Can't get DVC info - I'm not living in Ontario

[BLBCB]

I just called the information line to get a the video and find out more information on the Saratogo Springs free theme park tickets offer. I was told that they can only send information to Ontario. She couldn't even discuss with me over the phone any of the details. She said that if I came down to Disney, I could pick up the information, but nothing could be done from anywhere in Canada except Ontario. She said it had something to do about Real Estate laws or something. I'm sure I've seen other people on here who own DVC. How did you sign up? Is anyone out there owning DVC from somewhere other than Ontario?

 

[pumpkinboy]

I am a DVC member and have tried to refer folks from provinces other than Ontario, but they won't take them directly. Apparently to sell Real Estate in say Manitoba, they would need to register with Provincial authorities and comply with all local regulations; when you consider that the population of Manitoba is all of about a million souls and that there is no direct air service from Winnipeg to Orlando, it make the cost/benefit analysis picture look bleak for them. I am surprised that Québec would not be included, but maybe they don't feel like translating their legal documents. Note that your American neighbours in the Dakotas and Montana also cannot deal with DVC from home, I believe (and I think even Washington State).

However, this does not mean that you cannot buy into DVC! Many Canadians from outside of Ontario are DVC members, I believe Maritimers in particular. Maybe our friend MBB can elucidate on her DVC purchase experience. You can buy directly from DVC when you are in Florida, as they would not be violating provincial laws dealing with you in that jurisdiction. Another thought is that you can buy Resale, which has the twin advantages of often being cheaper per point, and allowing you to buy in to sold out resorts like BCV, BWV, VWL and OKW.

So if you want the promotional video and other information before travelling to Orlando, then perhaps you should give the address of someone in Ontario, or a friend in the States, and they can forward it on to you. Otherwise, you might want to lurk around the DVC boards and ask questions there. Since the TimeShare Store, the biggest DVC reseller, sponsors the site, there is a direct link to their resale listings, so you can gauge price and figure out what you want to do.

Good luck!

 

[BLBCB]

Thanks for the info. Believe me I know how small our population is here in Manitoba. If you ever drive up highway #6 (the highway that goes the furthest north in Manitoba), you don't pass many houses once you get a few hours out of Winnipeg. Up until a few months ago, I lived where that highway ends, and it is a drive that seems to never end. But at least we have a highway, just north of us in Churchill, they don't have a road. Sorry, got a bit long-winded there. LOL

Anyway, I just wanted to check into the whole DVC thing, to see if it could ever be an option for us. That certainly wouldn't be a decision I would like to make while I'm down on vacation, something I would rather have information on before hand, and know the answer before I go.

As for the direct flights out of Winnipeg, we used to have them, and we are crossing our fingers that we will have them again! LOL

 

[pumpkinboy]

I've enjoyed my visits to Manitoba; realy nice people, beautiful scenery, great arts scene (at least in W'peg). I have never been as far north as you; the farthest noth I've been was back when I was 19 and hitched a ride from Saskatoon to Winnipeg on my way home to Maine.

For your DVC research, I'd strongly suggest cruising the DVC boards and checking out a number fo the FAQs and some of the ongoing threads. There is a wealth of information (and sometimes misinformation of course).

Best of luck!

 

[Scratch42]

Thanks for the info. Believe me I know how small our population is here in Manitoba. If you ever drive up highway #6 (the highway that goes the furthest north in Manitoba), you don't pass many houses once you get a few hours out of Winnipeg. Up until a few months ago, I lived where that highway ends, and it is a drive that seems to never end. But at least we have a highway, just north of us in Churchill, they don't have a road. Sorry, got a bit long-winded there. LOL

Anyway, I just wanted to check into the whole DVC thing, to see if it could ever be an option for us. That certainly wouldn't be a decision I would like to make while I'm down on vacation, something I would rather have information on before hand, and know the answer before I go.

As for the direct flights out of Winnipeg, we used to have them, and we are crossing our fingers that we will have them again! LOL

Hi!

First question to ask yourself, "Are we going to go to WDW every Year or two?" If the anwer to this question is yes, then DVC may be right for you.

I have an info package at home that I would gladly send to you. PM and let me know.

Scratch

 

[PhotobearSam]

BLBCB-

Do you live in Lynn Lake??? My DH is from Thompson and when I read your post to him, he got curious...

 

[BLBCB]

No, we were straight north of Thompson, and then a bit east. Gillam is about 4 hours (when the road is good) from Thompson.

 

[Sandyincanada]

Can Jet flies direct from Winnipeg to Orlando now...started a few months ago , after I already booked using partial airmiles through AC, of course,

 

[MaryannF]

I just called the information line to get a the video and find out more information on the Saratogo Springs free theme park tickets offer. I was told that they can only send information to Ontario. She couldn't even discuss with me over the phone any of the details. She said that if I came down to Disney, I could pick up the information, but nothing could be done from anywhere in Canada except Ontario. She said it had something to do about Real Estate laws or something. I'm sure I've seen other people on here who own DVC. How did you sign up? Is anyone out there owning DVC from somewhere other than Ontario?

