Another question for you DVC fans.

[Carl]

Why are you always trying to get more people into the DVC? Isn't the more people in it going to make it more difficult to find availability? I understand your desire to "share the fun." But, if, as it certainly appears that it already is, there are so many people competing for the same days at the same resorts, that it makes it extremely difficult to obtain booking - where's the fun? I was looking forward to "sharing the fun" and so far all I've shared is the aggravation.

 

[DVCDAVE]

Isn't it always true that; if a room is unbooked, it goes in to the CRO system and is rented out to some one on a cash basis ? Threrfore, it really makes no differance as to weather it is sold out or not, Disney basically makes up the slack the best it can......

 

[CRobin]

Gee, Carl, you really seem frustrated about whether or not you've made a good call here, and that's too bad. I hope you've gotten some encouragement from the replies to your other thread about the waitlist.

Sold out DVC resorts, like OKW and BWV, are popular places, because, in theory, 96% of the rooms are occupied year round by members, someone renting from a member, or a cash customer who got in when a member traded out.

Now, in practice, that doesn't happen, points get banked, borrowed, or forgotten. Some people go in the summer, others (like you and me) go in the "off" season. I can tell you that I've made 8 ressies in the past 2 years for family or DW and me, none at the 11 month window, have used the waitlist only once, and only once (with 3 weeks notice) not gotten the resort I initially wanted.

So, hang in there!

On your point about more members making it more difficult, some of us agree to disagree on that one. I'm in the camp that the more members you have, the more resorts you need. More people booking their home resort at 11 months and switching at 7. More openings, more opportunities, more trade-outs, more cruisers, more "things" that open up opportunities for one who can be somewhat flexible in their travel plans.

Good luck!

 

[Granny]

CRobin....I'm with you on this.

Once a resort sells out, no new memberships can be sold there. So if all the resorst sell out, you can still make the reservations you want with planning and versatility.

The more they sell, the more they build. I'm glad my home of VWL sold out so they accelerated the opening of BCV. And because of those sales, they have already announced two more DVC resorts to be built on-site after BCV. So that's just more options and choices for future years. How cool is that?

Why do we want more people in DVC? I think for most, it's because they are genuinely enthusiastic about WDW vacations and enjoy "sharing the magic".

 

[Caskbill]

I wholeheartedly agree with Robin and Granny on this one. Since the number of members is restricted to the resort capacities, there's never really an issue with too many people. I own at OKW which is sold out. If a BWV, VWL, BCV, HH, VB guest wants to stay at OKW, then that in turn gives me opportunities to stay at their resorts, which we have done (except BCV, which we have reserved for January).

More members = more resorts = more choices = more Disney Magic.

When it's critical we get a specific time, then the 11-month window works. If I want another resort, and it's available at 7-months, that works too. Let the great resort swap begin...

 

[thepoohbear]

In all honesty, I really try to get people to buy in because it has been so wonderful for us. We really shopped around and happily avoided some close-call disasters. We are so thankful that we found DVC before we bought into something not as great. So when we hear that someone is considering a timeshare investment, we tell them to look into DVC. We know quite a few people who have bought other Florida timeshares and end up not loving it, then when they go to sell, they realize they would lose money. I know others who own in Mexico, Virginia, and Hawaii. Seemed like a good idea but they never go and now they are having a hard time trading for what they want. So why do I try to convince people to buy into DVC? Because I wish someone had told me about it ten years ago. Because I am just so unbelievably happy. Because I really (and this might sound sappy, but it's true) want to share a little piece of the magic.

 

[sgtdisney]

Does anyone remember the time, long before 'The Disney Decade' (The '90s) when Disney only had 3 resorts? I am talking about just the Contemporary, The Polynesian Village and The Golf Resort. You used to have to book those rooms a year, or more, in advance for peak seasons and they were never discounted.. Times sure have changed.....

 

[Peter Johnson]

Originally posted by sgtdisney
Does anyone remember the time, long before 'The Disney Decade' (The '90s) when Disney only had 3 resorts? I am talking about just the Contemporary, The Polynesian Village and The Golf Resort. You used to have to book those rooms a year, or more, in advance for peak seasons and they were never discounted.. Times sure have changed.....

Back when we joined in May 92, the only resorts that we could use points at (other than DVC) were the Poly, Contemporary, Disney Inn, Yacht and Beach. WDW has grown a lot since then!

 

[WDWguru]

I was just a little kid, but I do remember my grandfather or great uncle had "connections" of some kind and got us in to stay at the Contemporary a few times. Once over Christmas, as I recall! We also used to stay at the campground in my grandparents' motor home before they opened the lodge.

