Any regrets for doing DVC?

[Lisa P.]

most posters on this board will be pretty pro-DVC, so if you want negative opinions you may need to look elsewhere.

Definitely agree, there. When people are disillusioned and sell, they generally stop visiting the DVC forums. So you won't find them here. Timeshares don't always work out the way people think. No timeshare is the perfect fit for everyone, not even DVC.

MagicalPins...While I am totally bummed out over the loss of Adventurers Club, I really can't say that you made a well thought out decision...

I'm glad that MagicalPins posted honestly. Tons of newbies come here and post their reasons for buying wanting to buy DVC. Often, it seems reasonable to them but some of their reasons just set them up for potential disappointment. The main and best reason to buy into DVC, IMO, is because someone would like to vacation onsite at WDW regularly (not just for long weekends) in the future and they really like the DVC home resort and they'd be paying more to do this otherwise. So MagicalPins, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. It may help others clarify their own reasons and choose well.

And my last issue is this...no flames please...after our last trip, I am worried that going to Disney every year, sometimes twice a year, is taking the magic out of it. My kids were so blase' about it all, and I found myself feeling sort of "been there, done that" as well. It sounds blasphemous coming out of my mouth, because I LOVE Disney. Now I'm worried that too much of it is making it less special.

This happens in some families. It did in ours. First-time DVC buyers may want to consider buying a smaller contract, banking and borrowing and renting extra points from other Members, for a few years until they see how many points they really want and would use. Families may shift some of their vacation interests elsewhere for the longterm and others just go through an overload cycle, ending up wanting to return often again later. In the interim, perhaps taking a break from WDW with a DVC beach vacation or an II exchange week would be what y'all need to return fresh to WDW.

Buying DVC is looking more and more like a bad decision. Now I am depressed

Maybe, maybe not... it's certainly a bigger ticket item than most folks ought to pursue on a whim. Either way, don't let it get you down. There are many ways to get to vacation at WDW! Get rooms from CRO. Rent points from DVC Members. Exchange a cheaper (but high quality) timeshare week elsewhere into DVC (this is what we do). Or try offsite. But don't take a DVC purchase too lightly. It's wonderful for lots of people. Making sure it's a good fit for you is what matters most.

 

[mopee3]

It seems like it is very hard to get any room at the 7 month window, which kinda makes DVC null and void unless you want to stay at the same resort for the rest of your 30-40 years. And some people are complaining about not even being able to get what they want at the 11 month window. Buying DVC is looking more and more like a bad decision. Now I am depressed

I just came upon this thread and thought, why not? We bought into DVC because Disney Land and WDW just make us smile. Everytime I think about the good times we have had at the parks and resorts, well I am smiling now thinking about a up coming trip in November.
Last February I was coming home from a business trip and realized that there was going to be a NASA shuttle launch about the middle of April . I was able to reserve the resorts I wanted, stayed in OKW and BCV for a week . It took me about a week to make the ressies and just after I made them and the flight ressies, well NASA changed the day of the launch to May something!! We called some friends and went anyway and had a ball without NASA!!

What I am saying is you can get reservations at less than the 7/11 month times.
And if you aren't really excited about the mouse, probably Disney really isn't for you.

Joy and luck to you all.

Monty

 

[Amor4Pooh]

but, like alot of others I am reading on this thread, do like to stay at the other Disney Resorts. My ONE BIG complaint is that now, it will cost me an extra $95 to use my points to do so. To be honest, when we bought, we loved the fact that if we didn't want to stay at a DVC, we could book Disneyland, Tokyo Disney, Paris, or WDW resorts, and we understood that it would not be a great value for our points. So far we have done the Yacht Club for a week, and though we loved Beach Club even more, are not willing to pay an extra $95 on top of the points to stay at a DISNEY hotel anywhere in the world. We wish it would have been put to a vote or presented to all the membership to get our opinions. I am sure many others might feel the same. I know my family was outraged when they read the news, because we wanted to option of the other Disney Resorts, without the Interval International equivalent fee that we are now being charged to book DISNEY resorts through the DISNEY Vacation Club. Let's be honest, that might affect availability at DVC's too, if other members are also unwilling to pay $95 to stay at WDW hotels.
I am surprised no one else has mentioned his yet.
Amor4Pooh

 

[tidefan]

but, like alot of others I am reading on this thread, do like to stay at the other Disney Resorts. My ONE BIG complaint is that now, it will cost me an extra $95 to use my points to do so. To be honest, when we bought, we loved the fact that if we didn't want to stay at a DVC, we could book Disneyland, Tokyo Disney, Paris, or WDW resorts, and we understood that it would not be a great value for our points. So far we have done the Yacht Club for a week, and though we loved Beach Club even more, are not willing to pay an extra $95 on top of the points to stay at a DISNEY hotel anywhere in the world. We wish it would have been put to a vote or presented to all the membership to get our opinions. I am sure many others might feel the same. I know my family was outraged when they read the news, because we wanted to option of the other Disney Resorts, without the Interval International equivalent fee that we are now being charged to book DISNEY resorts through the DISNEY Vacation Club. Let's be honest, that might affect availability at DVC's too, if other members are also unwilling to pay $95 to stay at WDW hotels.
I am surprised no one else has mentioned his yet.
Amor4Pooh

Understand your frustration, but just to clarify, there is no $95 fee for any of the Disneyland hotels...

