Originally Posted by
GeoGirl
Argh! The WDW booking system won't give me any villas. I try to get into Bay Tower and it gives me a studio. I want a separate bedroom (or at least pull-out couch) for the kids, and a full kitchen or at least a kitchenette so we can cook. Hmmmm. I've tried alternate dates...is there some secret to this, or do you think the villas are just not available in August?
DVC except maybe for Saratoga and OKW and possibly Animal Kingdom is going to be hard/impossible to get in the time frame you are contemplating, only a couple months in advance. (I'm a longtime DVC member).
You need at least a 1-BR to get a kitchen. The "kitchenette" of a studio is just a sink, microwave, and small fridge.
If there is availability at DVC through a member you might save some money renting points. Members and Disney itself should have differing availability.
I dislike BLT somewhat for its higher point requirements and its somewhat sterile design. The "bathroom" sink in the kitchen strikes me as pretty odd, too. Old Key West suits me best, with lower rates, bigger rooms (2 queens in a studio), and parking at the door.
As for rental cars, we just were in The World last week and had a midsize car for $110 a week plus taxes/fees from Alamo, and got 2 WN RR credits. Hard to beat that.
Love having a car for trips to the outlet mall, offsite restaurants, Wal-Mart for food and necessities (beer is regular price, not $132 a case [$5.50 each] as it is in the little gift shops), and even Universal. Plus we were hotel hopping at Hilton and piled up the free rooms (no DVC this time).