DVC "Moderate" Resort

[Beach_Bound9]

Seems like there is already a choice that is equivalent to a moderate level resort, I'm not sure what amenities would be different. Transportation options?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sure, put in hibachis on each patio instead of a microwave.

Hammocks in the room, maybe six of them. Or one double bed with four hammocks. Or make it all aerobeds.

Towels on a roll.

Ice chests instead of an undercounter refrigerator.

Larger sized irons to make full sized grilled cheese sandwiches.

Garbage disposals in the bathtub to get rid of the garbage when you wash the dishes.

I know, I know. I'm a snob.

 

[crisi]

I like it, with lower buy in (points wise - maybe as low as 50 points, which maybe could get you a week in a studio. Cost wise, if it were DVC-lite a smaller point cost). It would make DVC affordable to a lot more people. I don't see them competing with me for my room (I have my eleven month window and am happy to stay at my home resort).

If its DVC lite - How about offering the points at a slight discount - making it even more affordable (after all, if we are talking Pop, we aren't talking VWL theming or supporting an SAB like pool). Then allowing them to book at other DVC resorts with a five month window instead of the seven DVC members have.

 

[OneMoreTry]

The only reason I picked "bad" is that there wasn't a more negative category.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The DVC Lite points would have to worth half as much as DVC Regular points. You'd need twice as many DVC Lite points to stay at a regular DVC resorts. Especially if they are getting them for a lower price. I wouldn't be using my DVC regular points to stay at a DVC Lite resort - EVER! You think it is bad by adding all the SSR members, DVC Lite would make it impossible.

Not only a bad idea, a TERRIBLE idea.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I thought we already have a DVC moderate, SSR? just kidding. (couldn't resist after reading so many SSR threads in the last couple months).

I like the all studio idea, and if we do get something at the Contemporary or in California at the Grand Californian this is a possibility. I guess a studio at a Mod costing 10 points on a weekend isn't a bad idea. Maybe they just drop the point rates for mods.

 

[Dean]

FWIW, DVC has actually considered such a plan. When the opening of Pop Century was delayed (there are still unfinished buildings), some consideration was given to completing at least one of those buildings as a DVC resort with a slightly different room style than we are accustomed to having. I think they were considering a predominance of Studio accommodations - since Studios are in such high demand at all DVC resorts.

Personally, I'm glad they have not gone this route, but it would have been interesting to see how the concept might have been developed. I expect there would have mainly Studios (possibly even exclusively) and the point requirements would have been similar to a Studio at SSR - unless the rooms were furnished/equipped to a lesser extent. They could possibly have offered some adjoining studios to accommodate families larger than four which would open a whole new world of occupancy discussion!

Food for thought!

Doc, did they really consider it or did we just beat it to death here on this board, I was thinking the latter. I wonder if that thread is still on the server though I doubt it.

 

[Dean]

OK, how about a new poll to spice up our weekend?

What would you think if DVC considered adding a "Moderate" level resort to the program?

EDIT: For the sake of argument, let's say that the resort was designed to be on-par with Port Orleans FQ. Walk-up rooms w/ exterior hallways. All studio-type accommodations. No balcony. Public washer/dryer facilities. No valet parking. No Community Hall.

Point costs for a "Standard" room (two double beds) start at about 5 points per weekday night in the lowest season.

Feel free to share the rationale behind the manner in which you voted!

Don't we have that now with OKW & SSR, LOL. Before anyone gets upset, OKW is my favorite and I own there.

Seriously, Marriott has had this idea flop with Horizons. But I think there are some positives to the idea if done correctly. It would give more options for the membership and it could be done with minimal downside. Obviously the points balance would be critical. And it's likely it would be a separate system with a cross over at say 5-6 months, I don't think it's be possible to have it as a regular part of DVC. Besides, those owners wouldn't want SSR to be able to trade in to their resort, LOL, sorry couldn't resist (referencing a recent exciting thread).

The idea that it would take away from the exclusivity is simply ridiculous. Who cares who owns and DVC is comprised of all types of people from all walks of life now. And that is part of the beauty or the system, IMO.

 

[lenshanem]

I dunno. If the price per point stayed high and the amount required to buy in stayed the same... Pop? Those points would have to be way less than SSR! There is no slide! That equals a travesty to my DD7! But I would put SSR along the same as the mods, maybe a couple points less. You would still want to keep OKW at a higher point requirement. Interesting thought, though. It would give people a way to stretch out their points... Keep in mind, they would still have to pay the higher points to stay at the other DVC resorts and would have paid the same to join in... They would just get more bang for the buck if staying at their home resort with less point requirements.

Edit to add - They would have to have kitchenettes!

 

[Lesli54]

I voted bad idea.

A person purchasing into the "Moderate DVC" would not be willing to pay the same price as we have already paid for DVC. Why would they? As a home resort, they would not be getting all the extras. Then you have the problem of them using their points to stay at a deluxe like BWV for alot less than you or I, if you consider price per point. You could say that they couldn't trade up and stay Deluxe, but then why would they want to buy in if they didn't have the same priveleges as we do with staying in a resort of our choice?

I don't think it would benefit the image of DVC to do it.

 

[tjkraz]

A person purchasing into the "Moderate DVC" would not be willing to pay the same price as we have already paid for DVC. Why would they? As a home resort, they would not be getting all the extras.

