Any negatives to DVC ownership?

[wheelcap]

The downside of buying DVC!?! Uhm . . . it sucks up all your money, and puts it into your next vacation. See - you dump a butt-load of money into buying, then you pay the nominal finance charges. THEN, you are forever saving every dime you can in order to make your next trip down better than the last. Oh . . . wait a minute . . . that's not DVC membership, that's just an everyday addiction to Walt Disney World. Hi! I'm John, and I'm an addict!

 

[Liljam]

at all the little comments!

Let me just say that it IS addictive! I haven't even had my first Welcome Home and I've got a total of three trips each with 5 or more days planned up through July of 08 and plan to keep a similar schedule throughout. AND, I only have 210 points. I may do an add on sooner or later, probably in January when I go home for the first time. The downsides....
how about when your mom says "are you going home yet" after a long day of work and you reply, "no mom, not until January!" When your guide calls your work to finalize things and your coworkers shout Disney Vacation Club because it shows up on the caller id, when your inlaws let you know about the trip they'd love to take to Branson and "wonder" what hotels are covered in YOUR points in that area, when you schedule a babysitter for your beloved puppies because you can't take them home with you, when you say "that Granny is so helpful on the boards" to your husband and he replies "Yeah, you seem to like HIM and HE seems to have a ton of information," when your husband wants to watch a movie but you're too busy catching up on current events on the DIS board - you gotta read who got what at AKV even if you don't intend on trying to book there until 09! The list goes on an on but as you get the hint, there isn't a downside that I can find that I would even take seriously! I had done a ton of research before I even went on the tour and the tour guide said I'd even make a great tour guide and that was BEFORE i found DIS lol! I'm sure there are frustrations along the way as with any marriage, job, home purchase or remodel and so on, but I figure I'll burn that bridge when I get there. And as for the booking... I think that some of it is exaggerated and and some of it isn't as someone else had sort of mentioned and I don't intend on waitlisting, but I'm flexible too. Good luck with your decision!

 

[summergolf]

Liljam....great comments
I heard the rumors about you and Granny on another thread
Seriously well written reply

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

They say about 4% increase every year. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Not much different than maint fees on your own home. Taxes, utilities, and insurance seem to always go up every year. Same idea here.

But keep in mind that rack rates for hotel rooms also will rise every year. But as a member, you pay the same amount of points for the rooms through the length of the contract.

Today you can pay $300 a night for a room. 10 years from now it could likely be $500 a night.

A good reason to invest that 300. At 7% it will be worth 600 in ten years and you'll have the room and an extra 100 for dinner.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm with wheelcap on this one. I feel like I have a direct debit (besides the monthly maintenance fees) to Disney, between the Disney VISA (with Member since Day 1 and DVC Member on it), to the DVC license plate (one got torn up in an accident, can't replace it), the lunch time calls to MS, whatever.

DVC does just suck up your money.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Anything I can think of has already been stated here.

BUT, please realize that this is a board full of DVC enthusiasts (or DVC freaks, if you prefer! ) Seriously, though, this is NOT the place to come if you are looking for true negatives.

While the issues mentioned here are legitimate, remember that all of us dearly love our DVC membership. In order to really get both sides of the picture, you would want to talk with someone who was so dissatisfied with DVC they they sold immediately, etc. And of course those folks would not be on these boards.

However, it is also worth mentioning that in a recent study of all of the major TimeShare coporations (Marriott, Hilton, BlueGreen, etc.), DVC ranked # 1 in Owner Satisfaction. I can't remember the exact percentage, but it was definitely in the 90's...so this really says something.

Bottom line, IMO, are the following. If you answer yes to these questions, then DVC is for you--

--Do you plan to visit WDW every year (or at least every other year) for the next several years or more?
--Do you have to say on property for your Disney vacations in order to be happy?
--Do you usually stay in moderate or deluxes?
--Do you want/need extra space and larger accommodations?
--Can you afford it without (or with minimal) financing? *

If you answered yes to these questions, then it is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned.

