Walt Disney World offers a variety of resort options to suit every guests pocketbook and vacation needs. For those looking for a “home away from home” resort option the Disney Vacation Club villas are designed to give you the comforts of home while on vacation. Although these properties are designed as Disney’s timeshare opportunity where members purchase points at home resorts to reserve their vacations year after year, a certain amount of these rooms are available for anyone to book just as a regular reservation. There is no timeshare spiel or sales when you stay at one of these resorts, so you don’t have to worry about being cornered and pressured to purchase into the membership . . .although you may fall in love with it so much that you decide you want to purchase your own points. Here are 7 reasons why I think you will love staying at a DVC property:
7. Options
The Disney Vacation Club properties are located across the Walt Disney World resort. Three of the resorts, Old Key West (the original), Saratoga Springs, and Riviera Resort are stand-alone properties, but the others are connected to deluxe resorts. So not only do you get the amazing rooms, but you also have the amenities and locations of the deluxe resorts. You can find DVC options at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo & Kidani), Boardwalk, Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary Resort. And there are not restrictions on using all of the amenities of both the DVC portion of the resort and the “regular” portions.
Disney Vacation Club villas offer a variety of room options that are great for larger families, or for families who want to have plenty of space on their vacation. The smallest options are the Studios that feature a queen bed and a sleeper sofa at most resorts along with a small kitchenette. From there you expand into the one, two and three bedroom villas. These all include a variety of sleeping arrangements along with a living area, full kitchen and a washer & dryer in the villa. Stand-alone villas are the latest addition to the portfolio with the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs, the over the water bungalows at the Polynesian and the cabins at the Wilderness Lodge’s Copper Creek Villas.
6. Value
While the price may look high at first glance, the value these villas provide is there. When you think about the space that you have, you might be able to share one of the larger units with extended family. With the kitchens and kitchenettes you can plan on having groceries to prepare breakfasts or quick lunches and dinners. And often you can find some of the studios priced lower than some of the categories in the “regular” section of the same resort.
5. Resort Amenities
As I mentioned, in the resorts that are attached to a deluxe property you are able to take advantage of all of the resort amenities offered there. So at the Beach Club Villas you can swim in the amazing Stormalong Bay and you have the same access to walk to Epcot through the International Gateway. At the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian there are amazing pools to enjoy along with the monorail. DVC properties also have some additional amenities in the form of their Community Hall where they have games and other scheduled recreational activities that you can take part in.
4. The Kitchen
While I am not a huge fan of cooking while I am on vacation I find it really nice to have the full kitchen in the one, two and three bedroom units—and even the kitchenette in the studios. It is great for breakfast to have the space to grab a quick bowl of cereal or toast a Pop-Tart before heading out for a day of fun in the parks. We love to take midday breaks, so we often have a late lunch of sandwiches before heading out to the pool to cool off in the afternoon (or pack them up to take and eat poolside). And even for dinner, quick fix things like tacos or spaghetti can be a very efficient and budget friendly way to eat at Disney. If you have a car you can quickly access a grocery store near property, or if you prefer not to spend your vacation time grocery shopping you could order your items ahead of time from a service like Garden Grocer and have them delivered to the resort for you.
3. Relaxation
Because the Disney Vacation Club properties have that “home away from home” feel there is a very relaxed vibe about staying there. Particularly in the resorts that are dedicated DVC properties. I can’t completely put my finger on what makes them feel that way, but even those at the deluxe resorts feel relaxed. Perhaps it is the extra space so your family can spread out, maybe having the kitchen space so meals are so rushed to get to the next restaurant. Or it could be the resorts themselves where you find grills outside, and playgrounds and games. Or maybe it is the big, whirlpool tubs in the one, two & three bedroom villas. When I stay at a DVC property I just feel like I can slow down a little bit more.
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2. The Washer & Dryer
This is a huge perk to staying in a Disney Vacation Club villa. The one, two and three bedroom villas have the washer & dryer right there in your room—and they supply a limited amount of detergent. If you have small kids this is such an advantage because you can wash right there in your room. Having the washer and dryer means packing less and coming home with very little (or no dirty clothes). I got into the habit of throwing a load in the wash each morning, moving them to the dryer on our afternoon break & viola! fresh, clean clothes when we got home at night. Saves on packing too. The studios have access to shared laundry in the halls.
1. Space
Give me space on vacation! In the theme parks you can be packed in like sardines with thousands of perfect strangers. It is nice to come back to a Disney Vacation Club villa and be able to spread out! If you have smaller children you can tuck them in to bed in a bedroom and the have the living area to watch TV. Have a mix of early risers & late sleepers? The villa layout is perfect for the early birds to have their breakfast without disturbing everyone. Each resort has a slightly different layout to their multi-room villas (and even the studios), so they sleep different numbers of people depending on where you stay. Some of the largest villas on property are those found at the original DVC resort, Old Key West.
Have you stayed in a Disney Vacation Club villa for your vacation? What do you love about it?