For 5+ year DVC veterans: As satisfied with DVC now as you used to be?

[Granny]

I'm looking for poll responses and comments from DVC veterans of at least 5 years (2002) going back to pre-SSR/AKV construction days.

For those who have owned DVC less than that amount of time, please don't be offended. But I'm looking for a historical perspective here.

My question is a pretty simple one. Are you as satisfied with DVC now as you were 5 years ago? There have been a lot of changes with DVC and WDW and I'm wondering with all the "what I like" and "what I dislike" threads if in general people are as happy with their DVC purchase as they were 5 years ago.

I know that many people have owned for more than 5 years up to 15 years of course. But it seems to me that prior to 2002 the only major issues I heard were whether the BWV rooms were too small or VWL too dark or OKW too quiet with no slide at its pool.

So tell me, are you still as satisfied with your DVC purchase as you were 5 years ago? I chose 5 years because I don't want to include the free park passes or other major incentives that haven't been around for several years.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Nope. I've started selling my contracts.

 

[TDC Nala]

There have not been any changes to DVC that affect me adversely.

The discount on the AP has been nothing but helpful.

So I don't have any dissatisfaction with DVC. At this point I am thrilled to have it so I don't have to pay the soaring resort rates all the time.

However, some of the changes in WDW itself are somewhat disheartening, not enough yet to make me quit going.

 

[Kathi OD]

DH & I became members in 2000. We are just as satisfied now as we were back then. Maybe we are just easy to please, but we loved DVC then and still love it. Ask me in a few more years, it seems to me that its at around the 10 year point that DVC starts to lose its magic.

 

[Laurabearz]

We are tickled pink we bought in 2001. Loved DVC then... Love it even more now.

Each vacation is better than the last one, and we look forward to the next vacation with great anticapation.

Sure some things have changed, but vacations are what you make them, and DVC adds so much more than it takes away, we are still extremly happy with our purchase.

And can't wait for GCV!

 

[mjy]

I said "more satisfied" because, well, just because I am.

• Seriously, the perks that are offered are nice. The one that I especially like is the $100 discount on the AP. I plan my vacations so that I get at least three weeks out of one pass. So I can go into the parks when I arrive mid to late afternoon and not feel I've "wasted" a day.
• I've purchased a couple of add-ons so that I have the amount of points that I wanted to be able to enjoy both cruising as well as staying at my home resort: BWV.
• Going down so often, I have had the opportunity to make friends with many of the cast members, many of them management/supervisors, though others the "grunts" and "go-fers". We sit and chat and sometime arrange a dinner time to get together and catch up on everyone's lives. Could never have done that when first in. Had to build the friendships over the years.
• Have learned to enjoy just the resort so that if I decide not to purchase an AP in any given year, I have plenty of places to go off-site or to simply enjoy an alternate resort from the ones in which I usually stay. Most recent example of that was the new Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas. My entire week was "exploring" the resort and simply enjoying what it had to offer.

So, am I happy? Yep. More so? You bet! However, others' mileage may vary.

 

[fireplug]

We joined in 2000 and still love it. We really enjoy the flexibility of what DVC offers. I am not thrilled my vaction hours were cut by 6 days but we will still make the most of our DVC points this year.


Squid

 

[Granny]

So I don't have any dissatisfaction with DVC. At this point I am thrilled to have it so I don't have to pay the soaring resort rates all the time.

However, some of the changes in WDW itself are somewhat disheartening, not enough yet to make me quit going.

This is certainly part of what I would term DVC ownership satisfaction, at least if you primarily use DVC to visit WDW. If DVC properties are well maintained and our perks remain the same yet the WDW parks don't keep up to expectations that would certainly impact our satisfaction with our DVC ownership.

FWIW, I voted "same". We purchased DVC for the upgraded accommodations and have been fortunate to have good mousekeeping and upkeep in our villas. The perks (AP discount, free valet parking) are a great bonus which more than offset the minor dissatisfactions with the trade-out charges for Disney Collection, poorly managed waitlist system and a few other small things that don't really drag our satisfaction down.

 

[TDC Nala]

This is certainly part of what I would term DVC ownership satisfaction, at least if you primarily use DVC to visit WDW. If DVC properties are well maintained and our perks remain the same yet the WDW parks don't keep up to expectations that would certainly impact our satisfaction with our DVC ownership.

