DVC Question

[bamaguy06]

This may be a dumb question, but can you book a stay at a DVC resort but not be a member?

 

[CarolMN]

Yes. Just call CRO/WDWTC and ask for the DVC resort of your choice. There are studios, 1 bedroom units, 2 bedroom units and some resorts even have 3 bedroom units.

 

[Meredith]

We are staying at SSR week after next and we're not DVC members. I am a little worried about it because some of the things I've read written by DVC members. Not bad things necessarily. Just comments about like "it must be some of those upgraders"... Do DVC members not like non-members staying at the DVC resorts?

 

[emma'smom]

Not that I agree...but just to clarify...they were referring to upgraders as folks who were registered at other value or moderate hotels and were upgraded to a DVC resort.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We are staying at SSR week after next and we're not DVC members. I am a little worried about it because some of the things I've read written by DVC members. Not bad things necessarily. Just comments about like "it must be some of those upgraders"... Do DVC members not like non-members staying at the DVC resorts?

My parents and I may not be DVC members however what you are referring to with the upgrades to the DVC members, was WDW's idea because the Value Resorts and I guess some Moderate Resorts were over booked for free dinning. It was not like some people said let's upgrade to a DVC Resort for free or anything, so like I just said it was WDW's idea to upgrade some of the guests. In the end WDW owns all the Resorts on property, so they were able to do that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... In the end WDW owns all the Resorts on property, so they were able to do that.

Actually, the members own the greatest part of the DVC resorts until 2042, 2047, 2052, 2057. Trading out gives WDW access to lots of villas, as does buying back points from resales.

 

[Lynne M]

No reason to worry. There's no way for any of your fellow guests at SSR to know if you're a DVC member or not. And even if they did know, they honestly wouldn't care. DVC'ers treat their family and friends to stays all the time, so there are always lots of non-members at the resorts.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Actually, the members own the greatest part of the DVC resorts until 2042, 2047, 2052, 2057. Trading out gives WDW access to lots of villas, as does buying back points from resales.

What about Resorts like Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge where the DVC section is located in another part of building, wouldn't that be owning half of Resort since the other half is regular rooms which do not belong to DVC? Old Key West and Saratoga Springs I can see since they are 100% DVC Resorts?

 

[Deb & Bill]

What about Resorts like Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge where the DVC section is located in another part of building, wouldn't that be owning half of Resort since the other half is regular rooms which do not belong to DVC? Old Key West and Saratoga Springs I can see since they are 100% DVC Resorts?

You are correct. DVC members don't own the BWI, BC, WL or AKL, just the villas located adjacent to or interspersed with (as with AKV) those resorts. DVC members do own BWV, VWL, BCV, AKV.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You are correct. DVC members don't own the BWI, BC, WL or AKL, just the villas located adjacent to or interspersed with (as with AKV) those resorts. DVC members do own BWV, VWL, BCV, AKV.

But what I meant before is WDW must own part of BWV, BCV, AKV, SSR and OKW since it's still on WDW property and because non DVC guests could make reservations there, along with WDW giving upgrades for those Value and Moderate Resort guests to SSR and OKW.

 

[fla4fun]

Disney retains ownership of a small fraction of rooms in each of the DVC resorts. Between that and the trade outs and buybacks, they have a percentage of rooms they can offer through CRO. I stay in DVC resorts for many of my longer trips and I'm not a member. I can't see buying in when I only live 20 minutes away.

I think maybe some of the comments regarding upgraders may have been in the spirit of people hoping the resort would be less busy and quieter, and being disappointed that extra guests of any type are being sent to their resort. There was a similar spirit to some threads about the relocation of AKL guests among the deluxe resorts (especially Poly) a month or so ago. Everyone would like a vacation where the resort is only half full, so there are plenty of pool chairs, no crowds on the buses, and you can walk in to the restaurants. It doesn't always work out that way.

