Downside of DVC

[jani3]

I'm in the research phase and have read hundreds of threads on why DVC members like owning DVC points. But I have not read the downside to it (besides the increasing MF). I'm weighing the pros and cons.

What are the things that current members do not like about DVC?

 

[disneynutz]

Support after the direct purchase and support for resale buyers is lacking IMO. Phone queue times this last year has been as long as 40 minutes. They have hired additional cast members and it seems to have helped some.

They deliberately make resale buyers wait about 80 days to use their points and has restricted resale buyers from certain point usage.

A buyer should know that as an owner we pay for everything from security, front desk, insurance, utilities, all expenses. We also pay for any member parities, mingles, and get togethers and the annual association meeting.

The cleaning and maintenance of the rooms could be better IMO. Years can go buy between major work like carpet and furnishings replacement.

Bill

 

[bigtony777]

The biggest downside are the annual dues and the large up front cost.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Housekeeping only occurs every four days. If you stay seven nights or less, you only get your towels replaced and trash removed on day four. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day four and trash and towel on day eight. You can't just call for extra towels, shampoo, etc. You pay for all the extras. Nothing is free. If you want more frequent cleaning or your bed made every day, you pay extra for that.

That said, we like not having the housekeepers in our villa every day. And we bring our own shampoo and other toiletries from home.

DVC leadership hasn't been all that great. They seem to pat each other on the back a lot and tell the rest of DVC management how great each other is. They are really into expanding DVC by building more units and raising the sales price as often as possible.

Renovations happen every 12-15 years. The hotels seem to get them every four or five years.

 

[DebbieB]

Keep in mind that some of the downsides listed above are done to keep annual dues down. If there was more housekeeping or more frequent renovations, dues would be higher.

The one downside I can think of is the need to plan far in advance for certain times of the year.

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

We've been going to Disney for over 20 years -- and usually staying at the Polynesian Club Level.

We FINALLY purchased DVC last year and had our first stay this past July at BLT.

I **thought** I would miss the housekeeping the most -- but really I didn't miss them at all. We were in a 2 bedroom and having all that room, and the washer/dryer in our room was better than housekeeping.

I was very surprised to find I didn't miss housekeeping. I had planned on paying for housekeeping for a few days of our stay but found having them coming on Day 4 was enough for me.

 

[buzzandzurg]

I agree with the above poster regarding planning ahead. You really have to be able to plan at least 7 months in advance.

 

[crisi]

Even planning ahead, availability can be an issue if you want to stay somewhere other than "home" Especially the non-WDW resorts at peak times (or GCV anytime - its so small).

There aren't bargains with DVC - doesn't bother me, but from the wails of people wanting to know why we don't get "free dining" - it bothers some people.

Its an expensive timeshare - there are better bargains.

As a timeshare, it isn't the best way to travel. It is the best way to stay on Disney property at WDW. It is not a great way to stay in Cancun. It can work, there are just ways that work better.

The Disney options - like cruising - are only available if you buy direct. Which is fine, they are hella expensive.

Rooms can look worn and tacky - sometimes cleaning isn't the best. DVC rooms are often (not always) in locations where views are not great (there are exceptions, Boardwalk View for instance).

You tie up quite a bit of capital to own - its possible that capital could be better used for you somewhere else. Tying up that capital has you making a commitment to Disney vacations - right now, if you need a new roof, you might skip this year. With DVC you could rent your points out - but there is a psychology of saying "well, the room is paid for" and going anyway.

 

[Dean]

I'm in the research phase and have read hundreds of threads on why DVC members like owning DVC points. But I have not read the downside to it (besides the increasing MF). I'm weighing the pros and cons.

What are the things that current members do not like about DVC?

Here is a list I posted recently and it's c/w other posts I've made over the years.

• Be able to plan at least 7 months out.
• Have enough knowledge and experience of Disney and DVC to make an informed long term decision.
• Value staying on property enough to pay significantly more.
• Be comfortable with the compromises and risks of a timeshare.
• Go at least every other year of sufficient volume to make it worthwhile, a 2 BR EOY for a week is good, a studio EOY for a week or less is very questionable.
• Pay cash.
• Years ago this list also included not looking at long weekends but the points wee reallocated such that it's not as big of a deal anymore.
• Realize things will change with timeshares so avoid the situation that negative changes will quickly make it not worthwhile.

If one is outside that list at all, one should seriously consider whether owning is reasonable. Many of the negatives are also the positives for some such as no housekeeping, forcing you to vacation and at Disney, etc. For many that are looking at Disney and other options both, a non DVC timeshare is often the best single option.

