Buying in-IFFY

[frostrhonda]

Buying in sounds all great when your talking to a DVC Rep who wants to make it sound so easy to use and all roses, ect. However, the reality sinks in when you go to book a cruise on the first possible date available within your booking window and it is sold out already...why? Because they only release a certain amount of DVC rooms. They really want you to use other options. And it isn't always so easy to get the dates you want at the resort either. If you want to resell, the purchaser will not be able to use the dvc for the Disney Collection. Really takes the value down.
I have been told by a dvc member service rep that they have the right to say you can only use the Vacation Club Resorts. So, go into it knowing that may be all you get. However, the resorts are very nice.

 

[DebbieB]

Buying in sounds all great when your talking to a DVC Rep who wants to make it sound so easy to use and all roses, ect. However, the reality sinks in when you go to book a cruise on the first possible date available within your booking window and it is sold out already...why? Because they only release a certain amount of DVC rooms. They really want you to use other options. And it isn't always so easy to get the dates you want at the resort either. If you want to resell, the purchaser will not be able to use the dvc for the Disney Collection. Really takes the value down.
I have been told by a dvc member service rep that they have the right to say you can only use the Vacation Club Resorts. So, go into it knowing that may be all you get. However, the resorts are very nice.

They also have the right to say you can only use your home resort.

 

[vicki_c]

No secrets there.

All of those items are discussed at length, pretty much daily, on the boards. Not meaning that all those discussing those things are ready to dump their memberships - far from it.

It is unfortunate though when people buy without enough independent research or information.

As many will say here, using points for cruises and other trading options aren't economically sound choices vs. using cash (although there are valid reasons for some people to do those options some times).

 

[com_op_2000]

Buying in sounds all great when your talking to a DVC Rep who wants to make it sound so easy to use and all roses, ect. However, the reality sinks in when you go to book a cruise on the first possible date available within your booking window and it is sold out already...why? Because they only release a certain amount of DVC rooms....

You can book a DCL using points the day the new itineraries are released. There are no booking window for DCLs. Yes, there are limits to available rooms on each cruise.

 

[steffaknits]

You don't have to wait until the 7 month booking window to book a cruise with points. As PP stated, you can book the day they release the itineraries. You can also book RCI up to 2 years in advance. Of course it is all still limited by the number of rooms available for trade and it can be taken away in the future.

 

[webcs]

using dvc points for anything other than dvc resorts is a horrible investment. If you want a cruise go through their normal specials. The cruise perk is a way to use up points, its not a bargain.

 

[JimMIA]

Buying in sounds all great when your talking to a DVC Rep who wants to make it sound so easy to use and all roses, ect. However, the reality sinks in when you go to book a cruise on the first possible date available within your booking window and it is sold out already...why? Because they only release a certain amount of DVC rooms. They really want you to use other options. And it isn't always so easy to get the dates you want at the resort either.

Right. They're timeshare sales personnel. What do you expect from a timeshare salesman?

In their defense, most DVC timeshare salesmen are somewhat more ethical than a lot of sales personnel from other companies. But their job is to paint the product in the best possible light and close the sale.

It is the consumer's responsibility to protect themselves and know what they're buying.

If you want to resell, the purchaser will not be able to use the dvc for the Disney Collection. Really takes the value down.

No it doesn't. There's no change in the value. The seller is just realizing, usually for the first time, what the real value is.

 

[RMBittner]

using dvc points for anything other than dvc resorts is a horrible investment.

I'm not sure I'd agree with you there. We recently used points to stay five nights at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, and, given the prices in London, it definitely was a bargain. Maybe it works out differently for cruises, but I don't think it's necessarily true across the board.

Bob

 

[RMBittner]

No secrets there.

All of those items are discussed at length, pretty much daily, on the boards. Not meaning that all those discussing those things are ready to dump their memberships - far from it.

It is unfortunate though when people buy without enough independent research or information.

