Attached to resorts--or "stand alone" DVC

[pbharris4]

Right now I prefer the attached resorts. I love the valet service and luggage service. We take alot of stuff.I like the convienence of having several restaurants close by and I would rather walk the long air conditioned hallways then walk out the door and my glasses fog up from humidity. I would stay at any of the resorts as they are all nice, but prefer the convienence of the attached resorts.

 

[Beca]

Another vote for the attached properties!! While many prefer "relaxing" vacations....our family gets bored VERY quickly in the evenings if there is nothing going on. This is especially true in the winter time when a lot of the parks close early.

I find ALL the Villas wings to be VERY quiet. We feel compelled to whisper in the hallways, and except for an evening gathering by the fireplace at VWL one evening with "adult hot chocolates" (which smelled heavenly, btw), I have never heard anyone else raise their voices in any of the hallways. And, with the "adult gathering"...I was just jealous I wasn't invited!

I don't want to spend my evenings watching tv, or hanging in the room. I enjoy getting out doing whatever I can find. This is why the BCV/BWV area is SO great! Just a few minutes' stroll to the park means lots of activity, food and entertainment. And, then when you return you walk through a four-star hotel to your room....it really is PURE heaven.

When my dd had just turned 3, we stayed at OKW. And, no matter how hard we tried, we could not convince her that we were AT WDW when we were at OKW. Finally she said, "Well, next time can we stay at the WDW that we don't have to drive to?" I think she likes the "hotel" feel too!!

But, that is what is so great about DVC...something for everyone!!!



Beca

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I guess niether... My feeling about OKW is that it is only just barely different from an offsite condo or timeshare. I find BWV to be inconvenient in a variety of ways. But I love VWL for its quietness and away from it all feel, I like SSR for its being near to DTD yet quiet and I like BCV for its proximity to EPCOT (and occasionally for the pool). If I had to rank the resorts it would be VWL, SSR, BCV, BWV, OKW.

Here's a caveat...I've never stayed in or spent extended time in a one bedroom or better at OKW. That might change my mind...those two queen beds count heavily against OKW for a studio lover. Unfortunately I don't have an incentive to do so unless I'm not doing the parks very much.

 

[JimC]

Our favorite is OKW. One of the attributes that make it our favorite is the stand alone resort. But we prefer the low rise condo set up of OKW to SSR style for a stand alone resort.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I prefer the attached DVC resorts.
VWL, BCV BWV....I like the amenities of the resorts, including valet parking, interior hallways, room service, etc

 

[Daitcher]

When we go on vacation we want something that is more than what we have at home. We want luxury and pampering. We do not want to cook, park cars, carry bags, walk up stairs etc. We want to be spoiled and waited on. We are like this about wherever we vacation, not just at WDW. When we pick a hotel the location and amenitites are always a big consideration. We almost always go for the top level hotel and stay in their top level accomondations. We will stay a few days at a hotel/resort without all the luxury amenitites, but for a true vacation of any length. it is luxury resorts all the way for us. This includes DVC resorts, so needless to say we prefer DVC resorts that offer the whole package. We like all WDW resorts but prefer the deluxe resorts and the DVC resorts that are associated with a deluxe resort.
The condo DVC resorts are just that, you are staying in a condo. As another poster said, if we wanted to stay in a condo there are many condo rentals that are a lot nicer, much larger, much cheaper and are approx the same driving time to WDW's parks and attractions, as the condo DVC resorts are.

This is exactly how we feel as well. DVC is a lot of money to buy into if all you want is a nice "condo resort". The full service DVC Resorts are our preference as well. I don't go on vacation to cook and carry my own bags. Thanks for the post.


DAVE

 

[Cinderella]

I like both. I like the amenities of the attached resorts and i like the peacefulness of the unattached. But, what i really like is having the choice - it's a great perk. It's nice to have the choice of many resorts - unlike in another timeshare where you would have to try to trade.

 

[Sammie]

This is exactly how we feel as well. DVC is a lot of money to buy into if all you want is a nice "condo resort". The full service DVC Resorts are our preference as well. I don't go on vacation to cook and carry my own bags. Thanks for the post.

DAVE

You don't have to cook at any of the DVC resorts and you don't have to carry your own bags eithers, so these remarks I don't understand.

SSR has elevators so you don't have to walk up the stairs.

I prefer the Stand Alone resorts due to parking, I like having my own car and dealing with it myself, as I have seen the abuse by valet drivers.

I also feel you get much better service to DVC members at resorts that are not attached to a nonDVC resort. I think DVC members deserve a lobby and check in area of their own and Disney and DVC did a disservice when they did not offer this at the resorts that are attached to other resorts.

 

[JimC]

I like both. I like the amenities of the attached resorts and i like the peacefulness of the unattached. But, what i really like is having the choice - it's a great perk. It's nice to have the choice of many resorts - unlike in another timeshare where you would have to try to trade.

Very well said

 

[thelobstershanty]

I also feel you get much better service to DVC members at resorts that are not attached to a nonDVC resort. I think DVC members deserve a lobby and check in area of their own and Disney and DVC did a disservice when they did not offer this at the resorts that are attached to other resorts.

