My only issue with Swan and Dolphin is the resort fee, which I see has gone up to $12 per night for services we wouldn't use and a parking fee, another reason I really didn't want to stay at Shades of Green.
When I am not using DVC points (I do run out), I generally stay at Pop Century or the Dolphin. I'll do a moderate if there is a good deal on one. I don't see paying for Disney deluxes, not when I can get the Dolphin much of the time for the price of a Disney moderate, including adding in the resort fee (add in the cost of transportation from the airport and it's more, but still less than a Disney deluxe), but I don't go offsite.
I don't know what the prices are for the family suites at the values (AS Music and the new upcoming Art of Animation) but it's got to be less than a deluxe and is a viable option for a family of 5.
True, but a drop in the bucket compared to the rack rate, or even a discount rate at some of the Disney deluxe resorts.
Since our DVC points don't expire for another 45-ish years I can tell you that we will be staying on-site for at least that long. At that point I will be in my mid-late 70's so I can just retire and work part time at WDW
For those that aren't DVC members and don't want to commit to membership, I highly suggest you consider renting points... much better deals than paying rack rates for rooms![]()