Suprise

[MN_DizNut]

So, can thoose of us who are confused, poor, and duped buy at other resorts, or do we have to buy at VB??? I was hoping to buy 200-250 pts at VWL, but figure with my ongoing confusion I need to buy 150 points at VB...???... <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

 

[PamOKW]

I hadn't read this thread until now. Very nice response LooHoo. Garrett, I think by now you realize that Rich is our resident devil's advocate and we can't take him too seriously. He does have valid points but sometimes is a little "abrasive" in how he puts them across.

(It's been a very long time since Pete has had to step in. Guess we are taking winter cabin fever out on these boards.)

 

[mikesmom]

I can address the problem with reservations in early November...

The Epcot Food & Wine Fest is still going on then. This makes the BWV a VERY popular place to go. We hooked 3 nites in a studio right at the beginning of the 11-month window and the CM said the rooms were going fast.

For those who are not familiar, there are dishes to sample at all the World Showcase countries. Also different beers and wines to try. There are more than the normal amount of special dinners to make ressies for .. Tasting parties from certain wineries or breweries, wine tasting dinners, etc. One of those events I feel is especially good for adults.

BWV is close to the fest AND if you get carried away with the wine-tasting, you can WALK "home"

 

[MN Disney fans]

I for one am glad DVC starts at 150. We bought 170 pts and just spent 8-nights in a one bedroom in off season. We could have afforded more but this seems like the right amount for us now. If we lived nearer (like someone who happens to be Rich), maybe we could come more often and would require more points. As has been said before, we can always add on.

Erich

"I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train." --- Walt Disney

 

[normr]

If more and more people just buy the minimum of 150 points, and there was even talk of people buying less than that on resale, what does that mean, it is obvious as Rich says these people will use only weekday points and leave the weekends open, and you don't think Disney would make a move to correct this by changing the point allotments by lowering the weekends and raising the weekdays, and it forces them into booking only studios thereby creating the exact scenario Rich points out.

And without a program to help lower the cost of those $72.00 points people will only buy the minimum.

 

[DVC California]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> If more and more people just buy the minimum of 150 points...people will use only weekday points and leave the weekends open...[/quote]

Many of us, because of different reasons, are able to visit WDW annually or more often. However, believe it or not, there are also many members who like the timeshare concept, like the Disney brand, but will do a WDW vacation EVERY OTHER year. It is exactly those people for whom DVC is marketing 150 point contracts.

While true that this may sidelap into the week/weekend points issue, IMHO it is not a major a problem. There will be those who have the points and don't want to move. Or need to use their points because they can't be banked any longer.

My two cents, Steve

"I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members", Groucho Marx.

 

[jkfreeman33]

We were in WDW the first week of December (12/2-12/9) last year. I could not believe how crowded it was. For the last 5 years we have gone either the 1st or 2nd week of December. I booked the 2nd week for 2001. Maybe it will be less crowded. I called MS on 1/16 and did not have any problem getting a 2 bedroom standard view at the BW. I did have to wait on hold about 20 min. I usually book our December trip exactly 11 months from checkout and have always gotten what we wanted.

 

[zipadee]

I'm very happy that dvc offers the "TINY" packages or we would never have joined. We ended up buying more points up front and then adding more. Rich, sometimes I just don't understand you. Isn't it nice that more families can afford to join and enjoy disney!!!!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We were there 12/3-12/13 this past Dec. and crowds were bad the first week due to the Pop Warner play offs at that time. The second week was much better. I would assume that the Walt Disney birthday celebration might be a little of the problem for this year.

Disneydiane

 

[jane51]

I agree with a previous post that one of the reasons Disney probably lowered the number of points to buy in was the increase in cost per point. Those of you who bought in early could purchase the required number for a whole lot less than we who have bought in now could buy that same number. What was the early cost per point? I don't know about others but my salary has not gone up like the price of these points. We didn't even look into DVC early on because we are a family of 5 and knew we would need a 2 bedroom. After looking at the prices for those for regular folks, we never thought that we could afford
DVC. Of course, now we know differently.

