Carrie in AZ
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2003
How much longer will you stay on-site?
Forever!! We would never consider staying off-site. The positively love the magic of staying in the Disney resorts and would never consider anywhere else.
How much longer will you stay on-site?
. Is anyone else going to start staying off site, or will you continue to pay Disney's prices?
Just back from a 2 week stay at POP and even though it went well, I won't be staying on-site again! The 3 main reasons are as follows:
1) Noise levels. Disney is just too loud, all the time! Even at the pools, the blaring music, people talking on their speaker phones and kids screaming. Not just playing and normal noise but screaming for extended periods! I can handle the noise at the parks but not 24/7!
2) I really missed having my own pool, spa and vehicle like I have when I stay at Windsor Hills. I also really missed the gym. Plus there is no comparison, Disney is much more expensive even with free dining! Staying 5 minutes off site gives you so much more privacy as well! Disney does not allow you to relax anymore!
3) Being able to prepare and cook my own food. The QSDP gave you ridiculous amounts of food! I never eat that much food in a day, and I can only imagine how much food you would consume or waste if you had the regular DP!
I know I will probably get flamed for my comments, but they are just that, my opinions! A lot of people might like the noise all the time! But if you don't like noise/crowds and need a break from all disney all the time, you really need to consider staying off site. It really gives you the best of both worlds. BTW, I am an AP holder, so if I want to visit disney, I just hop in my car and go! It works for me and countless others!
We go during Value Season when discounts are typically offered. I would never pay rack rate for a deluxe, and will only stay deluxe if I can get a good discount. Room discount at deluxe and buying DDP is always cheaper for us then free dining.
We never paid rack rate for a moderate either. We've always gotten at least 30% off moderates, or free dining.
This Jan, we have 40% off WL room, and not doing the DDP, seeing how that works out for us. We still have TS for dinner every night, but we don't drink Soda, I'd rather have water, and we don't need desserts with lunch and dinner.
If we want a dessert we can share one. Will be interesting to see if we save some.
We have run the numbers on buying DVC a number of times, but we can never justify that amount of money. I think, at this point, it would cost us at least $25,000.00 cash to buy into DVC. We haven't spent that kind of money in 7 years worth of Disney vacations.Someone mentioned the DVC and how Disney seems to be forcing more people into these. I think that is so true and can't figure out why its in Disney's best interest? Even with the rumors of the Poly building DVC rooms and lowering the amount of regular rooms, I don't get it!
Someone mentioned the DVC and how Disney seems to be forcing more people into these. I think that is so true and can't figure out why its in Disney's best interest? Even with the rumors of the Poly building DVC rooms and lowering the amount of regular rooms, I don't get it!
We have run the numbers on buying DVC a number of times, but we can never justify that amount of money. I think, at this point, it would cost us at least $25,000.00 cash to buy into DVC. We haven't spent that kind of money in 7 years worth of Disney vacations.
Of course you haven't, by your signature you've stayed mainly in Values. DVC is not for folks who are happy with value accomadations.Thanks, but no thanks. I'll "invest" my money somewhere else.
I'm sorry, but don't talk to me like I'm some hick who doesn't know the difference between deluxe and value accomdations. We take at least 3 vacations per year and have stayed at many deluxe accomdations in many different vacation destinations. And just because you can technically afford something and have disposable income, doesn't make something a good deal. We have done the DVC tour and well, the "deluxe" Disney accomodations aren't worth the money to us - they just aren't that nice. The value resorts are fun and are worth the money - especially if you are like us and spent almost all of your time in the parks.First, time shares are not an investment. You're right if you are looking for investments than you go to a financial expert not disney. Time shares are basically better accomodations at a prepaid rate. As many dvc'ers will tell you there are financial advantages over the long run. . I don't go if I can't stay at a deluxe. so it's very easy for me to spend 8K on lodging. Over the past 10 years I would have definitely spent 17,000 bucks on my hotel at disney.
Now as to why disney is pushing them.
1) most dvc'ers tend to have disposable income. studies have shown many dvc'ers are not budget travellers. They can be counted on to spend an extra 400 bucks to do a segway tour or behind the scenes tour. so not only do you have a group of people who come back regularly, you have a group of regulars who will drop a wad of cash. Rarely do we book our trip around whether or not we can get free dining.
2) most dvc'ers will also sell their friends and family on disney. Many travel with 2 or 3 generations. It's a clever marketing tool. I get a 2 bedroom, invite my sister and family to vacation with us, not only does disney get the extra people, many times those extra people will buy in.
I'm sorry, but don't talk to me like I'm some hick who doesn't know the difference between deluxe and value accomdations. We take at least 3 vacations per year and have stayed at many deluxe accomdations in many different vacation destinations. And just because you can technically afford something and have disposable income, doesn't make something a good deal. We have done the DVC tour and well, the "deluxe" Disney accomodations aren't worth the money to us - they just aren't that nice. The value resorts are fun and are worth the money - especially if you are like us and spent almost all of your time in the parks.
Different things have different meaning and value to different people. The green heirloom dresses that my girls have on in the picture in my signature cost more money than most people's annual family vacations. A lot of people would not pay thousands of dollars for their children's Easter wardrobe and would call me crazy for doing so, but guess what, that's fine with me and I wouldn't tell them they were too ignorant to know the difference between fine heirloom clothing because they wear Walmart clothing. I would think they just choose to spend their money in some other way, not because they are too ignorant to know the difference.
As usual, another DVCer chip-on-their shoulder response because someone has the audacity to suggest that DVC is not worth the money for what it is.As usually another fine example of getting an answer , not liking the answer and making an assumption. .
NO where did I say the values are not fun. I said if you like staying in them dvc time shares do not make sense. PERIOD!! if you did go to the presentation then your guide would have said the same thing.
NO where did I say you could not afford the deluxes. I said, and I quote "by your signature you've stayed mainly in values". Did I some how misread that?
Stay wherever the heck you want to, why the heck would I care.
TIMESHARES ARE NOT AN INVESTMENT.
The other poster mentioned she didn't understand why disney seems to be pushing "all dvc, all the time" even going so far as reducing the number of regular rooms. Maybe I just should have said, they are a money making for disney but I broke it down into 2 possible reasons.
When you go to the dvc general annual meetings many times they will present "trends" on the average dvc'ers. these include things like how much they spend on other things (I gather they get the information from surveys) I was in no way alluding or insinuating that you could not afford these thing. I apologize if that's what you got from the 2 points.
You notice in my response, the use of the word I. no where did I say "people who stay at values don't know the difference". I said "I don't go if I can't stay in a deluxe so it's easy for me to spend 17K on accomodations"I stand by my original answer. and I have no idea whether you are a hick, uneducated or not. and since I did not call you any thing at all, you went there all by yourself.