NEW Rejected Offers Thread

[disneylandtour]

I believe it's clearly the nature of the Disney Parks Resort experience. I know I've read that the reason most OKW rooms are larger than most other DVC resorts, including larger kitchens and eating areas, is Disney started with the expectation that people would use DVC the way they use other timeshares. But they (we) don't. Yes, some people do a lot of cooking and non-park vacations are a thing. But it turns out that overall people don't see DVC as a way to fundamentally change their WDW vacation experience. It's mostly just a way to prepay for WDW hotels, and eventually (probably) come out ahead. The kitchens, laundry and other features are a bonus but almost never the point.
I don't think Disney has ever really tried to market their way into changing this. Instead, they leaned into it, making DVC units overall and especially studios less and less like a true home away from home. It turned out that having a full kitchen or even actual refrigerator in some studios does not move the needle on selling more direct points.

Absolutely, when DVC opened, they believed that a two-bedroom would be the most popular option and the minimum points sold for any direct contract (at 220) underscored that belief. The exact opposite proved to be true. Studios were the most popular. Also, the early DVC resorts feel far more like condo communities (home away from home)--a vibe that didn't play out that well--and the more recent DVC resorts all feel far more like resort hotels. I like OKW, but whenever I drive in, I also feel like I'm going back to a condo I rented just after grad school. It has that feel. At Disney I think a lot of people want to feel they are away from home (not in a home away from home).

If you have young kids or a very large family, the kitchen matters more, IMO. But if you're a couple or traveling solo, far less so. I think this also changed when Disney got far better dining options in the early 2000s. The laundry option, though, is pretty big. I was at Jambo for six days in April. I did laundry twice--and still went home with some clothes that needed to be washed. Don't need the kitchen that much--but the community laundry down the hall is essential.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Absolutely, when DVC opened, they believed that a two-bedroom would be the most popular option and the minimum points sold for any direct contract (at 220) underscored that belief. The exact opposite proved to be true. Studios were the most popular. Also, the early DVC resorts feel far more like condo communities (home away from home)--a vibe that didn't play out that well--and the more recent DVC resorts all feel far more like resort hotels. I like OKW, but whenever I drive in, I also feel like I'm going back to a condo I rented just after grad school. It has that feel. At Disney I think a lot of people want to feel they are away from home (not in a home away from home).

If you have young kids or a very large family, the kitchen matters more, IMO. But if you're a couple or traveling solo, far less so. I think this also changed when Disney got far better dining options in the early 2000s. The laundry option, though, is pretty big. I was at Jambo for six days in April. I did laundry twice--and still went home with some clothes that needed to be washed. Don't need the kitchen that much--but the community laundry down the hall is essential.

I’m not a make a huge breakfast at home person no chance I am as happy to make breakfast in my dvc room as those people are in the ads. Now room service breakfast that’s another story all smiles there

 

[cheryl.UK]

We are UK members and our vacations are 3-4 weeks so having a larger space where we can chill some mornings/evenings, somewhere to do laundry and prepare breakfast is important to us. Lots of Brits rent villas for this reason but we like to be in the Disney bubble. DVC allows us the best of both worlds. We definitely don't just want a hotel room. At least half of our holiday is spent in a one bed, usually the second half when we get a bit lazier about early starts.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Absolutely, when DVC opened, they believed that a two-bedroom would be the most popular option and the minimum points sold for any direct contract (at 220) underscored that belief. The exact opposite proved to be true. Studios were the most popular. Also, the early DVC resorts feel far more like condo communities (home away from home)--a vibe that didn't play out that well--and the more recent DVC resorts all feel far more like resort hotels. I like OKW, but whenever I drive in, I also feel like I'm going back to a condo I rented just after grad school. It has that feel. At Disney I think a lot of people want to feel they are away from home (not in a home away from home).

If you have young kids or a very large family, the kitchen matters more, IMO. But if you're a couple or traveling solo, far less so. I think this also changed when Disney got far better dining options in the early 2000s. The laundry option, though, is pretty big. I was at Jambo for six days in April. I did laundry twice--and still went home with some clothes that needed to be washed. Don't need the kitchen that much--but the community laundry down the hall is essential.

We are probably not the typical DVC owners. We love the feel of OKW and SSR. We dislike tower resorts. We love the condo feel. We fully use our kitchen as two adults in our 50s we enjoy taking the time and cooking breakfast every morning of our vacation. We are okay with studios but prefer to stay in 1 bedrooms.