Anyone FORMER DVC members?

[itsreally4mommy]

I'm curious if anyone was a member but decided it was not beneficial?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're still members, but we've sold three of our five contracts. We had 500 points, now we have 275. It's enough for one good trip a year.

Just hating paying nearly $2500 a year in annual dues. Our dues are about half that now.

 

[DizneyNutz]

I don't believe I have ever read a post about a dissapointed/ disgruntled previous member. Usually it seems like people sell because they can no longer afford it, divorces, lifestyle changes, etc. We love ours

 

[wdwnut]

Another current DVC member. No regrets. Have done 2 add ons to the original 210 points and may add on for Contemporary if it happens.

 

[KELLY]

We just did a 100 point add on. I'm sure there is people who it just wasn't for them. Dues can be expensive.

 

[fall08CP]

My aunt bought in back when it started with OWK. She eventually sold out. She did not want to go on vacation every year and the benefits kept decreasing so it was no longer worth it for her. It's not for everyone, but it can be a wallet saver for others

 

[chalee94]

the biggest reasons i've seen posted (other than financial or life changes like divorce) are 1) had trouble getting a room on short notice (they didn't realize DVC usually works best with 8-11 months advance planning) or 2) quality of the room/stay issues (things like they got a poorly maintained room, or else realized they would rather stay at a monorail resort, which cost a lot of points, or they missed daily housekeeping or whatever...)

if you're looking for negatives about DVC, here are some reasons why DVC might not work for you:

1) thousands of $ upfront plus annual fees require a certain level of financial ability and commitment (and still need to pay for tickets and travel, etc.)
2) commitment to wdw/fear of wdw burnout (sorta - while you can trade out, the best value is staying at the DVC resorts)
3) DVC not as deluxe as deluxe hotels in some senses (limited housekeeping, sofabeds, no room service at some DVC resorts)
4) you prefer to stay on weekends and weekend point costs are OUTRAGEOUS
5) financing a depreciating (sooner or later) luxury purchase is generally a poor idea
6) you are happy with value hotels
7) you want to stay at a monorail resort (pending "kingdom towers" announcement)
8) amenities like a kitchen and washer/dryer have no value for you
9) you don't/can't plan vacations 6+ months in advance
10) you enjoy hunting for deals/bargains for each trip
11) you have a castmember discount and can stay at the GF for less than $200 a night

there was a really long thread on DVC negatives recently and this summary covers all of those negatives short of the posts on "the apocalypse is coming" and "i hate everything, why should DVC be different."

 

[girli565]

the biggest reasons i've seen posted (other than financial or life changes like divorce) are 1) had trouble getting a room on short notice (they didn't realize DVC usually works best with 8-11 months advance planning) or 2) quality of the room/stay issues (things like they got a poorly maintained room, or else realized they would rather stay at a monorail resort, which cost a lot of points, or they missed daily housekeeping or whatever...)

if you're looking for negatives about DVC, here are some reasons why DVC might not work for you:

1) thousands of $ upfront plus annual fees require a certain level of financial ability and commitment (and still need to pay for tickets and travel, etc.)
2) commitment to wdw/fear of wdw burnout (sorta - while you can trade out, the best value is staying at the DVC resorts)
3) DVC not as deluxe as deluxe hotels in some senses (limited housekeeping, sofabeds, no room service at some DVC resorts)
4) you prefer to stay on weekends and weekend point costs are OUTRAGEOUS
5) financing a depreciating (sooner or later) luxury purchase is generally a poor idea
6) you are happy with value hotels
7) you want to stay at a monorail resort (pending "kingdom towers" announcement)
8) amenities like a kitchen and washer/dryer have no value for you
9) you don't/can't plan vacations 6+ months in advance
10) you enjoy hunting for deals/bargains for each trip
11) you have a castmember discount and can stay at the GF for less than $200 a night

there was a really long thread on DVC negatives recently and this summary covers all of those negatives short of the posts on "the apocalypse is coming" and "i hate everything, why should DVC be different."

I have to agree with many of your reasons. I would love to buy into DVC but I just can't justify the cost when I can plan a trip at a value or moderate for way under especially because I'm a FL resident. Now if I lived in another state and really took that normal 2 weeks vacation a year than I would definitely buy into DVC!!!