MinnieN

 

[minnie mouse]

I am one of those tiny point contract owners. And as much as I would love to have more, 150 is all I can afford right now.

And in away I would kinda like to see them even out the points more for weekends. We like to vacation off season and that means pulling my oldest daughter out of school. And since I will only pull her out for a week at the most and we like to make our vacation as long as possible we have to go for the two weekend stay. It kills us with points but I would rather do that then her miss school.
So if they even out the points more I think it would cost us less in the long run.
Just my two cents!!!

 

[kewlteacher]

I cannot say we were "duped" into buying at Vero, however, I was "led" to believe it really didn't matter where you bought. This, as you all know, really DOES matter. However, the "deal" they were offering for Vero helped us actually buy into DVC...and we bought more than 150 points to stay 2 weeks a year. Now, as my husband and I read these posts, we are constantly reminded that people have different opinions and without those people, this board would be incredible boring and would not give us the advantage of seeing the "other side". That is not to say that the negative opinions are warrented. I teach middle school and I tell my kids all the time..everyone has a right to their opinion as long as it is stated in a way that does not put down another. I think some adults in these boards need to be reminded of this.
Now, to get in another 2 cents...Disney (as much as we love it) is a business and must be run as such or what we have would not exist. If we keep that in mind and work with Disney (with our voices/concerns) we can make Disney aware of how we feel...hoping that changes are made in our best interest.
And to add another tibit (while I am on lunch! ;-), there are other places to stay besides BW. We bought at Vero and are splitting our vacation between Vero and BWV. When we called to reserve (BW) we had alternative plans in writing before we even knew if space was available. I think, as Disney DVC becomes much more populated, you have to have some flexibility in your plans. I do understand the people who bought at BW and can't get in at the 11 month window. However, as Disney builds more units, I think this will change. As far as we are concerned, being "anywhere" in Disney gives us the "magic" we crave! ;-)
PS...we got a standard 1 bedroom at BWV very easily in July (yeah!)

Melissa & Brian
a.k.a kewlteacher

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Call it what you want--"duped" or whatever--but after CLEARLY stating to our guide that we are NOT flexible with our dates (we go ON Thanksgiving Day, stay offsite for 3 days, then move on-site for one week, and have done so on all previous trips), and that we ONLY want to stay at the Boardwalk, he ASSURED us that we would NOT have a problem making reservations at BWV at the 7 month window even if we bought at VB.

He also told us that 5 in a one-bedroom was fine, and to just go down to the pool to get extra towels.

It sounded perfect! Here we had a Disney Guide telling us just what we wanted to hear! And we purchased...but ONLY because I knew I could come here to the DIS and do research. And we canceled VB and purchased a BWV resale...and are glad we did, because IT WAS RIGHT FOR US.

Do I think ALL guides are liars? NO! And neither does Rich. ALL SITUATIONS ARE DIFFERENT! In MY situation, I felt duped. If you have the flexibility, and/or you don't care where you stay, and/or you like Vero Beach, GREAT!!!!

Personally, the more I hear about VB, the more I'd like to go there sometime in the probably distant future. Right now, with our children at the age they're at, Disney is our focus.

I have never gotten the impression that Rich is referring to ALL guides when he has negative comments, but it appears he's been around here long enough to have heard other stories, in addition to mine, and I for one am grateful that our situation turned out the way it did...and it's because I weighed ALL the information I got here, including Rich's.

We closed on our BWV resale purchase at 9 1/2 months before we wanted a reservation, and have gotten only 2 of the 7 days we want. We are on a waitlist, and perhaps at the 7 month window, as reservations shift around, we will get our dates. Perhaps we will have to stay elsewhere on-site, and that's certainly not a crisis. BUT, I will be sure to call at exactly the 11 month window next time.

As for small contracts...both sides of the issue are food for thought, and some I find more valid than others.

Sarcasm police? Uummm...that would be...Pete? That alone sounds pretty sarcastic, doncha think?

 

[MN_DizNut]

Maybe it's just a guy thing, but I always believed size didn't matter as long as you were happy...???



