Anyone dissapointed with DVC?

[JonHM]

First, regarding the following quote from LarryK:

Only down side: Ouch, those annual dues hurt!

One very nice thing about Disney and the annual dues is that you have two options: you can pay them all in a lump sum at the very beginning of the year, OR they will break them up for you into 12 monthly payments at NO interest! That really helps us out - and they'll draft them straight out of your account, if you'd like, so you hardly have to think about it.

As far as what everyone has been saying about DVC being great *IF* you're the kind of person who can plan in advance, I have this comment: I am NOT the kind of person who plans in advance - we have various friends who get irritated with us because we ask them to do things *that* day, or over the next few days. Everyone wants us to plan ahead, but I just have trouble with it.

BUT we went on a trip to BWV in late January, have ressies for VWL for Halloween that we got at the 11 month mark, will make ressies next month for May 2003 at BCV, and late this year will call up and make ressies for October 2003. (And one annual pass will cover those next three trips ) So my point is, even if you're not *usually* the kind of person who plans ahead, DVC is SO wonderful that it may very well *make you* into the kind of person who can plan ahead... at least where trips to WDW are concerned!

Take Care! Good luck with your decision!

 

[DVC-LEROY]

Last year we made our first trip to VWL and loved it - we had bought in sight unseen - except for going to the lodge for a meal and walking around and ... For a few years in a row we stopped in to look at the Boardwalk rooms. We never really thought about it seriously until having our son. We brought him to WDW at age 2 and he was hooked. Then everything started to make sense for us.

We'd now be there at least once a year - even without DVC.
We like to plan our vacations ahead of time.
We like staying on the property.
We like having at a minimum - a refrigerator - ($10/day?)
If we were going more often - we wouldn't be so inclined to go out for meals as much - so having a kitchen or kitchenette would be great.
We are suddenly had a son addicted to Disney.

 

[yesdisneyfool]

After getting back from our trip in 2000 we immediately made our next trip for 2001. Around July we decided to join DVC (sight unseen) because we were on the verge of going to Disney every year.

Well, when we walked into our 1b (WOW) we could not believe our eyes (come see this, come see what we got, etc). It was from this point that we decided that we would be making more than 1 trip a year.

During the month of April, we made our 1st addon.

We love it and you will too. Good luck with your decision.

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by JonHM
So my point is, even if you're not *usually* the kind of person who plans ahead, DVC is SO wonderful that it may very well *make you* into the kind of person who can plan ahead... at least where trips to WDW are concerned!

This is EXACTLY what happened to DH and I! We're childfree and travel a lot - very often spur-of-the-moment. We met every "requirement" for DVC (stay in deluxes, travel multiple times a year, etc) except for the "plan travel ahead." It was by far our main concern before buying. We decided that since we travel during off-peak times anyway, we'd give it a shot.

As it turns out, we have SO much fun playing with our points, we have our trips planned out THROUGH our 2004 use year! We've been known to spend an entire Sunday just pulling up the spreadsheets, planning program and going through the guidebook and dreaming about ways to use our points. Just this past weekend, in fact, we were rearranging things just to see what all our options are for a big trip with family in the fall of 2004.

So I must agree with JonHM - even if you're not a big planner now, there's an excellent chance you may become one! We still don't do this with our other trips, but it's almost become a hobby (obsession?) with DVC.

 

[TrishYBrown]

We live in Daytona and use our points on lots of spur of the moment trips over. Often I call same day and am most often able to get what I'm looking for. It has been a wonderful purchase for us.

 

[travelbug]

I've only been a member for 2 years, but haven't had a single regret. Besides the wonderful trips I'm able to take, I can't believe how much enjoyment I get out of the planning. Love to probe those point charts for lots of different possibilities! I also love being able to share trips with family members who wouldn't be able to swing a WDW trip otherwise.

40 more years of enjoyment still lie ahead...

 

[Pa@okw95]

People with negative views of DVC have never been welcomed here. It does not suprise me that you found little in the negative department. I purchased in 95 and over-all I am happy with the purchase. But I am not happy with the direction WDW has gone in the past years. I would suggest to anyone that goes down there to take a close look at WDW and the direction it is going. Take a look past the hype at what has been constructed in the past few years also what has been taken away.

 

[JonHM]

Do you mind if I ask what specifically has made you unhappy with WDW's direction? I only ask because I've been going since 1971, off and on, and just think it is SOOOO much better now than it ever was when I was younger. I'm just curious to hear your perspective. Thanks!

Jon

 

[sgtpet]

I have secured my family vacations for the next 40 years. That will go for several generations and that makes me thrilled. It is a thrill to we can invite our parents and someday we will be able to invite our grandchildren. That is exciting. Plus the superb location and designs of the DVC's is just icing on the cake.

 

[Pa@okw95]

JonHM--This is exactly the way it starts and why people with negative comments get bashed. I am happy for you that you think it is sooo much better. If you think I am going down that road guess again. I have been on these boards since they started and believe me you can never say anthing about the mouse that is negative. WDW as far as I am concerned has been going down hill for years. Again I am happy for you. The list is too long and I am not going to get into it. Have a nice day.

 

[JonHM]

I am sorry that you feel that way. I certainly had no intentions of starting any sort of fight, and would *definitely* not want to get into a situation where your feelings would be hurt or you would be attacked. I was just curious since we seem to have such different perspectives. I wish you well and I hope you find many years of joy to come, both in the rest of your life and while you're at WDW. Sorry if I upset you.

Take Care,

Jon

 

[Dean]

I don't think I've ever been uncomfortable posting things about DVC or WDW I didn't agree with or feel could be improved. While I think there is definitely a pro Disney slant on this board, I think it should be that way. Still there are many things I feel could be better with both WDW and DVC and have always been willing to say so. Sometimes there's a lot of Disney and DVC praise on this board and I don't usually post "me too" type of posts. That means that many of the things I have to say at times are the negatives even though I feel there are a lot of positives.

