Is it worth visiting Disney World next summer?

[frank808]

Staying at one of the MVC palm resorts gets you access to the world center pool complex. The closest walk to the pool complex would be Sabal.

One thing I did not like staying at Royal Palms was the second bedroom was right next to the walkway. The units are like townhome style and are open walkways. I did not like my young son having that room where anybody can walk by with the window right there. Just did not feel safe for my son.

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[TSPam]

Sabal palms buildings are two stories with walk up to the second floor. Royal and imperial are 4 or 5 floors with elevators. You can use any of the amenities of the different time shares regardless of the one you are staying at.
sabal palms has a two step down into the living room and a two step up in the master bedroom from the sleeping area to the bathroom area...if that matters to you. I love the large balconies at royal palms and imperial palms and they have huge kitchens.

 

[CPNY]

Staying at one of the MVC palm resorts gets you access to the world center pool complex. The closest walk to the pool complex would be Sabal.

One thing I did not like staying at Royal Palms was the second bedroom was right next to the walkway. The units are like townhome style and are open walkways. I did not like my young son having that room where anybody can walk by with the window right there. Just did not feel safe for my son.

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Cypress harbor is the same way

 

[TSPam]

So is harbour lake

 

[elaine]

We walked to M Complex from royal. Maybe 5-7 minutes. Imho grande vista Is fine also. We’ve stayed at both and had kids. I’d probably keep grande as it’s super close to sw if you’re going there also. This is a gv Pool. It does not have a slide.

 

[dioxide45]

We walked to M Complex from royal. Maybe 5-7 minutes. Imho grande vista Is fine also. We’ve stayed at both and had kids. I’d probably keep grande as it’s super close to sw if you’re going there also. This is a gv Pool. It has a slide.
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Where is the slide at this pool? If anything it is a small waterslide. Nothing like the slides at Marriott World Center or even the one over at Harbour Lake.

 

[elaine]

Correction. No slide at gv. We thought the pools were very nice. The M complex was very crowded with rows of chairs. As you share with a huge hotel.

 

[Monykalyn]

Thank you for this suggestion. If I stay at one of the Palms, would I get access to the World Center pool complex? Is it walking distance from the Palms? If so, which Palms resort would you recommend? I see I can exchange into a 2 BR at Sabal Palms or Royal Palms. Imperial Palms in not available. I currently reserved a 2 BR at Grande Vista.

Sabal is great-stay in a building close to the walkway over to world center. There is a walkway by the World center spa building that makes the walk ~5 minutes-quicker than a golf cart ride. Hub and a kid chose golf cart that left at same time the other kids and I did walking and we were in chairs by pool before hubs arrived by cart.
Sabal has the odd layout with the steps into LR, but it is a large unit. Not our fave as the large glass block shower that shines light at crack of dawn into master bedroom and NO way to block it. It is super close to Disney though. And the Marriott World Center slide is big/high. Kids loved it!
If you are planning Disney/Legoland/SW/Universal I'd personally plan to stay at GV. The traffic may not be as bad as "usual" even by next year, but it was far easier to get around from Grande Vista/Cypress Harbour area.

 

[Monykalyn]

Elaine posted the pool by Copa loca bar. . great pool too

This is the main village pool at Grande Vista. They have a media wall where movies are shown, by the restaurant (they were running fabulous deals on family meals for takeout in August-we hadn't stayed here since 2014 so don't know if this is always or a newer thing). There is a lap pool and a kids splash pad as well as hot tubs.

 

[TravelTime]

I looked into renting DVC points for a stay onsite. I have encountered several issues:

1) No refunds allowed with DVC point rentals so makes no sense to book ahead for next summer.
2) Cost is not as low as I expected unless it is a last minute reservation. The price per point is now $20 a point for an advance reservation.
3) Inventory is limited to certain resorts and room types (many studios available but I do not want a studio).

All in all, unless I make a reservation within a 30-60 day window, I do not see renting DVC points too far in advance as a good idea.

 

[ljmiii]

All in all, unless I make a reservation within a 30-60 day window, I do not see renting DVC points too far in advance as a good idea.

There are so many unknowns it is hard to give good advice. In summer 2021 will reservations still be required to enter a WDW park? Will there be Fastpasses? Park hopping?

Right now WDW is reaching capacity Fri-Mon with people complaining about the big crowds, long lines, and lack of social distancing (though mask use is still being enforced). As the traditionally busy Oct-Dec season approaches it is unclear what Disney will do (if anything).

If you aren't committed to staying 'on property' (and/or willing to go in 2022) there is a good argument to be made for waiting until around 75 days out before committing to a DVC rental - that will give you time to get a DVC reservation in place to get WDW reservations, ADRs, and fastpasses (if any) as well as cancel your II trade.

 

[elaine]

IMHO, a no-cost Marriott is a no brainer vs expense/risk of renting DVC. We had many great WDW, Univ, SW vacations with kids before we bought DVC.

 

[pedro47]

We do not plan to visit Disney or Florida until a COVID-19 vaccine have been tested by the American medical profession.

