are there any unhappy DVC members?

[disguy1]

Im just tryying to see the big picture of DVC. In this forum, its hard to find the negative points. If anyone knows where I could look, please specify. thanks!

 

[salmoneous]

Im just tryying to see the big picture of DVC. In this forum, its hard to find the negative points. If anyone knows where I could look, please specify. thanks!

You could go to someplace like TUG - they have folks who don't like Disney. But my honest opinion is that there is no need. The folks here like (if not outright LOVE DVC) but are very good at spelling out both the good and bad of DVC - you just have to ask the right questions.

If you do seek out the negative side of DVC, you'll basiclly see two major flaws - it's expensive, and it's really only worthwhile if you go to Disney a lot.

 

[solgent]

There aren't many unhappy members. First because I think that there aren't any surprises. Even though we never seen a DVC resort in person and had never even stayed on Disney property before buying, through these boards and questioning my guide I was very clear on how things worked and what we were getting before we bought. Second because it seems pretty simple at this point to sell your membership if you are not satisfied.

From time to time there are complaints about resorts not being kept up, bus service, poor behavior by other guests, unpleasant customer service experiences, pool temperatures not warm enough in winter, that sort of thing.

 

[Scotch]

Unhappy members generally do not hang out at the DIS-DVC boards on a regular basis.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

More to the point, unlike other timeshares an unhappy DVC'er can sell at a small loss, no loss or a profit depending on when they purchased. So for now dissatisfied customers get out.

 

[spiceycat]

meet a couple of unhappy members. first one was living way beyond their means - had always stayed in a small hotel room now were treating themselves to a 2-bedroom. they could have stayed in a studio (with far less points) and rented their left overs and been fine. or brought less points to begin with instead of so many.

the other was just the opposite. these people had money and got insulted by a CM at the front desk of OKW. People, even CM, have a bad day now and then. Even if this happens to you - don't let it bother you. go have fun at the parks. even a bad day at WDW is better than elsewhere.

one of the guys on tug is funny. He was a member even use to post here. in the early days DVC offered us tickets - the tickets quit in 12/31/99. So he decided that DVC would go down the hill after that. I think that alot of his attitude is because he was wrong. of course it could be from any of the other things he mentions as well.

 

[wintergreen]

We are not unhappy, but have recently realized that we may have gotten overzealous and purchased too many points. We might try to sell some of them in the next year or so. I love to visit Disney, but have recently been on a National Parks kick. DH is Canadian, so we want to visit as many U.S. and Canadian National Parks as we can before the kids get too old. If only we had more vacation time . . .

 

[dvcjim]

The nice thing about DVC vs many other timeshares is that if you have buyers remorse you can sell your unit for 80% of what you paid for it in a very short time frame.

So I urge anyone who is on the fence to take the plunge, at worst, and I mean the VERY VERY worst you take 2-3 wonderful vacations, and sell for 80% of what you paid.

 

[Glorydaz]

if, as most of us have done, you research DVC and find out what it's all about, you should be pretty satisfied. we actually bought before I discovered these boards but to tell the truth, we are nothing but thrilled.....and we still plan to travel to other places but Disney just brings out the kid in me....and on any day , that's a great thing!

good luck... and just beware the DVC disease - addonitis!

Michelle

 

[MommaX03]

The worse thing for some about DVC is to consider that you will go to Disney often if you use your points. That means airplane tickets, park admissions, souveniors, airport parking, etc. in addition to your maintanence fees and if you are paying off DVC on a loan. For some, that is an added expense that they did not really calculate when buying into DVC. For others, like me, I have to take a vacation anyway, and I am likely to go to Disney anyway, so it is all part of the expenses. If you buy into DVC, be realistic about how many points you need, and how you can afford it. I think many who sell bite off more than they can financially chew.

