Which WDW resort hotels have you used your points at??!

[Luigi's Girl]

On our next trip we are planning on using some points for a short stay at the Poly.....which got me wondering where other DVC people have stayed using points! Why did you choose that resort? Was it good 'value'? and did you get any sort of room upgrade?!!

Can't wait to hear from you all!
Debsx

When we first bought into DVC our first trip was only 3 or 4 months out and it was Easter Week and we could only get the first 2 nights at our home resort VWL. Instead of waitlisting I just figured we'd "settle" and use our points at GF since I'd always dreamed of staying there and we had enough points to do it. It was very beautiful but, after spending 2 nights in a one bedroom at VWL we weren't as impressed as we thought we would be and were missing VWL! Go figure!

 

[CarolMN]

Hi there-

I'm new to DVC (purchased just this week) and I was wondering what an AP rate is. Everyone abbreviates and I have no darn clue what anyone is talking about. Can someone clue me in? And is there a place to go to look up all the abbreviations that everyone uses?
I feel like I'm most of the time. But I love all the good information that I can figure out!

Donna

Hi, Donna -

First of all Congratulations on your purchase and WELCOME HOME! Welcome to the the DIS DVC FOrum , too.

Here is a link to a list of the more commonly used abbreviations:

Abbreviations

Best wishes -

 

[DizWacko]

I am of the opinion that although DVC is a nice money saver, you are defeating the purpose of "saving money" by using point at DIsney deluxe resorts unless you will lose the points anyway

I will admit that DVC doesnt have a place as magical/exotic as the Polynesian or AKL. When you are tempted to stay at these places, pay cash (ESPECIALLY if you have an AP), it will cost you a lot less than paying rack rate.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I will admit that DVC doesnt have a place as magical/exotic as the Polynesian or AKL.

Ouch...
I respectfully disagree, but we all have our own opinions.

MG

 

[CharlesTD]

We are staying in a Cabin at FT Wilderness I know not the best use of points but my wife really wants to stay there so we are.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We used our points to stay at the Polynesian in 2003. We had already booked the CBR for our 2003 August vacation. In June we found a BWV contract with banked points. By the time we settled and were in the system, it was the end of July/beginning of August. We wanted to use our points and stay at the BW instead of paying cash to stay at the CBR. I casually mentioned that if we couldn't get in the BW maybe we could stay at the Polynesian. That was all my dd's needed to hear. So I just booked the Poly, I never even checked for BW availability. Not that I minded, I love the Polynesian. We had a lovely room in the Figi building overlooking the marina and volcano pool.

 

[Tine731]

I used DVC points to stay at CBR. It was a last minute trip and the points were either use or lose.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have stayed on points only twice, at AKL concierge in order to take the sunrise safari, and I used points in holding. They were due to expire, and it was actually cheaper than if I had paid cash for the room. However, I stayed there in July--that's the second time--and we were not impressed. We had spent the week before that in a grande villa, and nothing would have compared to that!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Exotic-maybe not. But magical- DEFINITELY!!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Exotic-maybe not. But magical- DEFINITELY!!!

I still disagree. In my opinion, VWL/WL is about the best, most exotic theming in all of Disney.

MG

 

[Luigi's Girl]

I still disagree. In my opinion, VWL/WL is about the best, most exotic theming in all of Disney.

MG

I was sticking up for the magnificent VWL. It's is our home resort and we LOVE it! I think we just don't see exotic as meaning the same thing. I agree that the theming is wonderful but when I think exotic, the wilderness is not something that comes to mind. In my first post you could see how we preferred VWL to the GF so you can see I'm on your side. (Not that we're taking sides here, lol)!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I was sticking up for the magnificent VWL. It's is our home resort and we LOVE it! I think we just don't see exotic as meaning the same thing. I agree that the theming is wonderful but when I think exotic, the wilderness is not something that comes to mind. In my first post you could see how we preferred VWL to the GF so you can see I'm on your side. (Not that we're taking sides here, lol)!

Okay Luigi's Girl... Your off the hook!...

MG

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Okay Luigi's Girl... Your off the hook!...

MG

Thanks MG!

 

[KelNottAt]

Long story short: We had to cancel a reservation at the Big Cedar Lodge (Concierge Collection). This left us with over 200 reservation points. We've been chipping away at them by:

Grand Californian before the cruise
Yacht Club for in-laws on New Years Eve
PO-FQ for a friend at work.

We now have one lonely reservation point left that will probably just expire.

Kelley

 

[judydvc]

In June we stayed at the AKL in a savanah view room for 3 nights after 5 nights at the VWL. The AKL was great but so was the VWL. In fact a month after we returned I bought a small add-on at the VWL.

 

[spiceycat]

In Dec, 2000 - we stayed at the Polyn got a Lagoon view for 22 points a night (old schedule) - I though it was a very good value considering the cash price at the time.

I shouldn't have say anything.

a couple of months later DVC came out with a new points schedule - much, much higher and have been sure to update it every year.

In 2000, 1999, 1998 - in my opinion using points for the WDW hotels was a bargin. Now the moderates have never been a bargin. but we got MK view tower room at the Cont for 22 points too.

I haven't stayed in a WDW hotel using points since WDW up it.

 

[Debs Hill]

Thanks for all your replies so far, it's great to hear all your experiences! I think that it's so nice to have the option of using points to experience all these wonderful resorts, rather than having to find the cash! I know it isn't always the most cost effective...........but as someone else said.....whatever gives you pleasure!

I cant wait to stay at the Poly, and we will probably stay at the GF in the future on points, just to experience it!

For those who have used their points to stay at a moderate, what were your impressions? Were you at all disappointed having stayed at the DVC resorts? I'm especially interested in PO/Riverside!

Debsx

 

[spiceycat]

we have stayed at POR several times since joining DVC - but got a nice cash rate.

staying at a DVC resort is definitely the best. If you want to try POR just rent your points and using the cash plan a stay at POR.