I am interested in DVC but missed this offer. Can you tell me something about this offer of free theme park tickets with information on Saratoga Springs? I have been trying to explain DVC to my husband and not doing a very good job of it. Thanks

 

[BLBCB]

I may have the free ticket thing wrong. I just went to their website http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index and it says that you get a complimentary Disney vacation. I can't get any more information, but since you are in Ontario, please post what this offer is. She said she couldn't even explain it to me over the phone.

 

[Susan--Ontario]

DVC was the best decision we ever made. I love it, I love it!!!

The special you are thinking about is for current DVC owners. It is an incentive to get us to "add on" points at Saratoga. We "add on" 50 points and get one ticket, and so on. I no longer have the exact details because it is waay to tempting to me to "add on".

I'm sure that I have an extra DVC DVD at home. PM me if you'd like the information. You would have to make the purchase while you're in Florida though.

The deal about the free vacation is usually they will give you a discount on your point price in exchange for this year's points. This rationale is that you just paid for a Disney Vacation and likely wouldn't be going back this year so you wouldn't need this years points. They have new deals all the time. Right now they are trying to get the phase of Saratoga that is opening in July sold out, which is why they are doing lots of incentive programs.

I would do some figuring before you went and see if you could handle minimum $14,500US debt. We financed through Disney, which has a greater interest rate but it's over 10 years which makes the monthly payment very reasonable. That is why so many people finance through them. The banks here wouldn't finance you that amount of money over such a long period of time. They charge our monthly payment to our Canadian credit card and we just pay that bill every month. They make everything very, very easy!!!

The other thing to consider is that Saratoga is good until 2054 where the other DVC resorts are many years less. This may not matter to me, but I''m sure it will to my children and grandchildren.

If you have any other questions, PM me or post away.

 

[mbb]

We're from - as pumpkinboy said - Nova Scotia...and we bought DVC.

Couple of ways to do it when you don't live in Ontario.

1) Resales. Like my orange friend said, give the Timeshare store a call...it really isn't any hassle, and the agents are good about getting back to you.
2) Go to Florida on a cheap flight, and buy from Disney Development.

You can get a little more creative than those two option..if you really don't want to use a resale, or can't get to Fla. PM me, and I'll give you a few suggestions

Love our DVC!!


HTH

 

[BLBCB]

You are both talking about points. Do you purchase a certain amount of points, to be used each year? Is this forever, something you can will to your grandkids or something? How many points do you need for a vacation? Are the points only for the "hotel" part of your stay, or can you use them for tickets as well? Can you go somewhere else (Gasp) other than Disney?

 

[Susan--Ontario]

I'll try and describe it as best I can. We purchased 200 points. We get additional 200 points every March 1st as our "use year" is march. This point is important once you figure out what time of year you like to visit.

You use your points just as you would money. Example.. one night (a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) in a studio (which is the same as a hotel room but includes a fridge, toaster, microwave) in November costs 8 points at Old Key West. Therefore I have 192 points left.

If you wanted a one bedroom or two bedroom naturally it is more points. The newer resorts are also more points. Beach Club for the same as above is 11 points. So, you have to figure out how many people you have in your family and what accommodations you want. High season times cost more points than lower season's. Then determine how long you want your vacation to be each year. That's how many points you need to buy. However, if you only go every other year you need less points because you can "bank" this years points into next year. This is where "use year" becomes important. If you want to bank all your points then you have to do this 9 months ahead of time.

DVC works really well if there are a few times a year that you can take a vacation. A school teacher who is very limited to when they can take their holidays (ie only during the high seasons) will have to pay more points and will have to book their rooms as soon as they are able.

You can book a holiday at your home resort 11 months before the end of your vacation. ie if your holiday is November 1 - 10th, then you can book at your home resort on December 10th of the year before. If you are staying at a non home resort you can't book until 7 months out. That is why some people prefer resale. They aren't flexibile in their holiday time and they want to stay at a specific resort so they buy there.

Currently, Saratoga is good for another 49 years. The other resorts are much less time. I want to say 32 to 37 years but don't quote me. It is real estate so you can resell it or will it to your children, but hopefully live right to the end of your contract.

You can also use your points at other Disney hotels, Disney cruise lines and can exchange your points to many, many hotels all over the world.

They are only good for the hotels. It is timeshare in that you actually own a piece of a room at whichever resort is your home resort. We also get a $100 discount on Annual passes this year. There are other perks such as percentage discounts at restaurants, stores etc.

Like I said before we pay a monthly charge that our finances can handle and it's nice to go on vacation and NOT have the huge hotel bill at the end.

I almost forgot. You also have to pay maintenance fees once a year as well. It ranges between $3.50-$5.00/point. (again I'm going from my memory here). Just like a condo the maintenance fees are lowest at the newest resort

I hope this clears up your questions instead of making it more confusing.

forgot to add that you must purchase a minimum of 150 points to begin with.

 

[BLBCB]

Thanks for all the great information. We just bought a house a few months ago, so realistically there wouldn't be any way for us to buy DVC for the next year or so, once we are familiar with new payments and such.