As an example, I've posted a number of times how I feel there are better resorts on HH than the DVC there. Does that mean I don't like DVC-HH, quite the contrary, just the there are even better places from many ways of looking at it. I'm actually surprised that no one has taken me to take on that one, much like the OKW vs BW debate. Another example are the points exchange options. I'm pretty negative on that in many ways but it's nice to at least have some options just in case.

If this board because a Disney or DVC worship board not based in reality, I'd personally have to look elsewhere. DVC and WDW are great in their own right but there's always room for improvement. I can think of a lot of ways I'd like to see it improved and we've talked about many of them over the years.

 

[ALLDISNEY]

No regrets other than should have bought sooner. Yes we initially only bought 150 points and thought about every other year but have decided that we want to go every year so we had to purchase more points so we can stay longer every year. The thing is you can't try to do all the parks when you go down. Just do one or two depending on your length of stay. Instead spend time at the pool and going to the Boardwalk or downtown Disney. There is actually a lot to do without having to go to the parks. I find a lot of people tend to try to spend there whole vacation running from one park to the next and wearing themselves out and not feeling like they have been on vacation. Disney is always going to be there or at least for the next 40 or so years, so enjoy!!

 

[PamOKW]

While every resort has people who have bad experiences, these are sometimes isolated incidents. If we hear about good trips, bad trips and trips in-between we can assume things are "normal". However, I'd hope people would be free to share in case a pattern of all negative stays were to develop.

I also think we can share by being each other's eyes around the resorts and parks for the same reason. All of us at one time or another may have an "off" trip. But, if every trip is "off" then we may have a problem developing. Sharing with each other helps us all have a better perspective. I hope everyone shares the good and the bad.

I have not been to HHI yet. But, a relative did comment how she was surprised that Disney hadn't built on the ocean like many of the other resorts. I guess they must have gotten into the game too late to buy oceanfront property.

There are also changes that are beyond WDW's control. I would say there are changes in the attitudes of guests that make for a different experience than we had 10-15 years ago. Even things like maintaining cleanliness are more of a challenge to WDW. When you are cleaning up after guests who are leaving normal litter etc., it is easier than when you are trying to clean up after people who are behaving like animals. Or trying to deal with people who are "trying to put one over" most of the time. Not all guests all the time, but enough to create problems that didn't exist in the past.

 

[Mooobooks]

The most important thing to note in Lisa P.'s comments about selling her DVC interest is that she liked staying off-site as much as staying on-site.
Well, if you don't care about staying in "the World," then DVC certainly isn't for you. You can stay in condos for less than half the price only a few miles away!
Happy DVC members know that the only way to enjoy "the world" is to stay in it! We want happy Disney smilies and Cast Members all around us for our entire vacation.
I have stayed off-site at a condo with my folks and it just wasn't the same at all. Now that my wife and I are DVC members, my folks come stay with us ON-site.
So, if staying in "the world" is as important to you as it is to the rest of us, then BUY BUY BUY (resale, of course. NEVER pay retail).
And remember the mantra:
You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.You can never buy enough points. You will always want more.

 

[Snowgod]

Our only regret is not buying sooner.

 

[joepoe]

We bought at BWV sight unseen in 98 after a great vacation at OKW. We also just bought a re-sale for OKW a couple months ago. Now we can go down twice a year (if we can swing decent airfare!) For us, it is a lifestyle choice. It's really our home away from home. It's cheaper and less hassle for us than having a second vacation home. We love being "in the world". It's the total pleasantness of the experience that make it so much of a getaway from the mundane. When we stay at BWV, we don't drive a car for a week! We don't care to trade to go anywhere else yet- we are not finished exploring all that Disney has to offer and we know what we are going to get when we get there. To specifically answer your question- regrets? none for this family.

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by WDWguru
As it turns out, we have SO much fun playing with our points, we have our trips planned out THROUGH our 2004 use year! .... but it's almost become a hobby (obsession?) with DVC.

This is me, have you be spying? I have a spreadsheet all the way out to 2010 and including future addons. Obsession, YES

Since purchasing, we go home about 3 times a year and don't try to do all the parks when we go or we will just do the things we like or didn't do on the last trip because we know we are coming back.

 

[sueg]

We bought at OKW, when it was just called Vacation Club. Later we did an add-on at HH. We have had many wonderful vacations, some of which we would have never done w/o DVC. We usually stay at OKW when at WDW, but we have stayed twice at BWV. We have tried VB & we love our other home at HH. The summer HH trip usually tied into side trips as we drive our way down from NJ to SC. Last summer, we used pts. to try Grand Californian, in DL. When I think of these trips, I smile. Would we have gone on vacation each yr. w/o DVC? Yes. Would each trip be as memorable? I don't think so.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by Mooobooks
The most important thing to note in Lisa P.'s comments about selling her DVC interest is that she liked staying off-site as much as staying on-site.

Also that FOR HER FAMILY the DVC membership was too expensive. She had $1200 a year in fees (not unusual) and didn't feel this was a good expense FOR HER.

For many families out there $1200 is fees is a lot of money to spend every year. There are certainly more economical was to travel, if money is a consideration. (But if money wasn't a consideration at all, I'd be in a suite at the GF).

We don't generally know what someone else's financial situation is. If this is money you are going to spend anyway (go every year or every other year, stay in a moderate or a deluxe on site, etc.) DVC is generally a good choice. I suspect that many people who resell their contracts made a poor financial choice - their DVC mortgage or dues is money they really need somewhere else.