Missing "The Old Place"

[gottagodisney]

I was just wondering if after buying into DVC if any members ever miss the old resort they stayed at? I know from reading the boards that the rooms themselves are not even comparable (in DVC favor of course).

Just wondering about theme of resorts and the nostolgic factor from family trips prior to DVC. I know it is still possible to book the "old" hotels although the point value would be killer and never an option for my fiscal self.

Long story short....Do you ever yearn for staying at non-Dvc resorts and have to talk yourself into why DVC resorts are better because that is where you put your money?

 

[megrod74]

While I don't have a favorite "old resort", I do still plan to spend a few nights here and there at some non-DVC hotels. For example, for my husband's birthday we will be staying at SSR for Sun-Thurs then moving to AKL concierge Fri-Sun. So we get to do both

Also, I think it's a great perk to be able to pool-hop most places. That way we can spend the day at at different hotel. We are most likely doing this on our upcoming trip - I plan to spend an afternoon at the Poly, which I've never stayed at.

I think your family will find new favorites and make great memories at the DVC resorts.

 

[FreeTime]

I will never miss staying at the Days Inn Maingate Suites!

 

[dianeschlicht]

In a word NO! After our first OKW stay, we didn't think there was anything that compared. We stayed at AKL a couple years ago for a night, and while it was wonderful to have the animals right outside our door, the decor was too dark and the room too small.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have to say, I really would like to stay at AKL again. We love the resort, but I can't see paying cash to stay there when we can stay at a DVC resort on points. Maybe some trip, we'll go early a day or so and pay cash to stay at AKL before moving to our DVC resort.

 

[gottagodisney]

I will never miss staying at the Days Inn Maingate Suites!

Yes, I can imagine

Thanks for your responses...I learn so much from everyone here.

I am guess trying to talk myself out this obsession with DVC purchase. A detractor(sister) once told me..." You're not going to buy one of those timeshares are you? Why don't you just save your money each year and stay where you want to stay- leave your options open."

Right now we are in a pickle financially - can't afford DVC- although I still envision trips to Disney in the coming years. Somehow in the last 4 years I have managed to be on Disney property 4 times...still no DVC!!

 

[Anthony1971]

I miss the Poly!!!!!!!
although DVC is nice
well if you have satyed there you know why...

 

[lllovell]

Yes, I can imagine

Thanks for your responses...I learn so much from everyone here.

I am guess trying to talk myself out this obsession with DVC purchase. A detractor(sister) once told me..." You're not going to buy one of those timeshares are you? Why don't you just save your money each year and stay where you want to stay- leave your options open."

Right now we are in a pickle financially - can't afford DVC- although I still envision trips to Disney in the coming years. Somehow in the last 4 years I have managed to be on Disney property 4 times...still no DVC!!

Here is one point I would make - will you be able to afford those other hotels in 15 years (figuring at a minimum a 3% increase in hotel rates - industry uses higher figures)? How about 30 years?

We still go down MANY times a year (and weekend stays are NOT on points as I am a point stretcher). With the Annual Pass discount DVC members are not given, I have gotten some great deals on moderates (and even better ones of course on values if that is what you want)!

Smart planning not to get in when you cannot afford it, however, I would keep it in mind and not wait too long.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

gottagodisney -- Have you considered renting points for your next stay to "check it out"? Perhaps that would be a good way to satisfy your curiosity without making the financial committment to DVC right now. If you can stay for five nights (Sun.-Thurs.) during value season, a studio unit could possibly be a lower price than staying at one of the moderate resorts.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The Disney Inn had the largest rooms on property. We stayed there all the time until it was sold to the military. I can't really say I miss the place much but what I do miss is what it represented at the time, which was Disney's desire to give the customer class treatment. The rooms at OKW are much bigger than those at Disney Inn but the class is not there anymore.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was just wondering if after buying into DVC if any members ever miss the old resort they stayed at? I know from reading the boards that the rooms themselves are not even comparable (in DVC favor of course).

