Where to stay in May?

[RedVines2001]

Hi all. Going to WDW May 2019 for three nights and I’m looking for opinions on where to stay.

This will be my first DVC stay at WDW (going to Aulani in December). Gonna stay three nights in WDW before I jump on a 7 night eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Fantasy. Traveling with DW DD 5 DS 3, my BIL SIL and two nieces 3 and 6.

I will probably arrive in the evening of the first night since we will be flying in from California so I will we really only get 2 full days. The plan is to do a full day at Animal Kingdom and maybe a half day at HS to check out Toy Story land. Ideally we’d like to do Disney Springs also. Plans are not set in stone.

Right now I have two studios booked at CCV my home resort as a backup but since we’re not doing MK it doesn’t seem like the ideal location. We stayed at AKL this year so my wife wants to stay somewhere different. Considering our plans I was thinking SSR, BWV or BCV for proximity to parks or Disney Springs.

I’m hesitant on SSR because of the dated rooms I’ve been reading about. I’d rather wait for the refurb to be done and stay there another time. So now I’m leaning towards BWV or BCV. BMV has the nightlife which I think my wife would like but My kids would love Storm Along Bay and we’d still be close to the board walk. How do the studios compare between the two? The BCV studios look a little nicer to me. How are my chances of getting into either BCV or BWV at 7 months? Plan on calling at 5am.

Or is there somewhere else I should consider.

What say you? Thanks in advance.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think getting two BCV studio may be rough. Even MS can only do it one at a time. BWV is often open at 7, but the need for two units is a possible issue.

 

[10CJ]

I think you might have a better chance at getting a 2 bedroom than 2 studios. Is that something you would consider?

 

[kboo]

Good luck! I might put in a plug for BWV over BCV: with kids as young as yours and your BIL/SIL, Stormalong Bay will be sort of lost on them. The 2 slides are far from the sand area, the big slide is big and enclosed in the dark for a bit (the BWV clown pool slide is not) and the water in the sandy area can be chest high on a 3yo. You'll need to be close to the 3yo in any event. The kiddie pool at BWV is easier for the little kids, and it is right next to the scary clown pool, which I happen to love. Also, the kiddie pool has a normal flat bottom and is easier for the little ones to walk on.

Also - the BW area and Village Green are great for kids - there are games, entertainers, and in the evening around dinner there are tons of kids playing and running around on the Village Green. Whenever we are on the Dolphin/BCV side we miss the Boardwalk. When we stay on the BW side (BWV/Swan) we miss the close proximity to EP, but if you're not planning on going to EP anyway...

Also - if you plan to go to TS Land, BWV is a MUCH closer walk. And the boats take a long time.

We just returned from a stay at the Swan last weekend. It confirmed that I like the BW side better. Also, my almost 3yo was playing in the kiddie pool at the Swan and accidentally did a back somersault underwater because she lost her balance. Luckily she's big enough to get herself up even if DH hadn't been right there to pull her up, but the sandy beach area at SAB is a little more challenging and gets deeper. So that's been on my mind.

 

[RedVines2001]

I think you might have a better chance at getting a 2 bedroom than 2 studios. Is that something you would consider?

Didn’t think about this. Just checked the rates the point difference is less than I thought. I have enough points for a two bed room stay at BWV SSR and kidani. I’d be open to that option.

Side question. Is a preferred 2 br villa at SSR worth an extra 24 points over a standard room for a 3 night stay? My understanding is that a preferred room is either in the main check in building or in the section closest to Disney springs.

 

[RedVines2001]

Good luck! I might put in a plug for BWV over BCV: with kids as young as yours and your BIL/SIL, Stormalong Bay will be sort of lost on them. The 2 slides are far from the sand area, the big slide is big and enclosed in the dark for a bit (the BWV clown pool slide is not) and the water in the sandy area can be chest high on a 3yo. You'll need to be close to the 3yo in any event. The kiddie pool at BWV is easier for the little kids, and it is right next to the scary clown pool, which I happen to love. Also, the kiddie pool has a normal flat bottom and is easier for the little ones to walk on.

Thanks for that info. Definitely not something I thought about.

 

[Frederic Civish]

You might be able to get two Studios at beach club villas if you have two different computers and they are signed on to the website with two different browsers and you prepare to catch it early in the morning as quickly as possible after the Computter opens it up.

You would have the search already set up and then push the search button right as the time changes to 7 AM Eastern time. Then you do the same search by clicking on the other computer, which is also ready, at the search screen. While the second one is searching, you go back to the first computer and click on the choice that has shown up there. once it takes you to the screen where you can start reserving it, you should have it locked for 20 minutes. As soon as you get to that reservation screen you should switch back to the other, 2nd computer, and Select what it has found in its search. Reserve it, then go back to the first computer and finish the reservation.

 

[RedVines2001]

You might be able to get two Studios at beach club villas if you have two different computers and they are signed on to the website with two different browsers and you prepare to catch it early in the morning as quickly as possible after the Computter opens it up.

