DVC “Confessions”

[stevelle]

If you think BLT is convenient, take a look at the Crescent Lake resorts. You can walk (or take a short boat ride) to TWO parks. A game changer in my book

Oh no stop being an enabler! (Already planning to hopefully modify a May reservation to one of those in a week or so…then I suspect I’ll have a new shopping problem.) My foolish former self also told my husband last year “they call it addonitis but it won’t be a problem for us as we won’t be needing any points but AKL”. (Bought RIV direct a few months later when HE got sucked in seeing the one bedroom on our tour)!

 

[Boardwalk III]

Oh no stop being an enabler! (Already planning to hopefully modify a May reservation to one of those in a week or so…then I suspect I’ll have a new shopping problem.) My foolish former self also told my husband last year “they call it addonitis but it won’t be a problem for us as we won’t be needing any points but AKL”. (Bought RIV direct a few months later when HE got sucked in seeing the one bedroom on our tour)!

Happy to assist

 

[RickNJane]

If you think BLT is convenient, take a look at the Crescent Lake resorts. You can walk (or take a short boat ride) to TWO parks. A game changer in my book

We have BWV and BLT. We have started doing split stays. 1 week BLT 1 week BWV. The only park we don't walk to is AK. Instead of walking to HS, we usually take the friendships. Save our old legs for the park!

 

[Boardwalk III]

We have BWV and BLT. We have started doing split stays. 1 week BLT 1 week BWV. The only park we don't walk to is AK. Instead of walking to HS, we usually take the friendships. Save our old legs for the park!

Have owned @ BWV for 25 years. Two years ago got caught up in the VGF offerings so own 2 smaller contracts there now also. Especially given you can walk from VGF to MK now. Best of both worlds so I get it! Boats are great option too. Sometimes my husband takes the boat and I walk, but he has a few years on me

 

[ehh]

Confession #1: I micro-walk almost every reservation. If it's available midday a day or two prior to 11m, I book it then and modify at 11m so I don't feel compelled to wake up at 5am at exactly 11m.

Confession #2: I bought the wrong Use Year, by request, in our initial purchase because I was an idiot and didn't think around corners.

Confession #3: Generally speaking, I was an uninformed purchaser in our initial purchase. Not uniformed-for-DISBoards, outright uninformed.

Confession #4: For years, I was overly value focused. The rooms/resorts I would pick at 7m would very often be the best cash :: points ratio rooms/views available. (this was possibly in compensation for being an uninformed purchaser)

Confession #5: I think AKV has the most under-themed rooms (relative to opportunity/expectation).

Confession #6: I will probably never stay at Hilton Head. And I'll only consider Vero as a 'bridge stay' between WDW and DCL out of Port Everglades.

Confession #7: I think DVC should officially expand into the Moderates, and I hope they haven't learned the wrong lessons from CFW's failure.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I confess I make all my buying decisions via spreadsheets and maps, but I still wish I could twist the numbers to make a direct contract work for us. I keep running the numbers wishing it made sense, but so far it never does. I actually would come out ahead putting the difference in cost into an investment account, investing it, and pulling approximately 4% out per year. And this practical, boring option makes me sort of sad.

I also confess I hate the idea of buying a restricted resort, but have investigated whether or not Riviera or VDH might have numbers that come out better for our family. Unfortunately, even restricted resorts still don’t really make sense for us.

I also confess I love to revisit the Instant Sale tool from the board sponsor to see how much cheaper my own contracts were vs their recommend sale prices. Makes me feel good!

Edit to add that rereading my comment here makes me feel like Scrooge McDuck!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I also confess I love to revisit the Instant Sale tool from the board sponsor to see how much cheaper my own contracts were vs their recommend sale prices. Makes me feel good!

Cant say I haven’t done this a few times,

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Confession #1- I don’t get the hype around GFV or Riviera. My two least favorite resorts.

Confession #2- If we didn’t already own I wouldn’t buy in now. Prices are so high now that it would cheaper just to rent points for our annual trip.

 

[juliebee]

Confession #2: I bought the wrong Use Year, by request, in our initial purchase because I was an idiot and didn't think around corners.

Confession #7: I think DVC should officially expand into the Moderates, and I hope they haven't learned the wrong lessons from CFW's failure.

#2- same. I followed generally recommended advice to have a use year of the same month you plan to travel. Turns out that sucks if you are December.

#7- same. If they do POFQ as DVC, I'll be lining up to purchase. 100%.

