Are you a DESTINATION or NETWORK owner?

[bwvBound]

At the recent "Vacation as You Wish" member's event in Anaheim, the notion of "Destination" vs "Network" ownership was introduced:

If you are interested in returning to the same DVC over and over and you value the home-resort reservation advantage, you are a Destination Owner. If you own DVC points with goal of using at any/all DVC resorts and you either can't or won't plan more than 7-months out ... you are a Network Owner.

So which are you?

 

[DenLo]

As far as I'm concerned that either or scenario has left out a lot of DVC members, including us. Yes we plan at the 11 month mark and make a home resort reservation. But we often switch resorts at the 7 month mark for all or some of the days. So since we plan at the 11 month mark does that make us Destination Owners even though our destination changes?

So I voted for "Leaning towards network" as we want to try out all of the DVC resorts.

 

[vicki_c]

As far as I'm concerned that either or scenario has left out a lot of DVC members, including us. Yes we plan at the 11 month mark and make a home resort reservation. But we often switch resorts at the 7 month mark for all or some of the days. So since we plan at the 11 month mark does that make us Destination Owners even though our destination changes?

So I voted for "Leaning towards network" as we want to try out all of the DVC resorts.

I fit this category as well. I would always book my home resort at 11 months whenever possible, but more times than not would probably be trying to try something else at 7 months. So happy with my home, but really enjoy staying everywhere!

 

[bwvBound]

As far as I'm concerned that either or scenario has left out a lot of DVC members, including us. Yes we plan at the 11 month mark and make a home resort reservation. But we often switch resorts at the 7 month mark for all or some of the days. So since we plan at the 11 month mark does that make us Destination Owners even though our destination changes?

So I voted for "Leaning towards network" as we want to try out all of the DVC resorts.

That you switch or even intend to switch would, in my opinion, place you on the "Network" side. I see the topic as more "where/how do you want to use your points" (home resort vs other resorts) than Dave's comment regarding "can't or won't plan beyond 7 months."

I'm a network owner. While I know I want to stay at BWV every January -- I own SSR. I don't bother booking the home resort (pointless exercise?), I either wait for the 7 months window to book through DVC or scoop it up earlier via RCI.

 

[rutgers1]

I am Network. Part of the appeal of DVC to me was bouncing around from one hotel to the next.

 

[keishashadow]

1st ive heard of this

I realize DVC can track our usage, but im unclear why it's important to do so or to classify members

unless they're trying to guage interest in altering current reservation windows or new sub-type of membership what's the point?

 

[stopher1]

1st ive heard of this

I realize DVC can track our usage, but im unclear why it's important to do so or to classify members

unless they're trying to guage interest in altering current reservation windows or new sub-type of membership what's the point?

I was kind of wondering the same kind of thing - though not really what's the point, but rather what changes are coming next? The last Vacation As You Wish event that we went to was just after the RCI switch and the over the top push for RCI trad-outs, stating that it was a member-driven switch for shorter trade-out options.

When I first read the OP's post about this Network vs. Destination pitch coming via VAYW, my mind started to wonder about what kind of restrictions might be placed on our membership as it relates to booking windows, resorts, etc. Obviously this thread poll isn't research, just a curiosity by the OP, but it could be indicative of DVC level thinking too on what other "member-driven" enhancements they might make.

With all that in mind, we're more network driven than destination driven. We do have multiple contracts to give us destination specific stays and booking windows, but with the exception of our THV stay this year, we haven't yet otherwise limited our specific resort points in that destination way.

 

[twinklebug]

I love planning and would plan 2 years ahead if it were possible. Does that make me a Destination owner? No. I bought AKV for the DVC network and the ability to stay at any of the resorts. I have, however, after a few Kidani stays I realized that I love my home resort and am leaning more toward Destination in that respect.

When the time is right, my add-on will either be at my home resort or VWL, my other favorite - both for the destination appeal and being able to book at 11mos. but I will continue to use the network to stay and try the other resorts. I love the flexibility of DVC.

 

[tjkraz]

1st ive heard of this

I realize DVC can track our usage, but im unclear why it's important to do so or to classify members

unless they're trying to guage interest in altering current reservation windows or new sub-type of membership what's the point?