 

[tidefan]

Thank you for the link. Reading this link makes me very scared to buy into DVC. It seems like it is very hard to get any room at the 7 month window, which kinda makes DVC null and void unless you want to stay at the same resort for the rest of your 30-40 years. And some people are complaining about not even being able to get what they want at the 11 month window. Buying DVC is looking more and more like a bad decision. Now I am depressed

We got a 2-Bdrm OKW this past February at 3 weeks out. They had both SSR and OKW available. I think a previous poster said it as well. There is usually availability, even late (except for maybe Christmastime and New Years), but it may only be at OKW and SSR. I think that once Kidani opens, it may be similar for AKV too. For us, that is OK as we love all of them...

 

[NedsTJ]

As someone else previously posted, my only regret has been not getting enough points. I find myself constantly borrowing from the next year in order to do the vacations i want! (i've become a 1 bedroom snob since my first stay, LOL). Soon enough the borrowing will catch up with the contracts and I'll have to sit out a year...LOL! yes, I know I can add-on...but am waiting....

 

[itsreally4mommy]

I thought the $95 was only for non DVC resorts? Has something changed?

 

[william4192]

We don't regret it at all. We live in Florida and visit quite a few times without staying (i.e. day trips). On our "big" vacations (i.e. stay on property) we eat at the TS places and try to do the "other" things on property (i.e. boats, carriage rides etc).

This year our plan is to eat at places we wouldn't normally eat (more exiotic) and to spend more time at the resort.

 

[chalee94]

I thought the $95 was only for non DVC resorts? Has something changed?

this is still correct. there is no fee for booking DVC resorts (or for booking DL resorts at this time.)

 

[BrADmatt]

Absolutely no regrets here . Been a member for two years and have enjoyed usiing it. We have stayed at HHI twice and SSR once. Next year using banking and borrowing we are taking DW's two DSis and their families and staying in a GV (not sure what resort yet. Either AKL or BWV).

Just wish we had done it sooner and bought more points .

 

[Coach81]

No regrets, love it...trying to hold back from addonitis... can't wait to go back!

 

[Laneychris]

We are just buying in and I can't wait to start planning our vacations!

 

[disneycrazed139]

I think I posted on this already, but am not sure. I don't have regrets because the decision was right for me at the time, but given the PI closure, I wish I would have chosen BCV instead of SSR.
Now I think once my contract is less stripped, I will try to sell it and buy a BCV resale if it's possible

 

[aDVCguy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

NO!

Next question...

 

[Dina]

Regret it? I do and I don't. We've been completely happy with DVC, and it has been wonderful to be able to stay at deluxe resorts when we were previously staying at moderates. So for the past few years, it has been wonderful. However, when we bought I was a stay at home mom (I used to be a high school teacher, but "retired" to stay home with my kids). During the past few years I got bored, but wasn't ready to go back to working full time as a teacher, so -- very spur of the moment decision-- started an evening/weekend nursing program at my community college. On a fluke, I applied and surprisingly got into the program, and since the cost was really cheap, and childcare wasnt an issue since DH would be home when I had school--- I thought it was an awesome opportunity.

Now, I graduate in 9 months, and I'm afraid once I'm working as a nurse, we may not be able to book at 11mths or 7mths out--- maybe we will, I have no idea. But, this worries me, and part of me wishes that we waited to buy DVC. Now most likely affording deluxes won't be as much of an issue, but the advance booking time will be more difficult. We stay in studios anyway, so it's not that much different from a standard deluxe hotel room (though that kitchenette is really nice). When we bought, I had no idea I would become a nurse though, I figured I'd go back to teaching if I went back to work (very easy to book far in advance since I always knew when my vacation time was coming). My husband is an electrician so we never have to worry about when his vacation is--- he doesn't have to ask anyone for vacation time, or put in a request for time--- he just tells the contractor a month or two in advance that he won't be working those days. As a teacher, I also never had to request vacation time, so this is a new thing for us.

I guess we can try to sell if DVC doesn't work for us anymore (DH doesn't like when I talk like that though)--- luckily we only have 150 points, so I'm hoping we'll be able to sell if we need to.

