Does ownership in DVC take away from the whole Disney experience?

[reebs2]

We are putting a lot of thought into buying into the DVC but are concerned with missing out on the whole Disney experience. If you're not part of the main resort are you treated any differently?

Besides the Poly our favorite resort is WL. We love the lobby and the resort grounds. Staying in the VWL it seems like things would be a bit different - the lobby is out of the way and the pool is quite a bit smaller.

Is the overall experience different?

We are thinking on renting at VWL to give it a try before buying just to check it out.

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

 

[chalee94]

We are putting a lot of thought into buying into the DVC but are concerned with missing out on the whole Disney experience. If you're not part of the main resort are you treated any differently?

Besides the Poly our favorite resort is WL. We love the lobby and the resort grounds. Staying in the VWL it seems like things would be a bit different - the lobby is out of the way and the pool is quite a bit smaller.

Is the overall experience different?

i stayed at the VGF in november. the lobby for the GF was nicer, but as a VGF guest, it was a short walk over to hang out at the GF lobby. (or take the monorail or boat to wdw...or use the GF pool - too cold in my case, but true in general).

if i wanted a GF room with a view of the castle, i think that is only possible on the hotel side. also, it is true that refurbishment schedules are slower on the villas side (as costs are paid by the DVC owners and not disney).

but overall, you lose very little IMO. (if you have a lot of money and want only the very, very best, it might matter to you - and also things like "losing" daily housekeeping or a king-sized bed option in a hotel room - but for me, i prefer the trade-offs that DVC offers.)

We are thinking on renting at VWL to give it a try before buying just to check it out.

this is a great plan.

 

[tmoret]

I have to say for us it has added to the Disney experience. We are now able to stay at resorts that we other wise would not have wanted to pay that price for. Just my thoughts

 

[ParrotBill]

A DVC resort *is* a main Disney Resort.

The only differences are:
* You have a deluxe room with Kitchen instead of a moderate or economy room
* You have a lower level of mousekeeping service at once every 4 days instead of every day
* You have go to WDW every year more easily
* You must buy the investment and pay a yearly maintenance fee that nets out lower than I would have paid over the last 15 years I've been in DVC.

All +++ in my book.

 

[gdrj]

for us ADD's, ADD's, ADD's to the experience.

I understand the perception with VWL being off to the side (and for that matter BCV). As far as pool, you still have access to the main pool, while the lobby is not as inconvenient it really is not that far of a walk. At the Grand Floridian HOTEL, you could be in some areas that are further away from main building than VWL is to the lobby.

BWV is the main building. At BLT while separate it does stand on its own, and so does VGF. Jambo House has DVC rooms as well. The great thing is you are not "stuck" with 1 resort but have many options and you can decide what you like best for your visits.

 

[com_op_2000]

IMHO, NO!
We have taken many(100+) WDW, DCL, and offsite vacations that we never would of paid OOP for, thanks to being DVC members. We use our points for ourselves, family, and friends when and where we want to based on our desires for that year.

 

[spiceycat]

well if you use concierge services alot - then DVC might not be a good choice.

they do have concierge - but really expect DVC members to know a little more than the WDW guests.

so if you don't make your reservations before you arrive - and then try to make them at concierge. don't think you will be happy with DVC.

most DVC members have been to WDW several time know what they want and when they want it and do make reservations (mostly) before hand.

if you need daily housekeeping - then you might be happier with WDW resorts.

that say really like DVC because someone who is a stranger is NOT in your room daily.

love the kitchennette in the studio and the regular kitchen in the 1-bedroom and up.

love the access to the washer/dryer in the studio, and in the 1-bedroom and up they are in the villa.

most villas have something that wdw resort rooms don't - space - you can enjoy yourself and relax.

 

[DizBub]

We think that owning DVC enhances the whole Disney experience. Although we are not people who ever stayed Deluxe but it sure beats the values and the moderates by a long shot. For many reasons.

Even staying at the less expensive resorts, adding up all the $ we spent doing that we could have bought our DVC 3 times over. We are MUCH happier now as far as the Disney experience goes.

 

[crisi]

I think its different and not for the better. Its a good value, but DVC members have bought in - and there is little incentive for Disney to make sure our trips are magical - we are the audience that WILL come back.

But that may also be a difference between cash stays fifteen and twenty years ago and DVC now - we've had one cash stay in fifteen years so its hard for me to compare cash today from cash 15 years ago. It is less magical than most of the hotel stays I have (and most of them have been for business).

 

[dsneygirl]

I have to say for us it has added to the Disney experience. We are now able to stay at resorts that we other wise would not have wanted to pay that price for. Just my thoughts

Absolutely! We stayed Deluxe usually on a CM rate never paid cash so we love our DVC.

I also think it has enhanced it as you are forced to slow down. You know you will be back so you have time to enjoy all the little things that make WDW so special. (movies, campfire, kids activities etc)

 

[CarpeDisney]

I completely agree with the previous post!

We bought into DVC 6 years ago, and the way we've vacationed at WDW has completely changed since that point. In the past, we felt as if we had to do as much as possible each day, every day, as we never knew when our next visit would be. We were the typical "we need a vacation after our disney vacation" family.

Now, knowing that we we'll be going back each year, our days are much more relaxing. Yes, we still wake up early for rope drop so we can experience the parks before the larger crowds arrive, but now we take time in the middle of each day to go back to the resort, swim, relax in our room and get out of the heat (we usually visit in July or August) for a bit. Then, we head back out for dinner, and a few more hours in the parks. We really feel as if we vacation now, and get rested and rejuvinated during our visits, unlike past visits.

