Am I the only one who feels this way?

[Jenngoofys]

I wonder if it has ever been addressed that some DVC resorts do not have any quick service restaurants, or drink refill stations. I know the argument is that we have full kitchens in some rooms, and partial in others but, when I'm on vacation Cooking is not on my to do list for a fun filled day. I can live without a quick service restaurant, but I feel very strongly that they at the very least need to add a drink station to every DVC resort. Yes some may say well the attached hotels give you access, but I didn't book that hotel I booked at a DVC resort and I would like to enjoy my hotel all day not having to run next door for a drink!! Yes I can buy drinks for my room, but its cheaper to use the mugs. Maybe its just me?

 

[chalee94]

i think there are timeshare people and hotel people.

you might not be a timeshare person. (and that's ok.)

 

[Jenngoofys]

I know its ok LOL. But then again DVC isn't your typical "Time Share". And yes I know there are all types of people who buy into DVC for many different reasons. My personal reason was to stay at more upscale hotels for less. I also don't believe everyone who uses points for larger rooms intends on using the full kitchen (we do not), we just have many people traveling with us. More space, & not having to fold out an extra bed in the studios for our child and her friends is a plus. My version of a vacation is not doing everything I do at home just in a different location! My version consists of relaxation for all, and all includes me!! Our vacation time will not be spent running back to the hotel for around 3 hours (catching transportation right) or 2 hours (driving ourselves) cooking, cleaning, then heading back to the park. When we are on vacation we are really on vacation. Maybe when we are older, we may want to cook in our room, when we aren't spending as much time in the parks, but currently 90% of our time is still in the parks. And wanting conveniences in a "Resort" that I have invested in doesn't really mean I'm not the "time share" Type it just means I expect more of Disney (DVC) in what they offer for what they charge. Everyone travels differently, I know that You and I are proof

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I agree that there should be a soda station at every DVC resort. In fact, I always assumed that there were. I guess I haven't been to all of them: which don't have them?

What I don't understand, though, is how it could be cheaper to use the mugs? I can buy a whole bunch of cans of soda for super-cheap....I can't imagine how many times I'd have to fill a mug to break even in comparison with bringing soda I bought at the store.

 

[Jenngoofys]

The ones that come to mind immediately are Bay Lake Towers, and Kidani Village.
We stay on average 11 days for each trip, only once a year currently as we still work, and have a child in school. So for 3 + people (depending on how many of her friends we bring) for 11 days we feel $15 on a mug works better for us. I also don't feel comfortable letting my child with friends walk the distance from Kadani to Jambo for drinks, so My Husband and I will take turns. Yes they are right next door, but when youre relaxing by the pool and wanting a fountain drink I think the inconvenience of running next door in your bathing suit vs grabbing a drink in your lobby is a pain.

 

[erionm]

I agree that there should be a soda station at every DVC resort. In fact, I always assumed that there were. I guess I haven't been to all of them: which don't have them?

VWL, BCV & BLT. BWI/BWV doesn't have self-serve refills, but that is currently being changed with the remodel of the Boardwalk Bakery.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Kidani Village has a soda station. It's in the gift shop.

 

[erionm]

The ones that come to mind immediately are Bay Lake Towers, and Kidani Village.

You can get refills at the lobby store and pool bar at Kidani Village.

 

[Jenngoofys]

My apologies I was not aware there was one in the gift shop. I was told by a cast member at AKL ( I called Direct) I would have to go to Jambo house where the quick service was to get my refills. Thank you for the correction, and making my trip a little happier LOL

 

[Jenngoofys]

I am hoping that all DVC resorts Put in at least drink stations in the near future. For the DVC Member that still purchase the Dining plans the Mugs are a nice feature.

 

[jade1]

but I didn't book that hotel I booked at a DVC resort

Actually you booked a DVC resort that doesn't have a refill station.

I would like to enjoy my hotel all day not having to run next door for a drink!! Yes I can buy drinks for my room, but its cheaper to use the mugs. Maybe its just me?

Some stand alones can be much further to the drinks than some attached. EX: OKW can actually be a bus ride (many over 1/2 mile 0.50 miles), BCV is quite close to BC Market actually with the furthest room 0.15 miles, many rooms under 100 yards.

 

[erionm]

My apologies I was not aware there was one in the gift shop. I was told by a cast member at AKL ( I called Direct) I would have to go to Jambo house where the quick service was to get my refills. Thank you for the correction, and making my trip a little happier LOL

When you called, you actually reached an off-site call center. This also applies to the 'Front Desk' button on the in-room phones. It's apparent that the call center does not have the correct information about drink refills in the Kidani Village gift shop.

 

[Desnik]

For us, the drink refill stations are a non issue. I bring all our drinks with us, we don't do the dining plan so we never get the refill mug. For our family, it isn't a good deal to buy one.

It use to be an issue for us at the BWV, BCV with the no quick service. But, the BW bakery is being refurbed & I've read will have a more extensive menu & seating. The BCV rectified the QS issue with implementing it into the gift shop. When we stay at Kidani, at the pool we either get sandwiches at the pool bar or order "room service" pool side. (or bring premade sandwiches from our room) You easily order at the bar area & there is an extensive menu. SSR has added food at the pool in the Paddock section recently too. This tells me that members did have an issue & they rectified it. The only place I don't care for the QS food area is OKW. One of them I've still never seen even after staying there lol & the other is outside & doesn't offer anything too exciting. Haven't stayed at BLT yet but how hard can it be to go over to the CR for QS? And doesn't the pool area have a refill station?

