How has DVC changed your Disney experience?

[theostwalts]

We have been traveling to WDW each year for the past 3 years. Except for last year, which was only a one day MK trip followed by a cruise, we have stayed concierge level deluxe hotels. The main reason we liked concierge level was for the space to relax in the morning and eat breakfast while everyone was getting ready. DVC would certianly take care of that.

With taking one week trips, we usually hit everything comando style, which I have seen many DVC members say eased up a great deal when they joined. I was just wondering about how your membership has changed the way you vacation at the World. Not only about touring style, but other ways as well.

Thanks,

[El&Asmom]

We will soon be a family of 5, (any day now, she needs to come out!)
Having DVC allows us to enjoy our vacation without having to cram into a small hotel room. Having the separate room for the kids and the kitchen makes everything go smoother when you have little ones.

The washer and dryer allow us to pack less.

We also go more often. We typically would only go about every other year at best before DVC, and now will go at least yearly. Last year we went three times.

We brought my parents with for a vacation last Jan, which is something we likely would never do without DVC.

We sent my parents to HH last week. We had extra points that were going to expire so we sent them there as a gift for my fathers retirement. We never would have been able to do that without DVC.

We spend more time hanging around the pool and hotel.

We make meals in the room especially when the kids are crabby and the thought of another sit down meal would put us over the edge.

We love knowing that one day, we may be lucky enough to trade for vacations in other locations where we won't have to settle for a small hotel room or pay big bucks getting two rooms. DVC HI will be a big draw for us.

We love knowing that we have many years of Disney vacations ahead of us.

[hellerjw]

It has greatly affected our pace while there and the frequency of our trips.

Our last trip we didn't make it to a single park before noon the entire trip. Something that would have been unthinkable in our cash package-deal days when we would be there for park openings most days, doing the commando style approach until they kicked us out each day.

And then there is the trip frequency. Before DVC we were only going about once every 18 months. Now we are averaging 3 trips every 12 months and I'm still trying to fit in a 4th each year. The possibilities DVC has opened up has only added to our Disney fanaticism.

We also enjoy the resort itself a whole lot more than we ever did. We almost always have a pool day where we just hang out all day at the resort pool. Again something we would have never done before DVC for fear it would take away from hitting one more ride. We enjoy the resort restaurants a lot more vs. grab-and-go's in the parks. Before DVC the resort was just a place to sleep each night, now they have become destinations in themselves. It has also allowed us to enjoy the vacations for their true purpose, spending time with the family. My militant commando scheduling to squeeze every last attraction out of each park has given way to hours at the pool playing with the kids. My control freak nature has even relented and we often let the kids plan each day and just go with whatever flow they come up with. I can honestly say my perspective in life has been changed for the better by owning DVC.

[hakepb]

DVC does not really do anything more than a "set in stone" vacation accomodation budget can do. That said, I never had that firm of a budget before DVC.
Now with DVC, I know I'm returning, so I do not have to commando park like it might be my last time.

Of course, an AP helps with that "must maximize a park day" mentality, too. (Otherwise you think, is this evening or in park meal a good use of my hopper?)

I do enjoy my DVC room more than before, but I stayed in Values before. It sounds like the OP already figured out the nicer rooms thing.

Before DVC, I though I had to do an extended WDW trip to make transportation cost worthwile.
With DVC and a discounted AP, you start thinking, I have available points (rooms) and park tickets(AP) I can add a WDW trip for "just" the added cost of transportation and food! (Which is something I never budgeted well enough to do before DVC.)

[PutnamDS]

For starters, we go much more often. We don't spend a fortune on each trip any longer either.

I do most of the cooking in the room with groceries from Garden Grocers. This really keeps our costs down.

We have annual passes, so that's now a once a year cost (not each trip). The discounted prices and the increased frequency of visits make it well worth it.

We frequently take friends and family and we never did that before DVC.

We enjoy the whole vacationing experience more. It is much more relaxed in every way. Even if we do a "commando" park day, it is more enjoyable now because we know our way around. No getting lost anymore!

We do spend a lot more time at the resorts enjoying everything there.

It is really so much nicer in every way....JMHO.

Deb

[Chellymouse]

DVC has been a blessing! We are able to go more frequently (3 trips in a year!) and we have also cut our costs way down by utilizing grocery service and AP. While we still spend a good deal of time in the parks, our commando days are over. It's great knowing we'll be back soon! We thought we'd be able to go a little more often, but airfare has been evil so hears hoping to airfare dropping a bit! It's a much better feel. I feel like I'm at "home" and it's wonderful not being cramped up in a hotel room for 9-11 days! We're able to be a bit more tidy and we do spend more time enjoying our resort and our vacation.

