Could we be honest and objective concerning DVC?

[eliza61]

Some one on the community board posted a question about timeshares. One of the responses said that most people here who purchased dvc are secretly disappointed with their purchase and simply don't want to admit that they made a mistake.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2509241

I found that fascinating for a few reasons.
#1. I've been a vocal critic of WDW restaurants this last year, usually to lots of flames, so obviously shy & retiring are not adjectives that could be used to describe me.

2. While I love this forum primarily because I think we are so friendly here, the reality is that we are "friendly strangers". so admitting mistakes can't be a huge source of embarrasment.

3. I think we've been pretty good at giving potential purchasers our honest take on things (now I could be biased).

So are we all sniffing pixie dust, incapable of seeing the timeshare hell others believe we are in?

 

[jakenjess]

I feel I can absolutely be objective about DVC. Do I have any regrets about buying? Not a one. It's afforded us an opportunity to vacation with not only our immediate family but also extended family. The kids are growing up all too fast, and the memories we have made at the World are precious.

I don't view DVC (or WDW) through rose-colored glasses. There have been issues here and there, but I look at the big picture. Actually, I do have one regret -- not buying sooner!

 

[Inkmahm]

I feel I can absolutely be objective about DVC. Do I have any regrets about buying? Not a one. It's afforded us an opportunity to vacation with not only our immediate family but also extended family. The kids are growing up all too fast, and the memories we have made at the World are precious.

I don't view DVC (or WDW) through rose-colored glasses. There have been issues here and there, but I look at the big picture. Actually, I do have one regret -- not buying sooner!

That would be my exact answer, too.

DVC is NOT for everyone. But it is definitely for me and DH.

 

[DVC-Don]

Some one on the community board posted a question about timeshares. One of the responses said that most people here who purchased dvc are secretly disappointed with their purchase and simply don't want to admit that they made a mistake.
....................:

Kind of like being asked if you stopped beating your wife.

 

[Disjunky]

Totally happy and i havent been yet since i purchased in january of 09.
this was a great idea as well as we basically saved points to stay nicer at least for the next 3 years. the carry over points will allow us to stay at some sweet oplaces we may not have wanted to or even go more than once.
Here are some points why im so happy.

1. im a disney FANATIC. My father worked there for a few years and i was the happiest young adult on the planet. DW and i have been going since 2001. She was a Gf then but when she heard dad worked there, she was hooked to me.

2. I have a room anywhere (kinda) i want in disney whenever i want and dont have to pay for it. Ok so im making those payments but so what. I have this thing for another 49 years people. WOW!!!!!!

3. These are upscale accomodations. If you try and use these points for a reg hotel they dont go as far and they take care of you at DVC. All of the stories i have heard are positive. It's disney, if you have a problem they go out of your way to fix it.

4. It's disney, the most magical place on earth. You have to have a good time otherwise you are trying to have a bad one. I dont't understand those people who get mad or upset at disney. Smile. IT'S VACATION!!!

5. The food is incredible. You aren't paying for a room so now you can afford to go up a little on your eating trends. We always do the dining plan anyway and love it.

I could go on but here is my story of how i bought points.
Ran the marathon in 09. Wife and i had talked since 2002 about getting DVC but waited and waited. My dad got transfered to CO and we ended up paying for our rooms. Not bad but, we realized there was no more room for waiting.
I got home from the marathon on tuesday night adn wednesday morning called my DVC Rep. He wanted to send out all the info to get me started. I read him my CC number and signed up within 5 minutes. He said to me, wow, you are the easiest sale i've ever made. Its a no brainer if you ask me. And now i have a one year old and he is gonna love disney as much as DW and i.

 

[StitchFan73]

Can I say , while we are not yet owners but hope to be soon, that with any purchase if you don't do your homework-the chances of being disappointed are much higher.

With a few exceptions, most of any disappointment I see with DVC owners lies in the overall decline in WDW and how things are being run. Basically people fell in love with WDW for the pixie dust and warm fuzzy feelings you get when there and are seeing less of it lately. I really don't see too many people, who actually understand how the DVC program works, regretting their purchase. On the flip side I know lots of other timeshare owners who do.

I have been going back and forth with the decision to purchase for almost 2 years now. Not because I have doubts that owning a DVC will make me happy or I will be happy with the purchase, but basically so I- 1) understand what I am and am NOT getting, and 2) wanted to be sure that we were in a good financial position to go for it-not just making an emotional one. But with that being said I have to honestly say that part of my decision to buy comes from a good healthy ingestion of pixie dust. Are there better restaurants in other places? Yes. More fun things to do? Maybe. But in the end we go because of how we feel when we're at Disney. I'm not sure you can put a price on that-unless it's a price tag you can't afford

 

[heathers4um]

wow...that Sanchez sure had an opinion.