Well, when we bought, we also received volumes of paperwork, prospecti, etc. I think the details of exactly what you're buying into are very clearly spelled out in those documents.

If you're investing tens of thousands of dollars in something, it's definitely in your best interest to do the homework.

Bob

 

[disneynutz]

I'm not sure I'd agree with you there. We recently used points to stay five nights at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, and, given the prices in London, it definitely was a bargain. Maybe it works out differently for cruises, but I don't think it's necessarily true across the board.

Bob

There are always exceptions but when you take into consideration the the challenge of booking, value, restrictions, and lead time, booking anywhere other than a DVC resort isn't as wonderful as advertised by DVD.

Bill

 

[RMBittner]

There are always exceptions but when you take into consideration the challenge of booking, value, restrictions, and lead time, booking anywhere other than a DVC resort isn't as wonderful as advertised by DVD.

Bill

I don't recall the DVD specifically, but, yes, I would have to agree. Using points at all -- even at WDW -- requires a lot more research, planning, and forethought than any other vacation we take.

To get back to the OP's frustrations, though, I do have to say that being willing to plan ahead far enough in advance so you can be flexible seems to be the key to not only using your DVC points but also enjoying them. The details of DVC ownership can be incredibly complex behind the scenes; hopefully, the pleasure you get from actually using those points more than makes up for the extra research/planning involved. (For us, that's absolutely been the case. The rewards we've gained by actually enjoying these trips have been priceless.)

Bob

 

[disneynutz]

I don't recall the DVD specifically, but, yes, I would have to agree. Using points at all -- even at WDW -- requires a lot more research, planning, and forethought than any other vacation we take.

To get back to the OP's frustrations, though, I do have to say that being willing to plan ahead far enough in advance so you can be flexible seems to be the key to not only using your DVC points but also enjoying them. The details of DVC ownership can be incredibly complex behind the scenes; hopefully, the pleasure you get from actually using those points more than makes up for the extra research/planning involved. (For us, that's absolutely been the case. The rewards we've gained by actually enjoying these trips have been priceless.)

Bob

Hi Bob

DVD in this case is Disney Vacation Development, the sales group/Guides for Disney.

Bill

 

[DenLo]

The Disney Collection is not owned by the DVC, it's owned by Disney. And since they are in the business of booking cabins or rooms they want to get the highest price per night.

As you have learned, the only thing your DVC contract guarantees you is a room at your home resort when it's available. If you make your reservation at the 11 month mark at your home resort, you probably will get the reservation you want. The closer to your check in date you make a reservation, the harder it will be to get a reservation.

Hopefully you will enjoy your DVC stays and the other exchanges will become less important to you.

 

[Dean]

They also have the right to say you can only use your home resort.

Yes and no. As I read the info, resorts can only leave the club for certain reasons that are spelled out plus a couple that aren't like if DVCMC sells out the management contract. DVCMC cannot just arbitrarily say you can't book other resorts and they can't simply generate a rule to that effect. They can stop banking, borrowing, transfers, etc and change certain aspects of "exchanges" to other DVC resorts.

 

[zhonggu54]

Buying in sounds all great when your talking to a DVC Rep who wants to make it sound so easy to use and all roses, ect. However, the reality sinks in when you go to book a cruise on the first possible date available within your booking window and it is sold out already...why? Because they only release a certain amount of DVC rooms. They really want you to use other options. And it isn't always so easy to get the dates you want at the resort either. If you want to resell, the purchaser will not be able to use the dvc for the Disney Collection. Really takes the value down.
I have been told by a dvc member service rep that they have the right to say you can only use the Vacation Club Resorts. So, go into it knowing that may be all you get. However, the resorts are very nice.

Yes you say the fact, I totally agree you.

 

[Dasha]

Using points for a cruise has always been a bad deal. We usually book the cruise at the best rate and rent our points to cover it. Its always less points that we end up renting out than amount of points we would have used to book the cruise.