DVC tour, couples and ages...how?

[Carrie Ellis]

Hello!

We will be at WDW for almost 2 weeks this December. We would like to do a DVC tour, all of us. And, we are actually interested in the DVC (not sure we would ever do it but we would like to see). We will have several adult couples. If we are going to do it we would like to get the most offers for doing it!! Anyone have advice on how to make sure we get the best offers available? I would like to schedule a time for the arrival day but going online and doing that shows no offers. What do you think about scheduling a time?

Here is who I think would qualify as a couple, the offers and the ages.

My oldest son and his girlfriend (23 & 24)
My second oldest and his girlfriend (23 & 23)
My daughter and her boyfriend (19 & 18)
Sister and bro in law (39 & 40)
Me and hubby (49 & 48)
Mom and Dad (70 & 70)

All my kids do not live at home. Do you think we would all qualify for an offer as each couple (gift cards etc) and tour together ?

Does this make sense? Sorry to ramble!!

Carrie

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I would suggest you post this on the DVC forum for the answers you are looking for: https://www.disboards.com/forums/dvc-mousecellaneous.119/

 

[starry_solo]

Are you all staying in the same room?
Also, you wouldn't tour together. Each should be assigned their own guide

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Are you all staying in the same room?
Also, you wouldn't tour together. Each should be assigned their own guide

No we are staying offsite and my parents are staying onsite!

The reason I asked the budget board is because of the gift cards that are offered. I was wondering if families had done this before with extended groups to receive the gift cards as an added benefit. I believe every one of our couples would qualify but it sounds like we would all have our own guide. I know when you walk up to a kiosk they will get it going for you to go but I was also thinking since we are coming in that day it would be nice to already have a time.

I might end up just calling and scheduling it for each couple and ask what we would receive for going. I could just ask. I was wondering if anyone else had done this.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

No we are staying offsite and my parents are staying onsite!

The reason I asked the budget board is because of the gift cards that are offered. I was wondering if families had done this before with extended groups to receive the gift cards as an added benefit. I believe every one of our couples would qualify but it sounds like we would all have our own guide. I know when you walk up to a kiosk they will get it going for you to go but I was also thinking since we are coming in that day it would be nice to already have a time.

I might end up just calling and scheduling it for each couple and ask what we would receive for going. I could just ask. I was wondering if anyone else had done this.

They don't always have incentive offers, but I guess it doesn't hurt to call and ask. But they might not let you book times for the other couples and might make them call in. It does take some time out of your day. My friend wanted to see a DVC resort on our trip last January. We toured together and she got a gift card. I did not, but I am also a DVC owner already, so I probably don't qualify, but not totally sure on that. They did give me sales pitch to buy more points, but I said I wasn't in the market and was just there for my friend. They didn't push, so that was nice.

And I agree, ask on the DVC board. I bet they are really knowledgable over there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The only incentive you might be offered is free lemonade and cookies.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

The only incentive you might be offered is free lemonade and cookies.

That would be sad! We would not go for that! I am not looking for a crazy amount. But, I would like to make sure we max out what they might be offering and it helps justify the amount of time we take out of the day! We would love to see what is new and what the price is now. I lean toward just buying a new RV instead of investing in DVC but I would like to see.

I will ask over at the DVC forum! We still have a lot of time before we go. My sister just went to the site and saw you could book a time. I said wait! Let me see if anyone has any suggestions first!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

That would be sad! We would not go for that! I am not looking for a crazy amount. But, I would like to make sure we max out what they might be offering and it helps justify the amount of time we take out of the day! We would love to see what is new and what the price is now. I lean toward just buying a new RV instead of investing in DVC but I would like to see.

I will ask over at the DVC forum! We still have a lot of time before we go. My sister just went to the site and saw you could book a time. I said wait! Let me see if anyone has any suggestions first!

We own DVC at Polynesian and just bought a travel trailer. We plan to alternate between DVC stays and Wilderness Campground stays for our Disney trips. I stayed at Wilderness Campgrounds tons of times as a kid and loved it, so I am really excited to go back. But I also love the resorts, so I like the idea of doing both. And the price for DVC right now is $188 per point plus closing costs (and finance costs if you need to finance it).

 

[starry_solo]

A lot of times, you have to wait until you are on property to book for a better incentive.
Just be prepared to offer names, addresses, and phone numbers for each member of your party.

 

[cedricandsophie]

The lAst time we bought direct was for aulani at opening prices. In addition to whatever price incentive they gave you we got any time fast passes. About a week later we decided to add more points at aulani and just called our rep. He added more fast passes to our account. We have lots of points most bought resale.

 

[cm8]

That would be sad! We would not go for that! I am not looking for a crazy amount. But, I would like to make sure we max out what they might be offering and it helps justify the amount of time we take out of the day! We would love to see what is new and what the price is now. I lean toward just buying a new RV instead of investing in DVC but I would like to see.

