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

[spiceycat]

try Pop Century - once - stay in the 50 building.

better parking and getting back and forth to the food court. - don't pay extra for the 60's - not near the parking lot.

get a lake view from the 4th floor.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I love the value resorts! I wish you could stay there on points! The only thing that slightly bummed me out about DVC was that you couldn't stay at the value resorts on points. Of course I've never actaully stayed at a DVC resort yet (I will in ten days though), so I'd be more qualified to comment after splitting our stay between the Boardwalk and Pop Century.

 

[rmontgo892]

Our goal is to stay at all WDW resorts! I thought people were nuts for paying cash for weekends. That was like 10+ years ago though.

People now think we are nuts for having DVC and paying cash for WDW resort stays!

There aren't too many WDW resorts left we haven't tried. Pop, AKL, CS, and ASMovies I think are the only ones left on the to do list. We've even stayed at SoG and Swan and Dolphin and DTD hotels.

I believe it only adds *appreciation* for DVC when ya stay elsewhere, imho! When we have stayed at the Values, for example, and moved to say OKW we were thrilled to be "home!" Even the deluxe resorts vs. a DVC resort makes us glad to go "home." I like NOT having housekeeping knocking on my door or cleaning the room or turndown daily. Who knew?

DVC is the smartest thing Disney ever did! We purchased DVC and vacation more than ever at WDW and pay $$$ to stay at non DVC resorts whether it's weekends or entire weeks!

We are points poor and will be at the Polynesian and the Swan this July!

Happy Planning!!!

 

[jnrrt]

I'm with Spiceycat - try Pop Century once, especially if it's only for a night or two. Then you'll know. THe 50's are great - we stayed there last time and they were close to everything and not as much $ as the 60's. We stayed in the back of the building and that was also good - it cut WAAYY down on the noise, which in my opinion is the worst thing about the values. Soundproofing leaves a lot to be desired and since there are six million kids (some of them my own, so nothing against kids!) in a small area, the back of the building was a big plus. And we could walk along the lake and it was really very peaceful. I think the 60's would drive me crazy with the noise and people and you're paying more too.

Granted, I do think it would be really hard to start with the deluxes and moderates, and go "down" to the values. We've done it the other way since we were in grad school and then paying for grad school, you get the idea. We're looking forward to trying moderates now on the weekends, and renting points last year at BWV is the reason we bought this year (closed yesterday, yea!). But, my goodness, with an AP rate you can stay at a value for around $50 in the off season, and you really can't beat that, especially if you won't be in your room much and it's only for a weekend.

We also try to start at the hotel, and move up to bigger stuff afterward - not such a letdown that way.

We also look at the weekends as an opportunity to try some other resorts. When we first looked into DVC, I wasn't excited about being "locked in" to certain resorts, as it were, since I want to try everything (I'm the girl who will always order the sampler platter and make my husband share so I get to try a bit of everything). But we don't mind moving once, and it'll be a nice way to try the places we wouldn't normally, or could only afford for two nights anyway.