 

[spiceycat]

did sell off VB - because of all my DVC stays that is the one liked the less.

consider selling off OKW (well 190 - still have 50) - but my brother got so upset - that right now that ideal is cancelled.
right now
60 - VWL
50 - BWV
240 - OKW (190 + 50)

might still sell off the 190 points - especially if they kept upping the maintence fees without a good reason. Don't like the extra staff (that seems to do nothing) that is being hired at OKW.

if DVC is going to charge us BWV, VWL,BCV maintence fees (or close to it) then I want room service!!!!

won't mind the extra charge for room service - without it - feel like I am being robbed.

really, really want BLT!!!!

oh one reason for my buying DVC is my food allergies. Yes, the restuarant will try. but one of my food allergies is pepper. Chef have a BIG problem not putting it on food.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

We sold our BWV contract when my partner and I split up. It the a huge (but only) mistake I made during the split. Oh how I wish we had discussed it more.

We paid $62 a point through Disney. With current point costs being what they are I'm afraid I will never be able to be a DVC owner again. I can only imagine what they will charge for "Kingdom Towers."

It really hurt paying for the room at WL last year even with the discount I got. How I would have loved my 1 bedroom villa with king bed and full kitchen...

 

[LSchrow]

11) you have a castmember discount and can stay at the GF for less than $200 a night
"

actually, i found that a great option for the fri/sat nights at the beginning or end of a DVC trip....
imho, the best of both worlds (EPCOT & MK)

 

[spiceycat]

We paid $62 a point through Disney. With current point costs being what they are I'm afraid I will never be able to be a DVC owner again. I can only imagine what they will charge for "Kingdom Towers."

It really hurt paying for the room at WL last year even with the discount I got. How I would have loved my 1 bedroom villa with king bed and full kitchen...

hey still do the studio!~

but know what you mean - another reason I kept OKW - the 190 points will probably buy (maybe) 90 points at KT....probably with higher maintance fees - since Disney gets to put some of the monrail maintence on DVC members.

too bad we couldn't find out what the CR was paying for the monrail before the north wing was torn down.

since the units number is around the same.

 

[crisi]

Additionally, if you are happy offsite, there are much less expensive and very nice timeshares in the Orlando area. DVC is for people who want to be onsite, are committing to regularly scheduled Disney vacations, can plan ahead, and can make the financial committment to own.

 

[Esmerelda]

I would never get rid of my DVC.... I will just will it onto my kids one day when I'm just too old to be gettin jiggy with it at Disney World..

I'm quite confused as to why people think there are thousands of dollars due up front. What am I missing? We financed our contract nearly 4 years ago. We did not put any huge amount of money up front. We are paid off next year...yiiippppeeee Our dues thereafter are about $625 per year. For staying in a 1 bedroom for about 7-8 days...that's not bad We wouldn't have had thousands back then to put onto a contract anyhow. (we were paying for our upcoming wedding at the time) The only way we would nix DVC was due to poor health or job issues.

Forgot to add: we do not do Disney every year. The off year, we bank points or rent them so we never lose.

 

[Ka-chow!]

I would never get rid of my DVC....

I'm quite confused as to why people think there are thousands of dollars due up front. What am I missing? We financed our contract nearly 4 years ago. We did not put any huge amount of money up front. We are paid off next year...yiiippppeeee

Well, someone has to present the money to buy up front or enter into a contract to purchase. Financing say $15,000 over four years, the interest rate would have been around 11-12%. Taking four years to payoff that $15k @ 11% makes over $3,600 in interest payments. That makes the total price around $18,600.

That's why "cash" is king: one avoids the big finance charges.

 

[crisi]

I would never get rid of my DVC.... I will just will it onto my kids one day when I'm just too old to be gettin jiggy with it at Disney World..

I'm quite confused as to why people think there are thousands of dollars due up front. What am I missing? We financed our contract nearly 4 years ago. We did not put any huge amount of money up front. We are paid off next year...yiiippppeeee

You still invested something like $15,000 over that year in DVC. If $15k is a LOT of money and you don't have access to that sort of money in the short term (i.e. even with a five year loan its coming up with $3k + interest + dues every year), that is "a lot" of money up front. For someone whose trips have been value resorts with codes or offsite, that's far more money than they will put into their vacations each year.

Oh, another place where it isn't good, minimum buy in has been 160 points - which is too many points if all you want is a studio every year (or every other year). Right now, they are trying out 100 point contracts at AKL, which is a good deal for someone who just wants a week in a studio (point values change depending on time of year). You can also look for a smaller contract resale.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I have to agree with many of your reasons. I would love to buy into DVC but I just can't justify the cost when I can plan a trip at a value or moderate for way under especially because I'm a FL resident. Now if I lived in another state and really took that normal 2 weeks vacation a year than I would definitely buy into DVC!!!

Ditto on this comment!