DVC Snob at a Value?

[wls23]

I must admit, i have become quite the DVC snob since joining over 5 years ago. Ever since joining we have been making our rounds to each DVC and since joining, have NOT stayed stayed at any other WDW resort. So....here's the situation: My husband is planning on doing an 'all boys' trip during the last week of August. During that time, i am thinking about taking my DD (2.5 years old) to Disney (why should he have all of the fun?). As we already have our DVC points allocated and we want to go on the 'cheap', i have reserved a room at the ASMovies. What am i in for? What should I expect? I realize that i'm basically going from a 5-star to a 1-star but help me out. Are there fridge's in all of the rooms? or do you still have to pay to get one? Is it true that if we go to the pool, we need to bring our room towels down? What else should I know?

thanks in advance

 

[Alexander]

Me..Too snobby to stay in a value resort, too cheap to pay for a deluxe! If paying cash, I usually try to swing a moderate resort. I really like Port Orleans Riverside.

Actually, if I had to choose a value resort to stay in, I would have selected ASMovies myself. I really love the theming. Of course, I love Disney movies--who doesn't?

I do not think they have fridges. They can bring you one for $10/day. The moderates, I believe have fridges in them now though.

I just don't like the pools...They are usually very, very crowded with lots and lots of kids--value resort--WDW--what am I expecting?

The food court is just that, a food court. The food isn't great, but you'll survive, and there is a good selection. You won't want to eat at peak times though, they are very busy and seating is hard to find. This is true at the mods too though.

 

[MILLZ]

Worst experience of my life staying at pop. To many people drove me crazy. Almost got in a fight over a breakfast table. It is one of the reasons my wife and i own dvc. I can actually say though im glad it happened b/c buying dvc was one of the best experiences ive had. Amazing how things work themselves out in life.

 

[CarolA]

Well I don't think you are going from a five star. I love my DVC but Five Star hotels come with daily maid service, much nicer linens and are overall better quality.

I find the values to be a great deal and I bet your son LOVES them. My niece and newphew were that age and we stayed at OKW Went over to All Stars for dinner one night and to let them see the big Buzz and Woody. My newphew thought he had died and gone to heaven. Kids don't care about microwaves and fridges LOL! The pool is great for kids, there are LOTS of other kids. I bet it's great for your son.

I stayed at All Star Music last winter for a few nights and was fine. The only thing I didn't like was that I had to call and ASK for a hairdryer.

Remember you do get daily maid service so you have a lot more towels.

There are not fridges, you can rent one or go over to the budget board and join 1 of the 10,000 swaps LOL!

 

[WolfpackFan]

We stayed at All-Star Music back in January while DD ran in the half-marathon. This was our first stay at a non-DVC resort since we joined five years ago. I hated it. I kept thinking that I wished I was back over at VWL and AKV. It didn't bother DW, but nothing much bothers her - she just goes with the flow (most of the time). But I won't be staying in a value anymore. I know it sounds snobbish, but I just felt like I was staying in a very low class motel.

 

[iluveeyore]

DVC snob here too, but have stayed at POP several times just so I could afford to be at WDW more than once a year. I did a solo there in March, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was less hectic there than the other AS resorts, and I requested a room in the 50's - 60's section (Lady and the Tramp Hotels) beside the lake - had a gorgeous view of Hourglass lake every morning when I came out of my room. Got a YOAMD refillable mug, got my tea every morning and had it in my room with my cereal bars, then avoided the food court at all costs - I was out at the parks every day and enjoyed eating CS meals and a couple of TS meals at the parks or at any of the DVC resorts just to get my fix!
Just be glad you still have your DVC and you know you'll be using it again, so enjoy 'slumming' it - you're at WDW and I'm sure your young DD will love the big theming at the ASM. Have a wonderful, magical trip!

 

[kikiq]

We stayed at AsMU last summer for a night to see if we wanted to stay in the family suites this summer. If you are looking for a place to put your head and maybe some pooltime, then you might be able to handle it. No frig but cute furniture. It was too crowded and noisy at the pools for me and too many kids running amok. Walking from the "lobby" to our room was an obstacle course adventure and that was on the outer sidewalk. My dh and I like to sit and enjoy during our vacation, there wasn't really any place outside that was quiet unless you count the parking lot. I'm a teacher the last thing I need to see on vacation are children running helter skelter without adult supervision. My dh said my facial expression walking to our room was priceless Don't know if I could do it for an extended stay, maybe for 2 nights...maybe

That said, I would ask for a room facing the parking lot it's a little quieter or a building away from the pools. Reserve a frig. Take your little one to the smaller pool.

 

[CapeCodFam]

The values are great! Very Disney for the kids! We've stayed at ASMovies a few times. The sections are whimsical with the characters. The pools have no slides and the rooms are smaller. The food is all Counter service (which we like). The variety is good too.

The buses seemed to be very good every trip.

