DVC Snob at a Value?

[Paticake]

We stayed 1 night at ASSp after we changed our flight. We had never stayed at a value resort before. My 8yo niece was the DVC snob. We got to the room very late and her first remark was "What the heck is this? Where is the kitchen!" While I won't say I loved it , it was for one night before checking into SSR and I'd do it again in a pinch. Now we do really love CBR and would be happy to stay there for a non-DVC trip.

 

[stopher1]

I can't say that I'm a snob about it, since I travel a lot for work and have stayed in a variety of rooms/hotels that are much less in quality than the WDW Values are - and certainly more money. I do believe DVC is nicer, but you certainly don't have the same kind of "service" like in the values - specifically daily maid service. Of course I'm also the type to not leave the bed looking messy regardless of where I stay so it's not a huge thing, but fresh towels are a plus in my world. Plus you're still "inside the magic" by being on WDW property.

I've stayed at POP a few times for solo trips to the world, and have found it to be perfectly fine. True there are lots of kids and families around - but instead of finding it as a negative or distracting from "my" experience I viewed it as a positive...the people watching alone was worth it. And I do enjoy the kitschy theming. DW can't stand the seeming "lack of trees" at POP and definitely prefers PO Riverside for the abundance of trees and shade, but for the money you'd actually put out - unless you're planning on staying IN THE ROOM for more than a few hours at night and in the morning - POP is just fine.

Another option to consider might be the full service hotels on Hotel Plaza over near DTD. You'll still be on WDW property, and have the ability to use the DTD hotel/WDW transportation without breaking the bank. We've stayed at 4 of those hotels - and most enjoyed the Doubletree and the Best Western. Still "inside the magic", and within walking distance of both DTD and the Crossroads Plaza (and the grocery store, and other restaurants). You can get some good prices that are still cheaper than the mods, depending on your travel dates.

 

[Dina]

My 8yo niece was the DVC snob. We got to the room very late and her first remark was "What the heck is this? Where is the kitchen!" .

That is so funny!!!!!

 

[abeyst]

Values aren't DVC that's for sure, but they are nice in their own way. You can't go in expecting to compare the 2, because they're as different as apples and oranges.

We were DVCers til 2006 when we stayed at ASSp. The kids LOVED it! Me-not so much. It wasn't BCV or OKW! After the trip, I wished to go back. I still miss it, and this trip we were at SSR and went over to Pop to swim. The kids asked why we couldn't stay at Pop or All Stars and we were stuck at SSR!! It was so fun to swim with all the decorated buildings - that's one thing I miss by staying DVC.

I think for you and DD you'll do just fine in a value. DD will truly enjoy yourself. I like the AStar food courts better than Pop's, but they're all so similar. The main pools will be busier than the quiet ones, but the quiet ones are still a great time (we LOVED the baseball pool at Sports in 2006).

 

[Disney_Daddy]

Pop is still my son's favorite resort. We've stayed at several DVC properties and off property too. He'd take Pop over all of them and often asks to stay there again.

However... once my wife had a taste of the spa at SSR, it has been REALLY difficult to get her to go anywhere else on property! The only thing that has come close is the Gaylord Palms off-property, likely due to the Canyon Ranch spa which she really enjoys.

As for the snob thing... A snob to me would be defined as someone who would only stay at a "five star resort" that pampers and provides elegant amenities. DVC is nice and roomy, but not luxurious or "five star."

 

[CDNmouse]

We bought DVC points last year and the Beach Club is our home resort.

Before buying the points we stayed at a few moderate resorts and the also the Pop Century. Our kids loved the POP more than any moderate we stayed at.

Yesterday Spirit put a bunch of flights on sale so I booked an unexpected trip to Orlando for les than two weeks from now. I called DVC member services and they had a studio availble at Old Key West so I took it for 5 night nights. We still needed two more nights so I booked the last two nights of our quick trip at the POP Century. I am interested in seeing if the kids still like the POP as much as the Beach Club or Old Key West. I am sure they will.

I don't think we are DVC snobs yet. ... we will see anfter this trip I guess.


Gary

 

[mathgeek]

My 2 solo trips before getting married were at Sports and Movies. I loved the energy of those resorts, and we have stayed at both since getting married. The last trip to a value was a last minute trip last year with an AP rate, and after that trip DH said no more values for him. We had stayed at BWV and SSR prior to that trip, so I think he had a taste of a little "DVC snobbery" at that point. But we still go back and visit almost every trip and use the food court b/c there are so many options! If it was a choice between staying off property and a value I'll be at the value every time.

