Any regrets?

[Pakey]

We have owned for 14 years and yes, I regret purchasing. We paid cash for all 500 points and it's never been about the money. However, our children are adults now and WDW is about the last place they want to vacation.

My husband and I still enjoy going but not like we used to and having to book so far in advance sucks some of the fun out of it.

 

[JenSop]

Our biggest regret is not buying sooner. (Why oh why did we not look into this on our Disney honeymoon in 2001??!?!?!?!?) It would have been so much cheaper and we would've had so many more Disney trips!

I've been going to Disney regularly since I was a kid. But DH and I spent the first five years of marriage with NO vacations of any kind. For our 5th anniversary we went back to Disney and stayed in a Value resort.

We decided on several things during that trip:
-We had missed Disney SO much and we wanted to be "those people" - the people that go to Disney every year.
-We (especially me) HATED staying at a value. I seriously never wanted to do it again.

That's the trip where we took the DVC tour.

We couldn't buy in right away, but the next year, we were able to and called our guide. Luckily AKV had been put into inventory and we bought it right up! (SSR was the only option when we took the tour and we weren't too thrilled with it.)

I too am a little leery about some of the rumors going around about tiered membership. I was also lured to DVC because is was NOT a regular timeshare! So any move in the direction of traditional timeshare makes me upset and worried about what may come to DVC in the future.



I also wanted to add that in the last year, I've started working as a travel agent and am pricing Disney trips for people all the time. Even with promo prices, I am often BLOWN AWAY at how expensive some of the lodging at Disney is! We really do like the better accommodations, and if I had to pay even the promo prices every year/every trip, I KNOW we couldn't go as often as we do.

 

[Sammie]

I regret there were no forums like this when we bought. You do have an advantage, many us learned as we went.

Use year and the fact that we did not realize that trading out is not as easy as the guides will have you believe.

The true value of DVC is going to DVC resorts and frankly as Pakey said we too are getting tired of it.

There is just so much more to the world to see and with Disney's quality dropping and yet prices are rising and so few expansions to the parks, it is just not as appealing to us. For seriously I would never want to vacation in Orlando if not for the parks. So as others have said, it's not just the dues, it's the cost of going to Disney for a vacation that can get really expensive.

We thought, as many did, that when we tired of Disney parks, we would use it to trade out to other locations. But truly the offerings from RCI and the cost is not that great and it's not as easy to do as just booking directly.

We will probably do as many others and rent our points and pay cash for other trips but honestly that is a hassle too. I would get the renter that would trash the place and leave me with the bill.

If I had it to do over, I would buy half the points we have and only do Disney every other year or every third year.

 

[normr]

I've enjoyed having my membership, but now that my kids are grown, it's getting more difficult to go to WDW to use my points. I guess I just need to start using them in other accommodations like RCI instead.

Any how come we still don't have a decent place in Las Vegas to trade into?

 

[JimMIA]

Any how come we still don't have a decent place in Las Vegas to trade into?

I'm not sure what you are looking at, but there are eight DVC/RCI options in Las Vegas and two others just outside LV.

The Wyndham Grand Desert is a beautiful resort, and there are two Hilton properties that also look very good. Of course, you'd have to check availability.

Also, you might come out a lot better off just paying cash in LV. There are often numerous "deals" available.

 

[FindingFigment]

A few months ago, when I began searching for and reading all of the "do you have any regrets" type threads, I didn't find very many people with regrets. The most common regrets listed were a) didn't buy enough points, b) wished they'd bought sooner, c) wish they'd picked a better UY.

In fact, I almost skipped this thread because I believed (like PP mentioned) that all of the people with regrets weren't hanging on on the DVC forums. But this thread was different. Quite a few people have spoken up and been honest about their regrets (and I'm thankful for their honesty) but this leads me to wonder what is different now? Was the 3/20 announcement enough to push people over the edge from being satisfied to no longer being satisfied? Or from being quiet about their regrets to now being willing to speak up about them? I know the change really disappoints me (even though it might help me as a buyer) because even though I understand why DVD/DVC had to do what they did, it just makes the product a little less desirable for a multitude of reasons that have been hashed and rehashed on other threads (no need to beat a dead horse).

