DVC “Confessions”

[AdamsMum]

Is Boardwalk View that hard to get? I'm hoping to get a 2bd in Oct next year, but I'm fine with Pool if that's all I can get.

It isn't as hard to get as standard view. The issue is 2 bedrooms. All boardwalk 2 bedrooms are lock offs (1 br +studio in case you don't already know that), and people grab the studios really fast because of the low points cost. It also depends on your time of year. This year I had to walk a 2 bedroom 2 weeks ahead at 11 months out for mid January. I've never had to walk anything at 11 months before. Granted the renovations were still going on then. Good luck with your stalking.

 

[J-Dog]

Las Vegas gave up the theming attempt many years ago. They tried to make it more family friendly. Just didn’t work, as LV is an adult playground.

Disney on the other hand is all about theming, and transporting you to a different place.
If they continue down the generic theme path, they too will be making a grave error.

As I said, Disney is following the current trend. I'm sure that Disney and other vacation destination companies have done more research on what people like than you have. No offense.

 

[TiszBear]

Hi my name is Jennifer and I have two confessions .... First, I sold one of my 4 contracts (still have 3 contracts) 2 years ago and was happy about it. The last time I was in any of the parks was 2019 and I only use my points now for the DCL cruises and the the hotel stay the night before. And I am ok with this Second, I have been okay with losing points..this has happened three times. The first time was 5 points and the second and third were 42 and 89 points; I forgot to bank them.

 

[VandVsmama]

I have some!

• 1 of the biggest reasons I decided to convince my DH to buy into DVC (our 1st contract just got sent for ROFR this week!) is so he would finally shut up about the food court-style food at all of the Value resorts we've stayed at. And yeah, so we could stay at a Deluxe every time for way cheaper than paying full freight. But if I'm really honest with myself and everybody here, it's because I'm tired of him whining about the food.
• I'm already plotting about how to eventually buy more points so I can convince DH that we need to stay in 1 & 2 BR units on every trip.
  
• I don't love how crowded the Poly always seems to feel every time we've visited there (haven't stayed there yet), but LOVE the 60s-ish tiki vibe all throughout this resort.
• Can't wait to stay at 1 of the WL DVC resorts...so that DH could eat every day at Geyser Point if he wanted to and he won't complain about Value resort food courts.
• I don't understand why you'd want to stay in a non-savannah view room at AKL. We stayed at AKL for ONE night 7 years ago and I've been dreaming ever since of going back! I was awake and sitting on the balcony at 2:00 am watching the animals.

 

[tx911]

I have some!

• 1 of the biggest reasons I decided to convince my DH to buy into DVC (our 1st contract just got sent for ROFR this week!) is so he would finally shut up about the food court-style food at all of the Value resorts we've stayed at. And yeah, so we could stay at a Deluxe every time for way cheaper than paying full freight. But if I'm really honest with myself and everybody here, it's because I'm tired of him whining about the food.
• I'm already plotting about how to eventually buy more points so I can convince DH that we need to stay in 1 & 2 BR units on every trip.
  
• I don't love how crowded the Poly always seems to feel every time we've visited there (haven't stayed there yet), but LOVE the 60s-ish tiki vibe all throughout this resort.
• Can't wait to stay at 1 of the WL DVC resorts...so that DH could eat every day at Geyser Point if he wanted to and he won't complain about Value resort food courts.
• I don't understand why you'd want to stay in a non-savannah view room at AKL. We stayed at AKL for ONE night 7 years ago and I've been dreaming ever since of going back! I was awake and sitting on the balcony at 2:00 am watching the animals.

Totally agree about AKL. It's Savannah view or nothing!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

As I said, Disney is following the current trend. I'm sure that Disney and other vacation destination companies have done more research on what people like than you have. No offense.

I guess I just don’t see a trend. Yes 99% of hotel rooms are generic, but that’s because 99% of the hotels/resorts are not themed.

When Disney charges $800/nt for a room at the Polynesian, people expect it to look Polynesian.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I’ve considered buying direct VDH essentially as sleep around points for WDW with a California trips every five years or so. I like the idea of not having all my points in one location, in case of severe weather that causes villa unavailability. But it seems too risky and costly to be a smart plan.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’ve considered buying direct VDH essentially as sleep around points for WDW with a California trips every five years or so. I like the idea of not having all my points in one location, in case of severe weather that causes villa unavailability. But it seems too risky and costly to be a smart plan.

At least you could sleep around at Riv or the Cabins and maybe the new one at FT Wilderness they just broke ground on. I have high hopes VDH will hold a better resale value than RIV due to its location, but no crystal ball so who knows if that will be true. However, I think VDH has more chances of having a future high value like VGC than RIV would ever have of having a high value like Poly/VGF so there's that, I bet people who bought VGC never would have thought it would have went up in value so much (dear board members don't come at me for this statement, I know its a LONG shot and I know all the reasons why its a different animal and will not happen)

 

[Chili327]

Second, I have been okay with losing points..this has happened three times. The first time was 5 points and the second and third were 42 and 89 points; I forgot to bank them.

89 points??
When I do my DVC Math I always use $20/pp as an avg from rental to owner and I don’t even want to know how much that is. lol
Couldn’t you book something at SSR and rent it out for cheap?

I think VDH has more chances of having a future high value like VGC than RIV would ever have

I would agree with that. DisneylandForward should have a big impact in a decade or so.!!

 

[AdamsMum]

Added points and didn’t tell my spouse. Twice

My ex spouse was also kept in the dark after my first contract. He just wasn't a Disney fan, wonder why that didn't work out?

