DVC Dissapointment

[BogFam5]

We are DVC Dissapointed. We are proud to say we are DVC members. The membership does have it's perks. We purchased 100 points at SSR in 2011. We have only been able to use our points once. Why? Because we had to use multiple year's worth of points for that one trip. We now have 2 1/2 years of points available to use, including borrowing from next year, and are unable to find availability for the dates that we want to go. We have wait listed before, thus the reason we have so many points, but did not win the jackpot. Ever. We are a family of 5 and 100 points per year does not get us a week at Disney (which we were told by the CM that this was the way to go). Due to the size of our family, we usually requires one bedroom villas, which uses more points than we have available to use during the times which we are able to use them. Seriously considering selling which makes me super sad! Feeling mislead and needing some pixie dust!

 

[Dean]

We are DVC Dissapointed. We are proud to say we are DVC members. The membership does have it's perks. We purchased 100 points at SSR in 2011. We have only been able to use our points once. Why? Because we had to use multiple year's worth of points for that one trip. We now have 2 1/2 years of points available to use, including borrowing from next year, and are unable to find availability for the dates that we want to go. We have wait listed before, thus the reason we have so many points, but did not win the jackpot. Ever. We are a family of 5 and 100 points per year does not get us a week at Disney (which we were told by the CM that this was the way to go). Due to the size of our family, we usually requires one bedroom villas, which uses more points than we have available to use during the times which we are able to use them. Seriously considering selling which makes me super sad! Feeling mislead and needing some pixie dust!

I'm unclear the reason for your disappointment since you had access to the points charts and occupancy at the time of purchase if not before. IMO 5 people equals a 2 BR once we're out of the pack n play. You should be able to make 100 pts work if you concentrate on OKW, SSR and the cheaper AKV/BWV options. You may have to miss a year here and there or supplement in other ways though.

 

[m3retired]

You can't get availability at SSR??? When are you trying to go, and when did you start to try and book?

 

[ErinC]

We are DVC Dissapointed. We are proud to say we are DVC members. The membership does have it's perks. We purchased 100 points at SSR in 2011. We have only been able to use our points once. Why? Because we had to use multiple year's worth of points for that one trip. We now have 2 1/2 years of points available to use, including borrowing from next year, and are unable to find availability for the dates that we want to go. We have wait listed before, thus the reason we have so many points, but did not win the jackpot. Ever. We are a family of 5 and 100 points per year does not get us a week at Disney (which we were told by the CM that this was the way to go). Due to the size of our family, we usually requires one bedroom villas, which uses more points than we have available to use during the times which we are able to use them. Seriously considering selling which makes me super sad! Feeling mislead and needing some pixie dust!

I don't think that you understand point usage. Even if you are banking or borrowing you can still book your home resort at 11 months. If you booked ahead you would have no problem using your points. Usually there is availability even at the 7 month mark, especially if you are flexible about where you want to stay. I booked a reservation today for NEXT week. I checked several times and it was not available, but I continued to check and it became available today. We are a family of 5 as well and we have no problem using our points.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm baffled as to why you're not finding availability at SSR, that's usually got villas available with even a few months of lead time. Or are you trying to book at another resort? How far in advance of your travel dates are you trying to book? Timeshare owners tend to make reservations farther in advance than hotel guests do, so resorts fill quickly. You really need to use those booking windows.

Members often book their home resort at 11 months if they're trying to go during a busy time, so they at least have a reservation, even if they want to try to switch to another resort when the 7 month window opens.

No way would 100 points get you a week in a one bedroom at any resort. Did you look at the point charts before buying? Did the guide have the impression that you'd be going every other year, so you'd have 200 points to work with for each trip? That might not get you seven nights in most seasons, but it should get you six nights at SSR, or OKW.

If you bought SSR direct through Disney, chances are that you paid much more than the contract will sell for at resale, so selling may not be the best option for you. I'd spend some time looking over these boards, and learning how to use your membership.

As for the point shortage, look at the point charts. Figure out how many points you really need for the trips you want to take. Then, you can....

- add on points to get the amount you need, or..

- buy one-time-use points from MS to extend your trips, or...

- get a transfer from another member, or ....

- rent points from a member, or one of the services like DVC by Request, to extend your trips.

 

[Sammie]

I too and really surprised you can't get into SSR. We have never had any problems even a 4 months out, except for holidays.

Sadly I don't think you did your homework before your purchase. But as the the others said, with banking and borrowing you should be able to go every other year or at least every 3 years.

I checked a one bedroom at SSR from now until Thanksgiving, Wide Open except for one weekend in October and One in November, which is probably a holiday and then Thanksgiving. But even early Dec. is open.

One bedrooms are usually the last to book.

