Does anyone regret buying DVC? Or wish they'd chosen a different home resort?

[Page4]

I'm currently researching becoming a member. This thread has had a bunch of positive posts but ironcally I got a lot negative info that I didnt hear during the presentation from the "I love it but..." posts.
I sure wasn't told that you get minimal service (maids, coffee,etc.) as a member. I would be all over this if it wasn't for the maintanence fees. I don't get sharing the expenses but not sharing the profits.
Well, I'm back to reading hundreds of posts. I research money matters to death.

 

[sandieb]

We have loved our DVC so much that I really don't like staying in a hotel room any more. We love the convienence of having a kitchen and laundry. The resorts are lovely and generally well kept. We have 450 points at BCV and 200 at HH. I actually like SSR a lot and have stayed there 2 or 3 times - lovely grounds and villas. I wish I had the funds to buy another 200 at HH - we love the laid back beach vacation as much as WDW The maintenance fees do add up!
Sandie

 

[*Meagan*]

No regrets here! We wish we bought earlier! We bought 200 points in SSR and it works perfectly for us!

Love it!

 

[sjpvac]

We're planning on buying into DVC...but before taking on another monthly payment would really like some feedback from current members...would love to know the good AND the bad. Thanks!

We all love Disney but from a financial perspective I would never recommend buying again when I can pay for the annual vacation with the same cash that the maintenance fees cost each year and avoid the large outlay for the purchase. When I bought OKW by resale in 1995 when free park tickets were included, I thought it was a great value. Although my salary hasn't doubled since then, my dues have. As most people will tell you, DVC has the most value ONLY by staying on property Sunday through Thursday. I have exchanged a few times and have found the exchanges to be poor value either where it takes a year's worth (270) of points for a few nights in a major vacation destination or the exchange property is poorly maintained (and Disney will not refund points in such a case).

With more and more economical hotels being built by Disney, there is little reason to spend a lot to buy a timeshare, even if you come more than once a year. With the free dining that accompanies the hotel stay (but not the timeshare stay) there is more reason to reserve a room and save the $1300 or more a year, depending on the number of points, for the privilege of coming and spending more money.

 

[adminjedi]

We all love Disney but from a financial perspective I would never recommend buying again when I can pay for the annual vacation with the same cash that the maintenance fees cost each year and avoid the large outlay for the purchase. When I bought OKW by resale in 1995 when free park tickets were included, I thought it was a great value. Although my salary hasn't doubled since then, my dues have. As most people will tell you, DVC has the most value ONLY by staying on property Sunday through Thursday. I have exchanged a few times and have found the exchanges to be poor value either where it takes a year's worth (270) of points for a few nights in a major vacation destination or the exchange property is poorly maintained (and Disney will not refund points in such a case).

With more and more economical hotels being built by Disney, there is little reason to spend a lot to buy a timeshare, even if you come more than once a year. With the free dining that accompanies the hotel stay (but not the timeshare stay) there is more reason to reserve a room and save the $1300 or more a year, depending on the number of points, for the privilege of coming and spending more money.

It sounds like you are comfortable and happy in the "economical" hotels. For those of us who are not, and need large suites to accommodate our family, there HAS been "reason to buy DVC timeshare.

 

[AnnaS]

We all love Disney but from a financial perspective I would never recommend buying again when I can pay for the annual vacation with the same cash that the maintenance fees cost each year and avoid the large outlay for the purchase. When I bought OKW by resale in 1995 when free park tickets were included, I thought it was a great value. Although my salary hasn't doubled since then, my dues have. As most people will tell you, DVC has the most value ONLY by staying on property Sunday through Thursday. I have exchanged a few times and have found the exchanges to be poor value either where it takes a year's worth (270) of points for a few nights in a major vacation destination or the exchange property is poorly maintained (and Disney will not refund points in such a case).

With more and more economical hotels being built by Disney, there is little reason to spend a lot to buy a timeshare, even if you come more than once a year. With the free dining that accompanies the hotel stay (but not the timeshare stay) there is more reason to reserve a room and save the $1300 or more a year, depending on the number of points, for the privilege of coming and spending more money.

The few times you exchanged, were they with II? Have you exchanged at any time with RCI?

Just curious. TIA.

 

[disneynutz]

Unfortunately being a DVC Member has lessened our love for the current Disney. We vacation at WDW at least 3 times a year and we really notice how things are changing, and not for the better.

DVC is sold as a club and you are given the impression that you are special and appreciated. Now we find out that DVC owners and regular cash guests are treated differently. Once we were told by the Front Desk that they wanted to move us because of problems with our room. When they noticed that we were DVC Members, we were told that they weren't allowed to move us and that we should contact the DVC about the room issues.

