Buy DVC Membership in park or by phone?

[jforever52]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC Membership this year. Does anyone know if there is a difference in purchasing in a park or by phone? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of either? Thanks for your help.

 

[RobDoc]

The only difference is that if you purchase by phone they will send the documents to be signed vs signing them right at Disney, but otherwise there are no real differences. You will miss out on the ice cream offered at Disney though.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Also, aren't they still doing the FastPasses and/or Gift Card with a tour?

 

[disneynutz]

If there are any extras, you stand a better chance if getting them in person.

We have 16 direct buy contracts all purchased over the phone and when we hint that it would be nice to get a fast pass, you would think that we are asking for a live organ donation.

Bill

 

[leslie@dvcstore]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC Membership this year. Does anyone know if there is a difference in purchasing in a park or by phone? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of either? Thanks for your help.

If you purchase by phone from The Timeshare Store, Inc.® you should be saving some money.

Hope that will make someone laugh.

Leslie

 

[wdrl]

If you purchase by phone from The Timeshare Store, Inc.® you should be saving some money.

Hope that will make someone laugh.

Leslie

It might not make everyone laugh, but we know its true. We bought an AKV add-on through the Timeshare Store and saved some money. There are times when buying from Disney directly is best, and other times when the resale market is better.

 

[Crystal_27]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC Membership this year. Does anyone know if there is a difference in purchasing in a park or by phone? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of either? Thanks for your help.

Really, the only advantage of buying in person is that, once you sign your paperwork, you will get a temporary DVC ID which can be used for discounts. Also, if you buy in-person your points are immediately available to you, and you can make your first reservation before you walk out of the Preview Center. You will also get FastPasses (to compensate for the time on the tour) and everyone, regardless of whether they buy or not, will get ice cream. Purchasing by phone will take a couple weeks in order to get you in the system but, other than that, the process is the same. Good luck!

 

[Shleedogg]

Also, aren't they still doing the FastPasses and/or Gift Card with a tour?

They were in July. We got $45 in gcs and 3 fastpass cards that each had 3 fastpasses on them.

To the OP, if you're going soon and already have your room booked and paid for, I'd wait. If you are wanting to use points, then go over the phone. It's not a huge loss to miss the gc and fastpasses, but they are a nice perk

 

[jstarcze]

Also, if you buy in-person your points are immediately available to you, and you can make your first reservation before you walk out of the Preview Center. Purchasing by phone will take a couple weeks in order to get you in the system but, other than that, the process is the same. Good luck!

Not exactly true. It will take a couple of weeks to get the password to sign into the members website. However, when I purchased by phone, my guide made a reservation for me immediately.

Also once you receive your paperwork in a few days you have your membership ID number you can call to make reservations by calling MS, if I remember correctly.

 

[exwdwcm]

Also, aren't they still doing the FastPasses and/or Gift Card with a tour?

we did get a 100 gift card when we did the tour in mid December. We are buying by phone now.

 

[exwdwcm]

Not exactly true. It will take a couple of weeks to get the password to sign into the members website. However, when I purchased by phone, my guide made a reservation for me immediately.

Also once you receive your paperwork in a few days you have your membership ID number you can call to make reservations by calling MS, if I remember correctly.

i was told this as well just today- he said when i make our downpayment tomorrow by phone, that we are official members and he could go ahead and make a reservation for us at that point, even though we haven't signed the paperwork yet.

 

[z28wiz]

That is correct you can make reservations before docs are signed.

 

[Austinexs]

When my wife and I were there on vacation in December 2009 we found a incentive in our room that if you went on a tour you got a 100 dollar gift card. So we went downstairs to the lobby of the WL and meet with a representative of DVC and they said they would pick you up at anywhere within any of the parks or hotels whenever we want. So we set up a time and we were driven over and got a tour of the models. Afterward we were offered ice cream and given a 100 dollar gift card just for touring (We hadn't made up our mind at that time) . We ended up deciding to buy our last day and afterward we were given 8 fast passes cards (each one with 3 fast pass offers) so 24 fast passes that you got instantly. It was really cool being there on December 20th with all those lines and just walking up to any ride at anytime. So I think it was very nice buying while we were there. But I was already there.

 

[disney4metoo]

Really, the only advantage of buying in person is that, once you sign your paperwork, you will get a temporary DVC ID which can be used for discounts. Also, if you buy in-person your points are immediately available to you, and you can make your first reservation before you walk out of the Preview Center. You will also get FastPasses (to compensate for the time on the tour) and everyone, regardless of whether they buy or not, will get ice cream. Purchasing by phone will take a couple weeks in order to get you in the system but, other than that, the process is the same. Good luck!

Not always true. We bought in Disneyland and because we took and tour and purchased, we got two free AP's (in addition to discounts), and our guide book our 1st vacation on the spot.

 

[z28wiz]

Actually bought one contract on the phone as a new member and received a call back in about 20 minutes with my new member number to call member services and book my 1st trip.

Really, the only advantage of buying in person is that, once you sign your paperwork, you will get a temporary DVC ID which can be used for discounts. Also, if you buy in-person your points are immediately available to you, and you can make your first reservation before you walk out of the Preview Center. You will also get FastPasses (to compensate for the time on the tour) and everyone, regardless of whether they buy or not, will get ice cream. Purchasing by phone will take a couple weeks in order to get you in the system but, other than that, the process is the same. Good luck!

 

[mopee3]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC Membership this year. Does anyone know if there is a difference in purchasing in a park or by phone? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of either? Thanks for your help.

I don't know if you would call it a disadvantage or advantage but if you are living in Washinton state you can't buy anything but AKV,THV, SS, or BLT from Disney directly. So if you are intrested in BCV, BWV, OKW, or any other sold out DVC villas, you will have to purchase them when you are at Disney World, a resell through the Timeshare Store, or at least in a state that allows selling older resorts. Ask your guide or contract ours, Bernard Lebeaupin, 1800-827-7197.

Moe

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Ignore - totally missed a line

 

[jforever52]

Your messages have all been so helpful. Thanks a bunch.

 

[delmar411]

If there are any extras, you stand a better chance if getting them in person.

We have 16 direct buy contracts all purchased over the phone and when we hint that it would be nice to get a fast pass, you would think that we are asking for a live organ donation.

Bill

Same here. I thought it was strange that if I went in person and took up a guides time I could get GCs or FPs but if I just called and was straight to the point, it wasn't worth even the FPs!

I'd definitely go in person.

 

[stacie_d]

We just purchased by phone after watching the winter DVC webcast, and after taking two tours on site during the past 2-3 years. On both on site tours we received what we called the "magical fast passes." The passes were great, and made up for the time for the tour.

I needed/wanted the time to digest the info, research things, review paper work, etc. (I'm a lawyer so its just a part of me!) Although we could have made the leap a couple years ago (and maybe we should have..still went there anyway), DH was still in residency, and I was still the primary income. Now, I'm only part-time, DH has his job and at the end of the day I am satisfied. We did pass up what I now think was probably a fantastic offer on the second tour (free cruise...never realized how must those cost!), but feel satisfied with the deal we got.