I will ask over at the DVC forum! We still have a lot of time before we go. My sister just went to the site and saw you could book a time. I said wait! Let me see if anyone has any suggestions first!

As far as I know, the gift cards will
not be the same. The ones who will
qualify for the highest amount will be your Mom and DaD as they are staying onsite.... Currently that’s $50 and the rest of you will receive a $25 E-gift card. You will all need to provide your email addresses. This was current as of March 2019...Guide said new rules only allow them to give better deal to onsite guests. Off site still get but not as much. YMMV... You might get a guide who offers no gift cards but only fast passes and Mickey Bars.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

As far as I know, the gift cards will
not be the same. The ones who will
qualify for the highest amount will be your Mom and DaD as they are staying onsite.... Currently that’s $50 and the rest of you will receive a $25 E-gift card. You will all need to provide your email addresses. This was current as of March 2019...Guide said new rules only allow them to give better deal to onsite guests. Off site still get but not as much. YMMV... You might get a guide who offers no gift cards but only fast passes and Mickey Bars.

cm8, Thank you for that information. Its a little depressing! ha! Our problem with staying onsite is not spending a million dollars for rooms that will accommodate. We have stayed onsite until our last trip 2017 and this upcoming trip in December. I have two in college, 1 starting college this fall and another who is looking at signing on with the military this month. The 3 that will be in college will probably have a boyfriend/girlfriend that might want to go. With not knowing who can go and how many, it is easier to rent a house. My sister and her family (7 year old and 5 year old) will split the house with us and it gives her and her husband the ability to put them to bed and enjoy the evening (hard in hotel rooms). Anyway, it is working for us right now. I do believe in the future when we are empty nesters, we will be able to justify staying onsite again!

So, for Disney to target onsite guest with better incentives is a little disappointing!

I really appreciate the information though. I think we are best to wait, take a trip to Disney Springs, see what they offer, and then may be just say naaa if they treat us as offsite guest different (because we really really wish to be onsite!)!

!!!

 

[SharonZ]

They want people who are staying onsite because they are so thrilled with the experience that they will buy into DVC immediately. If you are interested in DVC, go anyway - why worry about the incentive?

 

[Carrie Ellis]

They want people who are staying onsite because they are so thrilled with the experience that they will buy into DVC immediately. If you are interested in DVC, go anyway - why worry about the incentive?

Because I feel like that is not fair or right or whatever. I am really on the fence like 25% maybe 75% no. So, the incentives kind of justify the loss of time if not. We did it once maybe 7-8 years ago. It was enjoyable but it is nice to be compensated a little during vacation. If I was a local person and not on vacation then it would be no biggy to me for incentives. Even timeshares (which I know DVC is too), offer something.

Our last big trip in 2017, my cousin stayed in the rental house with us, he went to the DVC tour and bought on the spot. Maybe more often people onsite do but not all the time. He proved that wrong!

Anyway, I did learn something from everyone. Thank you!

 

[Ben E N]

I would wait until you are in the park, and stop by one of the kiosks. Be genuinely interested and ask questions. They may then offer you giftcards to go to a presentation that very day. It worked for me, but we really were interested in buying.
Just a word of caution - if DVC does sound great, do not buy on the spot, no matter what. You can always buy in at a later time, but considering this is being posted on the budget board, look at resale as well.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

The only incentive you might be offered is free lemonade and cookies.

You forgot the free transportation...

I would have them fill out the form online now, people seem to get better deals when they mail you stuff and have your info.

 

[Ben E N]

You forgot the free transportation...

I would have them fill out the form online now, people seem to get better deals when they mail you stuff and have your info.

I also got free transportation when I stopped by a spot in the park, along with a $50 giftcard. It would have been $100 if I were willing to take their tour the next day instead. I was staying on property, though.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

You forgot the free transportation...

I would have them fill out the form online now, people seem to get better deals when they mail you stuff and have your info.

I did go online and request a DVD. I did get a call about if I was interested but no offers and I sure was not ready to make any decisions!

I do like the idea of DVC and RV that the poster above mentioned. Maybe just enough points to go for short trips and get the DVC dose! The advantage is that we are in Georgia. I love love RVing to Fort Wilderness. The campsites are getting so expensive though. My parents are staying onsite at the Fort this December and their site is just under $200/night! My mom loves her dogs and this allows them to chill out, relax and not worry about kenneling their dogs. So it is worth it.

I always sleep on decisions! If I feel pressure I run! The older you get you learn to go with your gut!

 

[_19disnA]

We are going to Disney next month and are staying onsite. Just recently got the $50 disney giftcard offer in the mail if we participate in the timeshare tour. We aren't interested in timeshares and won't be going, but that is what the current offer is. Perhaps they have different offers at various times.