FWIW, I voted "same". We purchased DVC for the upgraded accommodations and have been fortunate to have good mousekeeping and upkeep in our villas. The perks (AP discount, free valet parking) are a great bonus which more than offset the minor dissatisfactions with the trade-out charges for Disney Collection, poorly managed waitlist system and a few other small things that don't really drag our satisfaction down.

Well. I don't get a car so I don't use the parking, don't trade out except for Disneyland and I don't believe they are charging for Disneyland, I never bank points (I know that's changed too) and I have never had a problem with the waitlists. The only perk that interests me at all is the AP discount because I'd have an AP anyway.

I bought because I go down to WDW often, taking about 10 separate trips a year. When I bought, I could probably have done better cost-wise staying in a value or moderate, but I bought anyway.

Now, with the price increases, not so much savings with the values or mods.

However, I think the WDW parks are also losing interest in repeat business. They're marketing to the first-time visitor bringing a large family and willing to blow all their cash for the superlative experience so they can get it all in on that once-in-a-lifetime trip. WDW has less interest now in locals, frequent visitors, and adult guests without young children. They're also plugging DVC like it's the best thing since sliced bread...and DVC members are most likely going to be repeat visitors who continue to show up even when their children are older, or even grown. I'm interested to know where the two marketing systems are going to end up intersecting.

The changes are there, but they aren't so pronounced that it's going to stop my visits. Yet. And I'm glad I don't have to come up with the money to stay at Pop Century most of the time (I still stay there once in awhile).

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

We are as much, if not more satisfied with DVC with the EXCEPTION of difficulty in getting ressies. 4-5 years ago, I could call 9 months out or 1 month out and get a reservation somewhere (usually OKW always had available). Now since OKW is our favorite, it always seems to be booked along with everything else except SSR (and several times that's filled too!) I know, I know, that's why we have booking windows- I should plan ahead better! I KNOW THAT! But the fact is that it was easier for me to "get away" at the last minute with less hassle. That WAS nice back then. Soon it'll be a mood point anyway as the kids get further into school- I don't think the school is going to continue to let me pull them out 3 times a year for little get-aways.

 

[dvc at last !]

subscribing...........

 

[tomandrobin]

we have only been members for two years, so I didn't vote on the satisfaction part. I am just curious to see the results/opinions of others. The average timeshare owner sells their unit around 7 years (I think that is the industry average).

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just as satisfied as 5 years ago and more satisfied than 10 years ago! The $100 AP discount makes a lot of the difference!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

DVC Members since 2002. Loved the AP discount. I don't plan to sell mine, I plan to use till I can't and then my kids and their kids can take it over. I do Disney but I also have done other things like the cruise and Vero. It's great to stay at the beach.

I can't get enough! OKW is the best though I do love AKV.

 

[OlderMan]

Despite some of the changes--no placemats, no napkins, no throw pillows--we are as satisfied as we were when we bought into DCV almost 11 years ago.

We still love OKW wo much that we have only stayed somewhere else (SSR) only once.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm Class of '03 so I can't vote but I will share one comment nonetheless.

In topics like this I find myself increasingly having to make a distinction between collective experiences read about on the Internet vs. personal experiences. It's not too difficult to find reports of shoddy housekeeping, poor maintenance, slow busses and less-than-magical CMs as you make your way around the message boards. But the reality is that if I weren't reading about those experiences from others, my opinion of DVC would likely be sky-high.

We've never had a dirty room. The worst maintenance issues we've had were a broken toaster (replaced within the hour), dishwasher (replaced same morning) and some burned-out lightbulbs. I can think of 2 or 3 bad bus trips, but that represents maybe 5-10% of our total usage. I can't think of a single CM that looked at me sideways, yet many, MANY have gone above-and-beyond.

We have always gotten into our rooms before 4pm--usually WELL before. We almost always get our requests fulfilled. We've always been able to book the resort / room class we wanted (including multiple BWV Standard View).

I don't say any of that to diminish others' bad experiences because I'm sure Disney is not flawless. But when contemplating a topic like this, I think one needs to make a conscious effort to respond based upon personal experiences rather than having their viewpoint tainted by others.

