Not ROFR thread - general discussion

[ClaraOswald]

Personally, I like the Disney aspects in the BLT rooms way better than the way they Disney-ified the hotel side of things.

 

[disneylandtour]

Personally, I like the Disney aspects in the BLT rooms way better than the way they Disney-ified the hotel side of things.

Spent three days there last month. Like the photos of Joe Fowler and Roy Disney on the wall. the HUGE down side at the moment--only one ( of two) sets of elevators are open to the public at the moment. And it is very difficult to get an elevator to take your luggage out between 10 and 11 each morning. But that will fix itself.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Personally, I like the Disney aspects in the BLT rooms way better than the way they Disney-ified the hotel side of things.

BLT theming looks great, IMO.

 

[PolyRob]

CR cash rooms are embarrassing.

Agreed. The work also looks shoddy. It's very unfortunate

 

[atthebeachclub]

Tons of small point contracts just got listed. I don't see that too often!

 

[Mouseforward]

Personally, I like the Disney aspects in the BLT rooms way better than the way they Disney-ified the hotel side of things.

It's CR airport terminal feel that turns me off, or closer yet an airpot terminal sitting on top of a convention center. I am excited to try BLT this month as it is removed from CR and I find I gravitate towards "DVC only" resorts like RIV, SSR, OKW. Even BW has a better feel since you are separate from the Inn other than the lobby which is basically a pass through since it is not where the shops and dining are centered.

 

[disneylandtour]

Personally, I like the Disney aspects in the BLT rooms way better than the way they Disney-ified the hotel side of things.

So very much agree!!! Would much rather have Joe Fowler and Roy O. Disney on the wall than Jack Jack.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

We can only hope. I mean…. no one really wants an Avatar experience yet they are putting it into the park because the movies do well….

Wait hope it does happen or hope it doesn’t!? I do not need Disney’s Tomorrowland rethemed like either FF or mid-century modern…. I don’t think it needs TLC anywhere near as badly as Disney World’s does—but I guess we can all hope together it doesn’t get Avatar theming?

I’m not super in love with the meringue shape they are giving new Space Mtn at Tokyo Disneyland either…but at least it looks more like the future than the past.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Wait hope it does happen or hope it doesn’t!? I do not need Disney’s Tomorrowland rethemed like either FF or mid-century modern…. I don’t think it needs TLC anywhere near as badly as Disney World’s does—but I guess we can all hope together it doesn’t get Avatar theming?

I’m not super in love with the meringue shape they are giving new Space Mtn at Tokyo Disneyland either…but at least it looks more like the future than the past.

TL DL is already mid-century modern theming… I would 100% be OK with using F4 as an IP to breathe some life into it.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

We did the “tour” the other day. Guide was great until the pricing chat.

We from no pressure to high pretty quick. Including telling me the current incentives are only valid for a few days and the use year I would want isn’t ideal and I should have the one they are selling.

Was honest mind you and said can cancel before 10 days. I can see how people get carried away.

But the $200 gift card was in my email almost instantly. So a few rounds of drinks on Mickey for an hour of my time. Can’t complain!

 

[Carouselofplanning]

I need some advice from the experts here. I am not a DVC member but I am now convinced I need to be. My family loves Disney. We are in the northeast so we primarily go to Disney World 1x a year usually, occasionally a 2nd trip happens but not usually. We stay Deluxe. I have always hesitated to buy DVC because quite frankly I was unaware of the resale market and I honestly think direct is significantly overpriced.

I love the hotels at WDW, but none have “wowed” me. The entire place wows me but none of them blew me away. And then I went to Aulani. That has the wow factor. It’s 100% Disney’s most impressive property. And Hawaii is great. Never been until now but know I want to go back. Cash stay was a fortune for an OV room. It’s basically the same price as a resale contract for equivalent points to go every other year. We could not go every year the flight is too much in terms of cost and time. On the other hand, I can usually find a decent discount on a cash rate at WDW, except for “high peak” weeks.
Here’s my question to the experts here who I love engaging with on this board: I only want to buy 1 contract to just wade into the DVC waters. Do I buy Aulani or WDW? When I go to HI for the next 10 years I need to go in July-early Aug (peak) due to school break. WDW I can go April, May, June or typically end of Aug. Was thinking if we don’t go to Aulani in a year where we have 2 years of points we can always find a reservation at WDW (no split stays though). True? In non Aulani years, we could just rent points for that stay. Or should I buy WDW because we go there the most? Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I need some advice from the experts here. I am not a DVC member but I am now convinced I need to be. My family loves Disney. We are in the northeast so we primarily go to Disney World 1x a year usually, occasionally a 2nd trip happens but not usually. We stay Deluxe. I have always hesitated to buy DVC because quite frankly I was unaware of the resale market and I honestly think direct is significantly overpriced.

I love the hotels at WDW, but none have “wowed” me. The entire place wows me but none of them blew me away. And then I went to Aulani. That has the wow factor. It’s 100% Disney’s most impressive property. And Hawaii is great. Never been until now but know I want to go back. Cash stay was a fortune for an OV room. It’s basically the same price as a resale contract for equivalent points to go every other year. We could not go every year the flight is too much in terms of cost and time. On the other hand, I can usually find a decent discount on a cash rate at WDW, except for “high peak” weeks.
Here’s my question to the experts here who I love engaging with on this board: I only want to buy 1 contract to just wade into the DVC waters. Do I buy Aulani or WDW? When I go to HI for the next 10 years I need to go in July-early Aug (peak) due to school break. WDW I can go April, May, June or typically end of Aug. Was thinking if we don’t go to Aulani in a year where we have 2 years of points we can always find a reservation at WDW (no split stays though). True? In non Aulani years, we could just rent points for that stay. Or should I buy WDW because we go there the most? Any thoughts appreciated!