I dunno...maybe morale is lower now amongst owners as well.

 

[Kelblum]

Only regret was not buying sooner!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Bought 210 points in 2000, no regrets. I did some research, used a friends DVC a couple of times and only bought what I felt I could afford to pay in maintenance. Just enough points for us to come and spend 3 or 4 long week-ends away from school and take a 5 day trip every June. I love Disney but after 30 years of Disney the resorts and Orlando now take precedence over the actual theme parks. I didn't buy into DVC with the intention that Disney would be our only vacation destination. My 14 year old son hardly goes to the theme parks anymore, he and his friends prefer the resorts, the water parks etc. I however, will always enjoy going to OKW/Saratoga for a massage, a nice room and beautiful surroundings! I know my usage will change as my son gets older and goes to college etc., I hope to bring my grandchildren one day!

 

[laura-k]

I went back and forth I first looked into DVC around 2000-2001 and the prices where fantastic but I still thought the way we vacationed I was doing okay with cash reservations -
We continued to vacation at the world every year since 1995 ,over this time as my kids got older I was forced to vacation at more busy times ,when everyone else did and the prices steadily grew every year .I decided at some point to look at DVC again and at that time it was Saratoga for sale and I just wasn't thrilled ,the next year we saw BLT being built and we just new it was time ! I now this sounds strange but after our 1st stay in a One Bedroom ,this is how I always want to vacation ,I would never go back
I added on another 160 this year so I have 320 total enough for a 1 bedroom every year -
I did not plan to stay here but due to a weird set of circumstances I stayed at at the BCV this year and it was one of those come full circle happy moments for my husband and I -years back before the values - we where staying on property ,we walked all the boardwalk resorts and thought how great it would be to be able to afford some of the deluxe places . well a couple weeks ago , as I was resting at the BCV pool ,My DH came down to sit by me for a while and after a few minutes ,asked me if I remembered that night and I could tell he was proud to be able to done this for our family and as I pondered it ,I replied you now I'm not sure how much money we have that I would ever have paid rack rates during spring break for even these great locations -so after this extremely long post the bottom line is ...
It's because of DVC that I stay at cool places because no matter what my financial situation I would always be to thrifty to throw down rack rates and DVC allows me to treat myself -So NO REGRETS -I do know that I will have to keep the addonidus under control as we get older I would like to do other vacations in addition and don't want to worry about having to rent points or sell contract .

 

[DizGirl20]

No, we do not have regrets. BUT when we did make our initial purchase of 160 points, I did not anticipate (in addition to buy-in costs and annual dues) that I would also be spending money on:

*4 Annual Passes every year
*Owner's Locker (we have 1 locker, may be getting a 2nd locker)
*More Points (we have purchased 1 resale contract of 100 points and we are awaiting ROFR on another 100 point contract) because we now desire a 1 bedroom for our stays

Being a DVC Member brings me immense happiness and satisfaction. However, my husband pointed out this weekend that with the money we have spent on DVC in the past 2 years, we could have put towards a vacation home. I agreed with him but know that we could sell our points at any time and still get a reasonable amount of our money back (yes, there would be a slight loss). You are doing the right thing by researching here on these Boards. Good Luck!

 

[staceymay00]

We bought a resale contract about a a year ago and so far have no regrets. We started with 150 points, which is not a whole lot when you need a 1BR minimum due to family size. We may add on in a year or two, or we may just make do with what we have by skipping a DVC stay every third or fourth year. One thing I like about only having 150 points is knowing we can cut back to every other year without having excess points. We can easily burn through 300 points staying in a 2BR for a week every other year, or if we are careful managing our points we can swing a 5-6 night DVC stay per year.

