Using DVC as a base for US visit!

[peabody58]

DW has been wanting to do the whole Harry Potter experiences at US, and truth be told, I've been wanting to check out the US parks as I haven't been since 1994. We're not into extreme thrill rides anymore, but we do look forward to a lot of what US has to offer. Sorta a bucket list thing to do.

After many pro/con comparisons and numerous DVC/Lowes/Other cost options for our travel style, staying a week at SSR in Sept 2017 wins out - financially and logistically; even when factoring in the purchase of 24 one-time use points ($360). We'll have a car (convertible!!) and plan on 3 park days at US, and at least one of those days staying late to experience City Walk.

We're also planning on 2 days of WDW water park fun (lazy river) using our No-Expire+ tickets. No WDW park days planned, even though AK Pandora should be open. We still have 6 park tickets each remaining, and would really prefer to save those for later trips. Also our TIW card from 9/2016 will still be active so lots of good eats to be enjoyed!!

Now since we haven't had to buy tickets for ourselves since 2012 (we stocked up prior to retirement), the US tics were an eye opener. Including US parking (never had to pay at WDW w/DVC), US works out to $93 day/person (3 day PtoP)!! Between our No-Expire tics and numerous APs (past and future) our WDW park day costs have or will range from $17 - $33 day/person. Heck the 5 day MYW tickets we got for our kids this last Sept worked out to only $64 day/person.

So happy our DVC membership is available to have a great villa 'in the bubble' while escaping to the 'competition'. We look forward to US in 2017, but are already planning a May 2018 WDW only trip!!

 

[zavandor]

I think your plan is a clever way to enjoy US saving as much as possible.
But staying on site at US gives a few advantages. The Deluxe hotels give an unlimited Express Pass, which is really great during peak times but for September probably it wouldn't save a lot of time. I had it in January two years ago and the difference was 5 minutes wait vs 10 in stand by at most. But all hotels give early entry to one of the two HP minilands and that is worthy every time of the year. Also, not having to deal with transportation to and from the parks is a nice perk, the resort is all walkable.
For my upcoming trip (8 days, single digit dance! ) I've rented the points I would have used for a 2 nights stay in a DVC resort and I've booked instead two nights at Cabana Bay with the proceedings. Maybe it's something to consider for a future trip.
I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip a lot, the WWoHP is amazing, Diagon Alley is just perfect. However, you say you don't do the thrill rides anymore. It really depends on what you consider thrilling: Fobidden Jurney can be rough (I cannot do it three times in a row due to motion sickness) and there are times when you go nearly upside down. Escape from Gringott has a couple of drops, if I remember right, not scarier than the Big Thunder Mountains, but still not a plain dark ride.

 

[com_op_2000]

I 2nd the staying onsite at US for all the same reason as PP.
You might want to think about 2 nights at a deluxe US hotel, that will give you three days worth of express passes/early entry to the parks and then move over to SSR for the rest of your stay.

 

[peabody58]

Thank you, all excellent points to consider. Yes, the Express Pass was factored into our Pro/Con evaluation. With it being a Sept trip, it didn't weigh very high. We off-set the lack of Express Pass by getting a 3 day Park to Park tic, thereby ensuring we could take things at a leisurely pace even with potentially longer line waits. We suffer most from motion sickness these days (no-nos include Space Mountain, Star Tours, Mission to Mars, Expedition Everest). As my DW is not an early morning person, early entry was also not a serious factor. We did consider the 2 - 3 nights at a deluxe US hotel, but we wanted to spread out our 3 days at US parks over the 7 day week. At 59 years old, we like to chill between park days and just enjoy the resorts, pool and water park lazy river. The drive to/from US won't be so bad as we can have the top down and treat it like an E-ticket ride!

Again, vacation planning is highly subjective and unique to each family. For us and for this particular trip, we are thrilled that we can use DVC to help us experience more of Orlando's attractions within a retiree's budget. This trip may lay the ground work for a future US hotel only trip, but for now we sleep with the RAT!