*This one is certainly up for debate (and is often debated here). I am a fan of no financing for a vacation/luxury item. Once you factor in the extra cost associated with financing, it no longer becomes as good of a financial deal. Others will disagree. This is obviously a personal issue/preference.

Hope this helps!

 

[Snookies]

...Last minute, or even 2-3 month out trips will be harder to come by. At least that's how it seems...

My experience has been similar to others in that reservations made 2-3 months out have been easy to book, depending on time of year, size of unit, and particular resort. Predictably, OKW and, now SSR, are usually easier to book within 7 months than BCV, VWL, and possibly BWV. Particularly, if you want to stay at SSR (or are willing to do so), this should not be an issue. I think the "that's how it seems" impression comes from numerous anecdotes from many that try to book within 7 months and want to stay at BCV, VWL, or BWV and seem to be disappointed that the only availability is at SSR and/or OKW.

I think addonitis develops because of the flexible nature of the program, the initial buy-in point requirement from Disney, and the ability of new members to buy small resale contracts. Although YMMV, these features may lead some to underestimate the number of points they will actually need to do what they want. It originally took us about 2 years to develop a long-term plan, eventually requiring add-ons of about 20% to our original point allocation. I appreciate spontaneity, but I don't think DVC is necessarily the place for it. Pre-purchase, I think you need to have some sense of how it will be used over time and purchase your point allocation accordingly. JIMHO, I'd also recommend thinking of DVC like any other timeshare purchase, i.e., buy at least the number of points required for an every year or every other year 2-BDR lockoff.

 

[crisi]

My experience has been similar to others in that reservations made 2-3 months out have been easy to book, depending on time of year, size of unit, and particular resort. Predictably, OKW and, now SSR, are usually easier to book within 7 months than BCV, VWL, and possibly BWV. Particularly, if you want to stay at SSR (or are willing to do so), this should not be an issue. I think the "that's how it seems" impression comes from numerous anecdotes from many that try to book within 7 months and want to stay at BCV, VWL, or BWV and seem to be disappointed that the only availability is at SSR and/or OKW.

I think addonitis develops because of the flexible nature of the program, the initial buy-in point requirement from Disney, and the ability of new members to buy small resale contracts. Although YMMV, these features may lead some to underestimate the number of points they will actually need to do what they want. It originally took us about 2 years to develop a long-term plan, eventually requiring add-ons of about 20% to our original point allocation. I appreciate spontaneity, but I don't think DVC is necessarily the place for it. Pre-purchase, I think you need to have some sense of how it will be used over time and purchase your point allocation accordingly. JIMHO, I'd also recommend thinking of DVC like any other timeshare purchase, i.e., buy at least the number of points required for an every year or every other year 2-BDR lockoff.

2-3 months out is difficult at ANY resort in October and early December. There are times of the year where 2-3 months out is just not a good booking strategy. But most times of the year, you'll be able to get SOMETHING, if not what you want.

 

[MrsHerbie53]

Our two biggest issues-

- Extended family and friends who love our DVC (and us, of course! ) so much that they want to tag along (which is usually okay with us), but don't let us know until the last minute (not okay). Sometimes we have to scramble to get a bigger place....but it's nice to be so popular!

- We can't live there all the time.

Beccasmom, You have to quit telling them!!!

 

[Lewanc]

Another "negative" is we constantly are planning our next trip to Disney, it seems like an obsession.

I'm not sure that's really a negative though.

Hi There -- You're not alone, you have an obsession, but we definitely have an addiction which cannot be treated at any rehab facility. No matter where we go, we have to have our Disney fixes. We relocated about 25 miles from Disney and find ourselves there on a monthly basis. Just can't seem to get enough of the place. If anyone says you're crazy for your obsession, hold your head high -- look the person straight in the eye, and proudly state, I 'm not alone, then direct them to this forum.

Many more happy Disney days.

 

[rthutchens]

Thanks for all of the great replies, you guys are pros!