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I really just can’t complain even a little bit about using my MGC lock off studio side (about $750ish in maintenance fees + exchange fee + upgrade fee + the DVC fee) to get a 2 bedroom unit at Old Key West during Easter when rack rate is around $9,000, and even the rental rates are like $5,000.
I really just can’t complain even a little bit about using my MGC lock off studio side (about $750ish in maintenance fees + exchange fee + upgrade fee + the DVC fee) to get a 2 bedroom unit at Old Key West during Easter when rack rate is around $9,000, and even the rental rates are like $5,000.
But comparing it to DVC maintenance fee rate for OKW points, it is only about $3,250. If you used cheaper points, like SSR, it would only be about $2,650. Still a good deal.
But comparing it to DVC maintenance fee rate for OKW points, it is only about $3,250. If you used cheaper points, like SSR, it would only be about $2,650. Still a good deal.
IMO rack rates have no meaning when one exchanges in but what does have meaning is the private rental rates which are in between maintenance fees and discounted rack rates in most cases. Where I think fees come into play is more for owners looking to exchange out though I still think private rental rates are the best metric unless the same or lower than fees. Even then with the risks involved with exchanging (unit assignments, loss of control, cancelation/change limitations, etc) I'd want the pie in the sky exchange match to exchange out of DVC though for those that don't have other exchange options, the bar might not be as high.
Wyndham Founder; Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge, Shadow Ridge and Grand Chateau; Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few; Grand Palms(SOLD); WKORV-OFC-4 ,Westin Desert Willow.
The one day when we got our buns out of bed to head to Hollywood Studios, we were at the front of the line, and the ride broke down when we were about ready to go into the room to load into the first part of the ride. We waited and waited and waited, and we couldn't get a Lightning Lane pass to go back to the ride. The "cast member" said there is no guarantee that a ride will be available on any given day.
I was pretty angry. We don't pay for Lightning Lane and certainly wouldn't pay per ride for anything we have already experienced several times. I will wait.
I’ve never used early entry, but the evening extra magic hours are worth their weight in gold if you can stay up that late. We just did them at Animal Kingdom and they were incredible.
I’ve never used early entry, but the evening extra magic hours are worth their weight in gold if you can stay up that late. We just did them at Animal Kingdom and they were incredible.
Animal Kingdom might be okay because that park closes early anyway. People are unlikely to leave another park to go there for evening extra magic hours. However, my experience with other parks is that the even extra magic hours aren't always all that magical. When parks like Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios get ready to close or close, people go to the park with the extra hours. They also close many of the food establishments and other shows. We saw no noticeable difference in ride times, perhaps even worse, the one time we went to extra magic hours at Epcot. It wasn't worth it.
I’ve never used early entry, but the evening extra magic hours are worth their weight in gold if you can stay up that late. We just did them at Animal Kingdom and they were incredible.
Animal Kingdom might be okay because that park closes early anyway. People are unlikely to leave another park to go there for evening extra magic hours. However, my experience with other parks is that the even extra magic hours aren't always all that magical. When parks like Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios get ready to close or close, people go to the park with the extra hours. They also close many of the food establishments and other shows. We saw no noticeable difference in ride times, perhaps even worse, the one time we went to extra magic hours at Epcot. It wasn't worth it.
Have you been to extra magic hours since they made them deluxe-only post covid? Because while I agree with your experience back when EMH was all resorts, since it’s been “deluxe only” our experience is that basically every ride becomes a walk-on. You are correct that food/etc. isnt open though.
As @Fido Chuckwagon wrote high demand weeks when MK is open late can change this. Easter Break 2023 Wednesday was HS instead of MK.
(Pre-COVID MK extended evening hours during Xmas and Easter weeks would stretch into the wee hours of the morning as Disney thought nothing of adding the extra magic hours after an 11PM or 12AM close. But we haven't seen this since.)
Have you been to extra magic hours since they made them deluxe-only post covid? Because while I agree with your experience back when EMH was all resorts, since it’s been “deluxe only” our experience is that basically every ride becomes a walk-on. You are correct that food/etc. isnt open though.
Interesting. Our experience with EPCOT extended hours is that there is little difference in the wait times for the 'E Ticket rides' (Test Track, Frozen, etc.) but that the other rides (Spaceship Earth, Three Caballeros, etc.) go from 30-60 minutes to zilch.
But then again we never go in summer. And plan our evening to hit a E Ticket Ride during the fireworks and do other things just after they are over (in particular, don't try to do Spaceship Earth when everyone else is getting in 'one last ride' as they leave the park).
Wyndham Founder; Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge, Shadow Ridge and Grand Chateau; Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few; Grand Palms(SOLD); WKORV-OFC-4 ,Westin Desert Willow.
Evening Extra Magic Hours at Epcot has always been extremely busy. We haven't had any good experiences with crowd levels but haven't gone in a while. Do they still do that? I don't like being in Epcot after hours. It's so dark! It's actually rather scary.
Rick and I were walking through Epcot's World Showcase after the fireworks show, I think this was October during food and wine, and a gentleman completely by himself fell down with a seizure. He fell flat on his face and was bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth. I saw him fall, he went straight down, no knee buckling or anything. He obviously wasn't expecting a seizure. Rick went over to help him (EMT for 40 years as a firefighter), and it took a few minutes for anyone Disney to arrive to help. Rick had no gloves and was trying to stop the bleeding.
Rick had an uncle with epilepsy, and he was sure the flickering lights of the torches Epcot has around the showcase set that off. Rick's uncle knew when he would have a seizure, he always felt it coming on. The guy was unconscious the entire time Rick stayed with him. The fire department took him away in a stretcher. We never knew if he was okay.
The moral of this story is don't go to the showcase after dark, if you are epileptic.
Wyndham Founder; Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge, Shadow Ridge and Grand Chateau; Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few; Grand Palms(SOLD); WKORV-OFC-4 ,Westin Desert Willow.
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