ETA: He was happy to receive payment for his half of the inflated value when we separated. Go figure.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I also didn’t love staying at AKV. Mainly because of the long hallways (longest hallway walk I’ve ever had at a DVC resort), the dark rooms, and the bus only transportation. I do love visiting AKV though, especially for meals like Boma and to see the animals. When our kids are older and we don’t have a huge double stroller, I might want to stay there again (and after the rooms are refurbed), since we could take buses more easily at that point.

I’m with you on this one. I’ll hold out saying I’m one and done - bc I’d be willing to give it another try post refurb on a non-park heavy trip but otherwise pass.

 

[J-Dog]

Unpopular non-DVC confession - my one-and-done restaurant was Boma.

We were seated like 45 minutes after our breakfast reservation, so the whole thing started-off bad. Then I found it crowded, loud and chaotic (even for a buffet), and there were about 2 or 3 "African" food offerings, but everything else was typical, low-quality buffet food.

 

[Skywalker3]

DH talked me into buying, and one of my main worries was that with our limited vacation budget, he'd only want to go to WDW, since the rooms were basically paid for every year w dues, and we'd never go anywhere else on vacation......and that pretty much happened for the last 13 years. I think buying DVC resulted in not enjoying family vacations elsewhere.
but we have had some really nice Disney trips, many happy family memories, and fun times.
Finally taking a trip somewhere new---Hawaii, but mostly due to Aulani being an option, but I"m still excited about trying something new.

 

[tx911]

.

DH talked me into buying, and one of my main worries was that with our limited vacation budget, he'd only want to go to WDW, since the rooms were basically paid for every year w dues, and we'd never go anywhere else on vacation......and that pretty much happened for the last 13 years. I think buying DVC resulted in not enjoying family vacations elsewhere.
but we have had some really nice Disney trips, many happy family memories, and fun times.
Finally taking a trip somewhere new---Hawaii, but mostly due to Aulani being an option, but I"m still excited about trying something new.

This is definitely something I want to guard against. There are so many great places to visit other than Disney.

ETA: Helpful in this regard is that Disney vacations are still hella expensive even without the room!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

This is definitely something I want to guard against. There are so many great places to visit other than Disney.

That reminds me of when I was sitting in my first DVC presentation on a Disney Cruise. And about halfway through, the presenter goes, "But who actually wants to go to Disney World every year for the next 50 years?"

And I raised my hand. I was the only one. And she paused and was like, "Oh.. um.. that's great. But this is where I transition to talk about all the other places you can go to with Disney Vacation Club."

And I was like, "Ah, yes. Continue."

 

[tx911]

That reminds me of when I was sitting in my first DVC presentation on a Disney Cruise. And about halfway through, the presenter goes, "But who actually wants to go to Disney World every year for the next 50 years?"

And I raised my hand. I was the only one. And she paused and was like, "Oh.. um.. that's great. But this is where I transition to talk about all the other places you can go to with Disney Vacation Club."

And I was like, "Ah, yes. Continue."

Hey, I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy with it either, but I don't think my marriage would survive

 

[MartyParty]

Confession/Surprise #1: One of our favorite WDW trips was a five night stay at AK savanna view. Then 1 day Animal Kingdom, 1 day Epcot, and rest of the time at the resort, Disney Springs, or resort hopping to look around. It was relaxed, restful, and enjoyable. Complete opposite of our normal vibe of hitting all 4 parks, MK/HS being our favorites, go go go.

Confession #2: We bought our 1st contract Poly sight unseen while on a cruise. Never stayed there. Did a walk around and tour of rooms several years after purchase and my DW doesn’t like the resort. Sigh… Poly has become our sleep around points.

 

[Chili327]

Confession/Surprise #1: One of our favorite WDW trips was a five night stay at AK savanna view. Then 1 day Animal Kingdom, 1 day Epcot, and rest of the time at the resort, Disney Springs, or resort hopping to look around. It was relaxed, restful, and enjoyable. Complete opposite of our normal vibe of hitting all 4 parks, MK/HS being our favorites, go go go.

Some of my most enjoyable days were checking out the resorts, using transportation, etc.

Confession #2: We bought our 1st contract Poly sight unseen while on a cruise. Never stayed there. Did a walk around and tour of rooms several years after purchase and my DW doesn’t like the resort. Sigh… Poly has become our sleep around points.

Sell those Poly points while the price is up & get you some AKV.!!

*edit*
Maybe better off getting more BLT for SAP+ &/or more of something you already use.

 

[tom1944]

DH talked me into buying, and one of my main worries was that with our limited vacation budget, he'd only want to go to WDW, since the rooms were basically paid for every year w dues, and we'd never go anywhere else on vacation......and that pretty much happened for the last 13 years. I think buying DVC resulted in not enjoying family vacations elsewhere.
but we have had some really nice Disney trips, many happy family memories, and fun times.
Finally taking a trip somewhere new---Hawaii, but mostly due to Aulani being an option, but I"m still excited about trying something new.

I purchased DVC to force vacations even if it meant going to the same place every year because we had not vacationed for years.

2025 will now be 3 years in a row at WDW and the family has asked we try something different in 2026 which is fine with me. 2027 will be back to WDW.
By that time the decision will be made if we do Disney every other year or if we buy an additional contract.
I am hoping we do the alternating year plan so we can take some international trips even though I have loved our WDW trips.

 

[MartyParty]

Some of my most enjoyable days were checking out the resorts, using transportation, etc.


Sell those Poly points while the price is up & get you some AKV.!!

*edit*
Maybe better off getting more BLT for SAP+ &/or more of something you already use.

Yup, I’ve thought about selling our Poly however, the points are direct and I think our buy in price was around $160 per point.

DW likes towers so thinking she might like the new Poly Tower. But geez that points charts is high.