Which DVC Resort to stay at for Planning Session?

[Dr.Cinderella]

Hi everybody! I am trying to pick out which DVC Resort to stay at for our planning session, it isn't going to be until July but my family needs to book at either 7 months or 11 months (which is already past!) depending on where we stay. There will be 4 adults- my fiance and I, and my parents and we will be staying in a Studio for 4 days. Our 3 choices are Bay Lake-which is our home resort, the Beach Club Villas, or Old Key West. The reasons we are considering these 3 are: Bay Lake is our home resort and favorite, but my family will be staying here again for the wedding 6 months later although Chris and I wont be, so they thought it would be nice to stay somewhere else. It will also be convenient access to the GF for the planning session via the monorail, and it has a great pool which would be nice for July. My Dad suggested the Beach Club because it is close to the Epcot area and also has a really nice pool. And Key West because it is the only DVC property that has 2 Queen beds in a Studio (all the rest have 1 Queen and a pull-out sofa) which would be nice having 4 adults, and it is undergoing a total renovation right now, which will be finished in the spring before we are there so we would have a brand new room. It is also the lowest point value of the 3. So with all that taken into consideration, which resort would you stay at? Thanks for your help!

 

[2nd Time Bride]

Well, we just got back from our trip, during which we stayed 2 nights at Bay Lake and the rest of the trip (10 nights) at the Contemporary. We had the Studio at Bay Lake and, when Laine was in the room doing my hair and makeup, we were very cramped. We did have a ton of wedding stuff but I have to be honest, we were really, really glad we moved to the Contemporary as the room was about twice the size as the Bay Lake Studio.

Also, I am not sure how two people could even sleep on the pull out "sofa" bed because ours was the size of a loveseat.

My vote is for Key West since you will be guaranteed a room with 2 Queen beds!

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Thanks for your input...anyone else?

 

[scootert]

DVC member here -- Beach Club is usually pretty hard to get at the 7 month mark - I believe it's a smaller DVC and very popular because of Storm Along Bay and location close to Epcot.

If you don't mind the buses, then Key West is a good option and it's usually not a problem to get in there.

Haven't stayed at BLT, but hope to go in the next year or so with the grandchildren --so close to MK!!!

Other options to consider would be Boardwalk Villas (our home resort) - also very close to Epcot and DHS. Haven't stayed at Wilderness Lodge, but that might work as well. Good luck!!

 

[DVC Bride 2011]

We're staying at OKW for our planning session mostly because it's the cheapest points-wise. For your situation I'd say go there because of the bed issue. I've never stayed in a studio before - our PS will be our first time - but I think based on how many people you have going, you'd be most comfortable there. We stayed in a 1BR there in January and the resort is really nice.

 

[erin.w]

I can def. see it being an issue to get Beach Club at 7 months out. I would go for the extra space and stay at OKW. From our experience with the sofa-beds at AKL they are not comfortable. For our PS we actually took a taxi as I didn't want to spend a ton of time getting there, esp. with the uncertainty of the transportation system (and we always only use the buses). To me it was worth the $ to know it would take 20 mins to get there.

 

[disneystephanie]

Another vote for OKW...I would hate to put 2 adults in a sleeper sofa. (Although, full disclosure, I have yet to stay there myself.)