Where do you stay on the weekends?

[crisi]

We wanted to stay at AKL and wanted to tack a day onto the vacation. So we booked AKL for after we left.

Since it was only one night, going from a studio to a one bedroom wasn't bad. And AKL was really enjoyable. It was a great mini-vacation. We spent a few hours in the morning at AK, then did lodge activities (swimming and their programs) all afternoon and evening. Ate at Jiko and watched animals off our balcony.

Now, it wasn't really a money saving move - and we didn't really need the day - we just wanted to stay at AKL before the kids got so jaded that they'd be like "yeah, giraffe."

In a few years we will probably tack a weekend on at Universal.

 

[Simba's Mom]

When DH and I go together, we only stay from Sun-Friday or if we stay Saturday nite, it's been in a studio, he's one of these people who can't take more time off from work. As a solo, I've done every way-weekend in the middle of the trip at a moderate; AKL at the beginning the trip; paying cash for the weekend. After this last trip, though, I said "That's it-I've had enough of moving" and from now on, it's move in once/move out once.

 

[jakenjess]

We stayed at Pop for a night before moving to DVC on our last trip, and we'll be doing the same for our next trip, plus our last night (Fri.) we'll be moving to POFQ. We have APs so got the discount for both resort nights. We only have 160 DVC points, so it really hurts to use those points for weekends. If the Cont. DVC happens we'll definitely add on and then maybe we won't move, but for now it's worth it to save points. We always rent a car, and I pack one smaller suitcase for the resort nights. We don't mind moving, but that's just us. For others it's not worth the hassle.

 

[Disney Doll]

We do a moderate for the weekend that we arrive (Fri & Sat nights) then move to the DVC property on Sunday.

We like to end our vacations in the spaciousness of the DVC, rather than in a hotel room. Plus, we always get at least a 1BR, so I can pack less knowing that the 3rd day after I arrive, I'll have access to a washer/dryer right in my unit.

 

[Dina]

We're doing this next year because we've spent alot of points for our upcoming January trip-- 9 nights in a two bedroom with my parents. So, the following year we won't have a whole lot of points to play with. I'm thinking we'll do a moderate when we arrive Saturday, and maybe Sunday and then move over to SSR. I don't mind we take longer trips, and I like seeing the other resorts. I still don't feel like I have to pay for it since I'll probably get an AP discount (if not, then AAA) and I have enought Disney Visa Reward points to pay for our stay. Why not? When we stayed at ASMO last year, DH and I were so suprised how many people we met who were staying there and were DVC. For some reason on that trip, we seemed to talk to alot of people (I guess because our sons would start playing with kids and we'd end up talking to the parents). Some were staying at All Star for the weekend, and some were staying there because they were out of points. Being in the DVC is great because it guarantees us nice vacations is a home rather than a hotel room for the next 50 or so years, but it doesn't mean we can't do the other resorts now and then. That's fun too!

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

We like to fly in on Thursday and will usually stay 1-3 nights at Pop or get a studio and upgrade to a 1-2BR Sun-Friday.

We've found that it's not difficult to switch, especially if you take advantage of the help provided by Luggage Services. Our next planned trip to WDW will include the 1st 3 nights in a studio and then switching to a 2 BR within the same DVC resort.

 

[Desnik]

Thank you all for responding!! I have enjoyed reading how you all do your vacations!
We really don't have a problem switching resorts. We've done it before and it's just not a big deal to us. I think it is smart to do the non DVC resort before going to DVC. We will probably do that. We can't stay at a value for 2 reasons. The weekend I'd be looking at is Grad nights and I have heard the values will be packed with the schools. The other reason is because DH is a resort snob!LOL He didn't even like POR! Maybe we'll do AKL, or the WL again. I can't see paying $300+ per night just for the weekend so the other deluxes will be out. We do have AP's but I'm not sure if there will be discounts available for the end of April. It would be ideal to just stay in one resort, but I only have 110 points to work with. We have 150, but that's what's left for this use year and they were borrowed so they have to be used before June.(I made a mistake last year when borrowing and then not needing them for this Nov trip, it's a long story! ) We won't have a car so I guess we'll stick with staying onsite. When the kids get older we probably wouldn't mind doing a weekend stay over by Universal.

 

[BriarRosie]

I just booked my trip for next October, and it will be my first time NOT moving
over to another resort on the weekends!

I'm a solo traveler, so that means I'm usually in a studio. A typical trip would
be flying in on Saturday, staying one night at Pop Century. Then move to
BCV the next day. On Friday, reverse it again and stay Fri-Sat nights back
at Pop again.

I'm really looking forward to being in a 1 bedroom next year and not moving
around. I don't mind moving, but this will be a luxury for my
9 nights!

