What would you do with $400 night?

[poonchkie]

Coming in early November for 6 nights with 2 small children(3 and 6) and gramma and grampa. We have $2500 available for lodging (tax incl). Necessities include 2 separate sleeping areas, fun zero entry pool, and we would prefer not to be isolated (OKW), even though we will have a van. BCV would be ideal, but two adjoining rooms at BC would work also. Any suggestions?

 

[MermaidsMom]

I say go with the Swan/Dolphin. Get 2 connecting rooms so the kids can go between rooms and visit, you will have 2 baths and if any of you are teachers, gov. emp, nurses (and maybe a few other things) you can stay for $139 per night. Walking distance to 2 parks, beautiful setting etc.

 

[ducklite]

At theis point in time you probably wo'nt be able to get a DVC 2BR--it's NJ week and most have already been booked...plus none of the DVC resorts offer a zero entry pool. The only zero entry pools are at GF, Poly, and AKL, and the chances of getting two rooms with tax for $400 per night at the GF or Poly are slim to none. AKL is definitely "isolated".

So you need to reorganize your priorities or raise your room budget.

Anne

 

[Robinette]

I'm pretty sure the Yacht & Beach Club have zero entry at the SAB pool. Isn't it by the sandy part?

 

[Gillian]

You could luck out and get 2 rooms at the YC or BC for around $400, but it will be close. I've seen them under $200 inc tax with codes, but not often. There are parts of the pool that are great for kids! At BCV you'd need a 2 BR, and if you got one from CRO, the rack rate is $545/night. Discounts with codes are not often available.

AKL is certainly isolated, but it has excellent bus service to the parks! It doesn't share with any other resort, so the trips are fast. If you have a van, you won't have to worry about evening transportation to DD or other resorts. The pool is lovely & there are a lot of other things do see & do there.

 

[jel0511]

The only Deluxe resorts with a zero entry pool are the GF, Poly and AKL. BC does have a sort of zero entry part near the kiddy pool, but it is separate from the rest of the pool and with the sandy bottom, a little difficult for new walkers. Using your $2500 total, you're looking at $186 per night, per room before taxes. You might get a code rate for BC which will probably be $189 per night + tax, just at your budget. The AKL would be isolated and there really isn't much to do at the resort, due to it's isolation, except for viewing the savannahs. I wouldn't count on being able to book a villa at BCV, since you'd need a two bedroom, with the number of people you have. As stated before the rack rate is $545 per night in value season, and codes are rarely seen at the DVC resorts. You might look into renting points from a DVC member if there still is availability. For 6 nights in the first week of November (Sat - Fri stay) the cost would be $2210 (going rate is $10 per point for renting). If you wanted to stay Sun - Sat the rate then would be $2500, points are more expensive on Friday and Saturday night stays, so if you only stay one of those nights it is a little less expensive. If you're interested in renting points, visit the rent/trade board here on the DIS. I'm sure you'll find someone who will rent you points for BCV, the only thing is there availability. You won't be able to receive these rates booking directly with Disney, you'd have to do a private transaction with a DVC owner. Just so you know, if you do decide to rent points, you give up daily housekeeping, since DVC members dont' receive it.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Robinette
I'm pretty sure the Yacht & Beach Club have zero entry at the SAB pool. Isn't it by the sandy part?

Only to the kiddie pool. And YC/BC is going to cost over $400 per night for two rooms when you add in taxes.

Anne

 

[dahess]

BC/YC or Swan/Dolphin is my pick!

 

[peachgirl]

If $400 a night is your top price, I don't believe you'd be able to get a 2 br villa at any Home Away From Home resort unless you stayed weekdays and rented points. Keep in mind with renting, you'll only get housekeeping services every few days. It's also a private transaction and the policies regarding deposits, full payment, changing reservations and cancellations depend on who you're dealing with and not nearly as generous as when dealing with CRO.

I don't know about past history, but there are currently AP discounts available for the DVC properties. I don't think they are as rare as you might think, but they aren't as good as discounts on other properties.

Using OKW as an example only because that's the rate I'm familiar with.....
Rack rate for regular season is $560 before tax. The AP rate is $485 including tax. That comes out to a little over a 20% discount. If the BCV have an AP discount in your time frame (value season) and the discounts are the same, it would cost around $475 a night including tax. Of course, someone in your group would have to have an AP. If you weren't intending to purchase AP's, the savings probably wouldn't be worth it. We have a comeback rate for OKW that beats the AP rate and is cheaper than renting, but other than that, I believe the AP rate is the best you're going to find.


I also agree it's going to be very hard to get 2 rooms at the resorts you want in your price range. For what you're wanting to spend, I'd say that AKL, WL, a moderate or a 1 br villa are your most likely options. None of those fit your preferences though.

