WWYD.. a villas question

[tink_n_pooh]

We are considering taking a family trip to WDW in January-ish of next year. The characters will be me, DH, the baby (8 months at the time of the trip), my dad, and DH's mom & dad. We are DVC members and staying on points, so we are looking at DVC resorts/villas only. We could do with 2 bathrooms I think but we need 3 different bedrooms, none of us will be comfortable sharing and I don't want to stick any of us in the living area to sleep.

Suggestions for where to stay and which room types?

 

[Missytara]

You can find all the information DVC resorts on the DVC board.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I am familiar with the DVC resorts, we have been DVC members for almost 10 years, just looking for some suggestions from fellow DISer's as to which options you would suggest

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am familiar with the DVC resorts, we have been DVC members for almost 10 years, just looking for some suggestions from fellow DISer's as to which options you would suggest

Two studios (one for each parent(s)) and a one bedroom for your immediate family.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Two studios (one for each parent(s)) and a one bedroom for your immediate family.

That is kind of what we are thinking, we could do that for less points than a grand villa. Of course if we do a grand villa we could invite a few more people (that would share rooms with the parents, like my brother and DH's nephew) more comfortably than if they were in studios.

THV don't seem like a terrible option either, transportation there isn't great but maybe we would be lucky enough to get a room within walking distance to the grandstands bus stop

 

[spiceycat]

Two studios (one for each parent(s)) and a one bedroom for your immediate family.

agree and then you don't need to share.

you need the 1-bedroom (instead of a studio) because of the baby.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That is kind of what we are thinking, we could do that for less points than a grand villa. Of course if we do a grand villa we could invite a few more people (that would share rooms with the parents, like my brother and DH's nephew) more comfortably than if they were in studios.

THV don't seem like a terrible option either, transportation there isn't great but maybe we would be lucky enough to get a room within walking distance to the grandstands bus stop

If you go with the THV, your father gets to sleep in one of the bunk beds? Most of the GV are two story. The grandparents go upstairs?

By getting them each their own studio, neither can get angry because you had one of them with you in a two bedroom. And, like Pat said, you need the one bedroom because of the washer and dryer. They can all come to the livnig room or use the w/d, but it's yours for sleeping.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

January is a great time to get a villa b/c points are low then. As mentioned above, the tree house villas at SSR have 3 BRs but are the same points as a 2 br. Another thing to consider point wise is staying Sunday through Thursday night and avoid Friday and Saturday since they take more points.

I like your idea of 2 studios and a 1 BR. That would eb a good way to give everyone some "space". Also, if you get a 1br or larger at kidani village, you get an extra bathroom.

Good luck....

 

[Deb & Bill]

...As mentioned above, the tree house villas at SSR have 3 BRs but are the same points as a 2 br. ....

Not beginning in January 2013. The THV points go up.

 

[YankeePrincess]

Bay Lake also has 2 bathrooms in the one bedrooms and 2 bedroom villas. Maybe do a 2 bedroom and a studio?

 

[Tara]

Bay Lake also has 2 bathrooms in the one bedrooms and 2 bedroom villas. Maybe do a 2 bedroom and a studio?

BLT actually has 3 full baths in the 2br units!

 

[Pakey]

While the grand villas are nice, they do absorb a lot of points. Ideally, that's the way I would go. The ones at AKV have a separate entrance for the 2 upstairs bedrooms if anyone has mobility issues. We loved our recent stay in one.

I would skip THV. Those bunk beds are pretty small.

Normally when we go with a large group, my husband and I get a one bedroom for ourselves and the others stay in studios. They come over to use the laundry and to eat breakfast but at the end of a long day, we are always happy to have that separation that the individual studios provide. Since my home resort is BCV, it's been small enough that we didn't think it was an issue to migrate between villas.

 

[Perditamarie]

I would do a BLT 2 bdrm as it has 3 bathrooms...they are nice and spacious too. The sofa sleeper is comfortable so it wouldnt be too much of a hardship for your dad, especially if he is an early riser. There is room in the utility room to store luggage, etc. and it is less points than 2 studios + 1bdrm.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Thank you for all the suggestions, it's great to be able to reach out to fellow DISers and get other peoples opinions

I've heard a few times now that the bunk beds in THV are pretty small, are they smaller than a twin sized bed? It never even crossed my mind that they might be smaller than a regular twin.