 

[howardlee2]

IMO it is very obvious that Disney is in the business of extracting the most money possible from its customers (us). Timeshares appear to be very lucrative as we pay thousands of $$ to initially purchase and then continue to pay thousands on park tickets/concessions,etc.

If you want to get the most value out of the points they should be used only for DVC properties. The other exchanges/cruises,etc appear to be quite expensive use of points.

You do get a bit locked into vacations with Disney as you do feel compelled to use the points. We purchased 20 years ago when our kids were 6,4,1. Until they were mid teenagers we used every point and had a great time. Since then trips have become way less frequent and we have had to rent out points to avoid losing them. Currently, we await grandchildren in next decade that will give us a reason to go on more frequent Disney vacations.

 

[bakerworld]

DVC being expensive proves the old adage 'you get what you pay for'. Now I am not saying that a less expensive buy in elsewhere can't work - if you work at making it work, as my sister does, but she can't sell 'em - can't give 'em away - so they use 'em and by the time their done being charged a fee for every needed change their annual costs are equal to ours where she gets 3 weeks a year and we can get up to 6 weeks. She is suppose to own a 2Br but some of the venues they've been forced to use they cannot get a 2br or what they get is converted motels. They've stayed in places where the cabinets are peeling and the carpets are rippled. Frankly, I've seem wear at DVC but not like that.

For us the point of DVC was to be in a walkable distance from a park for the same price if we stayed in a Moderate venue. DVC delivers.

The downside of DVC - you enjoy it so much that you resent when you cannot go so you start to nit pick or you go the other way and over purchase.

 

[DizBub]

The downside of DVC - you enjoy it so much that you resent when you cannot go so you start to nit pick or you go the other way and over purchase.

Ain't it the truth?

I guess the desire to go all the time and stay longer in larger villas can be a downside. Sign me up!!

 

[Dean]

DVC being expensive proves the old adage 'you get what you pay for'. Now I am not saying that a less expensive buy in elsewhere can't work - if you work at making it work, as my sister does, but she can't sell 'em - can't give 'em away - so they use 'em and by the time their done being charged a fee for every needed change their annual costs are equal to ours where she gets 3 weeks a year and we can get up to 6 weeks. She is suppose to own a 2Br but some of the venues they've been forced to use they cannot get a 2br or what they get is converted motels. They've stayed in places where the cabinets are peeling and the carpets are rippled. Frankly, I've seem wear at DVC but not like that.

For us the point of DVC was to be in a walkable distance from a park for the same price if we stayed in a Moderate venue. DVC delivers.

The downside of DVC - you enjoy it so much that you resent when you cannot go so you start to nit pick or you go the other way and over purchase.

It's all about making good up front choices and planning well. We travel fairly extensively with non DVC timeshares and as a rule, DVC resorts are some of our lower experiences from an upkeep and service standpoint. But we've made good up front choices, we investigate options in advance and we plan 1-2 yrs out. I could also get out easily and at a profit for most of what I own non DVC as well. It's hard to beat the on site location but other than that DVC is just another timeshare and not the very top level even then.

 

[JimMIA]

Support after the direct purchase and support for resale buyers is lacking IMO. Phone queue times this last year has been as long as 40 minutes. They have hired additional cast members and it seems to have helped some.

That's inexcusable and a sign of sloppy management -- probably a result of frequent turnover at the top of DVC.

They deliberately make resale buyers wait about 80 days to use their points and has restricted resale buyers from certain point usage.

The delays are better than some timeshares. When I bought Wyndham, the transfer itself took 4 months (no ROFR involved) and getting my RCI account took an additional 2 months. (That has improved somewhat in the last year, from what I understand.)

As far as the resale restrictions -- those are such poor uses of points that restricting them is probably a favor, not a downside.

A buyer should know that as an owner we pay for everything from security, front desk, insurance, utilities, all expenses. We also pay for any member parities, mingles, and get togethers and the annual association meeting.

Phrased another way, a buyer should know they are buying a timeshare. In ANY timeshare, events and services provided to members are paid for by the members. There is no such thing as a free lunch -- in timesharing or anything else.

*****
More than any of the things mentioned so far, I think the biggest downside to DVC is that it is a VERY limited timeshare system. It is a good system for visiting Disney World in Orlando, if you MUST stay onsite.

But there are only 12 resorts currently, 8 of which are onsite at WDW. For the other 4 (Vero Beach, FL; Hilton Head, SC; Disneyland, CA; and Oahu, Hawaii), in each general location there are better, less expensive options than DVC timeshare ownership.

