Give me some encouragement/discouragement?

[arthur06]

I bought a BWV resale and have not closed on it yet. Should be shortly. But was looking around at free dining. For Sept 12-17 (Sat. to Thursday) for $944. It will be me, DW, DS2, DS11months. And that is with ME, ASMusic, 6 day tickets and Food.

If I wait for the resale, I wouldn't go during free dining. But $944 for Food, hotel, and tickets seems really great.

Since I am so close to getting my resale, should I just wait. My son turns 3 in Dec., so I thought if I could get a trip in before then he is free. A $250 perk. And if I go before my other son is one, he is free flight.

Should I go for it? Or wait until I close, and use my DVC points?

Also, if I do, and needed to change my reservation, I don't lose my deposit, do I?

 

[hockeyprincess]

Have you ever stayed at a DVC resort? That's the deal breaker for me. No way would I ever ever ever stay at an All Stars resort. Not that they aren't nice. Not that alot of people love staying there. I know those people are out there... they just aren't me!! I could never squish myself into a small (read: teeny tiny) room after staying at DVC. And our OKW was our first stay so I've never even stayed at AS resorts ever. I just always knew I wouldn't want to.

And free dining isn't a perk for me, cause it's not really free. Now monetarily speaking, free flight for the under 1 year old and free park entrance for under 3 year old might be a nice perk. But still not nice enough for me to stay at All Stars.

 

[arthur06]

I have never stayed at one before, so can't compare just yet. We were just there (DW and myself) at the end of April and wasn't planning one until next year, but the flight and under 3 and under $1,000 is pushing me towards another.

$1320, for POR, so that is a consideration. When we went in April we stayed off-site and spent over $400 for just our car rental. And with ME that's eliminated.

 

[lundve]

To me the BWV is light years away from All Star. Having traveled with kiddos about that age and stayed the BW - you will love being able to walk to two parks, have tons of entertainment and dining choices close by, and the awesome community hall even for the little guys would make me want to wait.

Don't forget free dining does not include the tip and with two little ones who may not want to eat what you are(unless you dine family style or buffets only), you are going to be paying for food for them too since they are not dining plan eligible. In addition, my DH always found that it was way too much food for us.

Just me - but I would not be swayed by the "free offer"

 

[arthur06]

I know its not really comparable to DVC's but when I can take my family of 4 to Disney for 6 days and including food is under $1000, its hard to resist the draw of the mouse! I own DVC to make sure that I get my regular Disney fix.

 

[Tara]

I have never stayed at one before, so can't compare just yet. We were just there (DW and myself) at the end of April and wasn't planning one until next year, but the flight and under 3 and under $1,000 is pushing me towards another.

$1320, for POR, so that is a consideration. When we went in April we stayed off-site and spent over $400 for just our car rental. And with ME that's eliminated.

I'm not one to talk people out of taking a trip, but remember that you are spending $1000 that you weren't planning to spend at all in order to save $250 on admission plus whatever the flight is. If this trip really replaces the one you were planning to take next year, then yeah, you're saving money. But if you do still go next year as planned, then I wouldn't let the "savings" influence my decision.

I personally wouldn't spend money to stay in very small accommodations and get the free dining that might be more hassle than it's worth given all the trouble people have had booking ADRs. (Unless you really don't care where you eat or when you eat.) But you know best what you can tolerate in terms of your resort experience...

Of course, if you are trying to make your wife really, really thankful that you bought DVC, then by all means, go for it.

 

[Inkmahm]

I have never stayed at one before, so can't compare just yet. We were just there (DW and myself) at the end of April and wasn't planning one until next year, but the flight and under 3 and under $1,000 is pushing me towards another.

$1320, for POR, so that is a consideration. When we went in April we stayed off-site and spent over $400 for just our car rental. And with ME that's eliminated.

If the trip is in addition to the trips that you already plan to take with your DVC points, and you think you can "rough it" for 6 nights, go for it. If the trip replaces a trip you'd do with DVC points I'd say skip it and wait for DVC.

But an extra trip to WDW? I'd take it.

 

[RahRah573]

If all of your paperwork will be complete before your dates, you can take your 6-day tickets and upgrade to an annual pass at the DVC discount, so that makes going potentially worth it in September during free dining.

