Lack of Food Courts at DVC Resorts

[NJDisneyFreak93]

Reading reviews on allears.net I was surprised to see how many people were disappointed by the lack of food court or quick service options at DVC resorts I.e. Old Key West and Boardwalk Villas.

In my opinion this disappointment is caused by improper research or being a new visitor to DVC villas. What I believe is that people arent prepared to have a full kitchen at their disposal and when they finally discover it they don't know how to use it to their advantage. Here are some tips to counter the disappointment of a lack of quick service or food court at DVC resorts.

1) if possible make a trip to a nearby grocery store to stock up breakfast and snack foods. If your on a tight budget get food to last your whole trip and eat in whenever possible.
2)eat breakfast in your room not only again is it cheaper but it saves from being stressed in the morning getting ready and getting out to eat
3)even if you don't eat big meals in your room at least stack up on quick meals and snacks for a late night snack or mid day meal

Being a DVC member has many perks which often go undiscovered careful planning and preparation can make the trip to the world that much more magical

 

[amym2]

Excited about our first DVC stay this October and while we do plan to make some meals in our villa, sometimes it's nice to just say forget it, and grab something someone else has made. Because reality is, it's me who does the cooking while the rest of my family is relaxing... and I'd like a vacation, too!

 

[kbknepp]

On our last trip we stayed at SSR and LOVED the fact that we had a full kitchen. To save time (not money) we had Garden Grocer deliver groceries the day we arrived. We ate all our breakfasts (except one character breakfast) and a good deal of our lunches in our room. It was so nice to not have to figure out where to eat and plan ahead with ADRs. We didn't mind that SSR didn't have a full food court. I think I would always prefer a kitchen, given the opportunity.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

We are staying at BLT next year. We plan on having breakfast in our room to save time. I have to agree with the PP and I want a vacation too

 

[Deb & Bill]

Reading reviews on allears.net I was surprised to see how many people were disappointed by the lack of food court or quick service options at DVC resorts I.e. Old Key West and Boardwalk Villas.

In my opinion this disappointment is caused by improper research or being a new visitor to DVC villas. What I believe is that people arent prepared to have a full kitchen at their disposal and when they finally discover it they don't know how to use it to their advantage. Here are some tips to counter the disappointment of a lack of quick service or food court at DVC resorts.

1) if possible make a trip to a nearby grocery store to stock up breakfast and snack foods. If your on a tight budget get food to last your whole trip and eat in whenever possible.
2)eat breakfast in your room not only again is it cheaper but it saves from being stressed in the morning getting ready and getting out to eat
3)even if you don't eat big meals in your room at least stack up on quick meals and snacks for a late night snack or mid day meal

Being a DVC member has many perks which often go undiscovered careful planning and preparation can make the trip to the world that much more magical

DVC resorts are considered deluxe villas. Deluxe resorts do not have food courts. They may have limited counter service and one or two table service restaurants.

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

I understand where your coming from my mom also feels the same way she wants her vacation too, I was just posting the quick tips around the idea that you would make something quick like cereal or bagel not a huge breakfast. My sister and I are 16 and 19 and capable of making our own breakfast so maybe my tips were geared more forward a family with 2 teens rather then a family with young kids. I hope this clears up where my point of view was coming from, I love hearing other people's pov because I realize my parents never had it easy like they do now when me and my sister were younger

 

[twinboysmom]

I have been a DVC member for 10 plus years and it bothers me that the quick service options are as poor as they are at DVC resorts. Not all DVC units have kitchens (a kitchenette is not a kitchen) and just because my one, two, or three bedroom villa has a full kitchen does not mean I want to use it.

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

I have been a DVC member for 10 plus years and it bothers me that the quick service options are as poor as they are at DVC resorts. Not all DVC units have kitchens (a kitchenette is not a kitchen) and just because my one, two, or three bedroom villa has a full kitchen does not mean I want to use it.

I agree and I honestly forgot about the kitchenette in some rooms. It's a shame that the only DVC resort that has a decent quick service option is villas at the wilderness lodge. I'm starting to realize others point of view I guess I'm a little surprised that non DVC members would stay in DVC resorts payIng strictly on cost and not give any consideration to using the kitchen to their advantage.

In the future I'd like to see every resort have a food court option (port Orleans riversides's is the best) whether it's a DVC resort or not

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have been a DVC member for 10 plus years and it bothers me that the quick service options are as poor as they are at DVC resorts. Not all DVC units have kitchens (a kitchenette is not a kitchen) and just because my one, two, or three bedroom villa has a full kitchen does not mean I want to use it.

It's a timeshare, not a hotel. You can always drive over to the value and moderate resorts and eat at their food courts.

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

Why stay at. A DVC resort in the first place... Your argument is irrelevant and makes no sense

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

My whole point to this post was to inform people how to counter not having a lot of counter service or food courts in a DVC resort and how to use the kitchen/kitchenette to make up for not having these options and I feel that wasn't made clear in my original post.

Also the whole idea of going to another resort for a quick service meal or to use the food court is strange considering you choose a DVC resort over a deluxe resort with a food court do you see what I trying to say

 

[Deb & Bill]

Why stay at. A DVC resort in the first place... Your argument is irrelevant and makes no sense

It's a timeshare, not a hotel. People buy into DVC to lock in their costs of lodging because they plan to go there year after year. Other non-members who stay there want the amenities of the villas, separate bedrooms, kitchens, washers and dryers in the unit, etc. Any extras at the resort costs the members of that resort.