[Mississippian]

...
Our last trip we didn't make it to a single park before noon the entire trip. Something that would have been unthinkable in our cash package-deal days when we would be there for park openings most days, doing the commando style approach until they kicked us out each day.
We tend to try to make the park opening, but we are usually through after three hours. We then saunter back to our resort and spend a few hours just relaxing. At night we often go back to EPCOT just to eat supper, and perhaps ride one or two rides.

This doesn't mean we don't have one or two days when we go all-out. But most days it's pretty laid back. But going early every morning lets us see enough in three hours that we don't have to spend all day doing it.

[yandbfan]

. The main reason we liked concierge level was for the space to relax in the morning and eat breakfast while everyone was getting ready. DVC would certianly take care of that.


:surfweb: Our first WDW experience was an off grounds timeshare. We then stayed at the Swan/Dolphin complex for several years on their concierge levels. For us DVC seems to be the best of both worlds. We have the extra space of a timeshare with the convenience of being inside WDW.
We found that the extra room with DVC allows us to be more flexible and more relaxed. Our children are now at the "we need some space and privacy stage" and the extra public spaces members enjoy with DVC allow them to enjoy themselves without us worried about where they are.
Finally, we don't feel rushed to get in everything at the parks. Our typical day now will be to go the parks in the morning. Come back mid-day to relax and enjoy the pools. Then we can go back to the parks in the evening. For us being off grounds means we are almost forced to stick it out all day instead of being relaxed.

[allshookup]

ooooh I like this question! We were those people that thought, "Wow those maintenance fees are really high! That's more than we pay to stay a week at POFQ! We don't need a big room anyway, we're at the parks all day!" After paying through the teeth one year to go during the holidays, we bit the bullet & said, "If we want to go to WDW during any more peak times, we better look seriously into DVC!"

A few years later & I can't imagine going to WDW like we used to. I love love love a 1 bedroom with washer & dryer (pack much less), kitchen to prepare snacks (I don't cook on vacation) & a living room to stretch out in! We spend a lot more time just sleeping in, relaxing over coffee, hanging by the pool. Like hellerjw said, we rarely get to the parks before noon & sometimes we only walk around for a few hours & head out again. I agree with hakepb, that the AP had a lot to do with us not trying to get our money's worth out of park day, but before buying DVC we never bought an AP because we didn't stay long enough or come back in the same year like we do now! :woohoo:

[photobob]

We too have changed to a more relaxed pace and are visiting more frequently. There also is the knowledge that we'll be back again, so leaving to go home isn't quite as depressing as before. We spend more time in the room than we did before which is much more comfortable when you have a 1 or 2 bdr villa and really enjoy having a washer and dryer and full kitchen. It'd be really hard to go back to a hotel room after enjoying the villas.

[Castillo Mom]

I'm in the midst of planning our first DVC trip. I can tell already that having DVC will enable us to have more relaxing trips and savor the details

This time around I'm planning at least 3 non park days during our two week stay. I also want spend more time in DTD, maybe even catch a movie or two.

I'm really looking forward to the experience of stopping to "smell the roses" a little more.

[disneymom8589]

We go a little more often and know that when we do, we will have quality, roomy accomodations with no hotel bill! :)

[minniqt7]

Like many others that have replied DVC allows us a more relaxed vacation. Our kids are grown but I remember running to the parks everyday to beat the opening and the kids exhausted because we stayed till they closed to get our MONEYS WORTH out of our tickets. Now DH and I do what we want and when we want. We enjoy the resort more- usually doing the pool in the AM and parks later at night especially with the evening magic hours and sometimes we just go to Epcot for dinner and the fireworks show. It allows us more trips(like 3-4 !!) per year. We used our points for our daughters wedding stay last Jan and using them for their first ann this year. Our son has gone with his friends. They love it as much as we do and they tour it differently now too. We look forward to the next vacation on the way home and it does make leaving just a BIT less depressing knowing in a few months we'll be there AGAIN!!! We look forward to spending our GOLDEN YEARS at Disney and our kids and hopefully grandkids enjoying their vacations with and without us. It is hard to share those points sometimes HAHAH!!!!LOVE OUR DVC!!!:yay:

[RumpleMom]

We were the commando park people who went every 3 years staying at the All-Stars or mods, if the price was right.

We realized that the kids would be paying the extra adult charge once they turned 18 and this would coincide with college tuition years. DVC made it possible to have a nicer room, still take the kids and have the room to include their college friends too.

