Does DVC make you feel like you're a member of a private club . . . an exclusive private club?

[PoohBears#1fan]

It's a timeshare based solely on your willingness to give them money.

Absolutely 100% this. It's a timeshare, that's never really been made to be a secret, I've never viewed it as anything different.

 

[DVC92]

The one thing that has transpired that I really dislike the most is that when we sell our contracts, new purchasers are not getting what we sell since they are not "members". It devalues our properties and forces the purchasers to purchase some points directly from DVD to earn the right to become members.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

What an interesting question. Interesting enough to have me respond for the first time in at least 15 years, perhaps 20. I feel as if the initial question, while mentioning exclusivity wouldn’t define it solely by financial terms or ones ability to join without an interview-like process. There are many clubs in all walks of life where entrance is merely a formality of ancestry, income, legacy, etcetera. And so, my reply is a bit more emotionally based.

I bought my “club” contract in 1994. Then added four more contracts over the next 15 years. So, obviously I was all in. Having a career in finance I knew I wasn’t buying as an investment, but did recognize the cost benefit. But that wasn’t why I bought more points. Yes, we were made to feel more special in the early years. But just about every trip finds a new way for me to surprised at Disney service levels and offerings. While many complain about what’s being taken away, I tend to think of all that is, has or will be done when contractually Disney doesn’t have to do so many of what they do provide. One could say, I would get that same feeling as a rack rate hotel guest, but this is where I feel the tribalism and consistency the original poster hinted at sways my response.

My children were 1 and 4 when I first bought...and I remember soon thereafter them enjoying the point of a cast member to the Hospitality House and a “Welcome Home”. Surprises and special moments were around every corner. One year, my son slipped in the hot tub and split his chin open and Disney folks while obviously there concerned about litigation and what-not, did far more that night and in the coming days than was necessary. We began to take other families with us on DVC vacations becoming WDW experts and they would posit to others about this club we were in. WDW jingoism began to infiltrate our vernacular...”have a magical day” became something that not only my boys would echo, but our friends would soon join in on. While at home or somewhere other than WDW DVC chasing the elusive magic, my kids would say “it smells like Disney” or “it’s almost like DVC”. Now, we’re empty nesters and my boys are men living lives on their own. But they still join us at the World from time to time and it’s not just because Mom and Dad will pick up the tab. While perhaps the use of “exclusivity” is too multi faceted a word — they and my wife and I feel special. Sure there’s some aspect of spending $30K, but it’s more. It’s sometimes just sitting poolside and invariably a new conversation will turn to “when did you get in”? Yes,the purchase price was the cost of admission, but there is a social and specialness component which comes with it.

My older son is getting married soon. At a family dinner, he playfully was telling his wife to be, “it’s time to talk about DVC”. She has already been with all us and knew plenty already. But my son continued to tease at her that she needed to “respect” Disney and our family DVC ancestry.

Going back to the original question, yeah, I believe there’s a sense of exclusivity (if nothing more there’s the binary aspect of either you’re in or you’re out. There’s history—certainly for me and my family’s 25 years. There is a verbiage and Disney-speak which is a cultural component. There is a familial facet, despite me not suggesting we are one big happy family. Like any family, or group, or nation, we have things we are proud of, and others bringing ******* or shame.

I’m in the beginning stages of creating the first Italian-American chapter club in North Carolina. I only hope that we are similar to Disney and DVC in culture and aspiration.

This!

 

[cw62803]

DVC is a timeshare, and a pretty good one at that. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[disney11fan]

A time share nothing more than that. Info better investing my money and using capital gains and dividends to fund our trips.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I think we can all agree that it is in fact "just a timeshare." How we FEEL about it is something else.

Are we members of a club? No. We are owners of a timeshare. We have prepaid for our vacations. We have spent our money in a way that some consider stupid (why are those people even bothering to read this thread?).

Do we FEEL like we are members of a club? That's another question.

 

[Dean Marino]

Deleted

 

[disney11fan]

I think we can all agree that it is in fact "just a timeshare." How we FEEL about it is something else.

Are we members of a club? No. We are owners of a timeshare. We have prepaid for our vacations. We have spent our money in a way that some consider stupid (why are those people even bothering to read this thread?).

