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

[jimmytammy]

I voted more satisfied. We have been members since 01. Our 1st trip in 02 was a shambles. I thought we had made a mistake, but it was our own fault. We we were still rushing around like we were never returning. The next DVC trip was completely different. We relaxed, took our time and it has been great ever since.

This is what DVC has done for us

No more rushing through the parks
We take more trips, sometimes 3 times to WDW
Save money on APs
Created memories
Met new friends, here on the DIS and at WDW
many many more things that dont come to mind right now

 

[Granny]

I said about the same. But it was a close call with less satisfied. The core offering is what I chose to base my answer on. If I added in "perks" and other non-core DVC issues or WDW issues it would easily be less satisfied.

We still enjoy DVC and WDW, but are less enthusiastic regarding the program. That could also be a result of knowing more about the timeshare market and ownership in another program.

Jim...at times these are very close to my sentiments. I am just as satisfied with my DVC ownership as ever because I only bought for the accommodations, and as I said before I've been lucky to have good experiences with the accommodations.

I will say that I'm just as satisfied, but will admit to a bit of nervousness about Disney's long term commitment to WDW park experiences and such. As Doc says, we'll all just need to stay tuned!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

It's the same for us. It still does for us what we sought it to do in 2001 when we purchased and that is to save us money on our annual WDW pilgramge. We used to stay in a deluxe resort and have connecting rooms. Now we can stay at the Boardwalk in a 2BR or a GV and be very happy.

We didn't buy for the perks or to hear "welcome home." We actually like hotels much more than timeshares but DVC really works for us financially (enables us to do other really cool vacations) and the AP discount is outstanding.

HBC

 

[sgtpet]

I was border line as to same or less satisfaction. Some of the initial excitement has worn off but it still has given my family the opportunity to have vacations in very nice accomodations without being locked in to the same week each and every year.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I would answer no, I'm not as satisfied. This should not be inferred to mean that I am dissatisfied, but I do find that the general resort upkeep, maintenance, and housekeeping issues are not exactly what I would have expected "way back when". The resorts tend to show their age very quickly and since most of them are less than 10 years old, this does concern me over the longer haul.

The original expectation of DVC providing first class accomodations for members has morphed over time into providing simply average/adequate accomodations. Not that there's anything horrible about average type rooms, but my expectations were a bit higher (as was the reality) a few years back.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[acourtwdw]

The biggest problem I have with DVC is availability. We usually plan 1 or 2 large vacations per year. Often we get the bug to go when I have a rare weekend off, but now it's harder to get a room for a last minute trip.

We have used DVC to stay at other hotels besides WDW. In May, we stayed at both DL hotel and Shutters on the Beach and it only cost us the transaction fee.

I still recommend others to DVC like we did earlier this month when we met some folks at GF who wanted to know about DVC (we were carrying a DVC bag)

I also miss the discounts on admission for non AP holders, but we have discovered a way around that. General Motors employees and retirees can purchased discounted advance purchase tickets.

 

[psu4glory]

we have only been owners for 2 yrs - and Granny was right...having owned for such a short period of time hasn't provided us the necessary experiences to form a completely objective opinion. i guess you could say that the 'honeymoon' isn't quite over yet.

however, the discussion by long-term owners in this thread is fascinating, and i find myself identifying with many of the points on both sides of the fence. i definitely plan to stay tuned...

 

[starbox]

This will be our third year of taking DVC vacations - but I can say that I like the direction that DVC seems to be moving in - with larger and more inclusive "destination in themselves" resorts. We bought DVC because I like to vacation in resorts where I don't have to drive other places for dining/entertainment - not because we want to be in Disney parks. Right now, we really do love the parks as a family, but in the future, I can see DH and I taking trips that don't involve the parks much at all. SSR, AKV and the upcoming Hawaii resort are all very good options for non-park centered trips, with plenty to do either at the resort or within walking distance - which is great because I do envision plenty of years when we don't feel the need to get APs and go in the parks more than a few times. I'd love to see DVC continue to move in that direction - larger destination/inclusive resorts with community halls and plenty of recreation/spa/dining options. I'd also love more beach resorts if that happened..............

I guess the problem with this lies in the fact that the small boutique resorts will be more difficult to reserve - there does not seem to be a good way for DVC to grow and maintain ease of booking at the small resorts (Unless they could just bulldoze the hideous Swan and Dolphin and build a really large, inclusive, great 1/2 DVC and 1/2 CRO resort there - a deluxe version of a movie-themed resort would be soooooooooooooooo cool).

It would also be great to see future resorts offer the sort of variety in point/room structure that AKV offers. It's so nice to have value-to -concierge options.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

(Unless they could just bulldoze the hideous Swan and Dolphin and build a really large, inclusive, great 1/2 DVC and 1/2 CRO resort there - a deluxe version of a movie-themed resort would be soooooooooooooooo cool).