Now we have slowed down, go one or two times a year, take the kids, the grandparents and other extended family. It really is our home away from home.

[deedeetoo]

I guess we are the different ones here. We go to WDW every other year. This hasn't changed even after we became DVC members. We bought the right number of points to accomodate our schedule. Owning DVC by itself does not make you go more often, though it seems for many people that once they make the decision to buy in, the decision to buy more comes very easily.

The way our trips have changed is that we now have much better accommodations (2 BR villa instead of two hotel rooms) at a lower cost. We also love having a washer and dryer. It allows you to pack lighter, dry things off when you get caught out in the rain, and not go home with a huge suitcase full of dirty laundry. The other big difference is the kitchen. We don't cook, but it is nice to have coffee and bagels and OJ in the morning without leaving the room.

We really haven't changed our park touring style yet. We keep thinking that will happen but it hasn't yet.

[ILIKEWDW]

I am not a member yet, but I am so nearly to be....

Like you, we used to stay at deluxe resorts in the concierge club and it is OK. You have continental breakfast each morning, evening snacks, and a very kindly staff helping you with your needs, but even when you are paying a lot of money, you still have the same spaceless room.

As other has posted, you will have a 2BR with a living room instead of two hotel rooms what means more privacy. I have a pair of twin girls and also a boy and a girl, so, could you imagine how they will sleep in a future if we continue staying at hotel rooms, they are small now but what will we do in a future?, you know everyone needs privacy and parents need too!!!

Also you must think in going with three kids (or more as in my case) to WDW without Grandma´s (or somebody else) help, or in invite her just to enjoy with you.

You also could get three times your points (if you bank from the first and borrow from the third) so you could get an extended family vacation in a GV, to invite your parents, and/or brothers/sisters.

So we choosed to sacrify some "advantages" we could get continuing in concierge level rooms that most of the times we didn´t get as evening snacks ends before the fireworks or such, so as we stayed in the park until the end we didn´t get those amenities. Or as we used to take breakfast at most of the character meeting restaurants we didn´t take the Continental Bkfst there.

The most important of all (I guess) is thinking in the future, by now and thanks God we can pay for the comfort of a deluxe resort and going to WDW every other year, but what will happen in a future............. no one knows, so instead of pay for another two trips to Disney (staying at concierge and paying for the best view available) we decided to pay THE SAME for ensure our life vacations, if God will, of course....

[ILIKEWDW]

I guess we are the different ones here. We go to WDW every other year. This hasn't changed even after we became DVC members. We bought the right number of points to accomodate our schedule. Owning DVC by itself does not make you go more often, though it seems for many people that once they make the decision to buy in, the decision to buy more comes very easily.

Of course you can choose to keep your actual Disney travel frequency, but I am sure you are also paying less for the same trips (as you will need only the half amount of points than if you go yearly) and getting better rooms and location.....

[DeeCee735]

It has changed our vacationing because we stay in villa rooms instead of moderate hotel rooms - usually a one or two bedroom :cool1:

We go more often (or at least I do;) ).

We can (I usually do with a friend) just go for a few nights - like a long weekend getaway (only in the middle of the week)

When my family travels together we spend just as much time in the parks, but we don't get up early and rush into them. We are more leisurely and stay later at night (kids are older now too though). When I travel with a friend, we usually spend very little time or no time at all in the parks.

[Poppins2000]

We joined in June 07, purchased 360 points and with the double developer points we received, plus our annual allotment, we have:

Spent 4 nights at the GF Aug 07
Spent 6 nights in a 1 bedroom at SSR Dec 07
7 night eastern Caribbean cruise for 2 Cat. 7 Jan 08
ABD to Ireland for 2 May 08
Spent 5 nights in a one bedroom at SSR Oct. 08 and
We are spending 8 nights in a 1 bedroom in VWL in Jan

Those vacations would have cost us over $17k out of pocket and we probably wouldn't have done half of the them. With 360 pts., we can go to the parks or another location, 3-5 times a year. I think to get the best bang for buck will use points for the parks or another time-share locale, we'll pay $$ for future cruises......

[ILIKEWDW]

Poppins, did you get double developer points? did you mean 720 points for free?................................. If yes, wow!!! that is a deal!!

[Poppins2000]

Poppins, did you get double developer points? did you mean 720 points for free?................................. If yes, wow!!! that is a deal!!

