Unpopular DVC Opinions

Where to start with this one! I have so many to choose from, here goes:

• The new Polynesian tower just makes me sad. It's the antithesis of Disney where design and creativity are supposed to reign supreme, rather than financial calculations of sellable square feet per dollar invested. I guess some people like the inside, but I think the exterior is an absolute eyesore compared to the beautiful design that surrounds it. It looks like a chain hotel with some features tacked on to attempt to distract from borrowing the blueprints from a Howard Johnson. Ok I'm overdoing but my goodness I really can't stand it.

• I love DVC, but the escalation of the cost per point and the point charts at what are admittedly premium resorts at premium locations has really taken the wind out of my sails in terms of value. I would have liked to add on direct when we needed more points, but for the 200 points we needed that were going to be used mostly at the 7 month window anyway it just didn't make sense.

• Last one shifts gears to corporate - Bob Iger seemed to mostly get away with passing the buck to Bob Chapek in the eyes of Disney fans. But Bob #1 is the one who put the Disney ship into the rocks - an example of a CEO who stayed too long and a la the classic line from the Dark Knight ("You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain") his early successes with acquisitions turned into hubris that led to dramatically overpaying for 20th Century Fox. Some of the things that happened after were uncontrollable - but a lot of the changes people haven't liked over the last 5 years are a result of the financial leverage from that deal along with the acquisition of mostly declining assets that were frankly not suited to the future of entertainment for the most part. Hulu could still eventually redeem the deal for shareholders, but I think for Disney fans it's a huge negative that forced changes that can't be easily undone.

The quick service options around the BWV area are, shall we say, limited.

It's the only place in the Disney bubble I struggle to find chicken fingers for my little ones.

Dont like VDH so much. Views can be very very bad. Materials used in the room are cheap and shoddy. Walk back from the parks in afternoon can be killer since Monorail is very unreliable. And you have to pay the TOT.

Poly Tower and RIV. These could have been Great! But are underwhelming sterile towers. Gone are the days of immersive theming such as at BWV, AKV, WL, etc. BLT gets a pass on this one since it fits in with the Contemporary. PIT not so much.

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge and Grand Californian were all designed by the same architect. I think these are going to be the last great examples of Disney magic.

Lakeshore Lodge is an abomination. It does not fit in at its location. Really kills the vibe at Fort Wilderness. May change my mind when it is completed. I will withhold judgement until then.

I want to go back to the old days where you had to call MS to make reservations. We did not have problems with walking back then. Also you had 11 months from CHECKOUT time not CHECKIN time. That lead to reverse walking! Now commercial owners have bots that can suck up every hard to get reservation. If reservations are not online, no bots. Ok I realize that is a little extreme, but still .........

Agree on Lakeshore Lodge - The overhead shots of the construction and how it sits on top of Fort Wilderness are jarring (and not in a good way).

I really hope the boat transportation doesn't turn into a loop (MK -> WL -> LSL -> FW -> MK). But I'm nervous

I, too, am a little concerned about what the boat transportation looks like once Lakeshore Lodge opens. I hope it doesn't make the lake super crowded.

I think Beach Club is overrated. The DVC rooms aren’t great, no good views. Stormalong Bay is too crowded, the food options aren’t great. The only really good thing is its proximity to EPCOT (which of course is great).

The hallways at Kidani feel SO long-- I can't stay there again. The reason I think this is a silly unpopular opinion is because I know there are also long hallways in other resorts or places with long walks (Pago Pago to GCH for example). There will always be walking at Disney. But the Kidani hallways just make it feel so much longer to me! And AKL is one of my favorite resorts in general! Will just book Jambo when I can haha even though I prefer the Kidani pool to Jambo and Sanaa is always a must visit for my family. We love AKL. Just won't stay Kidani

They feel so long because they are long!, haha.. and I'm completely underwhelmed at the food options there as well. The Kidani pool and the parking garage is nice though, if you can find a good spot.

We stayed at Big Pine Key, my first year being a DVCer. I agree, it is way too LOUD! I loved the theming, the balcony, and being able to watch the fireworks; however, I'm not sure I'll be back.

The points are much higher than other resorts, so is it worth it?

You should not spend your points at resorts that are near the park (monorail or BW or BC) if you are planning to do non-park days. There are much nicer hotels or cheaper options for the premium price you pay to stay in on property.

OKW, SSR and AKL are much better choices for non-park days. They are cheaper points and have a clear separation from the parks.

I'm with you on BCV being overrated. I just finally stayed there. The rooms were nothing special and then we had a smaller balcony with a view of trees. Staring at a bunch of trees 5 feet from the balcony with nothing else in site did not give beachy vibes. Stormalong Bay was kind of cool but I would definitely prefer a regular smaller pool complex. The lazy river is 1000% overrated. I did enjoy walking to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios though. We had a great time but ultimately BCV ranks in the bottom half of my list.