 

[ljmiii]

IMHO, a no-cost Marriott is a no brainer vs expense/risk of renting DVC. We had many great WDW, Univ, SW vacations with kids before we bought DVC.

At the moment, people who are staying off property are complaining about being unable to secure reservations to visit the parks on weekends and/or for HS. One of many open questions about visiting WDW in summer 2021.

 

[TravelTime]

How do you get a park reservation? I thought you just reserve it when you buy your tickets. I thought anyone can reserve a park reservation pretty easily if they plan ahead. If I buy tickets a few months in advance, do you think I will be able to secure park researvations?

 

[ljmiii]

How do you get a park reservation? I thought you just reserve it when you buy your tickets. I thought anyone can reserve a park reservation pretty easily if they plan ahead. If I buy tickets a few months in advance, do you think I will be able to secure park reservations?

I would expect so...but I don't know what the future will bring in terms of increased demand as more people become comfortable about travelling during the pandemic. As of today, this upcoming weekend has availability issues, as do Oct 8-17 and Nov 22-27.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/

 

[TheHolleys87]

Here’s the park pass availability calendar: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/availability-calendar/?segments=tickets,resort,passholder. I had trouble finding it via the link ljiii provided above, so if you’re going to follow it, bookmark it!

Basically, DHS is the booked-up park for the dates above, since Galaxy’s Edge (especially RotR) is so new.

 

[Dean]

I looked into renting DVC points for a stay onsite. I have encountered several issues:

1) No refunds allowed with DVC point rentals so makes no sense to book ahead for next summer.
2) Cost is not as low as I expected unless it is a last minute reservation. The price per point is now $20 a point for an advance reservation.
3) Inventory is limited to certain resorts and room types (many studios available but I do not want a studio).

All in all, unless I make a reservation within a 30-60 day window, I do not see renting DVC points too far in advance as a good idea.

DVC is just expensive no matter how you slice it. Long term, short notice options are likely not going to be a good plan but I would agree the commitment without cancelation options is risky. Of course one can always reserve on cash and have more cancelation options. However the terms vary with the individual, you may have some options that are more flexible if you book with an individual rather than a company.

How do you get a park reservation? I thought you just reserve it when you buy your tickets. I thought anyone can reserve a park reservation pretty easily if they plan ahead. If I buy tickets a few months in advance, do you think I will be able to secure park researvations?

They are prioritizing on property guests and current passholders so staying on property does give one a leg up assuming they also have a ticket in their account that will work.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Next October (2021) will be 50th anniversary of WDW. So expect some big things in the fall.

My sister and I took her triplets when they were 5 to the 25th anniversary of WDW. The triplets are now 29, but 30 next year. They are planning to visit again all together for the 50th Anniversary. They have been many times in between, aften together, but not always. But they are planning it as a group activity some time during the 50th year celebrations.

 

[WinniWoman]

All I can say is I would not want to pay a ton of money to have only half the experience due to COVID restrictions.

 

[jabberwocky]

Something to consider if this will be a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience would be to look at the WDW VIP tour options (not sure if these are still going in covid era). They are pricey, but you get treated like royalty and you can get so much done in a day. With what you could save in renting a DVC it would make up for staying off property. We did a VIP package in Shanghai Disney when we only had a single day to visit, and we were able to get on all the rides/attractions we wanted without having to wait in long. It was our most enjoyable Disney experience ever.

 

[TravelTime]

I feel very lucky. Last night, I was able to re-trade into a 3 bedroom at Marriott Imperial Palms. I was booked in a 2 bedroom at Grande Vista but when I saw the 3 bedroom available, I grabbed it. A 3 bedroom will allow my parents and/or my sister and her family to join us. I had to be flexible on the dates for the change so now we are booked over the July 4th holiday next summer. I preferred June since it is probably less busy. I will keep watching to see if any other dates become available in a 3 bedroom. It is nice to get this 3 bedroom unit virtually for free since I was awarded it as a perk when I bought a hybrid package in 2018. I am realizing the nice thing about II is how long you can extend the expiration dates of timeshare units.

On another notes, since we are booked Fri-Fri, I am tempted to add on a 3 day Disney cruise from Fri-Mon. It is a little less than $4000 for a verandah stateroom for 2 adults and a child. That seems pretty reasonable. With all the money we are saving by staying at my “free” Marriott, I might consider a cruise, assuming they are sailing by next summer.

 

[dioxide45]

It is a little less than $4000 for a verandah stateroom for 2 adults and a child. That seems pretty reasonable.

Perhaps reasonable by Disney Cruise Line standards...

 

[TravelTime]

Perhaps reasonable by Disney Cruise Line standards...

How much would a 3 night cruise for 2 adults and a child in a balcony stateroom on a similar cruise line like Royal Caribbean or Princess cost?

 

[Dean]

Perhaps reasonable by Disney Cruise Line standards...

I'd agree, we have back to back in a suite for 2 weeks with 2 adults for little more than that next fall.