No matter how hard Disney works, people will inevitably suffer housekeeping or maintenance let-downs. And while the Internet gives us all a place to share those experiences, it's very difficult to discern any patterns or trends based upon random reports. What I DO know to be true is that I'm 9-for-9 in quality DVC experiences and my last trip was just as good as the first one. Doesn't that pretty much say it all?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm Class of '03 so I can't vote but I will share one comment nonetheless.

In topics like this I find myself increasingly having to make a distinction between collective experiences read about on the Internet vs. personal experiences. It's not too difficult to find reports of shoddy housekeeping, poor maintenance, slow busses and less-than-magical CMs as you make your way around the message boards. But the reality is that if I weren't reading about those experiences from others, my opinion of DVC would likely be sky-high.

We've never had a dirty room. The worst maintenance issues we've had were a broken toaster (replaced within the hour), dishwasher (replaced same morning) and some burned-out lightbulbs. I can think of 2 or 3 bad bus trips, but that represents maybe 5-10% of our total usage. I can't think of a single CM that looked at me sideways, yet many, MANY have gone above-and-beyond.

We have always gotten into our rooms before 4pm--usually WELL before. We almost always get our requests fulfilled. We've always been able to book the resort / room class we wanted (including multiple BWV Standard View).

I don't say any of that to diminish others' bad experiences because I'm sure Disney is not flawless. But when contemplating a topic like this, I think one needs to make a conscious effort to respond based upon personal experiences rather than having their viewpoint tainted by others.

No matter how hard Disney works, people will inevitably suffer housekeeping or maintenance let-downs. And while the Internet gives us all a place to share those experiences, it's very difficult to discern any patterns or trends based upon random reports. What I DO know to be true is that I'm 9-for-9 in quality DVC experiences and my last trip was just as good as the first one. Doesn't that pretty much say it all?

Wow, I am surprised that you bought in '03...I thought you were a long time owner. You sum up our experiences...and we're another '03 family.

Bobbi

 

[Luigi's Girl]

I voted for the same satisfaction. We've been members since 2001 and we love our DVC for the same reasons stated by Granny and have had the same experiences on our visits as tjkraz. Just a few things have disappointed us lately, that being the trade out, newer waitlisting rules and the Vacation Magic change. As long as the change trend doesn't go totally crazy I'm sure we will will continue to love and be satisfied with our membership.

 

[DonnaL]

I think our feelings are pretty well summed up by TDCNala. We have, however, used the parking on occasion and it is a nice perk if you're running late for an ADR! And, as Granny said, we also have been fortunate with no mousekeeping issues, etc. That said, however, we have noticed a definite decline in all areas. Maybe it's not wholly a DVC decline, but, WDW in general. For now, it hasn't affected our ability to still have a wonderful time every time we visit (usually 2 or 3 times yearly) and hopefully, it won't in the future because IMO it's still "The Happiest Place on Earth".

 

[Big J]

My family has been members since 98’, and we have been going to WDW for years before. First off, every tip I have taken to WDW has been great. Of course there are occasional small issues, but never anything to make our stay less than terrific. That being said, I voted that I am less satisfied than when we purchased.

My personal feeling is that when we bought into DVC, we were buying into WDW. This is where my less than satisfied feelings are coming from. I am troubled by the direction that I feel WDW is taking. The amount of outsourcing, the homogenization of WDW (see restaurants and gift shops), the selling of real estate, outside developers building on property, the idea that “magic” bestowed upon you is a sweepstakes as opposed to normal practice, every ride or show needing to be part of a franchise, ect… are taking WDW in a place that I am worried about. These things are making me less satisfied. I do not necessarily think that these trend we be WDW’s downfall, but I bought into a life long commitment with DVC, and I have concerns for the long term.

I don’t want to start a huge debate, but as far as DVC itself, I think that SSR was a mistake ( and the main reason we now have to pay $95 to stay at a non DVC DW hotel). I think that DVC is currently growing too quickly. I also think that the huge glut of developer points is hurting the availability and DVC usability for more owners already in the system.

Again, we always have a great trip and will continue to be part of DVC, but my level a satisfaction is tempered by some changes that I am seeing.