DVC is a money making machine for Disney and once you buy, they know that you are locked in so they don't have a need to keep you happy.

DVC is a OK deal if you are looking to save some money on your room cost only. The program keeps changing, the perks keep changing, and you really need to understand the program before you buy.

Being a DVC Member should be enjoyable and fun, but lately it has been challenging and disappointing.

As far as home resorts, we have 5. BLT is our least favorite. We don't care for the feel of the resort and the attitude from the CM's has been less than Disney like. Being remote from all resort services adds to the issues, (everything is at the Contemporary).

Currently BWV is our favorite and we also own at AKV, VWL, and BCV. We have started to sell off some of our 26 contracts, it doesn't make sense to own something if it doesn't make you happy.

We still have our Walt statue by the front door in our house and our Disney pictures on our walls, but that is in recognition of what Disney once was, not of what it has become today.

Bill

 

[secox28]

I have owned for 4 years, and I have never regretted it until now. I can never seem to get a reservation. No two consecutive nights are ever available. I went on a waiting list all summer for two nights at HH and never got in. I want two nights for October 15-17. I have been truing for this since June. Nothing. What is the point in having a timeshare if you can't use it? I think they WAY over sell. It just doesn't seem fair.

I own two prpoerties at SSR. I should be able to get in somewhere. I am not asking for much.

Then, I wanted 3 nights between Christmas and New Years. I know that's a busy time. But if I schedule 6 months out, as a DVC member, I should be getting something. Even if they put me in a regular room at a huge discount. NOT MORE points! Ugh!

 

[Goofy DVC]

No regrets! We joined in 1993 when OKW was the only game in town and a bunch of rumors of what DVC might become. I now look at DVC and all the options and are happy with our DVC. I will say this and offer some advice. I did not find the DIS until 2007 and would say that at times the DIS boards influence my opinion of DVC. The info here is amazing and a great source of DVC expertise.These wonderful people know DVC better than DVC. However, I must "check" myself at times to not get caught up in the extereme negative attitude or extreme positive attitude of others and their feelings. I have to ask myself at times to use MY experience as the basis of MY feelings and opinion. When I do that I feel good about DVC. Has it been perfect? NO. Are we looking to sell or buy more points? Yes, we are looking to BUY.

I will add one other thing. I struggle with the financial debate because I hate Studios. I do a lot of business traveling and think that the studio is a glorified hotel room. We never stay in a studio and therefore having a spreadsheet on cost of DVC versus staying in a disney deluxe resort room with a 40% discount is useless for me.

 

[sandieb]

Being a DVC Member should be enjoyable and fun, but lately it has been challenging and disappointing.

Gosh, this is sad when someone with this amount of points and experience has developed such poor regard for DVC. I can echo the concern around hit or miss cleanliness and good repair of the villas. Over the top customer service is available consistently at the Hilton Head Resort, but is inconsistent at other properties.

They must have a note about me on file, because I have fussed so much about poorly cleaned villas, and I have asked that a supervisor inspect the villa before we take possession. In June we had 4 villas at the BCV for a family vacation, and they were all in great shape, clustered together, and clean. I hope it is the new standard!!!

We still enjoy our vacations and in September are taking a short trip and staying at the AKV for the first time. I guess my anxiety about finding significant issues has abated.
Sandie

 

[MikeyNS]

No regrets.. never have had an availability problem for the resorts we want. The maintenance fees do make me think once in a while, but even though we could spend that money on a value, there is no way we'd spend a week in a value.

 

[Sandisw]

I have owned for 4 years, and I have never regretted it until now. I can never seem to get a reservation. No two consecutive nights are ever available. I went on a waiting list all summer for two nights at HH and never got in. I want two nights for October 15-17. I have been truing for this since June. Nothing. What is the point in having a timeshare if you can't use it? I think they WAY over sell. It just doesn't seem fair.

I own two prpoerties at SSR. I should be able to get in somewhere. I am not asking for much.

Then, I wanted 3 nights between Christmas and New Years. I know that's a busy time. But if I schedule 6 months out, as a DVC member, I should be getting something. Even if they put me in a regular room at a huge discount. NOT MORE points! Ugh!

I am sorry that you are having such a hard time getting what you need. But I think you bring up a good point that many do not quite understand, nor is it really part of the sales pitch, about the need to really be able to book far in advance, 7 months or more.

With week based timeshares, it doesn't matter since you have your week locked in, no matter what. But, with points and DVC, every member has access to all the rooms, for every single day. There is no way to accommodate everyone if they all want the same days.

