DVC - what's great & not-so-great?

[design geek]

On behalf of a relative who is firmly planted on the DVC ownership fence (to buy or not to buy!), can I get the insider opinion on two questions?

What do you love the most about DVC?

What should any new owner look out for or consider?

I know the DIS folks can help get this guy off the fence!

 

[BillM]

Love most:

Disney itself.
The flexibility in use, accomodations, DVC resorts.

What to look out for:

Many say that the use year doesn't matter. In our case it does. With a December use year and most of our vacations being in Oct and Nov, it becomes a real problem, especially when you are using borrowed points.
In hindsight I would look for a more accomodative use year.
And the old admonition of "Buy where you would like to stay the most" is certainly true.

 

[Figment2]

I love the flexibility. Friends who own timeshares are locked into staying at least a week when they go to WDW. I've gone for two nights a couple of times. I like the fact that if there are four of us we can use a studio but if we have eight there's the two bedroom available. I like the idea of being able to stay at different resorts (depending on availability). And finally, I like knowing I can always trade out if I want to.

The worst part of owning DVC is that you start planning more trips and then start thinking you need more points.

C.

 

[erikthewise]

There are a lot of good things, mostly quality of accommodations obtained. I'll let others detail them, agreeing in advance (I joined. didn't I?)

One negative is that families of five are not in a good position. According to occupancy requirements you must use a 2-bedroom or larger suite. Without going into ugly details, it's noticeably more expensive for a family of five than for a family of four. Families of five might find deluxe resorts (several allow five in a room), certain non-Disney hotels, or vacation homes to be good alternatives to DVC.

 

[WDWalways]

I'm not even a full fledged member yet -- should be closing on my resale within 2 weeks!! YIPPEEE! -- but why I joined and what I like is the flexibility of going when you want and staying as long (or short) as you want and choice of resorts. Most timeshares are one week - the exact same week - every year at the same exact resort. I also love Disney so it was a no brainer for me.

What I don't like already is not being able to get a reservation for a resort that is sold out for points but available for cash -- I think if the resort is available you should be able to reserve it -- period -- but I'm told that that's the wrong way of thinking so I try not to express that opinion.
I would also like maid service more than trash and towel every 4th day or whatever it is and though I am not a member yet I have stayed as a DVC guest and did not like not getting maid service but I hope to get used to it.

 

[new_yawka]

Well the "reasons to Love it" are innumerable. But here are a few:

- Being "welcomed home" in a place like WDW or by CMs from Disney at VB or HHI is a feeling which is indescribable. I love the fact that I list WDW as my second home on my taxes

- Standard of Excellence - I have stayed on Disney Property and traded outside of Disney to a resort I knew nothing about (Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC). I am 100% confident that Disney is making sure that whenever I use my points I will be in for a memorable, enjoyable and top-rate vacation experience.

- Accomodations - There is something about being on Disney property in a full fledged apartment with all of the amenities that makes me relax even more than if I were just in a hotel room. You truly feel like you "own" that space.

- Guaranteed quality family vacations - sometimes we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Being a DVC member, I am confident that I will be providing my family with wonderful and worthwhile experiences for years to come (40 of them in fact )

"Downside" -

The only downsides I have yet experienced is that the member services phone number sometimes takes a bit of patience to get through. That said once you do, their CMs are polite, friendly and cheerful and helpful. Also, you do not have the ability to take "spur of the moment" trips on points, but one of the greatest parts of a Disney trip is the planning and expectation!

Let me help give your family member a push DVC is great!

 

[Dean]

Personally, DVC is for those that want to go to WDW consistently (almost yearly) and will stay on property. It is not a cost effective option for the convenience points exchanges like Disney Collection, Concierge Collection, Adventurer Collection or even Interval International. It also requires the ability and willingness to plan ahead, preferably 7 months or more. It's also good for one who wants to go to HH in the summer or VB anytime and then WDW on occasion. DVC is particularly suited to those that fit the above group and usually need variable unit sizes or times of the year.

DVC is not the cheapest option to go to Orlando and enjoy the parks, one must decide if the extra cost is worth it. It is not for exchanges or to use routinely for the other points options as described above. It is also not for weekend trips as a routine.

There are many better and cheaper ways to accomplish a condo type unit on the Beach or in HH or even in Orlando, if that is the main goal. If one wants HH off season, buy a unit there or buy something cheap to trade in (Marriott 1st choice). If one wants a FL beach vacation consistently, buy Marriott, Captiva/Sanible or similar, if one wants something to trade, buy what fits you needs and is very cheap. If one wants to go to WDW, stay in world class resorts, can plan ahead and willing to pay for the priviledge to do so, DVC may be for you.

I've always said that DVC has never saves us money, only that is has allowed us to enjoy resorts and accomodation we would never have been able to afford otherwise.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I agree with everything that was said by other posters about DVC. I have never regretted buying in, and in fact, I have bought additional contracts, and additional add-ons, and yes, I am saving for another one. The reason I am posting is to relate my sister's experience. She has stayed with me at both BWV and at Marriott. I can't say enough about either resort--they are both wonderful. HOWEVER--she joined Marriott because that resale was cheaper than DVC, and has been quite disappointed. She was not prepared for the hidden fees associated with Marriott, which make a cheap timeshare more expensive over time, if you don't want to stay at your home resort. This year alone she had the $75 fee to Interval to trade one week, and $69 to Marriott to stay across the road from her home resort because it was full. Anyone who joins ANY timeshare needs to factor in those costs if you are planning on trading frequently. My sister really wants to buy in at DVC now, and has found that you really can't trade IN to DVC easily, which she had hoped to do. It's so true that you should buy where you really want to stay.

