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

[Mickey of the Villages]

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?

 

[lovin'fl]

Nope.

 

[zavandor]

There are about 250,000 members families in the "club". Not that exclusive.

 

[Mickey of the Villages]

There are about 250,000 members families in the "club". Not that exclusive.

I lived in NYC for a couple of years in my 20s after school. There were lots of folks there that derived a fair amount of their identity from being New Yorkers and felt like residents of NYC were in a club. I don't think fewer people means exclusive if that is what you are implying. Plenty of things feel exclusive even when lots of folks participate (like being an alumnus of Notre Dame in my original post). I don't think I will convince you otherwise but just because there are a lot of members doesn't make it any less exclusive. Especially when many or most of those members paid $10,000, $20,000 or more to be a member. Even "lovin'fl" shows his or her pride with "DVC owner since 2006" on his or her signature and they said "Nope" too.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

You are nuts. That's it, whole story!

 

[Firepath]

The Planners Club.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

They don’t exclude anybody. Pay a modest amount of money and you’re in.
It’s not like Club 33 where you need to interview, then may or may not be accepted.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

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

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

To the best of my knowledge, we are the only owners in our circle of friends and family. It's kind of fun to be the resident DVC expert. However, we do know quite a few people who go a lot more than us and just pay cash so it probably doesn't seem that special to them. But I know in my heart of hearts that only my Mickey lights up purple.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

DVC to me is a timeshare, nothing more. It's a cheaper way to stay at the deluxe resorts. I'll certainly take the perks that go along with the blue card since I got it for "free" (since I purchased resale before the restrictions), but I wouldn't pay any sort of meaningful amount of money for it. They may take away my perks one day since I don't own direct, that's fine. I made the decision with numbers assuming the perks were worth $0 anyway.

 

[Marionnette]

Lately, DVC makes me feel like a cash cow instead of a member of something special. The attitude of some direct owners toward resale purchasers makes me feel like a leper. But the feeling that I get when I pass that archway is “I’m home!”.

 

[SG131]

As a resale owner, I feel like a second class member of an exclusive club. And with Disney's pathetic black and white half a page welcome letter they sort of drove that point home.

 

[OneOftheB's]

My kids absolutely feel like they are part of a special club (the DVC and TOWL help foster that feeling). Me, eh. Not as much.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

As a resale owner, I feel like a second class member of an exclusive club. And with Disney's pathetic black and white half a page welcome letter they sort of drove that point home.

Apparently DVC marketing is working exactly as planned.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

Of the 19+ million people who visit the parks per year, only a small percentage are DVC owners. I think it’s fair to say you’re in an exclusive club!

 

[Marionnette]

Of the 19+ million people who visit the parks per year, only a small percentage are DVC owners. I think it’s fair to say you’re in an exclusive club!

“Exclusivity” implies that there is a selection process whereby some people are deemed worthy of acceptance. The only thing that makes any of us “worthy” is our wallets. If you’ve ponied up the cash, you’re a member. Nothing exclusive about that.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

“Exclusivity” implies that there is a selection process whereby some people are deemed worthy of acceptance. The only thing that makes any of us “worthy” is our wallets. If you’ve ponied up the cash, you’re a member. Nothing exclusive about that.

I think competitive implies that there is a selection process. I meant that there is a limited amount of people who own DVC (not that can own, but who do own) and therefore it’s an exclusive club because it doesn’t include the majority of WDW tourists. Exclusive implies that someone or something is excluded while others are included.

 

[bwvBound]

No but yes, sorta.

No, I don't feel I'm a member of an exclusive club. However, I do feel both fortunate and grateful. As we wound down the final day of our vacation last week, I thanked my husband for our DVC membership. It was a rush of warm appreciation to know that while this trip was ending others were yet ahead of us.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

No but yes, sorta.

No, I don't feel I'm a member of an exclusive club. However, I do feel both fortunate and grateful. As we wound down the final day of our vacation last week, I thanked my husband for our DVC membership. It was a rush of warm appreciation to know that while this trip was ending others were yet ahead of us.

Indeed I agree. In my earlier post I did not mean to imply one shouldn’t thoroughly enjoy, or be proud of their membership.

It just doesn’t fit the definition of “exclusive”.

 

[jlb727]

I think how each person feels about this is directly proportionate to how long they’ve owned and how many perks they’ve seen taken away.

That being said, the reason we bought is a number of coworkers are DVC members, and they all love it and said they didn’t regret it, but they did say that at the end of the day, remember it’s a timeshare, not an actual club.