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Post by M2JRA on Mar 27, 2024 9:42:27 GMT -5
I'm WFH and procrastinating. Who wants to help me plan my next DVC trip!?
Date: Somewhere in July-August 2025 (let's say after the week of July 4th and returning by August 15). We'd like to be down there for ~12 nights, but only three of our group are guaranteed to be there for the duration, while others come and go. I'm tempted to get a 2BR to accommodate the whole group, but also don't want to waste that many points on 2BR if it ends up being three of us most of the time. Maybe I really can't plan much until I know more about who can go. But, what the heck, maybe you guys can help me think of options, so here goes!
Group:
- DH
- Myself
- DD#3
- DD#2 undecided, pending currently-unknown grad-school summer schedule
- DD#1 will come for ~1 week
- DMom (80) will come if she is able - would like to do a separate studio for her but I don't think points will stretch that far
- Potential for DD friends/SOs to come for a few days but this is low-priority/unknown and I'm not going to plan around it
Home resorts:
- BLT - will have up to 403 points available
- BWV - will have up to 300 points available
We are open to split stays.
We will have a car.
What should we do?!
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Post by tomandrobin on Mar 27, 2024 10:03:57 GMT -5
The good thing is you have plenty of time to see if your extend cast of family members can lock-in their plans. With the date range posted above, there is no "cheaper" dvc days. The week after July 4th will have lower crowds. August is hot.....actually, all of summer. You can easily do a split stay in a 2-bedroom at your home resorts. You can book your home resorts, than at the 7-month window book a grand villa at OKW (698 points) for your 12 days have everyone covered. To be honest, until your plans tighten up, its really hard to plan out the rooms.
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Post by M2JRA on Mar 27, 2024 10:35:15 GMT -5
Thanks, Tom, I agree -- it is really too hard to plan out rooms with so many unknowns. It's just such fun to contemplate, though, instead of working...!
Good to know about the week after July 4th having lower crowds. I should look at a calendar to see how the holiday falls and maybe try to book for that week. Thanks for the tip!
Amazing idea about looking to see if an OKW grand villa is available at 7-months. Can you help me understand the mechanics of that? I know that first I would book one week at each home resort during my 11-month window. Then, at 7-months, if the OKW GV is available, what is the best way to change over to that? Would it be best to do over the phone with a rep? Or can it be managed with little risk of losing everything in transition when modifying online? If so, how do I do that? (apologies if this is basic know-how for most owners; I almost never make changes once booked)
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Post by tomandrobin on Mar 27, 2024 14:03:31 GMT -5
Thanks, Tom, I agree -- it is really too hard to plan out rooms with so many unknowns. It's just such fun to contemplate, though, instead of working...! Good to know about the week after July 4th having lower crowds. I should look at a calendar to see how the holiday falls and maybe try to book for that week. Thanks for the tip! Amazing idea about looking to see if an OKW grand villa is available at 7-months. Can you help me understand the mechanics of that? I know that first I would book one week at each home resort during my 11-month window. Then, at 7-months, if the OKW GV is available, what is the best way to change over to that? Would it be best to do over the phone with a rep? Or can it be managed with little risk of losing everything in transition when modifying online? If so, how do I do that? (apologies if this is basic know-how for most owners; I almost never make changes once booked) Disney daydreaming is the best.....oh, the plans I make (dream) and never book.
Just today, we added a Festival of the Arts weekend for February.
Many people book July 4th week for their vacation, taking advantage of the federal holiday off. The week after the holiday always sees a smaller crown than normal, since many already took off.
If you are not comfortable modifying online, than call and have member services do the work for you. If you have the extra points, you can walk the reservation if its available.
July 4th is a Friday in 2025. I now I am planning on booking July 2nd - 6th, than head to Atlantis for a week. That is the plan as of now....nothing is booked, but it has been discussed.
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Mar 27, 2024 14:51:37 GMT -5
Good to know about the week after July 4th having lower crowds. I think we should bear in mind that "lower crowds" is a relative term, which probably just means "lower than the week before it" but still busy! I haven't seen low crowds in years. (sad face) |
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Post by tomandrobin on Mar 28, 2024 8:37:58 GMT -5
There are several H2O events during your preferred travel time. We did one last year with our grandsons and had the best time at the event. I highly recommend going.....get there early, before the line to enter gets long.
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Post by M2JRA on Mar 29, 2024 11:24:00 GMT -5
Adelard of Bath - YES! That is what I meant (that crowds would be lower than the holiday week, not that they would be "low" in general)! tomandrobin - Thanks, I'll probably call if this scenario ever comes to pass. I'm now looking at other GVs to see whether we might like to pool our points and do that for a shorter trip. I could transfer from one contract to the other, right? I feel like this is possible, but only once per year, and can't be changed back. If I were to do this, could I use the entire bank of points at the 11-month mark, or would I have to wait until 7-months out since the transaction would involve transferred-in points? We've done the Typhoon Lagoon H2O in the past (and once we were there for Moonlight Magic) and we did really enjoy it. So nice to not worry about sunburn/sunscreen! Thanks for the reminder.
