Help- need advice... what would you do?

[traveladdiction]

I posted this over in the Codes and Sales section and they recommended I post it here too!

Here's the situation: We have annual passes, and have 2 weeks in September booked w/ our timeshare at the Saratoga Springs in a 1 bedroom villa w/ full kitchen, washer & dryer, etc... THEN, the free dining deal came out and DH says, let's sell our weeks on ebay and stay at the Pop Century w/ free dining... I was undecided since our baby sleeps *so well* in her own dark bedroom, so the 1 bedroom will mean more sleep for me... plus the advantage of having a washer & dryer and FRIG! But, I managed to snag the Pop Century for the same 2 weeks while we decide... now I just have to ebay the two weeks at Saratoga Springs...

1) I was hoping to get $1500 per week (SS 1 bedroom villa). Do you think that's reasonable? Staying in a DVC room means you don't have to buy tickets to add on the dining plan... BUT no free dining.

2) If I did get $3k for both weeks, the new reservation is for $1750 (give or take a few bucks)... so I'm only saving $1,250 on 14 nights. I lost two weeks of timeshare, so that money goes toward my yearly maintenance... My actual savings is only the dining plan... $1,400. (2 adults, 2 kids) SO... my question is.... is it worth saving $1400 for 14 nights in the Pop vs. Saratoga?

I'm leaning toward staying in the Saratoga (we have never stayed in either - we've only stayed at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge before, but usually stay in deluxe properties when we vacation...), but DH wants to save the $$$ and stay at the Pop.

I'm interested in hearing everyone's opinions...

 

[Boston5602]

We stayed at Pop Century last year and I came home and bought DVC right away. MAYBE if it was a free trip I might go , but not just for the food.

Remember your not just saving $1400.00 but you are

1- giving up a larger more convenient room i.e. large and separate areas , with full kitchen and laundry.

2-I think its work and a little bit of risk to rent out on e-bay. I have never done it just read about it here on the boards.

 

[Caskbill]

Have you ever stayed at Pop Century before? Or at All Stars?

Pop is a nice resort, but the rooms are tiny.

The whole experience will be totally different. It's a huge resort. Taking busses, using the pool or other facilities, you'll see nothing but crowds.

I wouldn't mind Pop for a quick weekend, to save DVC points for example, but not for 14 days straight.

If you don't mind moving, make it multiple reservations. Get SSR for the weekdays, and make reservations at Pop for the weekend + a day. (I think there's a 3-day minimum to get the DDP for free) Get the dining plan only for the days you're at Pop, and not for when you're at SSR.

The inconvenience is moving, but it would give you a chance to:

1. Save some points
2. Experience Pop and see if you like it without committing to 14 days
3. Enjoy the DDP for just a short while. Most people find there's way too much food on the DDP to eat anyway. Plus since you can use the DDP on the day of checkin and checkout, on a 3-day stay you can spread the food out over 4 days.

The biggest disadvantage is having to move, but bell services can move your luggage for you.

Just a thought.

You'll still have to pay rack rate at Pop, and you'll have to buy tickets even though you have annual passes

One final thought, if your current SSR reservation is for 2-weeks, you can't rent them out separately. You'd have to cancel that reservation and make two 1-week reservations, and then try to rent them.

 

[Anthony1971]

You can also add the dinning plan to your DVC reservation I think it is now 39 or a person a night.
I know somone did a comparison on the boards and came up with numbers that showed it only ended up costing a few dollars more to stay at DVC paying for the dinning but you would need to downsize to studio first or upgarde to a suite at POP to be even close to 1 BR
I did the dinning plan and though it was way to much food I would never buy desert with lunch at least....
although I must say 1700 for two weeks with the food sounds god but comparing POP with any DVC resort well that is a lot to sacrifice
if you wnat the DP that much down size to a studio rent the remaining points and pay for the DP with that money.... just another option...

 

[CarolA]

14 days on the dining plan is a LOT of food. That's 14 sit down meals with appetizer and desert.... And you wind up forcing yourself to eat it to make it worthwhile. After just three days the teens with me were "begging" "don't make us order all that food" LOL!

 

[Lexxiefern]

I love the dining plan, but I love 1 bedrooms even more!! I would stay with SSR and add the dining plan to it. I have never stayed in a value, but I have stayed in mods quite a bit. There is absolutely no comparison. And you are going for 2 weeks? It will be so much more enjoyable with all the extra room in the 1 bedroom. Good luck with your choice!

