I totally agree. I will be honest in saying that I didn't do too much research before purchasing DVC. First, BIL/SIL had been DVC owners for about 12 years when we purchased, so I had my own personal DVC experts!
And, a good friend at work owns the typical 1 week, 2-BR, week number ## in Hawaii. I know that my BIL/SIL have used their DVC for all it's worth! My friend, on the other hand, has let his week go unused many times in Hawaii. So when we started looking, it was pretty easy. I know that other timeshares are moving to a more flexible plan like DVC, but overall, DVC allowed us to go when we wanted, in the size room we wanted and would allow trades if we truly wanted to trade. Still very glad we purchased! 
I totally agree. I will be honest in saying that I didn't do too much research before purchasing DVC. First, BIL/SIL had been DVC owners for about 12 years when we purchased, so I had my own personal DVC experts!
I had to chuckle when I read your post. We have Marriott weeks as well as DVC and I have to tell you that DVC is much more flexible and easy to manage. We have to start planning a year in advance with our MVC. If we don't use it, we have to deposit it or lose it. We get a 2 bedroom even if it is just DH and I. Seems like a waste. We even had a 3 bedroom for just the 2 of us - others couldn't make it. With some of the trades, like Hawaii, we were told it takes 18 months to come thru. We were lucky, it didn't, but we traded our 2 bedroom for a studio. (We were able to upgrade but that's another story) II is just as expensive to trade into the US and $125 or so to trade abroad. You can trade thru II for cruises but you always owe money in addition to giving them your week; you are trading lodging for food and lodging. In some cases you give them your week for free!
I think there are ups and downs to every timeshare. They all take some advance planning but I am amazed that people are still getting stays for the summer and fall. I'm already thinking what week I will reserve with MVC for summer 09!! I need more experience with the point system but I think it is more flexible and user friendly. But maybe that is because I found the Disboards to teach me the ins and outs before I bought. With MVC, I fumbled with it for years before I found TUG which helped so much.
Yes, we love our membership, but to me, here are some of the downsides:
- Dues come right after Christmas! Nothing like getting the AmEx bill and a dues statement!!!
- Trading out through II isn't as easy as it sounded in the sale's pitch. I haven't tried, but my SIL/BIL do it all of the time. It's not as easy as, "Hey, I want to go to Hawaii, so I'll deposit my points into II and pick a week!"
- It now costs $95 to book anything other than DVC resorts. The $95 is even charged if you book other WDW hotels (e.g., Contemporary, Polynesian, etc.).
- It's more difficult for members who can't plan months in advance.
- Cruises and Adventures by Disney require a ton of points. Though they are advertised, we've never wanted to use up all of our points for 3 years to take advantage of them.
With that said, what Disney does do is allow extreme flexibility (e.g., any week, any size room, multiple DVC resort locations without "trading out," etc.). Its resale value is pretty steady as well, so if you buy and realize the investment wasn't right for you, you won't lose your shirt selling it. If you think you'd like to travel to WDW ever 1 to 3 years, then buy enough points for those vacations. DVC allows you to bank and/or borrow, which can give you the flexibility to travel when you want. I wouldn't purchase DVC to mostly trade out and go to WDW every once in a while. There are other timeshares that will serve you better if those are your plans.
I've been trying to avoid this, because I like getting the points on my credit card. I may have to break down, though!!! Seriously, those two bills back to back come in along with our property taxes and I've got BIG BUCKS going out the door. For those of you who have watched game shows, I feel like I've been whammied!!!
Hope you have a great time with DH!!!I did my big family trip with all of the scheduling headaches surrounding them, now I don't feel guilty and will be vacationing with the hubby for awhile...
You have to pay a fee for trades with other timeshares, so I don't feel this is an unrealistic expense. DVC makes my hubby take a vacation, and for that alone I feel its well worth it!!
As for the fee, I don't mind the fee except for trading within Dis. Mind you, have never done it, but it bothers me if I want to stay at another WDW hotel or go on a cruise, I have to pay $95. I would have thought exchange fees within Disney resorts (regardless of DVC or not) would have been waived. Not the end of the world, but seems wrong to me. 
If that's the worst thing I have to be griped about, life is sure good, huh??? 
, and don't like to stray too far from home without the family - a 2 hour 50 minute flight is quick and easy for me to do with a friend for just a few nights (so I'm not away from my fam longer than I'm comfortable with) 
)
! Love it, going back as often as possible
I hope that we're saying the same thing 10+ years from now!
My BIL/SIL purchased the same time you did, and they are the reason we purchased. They got the same great deal with the passes!!! 
Let's just say we weren't paying much attention to ticket prices in those years! And while we have no problems with planning ahead, extended family members sometimes do, so we may have to do some room tweaking when they decide to go with about 2 weeks notice. 
But that is about it. We own where we want to own and have noted some - not many - issues with booking under the 11-month timetable. 