I've basically been going my whole life (I was born just 10 months before WDW opened) and have lost count the number of trips. It really is amazing how much it's changed and how HUGE it is now!

 

[Carl]

And when the Contemporary was first built, my mother got to stay there for just $35 per night. Yes, indeed, times they sure have changed!

 

[PamOKW]

my mother got to stay there for just $35 per night

The Regular Season rack rate for a CR Tower room this year is $360. That gives us a good idea of how the room rates at WDW increase and is an indicator of the benefit to DVC members to lock in their room costs.

Carl -- I know at first glance it seems like the more people there are, the harder it is to book. In fact, I was concerned when they first started buildng more DVC resorts outside of OKW. I figured they were messing with a delicate balance of supply and demand. My fears have been unfounded.

When a resort is new, it is in DVC members' best interest for the resort to sell-out. This is good for both the sharing of dues and the declaration of inventory into DVC availability. In the early days of Vero, there were times when they were giving away the Disney owned rooms but there would be no availability of member rooms. That has since balanced out.

I'm still confused about what exactly you tried to book. If it is the first week of December, that is a time that is heavily booked in advance at the 11-month mark. That means people have to cancel for space to become available. With 6 months left, that is still likely to happen. I'm not sure how many options you gave in terms of type of room and/or resorts. The more options, the better your chances.

I have had success booking, even on short notice. I'm hoping this will be the only trip that has proved difficult for you.

As far as "trying to get more people"....I don't really care one way or the other what people decide. To me, DVC was a very difficult concept to grasp until I actually sat down at a Disney presentation. I would like to help people feel comfortable enough to at least take that step. Then they can decide what does and doesn't work for them. It has worked very well for my family.

 

[BillM]

More DVC members do not make it any harder to book ressies. As DVC sells points the have to place more villas into DVC inventory. This ballances out the availability to the # of members.
Some resorts have particular problems. BWV has 20% of their inventory in Standard villas with less points. This creates a large number of members chasing these villas with the 11 month window. HHDVC has a seasonal problem and a high inventory of 2 BR. AS a OKW owner who is quite flexible, we don't have a problem with the 7 month window.

 

[PamOKW]

Good points about HHI and BWV, Bill. BWV also seems to have had an unusual number of units "out of commission" while they work on the resort. Taking all the GV's out of use may have put a strain on the system that will probably even out again next year.

 

[sgtdisney]

In '72 when the Contemporary was $35.00 per night you could buy a fully loaded Mercedes Benz 450SL for $12,000. Now the comparable model is priced over $100,000. Ah, yes, how times have changed....

 

[trishy]

To be honest Carl, I don't try to talk anyone into DVC - I try to talk them into the resorts. It's such a great family vacation and we would love to go with friends. I only try to talk them into going with us - it just happens that it's more affordable for our family to do it through DVC. I figure it probably isn't for everyone. For one, you need to commit that your home resort is the only real option because of the 11 mo. ressie. For another, you need to commit that Orlando is basically your travel spot for the next 40 yrs. There's certainly no great magic in owning DVC other than having comfortable accomodations at the place you prefer to travel.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by Carl
Why are you always trying to get more people into the DVC? Isn't the more people in it going to make it more difficult to find availability? I understand your desire to "share the fun." But, if, as it certainly appears that it already is, there are so many people competing for the same days at the same resorts, that it makes it extremely difficult to obtain booking - where's the fun? I was looking forward to "sharing the fun" and so far all I've shared is the aggravation.

Well, when we first bought in we though somewhat the same thing..."Ok, we're now owners, close the neighborhood to new people." Unfortunately, that doesn't apply since what we members don't own, Disney owns...and I'm sure they have an 'in' when it comes to making the ressies They want to make.

The 'conflict' for rooms is really only during the high times (christmas, easter, and early december, et al) and for the more 'desirable' room types. That's either from a point cost perspective (studio standard view at BWV) or accomodations style (12 person house, er, grand villa).

I can see where your aggravation can come, especially if you're new to the board. Jumping into any group of 'experts' who sit around all day thinking of their favorite topic can give one a skewed perspective on things.

Why do we push DVC so much....well for as many reasons as there are DVC members, but they all revolve around it making very good sense if you are a disney fanatic and demand more than a typical budget hotel room. And as sappy, warm-fuzzy, sickly sweet, wishy-washy as it is, we can't help but want more disney fanatics to see the light.

Besides, ona personal level, when wifey-poo and I were sitting through the initial desk 'meeting' in the lobby at WL in 2000, at least 5 different families walked by saying it was the best thing they'd ever done in terms of Disney. That helped us make the decision, and since it is the best thing _we_ have ever done regarding disney, we can't help but wanting to share the magic.