Anyone on the forum have regrets about buying DVC?

[AKLFan3]

I thought I saw a thread similar to this a few weeks ago, but I can't find it for some reason. I apologize if it is still on here somewhere and it would be great if someone can provide me with the link. Anyway, on to my question....is anyone regretting buying into the DVC and if so, why? Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

I thought I saw a thread similar to this a few weeks ago, but I can't find it for some reason. I apologize if it is still on here somewhere and it would be great if someone can provide me with the link. Anyway, on to my question....is anyone regretting buying into the DVC and if so, why? Thanks!

No regrets, BUT... just because you have paid to be a member, don't think that you can always vacation where you want, when you want.

 

[ldo]

well, I asked about a month ago, when decided to buy DVC. I first posted "has DVC changed, and not for the good?" but revised the title "has DVC changed over the years" to be more neutral. I wanted to hear all the dirt and go in "eyes wide open"--and after reading replies for a week, I saw nothing that bothered me at all, and bought DVC.

In a nutshell, it seems that those who regret have some/all of following issues:
1. didn't really have the disposable cash to buy DVC;
2. didn't think about the yearly maintenance fees;
3. didn't buy the right amount of points--too few to get what they wanted or too many and felt they had to vacation at WDW all the time;
4. unhappy with trading with II---too limited, no availability or too many points.
5. harder than it used to be to get reservations--mostly from those who bought at a home resort that they didn't want to stay at thinking they could easily make reservations at other DVC and being disappointed (esp. when trying to make prime-time stay--Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.)

Then the others:
no more free annual passes
too crowded
unhappy with upkeep of grounds and units

We pretty much know our travel patterns and what price range we felt comfortable with, never knew about the free passes, can plan way ahead, and have never had a maintenance issue--DVC is not for everyone--but it is for us! best wishes. Elaine

 

[WolfpackFan]

Absolutely no regrets at all. I am so glad we joined DVC when we did. We just got back two weeks ago from staying at AKV and it was one of our best trips yet. Luckily we have three more trips planned over the next year and I'm looking forward to each one of them.

If I did have any regret it would be in how we have our points allocated. I wish we had chosen BWV as our main home resort rather then VWL (we had a choice of VWL, BWV or BCV and chose VWL). I just love BWV and being able to walk over to Epcot (which is my favorite park). Right now we have 150 pts. at VWL, 80 pts. at HHI and 60 at AKV. I wish we had 150 pts. at VWL and 150 pts. at HHI. But you have to live with what you got. I sure wish there was an easy way to trade contracts with other people short of selling and re-buying.

 

[Olaf]

We bought in early 2001 and absolutely loved it in the beginning. It's been more difficult as of late though. Because of my husband's job, we can't plan vacations eleven months in advance. Normally, it's about five months in advance. As a result, we haven't been always been able to get what we wanted. It was easier to do so during the first few years of our membership. That being said, he should retire from the military in a few years and things should get easier on that front.

I also wish we'd added on at BCV when it was initally offered to us. We absolutely love the Epcot area.

 

[cobbler]

Regret is that addonitis comes quickly and is hard to fight off. So far, its been 2 years and I have fought it. However it becomes more and more difficult to do so.

Maybe not a regret but a negative.

 

[JimC]

Do not regret becoming a DVC member. Enjoy our visits and believe we know enough to get good value from the membership. However, we are not pleased with some of the changes in DVC and WDW. We did buy at AKV so the program continues to be worthwhile to us.

 

[AKLFan3]

However, we are not pleased with some of the changes in DVC and WDW. We did buy at AKV so the program continues to be worthwhile to us.

Can you describe what kind of changes displease you? Thanks!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

My only Regret is we didn't bite the bullet several years ago when we looked into it first.

We joined in Oct 05 and have had just a wonderful time. We are working our way through all the resorts and have stayed at SSR (a few times) , BCV and VB. We just booked a split stay at BWV and AKV for 12 days tota.

 

[JimC]

Can you describe what kind of changes displease you? Thanks!

Upkeep - parks, resorts, villas all show signs that the historic fanaticism with picking up trash, spotless cleanliness and the "Opening Day" maintenance of facilities has largely gone away.

DDP - a disaster to the quality and diversity of food offerings on property

Check-in times - inability to meet the check-in times of the resorts or even competitive timeshares in the area. Probably a combination of housekeeping staff shortages and unwillingness to evict people who remain in their villas past check-out time

Marketing - barrage of offerings aimed at getting new members has become tiresome; which is a tangible example of a perceived shift in attitude from emphasis on member satisfaction to emphasis on sales growth

Disney Files - don't like it or have any use for it, more marketing and less member communication


In fairness there have been positive changes as well:

AP discount
Free transportation to/from resorts from airport
Airline check-in at resorts
Improvements to web site (they still have a very long way to go)

 

[jimmytammy]

2 regrets...That we didnt buy into it sooner when we 1st looked at it, instead of waffling...2nd regret, after waffling, we paid more per point.