I cannot imagine these boards filled with so many people singing the praises of DVC would be lying to themselves and eachother...thats just silly. I think we are all realistic with it and tend to see the not-so-good side of some things like the quality of the accomodations at times and the decisions that Disney makes for the DVC. We stick to it because it IS our 'home away from home'. BS or not is left to opinion but I dont see it that way at all!

 

[tiggerrr]

I feel I can absolutely be objective about DVC. Do I have any regrets about buying? Not a one. It's afforded us an opportunity to vacation with not only our immediate family but also extended family. The kids are growing up all too fast, and the memories we have made at the World are precious.

I don't view DVC (or WDW) through rose-colored glasses. There have been issues here and there, but I look at the big picture. Actually, I do have one regret -- not buying sooner!

This is my point of view as well. I think there is a large difference between having disappointment over an issue or a change in DVC policy/direction/etc. and having a disappointment on the purchase to the point that you regret the purchase. I was personally disappointed with the point reallocation because it made my next trip more expensive. Did it make me believe my purchase was a mistake? No.

And - to the point of this thread - I am able to talk honestly about those feelings with anyone. I do think there are other people, not DVC owners, that can look at some of our complaints and interpret our comments as regrets for buying rather than just complaints about a specific issue.

On another note, I do believe that this board has enough people whose feelings about DVC run the whole range of emotions, that whatever your feelings about DVC are - someone will support you if you voice your real opinion.

 

[dalt01]

the 1200 pound gorilla in the room is................i can rent your points you dont use............and there is always plenty............and get better dollar value out of your DVC membership than you do.........without the commitment. i do not mean this as a negative statement. it is simply the truth.

 

[scottmel]

the 1200 pound gorilla in the room is................i can rent your points you dont use............and there is always plenty............and get better dollar value out of your DVC membership than you do.........without the commitment. i do not mean this as a negative statement. it is simply the truth.

100% agree...I have rented DVC points from several different people to add a day on the back or front end of a trip and what I can't get my head around is the seemingly inexpensiveness to rent (9.00 a point!)..but I honestly coulld never stay DVC a week - I just love the non DVC rooms much much better but renting dvc points is fantastic for a cheap add on night to a vacation!!!

 

[Disneyaunt4]

I feel I can absolutely be objective about DVC. Do I have any regrets about buying? Not a one. It's afforded us an opportunity to vacation with not only our immediate family but also extended family. The kids are growing up all too fast, and the memories we have made at the World are precious.

I don't view DVC (or WDW) through rose-colored glasses. There have been issues here and there, but I look at the big picture. Actually, I do have one regret -- not buying sooner!

Couldn't agree more!!!!
We are very HAPPY with DVC

 

[jakenjess]

the 1200 pound gorilla in the room is................i can rent your points you dont use............and there is always plenty............and get better dollar value out of your DVC membership than you do.........without the commitment. i do not mean this as a negative statement. it is simply the truth.

True, to a certain extent. I don't want the stress of renting points, it takes a lot of trust, etc. I am a control freak when it comes to my vacations, and it's just not there as a renter. I also want to be able to vacation when and where I want, and if I'm kicking around the idea of a last-minute trip or any trip, actually, I want to be able to call DVC and check availability and book it myself. YMMV.

 

[jakenjess]

100% agree...I have rented DVC points from several different people to add a day on the back or front end of a trip and what I can't get my head around is the seemingly inexpensiveness to rent (9.00 a point!)..but I honestly coulld never stay DVC a week - I just love the non DVC rooms much much better but renting dvc points is fantastic for a cheap add on night to a vacation!!!

I'm just curious what you like better about a non-DVC room? I'm so hooked on my 1BRs!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Ok, I answered NO before I read your post. (Shame on me!)

Anyway, I am quite taken with DVC and believe that it is quite difficult for me to be objective.

HOWEVER, I am quite pleased with my purchase and do not believe that I am in timeshare hell.

 

[joandegennaro]

haven't even had my first trip home yet so I guess I lend towards the happy group alot. However, I think that problems with Disney either in the resorts or parks can and will happen to some. It happened to us in 2009 and we said never again...only to stay DVC on friends points and upon return purchased our first contract. You have to have time to reflect on what it was that upset you so much. We put ours into prespective and realized that we love Disney and as we approach our retirement years this is where we would love to spend time every year. Some people are unhappy with the current reno's at OKW, not to the theme they have been used to for years. I can understand if you have put in years at your home resort your dismay when they change it during a reno. No so for us. No real time invested as of yet. I didn't find our Studio in March that run down. In fact we were thrilled with the larger accomdations over a room at CRB. I think you are finding the DVC vets who have gotten used to a standard and see it declining with the current state of the economy are the ones who are currently not completely happy with their purchase as it is not what it once was, and I can completly understand that.

