Where would you otherwise stay?

[PKS44]

In a Rumors and news thread I raised the question about the effect of the growth of DVC on hotel occupancy...In a nutshell my point was that as DVC grew, the number of people wanting to stay in WDW resorts (non-DVC) has shrunk...Werner Weiss, whom I consider an absolute fountain of wisdom and a gentleman and a scholar, countered that he doubts this somewhat- in his own circumstances he says if he were not in DVC he would be off site...what about you?

If DVC did not exist (perish the thought, I know!): where would you otherwise be staying?

[ncligs]

If we were not DVC members, we would definatley stay on WDW property in a moderate. Traffic is a nightmare outside WDW property, even if you are only 5-10 miles away ,it could take you an hour to get to WDW during peak times. http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/angryfire.gif

[Raysplus1]

We would also stay in a moderate. We really have no preference to which one. We have stayed at the cheaper ones All Star Movies and would not do that again.

[nezy]

Although I would miss the magic of being on-site, I would prefer the larger setting of a 2BR/1BR condo w/ kitchen & washer facilities. Although Fort Wilderness does have the cabins!

[Johnnie Fedora]

Would split our stay between one offsite and one deluxe.

[Lesley]

Probably a little of everything.....except off site condos. We like trying all kinds of things from camping to deluxe resorts....but never would have gotten spoiled to the point of needing a villa if it weren't for DVC.

And I don't think we'd visit nearly as often.

[MdmMim]

I would stay at a deluxe, as I did in the past--pre-DVC days. When I really looked at the $ I was spending just on hotel rooms, DVC made so much sense!

[DVC-Don]

We started out staying Deluxe resorts. After a few years of yearly trips, we downgraded to Moderates so that we could go more than once per year. Since we joined DVC we have continued to go more than once per year.

[sandieb]

I would definately choose the Fort Wilderness Cabins. They are the main reason I hesistated about buying into DVC. I loved the privacy of our own place, the grill, the deck, and the terrific activities. I liked parking right outside the cabin. It was great for the kids to be able to play outside. On the other hand, for the size group we usually bring (grown kids, grandkids) we can't fit comfortably in a cabin. While the theme is nicely carried out, the DVC units are definately nicer. Sandie

[dianeschlicht]

WE would either stay in a deluxe or a moderate. I voted deluxe.

[vernon]

I voted for the "condo option" as it's the closest to what I'd really do, which is stay in a private villa. Cheaper than a suite/hotel and far more room.

[WDWLVR]

I voted for Deluxe because we've stayed in those more often, but if there were not DVC we'd stay in any different Disney resort we haven't stayed in.

We honeymooned on the Grand Plan at the Grand Floridian back in Oct. '90 and stayed at All Stars during our January 2000 trip when we bought into DVC. In between we have stayed at about 80% of the other on site resorts.

I love what the DVC resorts offer and a hotel room can't compare. Having said that we have booked a room at the Contemporary for next (2003) December. We didn't want to borrow into 2004 points and really wanted to do a holiday trip to the world (after two Disney cruises next year). I've never stayed at the Contemporary and DH did only as a child. Can't beat the location when it comes to the Magic Kingdom - the thought of being able to walk back to the room after the night time Christmas Party made it worth it for me.

[POOH&PIGLET]

The first place we ever stayed on site was Dixie Landings. If we weren't DVC members, we would love to go back to this resort (and other moderates).

[Regina]

Before DVC, we'd either stay in a Disney Institute villa or a deluxe. With 5 of us, moderates are not an option.:( :(

We stayed offsite twice in the 17 years that we've been going annually. We didn't care for it. We missed the magic of Disney, and we don't like driving when we're on vacation.

[HookdonWDW]

We'd probably really stay in a combination of Moderates and Deluxes. I couldn't vote for that option though, so I chose Moderates.

[jel0511]

With the exception of one "lapse in judgement", I've always stayed at a Deluxe at WDW. I'd probably just continue doing that. I like the larger rooms and the ammenities at the Deluxes. One of the reasons I joined DVC, larger rooms and all the ammenities of a Deluxe!!! I still combine my DVC trips with a short stay at other Deluxes just to experience different hotels at WDW.