The best answer is to own both WDW and AUL. But if you want to own only one I would buy Aulani. I wouldn't even rent Aulani because to me personally any money spent can be money put towards owning there. If you need to go to Aulani at a certain time year you have just one option.. Aulani. If you need to go to WDW a certain time of year you have many options so the odds are better at 7 months in WDW.

My advice is I would negotiate hard for a great deal at Aulani or if you have it in you, go after a subsidized Aulani contract.

 

[disneylandtour]

We did the “tour” the other day. Guide was great until the pricing chat.

We from no pressure to high pretty quick. Including telling me the current incentives are only valid for a few days and the use year I would want isn’t ideal and I should have the one they are selling.

Was honest mind you and said can cancel before 10 days. I can see how people get carried away.

But the $200 gift card was in my email almost instantly. So a few rounds of drinks on Mickey for an hour of my time. Can’t complain!

In terms of high pressure, this never used to be the case. I went about a year ago and sat through a presentation so I could see the models of the Poly Tower rooms. It really felt like they hired a bunch of salespeople from some other timeshare company who are now using typical timeshare tactics at Disney.

 

[Mouseforward]

The best answer is to own both WDW and AUL. But if you want to own only one I would buy Aulani. I wouldn't even rent Aulani because to me personally any money spent can be money put towards owning there. If you need to go to Aulani at a certain time year you have just one option.. Aulani. If you need to go to WDW a certain time of year you have many options so the odds are better at 7 months in WDW.

My advice is I would negotiate hard for a great deal at Aulani or if you have it in you, go after a subsidized Aulani contract.

As I read the post I immediately thought @VGCgroupie is going to reply and recommend AUL sub.

She is correct, buy the contract where you want to stay - buy resale AUL and hold out for a subsidized contract. Once you decide - stalk the resale boards like crazy especially on Thursday and Friday

If you truly do not care about the WDW resort - and you are looking at the WDW dates you mentioned- you will be able to get a resort at 7 months.

 

[Maleficent85]

I need some advice from the experts here. I am not a DVC member but I am now convinced I need to be. My family loves Disney. We are in the northeast so we primarily go to Disney World 1x a year usually, occasionally a 2nd trip happens but not usually. We stay Deluxe. I have always hesitated to buy DVC because quite frankly I was unaware of the resale market and I honestly think direct is significantly overpriced.

I love the hotels at WDW, but none have “wowed” me. The entire place wows me but none of them blew me away. And then I went to Aulani. That has the wow factor. It’s 100% Disney’s most impressive property. And Hawaii is great. Never been until now but know I want to go back. Cash stay was a fortune for an OV room. It’s basically the same price as a resale contract for equivalent points to go every other year. We could not go every year the flight is too much in terms of cost and time. On the other hand, I can usually find a decent discount on a cash rate at WDW, except for “high peak” weeks.
Here’s my question to the experts here who I love engaging with on this board: I only want to buy 1 contract to just wade into the DVC waters. Do I buy Aulani or WDW? When I go to HI for the next 10 years I need to go in July-early Aug (peak) due to school break. WDW I can go April, May, June or typically end of Aug. Was thinking if we don’t go to Aulani in a year where we have 2 years of points we can always find a reservation at WDW (no split stays though). True? In non Aulani years, we could just rent points for that stay. Or should I buy WDW because we go there the most? Any thoughts appreciated!

To me it sounds like you probably need to have 2 contracts (1 at Aulani and one at one of the unrestricted WDW resorts (restricted Riviera, Cabins at Fort Wilderness and any future restricted resorts). The restricted resorts can only be used at that resort. If you are going to WDW once or sometimes twice a year and are staying deluxe you would probably be money ahead owning dvc and more than likely wouldn't have the points necessary to book Aulani when the time comes. You could also get away with buying a smaller aulani contract with the intention of only using it at Aulani since you can have up to 3 years of points to utilize with banking and borrowing. Our total cost for our Aulani contracts is $14-$15 per point. For a 1 bedroom oceanview late December- early January is the equivalent of $40-$45 per point with cash! If you are not concerned with having priority at a specific resort Bay Lake Tower and Copper Creek are a great value when you consider cost per point, annual dues and time left on the contracts. As an example of potential saving with dvc vs cash prices the week before Christmas 2024 a studio at the Polynesian was 40% less cost when using an AP discount to book the same view. In mid July this year even with the 40% discounts being offered nothing came close other than a value resort for the points cost of booking a studio at Old Key West. If you were to buy an Aulani contract and a WDW contract I would buy them with the same use year so you can easily combine points at 7 months. Another thing to consider is that for DVC to work well you really need to be planning your trips at least 7 months ahead and if you can book your home resort at 11 months so pick a resort you don't mind stay at for your home. DVC isn't a product that works well if you do last minute trips.

 

[Carouselofplanning]

In terms of high pressure, this never used to be the case. I went about a year ago and sat through a presentation so I could see the models of the Poly Tower rooms. It really felt like they hired a bunch of salespeople from some other timeshare company who are now using typical timeshare tactics at Disney.

Similar experience at Aulani. Did the morning coffee presentation, then a brief chat about how it worked and then numbers came out with super tight deadlines, wanting me of course buy a large contract for the most “savings”. I told the rep I wasn’t making a big financial decision like this on vacation so thanks for the info & I’ll be in touch. Next day voicemail in the room. Day after an email. Next day a hello in the hallway telling me how quick Docusign works. Relax. I told you right out of the gate I’m not buying on the trip. Email day I got home. Pretty persistent.