DVC and Popping it on the weekends

[Callalily6]

Has anyone done this? Does it cause huge headaches? We wanted to stay for 10 days on our next trip and were thinking of arriving early in the week at a DVC property, going to the Pop for Friday and Sat, and then going back to a DVC for the rest of our trip. I'm thinking about using the DDP, but not sure at this point.

I thought I have heard that DVC people do this...in fact last time I was at the Pop, I meet a few people that were doing it then. I was just wondering how much of a hassle it is. Kids LOVE the Pop, but I really want the larger rooms in the villas. So, I was willing to try it. Any tips?

 

[Inkmahm]

We bought more than enough points so that we could stay at DVC locations on weekends as well as during the week. Most of our trips run Sat to Thurs or Thur to Tues (after a cruise) so we often spend weekends at DVC. I really hate packing and unpacking so this works for us.

 

[edk35]

Has anyone done this? Does it cause huge headaches? We wanted to stay for 10 days on our next trip and were thinking of arriving early in the week at a DVC property, going to the Pop for Friday and Sat, and then going back to a DVC for the rest of our trip. I'm thinking about using the DDP, but not sure at this point.

I thought I have heard that DVC people do this...in fact last time I was at the Pop, I meet a few people that were doing it then. I was just wondering how much of a hassle it is. Kids LOVE the Pop, but I really want the larger rooms in the villas. So, I was willing to try it. Any tips?

I know that plenty of people do it. I personally have not done this since we are new to DVC however we did switch hotels two years ago from Shades of Green to Corranado Springs...... and it was kind of a pain to switch but it was also neat to try another resort. You are talking about two moves though....seems like a lot to me. We are staying at SSR for 5 nights and then switching to BWV for the last 3 nights....so we shall see how that goes too. I will probably just want to stay put at one resort next time. LOL

 

[jade1]

We have a few times-but not at POP. Ideal for us is 5 days at VWL, then 2 days at either HRH at US or Clearwater Beach, and then 5 days at BCV or BWV with BW View. OMG I could go right now.

 

[snyderla]

If we are staying for more than 1 week, we would do that. But currently I am on a quest to spend at least 1 night in each WDW owned hotel, so we might stay somewhere other than Pop. If we are leaving on Saturday morning, as we often do, then we won't move just for Friday night.

We own 200 points, but if I can stay an extra 5 days at WDW DVC for the same # of points i would use staying DVC on a Friday and Saturday night, no way I'm going to use points for the weekend! I would rather use the points for more time at WDW!!! Or for my brother and niece to join us!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

As long as you won't have alot of groceries to worry about, since you are doing the dining plan, I think you would do fine. Let the kids have the pop that they love, it will make for a much more enjoyable trip.

 

[daisyduck123]

We did that in May.

Checked into POP on a Friday night.
The next day, we checked into SSR for 7 nights...

This week, we're trying something different....
this Thursday we're checking into the Dolphin for 3 nights (I got a great Teacher rate !!) & then on Sunday we move to BCV for 5 nights. Can't wait!!!

 

[laughinplace199]

I think it depends on how old your kids are and whether you consider packing and unpacking a few times in one trip to be a pain.

A couple of years ago, we stayed at OKW for 5 nights and then moved to AKL for 2 nights. AKL is a beautiful resort and I had always wanted to stay there, so I was thrilled. However, our kids were 4 and 2 at the time and packing and unpacking all their stuff was not fun. Also, on the day that you switch resorts you are "homeless" until you can check into your new room. This was hard for us because we were in the habit of taking a midday break and going back to the room so the kids could nap. The little one napped in the stroller that day, but not for as long as he would have in the room. My older one didn't nap at all that day.

I think it's a lot of fun to experience the different resorts and I can see how a weekend at Pop would be fun and save on points. I would try resort switching again once my kids are older, but we now have an 8 month old, so it will be a while before we try it again!

 

[dianeschlicht]

No, we didn't stay in the values before, and have no desire to do so now. When we purchased DVC 10 years ago, we looked at it as a week of points at a time. That made the weekends not seem so bad. Now we tend to extend our trips to nearly two weeks, but we do conserve by only staying one full weekend. Sometimes, if we are getting low on points, we will also spend the first weekend night of arrival in a studio if we don't have too many in our party.

 

[hardingk]

We just got back from WDW and spilt up our trip. We spent the first two nights at SSR and then went to POP for four nights. We did this because we met up with family for the last four nights and they didn't want to spend the extra money for a moderate or higher level resort (even though we would have gotten great AP rates). We really liked SSR, especially the smaller pools in each section. We felt the pools are POP were overcrowded and too warm because they were so shallow. SSR was much more relaxing and a great start to our trip. POP was better then I anticipated; however, I really don't think I would ever stay at a value resort again (one of the main reasons we bought into DVC!!).