[new_yawka]

:eek:

Don't make me think of such a thing. It's too painful! ;)

Actually I voted that I'd stay at a moderate (I really love magnolia bend at dixie landings - PO - Riverside). However, since my parents are now retiring to the area, I'd likely stay with them.....or maybe just buy a house at Celebration and NEVER leave :)

[GraceDVC]

Life before DVC??

Started at Contemporary in 1980 and, after 4 visits there, eventually had to rethink the cost. So, we went to the CBR one year, and then went to the Lake Buena Vista Palace suites. On one of our anniversaries, we just had to visit WL during its opening week and, on that visit, purchased into DVC so that we would be able to exchange to a deluxe in the future. Since owning DVC, we have only exchanged out to the Contemporary on one occasion because the DVC units are so lovely.

[mb168]

I'd definitely be in a deluxe, just wouldn't go as often...

[crisi]

I think you have a point, Disney has about 10% of their hotel rooms into DVC now, which is a bunch of people not staying at the hotels.

However, it probably isn't a one to one correlation. Some of us would go far less frequently without DVC.

(Our last trip had been in a Deluxe and it would have been Deluxes moving forward).

[ZerasPride]

We always stayed in a deluxe resort I voted for that option if DVC were not in the picture. I do admit that after staying in DVC accommodations it would be hard to do the one room thing again. Hubby and I took a long weekend for ourselves this past summer and stayed in a nice room at a Ritz Carlton and I could not believe how small just a regular hotel room can seem after staying in a 2 bedroom DVC villa! We are really spoiled.

[RoutemanDan]

We would alternate between Deluxe and Moderates and not go nearly as much as we do now.:)

[anniet]

I voted offsite hotel, but I was really split between that and WDW moderate. Since we've spent more time at Tropical Palms, which is right NEXT to Celebration, and probably would have continued to stay there in order to make our yearly trips of two weeks affordable, I had to go with offsite.

[SheriB]

Having stayed both off and on-site, I'd rather stay on-site in a moderate than off-site in a deluxe (location, location, location). I know we simply could not afford an on-site deluxe for 7 to 10 days every year (or every other for that matter).

Sheri

[Denine]

It is hard to say. I voted off site, becuse that's where we stayed prior to owning DVC in 1995. We got married in 1991 and had been to WDW twice before joining.
I remember looking at the brochures and wanting to stay at Caribbean Beach, but not wanting to spend the money.
We are older now, and would probably like to stay on property, but would most likely stay off site because of cost.

[PKS44]

Posting to bump and to reiterate...I am not surprised that DVC allows people to visit more often, but it does seem that it has to be negatively affecting the demand for all those hotel rooms they have built...this coupled with the economy and 9/11 has to be having some negative effect on hotel occupancy...I would envision this holding prices down UNLESS they really do something special to attract more people to WDW or they close down some of the excess hotel capacity (like not re-opening CBR when they say they will)

Paul

[AKemel]

I voted Deluxe. In my opinion DVC is much more than new hotel rooms. With DVC we go 3 times a year and spend more money in the parks, while before, we would have gone once a year and spent less money in the parks, so money is still being spent. Also, a big point, when you are in DVC you will be coming back. Without it you may never come back.

[DemoBri1]

I would definitely stay on property, and preferably in a Deluxe (since I am now totally spoiled by the Deluxe experience). If the budget wouldn't allow us to do that then it would have to be a Moderate or All-Stars.

The off-site experiences my wife and I and the rest of her family have had from various off-site excursions soured any benefit that you would reap from the cheaper costs.

For instance, on our last stay at WDW, we decided to move to an off-site Embassy Suites because we were going to do Sea World, Universal and Daytona the last four days of our trip. Let me tell you that you should never stay anywhere on International Drive when there is a football game going on at the Citrus Bowl!! I was born and raised in Chicago, and have never seen a bottleneck of traffic that I experienced there.

My in-laws stayed at an off-site timeshare condo complex (the location escapes me at the moment) last March. During the day it was fine, but at night they said they came home to what appeared to be "gang-like" gatherings of youths in the parking lots. They moved over to YC two days later.

