What Finally Got Me to Decide to Buy Direct

[Girlstar30]

As you guys know, ive been teetering on this for a while whether Direct is really worth it. Ive heard all of the reasons given, Sorcerers pass, being blocked out of future resorts, lounges, member events, discounts and nothing really had me 100%

Then one December evening, we went to Fort Wilderness to attend Hoop dee Holidays and noticed there was a merchandise store nearby. We wandered in and I thought they had the cutest merchandise! Ornaments to add to my tree, cute signs, magnets and even a tire cover! My wife loves camping and we just couldnt let this cute Chip and Dale merchandise we've never seen go without purchasing! The tire cover would look great on our car!

And then it dawned on me that I was blocked out and would never get to stay at this place that I have advertised on my car and in my house! What would we say when a fort lover approached us and began conversating with us about our tire cover? That were only halfway members? That we've never actually stayed here, but thought it was cute?

I told my wife we need to stay immediately to avoid such situations and renting isnt easy to do at a resort that doesnt have too much inventory. And so it was decided.

 

[The Jackal]

Congratulations on your decision to buy direct. We also started with resale and a small direct contract for blue card benefits. We have since made more direct purchases

 

[Girlstar30]

Congratulations on your decision to buy direct. We also started with resale and a small direct contract for blue card benefits. We have since made more direct purchases

Someone who loves Disney as much as me will never regret the purchase Im def in the "why didnt i buy sooner!" Camp

 

[PoppyJ]

Did you buy Fort Wilderness points??

 

[tx911]

As you guys know, ive been teetering on this for a while whether Direct is really worth it. Ive heard all of the reasons given, Sorcerers pass, being blocked out of future resorts, lounges, member events, discounts and nothing really had me 100%

Then one December evening, we went to Fort Wilderness to attend Hoop dee Holidays and noticed there was a merchandise store nearby. We wandered in and I thought they had the cutest merchandise! Ornaments to add to my tree, cute signs, magnets and even a tire cover! My wife loves camping and we just couldnt let this cute Chip and Dale merchandise we've never seen go without purchasing! The tire cover would look great on our car!

And then it dawned on me that I was blocked out and would never get to stay at this place that I have advertised on my car and in my house! What would we say when a fort lover approached us and began conversating with us about our tire cover? That were only halfway members? That we've never actually stayed here, but thought it was cute?

I told my wife we need to stay immediately to avoid such situations and renting isnt easy to do at a resort that doesnt have too much inventory. And so it was decided.

Wait, are you saying you’re buying at the Fort?

 

[Girlstar30]

Did you buy Fort Wilderness points??

Oh I should clarify that I havent actually bought yet, we just decided to purchase for sure at least I can stop over analyzing it

We're going to do the whole straddle this current incentive period with the next one and go with the "better" one. But at least I can stop over analyzing it. And im aware theres going to be a price raise, we're still waiting to see what the next one brings, but it will be during one of the two periods.

Im sure there will be a welcome home weeks shortly after that will be better, but im tired of overanalyzing everything And we are going to buy Poly but stay at the fort sooner than later because I cant be sporting this tire cover and not have stayed there for much longer

 

[Girlstar30]

Wait, are you saying you’re buying at the Fort?

No i should probably delete this post as i was trying to be funny, but it seems like it sounds like I bought already

 

[tx911]

No i should probably delete this post as i was trying to be funny, but it seems like it sounds like I bought already

So you’re buying a Polly to stay at Fort wilderness. That makes sense! Honestly I thought you had already made up your mind.

 

[Girlstar30]

So you’re buying a Polly to stay at Fort wilderness. That makes sense! Honestly I thought you had already made up your mind.

I did, but my wife didnt know we were buying until today

 

[PoppyJ]

Oh I should clarify that I havent actually bought yet, we just decided to purchase for sure at least I can stop over analyzing it

We're going to do the whole straddle this current incentive period with the next one and go with the "better" one. But at least I can stop over analyzing it. And im aware theres going to be a price raise, we're still waiting to see what the next one brings, but it will be during one of the two periods.