You would have the search already set up and then push the search button right as the time changes to 7 AM Eastern time. Then you do the same search by clicking on the other computer, which is also ready, at the search screen. While the second one is searching, you go back to the first computer and click on the choice that has shown up there. once it takes you to the screen where you can start reserving it, you should have it locked for 20 minutes. As soon as you get to that reservation screen you should switch back to the other, 2nd computer, and Select what it has found in its search. Reserve it, then go back to the first computer and finish the reservation.

Thought about this but I have to cancel my back up reservation to free up the points. So I think in order to do this I would need three computers. Two to book the rooms and one to cancel the points. I wish you could book multiple rooms at the same time. Thanks though

 

[zavandor]

Didn’t think about this. Just checked the rates the point difference is less than I thought. I have enough points for a two bed room stay at BWV SSR and kidani. I’d be open to that option.

Side question. Is a preferred 2 br villa at SSR worth an extra 24 points over a standard room for a 3 night stay? My understanding is that a preferred room is either in the main check in building or in the section closest to Disney springs.

If you have the points for a BWV standard, then it's virtually impossible to get it.

 

[VinnieT]

Its hard to get something on the 7 month mark. Need to call when they open and try to get it then. May might not be that bad.

 

[lovin'fl]

We are about to go on 8 night cruise and I booked 1 night pre-cruise at CCV. I had BWV booked but switched to CCV to try it (since we just added on there) and DH wanted us to try the Reunion Station add on thing. I'd say stick with CCV or switch to an Epcot resort. Then you could walk to/from 2 parks and enjoy Flower and Garden at Epcot. We also booked the night we get off the cruise at HHI resort. But we are driving down and back from NC to Miami.

 

[lovin'fl]

Reading more of thread...as BWV owner a standard view studio and 2BR will be impossible to book at 7 months. 2BR because all 2BR at BWV are studio and 1BR combos called lock-offs...no dedicated 2BR villas. And standard view studios go right away...even as an owner who books at 8am of 11 month window, I can get blocked out. But a 2BR would be good for your party, so you can have all laundry washed for cruise. So maybe go for SSR. I think, personally, that prefer view and Congress Park are worth the extra points so you can easily walk to DS. But there are better pools, at SSR, for the kids than in Congress Park. We really liked the Paddock is great and has food counter with even breakfast stuff. We requested near pool and were right next to the Paddock pool and could walk a straight shot to the main building. Yes, the rooms are worn out though. OKW is renovated and they have a nice boat to DS. I think the kids would enjoy that. They are super close to Epcot too and the bus ride there is quick. They have nice pools and a lovely pool bar by the main pool and their restaurant, Olivia's is underrated. I would try for the HH section and if can't get, request the Penninsular area or Turtle Pond (TP has a pool counter with food and drinks). Oh, and the second bedroom has 2 real beds (no pull out) and it has full size kitchen table which would be great for your group and the balconies are lovely with nice views.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Didn’t think about this. Just checked the rates the point difference is less than I thought. I have enough points for a two bed room stay at BWV SSR and kidani. I’d be open to that option.

Side question. Is a preferred 2 br villa at SSR worth an extra 24 points over a standard room for a 3 night stay? My understanding is that a preferred room is either in the main check in building or in the section closest to Disney springs.

Standard at SSR is Paddock, Carousel and Grandstand. Preferred is Congress Park and Springs. Congress Park is right across the water from Disney Springs. The Springs is right next to the Carriage House and the main pool.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thought about this but I have to cancel my back up reservation to free up the points. So I think in order to do this I would need three computers. Two to book the rooms and one to cancel the points. I wish you could book multiple rooms at the same time. Thanks though

The modify reservation function will allow you to just modify that existing reservation to a new room. The multiple computer scenario for switching does not work anymore.

 

[texaskristi]

I'd go with OKW...WAY less points and convenient!!

 

[texaskristi]

We've stayed at both SSR and OKW and while I liked them both, I'd go with OKW.

 

[RedVines2001]

I'd go with OKW...WAY less points and convenient!!

We've stayed at both SSR and OKW and while I liked them both, I'd go with OKW.

I like the grounds of OKW but the studios seem to have an odd layout. I am leaning towards OKW if I can’t get into BWV though.

Is the general consensus that a room close to hospitality house is more desirable? It’s the same amount of points.

Also is a two bedroom villa worth the extra 30 points over two studios?

Thanks for all the input.

 

[texaskristi]

I like the grounds of OKW but the studios seem to have an odd layout. I am leaning towards OKW if I can’t get into BWV though.

Is the general consensus that a room close to hospitality house is more desirable? It’s the same amount of points.

We stayed farther away in July and it was fine. I think it depends on how often you plan to go there and if you mind waiting just a bit on the internal bus, don't mind walking, or will have a car. We didn't have a car, but we didn't go to the hospitality house much (well, my dh did while I was still sleeping in the mornings) and we just ubered to the parks almost every time.