Bottom line is either your budget or your priorities are going to have to give some.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by peachgirl
I also agree it's going to be very hard to get 2 rooms at the resorts you want in your price range. For what you're wanting to spend, I'd say that AKL, WL, a moderate or a 1 br villa are your most likely options. None of those fit your preferences though.

Bottom line is either your budget or your priorities are going to have to give some.

Regretfully this family can not fit in a 1BR villa--they have maximum occupancy of four plus a child two and under.

Have you thought about the Fort Wilderness homes? Only one bathroom, but two seperate sleeping areas, and would be well within your price range.

ANne

 

[Poorman]

Two studios at BCV would work. Most any 7 days in November is 106 points per room. So for about $2100.00 you could do it. You also could do OKW for about $1700.00 for both. It's do- able depending on your dates, you may find some rooms available.

Good luck. Rich

 

[tampafan]

One thing to keep in mind is purchasing an annual pass for one member of your party. Since you will be there for 6 nights I was guessing that you would be getting either a 5 day park hopper(which is $217 advance purchase) or a 6 day park hopper+ (which is $277 advance purchase). The annual pass is $369. We have annual passes, and last year we were able to get two savannah view rooms at AKL for a total of $330 per night. If you can get a similar rate it would total out to about $1,980, leaving you with $520, which makes with $92 for the AP worth it. Even if the AP rate is not out, you could book the AKL and then when the rate comes out, just adjust the reservation with the new code. AKL is a wonderful resort. It is my second most favorite resort at WDW, and if price were never a consideration it would be my number one. Boma is a great restaurant (my absolute favorite on site) and there is so much to do just at the resort. I also agree with the previous poster too about the bus service being great.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Poorman
Two studios at BCV would work. Most any 7 days in November is 106 points per room. So for about $2100.00 you could do it. You also could do OKW for about $1700.00 for both. It's do- able depending on your dates, you may find some rooms available.

Good luck. Rich

Keeping in mind that most DVC properties are already booked solid due to NJ week...

Also you can't get two connecting studios if that was important to you.

Anne

 

[Poorman]

I just called MS. The first 2 weeks in November are booked solid at BCV. Rooms are available at OKW. The 3rd week in November, the 15th-22nd are open at BCV for a studio or 2 BR. Both of which fit your budget. Maybe you could work around this problem by adjusting your dates. Good luck. Rich

 

[peachgirl]

Regretfully this family can not fit in a 1BR villa--they have maximum occupancy of four plus a child two and under.

Oops! My mistake...I guess I wasn't paying attention! I saw grandma, grandpa and two little ones so I was thinking 4 people.
You're right, a 1 br wouldn't work.

 

[jel0511]

Now that it has been determined that BCV is out of the picture, it looks like your only option with your price constraints is to hope a code for November becomes available so you can afford BC or you'll have to raise your budget. A standard room at AKL without any discounts is $199 per night + tax, which is $2700 for the 6 nights. I wouldn't expect to see codes for November until sometime in September, maybe even later than that. So, you'll have to be very patient, or book a resort you can afford now to ensure your travel dates. Also, if you are from ANYWHERE near Newark, Philadelphia, Atlantic City or NYC airports, book your air now!! Those rates are climing up for the first week in November FAST!! We booked our air last May for our November trip, and it was $350 per person, and that was the cheapest we found and we were looking for a couple of months!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by ducklite
Have you thought about the Fort Wilderness homes? Only one bathroom, but two seperate sleeping areas, and would be well within your price range.

ANne

This is a great idea!

Friends of ours just booked a wilderness cabin for their party of 7(1 is an infant) for a total of $650ish for 4 nights! What a deal...they used some combination of AAA, AARP, Entertainment Book, Fl Res, and AP discounts to acheive this rate but what a deal. This may be the perfect solution for you.

 

[Gillian]

The cabins are nice, but tight with 4 adults. Also, I think it's a pain to use the internal FW transportation with a kid in a stroller. You can't walk to much of anything (except a pool) from the cabins. So to get to a park you need to take a FW bus and then either a boat or another bus to the park.

That said, they are affordable. $230 + tax per night during Novemeber. I've seen Fall code rates around $140+tax so if you decide on that, you could book one cabin & add another later.

Personally, for a group that size, I'd go with 2 rooms at a moderate over 1 cabin. Benefits? 2 sinks (cabin just has one, in the bathroom), 2 tvs, 4 beds (vs 2 plus bunks). Transportation should be a little easier. The full kitchen in the cabins is nice, but not worth it to me.

And if Deluxe rates come down, you can always switch!

 

[sherry8253]

You might want to check on the Swan & Dolphin. They are at a great location and the price is very good right now.

 

[zurgswife]

Just wondering why you are limiting your self to a zero entry pool???? 3 and 6 would be fine in a regular pool even if one or both need life jackets...our 5 year old wears one and does fine in teh BWV pool...