I think you're reading too much into it.

The comments come from the recent Grand Cal Vacation as You Wish event. It was communicated in such a way as to be helpful in advising people where to purchase their points.

Specifically, if you have "Destination" tendencies, you should buy where you want to stay. If you classify yourself as "Network", you should buy the cheapest option available (which by many measures would be VGC, where the event was held.)

DVC wasn't trying to classify members--they were simply recommending different approaches depending upon one's mindset.

 

[kikiq]

I think you're reading too much into it.

The comments come from the recent Grand Cal Vacation as You Wish event. It was communicated in such a way as to be helpful in advising people where to purchase their points.

Specifically, if you have "Destination" tendencies, you should buy where you want to stay. If you classify yourself as "Network", you should buy the cheapest option available (which by many measures would be VGC, where the event was held.)

DVC wasn't trying to classify members--they were simply recommending different approaches depending upon one's mindset.

I was there Friday night also and I agree. In the context, Dave was talking about buying points and a not so subtle hint that if you are a Network type, then adding on VGC points would make sense.

There were two different presentations given this last weekend according to my guide. One for non members and one for members. I'm sure Destination/Network explanation might have been covered more elaborately in the non member presentation to help a non member choose a home resort.

 

[rkwier]

Put us in the Network group. One of the appeals of DVC for us was the ability to stay at the different resorts. We have been having fun trying them all and seeing what each has to offer.

 

[The Red Head]

I am both. I have points in WDW and when we bought 12 years ago there weren't a lot of options so we only stayed at our home resort. Now that there are so many to choose from we like to try out other resorts. But we bought in at the VGC for the 11 month booking window because it is a small resort and the only one in CA. So our WDW points could be considered network and our CA points destination.

 

[rock_doctor]

Good poll, shows the flexibility of the points system. May actually help those who are sitting on the fence on whether to join DVC or not. We plan to try some of the different resorts but primarily plan to stay at our home resort most of the time.

 

[keishashadow]

I think you're reading too much into it.

The comments come from the recent Grand Cal Vacation as You Wish event. It was communicated in such a way as to be helpful in advising people where to purchase their points.

Specifically, if you have "Destination" tendencies, you should buy where you want to stay. If you classify yourself as "Network", you should buy the cheapest option available (which by many measures would be VGC, where the event was held.)

DVC wasn't trying to classify members--they were simply recommending different approaches depending upon one's mindset.

then they r preaching to the choir

i am big on conspiracy theories & it's certainly not out of realm of possibility for policies to get tweaked (as they have over the last year or so); yet as stated...this is the 1st i heard of it, just wanted to be clear that it's a marketing device.

 

[Chuck S]

I guess I'm a destination owner. I haven't used points anywhere except OKW since 1992, but I would certainly try to book a couple of nights at at VGC the next time we visit friends that live in Fallbrook.

 

[Nikisha421]

I seem to be a destination owner...I love AKV (Jambo ONLY) but don't mind trying out the other resorts...which kind of makes me "network"

 

[ToddyLu]

Dh and I love our points at AKV. He is destination, I am a Network...He wins ( I mean come on the man helped me buy a piece of Disney, gotta love him for that). To me it didn't matter which resort...but it did to him. When I mention trying to use points at another resort he gives me the expression.

 

[tjhsr]

Mostly destination SSR is our home. But we do go to VB for a few nights in May.Then end up back at SSR for the rest of our trip. And we always go to SSR in Oct.

 

[El&Asmom]

Network all the way. We loved staying at SSR once, but have since had a chance to try all the other WDW resorts besides BLT which we plan to stay at on our next trip. We wanted to see which resort we liked best, and will plan our future trips based on that. So far, we haven't met a DVC we haven't liked, but will choose our hotel based on what we want to accomplish that trip.

We have never booked at 11m out, but we haven't gone during a busy season yet either so I haven't felt the need to do so.

ETA: Actually, we do use our HH points at 11m out for summer season to book a 1bd, but have not booked at 11m at WDW.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think it's important to experience all the resorts within the DCV. We are in the process of doing that. Regardless of where we bought we will have our favorites and stay there most of the time. So far, hands down, VWL will be one of these " destinations"!