 

[dvcjim]

The worse thing for some about DVC is to consider that you will go to Disney often if you use your points. That means airplane tickets, park admissions, souveniors, airport parking, etc. in addition to your maintanence fees and if you are paying off DVC on a loan. For some, that is an added expense that they did not really calculate when buying into DVC. For others, like me, I have to take a vacation anyway, and I am likely to go to Disney anyway, so it is all part of the expenses. If you buy into DVC, be realistic about how many points you need, and how you can afford it. I think many who sell bite off more than they can financially chew.

I nominate you for post of the week.

IMO and as a CFP I can assure you it makes zero sense to borrow $ to buy into DVC.

stay at all stars, save your $, and when you can pay cash for DVC do so.

When I think of all the folks paying 10+% to Disney for intrest payments, I cringe.

 

[Dean]

There have been those that are unhappy, they have occasionally come by this board. I'd say most members on this board are very happy and a large portion can't even see the issues that do exist. I'm a little more practical than most. DVC is not for everyone but for the right person it is a wonder option. I'd say that most that are truly unhappy bought in not understanding what they were getting or had too high expectations. Some felt misled by the guides. Some couldn't give up concierge or the like.

Those that can pay cash, go to WDW most years, will use essentially all the points at DVC resorts will not go heavy on weekends and who put a value staying on property should be well pleased. If you get far from this formula you may or may not be happy but likely are not getting a good value.

 

[keishashadow]

are there any unhappy DVC members?

yep, we are...

whenever we're NOT @ WDW

We had a very unsatisfactory experience @ BCV, management/housekeeping dropped the ball big-time; but executive offices called me and indicated their apologies and determination to fix the situation so it doesn't happen again.

Didn't make it go away; but made me feel better about the "club"

Life isn't perfect, neither is DVC.

 

[disguy1]

thanks for the responses..i have been looking at DVC, even when they had the $86. promo. Honestly, My daughter is 10, sure we go to WDW now, but how long will it last? Thats why I havent bought in. We normally stay at a value. The room does not really matter to me. Even I would by DVC, I would only need a stutio. Thats the only way to make the points last. Weekends burn up to many points to. Anyway..thanks to you all

 

[kimpossible]

I'm unhappy that DVC has just created AKV and DH won't let me do an add-on there or even beef up our BWV points to secure an extra trip in a savannah room.

 

[Dean]

thanks for the responses..i have been looking at DVC, even when they had the $86. promo. Honestly, My daughter is 10, sure we go to WDW now, but how long will it last? Thats why I havent bought in. We normally stay at a value. The room does not really matter to me. Even I would by DVC, I would only need a stutio. Thats the only way to make the points last. Weekends burn up to many points to. Anyway..thanks to you all

Buy the min and borrow ahead to the hilt. Then if you don't want to go much in the future, it won't be that much to deal with.

 

[tomandrobin]

thanks for the responses..i have been looking at DVC, even when they had the $86. promo. Honestly, My daughter is 10, sure we go to WDW now, but how long will it last? Thats why I havent bought in. We normally stay at a value. The room does not really matter to me. Even I would by DVC, I would only need a stutio. Thats the only way to make the points last. Weekends burn up to many points to. Anyway..thanks to you all

If you stay at Value resorts and don't need or want anything more, DVC is not for you.

I will tell you there is more to going to Disney then just the parks. The wife and I go at least two or three trips a year solo.

 

[byoung]

Most of us here love Disney. That's why we are here night after night. Post after Post.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Dean said it all...

 

[Disney-Kim]

We bought DVC for the long term. Yes, we financed, but it made sense for us. We had been to WDW 8 yrs in a row already before we bought and have been the last 4 yrs since buying. We plan on going the next few years too. but the biggest thing for is that we will only have to pay dues and have a place to vacation every year until 2042 and 2059.
We know it will really nice, clean, and what we consider to be deluxe accomodations. We don't have to pay for a hotel all at once and the prices of the deluxes have only gone up.
Now we will have the opportunity to stay at the AKL.
I am guessing we will go every year for the forseable future.
It just made sense for us as we would be going to Disney anyway.