I love my DVC Guide!

[eva]

We had the most wonderful experience purchasing our add on while at WDW this May. And I just wanted to start a thread of "thank yous" to all of those fantastic guides at DVC who are working their tails off right now keeping up with the BCV sales.

Special thanks to Mayra Ivelisse-Ramirez! She came in on her days off just to talk to us about an add-on. She's also extremely funny! We love you Mayra!

Anyone else have an A+ guide?

(I know that the guides are not suppose to be on the boards. But I'm sure they do have people monitoring and will pass the word on for us.)

[Terry S]

Jim McCoy is our guide, he has also come in on his day off to take care of us. And always promptly returns all my calls and answers all my endless questions. I will admit I am not the easiest person to deal with and he was always very understanding with my quirkiness. Thank you Jim McCoy!

[MaryJ]

Mayra is our guide too! This is the first time I have seen her name mentioned on these boards. I was getting worried that she had left. I never met her in person, but she spent 45 minutes (at least) explaining DVC to me. I hope I can drop in and say hello to Mayra while we are at BWV next month.:wave:

[wdwsos]

Originally posted by eva
Anyone else have an A+ guide?

I've had Larissa Prendergast since 1995 and she's wonderful! She's not only helped me through 5 (6?) add-ons, but patiently answers my constant questions for the FAQ I maintain on Deb's site. (www.wdwig.com/dvc.htm) She even calls occasionally just to say hi!

[dvcfamily41801]

Another thumbs up for Jim McCoy!! We just did a BCV add on and he was just super!!

[jimmytammy]

BETTIE PLEASANT IS OUR GUIDE SHE IS MOVING SOON AND NO LONGER GOING TO BE AT DVC WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER PLEASANT DESCRIBES HER TO A TEE SHE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO DO BUSAINESS WITH

[Sneaky3]

My guide is Ron Brumbaugh (I hope I spelled it right) he is a nice guy. He is still there I just added on yesterday..........

[donmil723]

We think Joan Lane is great!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Richyams]

I refuse to call them "guides", they are salesman, we spoke to one in '92, another in '93 and just like the salesman I bought my car from, I never spoke to them again.....except when I saw my second guide in '96 and she told me that have almost hammered out the replacement for the free passes and that we would be very happy when the new plan was announced.

[eva]

I have to admit Rich that some guides ("salespersons") are like that. Our first guide never contacted us after the original sale. When he left and Mayra took over our account I never gave it a second thought because I thought that we would never have much contact with her anyway. But Mayra has contacted us numerous times to give us updates. She has even left us voicemails when we check-in welcoming us home. Actually Mayra has become a good friend and we enjoy hearing from her.

[dtheboys]

My guide is Ron Brumbaugh.....He is alway's friendly, and willing to help.
I have done a couple of transactions w/ him. Alway's top notch!
Ron, has made my families dreams a reality!
Doug & Betsy, and The Boys!!!:)

[dtheboys]

My guide is Ron Brumbaugh.....He is alway's friendly, and willing to help.
I have done a couple of transactions w/ him. Alway's top notch!
Ron, has made my families dreams a reality!
Doug & Betsy, and The Boys!!!:)

[DoeWDW]

We've worked with Julie Hughes and she's WONDERFUL! She had the patience of a saint with my many questions, always returned calls promptly and went out of her way to be helpful.

Julie, if you're watching these boards, we'll be in touch as soon as we save up enough money for an add-on!!!!

[POLLY ANN]

Our original guide was Jacque Lane. She was wonderful and one of the reasons why we bought. I believe she left to stay home with her kids but I'm not sure on that.

Our new guide (whom we never met in person, but who did call a few times and sent notes to us), I believe his name is Nick, but don't recall his last name. He was very nice, as well, for the amount of time I spoke with him.

NO matter what, they ARE sales people and they are there to do their job, and that is to sell timeshares. Sometimes we are lucky and get someone that ENJOYS their job, too!

[DeeP]

My guide is Judi Kauffman and she is very good and very friendly. I have spoken to her quite a few times over the years, many times she will call to tell us welcome home when we are staying at a DVC resort.

[stephcm]

Byron Helgeson!!!

[3DBallou]

Our Guide is Jim McCoy too! He was so patient with us. Ours was a deal 2 years in the making!!! We just submitted our paper work last week and knock on wood - Disney will finance us for our 270 points within the month. Jim was really fantastic!
:)

[Joe T.]