 

[vicki_c]

We just stayed in a wonderful 1 BR standard at AKV during Easter week (most expensive season) for 273 points. It depends on when you want to go and what type of room you want, but a 1 BR there can be had for a week for as low as 139 points.

And we don't own there. We booked at our home resort at 11 months, switched to OKW at 7 months,then I just decided to waitlist AKV about 2.5 months out and our waitlist came through about 30 days out.

Using 2 years of your points (and probably less than that) like we often do, you should definitely be able to find soemthing workable even at peak points seasons. We have 160 points and it's been working pretty well for 6 years for us. I think you could probably learn to work within the system better.

It seems unlikely that a guide would tell you 100 points was enough for a family of 5 to stay for a week every year, so maybe there was a misunderstanding or you just had a really bad guide.

 

[DonnaL]

I would think you probably purchased resale since I believe the minimum 1st direct sale purchase is 150 points, a few years ago it may have been 120 points, but, I don't remember 100 points. Resale is fine (we have done so twice since our original direct purchase) however, you do need to understand the need to book in advance ........you cannot expect to get what you want a month or two before the trip. And, 100 points should be fine to get you at least a 1 bdrm (which several resorts do sleep 5 in 1 bdrms) every other year.
We have a 1 bdrm at VWL booked for five nights in October for 185 pts....I know the 1 bdrms at SSR, OKW, and AKV/standard are less and I believe AKV and OKW sleep five in their 1 bdrms.

 

[deb010305]

We purchased direct in August 2011, 125 points at SSR. Since then we have used them for 3 trips: Sept 2011 SSR 3 nights in a studio, Oct 2012 SSR 5 nights in a 2 bdr, and April 2013 BWV 6 nights in a 1 bdr. And we have another 6 nights in April 2015 planned,might now at SSR but planning on switching at 7 months.
We managed to do this with a combination of banking and borrowing.
Not sure why you feel you were mislead, when we purchased we were shown point charts and we figured out what we thought we would need to go every year or every other year depending on villa size, resort, and time of year.

 

[BogFam5]

Sorry for the confusion. We did purchase directly from Disney. It was a special promo they were offering at the time, they were pushing the sale of SSR. Although a beautiful resort, with availability almost always, we prefer not to go back to the same resort each time. Also, due to my husbands work schedule, we are primarily able to go only during peak times, which is when the point usage is higher. Last, we are not advance planners. So by the time we officially decide to take a trip, there is very little to choose from. I appreciate all of the feedback

 

[catherines_mama]

Sorry for the confusion. We did purchase directly from Disney. It was a special promo they were offering at the time, they were pushing the sale of SSR. Although a beautiful resort, with availability almost always, we prefer not to go back to the same resort each time. Also, due to my husbands work schedule, we are primarily able to go only during peak times, which is when the point usage is higher. Last, we are not advance planners. So by the time we officially decide to take a trip, there is very little to choose from. I appreciate all of the feedback

I think we might have bought into the same promo. You need to take some of the above suggestions and do some homework. We are also family of 5. My oldest are now teens so near full size humans. We bought 160 after going through the points chart, when we like to travel etc.

One sticky spot with DVC or any other timeshare is you have to advance plan. It kind of comes with the territory. Even if you book SSR at 11mos and then play roulette as time comes closer and move here. Or move there. At least you know "we're going to Disney" and that's all that really matters.

We've booked SSR 4 times. I haven't stayed there yet. Maybe next time.

If you need more points (which you do) maybe buy resale (cheaper) at another resort you favor. Get those home resort points.

 

[MAO]

Last, we are not advance planners.

That, right there, is the main problem you're going to have. Maybe you need to reframe your ownership? Make a reservation 11 months out for a *really* hard-to-get timeframe (Star Wars weekend? Christmas? I've not paid much attention, but I bet you could figure out from posts of people disappointed they couldn't get in when they wanted) and then rent that reservation out for cash so you can go when you want to go?

 

[Dean]

Sorry for the confusion. We did purchase directly from Disney. It was a special promo they were offering at the time, they were pushing the sale of SSR. Although a beautiful resort, with availability almost always, we prefer not to go back to the same resort each time. Also, due to my husbands work schedule, we are primarily able to go only during peak times, which is when the point usage is higher. Last, we are not advance planners. So by the time we officially decide to take a trip, there is very little to choose from. I appreciate all of the feedback

If you can't plan at 7 months most of the time, travel peak DVC times (a little different than Disney peak) and are not happy with SSR or OKW most trips; you probably should sell. DVC is unlikely to fulfill your needs on a yearly basis. However, I do believe you can still make it work for part of your trips. I'd reserve a 1 BR at SSR at 11 months out for the time you think you will go even if you're not at all certain (but without borrowing points if you're not set on SSR). Then once you decide for sure, change the dates if needed. One you get to 7 months out, or when you are more certain your dates if less than 7 months, look online to see what's available and change if there's something you want more.