Do we FEEL like we are members of a club? That's another question.

The exchange of different points of view is wonderful. If we all agreed this would be terrible or we all should wear green shirts and white shorts.

 

[Matty B13]

I feel like I'm a member of the Disboard DVC Club, not the Disney Vacation Club, because of all the great advice that I have received over the years from this forum. Even when it wasn't always what I wanted to hear, it was an honest opinion, and was in "my best interest". You won't get that from DVC management. I will say though, most of the CM's that I have dealt with for DVC bookings have been great and have had mostly great service at the resorts we have stayed at, even though I'm a lowly resale owner.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

I'm certain there are as many ways to feel about DVC as there are members, but based upon me and my wife's feelings I would say we feel like we're members of an exclusive club. It seems like others feel the same way.

I mean, you are a "member" right (not just an owner)? So there's even some language queues that support this. Perks and other benefits (aside from the rooms your points will provide) seem like privileges of membership.

The clothing and other swag about DVC make it seem exclusive, no? There is a sort of tribalism to it all; like being a Notre Dame fan (which I am not).

Or am I all wrong and it's just a darn timeshare and who cares, nothing to see here?

If its a club where I give someone a five figure sum of money just for the privilege to come back for the next thirty years and give them even more money; then yes, I feel like an exclusive idiot.

 

[disney11fan]

If its a club where I give someone a five figure sum of money just for the privilege to come back for the next thirty years and give them even more money; then yes, I feel like an exclusive idiot.

you could help so many people by letting them know how you feel.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

The only times we have truly felt 'special' are when we have had the opportunity of the special previews for Fantasyland and Pandora. To have an area almost to one's self and not with a million people, it a pretty spectacular feeling.
As far as the rooms go, I agree with the majority. It is a guaranteed nice place to stay at a discounted price, i.e. a timeshare.

 

[Minniesgal]

No not at all it’s just a timeshare

 

[jerseyduke]

No, not in the least. That being said, I, personally don't care if it does or doesn't, it will not change my enjoyment. The perks add to it (moonlight magic, etc) but dont add an element of exclusivity. On any given day I am at WDW with 100,000 other people, and I am just happy to be there.

 

[dvcterry]

It's a place where can safely drink our koolaid

 

[TexasAggie73]

Bought in 1997 and felt that special magic, but now that honeymoon is over. Maybe because of too many stays, or too many resorts and members.

 

[iheartglaciers]

I do feel part of a club, but it doesn’t feel exclusive to me since there are so many “members.” Though funny story, I took my friends on a trip last year where we attended Moonlight Magic and took advantage of the early entry to MNSSHP and the Epcot lounge. When we got to the airport I was able to get them into the lounge with my Priority Pass. My friends were so used to all the DVC perks that they asked if the airport lounge was a DVC benefit!

 

[Chuck S]

In the very early years, there were far fewer members. Marketing gave some nice little welcome home gifts like photo albums and such when you'd visit. So it did feel a bit exclusive in the early years.

As membership grew, it obviously wasn't cost effective to continue nice welcome gifts and free pass incentives, as a marketing tool. So the "exclusive" feeling didn't last too long....but what does last are all the wonderful memories with family and friends over the last 27 years...and that's better than feeling "exclusive" any day.

 

[iheartglaciers]

but what does last are all the wonderful memories with family and friends over the last 27 years...and that's better than feeling "exclusive" any day.

Totally agree. Thinking back to all the number crunching I did when I bought in to decide if it was worth it... at the end of the day I’m so thankful for the purchase because I’ve had so many amazing memories with friends and family thanks to our membership. That’s priceless!

 

[quandrea]

Totally agree. Thinking back to all the number crunching I did when I bought in to decide if it was worth it... at the end of the day I’m so thankful for the purchase because I’ve had so many amazing memories with friends and family thanks to our membership. That’s priceless!

Well said! The vacation time is so precious to us. Our kids have grown up there and we spend such special time there. What comes to mind are all of us huddled on one sofa for our almost nightly movie nights in the villa, sharing countless ice creams. The kids’ chatter as we snuggle on the buses. Those are all the things I cherish.