The last step in the journey through accommodations at Walt Disney World is with the Deluxe Villa Accommodations.  All of the resorts that I discussed, yesterday, have Deluxe Villa accommodations as part of their resorts with the exception of Yacht Club.  The Polynesian Resort is in the process of constructing its Deluxe Villa accommodations which should be open late 2015-early 2016.  There are also two resorts which only have villa accommodations: Old Key West Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort.

A large majority of people will refer to these accommodations as the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) since, also, a large majority of the people staying here are members of DVC.  DVC is Disney’s time-share program where people buy points for their “home resort” which they receive every year until their contract expires.  Guests, then, use those points to make their room reservations.  The nice thing about the program is guests aren’t locked into certain weeks of the year, every year, until their contract expires.  Villas come in four sizes: studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three bedroom grand villas.

For non-members, however, they can make reservations at this resorts as well.  There is a small percentage of villas which are available for “cash only” reservations.  Now, the cost per night isn’t cheap especially when you get into the two and three bedroom villas.  So, if a guest wants to stay in this villas, they should be prepared to open their wallet to stay there.

All of the studio villas come with a kitchenette.  All of the one, two, and grand villa come with a full kitchen (plates, glasses, and cooking utensils provided) and a stacked washer and dryer combo.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has two locations for its villa accommodations.  There are some in the Jambo House with the standard rooms.  The large majority of the villas are Kidani Village.

A large portion of the rooms will have a view of the savanna though some will a view of a pool or of a parking lot.  Look kids….OUR CAR!!!!!  🙂

The studio rooms are Jambo House vary from 316 to 365 square feet while the Kidani Village studios are a standard 366 square feet.  These studios sleep for and have a queen-sized bed with a full-sized sofa sleeper.

Jambo House has some value villas which will only sleep four guests and vary from 629 to 710 square feet.  The Kidani Village one-bedroom villas are 819 square feet.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed.  The living area has a dining table, a queen-sized sofa bed and a twin-sized sleeper chair. The kitchen has a full-sized fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and settings for 8 or 9 people.

These two bedrooms are 1,152 square feet at both Jambo House and Kidani Village.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bedroom while there is a queen-sized bed in the second bedroom.  The living area has a queen-sized sofa bed and twin-sized convertible chair.

The kitchen and settings are the same as in the one-bedroom.  Settings for 8 or 9 people.

There are two bathrooms: one in the master bedroom and the other of the second bedroom.

Lastly, there is a grand villas.  These are 2,349 square feet at Jambo House and only one story while there are slightly smaller (2, 201 square feet) grand villas at Kidani Village.  However, these villas are two stories.

Three bedrooms, three balconies, and a living area in the middle.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed while there are two queen-sized beds in each of the other bedrooms while still having the queen-size sofa bed and twin-sized chair sleeper in the living area.

The villa comes with two full bathrooms and a dining area which can seat 10 guests and bar area which can seat three more guests. with dishware for 12-13 guests.

Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort

I am a member of DVC and my home resort is Bay Lake Tower.  My family chose here because the ability to walk to Magic Kingdom monorail access to EPCOT – two of our favorite parks.  This is also one of DVC newest properties.  The only newer properties are the Grand Floridian Villas and the in-progress villas at the Polynesian.

Bay Lake Tower also has the Top of the World Lounge where guests can view the Wishes firework show every night.  This lounge is, currently, open to all guests staying at Disney Vacation Club property.

Bay Lake Tower has it’s own lobby area separate from the Contemporary Resort.

Studios at Bay Lake Tower can sleep up to four guests and are 339 square feet.  They are the smallest studios within DVC.  These rooms start at $438/nt.

However, the one bedrooms at Bay Lake Tower are some of the largest within DVC at 801 square feet.  These villas can sleep five people.  The sofa sleepers in these villas are very comfortable.  Unlike most sofa sleepers, you do not feel the springs supporting the sleeper bed.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed and master bathroom.  The living area has a full kitchen, queen-sized sofa sleeper, and a twin-sized convertible chair.  These one-bedroom villas also have a full second bathroom for guests.  There is also a dining table for 6 or 7 guests and dishware for 8 or 9 guests.

These rooms start at $544/nt for a standard view room.

The 1,152 square foot two-bedroom villa can sleep up to nine guests.

There is a king-sized bed in the master bedroom and a queen-sized bed and queen-sized sofa bed in the second bedroom with the sofa and chair sleepers in the living area.  The dining area has a table for 6 or 7 guests with a bar area for extra seating.

There are also two full-sized bathrooms in the two-bedroom villas.

These villas start at $726/nt during the week.