 

[spiceycat]

Disney retains 3 to 5% of the DVC resorts.

right now because of buying back FROR they have excess in both OKW and SSR.

so the offer.

plus as has been mentioned DVC members can trade out to other places. then Disney through CRO needs to get the money for this to be possible by renting out the DVC units that were traded. Although I don't think they would put these units on sale.

besides staying in a 1-bedroom villa when you were expecting to stay in a hotel room is the best selling process that DVC has.

believe me enough of the upgrades will buy DVC to make the whole operations worth while.

Some people want DVC to be an inclusive club - well this is not happening - all it takes is the money to buy DVC to be a DVC member. Disney will work with you on the money end. they do have financing.

so in the end everyone wins. Those people got a very nice upgrade. Some of those will buy DVC. Which is what DVC is hoping for with this offer.

It does make sense.

another reason that Disney is making the contracts for OKW go to 2057. It helps to sell the property if they have 50 years. (of course OKW members contract have to get an extension at a very high price. If they want the extra years - another reason why it has to be for selling process that Disney is doing)

Believe me you won't be treated differently by anyone. No worries.

if you want a grocery delivery service - if you are taking DME. then there is
www.gardengrocer.com
or
www.wegoshop.com

you can also shop at the general store that each and every DVC resort has - but expect to pay higher prices.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When a single DVC point costs more than one night at a Value resort, I seriously doubt that the Value guests will be moving to DVC membership in droves. I don't advise anyone to buy DVC now with the big jump in the price of points.

 

[Meredith]

Thank you all for your responses. We did not upgrade, I actually picked SSR as it seemed to fit our family best and was kind of taken off guard by the things I was reading. You've all made me feel better about my choice. We would love to be DVC members, however we haven't really decided anything yet.

I booked a studio, do you think it will be possible to upgrade to a one bedroom upon arrival?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There is just one thing I don't get. If WDW owns a small fraction of the DVC Resorts, when all the DVC members by their fees and dues where does all that money go to? I thought in the end WDW gets that money this way they can keep all the DVC Resorts going so they can operate and since Disney has attached their name to the Vacation Club, they must own more then some of you think.

If you belong to the Marriot Vacation Club those members must pay all their fees and dues to Marriot and not to the Resort they happen to own that.

 

[spiceycat]

i hate repeating myself.

right now they have more of OKW and SSR than they like because of the ROFR. So the offer. This probably won't happen again - unless they are selling a new resort at the time.

the right of first refusal - allows DVC to buy back any DVC contracts that is being sold - first. If the cost is below what DVC thinks the DVC contract is worth.

never under estimate the value resort people. Lots of people with money will stay at a value resort - just because they don't see a need for the extras that the deluxes have.

that say staying in 1-bedroom might convience them to buy DVC. Now most won't - but hey in 1 out of 10 buys they are above the average.

 

[ElizabethB]

Right now there seems to be a surprising amount of availability at OKW and SSR. I suspect SSR isn't sold out, making SSR easy to get. Not sure what the deal is with OKW. It's hard for me to believe that all of the availability is coming from WDW exercising its ROFR. If so, I'd be worried if I were a DVC member. There will come a point when exercising ROFR isn't economic for Disney and they'll stop doing it. If all of this availability is from ROFR buy-backs, I think the system has a problem! Remember, too, that owners often bank their points so skip a year and use twice the points in another year. That leaves additional space for CRO to rent out.

For whatever reason, there is plenty of availability at these resorts through CRO for an attractive price using AP and discount codes. Add to that the advantages of booking through CRO--included daily made service and included daily turn-down service upon request and it seems like renting through CRO, rather than paying some $20,000 up front is preferable. Just my opinion.

In any event, to the OP -- we don't own DVC, but always stay at BWVillas with reservations booked through CRO -- there is no difference in how you're treated except you get daily maid and turndown service, which DVC members do not.

 

[Lynne M]

It's not just buy-outs that are making rooms available at OKW. Anytime a DVC member uses points to stay at a non-DVC resort, either at WDW, or at the other resorts we can trade into, the villa that they would have used goes to CRO to be rented out. Having CRO rent those villas helps to subsidize our trading options.

The effect of buy-outs and trade-outs is magnified at OKW and SSR, since they're several times the size of the other DVC resorts. There are more rooms available to CRO from buy-outs and trade-outs at OKW, simply because there are more rooms at OKW.