Magic Village Views Trademark Collection by Wyndham: Fancy Disney Lodging Option for Large Families

See our Advertiser Disclosure here.

This is actually a short review of a stay that happened last March. But I guess, it’s better late than never, right?  Originally, I booked Magic Village View Trademark Collection unit in 2019 because at the time it cost only 15k Wyndham points per night. I was planning to bring my European parents for a spring break visit in 2020, and  invited my in-laws to join us as well. So, the 4-bedroom unit would be put to good use. Or so I thought…

Covid-19 hit US and Europe with a vengeance, and we had to reschedule my parents’ flight to get them out of the country in time. My in-laws decided not to come to Orlando, so my family of 4  ended up having 4 bedrooms all to ourselves.

I could have cancelled, but decided to keep the reservation. Due to the fact that the unit had an outside entrance, we would not have to risk potential virus exposure. Plus, I figured since Disney parks closed on the day of our check-in, there would hardly be anybody at the resort. And I was right. The place was like a ghost town.

Let me be clear, I’m not saying you should go to Disney right now. But reservations at this resort can be made up to 12 months in advance, and can be easily cancelled depending on how the situation with virus unfolds.

Before I get to the review itself, let me mention a few things. First, this resort now charges 30k Wyndham points per night, and you can only reserve a 3-bedroom unit that fits 6 via Go Free rate. Here is a floor plan where you can see all the details of the layout.

Still, it can be a good deal, especially during holidays and high season. You may also be able to snag a decent cash price on it during summer, so it’s worth checking. I feel the location is terrific, especially if you plan to visit Animal Kingdom.

Do keep in mind that Wyndham website can be buggy. Very often it doesn’t show award availability, and tells you to call the hotel.

If you click on the listing, however, you will often see award availability. Here is an example during Christmas season, when prices on Disney lodging are usually very high.

Review of our rental

Let me tell you, the 4-bedroom unit is huge, bigger than our house. Obviously, the 3-bedroom one will be smaller, but should still give you enough room to spread out. You get all the conveniences like full kitchen, washer/dryer and even a grill on an outside patio. Here are a few photos:

Living room/kitchen combo

Appliances are way nicer than ones I have at home

One of the guest bedrooms upstairs

Our feet+the view of the lake

As you can see, a beautiful place, and you would have to be really spoiled not to like it. Definitely a very comfortable option for a Disney vacation, especially if you bring in-laws. The resort is gated, so you don’t have to worry about potential intruders.

I should mention a few things I didn’t like, but they are relatively minor. First, you get no coffee in the unit, none. So make sure to buy your own at the grocery store. Another pet peeve of mine are polyester sheets, and that’s what you get here. They are soft, but I just hate sleeping on anything but 100% cotton. Again, my strong preference, and nobody else in my family cared, that’s for sure.

Resort amenities

Supposedly, the resort has some complimentary activities for kids, like popcorn movie nights etc. But we didn’t do any of that. We only used the pool and a hot tub, and the kids had a blast. There was hardly anyone around, so we didn’t have to worry about catching the coronavirus. And we had our choice of loungers.

I fully expect that the pool area will be packed if you come here during holidays or high season.

Should you burn Wyndham points here?

It really depends. At 15k points per night it was a no-brainer, especially since you got 4 bedrooms as part of the deal. Now not so much. Still, if I had a huge stash and was in the middle of planning a Disney vacation with in-laws during peak season, I would absolutely consider it.

A nice thing is that cleaning fees are included when you make an award redemption, so that’s another plus if you have a relatively short stay in mind. You also get a generous cancellation policy, which is always great when traveling with kids. Otherwise, I recommend exploring AirBnB options before dumping your Wyndham points. Here is my referral link, you will get $40 towards a rental, and I will get $20.

For me personally, right now the biggest appeal of Wyndham program is its newly added ability to book Vacasa rentals, though not without some difficulty. For those same 30k points, I can potentially book a nice 2-bedroom rental on the beach. I’m very much a “beach” person, though.

All in all, I do recommend Magic Village View resort, and for the right cash price would consider staying there again when visiting Disney. And that’s the biggest endorsement I can think of.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.