But it's not fair.

[MadamMim]

Hi everyone!

I've never posted here before, but I've been seduced into an obsession with DVC Membership by falling into some bad company over at the Resturant and Weddings boards. And since I've been doing some research about DVC I came across something that I don't think is very fair and I was wondering what the general attitude was...

All the DVC locations (except SSR and AKV) expire in 2042? All at once? And regardless of when you bought your membership? That doesn't seem to be quite sporting at all. From my point of view especially, as DVC opened when I was still in high school, when even if I'd had the money laughing: !) I wouldn't have even been legally able to join, and now that I'm a graduate student subject to obscene exchange rates on my student loans, and I do still feel that my education is a higher priority than my holidays scared1: ! I know, I know, even I find that a tragedy.), I won't be able to join the DVC for many a year yet. So by the time I do... I'll be getting far less value for my money than people who happened to be adults with ready cash (or excellent financing ) when DVC opened? That just isn't very fair. Even if I'd chucked my expensive overseas graduate program (That sounds so to type out, apologies for that! If it helps, I'm in debt up to my first grandchild because of it. ) I still can't help that I was born in the 80's.

Is this a discussion I can have here? Or am I way out of line even complaining about it? (Seeing as how I've openly admitted that I can't join your wonderful ranks for a looong time yet.) If I've stepped on any toes, let me apologize in advance. I'm not trying to be whiney or knock the DVC in any way, I'm just wondering if the policy seems unfair to anybody else. Thanks for even reading all of this!

 

[disneynutz]

Hi everyone!

I've never posted here before, but I've been seduced into an obsession with DVC Membership by falling into some bad company over at the Resturant and Weddings boards. And since I've been doing some research about DVC I came across something that I don't think is very fair and I was wondering what the general attitude was...

All the DVC locations (except SSR and AKV) expire in 2042? All at once? And regardless of when you bought your membership? That doesn't seem to be quite sporting at all. From my point of view especially, as DVC opened when I was still in high school, when even if I'd had the money laughing: !) I wouldn't have even been legally able to join, and now that I'm a graduate student subject to obscene exchange rates on my student loans, and I do still feel that my education is a higher priority than my holidays scared1: ! I know, I know, even I find that a tragedy.), I won't be able to join the DVC for many a year yet. So by the time I do... I'll be getting far less value for my money than people who happened to be adults with ready cash (or excellent fianacing ) when DVC opened? That just isn't very fair. Even if I'd chucked my expensive overseas graduate program (That sounds so to type out, apologies for that! If it helps, I'm in debt up to my first grandchild because of it. ) I still can't help that I was born in the 80's.

Is this a discussion I can have here? Or am I way out of line even complaining about it? (Seeing as how I've openly admitted that I can't join your wonderful ranks for a looong time yet.) If I've stepped on any toes, let me apologize in advance. I'm not trying to be whiney or knock the DVC in any way, I'm just wondering if the policy seems unfair to anybody else. Thanks for even reading all of this!

Fair... not really. Does that change anything? No.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Time does go by quickly! You are younger than either of my DS's! You'll be able to join DVC before you know it! So far DVC has offered owners to buy an extension on the 2042 date. They may be doing the same with the other properties, we don't know.

Best wishes as you use your education, and I imagine we'll be welcoming you HOME in the future!

Bobbi

 

[keys2kingdom]

I don't think it's really 'fair' but I bought-in knowing that I was getting shorted so it's my own fault. I HAD to have BCV even though I knew SSR was getting a later expiration date. It would have been nice if all the resorts had just started out with their own 50 year term though. BCV only got 40 years from the get-go, that kinda sucks.

On the other hand, 40 years is a long time. Maybe I'll be happy to be rid of it in 2042. Who knows.

 

[RobDoc]

...
All the DVC locations (except SSR and AKV) expire in 2042? All at once? And regardless of when you bought your membership? That doesn't seem to be quite sporting at all. ...

SSR expires January 31, 2054 ... AKV and now OKW expire January 31, 2057 and all three (actually all 8 resorts) are available for purchase thru DVC directly.

Something you will pick up on as the years go by is that life itself is not always "sporting" or "fair". As with many things, if you could have purchased property or stock a number of years ago, you might be in better financial position at this time - but that is water under the bridge. It might be better to consider what the purchase price (and expiration date) may be in the future and make that purchase today instead of several years from now.

Welcome to the DIS.

 

[crisi]

You buy the best deal available to you at the time. There are people who bought BWV because that's what DVC was selling (or any of the other resorts) who sold those resorts and bought VAKL - because that is where they wanted home to be and that was where the extra years were. Was it "fair" that VAKL wasn't even a choice five years ago?

