara - I have also not seen it written down on the DVC site before, so either I missed it or it is more recent, with online booking. In fact, that makes a lot of sense that they added when online DVC booking went live since before it was only on the phone that you really got that information from the Member Services staff.

 

[Tara]

Thanks Tara - I have also not seen it written down on the DVC site before, so either I missed it or it is more recent, with online booking. In fact, that makes a lot of sense that they added when online DVC booking went live since before it was only on the phone that you really got that information from the Member Services staff.

I hadn't seen it until maybe 2 days ago...I was pretty surprised myself.

 

[Princess Me]

We actually had the same decision to make for our trip last year. We knew that we needed separate rooms; there is only so much girl time my husband can take at a time, especially since he is also not a Disney fan lol. We knew we wanted to be at the BC resort, but the cost of 2 rooms there was out of the question (we went at Spring Break & the discounts I found did not apply to BC). So we chose to stay in a 2 bedroom at BCV on rented points. We loved the resort & everyone had plenty of room. That being said, we didn't really feel like the villa was a luxury experience. My husband really, really hated the bed & bedding.
Our next trip is planned for Spring Break next year & my husband insists that he is not going back to Disney so soon. The girls & I already picked out the Contemporary resort & will share a standard room since hubby isn't going.

 

[roydavid7771]

Enjoy the extra room that the villas offer. You'll be glad you did.

 

[akl-fan]

I would go with the villa, you will all get more privacy and it will be far more comfortable. Have you thought about a villa that would have two bathrooms ie BLT or AKV. They would also allow 5 people and everyone would have a bed.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

You mentioned that the four of you say at a value, yet there are 5 of you in your party.

Are all the children yours? If not, I would not feel comfortable sleeping with my husband in the same room as someone else's child.

I would definitely go with the 1 bedroom regardless. Once you go 1 Bedroom, you'll never want to go back to a regular hotel room.

We are taking DD12's best friend with us in June for DD's 13th birthday. We also have a DD9, so that makes us a party of five. Even though DD's friend is like family, DH would prefer to have his own space since she is not his daughter. We booked a 2BR at BWV.

Our party consists of 2 adults and 3 thirteen year-old girls. Travel dates are late September. I could rent a one bedroom villa for about $1700 or hope for a genral public or annual pass discount of at least 35% and stay in the main hotel for $1653.

Please help me make this decision! I am driving myself crazy!!!!!

I'd definitely do a villa, but I'd book at AKL-Kidani, BLT or OKW if you want a 1 BR. They all offer sleeper chairs. AKL-Kidani and BLT give you two bathrooms, which would be critical for us. OKW only has one bathroom, but the 1 BR is huge.