USA Today........questions and answers on WDW and DVC.

[ncligs]

Thought this was pretty intresting from a "so called "Disney expert".

http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20021203005/tscript.htm

P.S. He is not to fond of DVC........

 

[ripleysmom]

I'll bet he's never even toured the models.

 

[lisajl]

It sounds like he is not even a fan of WDW. He keeps saying things live "you are a brave soul"...for people who want to take their kids there at Christmas time.
Give me a break! This is the only time we can go!
What a jerk this guy seems to be.

Lisajl

 

[Pig Pen]

This guy gets paid for this??????

Someone should post the mousesavers site for some of these poor souls.

We should write a book, for god's sakes.

And who the heck can take an "annual vacation" for the price of dues? Well, maybe if you stay at the Roach Motels on 192.

I guess I better go to bed.

 

[Regina]

The sad part is that people think that he's an "expert" and take his word as gospel. His reasoning for dismissing DVC is sooo off base, it's obvious he has no clue as to how it works.

So.....do you think that he has an "in" at the Holiday Inns?? How many times did he recommend them?? I lost count at 463

 

[Granny]

There was a part of me that indeed was sad that so many people would read this in a newspaper such as USA Today and be given such a biased viewpoint.

This guy wrote "WDW for Dummies"? I guess that says it all!

 

[SimbaNoodle]

For someone who claims to have been and done so much, he sure doesn't get why we all go to WDW.

I usually spend more in food and gifts than my dues cost per year.

That guy is nuts.

 

[Granny]

SimbaNoodle....

There are many people who go to WDW just because their kids want to go. Or so they can check off the box on their "Child Raising List" that says "Take Kids to Disney World". So for those people, this guy is probably a good source to figure out how to do that as "painlessly" as possible.

Obviously, his target audience is not those who feel that WDW is a quality vacation destination. And certainly not those who think that staying on-site is worth any more than staying at the cheapest place that the kids and wife won't whine about!

 

[erikthewise]

Obviously he is an expert, if he knows how to take a WDW trip for the cost of annual dues. In our case, it doesn't even cover our airfare. Apparently he's thinking of driving from Miami, staying at a Sleep Inn, spending two days in the parks, and eating nothing but fast food.

Granny, perhaps it was <I>"WDW <B>by</B> Dummies"</I>.
Hey, what a great idea! This could lead to a whole new line of books...

 

[sgtpet]

Relax folks the man is allowed to express his opinion. I have tried to convince friends and family to join but they feel it is better to wait for discount codes or to stay at an offsite motel.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Like I said on another post negative comments on this site are never welcome that is why this site never presents a balanced position on anything. While his dues paying for a vacation is off base, I agree that anyone that goes to WDW during Christmas are brave souls, I have done it once, and once was enough, I am talking about Christmas week, and as far as DVC well buying in at this time for what amounts to just leasing points can be argued not to be a smart thing to do. But at the risk of getting called all sorts of names i will sign off now.

 

[Lisa F]

I especially like his quote to the man with the pregnant wife that packages are some of the better deals out there. Hello???

Lisa

 

[anniet]

"There's a hefty buy-in based on how many points you want, plus the equivalent of annual maintenance fees almost as expensive as the annual vacation."

well the "hefty buy in" price was 1/2 the cost of my last car, and I'll have DVC for forty years, and my car for five if I'm lucky.

And my annual dues are about $400 and I'm staying for 10 days in a much more upscale room than I ever have before......


Alas, I think I know more about DVC and WDW than this guy does.

 

[KNWVIKING]

He doesn't like paying $2.50 for a bottle of water-neither do I. He recommended some off-site properties as well as on-site- that's his job. His ONE comment about DVC wasn't totally off base- buyers should want to be in Mickey Mayhem for the next 20-30 years- that's a very true statement. DVC's current buy in price is high. And if you were inclined to do WDW staying off-site,eating at off-site fast food joints,etc, you could do WDW cheaper then the dues.

 

[KNWVIKING]

...how are your annual dues only $400.00 and how does that number of points get you 10 days ?

 

[WDWguru]

As a newspaper employee of several years, might I suggest writing two letters? One a letter to the editor, short and sweet, for print/online use, the second to their reader advocate (or ombudsman) who is in charge of reader relations. The first would serve to inform other readers, the second to suggest that perhaps USAToday get a better "expert" next time.

The key is to keep anything short, to the point and as devoid of emotion as possible. Also, the quicker the better or the article/discussion will be too far out of readers' minds. Be passionate, but professional, and your point will come across better and have an excellent chance of getting results.

Letters to the editor can be composed online at http://contact.usatoday.com/feedback/print/feedback-form.asp?type=USAT+-+LT

Also, there is a chat feedback form at http://contact.usatoday.com/feedback/online/feedback.asp?type=chat

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
...how are your annual dues only $400.00 and how does that number of points get you 10 days ?

"about" $400- they were $475.20 this year, to be exact, but maybe that was because I bought in March? I only bought 150 points. It's still lower than the $590 plus tax I would have paid at the Tropical Palms where we usually stay, and as I said, VWL are far superior accomodations.

10 days in January in a studio (2 adults/no kids) at VWL =140 points, I still have 10 to bank.

That was one of the big selling points for me, we only go in January or September.

 

[Sharper]

So I think we need to defer to his "wisdom." Okay, rest of the world, Disney World is too crowded and too expensive, so don't go. I wouldn't mind if a few clueless people believed him and gave us a teensy bit more breathing room!

For the most part, I think people will take his words with a grain or salt. I know I stopped reading less than halfway through when I found more than one inaccurate statement.

 

[jcodespoti]

I do find it funny that people get very upset about paying $2.50 for bottled water. I don't like to pay $2.50 for bottled water either, however thats actually cheap compared to some places around here.
A ticket to yankee staduim (the bleachers no less) is $15.00., the good seats cost as much as a 1 day pass to the parks about $50.00 a beer (not many beers) is $5.75!!! (12 oz..maybe) a stinkin hot dog is $4.00. My point is yes WDW can be expensive but so is everthing else.


Joe in CT

 

[golfnut1264]

I wish people listen to this guy and stop going to Disney so when I go I wont have to wait in lines. Disney is exspensive but I love it and my 7 yr old twins do too. I wish it was less crowded and maybe less exspensive but it is what it is. I bring my own bottle water instead of paying 2.50 for a bottle. This guy has very few good things too say about Disney. all negativity..i would not give hima dollar for his books..