 

[scottmel]

I'm just curious what you like better about a non-DVC room? I'm so hooked on my 1BRs!!

When I first started going to disney, we rented and I thought DVC was the cat's meow. We rented 1 bedrooms in BW and OKW. But then one year we really really wanted to try BWI b/c the rooms were just rehabbed and I haven't looked back. The difference to me was astronomical. The rooms are so much NICER at a non DVC room. Better taken care of. DVC seems tired and shabby in many of the rooms. And at a DVC, you are stuck with a pull out couch unless you stay OKW and their mattresses are the pits! So once we experienced BWI with the lovely interior we were hooked back to regular disney staying...especially iwth pin codes..very reasonable...I feel we were treated better as a regular disney guest which I would think would be opposite.

We have since stayed at BWI, YC deluxes after we ditched DVC rentals...I just love the decor better at a regular room...and the bedding situation....

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I agree that it is inexpensive to rent points. However, I don't agree that non-DVC rooms are preferable. That flies in the face of everything I have experienced myself (we have also stayed at BWI and loved it... but they are not IMO superior to the refurbed rooms at BWV). Renting worked really well for my family for many years... when it was just hubby, son, daughter and me. As our family expanded and we started inviting others to travel with us, then renting didn't work as well. I had to find multiple folks willing to rent their points and try to coordinate it all 2nd hand. I couldn't check up on details myself. It became a headache.

I do see changes coming, though. As Disney is adding more and more options for travel, I see a time when it's less likely that folks will be renting their points and using the rental cash to travel elsewhere. Afterall, if I own DVC and can use my points to go to Disney-Paris, Disney-Tokyo, Disney-Hong Kong, Aulani, cruises to Alaska and many other areas, National Harbor (eventually), and who knows where else, why would I rent my points to someone else? Answer: I won't. Add to that the current affordability of buying in for myself, and renting just didn't seem like the best option anymore.

I admit, sometimes I read comments on the forums that make me think the poster has inhaled too much pixie-dust... some of the folks are just SOOOO enthusiastic about Disney. When I read comments with huge numbers of hopping icons, exclamation points, and overly-excited Disney worship, I wonder if they are a paid advertisement or if there truly is a screw loose somewhere... and this is coming from a woman who has traveled the 13 hours to Disney 27 times in the last 18 years. Obviously, I love the place. I can also honestly say that I have enjoyed our DVC trips immensely. I also enjoyed our trips staying in tents in Fort Wilderness... but it was a very different fun. For this time in our lives, DVC is the perfect choice.

 

[dalt01]

oh......................to the OP, pollster. about the wording of your poll. you might be interested in knowing..............and i have been in the people business all my life...............that it is a big fact that customers lie to salespeople to get what they want much, much more than the other way around. in the sales business there is a phrase..............."buyers are liars". anyone who labels sales people as liars obviously has never been in retail. not trying to be mean............just hate the stereotype.

 

[jarestel]

I think some can be objective and some can't. It doesn't take long after beginning to read these boards to distinguish the posters who offer solid and useful information to prospective buyers from the cheerleaders.

 

[BeesKnees]

I think the main reason why someone might be unhappy with their purchase is that they think it will save them money.

I can't explain why the average person might want to buy a DVC membership but I can explain why I did and why I would do it again:

1) Travel for work. If you live in a hotel room 45ish days a year the idea of going on vacation and staying in another hotel room is not as relaxing.

2) Stress. For my wife and I vacations are not a luxury they are essential. My productivity falls if it has been too long since my last vacation. We take 2 week-long vacations a year and usually 3 long weekends away.

3) Stress again. Sure I could rent points but I like knowing they are always there waiting for me. It gives me something to look forward to even if the next vacation hasn't been planned yet. Owning them is soothing. Even in years where we have to buy a new roof a vacation is always a possibility.

4) Did I mention stress? If we stay 7 days at disney we usually only go to the parks 3-4 of those days. Going every day from opening to closing is not something we want. We want to have fun some days and relax others. It is nice having a home instead of a hotel room to relax in. There is no reason to make a hit list of park attractions because we will be back very soon.

5) Stress, oops, no, Family. In the last 10 years we have taken various family members with us 6 times. We like being able to do it for family and we like having them along.

6) I know it sounds cheesey. DVC is a vacation home. Home being the operative word. Some people would find it nuts that anyone might want to cook, do laundry, waste precious time playing card games, read a book, watch TV, sit on the balcony and watch people go by, etc., etc., etc. But with a home instead of a hotel room you have greater control over your vacation experience. Quite frankly, the idea of spending a good chunk of a day in a hotel room is not appealing.