Im sure there will be a welcome home weeks shortly after that will be better, but im tired of overanalyzing everything And we are going to buy Poly but stay at the fort sooner than later because I cant be sporting this tire cover and not have stayed there for much longer

I was hoping you were buying there so it wouldn't be so embarrassing if I did... I love the Cabins!

 

[tx911]

I was hoping you were buying there so it wouldn't be so embarrassing if I did... I love the Cabins!

I hope it’s lumped in with Lakeshore Lodge so all the cabin buyers can have the last laugh!

 

[PoppyJ]

I hope it’s lumped in with Lakeshore Lodge so all the cabin buyers can have the last laugh!

I am crossing my fingers!

 

[Girlstar30]

I was hoping you were buying there so it wouldn't be so embarrassing if I did... I love the Cabins!

I was really intrigued by them when we headed over there this month.

We did the holiday sleigh ride and it took us through various cabins that people decorated and went all out. We love the holidays and to decorate and it seems people really love them.

My wife loves camping, me not so much, so I was like maybe this would be a nice compromise to stay here. I get my Disney and she gets the camping feel without us having to actually go camping.

My reservations with thinking about owning there if we love it really would have to do with the layout and lack of washer and dryers. I don't think the mf are going to be so high forever but I also dont believe it will be rolled into LSL so who knows.

What do you like about the cabins? It seems like the people who like them are very die hard love them and that makes me think its something special

 

[Girlstar30]

I hope it’s lumped in with Lakeshore Lodge so all the cabin buyers can have the last laugh!

In my small mind, my reasoning that it wont be lumped is that the island tower is called the Polynesian Island Tower and has the name Polynesian in it.

Since Lakeshore Lodge isnt Fort Wilderness Lodge and they dont bear the same namesake in any capacity, they cant possibly be associated

 

[tx911]

In my small mind, my reasoning that it wont be lumped is that the island tower is called the Polynesian Island Tower and has the name Polynesian in it.

Since Lakeshore Lodge isnt Fort Wilderness Lodge and they dont bear the same namesake in any capacity, they cant possibly be associated

Yeah, I don’t know about that logic but I have to agree with you that I don’t think it’ll be the same association.

 

[Girlstar30]

Yeah, I don’t know about that logic but I have to agree with you that I don’t think it’ll be the same association.

Ok i have more reasonings

I just dont see what one has to do with the other, other than that they're nearby each other? And why would they be revamping the cfw pool, if cfw people are going to be able to utilize an amazing lsl pool.

They've had resorts that are taking forever to sell out ie aulani so why would they care if lsl does

 

[Wedgeout]

With all that new Fort Wilderness goodies, should really hold out and make the direct purchase that new addition there! (No matter the price at that time or its starting dues). Make it ‘your’ resort.

My take on the trust taking in both the CFW and LSL. If they don’t group into the same association, the CFW points will stop selling with buyers all going to LSL. Keep all those points at the resort in one sales bucket.

(To add, must remember this LSL broke ground back in 2020-2021 period. Froze. It would have been completed the same time they decided to take over the cabins & most likely all one association then).

 

[Girlstar30]

With all that new Fort Wilderness goodies, should really hold out and make the direct purchase that new addition there! (No matter the price at that time or its starting dues). Make it ‘your’ resort.

My take on the trust taking in both the CFW and LSL. If they don’t group into the same association, the CFW points will stop selling with buyers all going to LSL. Keep all those points at the resort in one sales bucket.

I should do it just for the Disboards reactions But really I feel like a poser and at least need access to stay there after all this purchasing

Im not the type that only buys my home resort merchandise, I love shopping for Disney merchandise and since i am part of the vacation club and stay at these resorts whenever I want, I dont feel weird purchasing other resorts stuff but as of right now I do feel a little weird sporting that never having stayed there, but I just thought it was really nice.

Interestingly enough, I just realized I have a lot of merchandise in our home from resorts im blocked out of We have the Ratatouille art from the Riviera in our kitchen and I want to buy the beauty and the beast artwork from riv in the one bedroom for our room.

We decided to buy one per trip cuz its a little on the expensive side, but we do appreciate that we get the 20% off ap discount on the Disney fine art!

