First actual DVC stay

atthebeachclub

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Joined
Apr 18, 2024
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First actual DVC stay. We’ve been really loving the comfort and space of the rooms. The common areas are so relaxed and quiet and beautiful, too. I thought the “welcome home!” thing was a little corny before, but my kids keep slipping up when we are out, saying “it’s late; we should go home!”, so I guess there’s something to it. I am so thankful for the great sleep and in room breakfasts. My only complaint is that I brought two types of coffee filters, and neither were correct for the coffee machine we had. 🤣

A few weeks ago I worried “what if we don’t love going to Disney parks forever?”, but I could just come down here in the winter without the parks and enjoy the 60+ degree temperature difference. Love staying on property. Even with “chilly” Florida weather, it feels like a cold summer here right now; I love it.
 
We had a bunch of extra timeshare assets to burn coming out of the pandemic, and I spent two weeks at SSR in a 1BR. The first week+ was with family. The rest of the time was just hanging out---some work in the living room, hanging out by the pool, and a concert at House of Blues.

It was all quite fabulous.
 
One of the sales pitches for DVC is that you can stay in Deluxe resorts at reasonable prices with inflation control on point costs etc. But for those not already accustomed to Deluxe resorts, I think it is an under-sold point that the Deluxe resorts are a destination/escape all unto themselves. Some of the best trips we've had at WDW did not include any theme park visits because we never left the resort. And that's in addition to Vero, HHI and Aulani.
 
2 bedrooms was a terrible mistake. How will I ever go back to studios after this?!😂 The washer/dryer and in room kitchen have been absolutely delightful.
We made that mistake on our first DVC trip too. Resale contract came double loaded and it just so happened to work out perfectly to use them all up by doing split stay first with a 1-bd then a 2-bd. Oops! Good mistake to make though because it means more points!
 
We made that mistake on our first DVC trip too. Resale contract came double loaded and it just so happened to work out perfectly to use them all up by doing split stay first with a 1-bd then a 2-bd. Oops! Good mistake to make though because it means more points!
Yes! That’s what we did too. We took my mom this trip. I have enough points to do a 2 bedroom many years with a few one time use points, but I didn’t really strategize my buys for 1/2 bedrooms! lol. My strategy was a bit more haphazard. Hey, at least it is all same use year…
 
Facts:
My kids prefer Beach Club by a mile, but AKL would be an excellent resort only stay for parents.

Space Mountain is beat. It honestly needs to be gutted other than the building.

Feathered Friends in Flight is highly underrated. So is Animal Kingdom park.

I have never watched Guardians of the Galaxy, and don’t intend to, but Cosmic Rewind is my favorite ride at all of WDW.

Kitchens in your room are incredible, and make life a lot easier.

I am still confused on the Instacart rules for WDW. They could deliver to one resort, but the second resort was huffy about it and wouldn’t allow them to leave things with bell services.

It’s good DVC has non park options, because I think I will need a non park year next year.

Overall very happy with owning points. All resale. The jury is still out as to whether I would ever break even with direct points. I sort of think not. The math for direct isn’t working for me.
 
I am still confused on the Instacart rules for WDW. They could deliver to one resort, but the second resort was huffy about it and wouldn’t allow them to leave things with bell services.
Could this possibly be an InstaCart shopper issue? I have yet to have issues with items being left for us at bell services at any resort we have stayed at.
 
Overall very happy with owning points. All resale. The jury is still out as to whether I would ever break even with direct points. I sort of think not. The math for direct isn’t working for me.
If you stay with it you will. Obviously it will take longer as the price of points is much higher than resale.

Whether directly or through resale you can also stay at the resorts that costs more if you are trying to break even faster. Yes you can have many more nights at the point friendly 2042 resorts but if you switch to staying at AUL, PVB, RIV, VGC, VGF
 
Welcome Home is a different mindset - comfort, familiarity, tradition, etc.

We aren’t visiting - we are returning!

I love this. When we drive up at the Grand Cal to drop off our stuff (we usually have a van full as we drive over and like to bring supplies) the people helping notice we have the DVC color card on the dash and love to welcome us home and ask us how many times we have been to the Grand. They are super chill about it and seem to know us DVC people visit often. They will even share the latest spots to track down some good eats including where the best Tamales in town can be located..... :)

The longer we have been members we put less hours in the go to the parks column and put more hours in the resort time bucket....

First actual DVC stay. We’ve been really loving the comfort and space of the rooms.
So glad you are having a good time with your membership. We love it and our kids love the Welcome Home stuff too!
 
Could this possibly be an InstaCart shopper issue? I have yet to have issues with items being left for us at bell services at any resort we have stayed at.
Surprisingly, no! They called me in my room to meet my shopper because they wouldn’t accept from her. I double checked with bell services when I arrived and they confirmed they couldn’t hold my food. I was glad I was at least at the hotel. This was at Kidani. No problem with receiving Instacart food at BCV though. My shopper was super nice about it, thankfully.
 
If you stay with it you will. Obviously it will take longer as the price of points is much higher than resale.

Whether directly or through resale you can also stay at the resorts that costs more if you are trying to break even faster. Yes you can have many more nights at the point friendly 2042 resorts but if you switch to staying at AUL, PVB, RIV, VGC, VGF
I’m mostly focused on the direct vs resale breakeven point. It is pretty far out/hard to justify, unless you want to stay at restricted resorts! And as you may have guessed, my fave is an unrestricted 2042 resort.

I (solely in the family) have an Annual Pass this year, so that got us discounts pretty comparable to DVC direct owners, and while I could have saved around $500 on that annual pass, the break even point is so far out for the difference…I worry my kids would be sick of Disney by then! Of course I’m still going to visit as it is a great midwinter getaway, visiting parks or not. But the math is harder to justify then…
 
Surprisingly, no! They called me in my room to meet my shopper because they wouldn’t accept from her. I double checked with bell services when I arrived and they confirmed they couldn’t hold my food. I was glad I was at least at the hotel. This was at Kidani. No problem with receiving Instacart food at BCV though. My shopper was super nice about it, thankfully.
Wow that is surprising. Did you have alcohol perhaps?
 
Congrats on your first DVC stay as an owner! As long ago as it was, I do remember our first stay at OKW in a GV...it was a "pinch me" moment the entire stay. DH, me and our son had just bought 230 OKW.

My Mom and Dad who are now quite elderly, were spry 60ish then and we gave them the suite. They drove from NH (we flew) and brought groceries and laundry detergent (way before delivery was available). Dad decided he was in charge of the kitchen for breakfast LOL. Mom decided the laundry was hers and dismayed when my SIL washed green jeans with the white towels - oops!

My brother and SIL and their kids came from NC. Our nephew got the sleeper downstairs with his own tv and bathroom which is pretty cool when you are 10. The kids were able to spread out their legos and play without anyone tripping over them. It was a January trip and having the balcony doors wide open was utter bliss.

We spent days together at EPCOT and MK. It was wonderful, as it had been about 25 years since my Mom, Dad, brother and I had experienced MK together in 1973. Mom had the photos out a few weeks ago and though she is experiencing short term memory loss, she does remember events from long ago. She can name everyone in the photos. She is the one who started the Disney tradition in our family.

Life is fleeting and DH and I have always been "live in the moment" advocates since you never know what is around the corner. Your kids will never forget their second home at WDW. Our son and DIL often join us (or we send them solo) to experience a lovely villa to return to every evening. There are many more DVC resorts now and we have new and old favorites. We all still feel most "at home" at OKW. Enjoy your trip and planning future trips with your kids! Cherish every moment!

:tink:
 



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