Larissa Prendergast has been our "guide" since 1995. She is very responsive. I scheduled some friends for a "quick tour" at BWV a few years ago. Our friends kept her for over two hours - and bought at BWV. We have had two families buy based on the package and Larissa answering their questions by phone - never visited a DVC resort. Of course the guides are sales people, but comparing them to car salesman is a little unfair. What could we compare some of the high pressure sales people at other time share organizations to?

I know Richyams likes to be the board's grinch, and I always enjoy his clever posts, but let's recognize the good sales and service people. The people who do not call back and provide service are not there very long.

[DiznEeyore]

Hmmm, guess I'll agree with Rich on this one.

Our original guide has been mentioned in this thread as wonderful (or some other words to that effect). We did not find this person wonderful when they made an appt. with us before we went to WDW (didn't offer to send the van to pick us up, so we had to make our own way from PO to Epcot and then walk to the sales office) and then didn't show up for the appt., even after being paged multiple times over 45 min. by the DVC office. :mad:

They did, however, later leave a message on our room phone. No apology or explanation, but did offer to send the van THIS time and take up more of our valuable vacation time. We cancelled the contract we had in progress so this person lost their commission from us and bought through another guide later.

I can't say we're overwhelmed by our current guide either -- he takes weeks (literally!) to return calls, if he returns them at all.

Nope, they're just salespeople, at least the ones we've worked with.

[DisneyLodgerz]

Here is another vote for Jim McCoy. He has been great. We thought long and hard before we decided to invest in DVC. Jim didn't apply any pressure at all, but he was prompt in replying to my many questions. He took the time to explain things in detail, which made me feel a lot better about the purchase.

In the end, he didn't steer us wrong. We haven't regretted our purchase at all. As a matter of fact, I called him during our first stay at VWL in December and added on another 25 points.

[CaptainMidnight]

Well, I'm sure your guides are all pretty good folks, but they also pale in comparison to the wonderful Judi Kauffman... nice, kind, extremely knowledgable, very responsive and unbelievably patient with a multitude of exhaustive questions. She is absolutely outstanding!!!

[nisiemouse]

Another vote for Judy K. I don't think I can describe her any better than Captain Midnight.

[FrozenPiglet]

Celeste Chaffaut is our guide. She was wonderful for our recent 200 point BCV purchase. I started getting information back in 98 (I think) and she stuck with me (but wasn't pushy) until 2002 for our purchase.

Yes, Richyams, they are salespeople. That is their profession, but those listed here also understand service, which is why we choose to buy from a certain guide or salesperson. I know if I am buying a car, or whatever else, if I don't like my salesperson I find another one. I have not been inclined to find a different guide or salesperson. Celeste has served me well, and isn't that what we ask for?

[Cruelladeville]

I also am putting in my vote for Ron Brumbaugh. He is very low-key, just gives out the information on DVC and allows you to make your own decision. Since we joined DVC back in 1998, I have purchased two contracts and two add-on's with Ron. I also recommended him to my daughter and brother when they joined. I like a guide who is confident enough about his product that he doesn't have to push hard to sell it. :D :D :D

[castleri]

Linda Scolaro was our guide and prodvided exactly the info we asked during the "tour". We really just asked a few questions after telling her we didn't want to see any movies or listen to any long talks. Now of course we realize just how low key the presentations are. I have not had any occasions to say she provided any incorerect information either. She did "guide" us into exactly the right resort for us also when she could have tried to make one of the other sound better. At the time we had the choice of BWV, OKW, and VB. Recently I referred someone else to her and she called back the same day within an hour. I don't expect my guide to be my best buddy but I am glad she has the correct answers when I call and always calls right back.

[DisnutDave]

I have to put in a good word here for our guide/salesperson Kelly Jo Williamson. We first met her back in 1997 when we took our first tour of the DVC (BWV) and we would have loved to join back then but we just couldn't work it out financially. Earlier this year, we decided the time was right, got out our old materials from 1997 and called Kelly Jo. She actually remembered us, which was very impressive. She spoke to us about the new BCV property, sent us the materials and guided us through the process. She was patient, knowledgeable and GREAT! We're going "home for the first time this October.

I also think that it speaks volumes about the DVC that so many guides have been there for many years. I daresay the other "timeshare" properties could not boast such a record.

[HookdonWDW]

I see that people have taken the time to mention their guides who are probably very adequate, but nowhere have I seen mention of our guide, who is just terrific:D !