[DiznEeyore]

We would be staying at the Values, pure and simple. We've stayed at the moderates and most of the deluxes, and unless we were able to get a great rate, they're not worth it to us. If DVC didn't exist, the All Stars would be just fine. :)

[Doctor P]

I tend to be value-oriented and we had a great experience at All Star Movies in 1999, so we would probably opt for value resorts to maximize our ability to go to Disney.

[colleen costello]

For our family the moderates are "just right." The values are too small as we drive and have TONS of stuff. If I stay in a room that little I go a bit psycho. The Deluxe resorts are great but I couldn't sleep at night for worrying about the bill! The moderates are, as Mary Poppins says "practically perfect in every way." I love Riverside and recently spent a night at Coronado, which was great. Which moderate we would choose would depend on which one had the best rate at the time.

Incidentally, if I had a camper, it would be Ft. Wilderness. That place is magical, and it's the best bargain going! The cabins are great, too, although no "bargain." Someday when I am retired, I am going to get one of those silvery trailers and spend my winters with Mickey! :)

[skorpie]

If I had to stay somewhere other than a DVC resort, it would probably Shades Of Green. As a matter of fact, we will stay there next July to help save weekend points. My other choice is the Polynesian!

[msdis]

Very interesting poll and thread....... You are proving your theory correct. We were moderates before and still would be. In fact we miss it sometimes. We are also in the process of selling some of our DVC because it no longer meets our needs(got a little carried away and bought too much) and after the panic stage passed we agreed that if we have limited ourselves too much with what we have left we will just stay in a moderates just like we always did. DVC is a disease! We never would have gone no wheres near as much as we have in the last 3 years w/o DVC. Nor would we have spent anywheres near as much on vacations as we have.

[dmoore22]

I cast my vote for the All-Stars. Value plus the cosmopolitan atmosphere really adds to the experience. Not to forget the efficient transportation to the parks.:Pinkbounc

[BCVOwner2002]

If we did not purchase DVC we would continue to stay at the moderately priced hotels on property. Although we have stayed at BC/YC in the past, we cab stay longer by staying at a moderate. The reasons we prefer to stay on property are:

1. Transportation - we usually don't rent a car;
2. The Disney charm - we have never had a bad experience with a CM but can't say that about the Hilton at DTD staff;
3. Familiarity - after staying at CBR 2 or 3 times, we felt very comfortable letting our DS go to the game room, pool, etc. without us.

Annmarie

[slp87]

In '00 we stayed at an off site resort. We had not stayed offsite since '78 & a quick trip in '86. As much as we loved the place we stayed we absolutely hated being off site. We love the quick bus ride to the parks, how easy it is to return in the afternoons. That is the trip that convinced us to join DVC! But DVC or not, we would always stay on site!!!

[raidermatt]

Moderates for us.

Proabably another important question to judge the true impact, PKS, is to also ask whether we would visit WDW more, less or the same if we weren't in DVC. In our case, we have spent 23 nights at WDW over the last two years, and tentatively have another 12 planned for next May. However, if we didn't purchase DVC, we would likely be spending some of those nights at other destinations.

In other words, we purchased DVC because we wanted to visit WDW more, and it has helped us acheive that. Without it, we wouldn't be at WDW as much.

[vernon]

To a degree I agree with Matt, IMHO people have a finite amount to spend on vacations, if they hadn't bought into DVC they would spend that standard amount ( meaning less days at WDW). With the "upfront cost" of DVC I think a lot of people still spend close to what they would have done without DVC but having the accommodation paid for allows more on food,park tickets and other treats.

While some individual hotels may get slightly fewer visitors IMHO the overall effect of DVC is to bring in more money to WDW as a whole.

[PoohBears#1fan]

We'd stay either in Disney budget or off-site.

The price of 2 weeks at the Beach Club (from the UK) is almost as much as purchasing DVC!

[dianeschlicht]

And THAT is why DVC ownership makes so much sense!

[doubletrouble_vb]

The problem with this poll is that it is a poll of people obsessed enough with Disney and DVC to participate in forum about it.

However I voted offsite condo. "Disney Magic" isn't sufficient for me to waste the money staying on site. When staying in an offsite condo I came to Orlando every other year with mixed emphasis on which theme park I went to. That is to say...sometimes Disney was emphasized, sometimes non-Disney.