 

[Mom B]

"We are staying at a value for the first time in August. We start with 2 nights at ASSports followed by 5 nights at SSR and then one last night back at ASSports. The annual pass rate for the AllStars for the weekend was too good to pass up at $64 per night."__________________
Boy, if it were me I would think twice about that! We tried it once just that way...a night at POP then 5 nights at OKW and then back to POP for the last night. The only problem was, it was marathon weekend and the checkin at POP was horrible, insane, awful...must have been 2 hours standing in line! After we got past that it was fine, we had a good time looking at the icons and taking the kids' pictures, they had a great time in the pool, we enjoyed the view out of our room, no problems at all. BUT when it came to checking out of OKW and back into POP, we just COULD NOT DO IT! I couldn't face standing in line at the checkin desk one more time...so we called MS and switched our ressie to OKW on cash. We'll never do it that way again! The first night at a value, okay, or maybe even two, but after staying at DVC we couldn't go back and will plan accordingly next time.

 

[cseca]

I've had DVC since 2000 and yes, I LOVE to stay at DVC resort but I've done some non-dvc cheap trips before and I always pick Pop.
It's clean, the bus has its own route, better resort layout (no 5 mile walk from your room to the bus stop) and it's CHEAP!
I don't stay in the room other than sleeping, don't use the pool and only use the food court a handful of times (I mostly do snacks in the park for food).

For those reasons I wouldn't mind saving my $ on lodging and staying at value resort (but I won't stay at any of the All Stars because of the buses and the resort layout).

I agree with the previous poster... staying at home vs. disney at value?
I'd pick disney value any day!

Have a blast!!!!

 

[lovinthemouse]

I too have become a DVC snob. It has really changed the way we vacation all together. I don't think you will be miserable in the ASMovies. It happens to be the one I like the most of the All Stars. You do have to take your own towels to those pools. We had to pay extra for a fridge. I feel like anytime I can be at WDW is great. Have fun

 

[MBELSANTI]

I just joined DVC in October, and have only stayed once in a studio so far, so I cannot say I am a DVC snob. However on my other non Disney vacations, I do like to live high off the hog and stay in very nice places. That said, we love Pop. We have also stayed at AS Sports and liked that a lot too. I would however really recommend Pop. It is great for kids, nice pool and food court/shopping. It has become our resort that we will use for weekends before and after DVC stays.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well generally speaking, I am an onsite snob. As long as I am at a WDW resort of any level I am happy!

I have stayed at all the values, Music and Pop on more than one occasion. Sometimes I stay there to save points on the weekend, sometimes I stay there because I am out of points. We do this with the mods too (which I also love). The values are a lot of fun. I think you get more than what you pay for in a sense. For a mother daughter trip, I can't imagine that a value wouldn't be fine. My family of four has stayed in a value room since our DVC purchase on several occasions. In April we stayed at Music for six wonderful nights.

Music is my current value favorite. The new rooms are great, it has the prettiest landscaping, its more quiet than the other values and we have really enjoyed our two stays there. When we stayed there in April, they had pooside games and movies for the kids, they had a bin of towels out by the pool every day (big improvement) and we had a great time.

Not all trips can be at a deluxe or DVC level for my family. So I am really glad the values are there for us when we need them. I have never one time stayed at one and thought "omg, what have I done, these people are tacky and this resort is awful". Its Disney after all!

Oh forgot to add, I love the food courts and really miss those when we stay at a DVC. Thus far the only DVC I have stayed at that offered decent counter service was SSR (but I have only stayed at SSR, OKW and BWV). I also find myself looking forward to that daily maid service. You can't beat that with a stick and so I sort of tell myself how lucky we are to be staying at a value or mod and receive those perks. And whats not to love about waking up to a giant Mowgli, Mickey Phone or Coke cup outside your door? I think they are a lot of fun. I love my DVC more but that's to be expected. If I didn't, kill me now for paying all that money and monthly dues for something I didn't love more than a value!

 

[mcmeekin]

I'm probably repeating what others have said - since I'm not reading all 4 pages of responses... but...

I'll NEVER again stay at a value. Staying at ASmovies is what made this hotel (DVC?) snob decide to buy DVC. I'll bet that kiosk at ASMovies is a major source of DVC contracts. We use buses exclusively and fighting for a place on the third bus after letting two other buses go because they were swamped... and then riding that packed bus to stop at three other value resorts first helped seal the deal for DVC... where do I sign?

Our vacations are now truly vacations with DVC. The values stress this particular snob out too much.

MSM