Where to stay next????

Jessica Meier

Jessica Meier

Well-Known Member
So even though I know I may be as far as two years out from my next Disney trip, I am trying to decide where to stay next. We totally lucked out on our last trip and received the mother of all upgrades at the Contemporary. So now we are spoiled. I don't know if I can stay anywhere other than a monorail resort or in the very least a bus/boat stop away from Epcot and MK, our two faves. The only way we can afford any of these is if we get an PIN or I save forever. So where would you stay?
 
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Mrsdonaldduck

Mrsdonaldduck

Well-Known Member
Jessica would you do a split stay? A few days at yacht or beach club enjoy the pool and walking to epcot and then a few days at a monorail resort or WL? We did this last trip and it was fun.
 
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ThatBrunette

ThatBrunette

Well-Known Member
If you are a Starwood member, the Swalfin is a great place to stay. There are special deals for members that include dining and child care within the two hotels. Husband is a Marriott member so they didn't care about us. :p It's a decent hotel. I've got nothing bad to say about it/them. It's not a Disney hotel. Without the Starwood membership, it's not very magical.

It is close to Epcot and it does share the bus system. We got off the bus on the wrong stop multiple times because the bus would say "Swan and Dolphin" as the stop.

The character breakfast in the Garden Restaurant was nice. The characters spent time at each table and the bacon was crispy.
 
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disneygirl76

disneygirl76

Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
Jessica Meier said:
So even though I know I may be as far as two years out from my next Disney trip, I am trying to decide where to stay next. We totally lucked out on our last trip and received the mother of all upgrades at the Contemporary. So now we are spoiled. I don't know if I can stay anywhere other than a monorail resort or in the very least a bus/boat stop away from Epcot and MK, our two faves. The only way we can afford any of these is if we get an PIN or I save forever. So where would you stay?
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At wilderness, you are a boat ride from MK which is a nice alternative way to get there. We love the Beach Club. Being able to head to Epcot on foot is amazing! And the pool - Amazing!
 
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ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
For someone who is smart with their money, the best value is to rent DVC points and get a Standard (i.e. parking lot) View Studio at the Boardwalk Villas (BWV) during the slow season.

Well established businesses such as David's DVC Rentals charge $14 per point. That should be considered the top of the market. With careful shopping, it might be possible to get points for a few dollars per point less.

For the months of January, September, and the first 2 weeks of December, a Studio (basically a hotel room) is 76 points per week. October and November (excluding Thanksgiving) are 78 points per week.

That means you can book a room in a Deluxe Resort within walking distance of both Epcot and DHS for as little as $152 per night, even less if you can find a lower point rental!

The Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, and Dolphin are on Crescent Lake. IMHO, it's the most beautiful area of WDW.

The downsides:
  • These dates are extremely popular. It might be difficult to find points for them.
  • You need to plan and commit at least 11 months in advance.
  • Cancellation policies for DVC point rentals are almost non-existent. I believe through David's you can buy trip insurance.
  • You do not receive daily mousecleaning, only new towels after 4 nights. (Personally, we prefer this. No tipping and no stranger in your room every day.)
  • Research who you are renting from. Take care not to get swindled.
 
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MOUSEGIRL

MOUSEGIRL

Active Member
We maid the same mistake you did about 6 years ago got an awesome deal on a deluxe monorail resort. We go at least once a year and had stayed in mostly the moderate hotels and once in a value(never again). I loved the moderate until we stayed at the poly and loved not having the bus to MK. The next year I was able to get in on the stay 4 nights get 3 nights free so we moved over to the GF not so much my kind of hotel felt kind of stuffy. The next year we went back to the poly on the 30% off room deal. Then to the Contemporary. Loved it I was worried about the noise from the monorail and nothing slept like a baby the entire trip. In March of this year we went with 6 other people for a party of 9 total (never again) and we stayed in the Treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs the room was nice 3 bedroom 2 bath worked out nice. Then it was time to go the park an hour and 20 min after leaving our room we arrived at MK. I was in tears. Every park we went to was at least a 45 trip this left no time to go back to the room and sleep or whatever ugh... We are going back in a few weeks and we are staying at the Contemporary. Cant wait..
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
luv said:
No. It's not a Disney hotel. You can't take the Disney shuttle bus, either and would have to arrange some other shuttle if you don't have access to a car.
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Are you referring to DME? I know they don't get DME, but Swan and Dolphin do have Disney bus service to/from the parks, DTD, etc. I think the only limitation with their service is they don't get the early morning character meal buses. i.e. the Swan/Dolphin routes don't start running until 1 hr before park opening. Obviously, they also share boat service for DHS and Epcot.
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
@Jessica Meier it's a tough choice. Obviously, the Contemporary is my #1 if staying on the monorail/MK area (and we will be in the tower whenever we go back), but it is nice to stay over near Epcot/DHS too. Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk are all super easy quick walks if you're heading to Epcot. Honestly, I don't think the walk from Swan/Dolphin is all that bad either- but there's always the boat if you don't want to walk. We were not big fans of YC and will likely not return, but we'd definitely consider BC or BW. My family also just stayed at Dolphin last trip (brother/SIL stay there nearly every visit) and they really liked it...and they spent A LOT LESS! While DH and I will probably stay in the Contemporary tower if we go back for F&W next year and I really want a stay at BW, we've talked about staying at the Swan (bigger beds) whenever we go back with the kids since we like being near the parks, but are sick over the exponential price increases going on with the Disney resorts. :(
 
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Mukta

Mukta

Well-Known Member
If your family is smaller than 5 people, I think you should rent points and stay at the Beach Club villas.

It can be very cheap. Cheaper than a moderate.

You can walk into Epcot in 7 minutes from the lobby.

It has the most amazing pool in WDW.
 
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Jessica Meier

Jessica Meier

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I definitely think we are gonna try renting DVC points. It will just depend on when we choose to go next. I will try to get points on a monorail either at the Contemporary or at the Poly. Second choice will be probably BC if we go sooner rather than later. My only concern is the meal plan option. I hope it is available when it comes to renting points. If it is, then we are a go. If not, convincing the husband will be hard.
 
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Courtneylee212121

Courtneylee212121

Member
Iv stayed at many resorts... Poly, GF ( main building and not) contemporary (garden, tower,) , both port Orleans, beach club, board walk, AKL, bay lake towers... And Almost nothing can beat the contemporary or BLT.... Exp maybe ... Just maybe Animal kingdom lodge! The experience at AKL is unreal... The only downfall is bus transportation.
 
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