 

[DVCLiz]

I'd never give up a one BR DVC for free dining. We went last week and tried the Dining Plan - myself and my 13 year old daughter. She had to order adult meals, and after the 2nd day I knew it was a big mistake. She could usually manage an entree, but the appetizers were way out of her league - even the salmon and crab at Le Cellier wasn't something she would eat, and she loves salmon and crab usually. I hated having to keep to a schedule of meals without the flexibility to change. We ended up with 7 counter service meals on our last morning. It just didn't work for us, so we'll use our DDE card from now on and save that way, while we enjoy the amenities of our DVC villa.

It's just a totally different experience that I wouldn't give up, especially to be crammed into a Pop room for 2 weeks straight. Not worth the savings to me!!!

You might also think about your market on Ebay for a 2 week reservation in September. I think many of the families who might be able to travel at that time of year and have that kind of flexibility with school schedules might also be wanting to take advantage of free dining. As someone else said, you can't split that reservation in two for two different families - you'd have to rebook for each week.

Can you tell I want you to keep your SSR ressie??!!

 

[spaddy]

I was just at SSR and did 3 days on the DDP. I have to tell you I was totally stuffed. I felt almost sick. I think you could easily eat more food then you could possible want for $1400. I am trying to plan right now how much food I could make in the studio so I don't feel tempted to do the dining plan again. I will never do the dining plan for more than a 4 day trip.

 

[traveladdiction]

I really do appreciate your opinions everyone... you ALL make such good points. We did the dining plan and loved it last month. I know a lot of people get stuffed, but we tend to do a la carte meals and order on the healthy side... like a small piece of salmon w/ a side of veggies, salad or soup as an appetizer... and uh, yeah, chocolate moose cake for dessert LOL. But we weren't as stuffed as others seem to be...

I am leaning towards keeping the 1 bedroom Saratoga Springs reservations...they are two 1 week reservations by the way... DH is in favor of staying at the Pop Century... (of course, he doesn't have to get up when the baby wakes!!!) He says we can use the $1400 we save toward round trip tickets to Hawaii... So, there will be a few heated discussions ahead I'm sure... I forwarded him this link so he can read your opinions!!!

Cindy

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would not consider your plan a good idea at all if I had to do it. First of all.....HATE the small rooms, small beds, noise, etc of a value. You might as well stay in a Motel 6 as far as I'm concerned. They only thing they have going for them is fun outdoor icons for the kids. Granted, "free" anything always sounds appealing, but in the long run, what exactly IS free? The food? I doubt it, since you will be paying rack rate to stay in an inferior room versus a full sized villa, which would only cost you your maintenance fee (which you already have paid for the year). You have APs, so it seems dumb to spend money on tickets in addition just for "free" food. We have done the DDP, but only for a few days at a time. It's handy when it's just the two of us, but a pain in the posterior when you are trying to accommodate everyone. PLUS...It will be tricky trying to sell a trip that occurs during free dining, when you will have to ask additional for someone to pay for the dining plan that they feel they would otherwise get free. The other issue is that you are trying to sell a 1 bedroom reservation. Most will want a studio or a 2 bedroom. You also would then have to worry about the whole rental process and what if they do something that costs you extra. None of this makes dumping a DVC ressie for a value worth it in my eyes just for perceived "free" food.

 

[DVCLiz]

I really do appreciate your opinions everyone... you ALL make such good points. We did the dining plan and loved it last month. I know a lot of people get stuffed, but we tend to do a la carte meals and order on the healthy side... like a small piece of salmon w/ a side of veggies, salad or soup as an appetizer... and uh, yeah, chocolate moose cake for dessert LOL. But we weren't as stuffed as others seem to be...

Cindy

Could you give me some examples of the "a la carte" meals you were able to order from the Dining Plan? We used our table service credits at Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Boma, Norway's Princess Breakfast, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Sci-Fi Dine In, and Hollywood and Vine (with a Fantasmic package.) I can't think of a single menu that allowed us to have only a small piece of salmon with a salad for an appetizer. The Dining Plan required us to order a full appetizer, entree and dessert from the menu. There weren't any substitutions or changes allowed, except that they offered to bring DD13 her chicken entree plain with sauce on the side instead of with a mustard glaze.

For us, it wasn't even so much the amount of food, although I did find that an appetizer, entree and dessert was too much for me to eat twice a day. I thought the counter service meals would be lighter, but they were just as much food, even if it wasn't as fancy.

What would you do if you were only able to rent one of the weeks? Would you make the deal contingent on renting your other week as well?

Hope you enjoy your trip no matter what you decide!!

 

[starbox]

Just say Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

We stayed at POP for three nights and I was not a happy girl. The beds are more double than queen sized and are hard as rocks, no pool towels, no coffee maker, no fridge, teeny-tiny room, NOISY, crowded bus-stop, no TS dining, etc.