In the interim, you need to go ahead and work out a partial reservation/wait list strategy so when the time comes you'll know how to handle such matters based on your personal preferences and risk tolerance. For more peak times (based on points charts), 100 points will get you around 5-6 nights in a 1 BR about EOY. For many in this situation I'd suggest buying more, maybe at a different resort, but NOT as you've described your reservation habits. Indeed, selling out may be your best bet. One thing you could consider if you do sell would be off site timeshares which would be much cheaper to buy and own compared to DVC and would give you more options and likelihood of Orlando availability on shorter notice. Or even combined with keeping the 100 points and using those every 2-3 years or so.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You can be picky about where you want to stay or you can be a late booker Wanting both is not realistic I am sorry the OP fell into the "buy without researching" trap, but this is the result


I am a chronic last minute Booker, but I also will stay at any resort and be perfectly happy (well, I am hoping I never have to stay at VGF but I think the odds are slim considering my booking habits )

Unlike others I think you might consider selling Or you could contact the rental brokers and just rent out your points and use the cash for your vacations

 

[helenk]

As others have said you need to be flexible. I generally book the busy times at my home resort at the 11 month time frame. However I have booked a studio the BCV for September just a few months out. A few years ago I had already been to Disney twice and had not booked my usual stay for the beginning of December. By September I decided to see if a studio was available for the first week of December, which is a busy week for DVC. I was flexible with my dates and SSR and OKW were available. I just stayed at SSR and booked OKW. I loved it, it is a beautiful resort the room was huge and it fit my points budget.
I love to plan well in advance so DVC has worked great for me, I stayed at GCV the beginning of May and stayed 2 nights at Hong Kong Disneyland, and will be staying at the AKV in August.
If you can not plan ahead and be flexible, DVC may not be the right choice.

 

[bwvBound]

BogFam5,

Ok, let's see if we can get you on a better and more successful track. Let's lay out the basic info and set a strategy:

• What is your Use Year (UY)?
• How many points in your current UY? How many available to borrow from next UY?
• When do you want to go to WDW?
• What are your top picks for location? Are there locations you absolutely wish to avoid?
• What size unit? (I'm guessing you are targeting the 1BR units with sleeper chairs for the 5th person? Or is one still young enough to use the Pack'n'play?)

With this info to start, we can help determine length of stay based on points charts and can give suggestions on booking strategies for the various resort choices. You CAN do this!

 

[disneynutz]

Sorry for the confusion. We did purchase directly from Disney. It was a special promo they were offering at the time, they were pushing the sale of SSR. Although a beautiful resort, with availability almost always, we prefer not to go back to the same resort each time. Also, due to my husbands work schedule, we are primarily able to go only during peak times, which is when the point usage is higher. Last, we are not advance planners. So by the time we officially decide to take a trip, there is very little to choose from. I appreciate all of the feedback

You have to decide if you are okay staying at SSR with an occasional reservation somewhere else if you can get it.

If that isn't okay then you should probably sell, even at a loss. DVC isn't for everyone, you gave it a try and now it may be time to move on.

Bill

 

[DannysMom]

I am sorry that you are feeling disappointed. I too think the biggest problem is that you are not advance planners. If you cannot plan 6+ months in advance you will have to be flexible and book what is available. If that is a problem, then maybe DVC is not the best fit for your travel needs.

I personally love that I can book my home resort 11 months out. And if plans change, I can cancel that reservation without penalty, change dates, resorts, whatever. I also have a family of 5, I bought resale with the assumption that I would be booking 2 BRs, so bought a 200 pt contract first time out. I am now wishing we could buy more points, but will wait until we can pay cash.

If ultimately you decide to sell, the resale market is pretty strong. Good luck.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Sorry for the confusion. We did purchase directly from Disney. It was a special promo they were offering at the time, they were pushing the sale of SSR. Although a beautiful resort, with availability almost always, we prefer not to go back to the same resort each time. Also, due to my husbands work schedule, we are primarily able to go only during peak times, which is when the point usage is higher. Last, we are not advance planners. So by the time we officially decide to take a trip, there is very little to choose from. I appreciate all of the feedback

DVC is a very flexible timeshare option. However, knowing when and where you want to vacation at least 7 months out is a very crucial part to getting the DVC resort you want. By planning ahead and calling on the first day when the booking window opens we have ALWAYS gotten our first choice of DVC resorts.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think even with the best intentions and planning, life just gets in the way of vacationing. DVC rarely has last minute availability even at 3-4 months out. This is the "inflexible" part of owning DVC. We are going through this right now. So I'll be renting my points for the next couple of years and booking the promos.