 

[moredisneyplease]

Since we're talking about what ISNT fair lets think about all of those non DVCers out there!!! Here we get to stay at fabulous resorts for the next 40ish years and they're stucking either staying somewhere else or paying out the nose for what we get!! We dont have to deal with "basic" rooms at a "basic" resort but instead get to enjoy villas at locations like BWV, BC, SSR, AKL, etc! Sure we pay more money up front but we end up paying WAY less for WAY more than non owners! Thats whats not fair......but I'm not complaining!!

 

[BroganMc]

Is this a discussion I can have here? Or am I way out of line even complaining about it? (Seeing as how I've openly admitted that I can't join your wonderful ranks for a looong time yet.) If I've stepped on any toes, let me apologize in advance. I'm not trying to be whiney or knock the DVC in any way, I'm just wondering if the policy seems unfair to anybody else. Thanks for even reading all of this!

We have that kind of discussion here all the time. Stick around and you'll see we debate the fairness and unfairness in every aspect of DVC (booking windows, mugs/cups in certain rooms, bus services, distance to parks, use of pools, etc.)

As for what I think, one of the reasons I resisted buying DVC when they were selling BCV in '02 is because of that expiration date. I bought Marriott instead because it has no expiration date.

Now when I re-examined DVC they were selling SSR. It had a longer lease time and cost more per point, but when I was debating it the plusses outweighed the minuses. I even was debating adding another Marriott week vs. DVC at the time. Disney's free transportation to parks and accessible zero entry pools tipped the balance.

Since owning, Disney has extended the contract at the oldest resort OKW. If I was buying today, that would probably give me pause. (OKW has cheaper point costs per rooms so becomes more affordable to own.)

AKV didn't phase me much since we were only talking a 3 year difference and no bigger location advantage than what SSR has.

FWIW, Disney has changed their policy with newer resorts. Now the lease-to-own is 50 years from the resort opening date. KTR (the one at Contemporary) is set to expire in 2060. By the time you can afford DVC, they'll probably be selling a resort to expire in 2070 or later. It'll cost more to buy due to inflation, but you won't be cheated in years.

Now, it is precisely because of the shorter 2042 contracts that I don't see buying add-ons at VWL, BWV or BCV. I might want to own BWV but I'd feel like I was paying extra for less.

Good luck with your education!

 

[Reginak]

Aaaahh well,
I understand but IS IT FAIR that at age 43 I will be lucky to get 40 years out of my membership or after 25 years even be able to walk the looonnnng halls at BWV after shelling out all of this money. Oh no, that is not fair at all!

Oh well. Don't worry, when you get your first job after graduation you can get a loan through Disney long before you even consider any of those silly things like a place to live, a car to drive, food to eat, etc..

Honestly, I hope that it works out soon.

Regina

 

[juliebrooks35]

Hi Madam Mim, a fellow Glasgow girl.

We bought in AKV last July with an expiry date of 2057 i.e. 50 years. I'll be 85 by the time it expires so I guess by then I'll not care.

DVC are building new properties and as these open, the expiry dates will be further into the future. Also OKW owners have been offered an extension to 2042 so the same may happen at other resorts. Who knows?

When you are in a position to buy, I'm sure there will be deals that will suit you at that time.

I know how you feel, it's really frustrating having to wait a few years. I would have loved to have bought into DVC a long time ago but couldn't really justify the cost back then. The excellent exchange rate also helped.

 

[cdmickey]

When and if you buy DVC in the future, you'll most likely be presented with a different deal to consider. That is your answer; evaluate the DVC proposal when you are ready to buy, by what is offered and whether the terms are acceptable to you.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Basically, it is your choice.

You can go to the car dealer and buy a new one or you can go buy a used one they're not making any more. You'll get more miles on the new one, but maybe there is something special about that older one that calls you to buy it.

 

[crisi]

Basically, it is your choice.

You can go to the car dealer and buy a new one or you can go buy a used one they're not making any more. You'll get more miles on the new one, but maybe there is something special about that older one that calls you to buy it.

To people buying a more expensive shorter life BCV contract, they believe they are getting a good deal on a used BMW.

VAKL owners are spending the same - maybe even a little less, and getting a brand new Passat.

Both are very nice cars, both have leather interiors. Both are German designed. Both are loaded. Neither is a Geo Metro. But the person wanting the BMW wants - for some reason - the BMW. The person buying the Passat is looking at them saying "I can get this perfectly good luxury car for NEW for less."

 

[TisBit]

Actually, it is pretty fair....but you have to look at it from the intent of DVC. The idea of a 50 year contract was that it was the projected lifespan of a building before a major rehab would be in order. Members would be out before that expense occured (or be dead, since this is also about the lifespan of an adult if they bought in their early 20's).