I've paid hundreds of dollars a night for hotel rooms for business travel that don't hold a candle to the value resorts. They'e very clean, well themed, and you are surrounded by the magic. Execellent for the money.

 

[Grandbuddy]

Nov/Dec and April. Great time both times. Rent a fridge. Or, if you drive, buy an electro-thermal cooler that you can plug in in you car and also use in the room, with an adapter.

 

[natale1980]

I am a Value girl who just joined the DVC.... we're closing this week.
As a self-proclaimed value expert I would say don't stay at anything other then POP. I know that the AllStars were being remodeled but we were VERY disappointed last time. And I'm sure if you used to staying at 5 stars then AllStars are -1 star.
Just my opinion... but I would say choose POP.

-nat

 

[hlyntunstl]

Nov/Dec and April. Great time both times.

Check the calendar for early December though. Pop Warner Football and Cheerleaders descend on WDW!!

 

[Nikisha421]

dvc snob i am not. i really like being a dvc member; however, i loved my staying at pop---maybe because it was my daughters first time at Disney and i realized that she was as much in love with Disney. Yes it was cramped in the room in the pool in the food service area but a great bang for my buck. now we are dvc members. so weigh the pros and cons.

by the way i have stayed in a five star ********** hotel and i dont think my dvc can be considered 5*******.

Dont be a snob values dont bite

 

[Disney_Daddy]

As an alternative, you may want to try the Gaylord Palms. It is about a mile from Disney and they have free transportation to Disney parks.

Here is a link from the disboards website for $99 per night. This is a great deal!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/gaylordpalms/index.htm

I stayed there about a month ago on a spur of the moment trip and my family loved it. The kids really liked the pool area.

 

[moredisneyplease]

definately get involved in a fridge swap!! You'll have fun no matter where you stay because its Disney!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

I guess this makes me a very bad DVC snob as I can't imagine going to a value resort after DVC. I barely can handle a studio! Darn CRO for starting us with a DVC resort 2 bedroom on our first trip to WDW. It's all downhill after that.

Go have a great trip with your DD!

 

[buzz5985]

Your DD will love ASMo. When my DS now 11 first went to Disney at 4, this was the resort he choose. He loved Buzz Lightyear. We drove that trip so he had two stuffed animals with him - Big Dog and Lucky. (Big Dog was a large Dalmatian and Lucky was from 101 Dalmatians). Mousekeeping were awesome. We would come home from the parks and Big Dog and Lucky were in the window one day, one day they were sitting in a chair watching TV with the clicker in their laps. Every day we would look forward to see where we would find Big Dog and Lucky. One night just before he fell asleep - we heard him whisper - "I always knew you were real."

Value resort - maybe - priceless memories - definitely.

Janis

 

[dvczerfs]

QUOTE=MILLZ;26088543]Worst experience of my life staying at pop. To many people drove me crazy. Almost got in a fight over a breakfast table. It is one of the reasons my wife and i own dvc. I can actually say though im glad it happened b/c buying dvc was one of the best experiences ive had. Amazing how things work themselves out in life.[/QUOTE] ,thats how we ended up join dvc in 2000. all star music, "double beds", the food court, and what sealed the deal for our dvc rep was the arrival of the 400pc marching band that unloaded there bus's at 3am outside our room.(4pm check in?) the next day i was signing papers! i quess im in the dvc snob crowd!

 

[nvrenoughdisney]

We stayed at POP in January and really liked it. Of course, it was not very busy so that might have had something to do with it. As repeated earlier, I would choose POP over the others. Not only is it the newest, but it has its own bus. The other all-stars share with each other. Better to stay at a value than not at all

 

[starbox]

I can't do it. In fact, staying at POP for three days was what convinced me to join DVC. Now that I am a DVC owner, I just can't pay the inflated Disney CRO prices for what is, basically, an Econo-lodge with characters. I thought the beds were awful (small and uncomfortable!) - and no pool towels or coffee in the room. My kids thought it was cool (of course) but I just found it noisy and un-relaxing.

What we do for non-DVC nights is use Priceline. I just got the Orlando Peabody with nice beds and tv's in the bathroom (AAA four diamond rating) for just 75$ a night.

 

[Starr W.]

I can't do it. In fact, staying at POP for three days was what convinced me to join DVC. Now that I am a DVC owner, I just can't pay the inflated Disney CRO prices for what is, basically, an Econo-lodge with characters. I thought the beds were awful (small and uncomfortable!) - and no pool towels or coffee in the room. My kids thought it was cool (of course) but I just found it noisy and un-relaxing.

What we do for non-DVC nights is use Priceline. I just got the Orlando Peabody with nice beds and tv's in the bathroom (AAA four diamond rating) for just 75$ a night.

Hmm Peabody for $75 or POP for $79! That's a no brainer!

Gotta love priceline, got the Hyatt Metro Center in Washington DC for $100/nt. Rack rate is $400