Once we stayed in a studio at KV at the far end of the hall. We could practically reach out of our window and touch Jambo House.

Counter point, Boardwalk and BLT have some very cheap rooms if you're doing some park days at the close parks and other non-park days. You get the best of both worlds.

I'll be there in two weeks to find out for myself. I've stayed in Jambo, and that wasn't actually that long, but it felt endless because there's nothing to break up the hallway.

We’ve only spent one night in Big Pine Key so far and we loved it. We’ve got a staycation coming up this week will report back if we’re in Big Pine Key again if it’s noisy lol 😂

The savannah does not justify the walk to fill a resort mug and the bread service can be replicated with a trip to Trader Joe's.

I think resort mugs in general aren’t worth it, especially when you have a full size fridge in the 1 bedrooms and can buy soda to bring.

We actually invested in one of those refrigerator coolers that are actually refrigerators but small so we show up with a full cooler of cold soda.

It’s paid for itself not to have to buy the resort mugs.

Oh yeah, the mugs are a total rip off.

We need serious point chart adjustments. Fall and December 1-23 are way too low, and summer is way too high. May and September are probably too low too. Some parts of spring and Easter week in particular are too high - not everyone has spring break that week (unlike Christmas-NYE week).

(This view is probably popular with some and very unpopular with others).

The monorail to Epcot from BLT isn’t really that convenient. We thought it took forever.

Agree with others here that BCV was kind of a letdown for us. The walk to Epcot was amazing for sure! The room, view, and SAB were just kind of meh for us.

Even though we bought direct to be able to use future resorts, I still am not a fan of the resale restrictions, I think it devalues the overall product for all of us.

Yea - really the original Polynesian studios are the best monorail location - just a short walk to TTC for either MK or Epcot: it’s slow from anywhere else!

We did BCV once and while we really enjoyed it as a summer pool and Epcot trip, it was one and done for us too.

The resale restrictions are a huge bummer. I understand the business rationale. Disney remains more consumer friendly than most companies, but resale restrictions are a consumer unfriendly step that still feels jarring coming from Disney. DVC has always flown way above typical timeshares and this was one step in the wrong direction. Still, it remains the absolute best timeshare type product there is!

But the point charts at BWV are so insanely low? Idk that I would include that in this take but agree otherwise

The lazy river is deadly, jumped in expecting it to be 3ft like every other lazy river ever!

The mug isn't for soda per se, it's for mixers. We usually stay in studios so buying Sprite/Ginger ale and Coke and lemonade and Guinness and a bottle of wine is not where we're at.

But if you're talking about mugs for kids, I get it.

People that say an advantage of SSR is its proximity to Disney Springs

I ain’t spending valuable vacation time in that glorified outdoor mall, get me as far away as possible please!

Agreed!

I don't care about the proximity to MK, Bay Lake Tower is boring and sterile. Only rooms with a view of the fireworks are worth it. Disney blew it with this resort.

I'll Build on this - Animal Kingdom Lodge - is closer to three of the four parks than any of the MK area resorts, and the transportation is better. If you average your travel time out on a trip, and you use WDW transport and like to hit all the parks -- AKV is better than the MK resorts.

They aren't if you know how to max them. We use them to fill other containers, end up not having to buy pop, gatoraid, mixer, etc for the entire trip, often 2 weeks. They might be for a lot of people though, I could see that.

I am going to be unpopular but I have stayed at old key west and visited saratoga springs and my unpopular opinion is I am not a fan of Saratoga springs. To me it’s too big, and the layout to me makes no sense. At old key west you can hope on a bus and be wherever you want to be within twenty minutes and at Saratoga springs it feels like anywhere I went took an hour to get to. I agree that a free style machine would be beneficial at the bus stops at old key west for sure

I've actually tried to make that argument to people over the years and it is like talking to a wall. The idea that Animal Kingdom Lodge is on the far side of the moon and far from everything is too cemented in the brains of too many people.

I’m split in this. When we go I buy at least one because I need it for my morning coffee. I’m always the first one up and the first thing I do is grab my kindle and my mug and head to the QS and grab a few clips. I hate K-cups and my family will kill me if I wake them up to make me coffee, as I have made that mistake before. But I now keep yeti mugs in my owners locker so we only need 1 cup to share. But they are very expensive.

Totally agree with you about Iger! Also, D'Amaro gets way too much of a pass on the post-COVID downgrades while he was Chairman of Parks & Resorts.

Unpopular Opinion: I think the resort mugs are awesome.

