After many, many years of debating and discussing we finally bought into DVC last year. We purchased 160 points at VGF with an August UY. We have already found many uses for our points and, as a family of 5, we are already finding that 160 points are not enough. I'm from a big family and we're traveling with grandparents and would like to include my siblings with their children on trips in the future.
Over the years we have stayed at every DVC resort except OKW (nothing against OKW, it just hasn't come up yet). In all fairness our first trip home to VGF will be for Marathon Weekend in January but we have stayed at the hotel in the past. I usually run at least 2 runDisney events per year (2014 was Marathon Weekend at BLT and then W&D on a cash reservation at Boardwalk Inn) and we often take a summer trip just for vacation.
We love different resorts for different reasons. I love BWV and BCV for the proximity to both Epcot and DHS as well as the many excellent restaurants in the area (my children are young but already appreciate fine dining - God help us!). We love SAB and even the scary clown pool. And I love both F&G and F&W. We love Kidani for its relaxing feel and the great food there and at Jambo (we spent a super fun evening at Victoria Falls where the kids got infinite refills on their Shirley Temples while my DH and I enjoyed some fine wine). My family loves BLT for the modern, high-rise appearance and the extra bathroom in the one bedroom villas. And honestly we've had 2 lovely stays at SSR even though it's not a favorite of mine but my kids love the big pool and the boat ride to DTD.
I had been thinking about buying DVC at the Poly when it opens but recent rumors about studios in the longhouses and larger villas only in the bungalows for lots and lots of points scares me. (Obviously I will wait to decide until that issue settles out a bit.)
I also suspect that as my children go from Tween to Teen that my daughter will not be willing to share a bed with a brother anymore and we may find that a one bedroom just isn't big enough (we spent one night in a one bedroom at BWV in December after 3 nights at Kidani and my then 7 year old daughter announced that it wasn't reasonable for a family of 5 to share one bathroom and could I please make sure that didn't happen in the future).
So here's the WWYD question?
More points at VGF so we get the 11 month booking window for bigger units?
More points at an Epcot Resort and use banking/borrowing and spend one trip at an Epcot Resort and one at a Monorail Resort (or even split stays which we've done in the past and liked)?
More points at Poly, assuming it's a reasonable option once the dust settles, because it's Poly and I love it there?
More points at AKV or BLT?
I don't really see buying more points at SSR because, while I am willing to stay there instead of not going, it'll never be my first choice.
I'd love to hear opinions. We're not quite ready to buy the points anyway as we have some roof repairs on the horizon but I like to start planning ahead and obsessively checking the re-sale websites for good contracts.
Thanks!
Amanda
Over the years we have stayed at every DVC resort except OKW (nothing against OKW, it just hasn't come up yet). In all fairness our first trip home to VGF will be for Marathon Weekend in January but we have stayed at the hotel in the past. I usually run at least 2 runDisney events per year (2014 was Marathon Weekend at BLT and then W&D on a cash reservation at Boardwalk Inn) and we often take a summer trip just for vacation.
We love different resorts for different reasons. I love BWV and BCV for the proximity to both Epcot and DHS as well as the many excellent restaurants in the area (my children are young but already appreciate fine dining - God help us!). We love SAB and even the scary clown pool. And I love both F&G and F&W. We love Kidani for its relaxing feel and the great food there and at Jambo (we spent a super fun evening at Victoria Falls where the kids got infinite refills on their Shirley Temples while my DH and I enjoyed some fine wine). My family loves BLT for the modern, high-rise appearance and the extra bathroom in the one bedroom villas. And honestly we've had 2 lovely stays at SSR even though it's not a favorite of mine but my kids love the big pool and the boat ride to DTD.
I had been thinking about buying DVC at the Poly when it opens but recent rumors about studios in the longhouses and larger villas only in the bungalows for lots and lots of points scares me. (Obviously I will wait to decide until that issue settles out a bit.)
I also suspect that as my children go from Tween to Teen that my daughter will not be willing to share a bed with a brother anymore and we may find that a one bedroom just isn't big enough (we spent one night in a one bedroom at BWV in December after 3 nights at Kidani and my then 7 year old daughter announced that it wasn't reasonable for a family of 5 to share one bathroom and could I please make sure that didn't happen in the future).
So here's the WWYD question?
More points at VGF so we get the 11 month booking window for bigger units?
More points at an Epcot Resort and use banking/borrowing and spend one trip at an Epcot Resort and one at a Monorail Resort (or even split stays which we've done in the past and liked)?
More points at Poly, assuming it's a reasonable option once the dust settles, because it's Poly and I love it there?
More points at AKV or BLT?
I don't really see buying more points at SSR because, while I am willing to stay there instead of not going, it'll never be my first choice.
I'd love to hear opinions. We're not quite ready to buy the points anyway as we have some roof repairs on the horizon but I like to start planning ahead and obsessively checking the re-sale websites for good contracts.
Thanks!
Amanda