Question for all DVCers who spend wknds on cash at the non-DVC-WDW resorts??

[Scoootch]

Hey all!

Just spent a terrific weekend at POR and thought to myself while we were there....wow...For all the times I've spent double to $$ for wknd stays on cash at the non-DVC resorts but at the deluxe resorts because I'm becoming so spoiled always staying DVC, I was really content being just at the moderates For a shorter stay where we really don't need the extra space or the kitchen, I don't know why I always insist on staying at the deluxes since every time we do, I don't end up using the extra things like room service and such. Now, mind you, we've stayed at the moderates but never tried the value resorts....do any of you stay at the values or have you stayed at the values and regretted it? The thought always crosses my mind that maybe we should try it out since it would be so much less expensive and then I always seem to chicken out And if you did enjoy any of the value resorts...which one and why? If not same thing, how come? Just wondering if we really should try it some time or if we are right to always be chickening out I tend to be one of those people that is of the mindset "if it's not broke - don't fix it" but I'm kind of wondering if I'm not giving it a chance and could be just as happy I don't know.....am I too spoiled by DVC?? Should I only stay at the moderates when I don't want to spend the extra $$ ? Am I becoming a DVC snob?

 

[CarolMN]

Count me in the spoiled group (hoping I'm not considered a snob, LOL) - I only want to stay at a DVC resort when I'm visiting WDW.

If we pay do pay cash for the weekends, it's because we're starting or ending our vacation visting other Florida attractions. This next trip we'll be spending the first Friday and Saturday nights somewhere near Universal.

Best wishes-

 

[ksoehrlein]

I don't know yet, but I'll have an answer at the end of May. I'm taking DD4.5 to Pop Century for her birthday. It will be our first time ever at a value. We've used all our 2005 points and don't want to borrow into 2006 just yet. I think she will enjoy the larger-than-life icons, but I'm worried about my spoiled self. In fact, we had a ressie at Pop last year but I chickened out and booked POR instead. This time, I'm forcing myself to go through with it. (Such torture; 5 days at a Disney Resort, albeit a Value one.)

We spend very little time in the room, and it's just two of us this time, so we won't need the extra space of a moderate. DD can't swim without help yet, so not having a pool slide is actually a benefit for me. Add to that the fact that I got a postcard rate of $59/night, and it's silly to think of staying elsewhere this time.

But I'm sure I will appreciate my next trip "home" all the more!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Wow, thanks so much for your comments. At Thanksgiving, we'll be staying at OKW, then weekend at ???, then 11/27-12-1, BCV. I was thinking of staying at POR, because that's where I used to stay before joining DVC. But lately, I've been thinking of chickening out for more deluxe accomodations. Your comments may have saved me a bunch of money! But as far as values are concerned, for one night, OK, but more than that, no way! I spent 3 nights at ASMusic once, and the best thing I can say about it is that it gave me the idea to look into DVC. DH always makes fun of how "thrifty" (not nicely, it would be called "Cheap") I am. But at ASMusic, I met my match! I just kept shaking my head and saying "THIS is what you get for being such a cheapskate!" Maybe I just had a bad experience there, but I'm not in a rush to go back-ever!!

 

[CarolA]

Personally I don't have a problem with the values. There is no way I am spending what Disney wants now for a deluxe. (For that money, the Ritz Carlton is just down the road and that is TRULY deluxe!)
Don't get me wrong, I like the deluxes, but for the prices now and the lack of good deals.... I would rather go more often then sit there thinking "I paid how much for this room!" LOL!

 

[goofy4tink]

CarolA...we think alike!!! I will use points for one week-end but not two!!! So, we usually finish up at a different resort after our DVC stay. I like AllStarMusic a lot. I stayed there for 5 nights with my dd and had no problem whatsoever. Of course, I don't have to have a sit-down meal every day at my resort and I seldom use the hot tubs anywhere. So, the values get it done for me, so to speak. This June we'll be starting with 7 days at BCV and then over to POR for 2 extra days. We love it there since it was our first Disney resort.

Yes, I love the deluxes but not if I'm paying cash for them. Way too much money imho!!!

 

[patsal]

I kind of mix things up a bit--I have stayed all three on cash and really can't say that the money I've spend on deluxes is worth it--withthe kids we really don't use all the amenities. We have made it our goal to try out all the resorts, so far we have stayed at POP twice, WL, CS, POFQ, AKL and the Dolphin we will try POR and a DTD hotel that had a rate I couldn't resist this summer!
So long as there is something that keeps the kids interest I'm not so sure that deluxes are worth the extra-especially with the very small discounts. AKL was worth every penny but that is the only stay I can say was worth the $$.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I will always use my points first, but if I run short on points, I will pay cash for a room. Of course it would be only logical to pick the weekends for the cash day.

The only hotels we have stayed at are The Poly, WL, AKL, and YC. We may try sampling GF at some future point, and will definitely return to The Poly and AKL.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the mods or value resorts, but I just don't see us staying there.
We really enjoy experiencing the best theming and services that Disney has to offer.

MG

 

[spiceycat]

generally this is the end of our stay - we have stayed in everything value, moderates, deluxes - love each one for different reasons.

I love the Pop Century. I also stayed in the ASMu and it was okay. Pop Century I like - no I love it. Lots and lots of great old memories - I was born in the 50's - so the entire resort is speaking my language...

it has a lake for early morning walks - and it is cute...