 

[bumbershoot]

This trip may lay the ground work for a future US hotel only trip, but for now we sleep with the RAT!

Well, I warn you...once you do stay onsite at Uni you're going to wonder why you ever stayed at wdw. The onsite perks at Uni are so much better than the onsite perks at wdw.

I would not do your plan. I could not. For my family express pass is everything, even if it shaves off just minutes from each line. And as the day goes on it usually shaves off more than that!

 

[peabody58]

I would not do your plan. I could not.

Best laid plans of mice and men..... DW must have heard you and has now thrown a wrench into my 'perfect' plan by moving our future AP year start time, which changes up the whole amount of DVC points needed, and she now wants a 1 BR at WDW to relax more from our 'stressful' vacation.

While I stand by my original plan, I am now trying to figure out how to do 3 nights at RPR (currently $827), and then 4 nights at WDW and still remain close to budget. It's all about keeping mamma happy! Good news is I have plenty of time to figure this out, and hopefully RPR rates will come down a bit. It's only money right!

 

[Dean]

Best laid plans of mice and men..... DW must have heard you and has now thrown a wrench into my 'perfect' plan by moving our future AP year start time, which changes up the whole amount of DVC points needed, and she now wants a 1 BR at WDW to relax more from our 'stressful' vacation.

While I stand by my original plan, I am now trying to figure out how to do 3 nights at RPR (currently $827), and then 4 nights at WDW and still remain close to budget. It's all about keeping mamma happy! Good news is I have plenty of time to figure this out, and hopefully RPR rates will come down a bit. It's only money right!

I would not stay onsite at WDW with a significant portion designed for US. I'd either stay onsite at US or somewhere off property then possibly move to WDW for that portion.

 

[Mjkre]

RPR is a beautiful hotel. You could cancel the car, save the money on that and parking. Just take a cab to Uni from Disney or vice versa. Boat or walk to parks are both relaxing. The whole vibe at Universal is more relaxing then Disney, imho. That being said, Universal hotels and tix can certainly seem expensive when compared to DVC and non expiring tix! Btw, AK and OKW one bedrooms are less points than SSR, I think.

Also, staying at Universal three nights gets you 4 days of express pass. Love that Express Pass--it's very liberating to not have to rush from point a to b. But, it won't work on Gringotts or FJ. Skip FJ if prone to motion sickness but do castle walk through. Do Gringotts--I have severe motion sickness issues and do usually take Bonine. I had no issues on Gringotts. And it is one of the best rides--most fun--I have ever been on. Go to Diagon Alley at night--amazing.

Also, one other thought. You could stay at Saphire Falls. It's supposed to be very nice. No early access, but you can walk or take boat. Also, it is sometimes much cheaper then RPR and may be more budget friendly for you.

Finally, if you are going for three or four days, look at cost of AP for universal. There are often times significant AP discounts at the hotels that can make it very worthwhile. And you only need one AP to get the discount. Just plug in Aph rate code and see what comes up. You do not need the AP to book the hotel--just show it when u get it. But the AP rates usually aren't posted until a couple of months out.

Have fun!!!

 

[peabody58]

Thanks Mjkre. We drive down from GA so we have to utilize on-site parking. DW has written off OKW due to no elevators. We've done AK several times and are looking for a change of pace. Appreciate the ride insights. We'll be doing a lot of research before hand.

So now the DW throws me another curve-ball. She says shes tired of doing long 7 - 11 day vacations!! Since we live in GA, she says we can just drive down more frequently for shorter 5 day trips. Yes that's true, but it also increases the overall costs, reduces park/resort optimization and requires more advanced planning, however she doesn't think that's an issue.

My apologies to this post category as I was originally excited to share DVC utilization insights and now in less than 72 hours since ordering our US tics, I am looking at a 5 day US RPR only visit that has no DVC content at all. I will however post updates once we figure this out.

 

[Mjkre]

If you are going for five days, definitely upgrade to APs. LOl, In the time it took me to post before, I also added another Universal night on to our previously all and relatively cheap DVC stay!