 

[smrice95]

1. DH and I did not like Sanaa, even the bread service.
2. I do not like Storm-a-long Bay.
3. Want to stay at BWV but we usually do 2 bedrooms and don't want a lock-off room so we have never stayed there.
4. Didn't think we would like BLT, but love the location and 2 bedroom room we had.
5. If we do not take a morning flight, we will stay off property or at a value or moderate the first night.
6. We like SSR and the ability to walk to DS.
7. The last two trips we did not go into the parks, but we visit other resorts!
8. I am sure there are many others too!

 

[Chili327]

If we do not take a morning flight, we will stay off property or at a value or moderate the first night.

Curious which you like best?
I stayed off property, but still having to Uber/Lyft stunk compared to a value where you can just bus (if minimal luggage), so curious what was best for you so far, and other pros and cons.

 

[IDSkinner]

I did a split stay with GF and KV and found that I don't like split stays. I like to get in and settle for the week.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Curious which you like best?
I stayed off property, but still having to Uber/Lyft stunk compared to a value where you can just bus (if minimal luggage), so curious what was best for you so far, and other pros and cons.

We've both stayed at a value (Pop Century) and stayed offsite at one of the more popular Good Neighbor resorts near DS. We prefer staying on site because of the luggage transfer option. If not for the luggage transfer option, I'm not sure it would make any difference as long as you are staying at one of the more-reputable offsite options (despite the many many times we've been to WDW, I'm not sure if the Florida Project is reality or not, but I don't want to be in a position to find out first hand because I would never be able to get that guilt out of my mind!). We tend to fill two whole bellman carts with our luggage so there's some major value for us with that service. We tip very well, so it's hardly "free," but, nevertheless, money well spent.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Confession #3 (see my above comment lol) - I have convinced myself that The Florida Project is not based on anything remotely real, and I'm terrified to find out that it might be because I don't think I could visit WDW again (due to overwhelming guilt) if I saw it first hand.

 

[Chili327]

despite the many many times we've been to WDW, I'm not sure if the Florida Project is reality or not, but I don't want to be in a position to find out first hand because I would never be able to get that guilt out of my mind!

Confession #3 (see my above comment lol) - I have convinced myself that The Florida Project is not based on anything remotely real, and I'm terrified to find out that it might be because I don't think I could visit WDW again (due to overwhelming guilt) if I saw it first hand.

Ok, now I’m even more curious… what is The Florida Project??
I thought that’s what Walt called WDW during the planning stages.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Ok, now I’m even more curious… what is The Florida Project??
I thought that’s what Walt called WDW during the planning stages.

You are correct. There is also a 2017 movie by that name (intentionally so, since it's about fictionalized life in the neighborhoods surrounding WDW that purports to be based upon the writer's observations -- whether that's true or not, I really don't want to know). It's a fantastic movie, but, read the synopsis and exercise discretion about whether you really want to watch it. Not one for the kiddos, for sure, due to mature scenes and drug use; but beyond that, my trigger warning comes from the fact that the theme can be truly depressing if you're a WDW regular.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We've both stayed at a value (Pop Century) and stayed offsite at one of the more popular Good Neighbor resorts near DS. We prefer staying on site because of the luggage transfer option. If not for the luggage transfer option, I'm not sure it would make any difference as long as you are staying at one of the more-reputable offsite options (despite the many many times we've been to WDW, I'm not sure if the Florida Project is reality or not, but I don't want to be in a position to find out first hand because I would never be able to get that guilt out of my mind!). We tend to fill two whole bellman carts with our luggage so there's some major value for us with that service. We tip very well, so it's hardly "free," but, nevertheless, money well spent.

That luggage transfer service is so worth it. I actually really liked POP, great value for the price. They transfer luggage and you get to stay in the Disney bubble. Win win

 

[LennyMaine]

We've be members for 10 years and I still can't get over how nice everyone is at the resorts..

 

[gmi3804]

Confession #3 (see my above comment lol) - I have convinced myself that The Florida Project is not based on anything remotely real, and I'm terrified to find out that it might be because I don't think I could visit WDW again (due to overwhelming guilt) if I saw it first hand.

It’s all too real. A sobering truth:

Homeless at the Gates of Disney World

 

[BaybeeYoda]

We hated animal kingdom. Stayed in a 2bd at Kidani party of 3 in 2013– 2 adults and 1 toddler. We never want to spread out at that resort again. We were miserable breaking down the stroller to even get to the quick service, long horrible hallways, nothing to do. We have never stayed there since. It was travel hell for us. What a waste of points (for us).

But we own at bwv and blt and prefer near park resorts. In order of preference, it’s bwv/bcv, poly, blt. We won’t stay anywhere but those 4 resorts now…..