I think the cfw people really know what they want and theyre loyal to cfw, but I wonder how many of the diehards have already bought when they found out it was being part of dvc and if disney will almost have to lump them together to sell which I guess is a good argument as to why they'll be lumped together, but I still dont think they will be, they should open some bets to this, I would place one

 

[PoppyJ]

I was really intrigued by them when we headed over there this month.

We did the holiday sleigh ride and it took us through various cabins that people decorated and went all out. We love the holidays and to decorate and it seems people really love them.

My wife loves camping, me not so much, so I was like maybe this would be a nice compromise to stay here. I get my Disney and she gets the camping feel without us having to actually go camping.

My reservations with thinking about owning there if we love it really would have to do with the layout and lack of washer and dryers. I don't think the mf are going to be so high forever but I also dont believe it will be rolled into LSL so who knows.

What do you like about the cabins? It seems like the people who like them are very die hard love them and that makes me think its something special

We stayed in the Cabins for the first time in February as half of a split stay between Beach Club and the Cabins.

I liked that the Cabins gave us a completely different Disney experience. We normally are rope drop to closing at the parks. But when we stayed at the Cabins, we just relaxed. I think we took the boat to Magic Kingdom for half a day and that was it (granted we hit the parks hard the first half of our trip).

We only stay in studios (except one time we stayed in a 2-bedroom), so just having the kitchen, living room and large deck was a luxury for us. Though I get it's a downgrade if you're used to staying in a 1-bedroom.

We had so much fun riding around in the golf cart and there are sooooo many fun activities at the Fort.

We usually get a rental car because DH wants one. But then it just sits in the parking lot most of the time. So I like that you can drive right up to your cabin, and then we would likely drive to all the parks except Magic Kingdom.

But the biggest and most important reason why I love the Cabins is that they allow dogs and are free standing so I don't have to worry as much about our dog making noise! This is subject to change because we haven't actually brought our dog yet, but we have a Cabin booked in February for a week and are driving down with our dog. So we'll see how that goes. If it doesn't go well, I'll feel completely differently about the Cabins. I'll still enjoy staying there but it won't be as important to book there.

 

[Girlstar30]

We stayed in the Cabins for the first time in February as half of a split stay between Beach Club and the Cabins.

I liked that the Cabins gave us a completely different Disney experience. We normally are rope drop to closing at the parks. But when we stayed at the Cabins, we just relaxed. I think we took the boat to Magic Kingdom for half a day and that was it (granted we hit the parks hard the first half of our trip).

We only stay in studios (except one time we stayed in a 2-bedroom), so just having the kitchen, living room and large deck was a luxury for us. Though I get it's a downgrade if you're used to staying in a 1-bedroom.

We had so much fun riding around in the golf cart and there are sooooo many fun activities at the Fort.

We usually get a rental car because DH wants one. But then it just sits in the parking lot most of the time. So I like that you can drive right up to your cabin, and then we would likely drive to all the parks except Magic Kingdom.

But the biggest and most important reason why I love the Cabins is that they allow dogs and are free standing so I don't have to worry as much about our dog making noise! This is subject to change because we haven't actually brought our dog yet, but we have a Cabin booked in February for a week and are driving down with our dog. So we'll see how that goes. If it doesn't go well, I'll feel completely differently about the Cabins. I'll still enjoy staying there but it won't be as important to book there.

I love resorts that have a lot of activities as well. There is so much out there. Canoeing, horses, golf carting, wild life. I was really loving the Western vibe out there. We explored it more this time and we're liking what we saw. I also like to BBQ, thats the aspect I like about camping just the gathering around the fireplace, BBQing, talking etc. It seems like a place where a lot of family traditions are made.

If they allowed my cats I think I would be sold ive never done that before, taken them on vacation, but California actually has a lot of cat friendly hotels and were going to try it out in an Airbnb in the mountains next month the cats are def part of the family, would love for them to go. Universal accepts cats so we could do a split stay if they allowed them. You could do that with your dogs if you like universal next time!

Was it hard to get a booking? If it goes well with your dog and you love it, I say go for it, if it gets rolled into lsl you will have scored big time, but regardless if that's what you love then it makes sense!

Our guide actually owns at cfw and he absolutely loves going for the holidays!