We have had the opposite experience. We find you get better service and a larger range of services at the resorts that offer full amenities. Resorts that offer full amenities are used to providing a large variety of services to a large group of guests, on a regular basis. The guest services desk is quite competent meeting all sorts of guests needs, from shipping packages for guests to the coordinating an overseas telephone call.
We know of a family that just returned from a DCL/WDW trip. The land part was spent at OKW. This family had a very hard time trying to get information on how/when their luggage would be transferred to the ship and on how they could get a package shipped home from OKW. They have had these services provided by other DVC resorts without a problem. When they spoke to the OKW manager about these problems, they were told that OKW was not equipped to handle such things since they were strickly a DVC resort and if they wanted these types of services they needed to stay at BCV, BWV or VWL. This family was very surprised at the GM's curt response and the lack of concern that was shown.

Just curious, but why do the DVC resorts that are assoiciated with a deluxe resort need their own check in area? I do not understand how this is a disservice to DVC members. There is ample space and CMs to handle the guests for the entire resort. We have never waited any longer or had any less of a DVC experience checking in at BCV,BWV or VWL, then we have had at OKW.

 

[JimC]

We have had good experience at stand alone and separate DVC resorts and across value, moderate and deluxe resorts with check-in, questions, special needs, assistance, shopping, shipping, luggage and the like. Our preferences have not been on better service -- we have found it consistent across the range of contact points on property -- but rather on personal preferences.

 

[DVCPAT]

I don't want to spend my evenings watching tv, or hanging in the room. I enjoy getting out doing whatever I can find. This is why the BCV/BWV area is SO great! Just a few minutes' stroll to the park means lots of activity, food and entertainment. And, then when you return you walk through a four-star hotel to your room....it really is PURE heaven.

Beca

I agree. Disney makes people pay top dollar for this experience. I don’t think Disney will ever build a DVC stand-alone resort in a “prime location”.

 

[Sammie]

I agree. Disney makes people pay top dollar for this experience. I don’t think Disney will ever build a DVC stand-alone resort in a “prime location”.

Prime location being purely one's opinion. I find the SSR location to be the best of all the DVC resorts for our needs. The parks are just a slice of our total vacation that includes shopping, dining, movies, etc. and SSR is great for that. Also we do like to venture off property and being at SSR is the best for that. We like to dine off Disney and being at SSR allows us quick access to many very good nonDisney restaurants. We find the transportation at SSR very quick and efficient and that is all we need to enjoy any and all of the parks. With small children in our extended group we found riding the buses to be a great adventure to them while walking from the BW or BCV, a never ending whine about "must be walk, can't we ride the bus". It seemed to appeal to the older members of our group more than walking too. And far as taking the boats from BW well, I know where they got the term, "slow boat to China".

I wouldn't go so far as to say never about Disney's future plans . If by prime location you mean within seeing distance of a park, then who knows. If Disney builds another park, I would not be the least surprised to see a DVC resort sitting right at the front door.

 

[debloco]

I like the amenities (as well as the luxury and pampering!) of the resorts, so I prefer DVC properties attached to resorts. I feel I get the best of both worlds; deluxe resort amenities without what the deluxe room at the resort would cost.

And as an earlier poster mentioned, it's also about location, location, location. I like the proximity of the attached resorts to the parks.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Good point from Sammie about location. Epcot is our least favorite WDW park, so being within walking distance of it is of no value to us. DTD, PI & WE are places we always spend a few evenings at. So "location location location" cuts both ways - it's a personal decision (as is what defines a "prime" location" ).

Another point which always seems to be lost is that merely because a resort offers certain amenities doesn't mean that one should assume that it will be preferred by more. I guess maybe we're lucky, but we've stayed in enough "fancy" resorts so that any desire for things like room service, valet parking and interior corridors has faded. Yes, there was a time when we'd open the room service menu and think it was neat to call up and order (or to go to the valet stand to get our car), but after the novelty wears off, it's no different from calling Dominos and having to wait for your food (or car) to arrive. Of course, we actually like the fact that we don't have daily housekeeping, so we may actually be the atypical ones.

And Beca - since "[you] enjoy getting out doing whatever [you] can find", "especially in the winter time when a lot of the parks close early" then you really should stay at SSR at those times. There's a lot more within walking distance of SSR than any other DVC resort once those parks shut down for the night. [Also, if you haven't stayed at a nice Las Vegas resort yet, you must - walking through the Mirage, where there's a giant aquarium behind the looong front desk, a white tiger exhibit and a rain forest on your way to your room, will give you a real thrill!]

Finally as the "Dues" threads fill up with data, it'll be interesting to see what the previously mentioned amenities really cost.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[Beca]

Good point from Sammie about location. Epcot is our least favorite WDW park, so being within walking distance of it is of no value to us. DTD, PI & WE are places we always spend a few evenings at. So "location location location" cuts both ways - it's a personal decision (as is what defines a "prime" location" ).