Because the points go further at their Home. The lowest cost room in the program is currently an OKW studio at 8 points per night. If you could get a standard room at a "Moderate" for 5 points per night, that's the value in buying at a lesser resort.

It's the same as paying $150 cash for one class of room vs $300 cash for a higher class. In the case of DVC, the commodity is points instead of cash.

Then you have the problem of them using their points to stay at a deluxe like BWV for alot less than you or I, if you consider price per point.

Again, I didn't envision these folks paying less for their points as stated in my original post. But, in using points at their Home the get greater VALUE for the points. If they stay at BWV or BCV they get comparably less value.

The only inequity I see would be the maintenance. Operating costs for a Moderate resort are certainly lower, which could put dues at (I'm guessing) 30-40% less than a current DVC resort. That, IMO, does create the one inequity between owners at a Moderate and owners at a Deluxe.

 

[Deep-Thots]

But I would put SSR along the same as the mods, maybe a couple points less. You would still want to keep OKW at a higher point requirement. Interesting thought, though. It would give people a way to stretch out their points... Keep in mind, they would still have to pay the higher points to stay at the other DVC resorts and would have paid the same to join in... They would just get more bang for the buck if staying at their home resort with less point requirements.

Edit to add - They would have to have kitchenettes!

I'm a bit surprised. Are you seriously equating SSR with the moderates, Shan? Perhaps even suggesting that it falls *below* the level of the moderates? If so, on what basis? I am interested more in facts (amenities, service, etc.) here than anything else. Thanks.

Kim

 

[lenshanem]

A person purchasing into the "Moderate DVC" would not be willing to pay the same price as we have already paid for DVC. Why would they? As a home resort, they would not be getting all the extras.

Actually the mods aren't really missing that much in extras... Compared to studios they are really only missing a balcony or patio (And I've had some really poor views where we never even used our balconies...) and the kitchenette. Add the kitchenette in and I'd stay at one of the mods for less points! They still have the pool slides (Even OKW didn't get a slide until recently.) and they might not have Community Halls, but neither does VWL or BCV.
Plus, the mods have food courts, which are really handy!

 

[lenshanem]

Sorry Kim. I was posting at the same time as you and missed your post.

I've stayed at all the mods and now SSR just recently. SSR is a little more "fancier", but in actually the mods seemed a bit more convenient to me given the food courts and with POFQ even easier access to the central hub.

So yes, I would gladly stay at a mod if they installed kitchenettes if it would save me a few points. I'm all about squeezing in an extra trip here and there!

 

[Deep-Thots]

Sorry Kim. I was posting at the same time as you and missed your post.

I've stayed at all the mods and now SSR just recently. SSR is a little more "fancier", but in actually the mods seemed a bit more convenient to me given the food courts and with POFQ even easier access to the central hub.

So yes, I would gladly stay at a mod if they installed kitchenettes if it would save me a few points. I'm all about squeezing in an extra trip here and there!

Okay, just for the studios, I might agree. For anything above, though,

 

[Dean]

I'm a bit surprised. Are you seriously equating SSR with the moderates, Shan? Perhaps even suggesting that it falls *below* the level of the moderates? If so, on what basis? I am interested more in facts (amenities, service, etc.) here than anything else. Thanks.

Kim

My previous kidding aside, both SSR and OKW are more like moderates in terms of location and overall amenities. One of the problems in this type of comparison is that timeshares in general are so much different from hotels, with a few exceptions including some DVC resorts. But to me the luxury of space, W/D, kitchen, convenient parking and NOT having housekeeping; is preferable to the traditional deluxe hotel issue itself. But even among deluxe DVC resorts, it's possible to argue levels of "deluxe" if one so choses. The bottom line is that if you know the score and are happy, that's fine. Just like some get a 2 BR for 3-4 people and others put 4 in a studio.

I have no doubt there are ways to make this type of system work, and I actually think it would be a good idea for Disney itself. And there might be a way to make it a regular part of DVC rather than a separate system but I suspect it would work better if it were somewhat separate.

 

[lenshanem]

Okay, just for the studios, I might agree. For anything above, though,

Well, if the point requirement is right... I'd maybe put a mod at a point or two less than OKW. And in all honesty I really think SSR should have had the same point requirements as OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You gonna put queen sized beds in those mods? Bunks instead of doubles or queens?

I'd think the annual dues could even be higher with more community laundry rooms, more maintenance on a greater number of villas, even though they might all be studios. The room footprint would have to be smaller to justify the cost.

 

[Beach_Bound9]

A person purchasing into the "Moderate DVC" would not be willing to pay the same price as we have already paid for DVC. Why would they?

While I agree it's a bad idea, I think the way to differentiate the two would be the lower points required to reserve the moderate rooms, perhaps 5 for a studio?

 

[Beach_Bound9]

Actually the mods aren't really missing that much in extras... Compared to studios they are really only missing a balcony or patio (And I've had some really poor views where we never even used our balconies...) and the kitchenette. Add the kitchenette in and I'd stay at one of the mods for less points! They still have the pool slides (Even OKW didn't get a slide until recently.) and they might not have Community Halls, but neither does VWL or BCV.
Plus, the mods have food courts, which are really handy!

Another point seems to be transportation availability. Deluxe resorts have a boat or monorail option, moderates only have busses for the most part.