But, I think our situation in unique. We have been very happy with DVC, and as long as we can still get time 11 months out--- I won't regret it!

 

[lanand3]

Now, I graduate in 9 months, and I'm afraid once I'm working as a nurse, we may not be able to book at 11mths or 7mths out--- maybe we will, I have no idea.

I have been a nurse for 15 years and the only way I could get time off is to plan well in advance.In nursing almost all jobs include weekends and holidays and the scheduling is done well in advance. I have to plan a minimum of 2 months out in order to get my vacation request in on time.I just recently bought into dvc so my 1st trip back will not be until May

So,do I regret buying dvc,not yet,and I do not believe I will as I generally like to stay in nice hotels and I end up spending $300 and up per night when I travel, and now I have a great reason to return to WDW/Florida every year!!

 

[kim_d]

Regret it? I do and I don't. We've been completely happy with DVC, and it has been wonderful to be able to stay at deluxe resorts when we were previously staying at moderates. So for the past few years, it has been wonderful. However, when we bought I was a stay at home mom (I used to be a high school teacher, but "retired" to stay home with my kids). During the past few years I got bored, but wasn't ready to go back to working full time as a teacher, so -- very spur of the moment decision-- started an evening/weekend nursing program at my community college. On a fluke, I applied and surprisingly got into the program, and since the cost was really cheap, and childcare wasnt an issue since DH would be home when I had school--- I thought it was an awesome opportunity.

Now, I graduate in 9 months, and I'm afraid once I'm working as a nurse, we may not be able to book at 11mths or 7mths out--- maybe we will, I have no idea. But, this worries me, and part of me wishes that we waited to buy DVC. Now most likely affording deluxes won't be as much of an issue, but the advance booking time will be more difficult. We stay in studios anyway, so it's not that much different from a standard deluxe hotel room (though that kitchenette is really nice). When we bought, I had no idea I would become a nurse though, I figured I'd go back to teaching if I went back to work (very easy to book far in advance since I always knew when my vacation time was coming). My husband is an electrician so we never have to worry about when his vacation is--- he doesn't have to ask anyone for vacation time, or put in a request for time--- he just tells the contractor a month or two in advance that he won't be working those days. As a teacher, I also never had to request vacation time, so this is a new thing for us.

I guess we can try to sell if DVC doesn't work for us anymore (DH doesn't like when I talk like that though)--- luckily we only have 150 points, so I'm hoping we'll be able to sell if we need to.

But, I think our situation in unique. We have been very happy with DVC, and as long as we can still get time 11 months out--- I won't regret it!

To make you feel better, my mom is an RN (and has been for 30+ years). She works in a hospital setting- ICU/CCU. She has been a DVC member since 1999/2000 (can’t quite remember) and she hasn’t had any difficulty with booking the 11 or 7 months out.

 

[Brancaneve]

We have really enjoyed our DVC membership, although we are out in California. That means we have to fly to Florida but it also means staying at the DLR or GC in Disneyland.

This year we decided to try out Interval International and gave DVC a list of 5 resorts that we would like to visit in the Cancun area. We were told that there is an 85% chance of getting what you want and after waiting two months we decided to cancel the search and just go to DW again(we had annual passes that are not expired yet).

We were a little disappointed as we had the impression that all you had to do was call and book a date. We didn't know you had to wait and wait and wait. But we are not giving up! We have decided to try again next year and be a little more adventurous and broaden our list of resorts and cities/countries. I have read on the disboards that some people request a search two years prior to their trip!

You will not regret it! The membership has given us an vacations we never dreamed of. Even if you save $60 a month(membership dues) there is no way that you can afford the vacation we had this February our of pocket.

Good Luck!

 

[Disney Doll]

Not one regret. It was one of the best purchases we ever made.

 

[Dina]

Now, I graduate in 9 months, and I'm afraid once I'm working as a nurse, we may not be able to book at 11mths or 7mths out--- maybe we will, I have no idea.

I have been a nurse for 15 years and the only way I could get time off is to plan well in advance.In nursing almost all jobs include weekends and holidays and the scheduling is done well in advance. I have to plan a minimum of 2 months out in order to get my vacation request in on time.I just recently bought into dvc so my 1st trip back will not be until May

So,do I regret buying dvc,not yet,and I do not believe I will as I generally like to stay in nice hotels and I end up spending $300 and up per night when I travel, and now I have a great reason to return to WDW/Florida every year!!

Oh great!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so good to hear!!!!! I didn't know if I will "put in" for vacation time, or if I'll basically be told that this is my week (least desirable week of the year LOL) and I didn't know how far in advace I would know when that week would be. That's good to hear--- we do love it. Our intention originally was to add on, not sell. Thanks!