Does ANYONE regret buying into DVC???

[lynn71092]

Does anyone regret buying? It seems like everyone LOVES their DVC Ownership but if that's the case why are there so many resales? I am considering but I only read good things, I would like to hear the other side of it (if there is one) before I pay out that kind of money.

 

[childsplay]

The reality is that vast majority of people who bought and then sold because they didn't like it probably don't hang around this forum very much... so consequently what you are left with (in my experienece) is a tremendously helpful group of people who really enjoy their DVC.
All of that not withstanding, here are few things to think about...
1. It is not cheap. The costs can add up.
2. If you can't plan at least 7-10 months in advance and are not flexible with dates it becomes less attractive.
3. If you don't plan on using your points mostly for WDW stays there are better less expensive options.

I'm sure others can give you more to chew on, but i hope that helps

 

[crisi]

People here who have sold in the past have indicated:

1) They couldn't afford it
2) They discovered that they could afford it, but didn't need to - staying offsite or values was actually fine with them - and cheaper
3) Their vacation patterns changed - often they were fine with DVC for a number of years, then didn't use it enough to make owning worthwhile - often these folks still own a small contract, but sold off a lot of their holdings
4) At least one person just liked the Deluxe resorts and discovered DVC didn't give her the same experience.
5) Occationally we get people who have had a really bad experience, sometimes with their first trip. They often sell. (Dirty rooms, bad CMs - it doesn't happen often, but it happens).
6) Sometimes people discover their booking patterns didn't fit DVC - they couldn't plan ahead and thought it wouldn't be a big deal - and it is - DVC is spotty on short term availability.
7) Some people bought to cruise or do something other than stay in DVC resorts. Over time, the point values for those things change - sometimes even the options change, and it becomes something that isn't a good deal for them.

 

[dcamdad]

With supposedly 100,000 plus members and a quick glance at resales here at TTS for approx 300 resales for a resale percentage of .003%, I would not call that a lot of resales.

 

[lynn71092]

Thanks, you guys have really helped.
I know about the sale price, closing costs and annual fees, is there anything else that I need to be aware of.
And how hard is it to book your vacation in your resort, say the OKW if you're willing to go during the cheapest season and during the week??

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: The seasons that cost the least amount of points as well as the Sunday-Thursday stays seem to be the most popular with DVC members. If you call at the 11 month mark for your home resort, it shouldn't be a problem. Also, you could call day by day if it is really important to you to have those exact dates. My only regret with DVC is not buying in soon enough- almost bought at OKW in 93, but waited for BWV.

 

[lynn71092]

So if I wanted to rent points to check it out first and I wanted to go the 1st few days in November, it would be too late now?

 

[wdwnut]

You never know until you try- visit the rent/trade board to see. Another option would be to do a cash ressie for that time in a dvc unit and take the tour.

 

[mikesmom]

Almost certainly.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think it would definitely worth a shot to try to get a rental for November now. You will most likely not get BWV or BCV during F&W festival. However, if you want to buy resale now and get a November ressie, that would be really unrealistic.

This sounds so obvious, but...don't forget that you still have to pay for park tickets, food, transportation, and souvenirs. I think dh and I overlooked or minimized these costs to justify purchasing DVC.

 

[fefferdilly]

As someone who has bought multiple times, sold one resort and purchased another, it boiled down to my likes/dislikes of a particular resort.

If I had the mythical do-over, I would follow my hunches on what I like, and actually stay there for 2-3 days before I buy. My point being own what you enjoy, it is certainly worth the price when you love the resort in terms of enjoyment bang for the buck.

The flip side is don't own what you have a lesser interest in, such as the great deal on cost but find you are reserving at other resorts at the 7 month window constantly. DVC is for planners, no secret there, and owning in one resort only to find you really love another is what I feel I could have avoided with some thought and experience prior to grabbing the "deal". It made for too much waiting on pins and needles to be waitlisted and then hope for the resort I really wanted. Buy where you love to stay first I say, then if you want to branch out later you always have your favorite if you cannot get in another.

It boils down to this, I wish I shopped smarter first, but ultimately my family has fabulous vacations and memories that I could not find anywhere else. Not one drop of regret here.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I think what I found the hardest is that I do not have the ability to plan my vacations as others can... My husband is not well and so I work my Disney vacations around his feeling well enough to go.. That is hard to do with DVC. You have that window to call in at and if you have to wait till someone is well enough to go.. after treatments etc....you may not find availability..

So....planning is key for being a happy DVC'er. Do not get me wrong, I am not sorry that we bought in.. we have used it and take what we can get when we can go.

Also, one more thought here, and I think I said this somewhere else, I wish I had bought in where I truly, truly wanted to be. We are at SSR, it is ok, but I would have preferred to be at the BW or the Beach Club, most especially the Beach Club, and I did not trust my instincts.. Now I am trying to get points there and am waitlisted to do so.

 

[couellet]

We have bought and rented studios and grand villas. Went with our family and only or up to 16people. We loved it. Great for families or adults only... Check your budget and plan ahead is the key. You can't get there on a whimp but will sure find something for everyone to enjoy. Will never regret!

 

[chiclet]

No regrets. I have become a compulsive vacation planner though!

 

[dnoyes]

With supposedly 100,000 plus members and a quick glance at resales here at TTS for approx 300 resales for a resale percentage of .003%, I would not call that a lot of resales.

The video Disney just sent me a couple weeks ago said they had 350,000 members world wide or did I hear that wrong? maybe I'd better watch it again.

 

[Laxmom]

Nope, but we haven't closed yet!! I will answer it from a timeshare perspective though because we have others too.

No regrets! We never took vacations other than to visit family before we purchased our weeks. Now we are forced to use it or lose it. We have so many great experiences and memories with our kids. We would have never done the traveling that we have done with out it. I expect DVC to be the same way for us and a great addition to our vacation planning. The point system is so flexible and I think we are going to love that!

I tell my DH that we now only have 50 more weeks to cover so we can travel fulltime when we retire!! We'll just go from timeshare to timeshare!

 

[AKV707]

I think it would definitely worth a shot to try to get a rental for November now. You will most likely not get BWV or BCV during F&W festival. However, if you want to buy resale now and get a November ressie, that would be really unrealistic.

This sounds so obvious, but...don't forget that you still have to pay for park tickets, food, transportation, and souvenirs. I think dh and I overlooked or minimized these costs to justify purchasing DVC.

I agree that BWV and BCV would be almost impossible at this point. But we bought in last July and were able to get an OKW reservation in early Nov. We first booked a 1 br, because a studio was not available, but we waitlisted and got the studio.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Does anyone regret buying? It seems like everyone LOVES their DVC Ownership but if that's the case why are there so many resales? I am considering but I only read good things, I would like to hear the other side of it (if there is one) before I pay out that kind of money.

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.

 

[disneynutz]

The video Disney just sent me a couple weeks ago said they had 350,000 members world wide or did I hear that wrong? maybe I'd better watch it again.

Welcome to the world of marketing. We have over 100,000 memberships but 350,000 members. Each membership/family averages 2 or 3 people.

 

[Laxmom]

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 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.