Our guide is Randy Kruger, and he remained helpful and kind for over two years while we debated about whether or not to buy. And when we were FINALLY ready to part with our money this year, he was more than helpful with our BCV purchase.

[nezy]

Bernard LeBeupan(?spelling)

He is great!! He has bent over backwards more than once to help me out, is never pushy and always full of great info. to help me make a decision.
If you are losing your favorite guide, and are able to request one, I recommend Bernard.

[disneychic]

Bobby Corsello is our guide. We love him! He is by far the BEST! He has helped us out numerous times on so many things. Always pleasant, always returns our calls. He called us many times after 9/11 knowing that I was at WTC to make sure I was alright. He's not just a great DVC guide, he's a great person. LOVE him!!

[BCV23]

Randy Kruger and Gib McCain were both great for us...helpful and low-key.

[trishy]

Two Thumbs Up for Bernard - always within reach, going above and beyond the call of duty for us, never pushy but always encouraging. Looking for a guide, which is what I can classify Bernard under because of his wonderful guidance, call Bernard.

:D

[dizfanz]

:) Randy Kruger, awesome.

[RAD]

I really get jealous reading all the post about what great guides folks have. My guide must have been trained by the same person that trained Rich's guide. We made the original 200 point purchase, a 70 point add on, a 30 point add on and a referral that bought 210 points. Not one single thank you, no letter about anything that was upcoming, nothing, nada zilch. I mentioned his name once on another thread and was told that you shouldn't make negative comments and name the person by a moderator (, but his initials are TS. Does anyone else have this salesman and have received any better followup then we have? While we don't have any plans for an additional purchase at this point, it will be a cold day in you know where before he gets anymore of our $'s.

[WolfpackFan]

Is your guide and the salesperson the same person? Reason I ask is we went in for a DVC presentation last week while down staying at AKL. We've been thinking about joining DVC for about six months now and will be joining sometime in the next 6-9 months (I don't want to finance, I want to pay cash - seems to me you loose alot of the financial benefit when you start paying interest on the purchase). My point though is that I had always heard that the presentations were very low key and no pressure would be put on me. I was kind of surprised, the salesperson seemed to be putting all kinds of pressure on me to buy right then. Made me feel like I was making a major mistake if I didn't sign right then. He even told me that if I didn't buy then and take advantage of Magical Beginnings that I would not get any points until next year, which I've learned is not true. He then stepped out of the room and came back and said he had spoke with his "manager" and they would extend the MB offer for three days. I felt like I was dealing with a car salesman all of a sudden. I had the feeling when it was over that the salesperson felt like he had wasted an hour of his time on us for nothing. Anyway, I had already sold myself on joining DVC and will be joining soon - the benefits are just too great not to join; but the sales presentation sure didn't do anything to help my decision.

[JimB.]

Our original guide was Jacque Layne. Very attentive & professional.

Our next guide was (is?) __________ _______. No name because it had been so long since we heard from him, I've forgotten who it is.

We just did an add-on while on cruise, & the rep on the Magic was Jim _______ (forgot his last name :mad: ), who was very professional, helpful (& unfortunately for our checkbook, convincing ;) ).

[bongo59]

well .......rich is on mark......we have just purchased dvc BCV on june 15.....i have been thru the tour 6 times since 1991 with several of the guides listed as awesome on this thread........reality check....none were....... in fact most were impediments to making a decision to buy .....this june we were "guided" by Raphael Massa.....and he gave new meaning to buy now or you are just a loser attitude........we'll we had decided we were buying this time regardless......but this guide so infuriated me, my own father in law told me to get up and leave.......I did and we bought 400 points with Linda Smit a week later over the phone without even seeing the place.........she has been a pleasant disney SALEPERSON.........who got Mr. Massa's commission!!!!!!

[DisneyWorld fanatic]

Our guide was Ron Allen and he was excellent! Like many people, we had looked into DVC during every vacation to WDW and would stop at the kiosks around the resort and ask a few questions or look at the information. During our Feb 2001 trip, we decided to actually go over to the BW and see the sales presentation and we were hooked up with Ron. He explained the DVC to us, answered all our questions, gave us some time alone to talk over a few things and when he came back, we told him that we would have to think about it and he said that was great and he was there if we needed him. The rest of that day we discussed it and decided to take the plunge. I called Ron the next morning and he arranged for us to come over the next day to sign some papers. The next morning, the DVC van was supposed to pick us up at 8:00 and did not show up. After about 15 minutes, I call Ron and he said he would take care of it. Within 5 min, the van was there. After we were done with Ron, he gave us a $50.00 gift cert. to spend anywhere in WDW for the delay in the morning. He followed up with us numerous times when we were home in NJ and sent us a very nice card when we became official DVC members. He was great!!!!!

