Big Decision to Make!!!

[rellabee]

Ok, I was sitting with a reservation for Pop with Free Dining for late August, and then I decided to buy DVC, but for my time period could only get SS for the whole week, or could do a split stay at SS the first part and BCV the second part. I chose the split stay and waitlisted for other locations for the SS part of the stay (it's not that I don't want to stay there --- but it's my home resort and I figured I would have many opportunities to be there).

I finally made the decision to cancel my DVC stay and bank the points, called Member Services and they told me that my waitlist for VWL came through!!!! Now I don't know what to do!!!

So, I'm asking for your opinions......for background, I have only stayed in moderates at Disney, never at a value or DVC. It will be me, DH, DS6 and DS3 on this trip. We normally don't rent a car, but probably will this trip. The dates of the trip are exactly the same.

If it was you, would you choose:
1. Pop with Free Dining for 1 week
2. Split Stay with 4 nights VWL and 3 nights BCV

 

[nuzmom]

I'd do split stay and keep on a waitlist to try to get same location for all vacation. But, given the choice between 1 & 2, I'd do split stay.

I would NOT stay at POP. Now if it was a moderate, it would be a harder choice for me. That's just my opinion.

 

[nuzmom]

Sorry, I see that you could get SSR for the whole stay. If that's still and option, I'd recommend that. I know you said that you'd have other chances to stay at SSR, but you'll have other chances to stay at BCV and VWL, too.

 

[rellabee]

Thanks for your thoughts.....

I was so excited because I keep reading about how hard it is to get into either BCV or VWL if they aren't your home resort. Since I have a child in elementary school, I'm pretty much stuck with going on school breaks.

Is the split stay that difficult???

 

[Anthony1971]

I do not see any reason for owning DVC if you are not going to use it... I know free dining is a plus but if that is what you wnat then why own DVC? not being sarcastic... if you do the numbers and purchase the dinning plan I am sure your actual costs will be close. I like to eat but find the DDP to be to much food I just can not have desert with lunch and then sit down every day for a three course meal...for a week but here you have an opurtunity to have the DDP part of the week and the other part without being it is two reservations so you can have the bset of both in much nicer resorts

 

[Mtnman44]

Don't stay at the POP! Use that money toward your DVC purchase and start enjoying it. Your kids are going to LOVE VWL. It's an awesome location and an awesome resort. We stayed there in Jan 06 at the hotel, not the DVC. This was our first time at any Disney Property. At some point between the forested walking trails and sitting in my own boat quietly looking at the front gates of Magic Kingdom, I decided we were never coming back to WDW without staying on Property at a Deluxe. It was really hard to transfer to our off property Westgate condo later that week.

DVC was a natural decision after that.

 

[rellabee]

Maybe a little more background is necessary:

My kids are little...they will think the "larger than life" theming at Pop is "sweet" and they probably won't care where they stay since they are at Disney. I would love to stay in a DVC villa, that's why we bought it. But I also realize that I can take advantage of the Pop package and bank my DVC points, giving me either an extra or a longer vacation next year........

 

[vwlvette]

If ti was me I would do the split stay & wait list. Staying at POP would be a dissappointment for me, I have always stayed at deluxe resorts, Grand, Poly, WL, after our last trip we decided to buy VWL. Don't waste your money on POP use it towards your DVC. Anyway that is my view. Also, you cannot compare POP with DVC rooms!

Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[nuzmom]

To be blunt - they may think that POP is "sweet", but the craziness of it will DRIVE YOU INSANE!!!! Compared to DVC - pop has small rooms, no kitchen, lots of noise, no separate bedrooms, crowded pools, need I go on?

We LOVE the home away from home feel of DVC. After the crowds at WDW, we like being able to relax at our DVC. Sometimes we just borrow a few DVDs (free at DVC community center) and hang out "at home" for an evening. We also take advantage of other activities the community center has to offer.

Yes, you could always bank your points. For us, it helps remembering the experience of DVC living when we're making those payment.

