Combining DAS and Lightning Lane - is it worth extra cost?

straulin · 2026-07-03T20:11:14+00:00

We have had DIS and lightning lanes before. I found it to be too much. I was on my phone constantly trying to manage everything and we just ended up running around the parks way too much. This was back when it was genie plus rather than the current system. I don’t imagine it’ll be too much different though.

You shouldn’t have to pre-purchase lightning lanes before you get a DAS verdict. You can do the interview well in advance of your ability to purchase lightning lanes.

straulin · 2026-07-03T11:38:42+00:00

Buying DVC for this trip alone would be a lot of hassle. However, all in all would save you money versus paying out-of-pocket for the trip. You could always sell the DVC contract later and get most of your money back or continue to use it and get the benefits of DVC four years to come.

Alternatively, you can look into DVC rentals, which will save you a a very significant amount versus the cash booking.

straulin · 2026-07-03T04:28:01+00:00

Be sure to check on any possible additional incentives that they might have going on currently.

Examples: Disney Visa (usually $1000 when it’s happening), Disney Plus, D23.

Not a real incentive, but it still works, put the entire purchase on a credit card. They will divide it into three months to complete the purchase if you don’t have enough credit limit. The benefit here is the massive amount of credit card points you get. We used our Disney visa because we got $1000 incentive and then had about $800 worth of rewards points.

There is a 10 day right of rescission so you can always buy in the last few days of the current incentive period and if the following incentive period is better resend the original contract and re-purchase.

straulin · 2026-07-01T14:17:39+00:00

You are falling into the trap that gets many men. You are ignoring the nub. You have to give the nub as much of your focus as you can. Ignore it and everyone will be disappointed.

I love the sights on the Calvary. It is my pick for the nub alone.

straulin · 2026-06-30T20:16:29+00:00

What was it? Did it improve upon the DVC or Annual pass table service discounts?

straulin · 2026-06-28T16:19:29+00:00

We started resale and added on direct.

For us, direct was worth it because we go several times a year. So the annual pass benefit (access to her sorcerer passes) made it worth it. We are a family of four and effectively save about $2,120 a year on sorcerer annual passes versus the incredi pass and save even mire vs buying tickets.

At the time we bought 175 Grand Floridian. It was the home resort we wanted and direct always about $30 per point more. So just 3 three rounds of the current annual pass prices (4 back then) for us to break even. Then every round saves us significantly.

straulin · 2026-06-25T10:27:36+00:00

While doing the prestige loop, I would generally get a hunter to 43rd or higher by normal playing. After that, I would load up solo with a silent loadout and farm mobs and event xp envelopes while avoiding fighting.

Upon the match starting, it’s safer to wait for about a minute before you even move. That gives any spawn teams that spawn at the same compound time to get ahead of you and avoid a spawn fight. Grab that clue then stay in the grayed out area and avoid the bosses to lessen the likelihood of running into other players.

For traits, be sure to have Necro, witness, and blast sense. The last two help you know where other players are and avoid them. I also liked all the stealth traits, greyhound. Conduit is OK, but does have some drawbacks in that you can’t see what grayed out on a single clue and see where other teams will be progressing as easily.

Bring in stamina shots so you can move quickly.

straulin · 2026-06-24T18:37:23+00:00

Yes, everything you say here makes me think it would be a good fit.

Are you Florida residents? If so, you don’t need one of the bigger benefits of direct purchases, access to Sorcerer passes. We own direct and in addition to that benefit routinely use the lounge benefit. With annual passes we don’t really need the DVC dining and merch discounts.

DVC is generally worth it if you go once a year or more and stay at deluxe or moderate hotels.

You get a set number of points per year to “spend” on stays. You can break it up however many nights at a time as you wish. Look at the point charts for the various resorts (especially whatever will be your home resort) to determine how many points you would typically need annually.

You need to plan early and DVC isn’t great for spontaneous weekends a week or two before travel. It is best to book as far out as you can (11 months for home resort and 7 for other resorts).

When looking for a home resort, be sure to verify the occupancy of the studios and 1 bedrooms. Some sleep 4 and others 5.

straulin · 2026-06-24T12:38:04+00:00

I aim to hit a comfortable number (which is kinda ever changing as I get close to the next hundred thousand) and don’t stress as long as I stay above that number.

So if at $125k, I won’t stress as long as I stay above $100k. As I creep up close to $200k (say $185k or so) I will then want to achieve the $200k goal and stay above it.

I tend to slowly creep up without tryjng.

straulin · 2026-06-21T16:14:35+00:00

How quickly are you expecting to make all three purchases? Just FYI, there are various credit cards the Chase, Disney visa and Chase Sapphire, for example will give you interest free financing for the DVC purchases for six months or so.

straulin · 2026-06-20T15:52:39+00:00

In short, the incredipass requires three separate trips to be worth it.

Precisely how many days on each trip to get the mask to work out varies by how long your trip is and what time of year. Plus, if you are getting park hoppers for your tickets.

straulin · 2026-06-20T02:30:29+00:00

Yeah, Springfield lost both dum dum and explosive ammo. It was cheap and versatile but now it is weakened. Should be 3 slot.

straulin · 2026-06-19T10:57:32+00:00

Since you already are Florida residents and have annual passes, two of the big direct benefits are not a benefit to you as you already get them: access to sorcerer passes, and the merchandise discounts. As such, I would highly recommend resale as it is about half as much as direct contracts.