Actually, we got 560 developer points - still a sweet deal. We purchase 200 pts. in June 2007, got 400 developer points on top of the 200 so we immediately had 600. We purchased another 160 in Jan of this year while on our cruise. Got 160 right away for 2007 use year, 160 developer points and then, with our use year being Feb, another 160 + 200 was deposited in Feb of this year. We had 1280 points to spend and only two of us - not like THAT will ever happen again but we got to take some awesome trips!:cool1:

[starbox]

We were 7-night moderate resort, pretty commando people before DVC. We always did the DDP.

Changes with DVC:
1 - Longer trips - we do a two week trip (with 4-5 nights at Vero) every year now. We did the first one because of developer points, and then added on. Vacation is now seen a time to relax - previously I always said I needed a vacation to recover from vacation! We'd come back happy but exhausted - now I come back happy and relaxed/rested.

2-BIG changes in dining. We started off still doing the DDP but it did not take long to realize that with extended time on the DDP we were getting sick of the typical table service. This coincided with the discovery of what a pleasure signature dining is. We now use the DDE(TIW) to do a signature meal most evenings. Regular TS just lost most of its appeal. We spend lots more on dining now.

3 - We became view snobs. I never cared about view before (would never had paid more cash for one) - but with so many dedicated view offerings, I got hooked. Now, view is at the top of my list of what I look for in a resort.

4 - I travel alone with the kids. Would not have done this without DVC - my kids (and I) are so familiar with the resorts/transportation/parks now that I am 100% comfortable going alone with them.

5 - We'll go into parks just to ride one or two things or eat. No more rushing. We've also gotten into doing the "off the beaten trail" activities and attractions that would have seemed like time-wasters before - like the activity room in Sounds Dangerous or Tom Sawyer's Island, which is one of my favorite things now.

6 - We spend a lot more time at the pool (no more feeling like I need to suck every second park-time possible and that we can swim at home).

7 - I don't buy many souvieneers anymore.

8 - We're able to be generous with the people we love. Whether that's bringing grandparents along "on us" or giving a honeymoon trip to friends. It's pretty cool to be able to "share".

[theostwalts]

We were 7-night moderate resort, pretty commando people before DVC. We always did the DDP.

Changes with DVC:
1 - Longer trips - we do a two week trip (with 4-5 nights at Vero) every year now. We did the first one because of developer points, and then added on. Vacation is now seen a time to relax - previously I always said I needed a vacation to recover from vacation! We'd come back happy but exhausted - now I come back happy and relaxed/rested.

2-BIG changes in dining. We started off still doing the DDP but it did not take long to realize that with extended time on the DDP we were getting sick of the typical table service. This coincided with the discovery of what a pleasure signature dining is. We now use the DDE(TIW) to do a signature meal most evenings. Regular TS just lost most of its appeal. We spend lots more on dining now.

3 - We became view snobs. I never cared about view before (would never had paid more cash for one) - but with so many dedicated view offerings, I got hooked. Now, view is at the top of my list of what I look for in a resort.

4 - I travel alone with the kids. Would not have done this without DVC - my kids (and I) are so familiar with the resorts/transportation/parks now that I am 100% comfortable going alone with them.

5 - We'll go into parks just to ride one or two things or eat. No more rushing. We've also gotten into doing the "off the beaten trail" activities and attractions that would have seemed like time-wasters before - like the activity room in Sounds Dangerous or Tom Sawyer's Island, which is one of my favorite things now.

6 - We spend a lot more time at the pool (no more feeling like I need to suck every second park-time possible and that we can swim at home).

7 - I don't buy many souvieneers anymore.

8 - We're able to be generous with the people we love. Whether that's bringing grandparents along "on us" or giving a honeymoon trip to friends. It's pretty cool to be able to "share".

All of that sounds fantastic!!!!!

How do you pull off number 7?????? That one gets me everytime!!!!:rotfl2:

[monami7]

we go to WDW more now...as if that is possible!! LOL

[BostonDisneyKid]

In addition to what many others have said (more trips, longer stays, bring guests, slowed pace, no commando, enjoy resorts themselves, more R&R, etc) we have found that we spend more time (and money) on fine dining, excursions/activities and exploring the area (inside and outside of wdw) much more frequently then previous to being a DVC member. Those were the things we "didnt want to waste time on" before as our "park time" was so prescious previously.

When one can sit back and close their eyes and picture walking up main street in the MK and then name every attraction in order from tomorrowland, counterclockwise to adventureland (or vice versa) its safe to that they are probably a local wdw fan or a dvc member. Enjoy your DVC !!!

[BEASLYBOO]

I agree with all of the other posters! We go more often, we slow down and enjoy the time off w/ family and friends that we bring with us. We make memories that will last a life time. Also I like the fact that my son will be able to take me when I'm 80. :rotfl2: