Changing vacation due to Free Food-CRAZY??

[dianeschlicht]

I'm confused....If you filled two studios to the max (8 people) and purchased DDP for everyone, it would cost you $304 plus whatever the dues are on that amount of points. I can't believe you can get 2 rooms at POP for that price and stay more than a few days. It seems to me the "free" dining would be costing you a lot more than just the discomfort of cramming into the smaller spaces.

 

[robinb]

I'm confused....If you filled two studios to the max (8 people) and purchased DDP for everyone, it would cost you $304 plus whatever the dues are on that amount of points. I can't believe you can get 2 rooms at POP for that price and stay more than a few days. It seems to me the "free" dining would be costing you a lot more than just the discomfort of cramming into the smaller spaces.

Actually, Diane, it would save her $515 *and* all of the people would be on the dining plan. Her original plans were to be at VWL for 10 days on 2 studios covering 3 weekend days. One studio would have dining and the other would not.

Points for 10 days in 2 Studios: 328
Dues for those studios (@ SSR pricing of $3.98 per point): $1305.44
Dining plan for 2 Adults/2 Children for 10 days: $979.6
Total cost for VWL: $2285.04

Pop Century for 10 days @ rack rate of $79 plus tax: $1769.6
She will be applying the cost of her 1-day pass to her new DVC AP, so that cost does not come into the calculation.

So ... for $515 LESS she can feed all of her family without having to pay for half of the OOP. My guess is the food savings for the lighter eaters not on the dining plan at VWL adds up to another $500.

Now ... there is really no way to compare POP with VWL. I have stayed in both and of course I prefer VWL! But I made the same decision last year when the free dining popped up. I cancelled our studio at SSR and moved into CSR as soon as the free dining started. We'll be at POP ourselves this year with my extended family .

BTW, she made her decision ... she already has her studios up for rent!

 

[LakeAriel]

I did an extra trip last October for the free dining and stayed in POP. It was my adult DD and it was fine. Yes the walk to the buses was a bit much but for the free dining it was well worth it! Upgrade your ticket to an AP and bank your points! I would if I could but I borrowed for my August trip so I can only get the free dining for my 4 days at POFQ. I certainly am thrilled to go to BCV afterwards free dining or no. Good luck getting a room!

 

[DisneycrazedX6]

Thanks for all the chatter...some good and some.....

I decided to change my trip and stay at Music(yes POP and Movies were sold out) for 7 nights and go to SSR for 2 nights(otherwise I would have lost 40 borrowed points). Someday we will go in October and see MNSSHP and F@W , but the thought of Free food sounded too good to pass up. As odd as this may sound, I prefer the Value resorts, they are just more fun!! Now my trip is two months closer and everyone is psyched!!!

Thanks again for all the help.....now I will need dining help, but that's another thread!!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Actually, Diane, it would save her $515 *and* all of the people would be on the dining plan. Her original plans were to be at VWL for 10 days on 2 studios covering 3 weekend days. One studio would have dining and the other would not.

Points for 10 days in 2 Studios: 328
Dues for those studios (@ SSR pricing of $3.98 per point): $1305.44
Dining plan for 2 Adults/2 Children for 10 days: $979.6
Total cost for VWL: $2285.04

Pop Century for 10 days @ rack rate of $79 plus tax: $1769.6
She will be applying the cost of her 1-day pass to her new DVC AP, so that cost does not come into the calculation.

So ... for $515 LESS she can feed all of her family without having to pay for half of the OOP. My guess is the food savings for the lighter eaters not on the dining plan at VWL adds up to another $500.

Now ... there is really no way to compare POP with VWL. I have stayed in both and of course I prefer VWL! But I made the same decision last year when the free dining popped up. I cancelled our studio at SSR and moved into CSR as soon as the free dining started. We'll be at POP ourselves this year with my extended family .

BTW, she made her decision ... she already has her studios up for rent!

Okay, I missed the number of days in there. I was going by the first post that didn't give a number of days. I tend to look at points as points, because I will be paying the maintenance anyway. I use my points for WDW stays...that's what I see as the value, and "free food" doesn't look so free when you look at it that way.

 

[fishermouse]

I personally would stay at VWL.

There is no comparison between the Pop Resorts and VWL. You are comparing apples to oranges in my opinion.

The difference in the accommodation could make or break your vacation!


We stayed once at the All Star Movies and found it be be too crowded, no balcony, fridge, micro, coffee maker and toaster in the room. The food courts had to be the worst! The line ups were just awful and I dreaded having to go there to get something to eat. These are things we are use to now and would find it difficult to go back.


I would not change for the free dining but it is really up to you.

I'm with you on this one there is no comparison between a value resort and any DVC resort. The reason we bought into SSR was so we could stay in a suite every trip. I see how it can turn out cheaper getting a value resort and free DDP, but I guess I just got spoiled by DVC, we can't even stay at hotels down the shore any more we have to rent a condo. Disney has ruined me. It's not just the size of the rooms, I really like the privacy and homeyness of DVC.
Is homeyness a word
leaving for SSR on the 30th, Love the flower show almost as much as F+W..

 

[keishashadow]

FYI, when we traded in MYW tix towards AP's last Dec. @ MK guest relations; you would have thought they were giving us the keys to the kingdom
I had to sign a form & it was explained to us that this was a "...one time consideration" and that we wouldn't be able to take advantage of it again (???).

Any recent experiences?

 

[robinb]

FYI, when we traded in MYW tix towards AP's last Dec. @ MK guest relations; you would have thought they were giving us the keys to the kingdom
I had to sign a form & it was explained to us that this was a "...one time consideration" and that we wouldn't be able to take advantage of it again (???).

Any recent experiences?

Not recent. My experience was from late December and I had no problems at all upgrading our 1 Day MYW pass from August to our DVC APs.

 

[sz9144]

we are doing both in Aug- staying at POFQ with free dining for 4 nights and then moving over to BWV staying on points. we have always wanted to try pofq anyway, and this way we can have a nice long vacation without using up all our points, especially for the weekends!

 

[dianeschlicht]

we are doing both in Aug- staying at POFQ with free dining for 4 nights and then moving over to BWV staying on points. we have always wanted to try pofq anyway, and this way we can have a nice long vacation without using up all our points, especially for the weekends!

We tried something similar last month. Not with the dining plan, but we did stay at PORS two nights to save points. We remembered why it was we purchased DVC! We aren't likely to do that again. The food court was a zoo and VERY far away, as was the bus stop. We were so glad to get to our 1 bedroom at OKW!

 

[crisi]

We did the same at AKL and will do it again - with another Deluxe or a moderate, but I'll easily pay $1000 more over 10 days to stay in a better resort than Pop or AS. If we'd been happy at a Value, DVC wouldn't have been worth the money.

I suspect the total calculations are a little more complex. You need to add room tax to the value rate, for one. And, if you have an AP, you need to compare the benefits of the DDE to the dining plan. For us, the DDE (which I doubted would save us much money before my husband decided to squeeze in a second trip and had 10 Disney days in his year) saved us a ton.