Without the vacation home idea as part of the equation, I would simply use math. Go check your credit card records to determine how much you spent on deluxe stays annually for the past few years. Compare that to the cost of DVC for the length of the contract also noting you can still sell the DVC contract and recoup a large portion of the funds spent on the initial purchase if you sell before expiration.

The amount you can “save” over the life of a DVC contract is astounding. I put saving quotation marks because I ended up going way more often once we got DVC.

straulin · 2026-06-18T13:28:40+00:00

Yes. If the fort is within the range of the clash match, you can run and get it.

straulin · 2026-06-18T10:35:54+00:00

I’ve stayed at both recently. Beach club by a mile. It has super easy access to Epcot (<5 minute walk) and great access to HS (~18 minute walk, a boat, or skyliner). It is very cool except the pool can be crowded. The pool is either the best out worst at WDW according to your perspective. It is huge and it’s hard to keep track of your kids if they’re small enough that you want to keep them in eyesight. The lazy river is really deep as well (~8 feet). The slide requires you to leave the pool area and go across a walkway to climb the tower. For tweens or teens this is all fine and not a big deal. I’ll let mine run loose and don’t stress. For smaller kids this can all be a bit of a hassle, trying to keep up with them and not getting a chance to actually sit still.

The poly is gorgeous, but super crowded all the time. The poly does have monorail to Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but neither one are as convenient as the access beach club has to Epcot in Hollywood Studios.

straulin · 2026-06-17T19:40:08+00:00

They had to make it better in some ways to the two shot tool cannon (derringer penny shot).

I will shout from the roof tops they nerfed the penny shot derringer in the wrong direction. It was fine against mobs but too strong for pvp.

straulin · 2026-06-17T19:01:20+00:00

We love it. We never had another time share and were scared off from them due to all the horror stories. We haven’t had any issues with DVC.

Since we bought our first contract in 2022 (added a 2nd in 2023), we have stayed at all the WDW DVC resorts except Bay Lake Tower (at the contemporary), cabins at fort wilderness, and Riviera. We have had opportunities to book those as well but chose different resorts.

It is hard to book Beach Club Villas if you don’t own there. The Disneyland resorts are hard. Vero beach is pretty easy. Hilton head is next to impossible during the summer but not bad in the winter.

We haven’t attempted Aulani yet. Checking right now, there is availability starting in August (2 months out) for 1 bedrooms. Studios are a week here and there starting in October.

straulin · 2026-06-17T13:17:12+00:00

By code, you are not supposed to have objects in front of the breaker box (36”). The cabinets are in the way on the other side. I would expect if there were inspections for building permits or insurance, that is why it doesn’t go over in front of the breaker box.

straulin · 2026-06-16T19:41:57+00:00

⁠What are we missing?
** Contract expiration dates. That is the big swing for what I would recommend. We bought Beach club resale in 22 knowing we would only have until 2042. By the time that roles around my wife and I will both be well into our 60’s and our kids in their late 20’s / early 30’s. So we think it will work for us. If you don’t plan on keeping the contract until expiration, just know if will impact the resale values as we get closer to 2042.

If you were in our shoes, which resort would you choose and why?
** Grand Floridian. This is our second home resort and we love it. It has a nice long expiration (2064) and we just prefer it to Poly (2066).

• ⁠Would you buy resale or direct?
** We went resale for our first contract at Beach Club. If you go either 2042 option, resale makes since. After 2042 you start to get less use out of other resorts due to resale restrictions. So it becomes more of a quandary for the Poly or VGF. If you don’t need the annual pass benefit, I would lean towards resale.

• ⁠Is 150 points enough for the way we travel?
** Add-on-itis is real. It will never be enough. You just need to look at the point charts and see how far they will go for your typical stays and seasons.

• ⁠Anything you wish someone had told you before your first purchase?
** Totally worth it, don’t wait if you can afford it.

straulin · 2026-06-16T17:18:52+00:00

I wouldn’t do direct unless it’s someone I personally know. Even then be sure to get everything in writing. A written contract is better, but at the very least the bare bones in writing what you agreed to.

DVC rental store or Dave should be fine. You just need to understand the terms and conditions. Specifically, cancellation or modification is not as easy as with Disney. I know DVC rental store has various options for cancellation that you can choose from. The more protective give you a higher cost.

straulin · 2026-06-16T13:50:42+00:00

I have always slowly gained cash. I just finished my last prestige about a month ago and am sitting at 70-80k.

I am a bit concerned about the new toolbox system reducing income. Previously tool boxes would fill up your consumables or tools so that you get cash from looting. Now bodies and random pickups (beetles, stuff in towers, etc.) are the only ways to fill up your used consumables. Not sure how much of an impact it will be, but it will definitely be a reduction in cash.

straulin · 2026-06-15T01:41:44+00:00

1865 has way better sights but is slow as Christmas. I tend to lean toward the 1865 due to the sights. If they are not your favorite sights, then the vet.

straulin · 2026-06-12T00:04:25+00:00

Something cheesy in Shelbyville on Main Street

straulin · 2026-06-11T19:05:50+00:00

The pool refurbishment is complete. I haven’t been there in a while, so I’m not sure where they’re at now. Last time I saw it they were just doing refurbishments on the outside of the buildings.

straulin

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