Anyone who can not really book DVC trips by that 7 month mark are going to find difficulty more often, especially as there are more members.

I think this is really important when considering to buy in at this point.

I

 

[adminjedi]

I have owned for 4 years, and I have never regretted it until now. I can never seem to get a reservation. No two consecutive nights are ever available. I went on a waiting list all summer for two nights at HH and never got in. I want two nights for October 15-17. I have been truing for this since June. Nothing. What is the point in having a timeshare if you can't use it? I think they WAY over sell. It just doesn't seem fair.
I own two prpoerties at SSR. I should be able to get in somewhere. I am not asking for much.
Then, I wanted 3 nights between Christmas and New Years. I know that's a busy time. But if I schedule 6 months out, as a DVC member, I should be getting something. Even if they put me in a regular room at a huge discount. NOT MORE points! Ugh!

We have never failed to get our bookings for the time we want (8-14 days) including Concierge at AKV because we book 11 months in advance. My guess is that with any timeshare or just booking cash rooms, it would be very difficult to get holiday reservations unless booking day of first availability. I don't believe you would have the disappointment if you planned more ahead.

 

[PHILCT]

No regrets about buying into DVC.

I regret I didn't do it when they first opened up DVC (OKW).

My home resort is VWL, I am pleased with it still, love this place at Christmas. I love OKW and BCV too.

If I could change my home resort, it would be BCV, I find that it is where we always want to stay for the convenience of EPCOT and HS, the Boardwalk Restaurants, and most of all Storm Along Bay. At 7 month's availability it is often difficult to get to stay here at the popular times of the year. It is the place I often need to wait-list for.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO folks buying at the cheapest resorts and buying at resorts away from WDW are going to cause increased competition at 7 months.

What will happen when all of the new Hawaii, Washington, and New York owners want to book at WDW?

Bill

 

[PHILCT]

IMO folks buying at the cheapest resorts and buying at resorts away from WDW are going to cause increased competition at 7 months.

What will happen when all of the new Hawaii, Washington, and New York owners want to book at WDW?

Bill

I think you are right, it will get harder, as they want to go to the key DVC WDW locations.

 

[toniosmom]

I started with a 160-point buy-in at AKV in 2008. Since then, I have added on five small contracts. I have not regretted any of these purchases as I have grown to LOVE staying in the 1BR units. I am also thrilled to be able to invite my parents to join us in the 2BR. They have been so generous with us and it feels awesome to be able to give something happy back to them.

I am also thrilled with the fact that I can enjoy the resort without having to go to a park. We have started doing just that -- on our last 7 day trip, we only went to a park 3 days. I believe that there will be some trips in the future where we won't step into a park at all. I love this flexibility. If I were staying at a value resort, I would want to be out of that room as long as possible. The deluxe resorts are very inviting and you WANT to be there.

Having said that, if I were to get into a financial bind, the first thing that would be sacrificed is my DVC contracts. I pray that never happens.

 

[bigAWL]

IMO folks buying at the cheapest resorts and buying at resorts away from WDW are going to cause increased competition at 7 months.

What will happen when all of the new Hawaii, Washington, and New York owners want to book at WDW?

Bill

I would think that should start pushing up the resale value of those popular WDW resorts, no? Or the rental price of those points?

 

[disneynutz]

I would think that should start pushing up the resale value of those popular WDW resorts, no? Or the rental price of those points?

It might, but I think that you are going to have a lot of unhappy owners who use to be able to book at resorts other than their home resorts. Some would call at 7 months and get what they wanted, some at even 5 months or 3 months depending on the time of year and resort/room.

In the future we will see a lot of posts stating that they can't book 7 days in a row, or that they have to book a split stay, or take what ever is left over.

Bill

 

[adminjedi]

It might, but I think that you are going to have a lot of unhappy owners who use to be able to book at resorts other than their home resorts. Some would call at 7 months and get what they wanted, some at even 5 months or 3 months depending on the time of year and resort/room.In the future we will see a lot of posts stating that they can't book 7 days in a row, or that they have to book a split stay, or take what ever is left over. Bill

But, if this does indeed become the prevailing trend, don't you agree it should be of no surprise?

It is clear when buying that all booking is based upon availability, even at the 11 month window. I have no expectation that I am guaranteed to get what I want, where I want, when I want....especially if at or after the 7 month window. When we are buying or adding on, we do so after analyzing how we will use those points (time or year most likely to travel, size of accommodation based on who will travel with us) and where we want to stay. We need fewer points at Aulauni, as we plan to use those just for the two of us and keep our family vacations at DW. We are even considering VGC for long weekend getaways. We realize that if we want to go there during holidays, we will need home resort booking advantage.