 

[MDM]

Here's what we LOVE

The conveinance of being so close, (walking distance to EPCOT and MGM. We are members at BoardWalk).

Hearing "Welcome Home" when you arrive at your resort

The Resort and Pools, As a family of 6, without the DVC membership, we could never afford to stay for a week at The BoardWalk

The ease to call up and book a vacation. We booked for a vacation next May...Things changed at work called and rebooked for June.

The ability to stay almost antwhere. FLA. or other places. In WDW we just got back from OKW and really liked it. (not as much as BWV but it was very nice, quiet and very Jimmy Buffett-ish. (I'm a buffettfan)

Just being a DVC Member, I wear my shirts, Jacket, Hat proudly.


Downside....

We have been members since 2000 and have been down a few times and I have yet to find any downsides. "Use Year" "Trash and Towel" DVC phone services. That's all part of the game and they can be a slight pain but those things don't really bother me all that much.

The one thing I will say as Figment2 said is buy enough points!!!
I wish we had bought more!!


MDM

DVC Member, Boardwalk 2000

 

[ncligs]

Flexability is very important to us. We can go any week of the year, for any length of time, and any size room(studio,1BR,2BR,GV) that we want. Not to mention any DVC resort we want to stay at.
We look at it as a pre-paid vacation. We are lucky enough to not have to finance. And our dues are paid once a yr (Jan) on our credit card to get FF miles .
It is the best puchase we ever made. We do at least 2 trips a year. When we retire in 5 years, we will be able to drive down and stay for longer periods, stop at HH on the way down , and we won't have to pay for airline tx,rental car,etc. Also we know even if we are not around(hope to be ) we know our 2 children(DS-28 DD-16) will be able to enjoy DVC resorts until 2042.

 

[WorknFires]

We joined in 2000.
The BEST thing about DVC for my husband and I, is the fact that we have been able to treat his parents and my mother to long WDW vacations in 1st class resorts followed by Disney Wonder Cruises last year and this year. To be able to give back to the people who have given us so much has been fabulous.

We plan on using our membership to go to Disneyland followed by an Alaskan Cruise. After that, we're looking to do Australia.
It has truly opened a new world for us. I know people would say if I'd saved that money, I could have done it anyway, but I don't have that kind of will power. LOL

And although it's silly, my hubby and I (along with many others I'm sure) get the biggest thrill from hearing "Welcome Home."

The WORST thing is that I'm constantly checking the resell boards for more points. LOL Maybe I haven't been around long enough to find the bad things, or maybe I'm just not looking for them.

Buy where you want to stay is the best piece of advice.

 

[mapny]

In addition to what everyone else has said, owning a DVC membeship has allowed us to take more vacations than we otherwise would. While we still have to fund airfare, food, park tickets, etc., we know that the accommodations are taken care of since we pay monthly. For us it's like "forced" vacation saving. Getting to Orland is very easy and relatively inexpensive for us - we fly out of the Albany (NY) airport - Southwest has direct flights that you can get very good deals on. Knowing WDW so well, we buy park tickets based on what we want to do on a particular vacation. Food isn't a big an expense as we often eat in our
"home".

Other good part for us: there are many options in the Concierge Collection that we can easily drive to from where we live. We often take trips to NYC - some day trips, some overnight. Since becoming DVC members, except for our overnight visit to NYC on 9/22/2001, our overnight stays have been through the CC.

Only downside: we're alwys finding a need for more points (LOL) - we started with 250 at OKW, added another 50 there before it sold out and are now adding 200 at BCV. This last visit, we decided that we really want to be able to do a two-week vacation.

Our only regret is that we didn't purchase sooner. We though about it during our 1995 visit, but didn't purchase until our 1997 visit.

 

[Florida Princess]

The positive side of DVC is the flexability of different length of stays, different unit sizes and staying in different locations each visit. We also own at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida and we have a static week----week 43 and own a particular unit there. Using the point system, not being tied down to a particular week, unit or unit size was a plus to us when considering DVC. When we bought in 1992, OKW was the only DVC option and DVC was in its beginning days. We knew that DVC would only get BIGGER and BETTER and we have not been disappointed! Plus---what a better place to stay and share Disney with our Family and Friends than DVC!

The only negative is we NEVER have enough points--we have added on twice since 1992 and probably will add a third time in the near future.

Florida Princess

OKW since 1992

 

[Shontell_Crawford]

Positive sides:
The DVC family. Not only do you hear "Welcome Home" when you arrive...you see familiar faces at the pools...you get together with people from these (and other) boards. You share information, you learn about Disney and you make friends. Nobody can put a price tag on those things.

Flexibility and last minute reservations have been a huge plus for me - I never plan too far ahead and I'm fortunate to live close enough to "get away" to my DVC home on impulse.

Negatives:
It's addictive. You always want more points and more time off.

Good luck!
Shontell

 

[Desperado]

Upsides:
Fantastic service and quality.
A sense of tangible, usable ownership in Disney.
No need to rush through parks comando style, relax and enjoy, as a member, you'll be back.
Convenience with meals
Child safe and child friendly accomodations.


Downsides:

You need to plan your vacations well in advance. Last minute trips don't work very well.
Benefits are slipping. DVC members are loosing ground on the value of thier points for cruises and other perks that used to be a part of membership.
Familes of 5 are at a distinct dissadvantage with suggested room capacities. Familes of 5 shouhld be able to stay in a one bedroom if they choose that size room meets thier needs.