I love the idea of a grand villa, it's someplace I have always wanted to stay but never needed that kind of space. Going that route we could also invite a few more people who would share rooms with the parents (my brother could share with my dad, our nephew who is 19 could share with his grandparents) and still not be too crowded. Those people would be fine sharing bedrooms and bathrooms together. I'm pretty sure the GV at SSR also have a separate entrance upstairs, do those at OKW not have that upstairs entrance? My MIL is used to stairs in her house, I just don't know how she would do with stairs outside to enter the THV, I guess that is some odd thinking but it made sense before

One bedroom for us and studios for the parents has it's benefits too, more privacy and less points. Only real downfall to that which I can see now is that it limits inviting other people. I know there is a pull out couch but that isn't the same, unless of course we stayed at OKW

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I would do a BLT 2 bdrm as it has 3 bathrooms...they are nice and spacious too. The sofa sleeper is comfortable so it wouldnt be too much of a hardship for your dad, especially if he is an early riser. There is room in the utility room to store luggage, etc. and it is less points than 2 studios + 1bdrm.

That would probably work except that my FIL is the early riser, my dad is more like me and could sleep for hours. I'm trying not to have any of the adults have to sleep on couches or anything unless we have no other option

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you for all the suggestions, it's great to be able to reach out to fellow DISers and get other peoples opinions

I've heard a few times now that the bunk beds in THV are pretty small, are they smaller than a twin sized bed? It never even crossed my mind that they might be smaller than a regular twin.

I love the idea of a grand villa, it's someplace I have always wanted to stay but never needed that kind of space. Going that route we could also invite a few more people who would share rooms with the parents (my brother could share with my dad, our nephew who is 19 could share with his grandparents) and still not be too crowded. Those people would be fine sharing bedrooms and bathrooms together. I'm pretty sure the GV at SSR also have a separate entrance upstairs, do those at OKW not have that upstairs entrance? My MIL is used to stairs in her house, I just don't know how she would do with stairs outside to enter the THV, I guess that is some odd thinking but it made sense before

One bedroom for us and studios for the parents has it's benefits too, more privacy and less points. Only real downfall to that which I can see now is that it limits inviting other people. I know there is a pull out couch but that isn't the same, unless of course we stayed at OKW

Most of the GV at OKW do not have entrances on the second level. There area stairs inside the villa and they are on the second floor of the building in most cases.

 

[YankeePrincess]

BLT actually has 3 full baths in the 2br units!

Wow does it really!? That is great to know. I have only stayed in the 1 bedroom and I was happy with the 2 bathrooms they have there.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Most of the GV at OKW do not have entrances on the second level. There area stairs inside the villa and they are on the second floor of the building in most cases.

Hmm, so the villas entrance is on the 2nd floor and then there are stairs inside of the villa to go to the 2 bedrooms? OKw doesn't have elevators in all the buildings, right?

I'm just asking because my MIL has slight mobility issues (bad knees) and stairs are doable for her but not great. After a day of walking around the parks she isn't going to want to do all those stairs again in the villa

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hmm, so the villas entrance is on the 2nd floor and then there are stairs inside of the villa to go to the 2 bedrooms? OKw doesn't have elevators in all the buildings, right?

I'm just asking because my MIL has slight mobility issues (bad knees) and stairs are doable for her but not great. After a day of walking around the parks she isn't going to want to do all those stairs again in the villa

Only three buildings at OKW have elevators. Blg 62, 63 and 64. These were built after the resort was completed and they tore down the Commodore House (used to be the sales office).

We had a GV in June (Bldg 15) and I had my second total knee replacement in October. Stairs weren't difficult for me, but we had the master bedroom on the same floor as the entrance (which was on the second floor). The kids had the other two bedrooms and the living room for sleeping. I only went up the stairs in the villa a few times.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We are seriously considering a grand villa at OKW (or maybe another resort, depends on points budget, who stays for what # of nights, and availability)

Anyone have any pics they would like to share of the grand villas at OKW?