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Post by tomandrobin on Mar 29, 2024 12:45:36 GMT -5
Adelard of Bath - YES! That is what I meant (that crowds would be lower than the holiday week, not that they would be "low" in general)! tomandrobin - Thanks, I'll probably call if this scenario ever comes to pass. I'm now looking at other GVs to see whether we might like to pool our points and do that for a shorter trip. I could transfer from one contract to the other, right? I feel like this is possible, but only once per year, and can't be changed back. If I were to do this, could I use the entire bank of points at the 11-month mark, or would I have to wait until 7-months out since the transaction would involve transferred-in points? We've done the Typhoon Lagoon H2O in the past (and once we were there for Moonlight Magic) and we did really enjoy it. So nice to not worry about sunburn/sunscreen! Thanks for the reminder. If the points are at the resort you want to book, than you have home resort booking advantage. Otherwise, you will have to book it at the 7-month window.
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Post by Brian5581 on Mar 30, 2024 19:20:31 GMT -5
In the absence of significant others, Brian is usually available for dinner…
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Post by M2JRA on Apr 1, 2024 10:53:58 GMT -5
Latest plan is the idea of booking a BWV studio for 5-6 nights followed by a BLT dedicated 2BR for 7 nights. This based on input from discussions between DH, DD1, and myself over the weekend. We all love the idea of an OKW GV, but worried about the points hit vis-a-vis how many may actually end up coming. We wouldn't be able to book that until 7-months anyway, though, so we'll keep it in mind as an option as it gets closer and our group is more solidified. So, current thoughts based on:
- We're willing to stay at other studios for the first set of nights, but BWV standard costs the fewest points and we won't have stayed there since before the redo (and we have home resort booking priority). At 7-months I'll look at both the OKW GV and other studios to see about switching to the GV (if available and if warranted) or other studios (if we want to try somewhere else), but we'd be happy with this.
- DD3 suggests BLT dedicated 2BR for 2 real beds as apparently 'who sleeps on the pullout?' has been a source of sisterly conflict in other 2BRs (DH and I previously blissfully unaware of this). And, having the 3 full baths is amazing.
- This plan would leave us enough points to book a separate studio for my mother, if she is able to join.
- This plan also leaves enough points that we could contemplate APs and fitting in another trip in 2026 for DH and I.
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Apr 1, 2024 14:27:18 GMT -5
In the absence of significant others, Brian is usually available for dinner… Watch out for this guy, he speaks in the third person! |
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Apr 2, 2024 5:39:50 GMT -5
Hi I will chime in since you would like to invite your 80 years mother.
I’m 73 and my home resort is BLT because I knew one day I would only be able to view and BLT has the best views and windows to see a lot of activity including the views from the bridge and the contemporary from sunrise to sunset.
Plus the cute kitchenette …perfect ! And the 2 bedroom Villas have a king , 2 beds, plus fold out couch and fold out chair.
And ease of travel plans for other guests that are not Disney pros … I think the points are considered reasonable at this location also.
Sorry I am not very familiar with BoardWalk your other home resort…everytime I have stayed there The walk down those long hallways was long ! Haha
The current dining situation seems unpleasant with Big Grill Brewery closed and CakeBake never ending Constuction .
please keep us posted with your successful trip planning !
Hope it is a great trip .2024-2025 This year is flying by already Never too early to dream !
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Post by M2JRA on Apr 26, 2024 13:30:26 GMT -5
So apparently (I haven't looked for myself) it's being reported elsewhere that when looking at cash bookings for BLT, there's a message that the resort is scheduled for refurbishment from Sept. 2024-Sept 2025. Rats (I mean, it's good to put the dues to work and I'm sure it needs it, but bad timing for me, personally!). I'll probably still book the 2BR there, but this may push us further toward the idea of switching at 7-months (if something else is available).
Anyone remember seeing a chart that shows how far the resorts book up? I feel like it was by month, showing the various unit sizes of each DVC resort and how fast they booked up. But I have no idea when or where I saw that (and possibly am confusing it with smth else). If anyone knows, can you point me to it!? I'm going to think ahead to where else we might realistically be able to get a 7-night 2BR at 7-months (I'm hoping maybe July is so hot that we'll have a couple of options).
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Post by tomandrobin on Apr 29, 2024 7:09:53 GMT -5
Anyone remember seeing a chart that shows how far the resorts book up? I feel like it was by month, showing the various unit sizes of each DVC resort and how fast they booked up. But I have no idea when or where I saw that (and possibly am confusing it with smth else). If anyone knows, can you point me to it!? I'm going to think ahead to where else we might realistically be able to get a 7-night 2BR at 7-months (I'm hoping maybe July is so hot that we'll have a couple of options). Ask and you shall receive.....
The refurbishment is scheduled for one year. You are looking at the tail end of it, when everything we be done or almost done. Personally, I think its a great time to book your room.
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Post by brp on Apr 29, 2024 7:49:39 GMT -5
Anyone remember seeing a chart that shows how far the resorts book up? I feel like it was by month, showing the various unit sizes of each DVC resort and how fast they booked up. But I have no idea when or where I saw that (and possibly am confusing it with smth else). If anyone knows, can you point me to it!? I'm going to think ahead to where else we might realistically be able to get a 7-night 2BR at 7-months (I'm hoping maybe July is so hot that we'll have a couple of options). Ask and you shall receive.....
The refurbishment is scheduled for one year. You are looking at the tail end of it, when everything we be done or almost done. Personally, I think its a great time to book your room.
OMFG! This is a brilliant resource! Looking for Boardwalk View rooms and this is very enlightening. Definitely bookmarking this!
Cheers.
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