[AnnaS]

Linda Scolaro is our guide. I am very happy with her and have absolutely no complains. Informative, patient and efficient.:D

[Dizneynut]

My guide is Joan Lane, and I have nothing but compliments for her. She is always within reach and always helpful.
Thanks Joan!

[Lars624]

We took the tour in May and our guide was Byron Helgeson. I had been told by friends that there was no pressure and I wasn't disappointed. Byron didn't put any pressure on us at all even though we did not buy that day. We called him a few weeks later from home to make our purchase.

[WolfpackFan]

Regarding pressure, the salesperson told me that he was putting pressure on us because in the past his customers had told him that they had wished he had put more pressure on them. That ones who did not sign at the presentation but signed later had told him that they wished he had pressured them MORE to sign at the presentation. So he said he was doing us a favor by putting pressure on us. The thing is IMO, DVC pretty much sales itself and the folks buying will buy when they feel comfortable. I really resented the pressure, but I'm not going to let that stop us from buying when we're ready.

[lsyorke]

Linda Scolaro is our guide too. She was very understanding when we changed our minds after 9/11. Told us to take our time and let her know if we changed our minds. December 2001 we bought in for which she did all new paperwork and sent a whole new welcome kit.

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by eva
I love my DVC Guide!
BUT...You will NOT get his Bud Light! http://www.disboards.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[dvc_bwv]

Our guide is Nick Tamberrino and in our opinion he is great! In our tour he was very helpful, no pressure, explained everything is detail, etc. Since our initial purchase we have done 2 add ons..one by phone and the second when we were on vacation last November. We hadn't talked to Nick in advance of our November trip, but knew we were going to add on while there. We popped in on our first day and he made the time to help us with this. He also calls frequently to see how things are. He's a great person to deal with.

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Our guide is James Moore and we think of him as our "mate in the US" seen him several times and we always have good laugh about our "cultural differences"!!

Mick.

:smooth:

[Crissup]

we think of him as our "mate in the US"

Of course, here in the U.S., someone's mate is their lover or domestic partner. I'm really not looking for that type of relationship with my guide, Ron Brumbaugh. ;) :jester: ;)

[Kick it up a notch!]

They are salespeople. I have never had any of the experiences of any of the people on this board, in fact the opposite is true. I originally purchased 200 points and nothing. I added on 50 points and was told there were a couple of weeks worth left and it wouldn't be a problem (when BWV sales were closing) I never heard back for a couple of weeks and when I called she said I'm sorry but there are no more points left, I'll put you on the waitlist. After a couple of weeks I called back and she said that it was still hopeful but she didn't know for sure. I told her to forget it and I would purchase a resale. It was amazing that the points I wanted became available 10 minutes later.

The next 350 points I bought were a resale because I really couldn't see giving her another commission and I saved money in the process. I won't mention her name but I can tell you that her name is not in the previous posts and I would be very surprised if it was in future posts of wonderful guides.

Your guides might be wonderful but they are just salespeople, some are just better at it than others.

[mickg7dyd]

Hi Crissup,
Now that is just the sort of thing we talk about!!
Don't you also have a game called "football" were the players hardly ever use their feet,and a "World Series" were most of the world isn't invited?
Two nations divided by a common language,didn't someone once say!!

Mick.

:D :D :D :D :D

[Bob D194]

Randy Kruger is our guide for both of our purchases. He has been great. He has called with updates and we have refered several of our friends to him. They have also been very pleased with Randy.

Bob and Linda D.

[DeeP]

Kick it up a notch,
It is unfortunate that you and a few others do/did not have good experiences with your guides, but as you can see many of us have had and continue to have great experiences with our guides.
I really can not classify my guide as "just a salesperson", it has been many years since I made my DVC purchase and yet my guide has called us many times when we were at DVC to just say hello and welcome home. I was not buying points and she knew it, she just called to be friendly. This to me is not "just a salesperson".

[yasuern]

To be honest we were sold even before we toured. We knew we were going to buy. But our guide Kelli Jo Williamson took time to explain all the details of owning DVC - she told us to have 2 contracts (we were going to buy 300pts) each 150 in case we ever divorced or had a second child. Also explained in detail bank borrowing use year the different collections dues etc. She was wonderful! Is wonderful.