Another point which always seems to be lost is that merely because a resort offers certain amenities doesn't mean that one should assume that it will be preferred by more. I guess maybe we're lucky, but we've stayed in enough "fancy" resorts so that any desire for things like room service, valet parking and interior corridors has faded. Yes, there was a time when we'd open the room service menu and think it was neat to call up and order (or to go to the valet stand to get our car), but after the novelty wears off, it's no different from calling Dominos and having to wait for your food (or car) to arrive. Of course, we actually like the fact that we don't have daily housekeeping, so we may actually be the atypical ones.

And Beca - since "[you] enjoy getting out doing whatever [you] can find", "especially in the winter time when a lot of the parks close early" then you really should stay at SSR at those times. There's a lot more within walking distance of SSR than any other DVC resort once those parks shut down for the night. [Also, if you haven't stayed at a nice Las Vegas resort yet, you must - walking through the Mirage, where there's a giant aquarium behind the looong front desk, a white tiger exhibit and a rain forest on your way to your room, will give you a real thrill!]

Finally as the "Dues" threads fill up with data, it'll be interesting to see what the previously mentioned amenities really cost.

IMHO - YMMV

Dr. T....thanks for the tip!! However, I was a flight attendant with SWA for 8 years. Being Phx based, I had SOOO many overnights at Las Vegas. We stayed on the strip in some pretty nice hotels (I don't want to say which ones for security reasons). Vegas is nice, but if I NEVER go there again, it will be too soon!!! I don't drink (although, sometimes I really think about becoming a drinker), and I don't gamble...so, that part holds no appeal to me. I enjoy some of the buffets, shows, and shopping (Caesar forum shops are pretty cool, the Venetian shops...not so much), but there will always be something "sleazy" about Vegas that rubs me wrong. It probably has something to do with seeing women's butt cheeks plastered on billboards and "flyers" all over the strip.

And, while DTD is nice...it really is not "disney enough" for us. It is something about having independent agents in there (Hard Rock, Ghiradelli's, Lego, a movie theatre, dept. 56, and at DL...a book store) that makes me feel like we have left our "adventure heaven". Before we had AP's we would go eat dinner at 1900 PF and then go to DTD on our arrival night so we didn't feel like we were "wasting" a park ticket. Now that we have a AP's....we never seem to make it to DTD (unless there is a surprise release pin that dh just HAS to have). It is always something we say we are going to do, and then we never seem to get there. I'm not sure why...we always just seem to run out of time.

Now granted...the BWV area has ESPN...but, we don't go in there,either. Stepping in there would just "blow" the magic for us. All other places on the boardwalk are definitely "WDW specific". I'm not knocking DTD....it's just a "to each his own" kind of thing. I would like to make it over there to try Earl of Sandwich sometime....maybe one of these days we will.

BTW....I know I am missing something, but what is WE?



Beca

 

[dianeschlicht]

Definitly prefer the standalones, but mostly because the others seem too hotel like to me.

 

[thelobstershanty]

............Finally as the "Dues" threads fill up with data, it'll be interesting to see what the previously mentioned amenities really cost.

IMHO - YMMV

I think you jumped the gun, on this one. VWL dues have yet to be reported, but as of right now; the WDW DVC resort with the highest dues increase (by at least an additional 3.5% more than the other resorts) for '06 is OKW. OKW does not have full deluxe amenities and it is the WDW DVC resort located the fartherest from a WDW park or attraction.

 

[DVCPAT]

Prime location being purely one's opinion. I find the SSR location to be the best of all the DVC resorts for our needs. The parks are just a slice of our total vacation that includes shopping, dining, movies, etc. and SSR is great for that. Also we do like to venture off property and being at SSR is the best for that. We like to dine off Disney and being at SSR allows us quick access to many very good nonDisney restaurants. We find the transportation at SSR very quick and efficient and that is all we need to enjoy any and all of the parks. With small children in our extended group we found riding the buses to be a great adventure to them while walking from the BW or BCV, a never ending whine about "must be walk, can't we ride the bus". It seemed to appeal to the older members of our group more than walking too. And far as taking the boats from BW well, I know where they got the term, "slow boat to China".

I wouldn't go so far as to say never about Disney's future plans . If by prime location you mean within seeing distance of a park, then who knows. If Disney builds another park, I would not be the least surprised to see a DVC resort sitting right at the front door.

Prime location is a personal preference but Disney seems to put value into staying close to the parks. Its no mistake all the deluxe resorts are strategically located near the theme parks. Some people don’t want to be close to the action and that’s fine.

I don’t put much importance having my car close to me. I would rather have Disney outside my door (rather than my car). While some people prefer buses, I prefer the slow boat to WDW. I also love to rent the boats for recreation.

As far as placing a DVC stand-alone resort on the front door of the next theme park, what would Disney gain by this?? SSR is selling well located near Hotel Plaza Blvd. Disney can sell the “magic” without giving up real estate that brings in higher rack rates. I think Disney gets the best of both financial worlds when they split a resort.

 

[BCV23]

Dr. T, the last time I was excited about being able to order from room service was probably about 45 years ago. But that doesn't mean that I still don't appreciate the convenience if someone in my family is sick or even just too tired to enjoy a table service restaurant.

And I don't think anyone is presuming that everyone wants the amenities of a hotel. But some of us do enjoy them.