Jon

WDW '85 offsite
DL '85
DL '87
WDW '89 offsite
WL '97
WL '97 (again!)
WH '99
WL '99
AStSp '99 (YUCKY!!!)
DCL/Poly Jun/July '02

 

[mickey7861]

MN_DIZNUT

LOL ºoº

 

[Pluto4President]

I agree with dianeschlicht,"No way I would enter this one!"
Just wanted to say I like Rich and his posts are very informative. We need a little pot stirring every now and then!
As for crowds, we always make the best of it!

<img border="0" src="http://www.raynorpools.com/ftp/plutoplate.gif" width="120" height="61">

"Walt Disney World... been there, done that, GOING BACK!"

 

[RamVA]

I've been away from the boards for months, and when I was participating, found myself usually trying to avoid any posting that involved a debate with Rich--but, here goes, and I'm sure I'll regret this. I don't care how enlightening some of the information is--Rich's posts can be very abrasive, and very intimitdating. I'm sure no personal offense is meant, but even though the responses are "pointedly" non-person specific, and the words carefully chosen, and couched in "Clintonesque" language, much of what is said can be very easily interperted by the reader as personal and offensive, and it's a turn-off to participate in the dialogue. As for VB, I don't care why Disney built it, or if it turned out to be a mistake--I have been a member since 1992 and it hasn't impacted me at all, and most of the posts I read are from happy VB owners. It seems as if the 11-month window is important at Boardwalk, but as I have said many times here before, I have never had a problem at OKW making my reservations sometimes in a 1-month window, and we go in July or August--high peak time! Point minimums--never really thought about it too much--again it has not in one way altered my vacation experience. I probably would have been thrilled with the lower minimum when we bought in, just because as a younger couple that amount of course would have been easier to finance, and we could have added on. Didn't really want to add any fuel to the fire, but, Garret, didn't want you to feel chased away. Just my .02

Ruthie
DVC'92

 

[Princess Tess]

just what was the cost of points in 1993 ?

 

[RamVA]

Princess, if my memory serves me right, (and yes, I confess it's starting to go!)we paid $52 or $52.50 per point, and financing through Disney was interest free. So, our payment was deducted automatically, along with our dues, and the loan was paid off in 3 years. It was a deal that couldn't be beat, especially with free tickets until the year 2000. We talked to a guide over the phone, read all the info when it came in the mail, and made the decision within a week. Absolutely never a second thought, and only regret is we didn't realize as the family grew up, and we changed, we would want more points. I know both my oldest children will buy if they ever get out of the nest and have their own money!!

Ruthie
DVC'92

 

[Dean]

Rich's message is a valid one, even if he is forcefull with it's presentation. The smaller packages will have an impact, at least for a while, though I suspect it'll even out over time. When OKW started selling, the minimum was around the number of points needed for a 2 BR at least part of the year, now it's barely a studio for most times of the year. Remember points package min has gone down but the points required for the new resort has gone up. By the time BC starts selling, 150 points will barely buy a studio during the summer time. If the affect it too great on the weekday/weekend balance, DVC must and will adjust the points. I think eventually we will see a minimum stay of 2 or 3 days, the real question is will they require Friday and Sat to go together.

While I'm sure the 150 points minimum is about making DVC affordable for more families, it's not for altruistic reasons. They just want more money from more preople. As I've stated several times on this list, I just recently entered into a contract to buy at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta. It is run on a point system as well that functions very similarly to DVC. They have four seasons, unit sizes range from studios to 3 BR and two views. What they do is sell points packages that match up to a unit amount for the week. Like DVC you can bank and borrow for one year each, the weekend days are more and you can stay for as few or many days as you want (min of 3 days, Fairfield also has a minimum of 3 days). When you buy, you actually buy a 3 month priority window that corresponds to a specific unit type, size and view. For example, the contract I bought is for a 2 BR Marina view in Value time. That means that only those that own that specific unit type can make reservations in that 3 month window and you are therefore guaranteed what you own if you call during that time. BTW, they also have every other year packages but their units are not lockoff's so the smaller packages doesn't impact the number of larger unit available. Just for information and comparison purposes.

Dean