I am sure it is a rumour but ....

[y2kdave]

I believe OKW was the first DVC resort and always a DVC resort.

 

[Brian Noble]

I guess it's a rhetorical question and I know it's never been done but there's certainly no reason DVD couldn't build at one of the moderates and not maintain the standards they have right now.

This sounds about right. The "public facilities" at most Moderates are similar to most Deluxes---water slide at the pool, a sit-down restaurant onsite, recreation options, etc. The big difference between the Moderates and Deluxes is the room and location. Then again, one could argue that AKL/AKV, OKW, SSR, and possibly even WL/VWL are "Deluxe rooms, Moderate location."

There is a market here, and eventually DVC may turn to it. The Moderate resorts have some very passionate followers, I think in part because they are thematically a little more whimsical and playful than the Deluxes. Some Moderate fans wouldn't stay at a Deluxe for any price vs. their favorite Moderate resort.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

This sounds about right. The "public facilities" at most Moderates are similar to most Deluxes---water slide at the pool, a sit-down restaurant onsite, recreation options, etc. The big difference between the Moderates and Deluxes is the room and location. Then again, one could argue that AKL/AKV, OKW, SSR, and possibly even WL/VWL are "Deluxe rooms, Moderate location."

There is a market here, and eventually DVC may turn to it. The Moderate resorts have some very passionate followers, I think in part because they are thematically a little more whimsical and playful than the Deluxes. Some Moderate fans wouldn't stay at a Deluxe for any price vs. their favorite Moderate resort.

I think the biggest difference between the mods and deluxes is the theming. Walking into the lobby of a deluxe is an entirely different experience than walking into the lobby of a mod.
In addition I find the table service restaurants far superior at the deluxes.

As far as good location, well, that's in the eye of the beholder.

MG

 

[dallastxcpa]

I love the theming of the MODS and it is correct to say that the pools have slides, but the biggest and most important difference to me is the moderates don't have BALCONIES.

A big part of my vacation is relaxing on the balcony with a cup of joe and a good book.

 

[JasonDVC]

Theplan is to "dot" the resort area with DVC at the mods and values as well. Grand Floridian and Poly are the next DVC's before anything else happen. Looking at about 5-6 years away from those.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I love the theming of the MODS and it is correct to say that the pools have slides, but the biggest and most important difference to me is the moderates don't have BALCONIES.

A big part of my vacation is relaxing on the balcony with a cup of joe and a good book.

I also like the theming of the mods.. That said, there's no denying it not as extravagant as the deluxes.

I also agree about the balconies.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Theplan is to "dot" the resort area with DVC at the mods and values as well. Grand Floridian and Poly are the next DVC's before anything else happen. Looking at about 5-6 years away from those.

You say this like it's fact.. Do you have some inside source of info??

MG

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

The main differences between Deluxe and Moderate Resorts:

1) Deluxe Resorts have balconies... only 2 shared walls (left and right), where as Moderate resorts don't have balconies... 3 shared walls (left, right and rear).

2) Deluxe Resort rooms tend to be larger in size (50 sq feet, or so)...there are a few exceptions as Caribbean Beach rooms are about the same size as BLT Studios. This also assumes, for the DVCs, that you are comparing the moderates to the studios.

3) Deluxe Resorts tend to have locations near to one or more theme parks or major Disney areas. Port Orleans, Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach have no parks or attractions within a walking distance to them. You have to take a bus to get anywhere. BLT is within walking distance to MK and monorail to Epcot. BCV and BWV are walking distance to Epcot and DHS. SSR and OKW are walking distance to Downtown Disney. The only ones that aren't walking distance to something is VWL and AKV. VWL has a boat to MK, so it's good for getting there. AKV has a VERY short bus ride to DAK...I also wouldn't be surprised if Disney built a walkway of some kind at some point in the future.

4) Hotel Amenities: Deluxe resorts have "world class restaurants", valet parking, whirlpools, babysitting, bell services, and concierge service. Moderate resorts have "full-service restaurants", food courts, luggage service. From the list, deluxe resorts have a higher class of restaurant, valet parking, babysitting, full bell services instead of just luggage service, and a hotel concierge. Deluxe resorts also tend to have more elaborately themed pools, although this is debatable.

5) With a couple exceptions, the deluxe resorts have indoor hallways and are more "hotel" like. Whereas all the moderate resorts have outdoor hallways and are more "motel" like. OKW makes up for this by having HUGE rooms and being very cheap on the points. SSR makes up for it by always having a room for me when no other place does

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Don't forget about certain amenities, such as valet parking. I'm not sure if the mods offer room service, massages, and have fitness rooms..??

MG

 

[Brian Noble]

I can't imagine any of the existing moderate buildings would be re-purposed in the way that top floors of AKL were. First, as mentioned, the room styles are totally different. Second, and just as importantly, the Mods sell exceptionally well, whereas AKL used to be one of the easiest resorts at which to book and get discounts. I don't even think they'd tear down existing Mod buildings to make way for purpose-built structures, for the same reason. If DVC expands to one of these locations, it would almost certainly be in new structures adjacent to the existing resort plots. It would be easy to add a few extra amenities---a small fitness center or a second, more sophisticated sit-down restaurant, etc. I don't even think you'd need to make them exclusive, but you could.