All of the grand villas at Bay Lake Tower are two floors and 2,044 square feet.  They can accommodate up to 13 guests.

There are two bedrooms on the second floor each with a private bathroom and a living area with a sleeper chair.  Downstairs is another bedroom along with a second living area and kitchen/dining area. The dining area has seating for 10 with a bar area for additional seating.

Prices for the grand villa start at $1,968/nt.

Beach Club Villas

The Beach Club is slightly different from all the other DVC properties in that there are no grand villas here.  The largest villa are the two-bedroom villas.

The studios at Beach Club are 365 square feet and sleep up to four guests.  The studios come with a queen-sized bed and a full-sized sofa sleeper.

These studios start at $366/nt.

The one-bedroom villas at Beach Club are on the smaller side at 726 square feet.  These villas can sleep up to four guests.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed.  The living area has a queen-sized sofa bed.

The full dining has seating for 4 or 5 guests with a bar area for extra seating.  Unlike the BLT one-bedroom villas, there is only one bathroom in the one-bedroom Beach Villas.

Rates for the one-bedroom start at $528/nt.

 

The two bedrooms at Beach Club are 1,083 square feet so again they are on the smaller side.  They have a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and a second bedroom with a queen-sized bed and either a full-sized or queen-sized sofa bed.  The living area also has a queen-sized sofa bed and chair sleeper.

The villa have two full bathrooms and a dining area which seats 6 or 7 guests with additional bar seating.

Two bedroom villas start at $738/nt.

Boardwalk Villas

Located in a separate wing from the Boardwalk Inn are the Boardwalk Villas. This is another DVC property that I’ve been able to stay even if it was only a four day visit.

Boardwalk Villa studios are 359 square feet and have the standard studio queen-sized bed and full-sized sofa sleeper with kitchenette.

These studios start at $366/nt.

The one-bedroom villas are 712 square feet can can sleep up to four guests.  There is a king-sized bed in the master bedroom and a queen-sized sofa bed in the living area.  Like Beach Club, there is only one full-sized bathroom in the one-bedroom villas.

These one-bedroom villas start at $528/nt.

The two-bedroom villas are 1,072 square feet and can sleep up to eight guests.  The master bedroom has a king-sized bed while the second bedroom has a queen-sized bed with a full or queen-sized sofa sleeper.  There is an additional queen-sized sofa sleeper in the living area.  There is a full-sized bathroom located off of each bedroom.

The dining area has seating for 8 or 9 with additional bar seating.

These two-bedroom villas start at $738/nt.

The grand villas on the Boardwalk are all one floor and are 2,142 square feet and has sleeping space for 13 guests.

There is a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and two queen beds in each of the other bedrooms.  The grand villas have three bathrooms off of each bedroom.  The living area has a queen sofa bed and a dining area for 8 guests.

The grand villa start at $1,821/nt.

Grand Floridian

The newest and smallest, in terms of available room, of the DVC properties.

The studios are the Grand Floridian are 374 square feet with a queen-sized and a full-sized sofa sleeper.

These studios start at $462/nt.

The Grand Floridian one-bedroom is 844 square feet.  The master bedroom has a king sized bed with a queen sofa sleeper in the living area.  There is also either a chair sleeper or murphy-style pull-out bed as well.  The one-bedroom villas also only have one bathroom.  There is a dining are for 4 or 5 guests.

The one-bedroom villas start at $689/nt.

The two-bedroom/two-bathroom villas at the Grand Floridian are 1,232 square feet.  All the villas come with a master bedroom.  The configuration of the other beds is either two queen-sized bed with one sofa sleeper or one queen-sized with two sofa sleepers.

The dining area can accommodate 6 or 7 guests with extra bar seating available.

 

The grand villas at the Grand Floridian are all one floor and are 2,800 square feet.

These villas can sleep up to 12 people in a master bedroom and two bedrooms each with two queen bed.  There is an additional queen sofa sleeper.  The villa has three bathrooms off of each bedroom and a dining area which can seat 10 guests with extra bar seating.

These grand villas start at $2,246 dollars.

Old Key West

The original DVC property.

 

 

This resort winds its way through one of the Walt Disney World golf courses and has a large foot print.  The resort also has a table service restaurant, Olivia’s, a quick-service restaurant, Good’s To Go, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Old Key West is a stand-alone resort in that it does not share facilities with another Disney resort like the other DVC properties.

As the original DVC property, the villas at Old Key West are some of largest.  This studio room is 392 square feet and featured two queen-sized beds.  No sofa sleeper at Old Key West in the studios.