Just wondering about theme of resorts and the nostolgic factor from family trips prior to DVC. I know it is still possible to book the "old" hotels although the point value would be killer and never an option for my fiscal self.

Long story short....Do you ever yearn for staying at non-Dvc resorts and have to talk yourself into why DVC resorts are better because that is where you put your money?

Have no fear! I had been a very loyal Dixie Landings lover (OK, POR) and was concerned about this when we joined DVC-on my first solo trip after joining, I even considered going back to POR. However, I decided to change to BCV at the last minute (don't know why) and now I've never looked back. However, I still hold a soft spot in my heart for POR, and in looking for a cash weekend spot to save points this Thanksgiving, I look forward to returning to POR. However, I look forward to getting back to BCV after the weekend more!

 

[athenna]

I kind of thought about this too before buying into DVC. I had always stayed at the moderates and loved them (I much rather have DVC rooms though) but, for example, I've always wanted to stay at the AKL and now I can finally afford too, but won't be. But hey, I can always visit the AKL, and could always stay there for cash maybe on a weekend.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I have to say, I really would like to stay at AKL again. We love the resort, but I can't see paying cash to stay there when we can stay at a DVC resort on points. Maybe some trip, we'll go early a day or so and pay cash to stay at AKL before moving to our DVC resort.

We are staying at AKL our first weekend of our upcoming trip. I don't miss any of the others we stayed at before, but AKL is the one we always want to go back to. And compared to weekend point costs, 2 rooms at AKL (one deluxe savanah, one regular savannah) are running a less than the points costs at BWV (assuming $10 a point), even BWV standard view. Since we're taking my parents and my niece for their first real visits to WDW, the WOW factor of AKL savannah view was a big draw for us the first weekend.

So we still go back and stay at "the old place" on some of those expensive weekends, since we are gonna use all of our points in the next few years anyway. Plus, we got one of the great General Public discounts that was out earlier this year for our nights (have APs but were not willing to wait until they released the AP rates).

 

[RAD]

I miss staying in the CR tower over looking the MK at night and seeing the fireworks

I miss staying at the GF for the atmosphere and just the idea of staying at the GF.

Yes, I miss them but I'll get over it.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We're new enough to DVC that we're still looking forward to our first non-SSR resort this trip - VWL - and our first stay at BWV, and BCV, and OKW, and VB, and HH. I think our need for variety will be sated for a while.

However, our last pre-DVC trip was at the Polynesian, and the theming, layout and general ambience of the place ("Hakuna Matata!") make it a place we'd like to do again. But once again, DVC is an enabler: DVC => Discount on APs => AP Discount on rooms!

And, as others have said, there's no reason you can't spend a few hours at your favorite resorts, either in the pool (when pool hopping is allowed, of course) or just having a meal and/or a drink, or just people-watching. With DVC, you know you'll be back in WDW again, and again, and again....

 

[d-r]

We miss the polly, cont. tower, and maybe even AKL a little bit.

Don't miss paying for them though.

I kind of missed staying at the "regular" wilderness lodge instead of the villas, because you are in the main building. We stayed there our last trip, and that got out of my system a bit. The dvc rooms are just nice and big, it is hard to go back to a regular room.

 

[CharlesTD]

We do actually miss staying at the All Star resorts yes all 3 of them and also staying at Coronado Springs.

 

[wintergreen]

We have actually

used points to stay at AKL. We love DVC, but decided we wanted to stay at AKL on one long weekend trip. We would do this again to stay at other resorts!

 

[bcvillastwo]

We really like the GF and while we haven't stayed there since joining DVC we plan at least on late afternoon or lunch visit every trip. We definitely intend to stay at the GF again sometime but we've been enjoying DVC so much that the 1/2 day visits to GF seem to do the trick.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our sons are grown now, and my favorite memories are from FW, the FW cabins. Even mom, dad and sister, who stayed at GF would come by and play cards with us on rainy afternoons. It was the best of "old" times.

Bobbi