Honestly, we love our DVC. We look forward to every trip. We own at VWL and cant wait to get back there. It has provided us great accomodations that dont take a huge chunk out of our pockets right at that moment. We have teens now. Sleeping in the same bed has become a thing of the past. So the extra space is so much better as well. And it really does feel like home away from home.

 

[eliza61]

I can honestly say I don't have any regrets about buying my dvc. I'd like to think that we gave it some serious thought before purchasing so we wouldn't have buyers regret (but I'll admit to some pixie dust high also). It has afforded my family some memorable vacations and that's what I purchased it for. I think like everyone else there have been changes and issues that we didn't like but that can be said for every time share. We love it and definitely feel we've gotten our monies worth.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Like Jimmytammy, our regret is only that we didn't buy in when we first heard of DVC, which was back in 1992. Instead, we waffled back and forth for 5 years!!!! We finally purchased a 230 point contract in 1997, and almost immediately got "addonitis" and purchased another 150 point contract the next year. Both of those contracts were at the same resort so we would have 11 month booking advantage with all points in one place. Then along came AKV, and we KNEW we NEEDED some points there as well so we could have an 11 month booking advantage there every 3rd year.

I do see Jim C's points, but I don't think the "downfall" has been great enough to effect our enjoyment of the product. In reality, we have had very few real maintenance or check-in issues over the years. I do, however think there has been a significant shift in attitude toward a "sales" over satisfaction.

 

[Olaf]

DDP - a disaster to the quality and diversity of food offerings on property

I'll second that. We used to really look forward to our meals during our trip. Now, it's very much hit or miss. Maybe the new changes to the DDP will help.

Our last visit (Agu 07 BCV) wasn't that magical either. Too many extremely rude children who weren't being controlled by their parents. I admitted at the time that it may have been the heat and the crowds, but we won't be returning to WDW until next Fall at the earliest.

 

[Granny]

There have been a lot of great threads about things people wished they would have known before joining DVC. Here's one from last year... "Wished I would have known" thread

My only "regret" is that I didn't know about the great advice to break up the DVC purchase into smaller contracts. It might never come into play, but it would make things easier if I go to sell in the future.

 

[browniemtb]

No regrets here either......well except for the fact that we waited over seven years to purchase and each and every year we saw programs come and go as well as many price changes. All water under the bridge now. Another OP posted about breaking up the contracts, that is actually something I learned on the DIS just as we were joining, thankfully I was able to splet my contract in two. Still very happy!

Brownie

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I resisted the DVC purchase until a friend let me use hers a few times and then I was hooked. The only bummer is that I don't get enough vacation time from work. I don't understand the people that say that you can't vacation where and when you want. With my points I've done all of the resorts when I wanted, but then again with kids we pre-plan 6 months ahead. My home resort is OKW where I've had 2 great stays in the grand villa (going again in June for big family reunion). Maintenance, food, various resorts, no regrets and really nothing to complain about. Enjoy yours, my family and I have certainly made great memories with DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

Upkeep - parks, resorts, villas all show signs that the historic fanaticism with picking up trash, spotless cleanliness and the "Opening Day" maintenance of facilities has largely gone away.

DDP - a disaster to the quality and diversity of food offerings on property

Check-in times - inability to meet the check-in times of the resorts or even competitive timeshares in the area. Probably a combination of housekeeping staff shortages and unwillingness to evict people who remain in their villas past check-out time

Marketing - barrage of offerings aimed at getting new members has become tiresome; which is a tangible example of a perceived shift in attitude from emphasis on member satisfaction to emphasis on sales growth

Disney Files - don't like it or have any use for it, more marketing and less member communication


In fairness there have been positive changes as well:

AP discount
Free transportation to/from resorts from airport
Airline check-in at resorts
Improvements to web site (they still have a very long way to go)

I agree 100%

 

[Gizmo1951]

We started out by purchasing a small resale which then enabled us to get the annual pass discount and during our trip try out DVC

This worked great for us as we started out with just 30 points saved $400 right away on the passes and stayed 5 days at BC which was not our home resort at the time.

We loved it and then purchased BC direct from Disney

We are thinking of doing another add on this coming year

And now free internet

 

[jpolak]

My only regret is that we didn't do it sooner, but it worked out for us.