From May 2001 to November 2002 I will have stayed on site 4 times. My next trip will be half DVC half Animal Kingdom lodge.

But! In tepid support of your hypothesis I probably will not return to Disney for 2 or 3 years. My next trip to Orlando will be in an offsite condo & I may or may not visit Epcot once. My DVC trips will take me to Hilton Head and Vero Beach.

[PKS44]

I had predicted that 80% or more of DVC owners would stay on site...this nonscientific poll supports my guess...it could be terribly skewed, but I can't see how those who are crazy enough about Disney to invest in 40-50 years of going to WDW would not be mostly made up of customers for the WDW resorts...given the 60,000 members, at least 40,000 of them would have likely been in the resorts over a year, year and a half...is that enough to slow the growth of resorts? I have no idea...it is not a huge number given the total attendance figures, but before they go building and opening more hotels AND more DVC they ought to find out what capacity they really need.

[RumpleMom]

Before DVC we stayed at whichever was Disney's newest hotel every 3 years, so that was either a moderate or All-Star's. If we hadn't joined, I think it would be a moderate, as long as it was under $139 a night. We paid this in 1998 at CS for Christmas, but that's our top price. We didn't spend much time at the resort as we were park commandos.

Our last trip to OKW we arrived at Epcot for 1:00 lunch ps. This is our new way of touring the parks and we now do PI- teenagers like to sleep in and eating breakfast in our 1 bedroom was wonderful. Dad cooked!

I voted moderate, but it would only be every 3-5 years without DVC. Thankfully, we found DVC.

[labr]

This is a very difficult question. Prior to joining DVC, we stayed at the "home away from home" resorts (now DVC). We loved them. This past summer we stayed at a Disney Moderate resort. It was very nice but nothing compared to the Home Away from Home. I love having the kitched, refrig etc....Now its even better with a washer and dryer. We have an 8 yr old DD and its just not worth spending all that money on breakfast, lunch, drinks etc...Its much better to be able to eat in your own accomodations at your own pace.

I don't really know what I would do without the DVC option. I voted stay off site but that's not the best choice either because it looses some of the magic.

:earsgirl:

[perdidobay]

Our pre-dvc trips were 2 at moderates and 1 at deluxe and first trip in 1984 at offsite motel. If we didn't have DVC we would be at deluxes only, as that is what we prefer and can afford now. We saw DVC as a way to get a Deluxe room for less $. I would never stay offsite if we didn't have DVC.

[Love Tigger]

Before DVC, DH & I stayed at a deluxe once (as part of a DCL Sea & Land package), but spent the rest of the time at moderates. With the current cutbacks and elimination of on-site guest perks (especially early entry), we would be staying at off-site hotels. Since we have no children, the convenience of staying on-site isn't as important to us as the expense. We've experienced the "magic" of staying at a Disney resort, but unfortunately for us the value is no longer there.

[mickey7861]

We have always stayed onsite splitting between a moderate and a deluxe resort since our first trip in 1987. That's why we bought DVC.

[jimmytammy]

Sounds crazy but we like to stay at the All-Stars.

[sumessefui]

We would do as we did before DVC came along. Stay in a deluxe but not go as often.

[Love Tigger]

I have to change my vote...............

With the return of Early Entry, DH & I would again stay at the moderates.

[DVC-Landbaron]

I would want to stay at the Deluxes. With five kids I'd have to settle for the "Mods", as much as that would stink!!

Thankfully we have OKW!!! :bounce:

[lsutigger2]

We had always stayed at moderates (Dixie Landings and CS). DVC has enabled us to 'move up' and I've got three trips in the next 12 months planned, something I never would have done in the past.

[NancyDVC]

I can't imagine not being at a DVC resort! I don't think that I could afford anything on property as often as I have been able to go to WDW with DVC, so it would probably be offsite maybe every other year or so. I know that I would be actively searching for bargains along west 192.
But I wouldn't have as much fun or be as happy!

[MaryAnnDVC]

We always stayed at the Beach Club before becoming members at BWV. If we weren't members, we'd be staying at the BC, YC, or BW. But with 3 kids, now 14, 12 and 9, it sure is nice to have all that extra room.

[SINK]

Swan and Dolphin. Since I'm a Starwood Gold (got to keep up the Gold status).