Animal Kingdom Villas Review

JMarsden92 January 4, 2012
[1] comment

We just returned from Disney World today.  We drove down the day after Christmas, and left Florida on the 3rd.  While we were there we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Our room was located in Jambo House.  This is the original hotel location that got several floors upgraded for DVC member accommodations.  We stayed there once previously, but it was not in a DVC accommodation because they weren’t fully finished as of yet.

As we entered the building we were teased with the smells of African food from one of the restaurants.  Being that we were situated with our food we did not have a chance to dine in the restaurants this trip.  We have heard that the restaurants are good.

Staying in the Jambo House we have found that the rooms have great views.  The layout of the 1 bedroom is slightly different than we are used to in comparison to Old Key West.  There is no FULL size jacuzzi tub.  There is a couch bed, and a chair bed in addition to the master bed.  In general the room felt slightly smaller than the Old Key West rooms.  We were in a Savannah view room.  Stepping out your porch door and seeing giraffe, and more just seems to make it so much more worth it.

The downside to Jambo House is that there is very few smoking areas.  You either need to go the the front of the building, or to the pool area.  This has a lot to do with animal safety.  The room had carpeting, and the kitchen, and bath were tiled.  The one thing that we would really find to be a nice change would be for the rooms to have wood flooring like the alloc original laminate that we have seen in some other timeshares.  The buses seemed to take forever.  I am sure that this had a lot to do with the holidays.

The lodge had their Christmas tree up still when we got there.  Towards the end of our stay we noticed some of the decorations being removed.  Overall the lodge is very nice looking, and the accomodations are acceptable.

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Is A Disney Timeshare Worth The Money?

JMarsden92 October 20, 2011
[3] comments

YES!!!

Many years ago I asked this very question.  I had gone to many timeshare tours in Florida, and also Atlantic City.  I knew what kind of money I was spending by going to Disney World 1-2 times per year.  This was calculations based on 2 adults + 1 child in a “Value” resort.  We were spending on average $600-$700 in accomodations.  My mother and father came home one year and told us about the Disney Vacation Club.  Being we had done many timeshare tours in the past we basically tried to tell them what we didn’t want.

My parents showed me where the savings would be, and asked if we would just meet with the guide and see what she could offer.  We agreed to this as long as noone tried to pressure me.  We got there and met with Kelly.  She went over everything and at the end told us to call if we were interested.  My wife was very hesitant at first.  She said that we should just look into houses for rent when we go to Florida.

WAIT… She didn’t try to keep us at the table and sell us on the spot?  No.

After we got home and evaluated everything we called Kelly and told her that we were ready.  She said she would send us all the paperwork to finalize through the mail.  We were very pleasantly surprised at how easy everything went in comparison to the other timeshares that we saw.  Disney financing went through quick, and easy.

Disney Vacation Club accomodations have Studios, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom, and Grand Villas.  Each accomodates a maximum amount.  Each also has a specific set of ammenities included.  The best part is that I get points, and those points can be used at any of the DVC resorts.  I am automatically part of an exchange program so I can go to other places that aren’t part of Disney.

Looking back at our decision I realize that it was one of the wisest things we could do.  We have already made our money back.

Would I do it again…?  Yes.  I would hope to get my hands on any of the original properties only because of the cost.  The cost of the DVC properties has gone up quite considerable since we bought.

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Disney’s Hilton Head Review

JMarsden92 May 22, 2011
[1] comment

During our last trip home from Florida after our cruise on the Disney Dream we stopped in Hilton Head for one night.  We tried to get a reservation for more than 1 night, but it was not possible.  We stayed at Disney’s Hilton Head Resort.  When you come into the area where Hilton Head is you will find it nestled behind a few other resorts.  You pull up to an unmanned gate, and get greeted by a voice.  Check in is at the building immediately in front of you.  Upon walking up the steps to the building you will find a dog house with a Disney name tag on it.

After we checked in we took a walk around the property while we waited for our room to come ready.  We found the walk through the resort to be very short.  Even though there looks to be a lot of room on the proerty the property is actually very small, but everything is well placed to not waste any area.  We got into our room.  It was on the 3rd floor.  Our room had a balcony that was quite private.

Later we went to the swimming pool area so that our little one could do some crafts, and we could get something to eat.  We took a walk on the fishing pier to see what could be spotted.  We noticed a large amount of fiddler crabs.  After this we took a break in the jacuzzi.  This seemed to help my sun poisoning a bit.

One of the last things we got to do while at the resort was that we went over to the beach club for Disney guests.  There is a private pool at the club, and a path that leads down to the beach.  To enter the club, or get off the beach you need a resort keycard.  Later that night before we left we took one more stroll around the property and saw the campfire that they have.

Hilton Head is a very quiet resort.  The employees are very nice.  I had figured that the employees would be a bit more laid back in comparison to the Disney World resorts, but all of the employees have full uniforms, even the housekeeping that I would have figured would have been wearing something like Dickies scrubs.

We will definitelly try to stay at the Hilton Head resort again.  We would have enjoyed it more if it was for more than 1 night.

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Checking Out Disney DVC Hilton Head

JMarsden92 October 28, 2010
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Every now and then Disney runs promotions to help in selling their Vacation Club memberships.  I bought in quite a few years ago and didn’t pay as much as they cost now.  I own in Vero Beach, and Wilderness Lodge.  I have stayed in Vero Beach, but not the Wilderness Lodge.

This coming year when we go on the cruise my wife wants to take a day, or two on our way home to stop off in the Carolinas to visit the DVC resort Hilton Head.  We are going to try and book something for my family as well as my brother staying with us.  We have never stayed there, but I am willing to try something that doesn’t have the mouse.  When we stayed in Vero Beach we weren’t very thrilled because it just didn’t feel like the Disney resorts do.

While we are in the Carolinas my wife wants to look at some of the outer banks foreclosures.  She feels that maybe it is time to get out of New Jersey.  I understand her concern, but she needs to understand that moving isn’t a big option for us.

Have you stayed in the DVC resort in Hilton Head?  What was it like?  Would you stay there again?

Have you stayed in Vero Beach?  What did you think?

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2012 Disney Cruise Points Now Published

JMarsden92 October 27, 2010
[1] comment

If you are a DVC member, then you know what the DVCMember.Com site is all about.  Well, the points charts for the 2012 cruise sailing calendar are now available on the DVCMember site.

For those that have taken my advice, and bought into DVC I applaud you.

For those still sitting on the fence I have put copies of the points charts below.

  • Disney Dream 3 night Bahama {filelink=8}
  • Disney Dream 4 night Bahama {filelink=9}
  • Disney Dream 5 night Bahama {filelink=10}
  • Disney Wonder 6 & 7 night Mexican Riviera {filelink=11}
  • Disney Fantasy 7 night Eastern Caribbean {filelink=12}
  • Disney Magic 7 night Eastern Caribbean {filelink=13}
  • Disney Fantasy 7 night Western Caribbean {filelink=14}
  • Disney Magic 7 night Western Caribbean {filelink=15}
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