FYI, the refill drink station at AKV Kidani pool area is always swamped with bees. (this has been my experience on our summer trips) I'd refill my mugs in the gift shop.

 

[dvcterry]

I don't like the bees around the drink fountains.

I love the kitchen in my dvc.

But I will take a quick serve station at any DVC resort if they sell mickey waffles.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The ones that come to mind immediately are Bay Lake Towers, and Kidani Village.

BLT has one at the pool. Also, the walk across the bridge to use the one at the Contempo Cafe is relatively short. (Certainly shorter than the walk from the Congress Park section of SSR to the nearest refill station, for example.) Likewise with BCV. The walk into the Beach Club lobby isn't far at all from the villa lobby.

I'll admit that the walk to Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge is quite a hike, as are the options at BWV.

When the RFID chips become commonplace in the refillable mugs, I think we may hopefully see a lot more refill stations pop up, as they won't need to be in monitored locations.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I don't like the bees around the drink fountains.

Disney has found a solution for this, I guess it's just too expensive for them to retrofit it on the existing older refill stations. The new drink station at the SSR Paddock Pool Grill has a fan that blows a curtain of air down in front of the machine. The machines at the Springs and Grandstand are always surrounded by bees, but not the one at the Paddock.

 

[Jenngoofys]

For us, the drink refill stations are a non issue. I bring all our drinks with us, we don't do the dining plan so we never get the refill mug. For our family, it isn't a good deal to buy one.
We are using Tables in Wonderland this trip (there are 6 of us considered all adults) one of the girls eats mostly salad, and the other two cant finish a meal alone so they may share. But we will be buying mugs for everyone, for convenience, and for something to take home.

It use to be an issue for us at the BWV, BCV with the no quick service. But, the BW bakery is being refurbed & I've read will have a more extensive menu & seating. The BCV rectified the QS issue with implementing it into the gift shop. When we stay at Kidani, at the pool we either get sandwiches at the pool bar or order "room service" pool side. (or bring premade sandwiches from our room) You easily order at the bar area & there is an extensive menu. SSR has added food at the pool in the Paddock section recently too. This tells me that members did have an issue & they rectified it. The only place I don't care for the QS food area is OKW. One of them I've still never seen even after staying there lol & the other is outside & doesn't offer anything too exciting. Haven't stayed at BLT yet but how hard can it be to go over to the CR for QS? And doesn't the pool area have a refill station?The quick service wasn't that hard to get to and that was only once a day, for the days we were at the hotel. But it would be nice to have a quick service closer. The refill station takes many more trips per day, especially with kids ( they don't pace themselves lol). As far as a refill station at the pool No Idea, when we were there the area that looked like it may serve drinks was closed when we were in the pools both early and late on more than one day. Maybe they do but it is not advertised.

FYI, the refill drink station at AKV Kidani pool area is always swamped with bees. (this has been my experience on our summer trips) I'd refill my mugs in the gift shop.

Thank you for that tip, no need to get stung

 

[jade1]

If interested Garden Grocer delivers and sells 67 ounce soda pop bottles for $2.39.

6 mugs at $15 is $90.

$90 buys 37 bottles.

Mugs hold maybe 8oz.

So about 307 mugs without leaving your room.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

i think there are timeshare people and hotel people.

you might not be a timeshare person. (and that's ok.)

Simple and to the point!

I'm not a hotel person, that's why I enjoy DVC/timeshare so much! I like having a kitchen, I actually love to cook and to have people to cook for even more so on vacation! I like my brand of drinks (water/Coke/wine/Blue Moon), available in the fridge at my disposal.

I do not purchase refillable mugs and would find it a waste of precious time to have to go to a station to get a cup of coffee that I can brew myself, using my favorite brand, French Roast Gevalia with the ability to enjoy it in my p.j's!

I really detest eating 3 meals in a restaurant day in and day out! I actually enjoy spending time at the resort, so do my kids! We love grilling by the quiet pool at OKW, having drinks and appetizers while the steaks gets done! Food court has no appeal for me, hence why I prefer Kidani over Jambo! Did the DDP once and hated the restrictions, the scheduling of ADR's, the over abundance of food and the complete lack in spontaneity!

I prefer not to have housekeeping in my room, and always use the "do not disturb" signs!

Even when vacationing away from Disney, we rent cabins, condo's , villa's etc.

So I'm not a hotel person, I'm a timeshare person and I guess that's why OKW/SSR/BWV have always worked for me, don't need a food court or refill stations!

 

[Jenngoofys]

If interested Garden Grocer delivers and sells 67 ounce soda pop bottles for $2.39.

6 mugs at $15 is $90.

$90 buys 37 bottles.

Mugs hold maybe 8oz.

So about 307 mugs without leaving your room.

That is a great break down thank you. And something I will keep in mind for our future visits but if you figure in about $5 for the Disney Souvenir mugs for each person ( kids love these for use at home) your down to $60 and 25 bottles equaling 209 mugs which is 3 1/2 drinks a day per person so for us it is a break even this trip. But for my family in the future we have enough mugs so drinks ordered in may work.