Whatever you decide - enjoy.
(I'll be surprised if you get any "go with POP" replies)

 

[DVC Grammy]

Well, here's a "go with your POP" reservation, but not because I don't absolutely DVC..........................it's due to a couple of things:

1. By banking your points, you can have an array for choices of future reservations (if you always use your banked points first and remember to bank any current year's leftovers)
2. Your kids are little, and they probably would love the over-the-top decor of the Pop, plus feeding little ones who might be picky is usually easier at a food court
3. There are bound to be tons of other little kids around for your kids to play with
4. Given their ages, your vacation will probably be hectic anyway, and the free DDP with a family of 4 in a values IS a good deal.

I also think you'll enjoy your DVC even more afterwards...............

 

[rellabee]

I also think you'll enjoy your DVC even more afterwards...............

Are you suggesting that I will absolutely hate POP??

Seriously.....I know DVC will be better.........but is POP that bad?

 

[jamaka66]

I'd say go with split stay. VWL with 2 young kids puts you a boat ride from MK. I know the free dining is tempting especially with the amount of food but you have a full kitchen, you can have groceries delivered. I was told that the Pop rooms are 25% smaller than CBR rooms so they must be small.
Just my opinion.
Kim

 

[william4192]

If money is really tighet and free DDP is a deal breaker, sell your DVC and stay at Pop.

I used to stay at POP all the time when I was on a more limited budget (and before DVC). They are nice, but they are not "special". Take your kids to WL (my opinion best resort anywhere...boat ride to MK!). This is why you bought DVC. Then buy the DDP. It is like paying for DDP and getting WL for "free".

 

[Princess Roo]

Have you thought about a split stay between POP and DVC? Depending what day of the week your trip starts on, it could make a lot of sense.
To be honest, I do find a big difference between the values and the moderates. I doubt we'll stay in a value again. But if you think your kids will like it, maybe it makes sense to enjoy the dining plan for a few days there and then switch to more space and a washing machine for the 2nd half!

 

[mufasa0505]

Before purchasing DVC I was a Mod girl. On our last trip before becoming DVCers we booked Pop (in an effort to save money-go figure!) for 8 nights. We lasted 2 days.

So I would suggest staying DVC all the way. You're spending money on it. Use it and enjoy!

 

[DVC Grammy]

Are you suggesting that I will absolutely hate POP??

Seriously.....I know DVC will be better.........but is POP that bad?

No, the values can actually be a lot of fun with smaller kids; in fact, IMO, I'd say that they (and some of the mods) are more little-kid oriented than the rest of the resorts, including the DVCs (I'm not saying that the rest are not kid-friendly).

They weren't there when my boys were that age, but if they had been, my sons would've loved them (but then again, my boys were kinda' over-the-top kids themselves ). My daughter was a quieter child and preferred quieter surroundings.

You know your kids best; if they're rambunctious, your vacation will be rambunctious anyway. If they're quieter, then the DVC would probably be better.

There really is no wrong choice; pick the one that meets your needs best now.

 

[Boston5602]

I will start by saying last year I stayed at POP for the first time. I had usually stayed at Boardwalk. I hated POP enough that the day after I came home from that trip I called DVC and bought.

I now will say since you have never stayed at DVC or a deluxe resort before stay at POP , and just know it will be busy there that week !!!! You can't miss DVC if you haven't stayed there YET !!!! BANK your points that way you'll start your DVC life with " extra " points to use over the course of the next few years.


have fun and enjoy your trip !

 

[Ecjc]

We are staying at Pop with free dining in September. Decided to bank our points for next year cuz we'd pay the same price either way (stay at Pop and pay for room and get free dining or stay at DVC and buy dining). We've stayed at pop several times and the kids love it there. We'll just have more points next year!

 

[lisaviolet]

Stay at POP and bank is my opinion. I agree with the poster that since you haven't stayed in a DVC....well you won't have the comparison anyway.

I'm a DVC member who goes to POP to eat. Great grilled salmon. And will do "free dining" at a Value again even though we have DVC.

Have a great vacation,

Lisa

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay,

I just reread your post. I thought it was you and the boys only. Ooops. The whole family.

Well think about whether you and your husband can handle a "double" bed. I put double in quotes because sometimes I doubt it's even a double!!! I sleep in one. And it seems more roomy than the Value bed.

With a DVC studio you have a queen. Or did you book a one bedroom? If so, a king!!!!

Just give that part some thought.

Also, on the other side. Don't worry too much about getting hard to get DVC resorts in the summer in the future. It's not a difficult season at 7 months.out.