If you elect to book 1 Bedroom villas (or larger), having a full living room, kitchen, and multiple bathrooms really spoils you. As you're not just confined to sitting on beds or small desk chairs, like in traditional resort rooms, the time spent in the room is SOOO much more comfortable and enjoyable.

 

[disneynutz]

I think its different and not for the better. Its a good value, but DVC members have bought in - and there is little incentive for Disney to make sure our trips are magical - we are the audience that WILL come back.

But that may also be a difference between cash stays fifteen and twenty years ago and DVC now - we've had one cash stay in fifteen years so its hard for me to compare cash today from cash 15 years ago. It is less magical than most of the hotel stays I have (and most of them have been for business).

Staying in a discounted room is great but DVC has taught us that Disney isn't as magical as we thought.

The lack of information from DVC management, deliberate delays when new members buy resale, website issues, long phone hold times, rule and policy changes, and the list goes on. It's like they just don't care. Even the CM's are expressing dissatisfaction.

Bill

 

[deedeetoo]

We stayed at WL before we bought into DVC and we bought at VWL because we loved it so much. I really don't notice much of a difference in the "magic". We still use the main pool for swimming (the kids like the slide and the deep side). We still eat at Roaring Forks, go shopping at the store in the main lodge, etc. But, we have a much more relaxing place to hang out when we take a break or are done for the day. Its also much easier to do breakfast in the room when you have a full kitchen. I guess we could cook dinner if we wanted to but I have managed to avoid that so far. That is not my idea of vacation.

 

[DebbieB]

I've been a member for 14 years and love it! No waiting for room discounts to come out, no room bill when I check-out, being able to have a more relaxing trip because you know you will be back soon. I love the variety there is now, when I first bought it was OKW and BWV at WDW. I've done all the WDW DVC's except SSR and have VGF reservations for May.

 

[jimmytammy]

We are putting a lot of thought into buying into the DVC but are concerned with missing out on the whole Disney experience. If you're not part of the main resort are you treated any differently?

Besides the Poly our favorite resort is WL. We love the lobby and the resort grounds. Staying in the VWL it seems like things would be a bit different - the lobby is out of the way and the pool is quite a bit smaller.

Is the overall experience different?

We are thinking on renting at VWL to give it a try before buying just to check it out.

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

We have been members since 2001, up until June 2013, all our pts were at VWL, until we purchased a few at BWV, mainly to be able to book during F&W fest.

It has only enhanced our exp. at WDW!! We feel so much more relaxed than before, we dont feel the need to "have to be in the parks" all day. We can truly rest, have roominess to do so.

Honestly, other than at check-in at VWL, know one knows the difference whether you are in the main lodge or at the villas. The pools can be shared though the guests in main lodge aren't encouraged to share the quiet pool at the villas. All amenities of main lodge are equal. Biggest diff. of being in villas, you get lodgekeeping less days, but it turns out to be a plus. No knocking on doors when trying to sleep in, so sleeping in can be done

 

[reebs2]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Like I said in my original post, we'll probably try to rent at the VWL this next trip just to make sure its what we want.

I've been going annually to WDW since 1973 (when I was 6yo) and have passed my obsession on to my wife and kids. My oldest is 19 and she's been to WDW about 22 times so far. She breaks into tears every trip when she see's Snow White so I think she's hooked as well.

I just fear that I might regret not joining the DVC sooner!

 

[michelleiada]

DVC is one of the BEST things we ever did! I think it adds to the overall experience. We would never be going as frequently as we do now. Love love love my DVC membership!

 

[MinnieGi]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Like I said in my original post, we'll probably try to rent at the VWL this next trip just to make sure its what we want.

I've been going annually to WDW since 1973 (when I was 6yo) and have passed my obsession on to my wife and kids. My oldest is 19 and she's been to WDW about 22 times so far. She breaks into tears every trip when she see's Snow White so I think she's hooked as well.

I just fear that I might regret not joining the DVC sooner!

I think renting is a great way to check out DVC! We did just that 12 years ago and just enjoyed the trip so much more because of the bigger room. To us the ability to spread out, have a kitchen, washer/dryer are huge! We bought resale right after that renting trip and have been enjoying ever since. We own at BWV but have enjoyed a wide variety of the resort. You sound like a good candidate for DVC!

 

[amypetecar]

If you know you love going to disney alot, it adds to the magic

For us, it takes the sticker shock out of staying on property, especially with recent per night room rate increases.

Even renting points is cheaper. $12 per point from the timeshare store means you can rent a standard boardwalk studio for $120 per night during low season. The same or similar room at boardwalk is $300 discounted, or $450 during thanksgiving week when i normally go.

Dvc has the room prepaid. I couldnt bring myself to pay $3k for a week at a deluxe resort in addition to air, tickets, food, and rental car.

 

[Marine Mom]

A DVC resort *is* a main Disney Resort.

The only differences are:
* You have a deluxe room with Kitchen instead of a moderate or economy room
* You have a lower level of mousekeeping service at once every 4 days instead of every day
* You have go to WDW every year more easily
* You must buy the investment and pay a yearly maintenance fee that nets out lower than I would have paid over the last 15 years I've been in DVC.

All +++ in my book.