Now, to preface this--BLT is my favorite resort and where we most often stay. Being able to quickly walk across the bridge and grab a coffee in the morning, or pop in the afternoon, is convenient and a great perk. I can imagine how it would be different if the resort had an inconveniently located station.

It is very easy to get your money back out of the mug. Maybe it's more an out-of-towner thing, but it also is a big part of me feeling like im on vacation, having my mug to use throughout the week. It's fun to have little trips across the bridge to grab a coffee, and walk through the gift shops along the way. When we have mornings/days for the pool, we can often be going through a dozen refills outside.

The cons: It would be great to use them in the parks, but I'm not complaining. The only critique I will say is what Amy often mentions about them- they are fairly small cups, especially if you have ice. I also don't love how the machines are coded to be filled with ice, so the machine shuts off 3/4's of the way full and makes you wait a couple minutes to keep going.

All that being said- I love the mugs and will get them every time.

Yes! Especially the end of Magical Express - that made absolutely no sense. They could have converted it to a paid service instead and way more people would have continued to use it than use the Mears service. That one particularly irks me as both a fan and shareholder since it was both bad for customer satisfaction and a bad business decision.

Here is another really unpopular opinion: The Minnie Van Airport service is wonderful.

Now, it is crazy expensive. But for a family with young kids, who never got to experience magical express, it is really wonderful. 1. they've got car seats covered 2. you get a cast member as your driver (we've had plenty of sketchy uber/car service drivers) 3. the magic begins right at the airport. they grab you at luggage, whisk you out the back door and you are in the bubble once you get in that car. My kids lose it when they get to watch cartoons on the drive there IN the Minnie Van.

It is crazy expensive, and I'd guess we'll stop using it once the kids are just a tad older and out of car seats. but for right now, I'm happy to have the option, and it makes the trip just that extra bit more special.

Disney lost the 'family' focus and is now catering entirely to Disney Adults.

How?

• Epcot 'drinking around the world'. Disney was for families. Now, with Beak and Barrel, the alcohol is even in WDW.

• Teaching kids that money is everything by letting adults pay to jump their family ahead of others, instead of everyone being equal in the lines. It's pay to play :)

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make a reservation for Trader Sam's.

The drinking in epcot is so messy. I won’t take my kids to World Showcase after 8pm

I saw someone with an actual checklist tattoo on their arm being checked off after each drink with a marker.

Thought it was a bit tacky to be honest.

I agree with you 100%! It’s all about the Moments and the memories

I don't like the fact that there are 350 FW Cabins and there is never anything available like a week straight. I feel Disney only opens up a certain amount of the Cabins for DVC. If you want to pay cash then they have whatever you need. Last year I snagged a couple of weeks in August with a DVC Discount which I still think is not right. If your willing to give a cash DVC Discount then why can't I just use my points? This year, there is no DVC discount so far for August.

It is so I remember where to get my next drink. After the 4th country I have no idea. And now the upgraded includes Space 220,,its out of this world

My unpopular opinion to add: Joffrey’s coffee is good. Can’t comment on their specialty drinks; I drink regular coffee and prefer it black. My kids, who drink specialty drinks disagree.

My employer provides complimentary Starbucks coffee in our office and I have grown to love that FWIW. But I do love me some Joffrey’s every morning.

Also my only compliment about the mugs is that they are too small. Need to be at least 20 ounces. I do like that CMs will give you a paper cup for coffee if you ask.

I also love the Joffrey's. I've had it shipped to home several times even.

I agree the mugs are so small, I don't buy them. When they had the metal star wars ones though - those were amazing. I'd buy one of those everytime if they still sold them.

Unpopular opinion addition- Starbucks doesn’t belong in the parks! Joffrey’s is far superior and there should be more of them. Having Starbucks represented feels a lot like having a Subway or McDonalds on Main Street.

Unpopular Opinion: I don't think Top of the World Lounge is that great. My Husband and I liked going there when it was a chill laid back lounge back when we bought BLT in 2011. Back then it opened at something like 3pm, was not crowded except for 30min during fireworks. Now it is difficult to get up there even when you are staying at BLT and "rope drop" it at 6pm. It is always crowded, the food and drinks are not that good, and the observation deck access does not make up for "meh" lounge environment. When we are at BLT, we watch fire works somewhere else, and go Steakhouse 71 lounge.

That's a bummer. Does a member need to be staying on property to use this lounge?

Back in the day, I think you needed to be a member staying on property to go to the lounge, but apparently it was not making enough money. Last I checked, it was open to all members (regardless if you are staying at BLT)

This isn't an unpopular opinion.

This is straight facts!! I don't even step foot in a Starbucks once I'm on property.

Their specialty drinks are good! Also they will throw vodka in your shakin Jamaican at 10am no problem (Studios outside ToT).