So where is DVC going to take you? That's the real drawback, IMHO.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yeah that's my biggest gripe... That there is an ownership aspect but the owners have no say in the governance of the property. There should be owners on the board for each property to help determine renovations (and dues or temp dues increases to pay for it).

Support after the direct purchase and support for resale buyers is lacking IMO. Phone queue times this last year has been as long as 40 minutes. They have hired additional cast members and it seems to have helped some.

They deliberately make resale buyers wait about 80 days to use their points and has restricted resale buyers from certain point usage.

A buyer should know that as an owner we pay for everything from security, front desk, insurance, utilities, all expenses. We also pay for any member parities, mingles, and get togethers and the annual association meeting.

The cleaning and maintenance of the rooms could be better IMO. Years can go buy between major work like carpet and furnishings replacement.

Bill

 

[ParrotBill]

Another downside for some families is the strict occupancy limit of 4 or 5 in the One Bedrooms... and confusing to keep track of which are 4 and which are 4 among the various resorts.

I would also say that some seasons are very hard to plan for and planning 8-11 months out has become a necessity for many times of year.

When SS was built it unbalanced things at the 7 month mark, so that from that point on if you want a reservation you may have a choice of Saratoga Springs or Saratoga Springs. It's not that bad, but I have had that experience 3 or 4 times in the past 10 years.

 

[nkereina]

One negative I have found is that busy DVC times don't always coincide with busy WDW times. For instance, the busiest time of year for DVC (and toughest time to book DVC) is in the Fall/early December. If you want to avoid this and have some more flexibility with your dates, you could opt to go in Spring or Summer, but then you're likely contending with Spring Break and Summer Break crowds in the parks. So I'm finding you really need to be flexible with your dates, or at least where you're staying.

 

[DizBub]

One negative I have found is that busy DVC times don't always coincide with busy WDW times. For instance, the busiest time of year for DVC (and toughest time to book DVC) is in the Fall/early December. If you want to avoid this and have some more flexibility with your dates, you could opt to go in Spring or Summer, but then you're likely contending with Spring Break and Summer Break crowds in the parks. So I'm finding you really need to be flexible with your dates, or at least where you're staying.

Plus the fact that if you buy just enough points to stay specifically low point times and you end up having to go in the summer months it will take considerably more points. For this reason people should probably buy 10% more points than they think they may need. Just for wiggle room. Of course that will increase he amount of MFs they will have to pay.......

 

[crisi]

Plus the fact that if you buy just enough points to stay specifically low point times and you end up having to go in the summer months it will take considerably more points. For this reason people should probably buy 10% more points than they think they may need. Just for wiggle room. Of course that will increase he amount of MFs they will have to pay.......

Or be flexible in your trip length - going in summer with the same amount of points we needed for Fall has worked out well as my kids have gotten older and we haven't been able to go during the school year - we take one or two days at a Universal resort, then move to DVC. As teens, they like Universal and we like the FOTL privilege. Trip is about the same length, but we aren't at Disney as long. In fact, we've ended up with more points than we really need.

 

[Dean]

Another downside for some families is the strict occupancy limit of 4 or 5 in the One Bedrooms... and confusing to keep track of which are 4 and which are 4 among the various resorts.

I would also say that some seasons are very hard to plan for and planning 8-11 months out has become a necessity for many times of year.

When SS was built it unbalanced things at the 7 month mark, so that from that point on if you want a reservation you may have a choice of Saratoga Springs or Saratoga Springs. It's not that bad, but I have had that experience 3 or 4 times in the past 10 years.

DVC is overly flexible in the occupancy issue compare to most timeshares. I know of someone in HH that had to sign a certification they would not be over (and the consequences) and when they were one over were given 2 hrs to get under or leave.

Plus the fact that if you buy just enough points to stay specifically low point times and you end up having to go in the summer months it will take considerably more points. For this reason people should probably buy 10% more points than they think they may need. Just for wiggle room. Of course that will increase he amount of MFs they will have to pay.......

IMO whether one should underbuy or overbuy depends on specifics. At the extreme, one who routinely is looking at a studio adventure season for 5 nights avoiding weekends needs a large cushion, likely 20-30% as a minimum. One who's looking at a 2 BR during Magic may not need any or maybe should underbuy. Historically I've cited the 10% cushion for most and I still think it's applicable for many but I'm increasingly in favor of people having to think about how they use their points along the way.