Don't forget about certain amenities, such as valet parking. I'm not sure if the mods offer room service, massages, and have fitness rooms..??

Neither OKW or SSR have valet parking, but you park right next to your building. Mods don't quite as nice of a parking setup, but it is close. Neither SSR nor OKW offer room service beyond pizza delivery. On the other hand, CSR has a fitness room, a real room service menu, and queen beds vs. the doubles in the other Mods. It's also a few bucks more per night than the other Mods, starting in 2010.

FWIW, I don't think that a DVC resort co-located with a Mod is very likely. I think either another co-location with an existing Deluxe or another stand-alone resort would be the next expansion step within RCID. But, I also don't think it's as ridiculous to imagine a co-location with a Mod as some do.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

While nothing precludes that from happening, DVC also has brand "image" to maintain, it is what helps drive sales.

-----------------------------------------

But they are still left with problem of "perception" for the buyers. No matter how nice they made a POP DVC, would potential buyers still see it as a "value resort addition" in their minds? First impressions die hard.

I think your points listed above are exactly correct.

MG

 

[photobob]

Is it just me or was POR a more popular place when the name was Dixie Landings? I just remember how people talked up the place much more in the past. Sorry for the post!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Theplan is to "dot" the resort area with DVC at the mods and values as well. Grand Floridian and Poly are the next DVC's before anything else happen. Looking at about 5-6 years away from those.

I think if "dotting" the moderate resort with DVC was a viable option they would have done that with the Contemporary instead of ripping down and putting up a new building. I don't see any way to intersperse the mods & DVC.

 

[Muushka]

Is it just me or was POR a more popular place when the name was Dixie Landings? I just remember how people talked up the place much more in the past. Sorry for the post!

That's why I thought it should be named VDL! I think that the name change did not help the place.

 

[drakethib]

Not intended as a putdown, but adding a moderate or value to the current DVC system would devalue the whole system IMO. If they created a lower scale system, call the current one DVC I and then DVC II for Moderate style resorts and DVC III for Values and each one is seperate and cannot be traded into each other (or would require a large conversion rate).

All the same though, I think it is HIGHLY unlikely at this point that this would happen.

W own 300 DVC points and if they would open one at Port Orleans we would probably stay there most of the time. While POR may be a moderate, I think they have one of the best landscapes at WDW. Plus if the rooms are up to DVC "Specs" why would it be valued differently?

I don't think they would have to segement the resorts in different categories, just adjust the point accordingly.

Good comment though

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think they would have to segement the resorts in different categories, just adjust the point accordingly.

Therein lies the problem. Less points needed for a reservation = less points to reserve the room for the year = less points per unit to sell at the resort = less income per sq. ft. of construction during initial sales.

 

[Dean]

I may be missing something, but why couldn't they just adjust the point charts to reflect a less expensive resort?
Don't they do this to a certain degree already where the moderates are listed in the Disney Collection?

MG

Obviously anything is possible and my thoughts as to why it would need to be separate are along the lines that others have posted and I have already said that I feel a purpose built DVC segment at the moderates is workable. Perception is reality and for DVC to simply convert rooms or build a lessor product and try to make it simply part and parcel of DVC will not work well for them. While in some aspects the points levels will take care of most of the issues, it wouldn't for all of them. A lessor resort would drag down the standards and lessen the perception of quality and value for the higher level resorts. IMO they could have a different brand that was targeted at a different audience and could have some type of crossover. They could also do a true vacation club where you simply reserve the rooms currently available. One of the biggest deterents to having a lessort resort part of the system and just trying to even things out by the points costs is actually that it's likely that those owners would need protection more than the reverse. YMMV.

 

[JasonDVC]

You say this like it's fact.. Do you have some inside source of info??

MG

Spoke face to face with a Guide about three months ago about buying BLT. I said what I really wanted was Grand Floridian and asked when that would happen. She told me that GF and Poly are coming and the plan is to have them ready in about 5-6 years but the overall plan is to "dot" the resort area with DVC. I asked if that included Mods and Values and she said absolutely.

She was very confident in her tone so I believe her. She didn't have a reason to make that up.

P.S. I did buy BLT during that meeting

 

[Chuck S]

Spoke face to face with a Guide about three months ago about buying BLT. I said what I really wanted was Grand Floridian and asked when that would happen. She told me that GF and Poly are coming and the plan is to have them ready in about 5-6 years but the overall plan is to "dot" the resort area with DVC. I asked if that included Mods and Values and she said absolutely.

She was very confident in her tone so I believe her. She didn't have a reason to make that up.

P.S. I did buy BLT during that meeting

If this were true, wouldn't it make more sense to start with POP Century, as the infrastructure is already available, the land pretty well cleared, and check-in building/food area already available, assuming it is still structurally sound. At GF and Poly, there is much more prep needed, as well as possibly demolishing some existing buildings. I still don't see them "dotting" the values and mods with DVC.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I really love POR, but have concerns about DVC going to a moderate resort.

I've not seen the aerial photos to know about the land, but there seems to be a good bit of woods between POR and the treehouses. Matter of fact...I can see the whole Port Orleans back story kind of fitting an area that would connect the area with the treehouses.

However, I bet that area is part of the protected wetlands. Too bad, I had already picked out very wooded individual bayou dwellings within a stone's throw of the water.