The free dining is not that great anyway - last year there were many modified menus during "free dining" - plus you're in the middle of a terrible season in terms of head/humidity/chances of hurricanes and thunderstorms.

 

[crisi]

I think you are going to have a problem finding anyone to take your points off your hands - everyone else is entraced by free dining as well. You are asking an awful lot for your points if they aren't coming with that nice $100+ a day perk of free dining at this time of year.

 

[traveladdiction]

I think you are going to have a problem finding anyone to take your points off your hands - everyone else is entraced by free dining as well. You are asking an awful lot for your points if they aren't coming with that nice $100+ a day perk of free dining at this time of year.

What do you think is a reasonable price per week?

I don't have a DVC, I traded w/ Interval International to get these Disney weeks... so I have no idea how points even work LOL.

 

[Dean]

You'll have to decide the value of one vs the other to you. I'll deal with some specifics and technical issus.

In terms of the value of the points the rooms are worth more in the $2000-2200 per unit amount. Not that you'll likely be able to rent these 1 BR units for that price, you likely won't, esp on ebay. I'd simply offer the points for rent on DIS rent/trade at $12 per point or cut them town to two or three reservations Sunday to Friday one, likely not in a 1 BR as that is the hardest to rent in my estimation. Then you can see what happens before you have to make a final commitment. As for price comparison, you'd need to compare DVC plus the DDP to a value or moderate with the free DDP to be truly fair.

Of course you could do part one way and part another divided up any way you wanted.

 

[crisi]

A week in a one bedroom Villa at SSR in September is 182 points. Normally points rent for about $10-12 per.

But you have a few issues.

Most people don't rent for an entire week, they rent Sunday- Thursday - that's because weekend points are a lot more expensive. A Sunday - Thursday stay is just 100 points. Most people don't rent one bedrooms, they want studios - that studio is 95 points for a week, or just 55 points Sunday to Thursday. People rent DVC because its a bargin - most of them aren't renting to get a washer and dryer or a kitchen.

You are competing with free dining - you think its a deal, informed renters will think its a deal as well. For a family of four, free dining is worth over $100 a day, that's going to eat into your margin.

You have to rent what you have, you can't move it around for people. That means you have to find people who want to travel when you have the points. September is a time when Disney hands out promotions to get people to go - not a high demand time.

 

[Caskbill]

What do you think is a reasonable price per week?

I don't have a DVC, I traded w/ Interval International to get these Disney weeks... so I have no idea how points even work LOL.

YIKES! Red Flag!

Are you aware Interval International does not allow anyone to rent out something that they exchanged for. Against their rules.

It's also against the DIS Rent/Trade board rules, so you wouldn't be able to advertise your rentals on our site either.

Don't know if it would be prohibited by e-bay or not.

Just FYI.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Two Comments:

First, if you were just going for a few days I would consider the POP option maybe. But for 14 nights?!?! OMG no! Am I correct that there are 2 adults, 2 children and a baby? The POP rooms are way small. And for 14 days you will definitely have some down days (or at least half days) and POP is not the place for that...crowds, noise, no relxing pool, etc. There are lots of teen groups, etc. at POP. It can be a great resort, but not for 14 days. Seriously, I have a family of 5 and we are Disney freakazoids in a major way...and if someone offered me a 14 night stay at POP for FREE...but the catch was that all of us would be on ONE room there, I would likely decline it (ok, maybe that is an exaggeration, because it IS Disney...but I would have to be VERY creative in how I planned my stay in order to make it enjoyable).

POINT TWO--and for this I need someone far more knowledgeable than I am (Oh DEAN.... ) But since you are not a DVC owner and thus not in control of any actual points, I don't think you can rent this reservation at all. Can someone correct/clarify this for me?

 

[Dean]

What do you think is a reasonable price per week?

I don't have a DVC, I traded w/ Interval International to get these Disney weeks... so I have no idea how points even work LOL.

You won't have much luck with this situation as noted, I didn't see they were exchanges so ignore my last post. You can't rent the weeks. I'd just use them both and likely get the DDP for one of the weeks, likely the first one. It'll be worth the difference in this situation.

 

[3DisneyKids]

YIKES! Red Flag!

Are you aware Interval International does not allow anyone to rent out something that they exchanged for. Against their rules.

It's also against the DIS Rent/Trade board rules, so you wouldn't be able to advertise your rentals on our site either.

Don't know if it would be prohibited by e-bay or not.

Just FYI.

Thanks, Bill. We were typing at the same time!