We paid our initial buy in up front without financing. I still put $150 a month in a savings account for Disney, though. Our dues break down to about $65 a month and the rest is to cover buying APs for the five of us every other year (we are planning for two trips about 11 months apart, plus maybe a shorter non-DVC trip in between for the years we have APs). We then still have to pay for food and gas on these trips. I love Disney, but there are also other places we like to visit so I am careful that we don't spend our entire vacation budget on Disney.

Maybe one day we will have regrets, who knows, but for now we are really happy with our decision to buy.

 

[Sammie]

A few months ago, when I began searching for and reading all of the "do you have any regrets" type threads, I didn't find very many people with regrets. The most common regrets listed were a) didn't buy enough points, b) wished they'd bought sooner, c) wish they'd picked a better UY.

In fact, I almost skipped this thread because I believed (like PP mentioned) that all of the people with regrets weren't hanging on on the DVC forums. But this thread was different. Quite a few people have spoken up and been honest about their regrets (and I'm thankful for their honesty) but this leads me to wonder what is different now? Was the 3/20 announcement enough to push people over the edge from being satisfied to no longer being satisfied? Or from being quiet about their regrets to now being willing to speak up about them? I know the change really disappoints me (even though it might help me as a buyer) because even though I understand why DVD/DVC had to do what they did, it just makes the product a little less desirable for a multitude of reasons that have been hashed and rehashed on other threads (no need to beat a dead horse).

I dunno...maybe morale is lower now amongst owners as well.

I think with us, it is a case of Disney charging more and more and yet giving less. Holiday decorations were noticeably cut back, the lights at Epcot being a prime example. Our last couple of trips, there have been numerous breakdowns of rides and the monorail. Guests are ruder and while I would never put that blame on Disney, they could assist at times to make the situation more enjoyable. No one wants to spends thousands on a trip and be over run by mobs of rude groups. Pools are crowded with nonresort guests and buses to SSR are crowded with guests from off property. It simply gets to the point you feel Disney really does not care as long as they get your money.

As I stated in my earlier comment, without the parks, WDW has no appeal to us as a vacation destination. There are simply better places to be and enjoy than Orlando.

While the recent changes to resale does not affect me personally I do feel it affects the membership and concern about the unknowns of the tier system do concern me.

And basically I guess we have used it, enjoy it, and now the cost and hassle of going is simply wearing us down.

I am tried of checking in and spending time of the phone with housekeeping and maintenance trying to get the room clean and things fixed. My recent business trips staying at Marriot and Hampton Inn have given me rooms in better condition and cleaner.

The situation at BLT, with the noticeable wear and tear really concerns me because I know DVC management chose those products even thought they were advised against it, due to wearability. Those type of choices show poor management. Sales seems to be the focus at any cost.

My advise to anyone considering is buy the least amount of points you can for the best price and try it on for a few years before you commit yourself to more points and more expense.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Purchased in 2008 and my only regret is that I did not spend much time researching DVC before buying. We felt comfortable buying without the research, since we have watched my BIL's family enjoy their OKW membership for years. We have had 3 fantastic DVC vacations, intermingled with four other Disney trips over the 3 years. We already have trips planned for later this year, 2012 with family and 2013 with the other side of the family. We went into the ownership understanding that this was not an investment, but rather pre-paid entertainment. We are almost finished closing on a 50 point add-on, since we did not get enough points with the initial purchase.

Some of the PP have valid comments about the wear and tear of the parks and accommodations. Some of this may just reflect the economic situation of the past few years. Having stayed at both moderate and value resorts over the past 3 years, the DVC properties seem to be holding up fairly well, comparatively. I am sure we will see a time when Disney is able to go all out again with holiday decor as well as park expansion. Look at what they are doing already with the Fantasyland expansion.

I can understand getting 10 to 15 to 20 years into this and not having something to do with the points once the kids are gone. I love these times taking my young son to the parks and look forward to another at least 15 years of doing that. I am certain that once he leaves the nest, we will moan and groan every time the MF's come due. . . but who cares! We will have a great time until we get to that point!

 

[ORD2KOA]

and not having something to do with the points once the kids are gone.