You will always be able to purchase a 50, or roughly 50 year contract, just not at an "old" resort. As they add DVC resorts, which it appears they will continue to do so, you will have that option.......now OKW has thrown a wrench into this with their extension...maybe that money will go towards rehabs or they have realized they can do longer, who knows.....it might even just be a money grab! But, no even the older resorts have a bright future that they may also be blessed with an optional extension (and DVC gets to remarket 50 years at those resorts).

 

[MadamMim]

Thanks everybody so much for posting!

Because I was working full-time to put myself through undergrad without debt, (and am now working two part-time jobs because I refuse to take out a loan to cover my living expenses) I guess I'm just really sensitive to the whole 'value for money' thing. You've made a great point though that I can't get discouraged by what's going on now, when I can't buy now anyway, and I should be hopeful that when my ship comes in (such a naval nerd ) as it were, there will be promotions and extensions that will work for me. It's so hard to wait though! I've got three more years of a PhD in front of me and then paying back these stupid student loans... *sigh* But I will remember that Disney magic. I'll be patient because something worked for is so much sweeter than something that just falls into your lap. I will one day be a DVC Owner! It'll just take awhile.

Thank you again so much for letting me work out my petulance. The unfairness factor wasn't ever going to be enough to put me off my DVC dream, but it did make me go 'hey, wait a minute.' As a former castmember I should have had a bit more faith, trust and pixiedust and known that the deal may change a little over time, but it's always worth it if you love Disney.

 

[doverfox]

wow
life and fairness not two words that go together
life isnt about being fair or not its about chioces on the flip side disney could feel its unfair that you choose to go to univeristy get a good education leave uni debt free get a decent job and then buy dvc at the contempory resort or where ever rather than leaving school at 16 going on the dole never getting a job and never going to disney (or perhaps not). we are all big boys and girls and you enter dvc knowing the way things are. all the leases on an individual property need to end at the same time other wise they would never be able to redevelop a site, coming from england we have a different view of buildings to the americans we just keep proping up old buildings and making do which is why most of us have fond memories of mobile class rooms, not sure why they were called mobile because at our school they didnt move in the 5 years i was there.
i will tell what is unfair me for not going on the dvc tour 8 years ago the last time i went, forunately i corrected this and bought into ssr in feb now only if i could sue myself for bad advice
dave

 

[Muushka]

Thanks everybody so much for posting!

Because I was working full-time to put myself through undergrad without debt, (and am now working two part-time jobs because I refuse to take out a loan to cover my living expenses) I guess I'm just really sensitive to the whole 'value for money' thing. You've made a great point though that I can't get discouraged by what's going on now, when I can't buy now anyway, and I should be hopeful that when my ship comes in (such a naval nerd ) as it were, there will be promotions and extensions that will work for me. It's so hard to wait though! I've got three more years of a PhD in front of me and then paying back these stupid student loans... *sigh* But I will remember that Disney magic. I'll be patient because something worked for is so much sweeter than something that just falls into your lap. I will one day be a DVC Owner! It'll just take awhile.

Thank you again so much for letting me work out my petulance. The unfairness factor wasn't ever going to be enough to put me off my DVC dream, but it did make me go 'hey, wait a minute.' As a former castmember I should have had a bit more faith, trust and pixiedust and known that the deal may change a little over time, but it's always worth it if you love Disney.

You have a great attitude and I don't blame you for asking about the fairness. I am also the type who accepts things much better if I understand why.

Anywhoo, I wish you all the best in your studies and I look forward to some day reading the words "I need a welcome home!!!" from a future post of yours!

 

[Arthur27]

Noticing you are in the UK you have an advantage over us U.S. owners. The exchange rate is awesome for you guys, at least right now. It's an almost two for one sale for our UK friends, while I pay full price. That's not fair but it is what it is. As long as the exchange rate pound per dollar stay equivalent you'll get a great deal.

 

[MadamMim]

Noticing you are in the UK you have an advantage over us U.S. owners. The exchange rate is awesome for you guys, at least right now. It's an almost two for one sale for our UK friends, while I pay full price. That's not fair but it is what it is. As long as the exchange rate pound per dollar stay equivalent you'll get a great deal.

I live in the UK but I'm American. And since overseas students are already charged more than twice what home students are (which is understandable and happens in the US too), the exchange rate is currently the bane of my existence. I'm just hoping that after I'm done 'collecting degrees' (as my friends call it ) I get a teaching position somewhere in the UK so it doesn't take me twice as long to pay the loans back. Oh the things we do for our careers.