Inspired By the Value to OKW/SSR Upgrades: What Level Resort Did You Stay Pre-DVC?

[robinb]

All the talk over on the Resorts board is about the free upgrades from value resorts (mostly Pop, it seems) to studios and 1-BRs over at OKW and SSR. It got me thinking about why Disney was specifically upgrading the values and not (as far as I know) the moderates or deluxes. It could simply be that the values are the resorts which are over-crowded and need relief. It would be easier to upgrade from Value to DVC v/s Value to Moderate and then Moderate to DVC. My DH says that he thinks that Disney knows it's market and that they are more likely to get new DVC members from the value resorts than the moderates or deluxe resorts.

I thought I would test his theory out on my fellow DIS'ers. So, my question is: What level of resort did you stay at the most before buying into DVC?

Edited to Add *blush* I meant "FORT Wilderness", not "CAMP Wilderness". *sigh*

 

[dsneygirl]

Your poll didn't allow for multiple options. As you can see from my siggie we stayed at Ft Wilderness(in our tent), value, mod and deluxe. My sister and BIL were both CMs at different times so we usually stayed deluxe on their discount, sometimes we splurged. But paying full price, mod or value.

 

[robinb]

The poll was for which level you stayed at THE MOST before buying DVC.

I'll go ahead and answer myself. It was "Value". We stayed 3 days at All Star Music (my least favorite resort to this day, BTW) but loved it (and WDW!) so much we bought into DVC within 30 days of returning home. That was pre-child too!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Deluxes for us. We stayed mostly at the Poly, but AKL & WL were also in the mix.

MG

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip)... It got me thinking about why Disney was specifically upgrading the values and not (as far as I know) the moderates or deluxes. It could simply be that the values are the resorts which are over-crowded and need relief. I.....

I'm 99.9% sure that they are upgrading because the values are overbooked and because there are still many people calling who want to book the value category. If there is quite a bit of availability left at OKW & SSR (cash inventory), it's a win for Disney to have the rooms occupied during the relatively slow period of September. (Remember it's hurricane season, schools are back in session and a slow time for the parks & restaurants - the reason free dining is offered). Although some who are upgraded may end up becoming DVC members, I do not think this is the primary motivator. It's driven by the resort group, not DVC sales.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I have stayed at all (except camping) but most often it was the values. I still love the value resorts!

 

[DisneyDVCdad]

I miss Dixie Landings errrr Port Orleans Riverside

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think they are upgrading for overbookings too, and if they are going to upgrade, why not upgrade to something that might sell folks on the value of "owning" a piece of the magic with full home amenities? They might become new owners, or at least take the tour!

Oh, and we stayed in Deluxes before we purchased.

 

[mikesmom]

We always stayed offsite - usually in 2 rooms or suite-type arrangements such as Embassy Suites. Sharing a room with a teenage boy for a week was not DHs idea of a fun vacation!

We decided to stay at BWV (on cash!) "just this once" when DS was 16. That pretty much took care of the decision. We all fell hook, line and sinker.

 

[athenna]

I always stayed moderates...Well, as a child when my folks were footing the bill we always stayed at the CR cause it was either that or the Poly or nothing...Once I was an adult, I always stayed at the moderates, I loved them! Never even once stayed at a Value...They hold no appeal to me at all.

 

[dsneygirl]

The poll was for which level you stayed at THE MOST before buying DVC.

Just read the title and not the poll...Since we've been married it looks like a toss up between deluxe and FW

Post DVC we usually add on a moderate at the beginning or end of our stay.

 

[JimC]

Voted moderate because that was our most common resort category over the years pre-DVC membership; but it was actually about an even mix of moderate and deluxe in the year just prior to joining.

 

[Coach Rick]

We had mostly stayed at Orange Lake Country Club Villas, through exchange with RCI. It took once that I won a trip and stayed in ASM, and I was hooked on staying on property. I told my DW, never again would we stay off property, and we haven't thanks to DVC.

 

[Sammie]

The values are severely over booked at that time at the values. Especially Pop Century. This is a Disney decision to relieve over crowding. There is no marketing ploy attached to it by DVC.

If someone, after staying there purchases DVC, then it is a win/win for Disney. But I don't imagine that to be the case. Most that have been upgraded were not even aware of these resorts, and I think if someone was considering a future purchase they would have some idea of the resort.

But to answer your question we stayed deluxe the most prior to purchasing DVC.

 

[Aneille]

I only had been to WDW twice before we bought DVC.

First time was pre-kids we stayed at the WL.

Second time we stayed at the Boardwalk Villa's in a 2 bedroom. We booked direct through WDW.

If we hadn't been staying with my parents the second time we would have stayed Deluxe again I am pretty sure. Even traveling with my parents we had narrowed it down to the Poly, Contempory, BWV, or BCV.

We went BWV since it was cheaper for us to share a room then to have 2 standard rooms at the Poly and we had more space.

Even though it was 50/50 I voted home away from home because if we hadn't bought DVC we were going to rent from a DVC member or pay cash to stay in a 1 bedroom or larger. Our family does not do tight quarters well. We like our space.

 

[snappy]

We have stayed mostly offsite in 4 BR vacation villas. Probably will still do this some when not at BWV. Old habits are hard to break.

 

[bfila]

We almost always stayed at Value resorts. It's a weird thing. We can afford to stay at more dexlue accomodations but I have this frugal problem and when it comes down to it, absolutly MUST book the cheapest trip possible. DVC is a good thing for me.

 

[robinb]

{bumping} For the Monday morning crowd!

 

[Inkmahm]

I've never stayed in a value or moderate. I did stay in Fort Wilderness trailers twice, otherwise it has been Contemporary, AKL, Yacht club, or WL.

Once stayed offsite at Orange something or other club condos. That was pre-DVC and I needed a 3 bedroom place big enough to hold me and my brother with his family. It was much cheaper than finding a place onsite for 7 of us, but I missed being onsite.

 

[Anthony1971]

Mostly the Poly. and sometimes Cont.-although I am not a big fan there is just something different about the Cont. we also satyed in a Mod twice and a Value once. I do not think Dinsey is trying to sell the people they are upgrading BUT I think DVC can be a big selling point for this group as it is affordable and whne you lay it all out the cost is not much higher and they can have more room... the values are always booked and overbooked for free dinning as it is a great deal if you eat on disney property already and at least some TS. We bought because the Poly is just expensive period and there other things we could do with the money like go to Disney twice a year