Which resort has the best Grand Villa?

[defnjeb]

We have just signed our closing papers for our first DVC membership!! We bought a resale contract at SSR.

Our first trip will be a major family gathering in a Grand Villa. We can choose either coast and would like to know your opinion which resort has the best Grand Villa and what makes it your favorite.

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

What you can get will depend on when you are going. OKW has the largest and require the fewest points. So they are in hot demand and not often available at 7 months out. AKV has a pool table in the GV. BWV only has seven and they are always gone long before seven months.

 

[wdwfan1]

OKW--huge and spacious. High ceilings and did I mention huge?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

What you can get will depend on when you are going. OKW has the largest and require the fewest points. So they are in hot demand and not often available at 7 months out. AKV has a pool table in the GV. BWV only has seven and they are always gone long before seven months.

Not all AKV villas have Pool Tables, only those in Jambo which are single story, the Kidani ones are two stories like most GVs. Highly unlikely you will be able to get a GV at Jambo though at the 7 month mark, I believe there are only 4.

 

[AirGoofy]

We have just signed our closing papers for our first DVC membership!! We bought a resale contract at SSR.

Our first trip will be a major family gathering in a Grand Villa. We can choose either coast and would like to know your opinion which resort has the best Grand Villa and what makes it your favorite.

Thanks!

With the SSR purchase, you can get your Grand Villa at SSR at 11 months out. Then, at the 7 month window, you can see if anything else if available. The only problem would be if you borrowed points from the previous UY, then you could not unborrow them. My guess is that most Grand Villas won't be available though. Or, you can wait and try combinations (THV and studio; 2 bedroom at studio).

 

[adminjedi]

Not all AKV villas have Pool Tables, only those in Jambo which are single story, the Kidani ones are two stories like most GVs. Highly unlikely you will be able to get a GV at Jambo though at the 7 month mark, I believe there are only 4.

There are 6 Jambo GVs (2 are partial view now) and 16 Kidani GV.
27 at OKW.
7 at BWV.
36 at SSR.
14 at BLT.

 

[defnjeb]

Thank you for the quick replys! Does the SSR Grand Villas have pool tables?

My adult kids love to play.

Is it risky to try to switch to another resort at 7 months if I book the SSR villa at 11 months?

 

[adminjedi]

Thank you for the quick replys! Does the SSR Grand Villas have pool tables?

My adult kids love to play.

Is it risky to try to switch to another resort at 7 months if I book the SSR villa at 11 months?

NO, only the AKV Jambo GV have pool tables.

Book the SSR at 11 months, doesn't hurt to call exactly at the opening bell at 7 months and see if any other GVs are available. If so, they will change the reservation using the points you originally booked with.

 

[defnjeb]

One last question.....has anyone stayed at the Grand Villas at Disneyland? I noticed they were a lot more points than WDW. Does anyone know if they are available at 7 months?

 

[adminjedi]

One last question.....has anyone stayed at the Grand Villas at Disneyland? I noticed they were a lot more points than WDW. Does anyone know if they are available at 7 months?

It will be difficult for any GV at 7 months.

If you are flying, the safest bet is to book SSR for the dates you want, book plane tickets accordingly. If by chance another resort at WDW is available at 7 months, your basic vacation plans remain unchanged!

You could always book two 2 bedroom, and it may actually provide better sleeping arrangements and have a lot better chance to book anywhere at the 7 month window.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I loved the SSR GV because we had 42 people in it for dinner and when I stood outside the main entrance or anywhere else, I did not hear a peep! Our GV was in Congress Park and having the pool/hot tub and BBQ pavilion right outside was great for our reunion

HHI GV was huge!! Loved it!

When I have large gatherings, I am more concerned about how our large group can impact others vacations and ours, so I want more sound proofing, leisure pools and hot tubs, and privacy. Why bring sand to the beach?

The THV were awesome for our holiday gathering and 2 of those is still less points than a GV in most seasons.

I pretty much own them all, but SSR is the resort of choice for our family gatherings in anything larger than all studios.

 

[RobDoc]

One last question.....has anyone stayed at the Grand Villas at Disneyland? I noticed they were a lot more points than WDW. Does anyone know if they are available at 7 months?

There are only 2 GVs at GCV. Good luck!

 

[dvcbrad]

We have just signed our closing papers for our first DVC membership!! We bought a resale contract at SSR.

Our first trip will be a major family gathering in a Grand Villa. We can choose either coast and would like to know your opinion which resort has the best Grand Villa and what makes it your favorite.

Thanks!

I'm guessing that you're thinking something at WDW, but nothing, absolutely nothing, beats the beach cottage grand villas at Vero Beach!

 

[adminjedi]

I'm guessing that you're thinking something at WDW, but nothing, absolutely nothing, beats the beach cottage grand villas at Vero Beach!

Maybe not, but I don't think his chances are good at the 7 month window, do you?

 

[dvcbrad]

Maybe not, but I don't think his chances are good at the 7 month window, do you?

Probably not ... but that doesn't change the fact that those are the best GV's in the system in my opinion, which was the original question. The next best (IMO) are the GV's at Boardwalk. Large rooms, great view (I think they're all on BW, but not absolutely sure), although poor balcony set-up.

 

[SorcerersApprentice]

defnjeb, We were in the grand californian GV this past June and it is fabulous!...but we did call at the 11 month mark. It has a pool table on the second floor which was a big hit with our group. Love the GV at OKW as well. They are huge!
Mary

 

[spiceycat]

BLT because of the MK views

BWV because of EPcot views

AKV the TV in the bathroom. not to mention the pool table

OKW because of the size - although liked their views the least - of the ones that I saw

 

[DenLo]

I have to admit that the only time I have seen a post that someone got a GV at 7 months was for one at OKW during non peak DVC times. There just are not very many GVs. BTW you can rent two 2BR villas for a lot less points and they would sleep 16 to 18 people (depending on the resort) versus 12 in a GV.

Grand Villa Comparisons - BCV and VWL are only the WDW DVC resorts that do not have Grand Villas. Jambo House and OKW are the largest with OKW having the edge. However, a Jambo GV is all on one floor whereas OKW is on two floors.

AKV Kidani - 2201
Jambo - 2349
BLT - 2044
BWV - 2142
OKW - 2375
SSR - 2113

 

[Poohs Pal]

I have stayed in an SSR GV and Jambo GV. SSR is nice but doesn't compare to AKV GV. The pool was a great feature. The huge balcony was used frequently by our group and the master bath with the television sure got a lot of comments. I would love to stay in a BLT GV. Have you seen the picture's of the in villa laundry room. My family teased me when I showed them the pictures of the laundry room and said I was the only person they new that would be more impressed with the laundry room then the view. I expect the view but hey that laundry area look's impressive......
I would also like to stay in a BWV GV just because I love that Boardwalk View.
Sitting on the balcony in the morning drinking my coffee and watching the boardwalk come alive starts the day off great. Susan

 

[defnjeb]

Thank you everyone for all of the great feedback. I am still wanting to try for a Grand Villa (either SSR at 11 month or AKV at 7 months) and my family is flexible on the time of year. Is there a thread that shows the least traveled DVC months for WDW?