BUT.....instead of All-Stars you could instead find a rental and book into something much nicer and similar price in September too. If you change your dates by one day, going to 9/13 to 9/18 instead, you're now staying least expensive days for points and could find someone with points to rent and book into an OKW studio for 40 points. Average point rentals go for $10 a point, but many are available for $8.....if you found an $8 a point owner, you're looking at $320 for a stay at Old Key West.....DDP adds $399.90, so you're now up to $719.90.....and your six day tix and you're up to $1170 or so (didn't calculate the tax on the tix) - $226 more to stay at OKW instead of All-Stars.....and the $450 you spend on your tickets goes toward upgrading to the annual pass (if you're going to use it before it would expire for another trip next year), so your AP upgrade would need to be done while you're there, so you'd need another $350 to get those before you leave.

Me - if I were closing before the dates I'm planning - I'd rent from someone to be at a DVC resort and not All-Stars....but that's me!

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I know its not really comparable to DVC's but when I can take my family of 4 to Disney for 6 days and including food is under $1000, its hard to resist the draw of the mouse! I own DVC to make sure that I get my regular Disney fix.

I wholeheartly agree. I would do the free dining trip and a DVC trip later.

 

[arthur06]

If you change your dates by one day, going to 9/13 to 9/18 instead, you're now staying least expensive days for points

Moving the days doesn't work for me. I have shared care of my DS8 and we have him Friday to the next Friday. So I have to get him at 3pm from school. Also, If I rent/transfer points I would wait and not do it during free dining...

 

[arthur06]

BUT.....instead of All-Stars you could instead find a rental and book into something much nicer and similar price in September too. If you change your dates by one day, going to 9/13 to 9/18 instead, you're now staying least expensive days for points and could find someone with points to rent and book into an OKW studio for 40 points. Average point rentals go for $10 a point, but many are available for $8.....if you found an $8 a point owner, you're looking at $320 for a stay at Old Key West.....DDP adds $399.90, so you're now up to $719.90.....and your six day tix and you're up to $1170 or so (didn't calculate the tax on the tix) - $226 more to stay at OKW instead of All-Stars.....and the $450 you spend on your tickets goes toward upgrading to the annual pass (if you're going to use it before it would expire for another trip next year), so your AP upgrade would need to be done while you're there, so you'd need another $350 to get those before you leave.

So if I booked this, even though its a promotional offer, I could upgrade to a AP and use the "face value" of these tickets to apply as credit to an AP? How much is a DVC AP?

 

[hockeyprincess]

Of course, if you are trying to make your wife really, really thankful that you bought DVC, then by all means, go for it.

Ain't THAT the truth!!!! This quote is priceless!!!

 

[dstevens]

My wife and i have stayed at all the All Star Resorts (and prefer Pop for the food court) and now own DVC at AKL. The DVC resorts are way above the value resorts in quality. But that said the value resorts do offer you, well, a value. The rooms are not that small if you are not spending a lot of time there. We have had 4 of us in those rooms but only slept and ate breakfast and lunch in the rooms. We have had a hot plate (shhhh) and a refrigerator in the room along with grocery service to save on food costs. Although not a concern for you except maybe breakfast. If you have the $ to spend then by all means GO and enjoy. If you really don't have the $ to spend then WAIT till you are a new DVC owner. And when you do own "Welcome Home" neighbor.

 

[Sandisw]

So if I booked this, even though its a promotional offer, I could upgrade to a AP and use the "face value" of these tickets to apply as credit to an AP? How much is a DVC AP?

If you book free dining, you have to purchase at least 1 day tickets. If you buy the 6 day, you can then take the value of that ticket and apply it to a discounted DVC AP, providing you do it while you are still there (tickets must be upgraded within 14 days of first use).

Good luck!

 

[Jenny-momof3]

By the way it's kids under 2 that fly free.

 

[RahRah573]

So if I booked this, even though its a promotional offer, I could upgrade to a AP and use the "face value" of these tickets to apply as credit to an AP? How much is a DVC AP?

Yes...upgrade from face-value....DVC AP's are $399 for adults.

 

[arthur06]

if I book on cash and decide later to change can I just apply my credit for tickets?

 

[RahRah573]

if I book on cash and decide later to change can I just apply my credit for tickets?

If your contract is closed before your trip (cash trip) - that is you have your member number for DVC in-hand....and at least your temporary member ID cards, you can upgrade the tickets you purchased from your cash reservation while there to AP's with your DVC discount price. I don't remember the time limit, but it's within days of your last day of entrace on the ticket and you have to do it on-site (not on the phone or website)....but you will get full face-value toward the upgrade to AP's and get the discounted DVC member price for your AP's.

 

[arthur06]

since I am asking AP questions... How much is a DL AP with the DVC discount?