I am probably cheaper than you - hey I stay offsite and use my DVC (or PC) for my day trips to WDW.

people expect the Pop Century to be more like the deluxes - it isn't. appreciate it for what it is and you will be fine.

the pool at PC is different - we loved it - others hate it - all 4 sides have steps going into the pool - lots of people have fallen because of them?

the rooms are smaller (it is a value), only one sink in the bathroom area (it is a value) - but the TV is large and I liked the room decorations....

try it!!!

some people love it - others hate it -

 

[Muushka]

Just spent a terrific weekend at POR and thought to myself while we were there....wow...For all the times I've spent double to $$ for wknd stays on cash at the non-DVC resorts but at the deluxe resorts because I'm becoming so spoiled always staying DVC, I was really content being just at the moderates

I agree 100% with your opinion here. We stayed at Dixie Landings this past Dec for a few days and loved it.

do any of you stay at the values or have you stayed at the values and regretted it?

I can answer yes, we regretted it. We tried All Star Music and Sport 2 different times and will not return, no matter how much $$ we are saving.
For us, the moderates are so much nicer. And the deluxe, well...
But I would at least try a value, just to see for yourself.

Am I becoming a DVC snob?

NAAAAAHHHHHHH

 

[Beca]

We have not stayed at the values (yes, I am a total snob), but my parents did this past January. They did for one night at the beginning of their trip....they HATED it!! They were at ASMu. Mom said she felt like her trip didn't really begin until they got to BWV.

Looking at pics on allearsnet, there seems to be a WORLD of difference between the mods and the values.

I don't think they are for me!!



Beca

 

[zcasper]

I concur. I've stayed at the All Star Music and Port Orleans Riverside. There is a big difference in the two. Riverside was very nice for the price we got and wasn't that much more that the value resorts.

 

[CharlesTD]

We go to the All Stars or to Coronado Springs for our weekends we love the all stars and Coronado. All Stars are by far our most favourite resort on property we are trying POP on our next trip. We stayed at Dixi9e Landings back in 98 and hated the place and will never stay there again just not for us we like it to be busy and always something going on. That is why we don't care for OKW either and prefer BWV.

 

[JoEllen]

We have been spoiled by the extra DVC space and for that reason will stay the first two week-end nights of our trip in June at Buena Vista suites and the first two nights of our trip in December at the Marriotts Spring Hill suites. We don't mind doing it at the beginning of our trip and generally plan a non Disney event like golf or Universal for that time.

Part of the problem for us is paying higher points now for peak season times. Teenage DD is in private high school so we can't take advantage of the value times.

 

[newholidayx2]

This Aug DS13 & I are staying 6nights on pts at the VWL, then 2nights cash at the WL, then 6nights pts at the BCV
I didnt want to use points for that wknd in btwn but I will for 1night on ea end

 

[mom2rb]

I want to stay at PO. I had a week-end booked there this September. But I am bringing family and I don't want to make them move for the week-end. So next trip I am going to stay there.

DH and I agreed that when it is just our family we will move, when we bring extended family we will stay. When we do move, we will try a different hotel every time. But never a value. DH says I can stay there if I take the kids without him.

 

[Alexander]

Moderates are a huge step up from the values. I can't say if the deluxes are a huge step up from the moderates because we've done values, moderates and DVC. It is very difficult for me to stay at a value (snob factor here too) but we are trying Pop next week because we don't get in until 1 AM and the room was only $79. Moderates were double and I figured it just wasn't worth it for the whole 10 hours we'll be able to occupy the room. Letcha know how it works out!

 

[jennypenny]

We pay cash for weekend nights for two reasons:

1. We don't like to move on vacation (hubby travels for business and likes it when he can *unpack* his suitcase), and
2. We really like having the 2 rooms you get with a one bedroom. We can't even picture ourselves staying in a studio anymore because of that. I would have no problem staying at a mod or value if they had two room suites, but I can't see us staying in one room anymore (kids are 9, 6, 2). We like to tuck them in at night and then have some quality time. BTW, don't flame me for 5 in a 1bd--my youngest is still 2 !

If you pay for two rooms at another resort, you start to get $$ close to paying for a DVC room (we paid $250/night at WLV last August for a one bedroom). If you add in not having to move, and keeping the food--yes, I cook--then it's an easy decision for us.

Now, all that being said . . .
We are really low on points for this summer's vacation (ok, we have 5 left) so we'll probably stay at WLV because if we have to pay for a few nights at least we could stay at the WL cheaply and then move over to DVC (I think WL is a good deal with AP rates and such).

Jenny

 

[jennypenny]

Wow, the "we only stay in a 1 bedroom" sounded really snobby! I didn't mean it that way. We just trip over ourselves in a regular hotel room, and I really cook most of our meals (we eat out once every other day on vacation) so the full kitchen is a real plus.

Sorry for climbing on the DVC high horse. I'll jump off now . . .

Jenny

 

[Scoootch]

Thanks for all your input! Keep it coming

FWIW, I'm speaking mainly of short wknd trips here...not entire weeks stays. Living so close to WDW now we seem to always be in a constant state of borrowing and since most of our short trips are all these little wknd trips we tend to take, this is why we end up booking cash on the wknds. And since I know lots of us DVCers tend to book cash to avoid the high pt wknd costs anyway, who better to get their opinions on the subject

So far, I'm kinda thinkin' I've been right to chicken out but there's alwlays that little thought in the back of my head wondering if I should just try out a value like PopC one of these days....then I think, what if I do and get to the room and walk in and hate it I love POR...it's like a much less expensive version of the GF to me but not so sure I would go for the values....then there's the little snobby factor of always tending to think...check out the DVC rates first (either with the member discount or if CRO has any deals) and then the deluxes and I keep going down from there....boy oh boy, I really need to do another add on lol but then if I did that, that's all the more points I'd be out of knowing me the more I have, the more I'll use up I'm starting to think I have big time champagne taste and am realizing I only have a wine cooler budget
So anyway...keep all the input coming and Thanks!