Which resorts fit my criteria?

[gzmtlock]

We'll be using points for a one-night stay during Christmas week. We won't be doing any parks, will be between an RCL cruise and a few days at Universal. Party is myself, DH, DS21 and DD20.

Need:
three beds (fold-outs are fine, but DS and DD each need their own bed)
washer/dryer (this is a large part of why we're doing one night DVC - want to be able to do laundry mid-vacation without having to use public facilities)

With 59 points available, what are my options? I'm thinking it will have to be a 1BR, but I'm finding it difficult to track down which units fit our needs. I'll be happy to check points charts, if I can only figure out "3 bed with laundry" options. . .

 

[Dean]

We'll be using points for a one-night stay during Christmas week. We won't be doing any parks, will be between an RCL cruise and a few days at Universal. Party is myself, DH, DS21 and DD20.

Need:
three beds (fold-outs are fine, but DS and DD each need their own bed)
washer/dryer (this is a large part of why we're doing one night DVC - want to be able to do laundry mid-vacation without having to use public facilities)

With 59 points available, what are my options? I'm thinking it will have to be a 1BR, but I'm finding it difficult to track down which units fit our needs. I'll be happy to check points charts, if I can only figure out "3 bed with laundry" options. . .

Any of the 1 BR with the sleeper chair would do it. AKV Kidani standard gives you 2 bath's, OKW will be the cheapest. Personally I might stay off site somewhere in this situation, maybe one of the Marriott's or Bluegreen's The Fountains. If I were doing it having Marriott and BG points, I might try to get the Fountains or Marriott's Grande Vista, Would this be a Fri/Sat night or S-Th? You could get a 2 BR pretty easily in this situation. Do you have reward points for any system you might be able to use?

 

[gzmtlock]

Thanks, Dean!

We just completed a stay at Kidani (also our home resort), so I knew that would fit the bill. Are there other 1BRs with the sleeper chair, other than OKW?

I only do Hilton reward points (pick up a lot related to work travel), and am using those for one-night stays on the drive to and from FL. (We'll settle for a 2Q room and divvy up Dad-son, Mom-daughter for those one-nighters. I just don't want to have to do that in the middle of our vacation. The kids will have their own room on the ship and at Universal.) The night is Sat, Dec 24, so would like for it to be a nice place to stay.

 

[Granny]

We just completed a stay at Kidani (also our home resort), so I knew that would fit the bill. Are there other 1BRs with the sleeper chair, other than OKW?

BLT would also work. Personally, I'd definitely go with OKW. For one night stay with no parks it provides more room than the other options and fewer point requirements. Also, it is close to Disney Springs for dinner & entertainment options.

 

[Granny]

Duplicate post.

 

[CarolMN]

AKV & BLT 1 bedrooms have two full bathrooms. OKW & VGF only have one bathroom.

None of the DVC studios have an in unit washer/dryer, so you will need at least a 1 bedroom.

59 points will cover any one bedroom for a weeknight except theme park view at BLT and the 1 bedrooms at VGF. If you need a Friday or Saturday, 59 points will NOT cover AKV Club or BLT lake view in addition to those mentioned for weeknights.

Christmas week is popular, so it may come down to what is open for your specific night when you are eligible to book. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Thanks, Dean!

We just completed a stay at Kidani (also our home resort), so I knew that would fit the bill. Are there other 1BRs with the sleeper chair, other than OKW?

I only do Hilton reward points (pick up a lot related to work travel), and am using those for one-night stays on the drive to and from FL. (We'll settle for a 2Q room and divvy up Dad-son, Mom-daughter for those one-nighters. I just don't want to have to do that in the middle of our vacation. The kids will have their own room on the ship and at Universal.) The night is Sat, Dec 24, so would like for it to be a nice place to stay.

Can you use Hilton points at HGVC?

 

[gzmtlock]

Personally, I'd definitely go with OKW. For one night stay with no parks it provides more room than the other options and fewer point requirements. Also, it is close to Disney Springs for dinner & entertainment options.

Great point about being close to DS - thanks!

AKV & BLT 1 bedrooms have two full bathrooms. OKW & VGF only have one bathroom.

None of the DVC studios have an in unit washer/dryer, so you will need at least a 1 bedroom.

59 points will cover any one bedroom for a weeknight except theme park view at BLT and the 1 bedrooms at VGF. If you need a Friday or Saturday, 59 points will NOT cover AKV Club or BLT lake view in addition to those mentioned for weeknights.

Christmas week is popular, so it may come down to what is open for your specific night when you are eligible to book. Good luck!

Thanks for the detailed help - this is just what I was hoping for!

Can you use Hilton points at HGVC?

But no in-room laundry, right? That's one of my must-haves.

 

[gzmtlock]

So here's what I'm considering (all 1BRs), along with pros/cons:

AKVK - our favorite resort, with 2 bathrooms. But remote. We will probably want to do meals at other resorts, making transportation a bit of a hassle. And DH and I were just there last month.

OKW - lots of room, proximity to DS, haven't stayed here since our first trip with the kids about 10 years ago. DH has been wanting a return trip. . .

BLT - never stayed here, usually doesn't appeal to me. (I feel like I'm in a hospital walking those hallways. . .) BUT we would have access to TotWL during (I think) a restricted time when you have to be staying at BLT for access. And we'd have monorail access to GF and boat access to WL, both of which are gorgeous during the holidays.

I'm leaning towards BLT. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to the likelihood of being able to get a 1BR standard view for Dec 24 when the 7-month window opens?

edit: Just checked, Dec 24 is NOT a blockout date for TotWL.

 

[Dean]

Great point about being close to DS - thanks!



Thanks for the detailed help - this is just what I was hoping for!



But no in-room laundry, right? That's one of my must-haves.

I was thinking the HGVC options did have laundry in the non studio villas.

 

[T00dles]

If its laundry you need to do, then to Old Key West you should go. They have the big washer dryers, not the stacked like at Boardwalk.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'm leaning towards BLT. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to the likelihood of being able to get a 1BR standard view for Dec 24 when the 7-month window opens?

Odds are better for Lake View.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So here's what I'm considering (all 1BRs), along with pros/cons:

AKVK - our favorite resort, with 2 bathrooms. But remote. We will probably want to do meals at other resorts, making transportation a bit of a hassle. And DH and I were just there last month.

OKW - lots of room, proximity to DS, haven't stayed here since our first trip with the kids about 10 years ago. DH has been wanting a return trip. . .

BLT - never stayed here, usually doesn't appeal to me. (I feel like I'm in a hospital walking those hallways. . .) BUT we would have access to TotWL during (I think) a restricted time when you have to be staying at BLT for access. And we'd have monorail access to GF and boat access to WL, both of which are gorgeous during the holidays.

I'm leaning towards BLT. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to the likelihood of being able to get a 1BR standard view for Dec 24 when the 7-month window opens?

edit: Just checked, Dec 24 is NOT a blockout date for TotWL.

A never say never thing but I'd place the odds quite low for BLT standard view.

In this case I think you may likely just have to go with whatever one happens to be available so I'd just place an order of preference and work my to the availability. And if you have to waitlist pick the top 2. As you said Dec 24th isn't a blackout date for TOTWL so you would be able to go there no matter where you stayed.

 

[rlovew]

Since most standard vies go at the 11 month window, and it seems as though 1 bedrooms go as fast as studios for standard at BLT, the likelihood of them being available at 7 months is very slim. I would plan on having the points for a lakeview or be looking at a different resort. OKW is certainly much more likely to be available in Dec than BLT.