Hotels pass the cost of the amenities of the resort along in the per night cost to guests who stay there.

 

[Lynne M]

The deluxes don't have food courts, either. They're only found in the moderates and values. Most deluxes have a quick service location, with a limited selection.

I believe the thinking when the first DVC resorts (OKW, BWV) were built was that guests would be cooking and eating in their villas a lot, and stocking their own groceries. Therefore, not much need for a great variety of quick service offerings. DVC villas that were built later have either a quick service of their own (SSR), or have access to the quick service locations in the attached non-DVC resorts (VWL, BLT, AKV, BC).

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

It's a timeshare, not a hotel. People buy into DVC to lock in their costs of lodging because they plan to go there year after year. Other non-members who stay there want the amenities of the villas, separate bedrooms, kitchens, washers and dryers in the unit, etc. Any extras at the resort costs the members of that resort.

Ok so were back at square one why would a non-member stay at a DVC resort if they don't intend to use the kitchen and instead are expecting amenities in the resort like a big selection at quick service or food court

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ok so were back at square one why would a non-member stay at a DVC resort if they don't intend to use the kitchen and instead are expecting amenities in the resort like a big selection at quick service or food court

Not really. It's a trade off. If they want separate bedrooms, large, luxurious king sized beds, jacuzzi tubs, etc, they don't get food courts. If they want food courts, they give up the separate, larger bedrooms, king sized beds, jacuzzi tubs, etc.

The Value Family Suite are kind of a hybrid of DVC and value resorts, but not as luxurious as DVC resorts. One separate bedroom, but not a king sized bed (just queen sized), other beds are all convertables. No full kitchen, no washer and dryer.

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

The deluxes don't have food courts, either. They're only found in the moderates and values. Most deluxes have a quick service location, with a limited selection.

I believe the thinking when the first DVC resorts (OKW, BWV) were built was that guests would be cooking and eating in their villas a lot, and stocking their own groceries. Therefore, not much need for a great variety of quick service offerings. DVC villas that were built later have either a quick service of their own (SSR), or have access to the quick service locations in the attached non-DVC resorts (VWL, BLT, AKV, BC).

Thank you Lynn that's what I was trying to get at the fact that people are shocked by lack of food options doesn't make sense. Like you said the older DVC resorts were based upon the idea you stated, eating a majority of meals in your villa and not relying heavily on the resorts food offerings.

To sum up my whole point In this thread I'll leave it by saying people need to research what they are getting in a DVC resort. Yes the amenities are top notch but the way you vacation is completely different between a moderate resort and a DVC resort I.e. the food options

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

Not really. It's a trade off. If they want separate bedrooms, large, luxurious king sized beds, jacuzzi tubs, etc, they don't get food courts. If they want food courts, they give up the separate, larger bedrooms, king sized beds, jacuzzi tubs, etc.

The Value Family Suite are kind of a hybrid of DVC and value resorts, but not as luxurious as DVC resorts. One separate bedroom, but not a king sized bed (just queen sized), other beds are all convertables. No full kitchen, no washer and dryer.

Ok now I'm on the same page sorry it took so long to agree lol. My whole point was to discuss the food options or lack there of in DVC resorts compared to others I didn't take into account the other amenities that people may want in a DVC resort

 

[Tara]

My whole point to this post was to inform people how to counter not having a lot of counter service or food courts in a DVC resort and how to use the kitchen/kitchenette to make up for not having these options and I feel that wasn't made clear in my original post.

Also the whole idea of going to another resort for a quick service meal or to use the food court is strange considering you choose a DVC resort over a deluxe resort with a food court do you see what I trying to say

Most DVC resorts are actually part of deluxe resorts. ONLY OKW and SSR are unaffiliated with deluxe resorts. Of those deluxe resorts, NONE of the hotel rooms have kitchens. So I don't quite understand why you are singling out DVC resorts for not having food courts.

SSR has quick service options at Artist's Palette and at the new pool in the Paddock.
BCV/BC/YC - quick service at Beach Club Marketplace and Hurricane Hanna's pool bar (some limited breakfast items also available at the YC...I can't remember the name of the place just off the lobby)
BWV/BWI - limited quick service at the Bellevue Lounge and Boardwalk Bakery, some QS at the Luna Park pool, pizza window on the Boardwalk
AKV/AKL - quick service at AKL (Mara) and some food options at the AKV Kidani pool
BLT/CR - QS at the CR (Contempo Cafe? Can't remember the name) and some food options at the BLT pool
VWL/WL - QS at Roaring Forks
VGF/GF -QS at Gasparilla's Grill (expanding this venue) and soon to be offered at the feature pool as well

Honestly, I have no idea what the food options are at OKW.

I think people often make the same complaint about deluxe resorts, too.

 

[NJDisneyFreak93]

Guess what I was trying to say was completely ignored from the very beginning although valid points were made

 

[jade1]

Take the new Grand Floridian Villas-I can't see a big value style food court stuck in the middle of that-yuck IMO.