The one bedrooms are a large 942 square feet and sleep up to five guests in a king-sized bed in a master bedroom with a queen-sized sofa sleeper and chair sleeper in the living area.  The rooms have only one full-sized bathroom and a dining area which can seat up to four guests.

The two bedroom villas are 1,395 square feet and can sleep up to nine guests.  There is a master bedroom with a king bed and two queen beds in the second bedroom with a sofa and chair sleepers in the living area.  There are bathrooms located off of each bedroom.  The dining area has seating for 4 guests.

The Old Key West Grand Villas are 2,375 square feet and sleep up to 13 guests.  There are three bedrooms with the master bedroom and it’s king bed and two additional bedrooms each with two queen beds and a sofa and chair sleepers in the living area.  The dining area can seat 8 guests and there are three bathrooms located off the bedrooms.

Saratoga Springs Resort

Another DVC property that does not share facilities with another Disney resort and has an early 20’s century Saratoga Springs theme.

Like Old Key West is a large property which borders one of the Disney golf courses.  In terms of rooms, it has the most rooms of all the DVC properties making it easier to get a cash reservation.

The studios at Saratoga Springs go back to the traditional queen-sized bed and full-sized sofa sleeper set up and are 355 square feet.

These studios start at $327/nt.

The one bedroom can sleep up to four guests and are 714 square feet.  They have a king bed in the master bedroom and a queen sized sofa bed in the living.  There is only one full-sized bathroom and dining area can seat 4 or 5 people.

These one bedroom villa start at $462/nt.

The two bedroom villas at Saratoga Springs are 1,075 square feet and can sleep eight guests in a master bedroom with king bed and a second bedroom with two queen sized bed and a queen sofa sleeper in the living area.  There are two full sized bathrooms in a two bedroom villa.  The dining area can accommodate 4 or 5 guests with additional bar seating.

These two bedrooms start at $618/nt.

All of the grand villas at Saratoga Springs are two floors with two bedrooms each with two queen beds on the second floor and a master bedroom with king bed on the main floor the living area has a queen sized bed in this 2,113 square foot villa.  There are three full bathrooms in the villa and the dining area can seat 10 guests with additional bar seating.

These villas start at $1,381/nt.

Saratoga Springs also has a unique style of villa on its property…..the treehouse villa.  This is the second time that Disney has opened these treehouse villas to guests.  The first time was in the 1980s when they were considered The Village Resort.  I stayed here during that time period.  In the 1990s, they were reserved for members of The Disney Institute and then reopened to guests in 2003 as part of the Saratoga Springs Resort.

They are octagonal in shape both inside and outside.  They can accommodate 9 guests and are 1,074 square feet.  There are 60 treehouse villas and they are roughly 10 feet off the ground.

There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open kitchen in these villas.

Villas start at $709/nt.

Wilderness Lodge Villas

Like Beach Club, there are no grand villas at the Wilderness Lodge.  This is another DVC property that my family and I have been lucky enough to stay.

The studio rooms are 356 square and have a queen-sized bed with a full-sized sofa sleeper.  These studios start at $374/nt.

The one bedrooms are 727 square feet with a master bedroom featuring a king bed and a living area with a queen sofa sleeper.

The dining area can accommodate four guests and there is one full bathroom.

These one bedroom villas start at $512/nt.

The two bedroom villas can sleep up to up to eight guests in a 1,083 square foot villa.  The master bedroom has a king bed with two queen beds in the additional bedroom with a queen sofa bed in the living area.  There is a dining area with seating for four people and extra bar seating.  There is a full bathroom off of each bedroom.  Two bedroom villas start at $752/nt.

The Christmas themeing, at Christmas time only, continues in the lobby at the Wilderness Lodge Villas as well.

As you’ve seen and read, these villas can be quite expensive when making a cash reservation.  However, there are A LOT of DVC members and some of them can not used all of their points in a given year.  Non-members can rent points from a DVC member to reduce some of the cost.

DAD’S WORDS OF WARNING:  I would recommend only using reputable agencies when renting points for a DVC reservation not through an individual member unless you know that member very well.  When you rent points, the member makes and is in control of the reservation NOT you.   They are making the reservation on your behalf, and yes, there have been incidences when members will pocket the money and either not make a reservation or take the vacation themselves.

There are rental agencies, like David’s Rental (http://www.dvcrequest.com/) where members sell points to David’s Rental and then David’s Rental re-sells those points for reservations to non-members.  Typical pricing is $14 per point.  For a week, a studio will cost 120 points, a one-bedroom 180 points, a two-bedroom 260 points, and a grand villa 600+ points.  These points values will vary by DVC resort and time of year.

That closes my summary of on-property accommodations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  I’ll return on Monday until then.  See ya real soon!

Thanks for reading!