When I read this (not singling out Kidani), it always makes me wonder if my d/h and I are the only couple w/o children who bought DVC and love it. When I worked I had a helluva stressful job and WDW was my "happy place" -- it's just a couple of hours from Chicago and r/t airfare was $200. Quick and easy get away for us. A place where you don't see the news or know what's going on in the outside world. It was perfect for us and we still enjoy it. But I do think that adults visit WDW in a different way than families do. There's a lot less running around for us.

 

[Sammie]

The one thing I definitely do not regret is our HHI points. We never get tired of our vacations there.

 

[ORD2KOA]

The one thing I definitely do not regret is our HHI points. We never get tired of our vacations there.

We've never been there. I should look at some of the other threads, but what is there to do there?

 

[Sammie]

We've never been there. I should look at some of the other threads, but what is there to do there?

In order to keep this thread on topic, seach HHI threads, on the Misc and Planning forum and you will get plenty of info.

 

[JenSop]

When I read this (not singling out Kidani), it always makes me wonder if my d/h and I are the only couple w/o children who bought DVC and love it. When I worked I had a helluva stressful job and WDW was my "happy place" -- it's just a couple of hours from Chicago and r/t airfare was $200. Quick and easy get away for us. A place where you don't see the news or know what's going on in the outside world. It was perfect for us and we still enjoy it. But I do think that adults visit WDW in a different way than families do. There's a lot less running around for us.

You're not alone!!!! We're in our thirties and don't have kids - nor do we know if we ever will. So for us, Disney is NOT a kid thing. We love to go and enjoy all the details and have great meals. (Plus, we're ride people, so that parts important too!) I'm in theatre and we're both musicians, so we enjoy the whole Disney thing from that perspective too. And heck, if we ever do have kids, they'll sure get to go to Disney alot!

In the meantime, we're plannning a big Grand Gathering in a GV next year, which will include our young nieces for their first trip. Can't wait!

 

[Golden Rose]

This is only our third year of DVC membership. We've added on once, and keep discussing adding on again. We don't regret anything but not buying sooner. DVC hasn't really changed our vacation habits much; we bought because we were going to WDW approximately every 9 months and we were always staying in deluxes. About half the time we were traveling with my DM, so we needed a suite or two rooms, anyway. We actually are saving money by owning DVC, but we're in the minority there. We were, in many ways, the perfect DVC candidates, and we researched it for over a year before we bought. The promotions were better when I started researching than when we bought, and we made 2 trips paying deluxe prices, so I wish I'd researched a little less and jumped a little sooner!

We enjoyed WDW before we had kids, so we know we'll enjoy it even if our kids eventually decide it is no longer something they enjoy. Regardless, I expect that to be far in the future, since our DS just turned 6, and our DD is 3 months old!

Anyway, we love our DVC. We have been considering adding on at BLT, because we like the convenience of a monorail resort, particularly with small children. We wanted to try it out before committing to buying it, to see how we (particularly I, since I have some reservations about the decor) felt after a few days in it, but so far have been unable to book it at 7 months (even asking for either studio or 1 - bedroom, any view.) We have noticed how much harder it seems to be to book outside our home resorts, even in the few years we've been members. This might make me unhappy with our membership if we hadn't bought where we most wanted to stay, but we love both AKV and BWV, so we'd be ok with staying just at those two resorts if we continue to have trouble getting other resorts at the 7 month mark.

That said, I think I would be very careful to buy somewhere you love, now more than ever. There are enough members these days that the odds of getting your first choice at the 7 month mark continue to drop. You'll probably be able to get something, if you want to try out another resort, but it may not be what you were hoping for. Go into a purchase with realistic expectations, and you probably won't be setting yourself up for a lot of regrets.

 

[AnnaS]

My only regret is not buying in sooner. I would like to say also I would have bought more points at once but I am glad we waited now since we are happy with BCV and wish we had our majority of points there (and might consider a few more in the future). We really enjoyed our first time last year for the F & W and my son and his girlfriend will be going on third annual trip for the F & W.

I know it's only a matter of time before my other son and daughter start using it also - and that's why we have it and enjoy it more.