 

[dgaston]

I like to preserve as many of our points as I can. We have stayed at Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific to visit Universal on weekends (RPH again after Feb cruise) POR, Pop, are also options we have used. And in October we stayed at the Cypress Pointe Grandvilla 1 br. For around $70 that may be the option I'll lean toward on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

[JimC]

Before we moved to Orlando we would stay the week in our resort, or if longer than a week possibly split between two resorts. But we did not try to avoid the weekends at DVC.

Now our plans are to stay only Su-Fr. It is not much more than the drive to the airport for us now so the weekend penalty seems like a waste of points. If we find we do not like that approach we can always go back to our week long stays.

 

[Desnik]

I was just able to get a 1 bedroom at the BW for April 22-27!!! So I will do the non DVC resort before our DVC stay. That way I can also wash all our cloths before going home!! Thanks to everyone posting how you vacation!! Now DH says he wants to stay at the GF for the weekend!! Told you he was a resort snob!! Now, I agreed, but only if I can get an AP discount!!

 

[aubeone]

We are staying Sun-Thurs. in a 2BR at OKW during Presidents week. (Bringing the in-laws). I will arrive late Friday night with my wife and daughter....the in-laws will not arrive until Sunday. No more points left

Which would you do for Fri & Sat? Too many fun choices...I just cannot decide. We would prefer not to stay at a value or moderate.

Royal Pacific in Universal
BWV Studio
OKW Studio
Other

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are staying Sun-Thurs. in a 2BR at OKW during Presidents week. (Bringing the in-laws). I will arrive late Friday night with my wife and daughter....the in-laws will not arrive until Sunday. No more points left

Which would you do for Fri & Sat? Too many fun choices...I just cannot decide. We would prefer not to stay at a value or moderate.

Royal Pacific in Universal
BWV Studio
OKW Studio
Other

You could do Contemporary Resort - stay in a wing room and you won't pay as much. Do you have an AP? Maybe you could get an AP rate. Or try WL; sometimes it's a little less than the other deluxes. Or AKL - nice to wake up and sit on the balcony in your PJs and watch the animals.

 

[kimberh]

We stayed at the Royal Pacific last June. There are discounts for certain times of the year, if you are a Universal AP holder, AAA holder or Loews member. If you plan on going to Universal, this is the way to go, you will be entitled to, Front of the Line passes, without a charge if you stay on their property. The property is beautiful.

 

[photobob]

We'll stay either offsite or at a Value when arrive on Saturday for our trip this June. We're staying in a one bedroom Sun-Thurs and then we are going to Vero beach for Fri and Sat nights and staying in an a ocean view room which is the same point value as the studio..

 

[beachblanket]

For those who just can't stand spending "extra" points for Friday and Saturday nights -- and are interested in leveraging DVC for more than just WDW stays -- another option is to look into doing an Interval exhange (since they charge points by the week, not day). I just booked such a trade into Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, VA for August 2007. Point cost for a full week (Sunday to Sunday) in a very nice two bedroom (pics below) is less than what I would have spent for the same thing at the same time at my DVC home resort (BWV).

 

[DVCLiz]

We often stay in a DVC villa for 5 days and move for the weekend. We usually would try to stay at either AKL, the Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge, or the Beach Club for the weekend, depending on which DVC villa we were moving to. We would probably try to go from hotel to DVC - it seems to work better that way for us. We like the experience of having two resorts in one vacation, and we always have a car, so we don't have to worry about when our luggage will be delivered.

Next summer we are going to WDW for two weeks. We are arriving on a Thursday and spending Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the Renaissance(sp?) across from Sea World. We'll do Sea World on Friday, Discovery Cove on Saturday, and Sea World again on Sunday, if we want a second day there. We'll move to DVC on Sunday and stay five nights. On Friday we'll check into a deluxe, and then we'll stay another 5 nights at a different DVC. We hope to have some VAKL points to use for that second week by then!!!

We like the chance to stay at other resorts, and we don't feel like poor refugees at the deluxe resorts. We usually, but not always, try to stay for a special reason, like using Concierge service or being near a particular attraction like SAB or the water sports at Sammy Duvall's.

To each their own - it seems to be a matter of personal preference!!!

 

[disneybride96]

We stay sun-fri, but try to make a point to fly in early on Sunday, and out late on Friday. We relax Friday morning, head to a park after checkout and gain almost an extra day at WDW without the extra room night.

 

[jakenjess]

For those who just can't stand spending "extra" points for Friday and Saturday nights -- and are interested in leveraging DVC for more than just WDW stays -- another option is to look into doing an Interval exhange (since they charge points by the week, not day). I just booked such a trade into Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, VA for August 2007. Point cost for a full week (Sunday to Sunday) in a very nice two bedroom (pics below) is less than what I would have spent for the same thing at the same time at my DVC home resort (BWV).

Great pics! That looks like a nice place. And there's so much to do in Williamsburg. Have fun!

 

[beachblanket]

Yeah!!