It was a little hectic to pack everything up after two nights and move, wish we could have stayed there the whole time. (The bus service is also better at SSR I felt too). Sometimes we had to wait for a third bus because the lines were so long.

But it is all up to your preferences and what you want to do. Just wanted to share our recent experience with you.

 

[bobbiwoz]

11-10 months out when I book, it seems like a good idea to book a Friday or Saturday night at Pop before our DVC stay. Then as we get closer, I nearly always change my mind and try to book that weekend with DVC points. The thought of moving sometime in the future is fine, it's when the actual time comes, I'm just not happy to do it. We are not traveling with children, when the DGC come, we'll stay put, not move but book DVC right away, weekends or not.

Now for our September adults only trip, I've waited too long, and the only AKV studio that's available for the Saturday night is not the sort we're in for our AKV stay, so if we stick with the AKV we'll have to move anyway. I'm going to stay on the waitlist but at 35 days out, if the waitlist doesn't come through, I'll stick with the Pop...it does not make sense to me to pay DVC points and still having to move.

Bobbi

 

[DVC Grammy]

On our longer January WDW visits (2-3 weeks), when it's just DH and me, we always split-stay, but always at 2 very different DVC resorts. It's never been a problem moving to another resort, and the change makes each trip even more unique.
Switching to a non-DVC to save points is not for us, but lately, some family and friends have moved to Florida, and we just might visit them......................but only over Friday and Saturday nights in January!

 

[Muushka]

We have stayed at a DVC only once on the weekend. We love Dixie Landings, so if we can find an excuse to stay there, we will. It is just the 2 of us so moving is no big deal. We just pack our 'annex bags' and it is a piece of cake.

We really enjoy visiting other resorts, especially Dixie Landings.

 

[photobob]

We stayed at Pop our first night which was a Saturday night. We drive. We packed a separate bag for that first night and only took in the essentials. The next morning we checked in at our DVC resort and checked our luggage and then went to the parks. I'm not so sure I'll do that again. It wasn't too bad, but I'd rather get settled in at one place. I definately would not do that in the middle of a stay. Two moves would not be worth the trouble IMO. I do understand the line of thinking though, being a new member who couldn't afford a huge amount of points I'm looking for ways to maximize the use of the points I have as well.

 

[dgaston]

I don't have a large number of points, and so far I find I would rather spend Friday and Saturday at a value or even *gasp* off-site. We almost always have a rental car, and it's just DH and I so moving isn't a hassle for us. Thursday this week (7/26) we're checking into Cypress Pointe Grandvillas 1 br for 3 nights, and then moving to Saratoga Springs.

 

[spiceycat]

have a bag for your pop stay - kept in separate and in the car if possible.

try to store the rest of your luggage at the DVC resort you will be at after Pop. sometimes the bell service doesn't have a problem - sometimes they do.

now since your kids love Pop I would be sure to include swimming suites in the pop bag.

if you are at Pop to have a fun time for your kids - are you still going to the parks?

because you know you need stuff at the parks that you don't need if the kids are just there to swim and do the arcade.

Since I am saying leave everything you would not need at your next DVC resort. There will be alot of stuff you will not have.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When I do the math, weekend stays are not a bad deal. They aren't as good of a deal as weekdays, but they are still cheaper than a deluxe. They certainly aren't so expensive that I would pack up and move to a value hotel, just to move again two days later.

A 1br at VWL in October "costs" (converting points to cash) us about $310/night. That's still a bargain. A regular room at a deluxe will cost you more after tax, and you won't get the benefits of a 1br.

MG

 

[Muushka]

That's not using the $10 pp calculation, right?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That's not using the $10 pp calculation, right?

You are correct, Muushka.
I use around $6.70/point, since that is what it actually costs me. The $10/pt is what I can rent it for.

When I bought my VWL points they cost $65/pt, and I had 40 use years left. That means every year a point costs me $1.63.
I add in my annual fees, and get anywhere between $6.20 and $7.20 per point, depending on which home resort I use.
That's the actual cost to me. I think I used an average of $6.70 in my above example.

MG

 

[Muushka]

You are correct, Muushka.
I use around $6.70/point, since that is what it actually costs me. The $10/pt is what I can rent it for.

When I bought my VWL points they cost $65/pt, and I had 40 use years left. That means every year a point costs me $1.63.
I add in my annual fees, and get anywhere between $6.20 and $7.20 per point, depending on which home resort I use.
That's the actual cost to me. I think I used an average of $6.70 in my above example.

MG