I thought I was the only one who thought that about the Swolphin! Reminds me of the pyramid days.....

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I guess it is about the same for us. We've been members since 1998. The newness and excitement of venturing to a new resort is gone, but then we are experienced now and and know what we like, so our choices are more likely to please. We also know better how to work the system and get the most out of our stays. Certainly as time passes the resorts need more ongoing maintenance and we see that more lately. But all things considered the whole system and the Disney life suits us very well. Don't get me wrong, we stay at a WDW resort maybe once in five stays, but Disney is still there with us at VB or HHI.

I am sure there are Swan and Dolphin lovers out there... and I for one... am not one. But I am wishing more for the inclusive and removed resorts. Especially, ocean beach resorts.

Bottom line for me... all is weighs-out to be about the same.

 

[eva]

We have been members since 1997 and have always had great trips. It is a bit difficult to only consider DVC itself (not WDW too) and to only take in to account the last 5 years, but I will give it a shot. First off, I voted more satisfied. I guess we must be, since we have double our points over the past 5 years. While I miss some of the extras in the room (like the peach fluffy towels, napkins, placments, and potted plants), they were all long gone by five years ago. If anyone wants to know what the extras were like, check out the show rooms. You will find most of them there. Although, I think the peach towels have been long gone for almost 8 or 9 years now.

But in the last 5 years DVC has really added to the perks for restaurants, shopping, etc. Five years ago a perk list could be printed on one page and consisted of maybe 7 or 8 restaurants and 4 or 5 shops. Now they have a small book they give you filled with discounts. But the main reason I voted more satisfied is because of the types of trips we are now taking through DVC. Since our DD's have left the nest, we have more points to use for longer trips to WDW, DCL, ABD, and a couple of wonderful family reunions in GV's. Maybe I'm crazy, but I still get chills and little tears in my eyes when I drive through the gates at OKW and the guard says "Welcome Home". I love all the new resorts. And since we can go in lower seasons, I've never had any problems with getting what I wanted at the 7-month window. And maybe I'm lucky, but we have never had an unclean room. We've only had a problem with some loose screws in a chair and a bit of mildew in a shower one time. One call and it was all taken care of. Maybe I am not as picky as some. A hand print on a mirror doesn't get my panties in a wad. I just grab a paper towel and clean it.

 

[eliza61]

The original expectation of DVC providing first class accomodations for members has morphed over time into providing simply average/adequate accomodations. Not that there's anything horrible about average type rooms, but my expectations were a bit higher (as was the reality) a few years back.

I was wondering about this over the holiday Jarestel, I was standing in line at a horrid so called department store remembering how different holiday shopping was when I was a little girl. My parents would take me to a store called Baltmans on 34st & 5th ave in NYC. It was gorgeous, full customer service, great decorations etc, etc. Now in our pursuit of a baragin, holiday shopping is an experience right up there with nails across a chalkboard.
I wonder if the same type of mentality has creeped into the wdw world, where mediocricy (sp?) is good enough.

 

[mac_tlc]

Great poll. granny.

I voted "same", but that is probably because my satisfaction level was very high in 1992 when we bought in, and still is. Sure, there are a couple of things I can find to pick at (more difficulty getting ressies with so many more members being one) but overall it is what I signed up for.

Perks have changed (I would have liked to have seen the free park passes perk extended until 2042!) but those are not a basis for purchase, IMHO. We never would have had the opportunities to stay at such a high quality resort without DVC. When we purchased our kids were 5 and -2 (son was born in 1994). Now at 20 and 13, we visit just as much but very differently. The memories accumulated over the past 16 years are irreplaceable.

We don't anticipate ever selling, but I suppose that may change as the kids move out.

mac_tlc

 

[dianeschlicht]

Quote:
Originally Posted by starbox
(Unless they could just bulldoze the hideous Swan and Dolphin and build a really large, inclusive, great 1/2 DVC and 1/2 CRO resort there - a deluxe version of a movie-themed resort would be soooooooooooooooo cool).

I thought I was the only one who thought that about the Swolphin! Reminds me of the pyramid days.....

Yep, I feel the same way too, and after staying there just once, I feel even more strongly about this!

 

[Granny]

... It is a bit difficult to only consider DVC itself (not WDW too)....

I think it's completely fair, and important, to include the WDW experience in the ownership satisfaction. After all, who would have purchased DVC (on-site at WDW) if WDW wasn't there? So I could see someone being happy with their accommodations and DVC benefits but still being less satisfied in their ownership if they thought that the WDW experience had significantly deteriorated in the past five years or so.

In our case, we really haven't seen that with the exception of the dining situation. And that just isn't important enough to us to make much of an impact on our vacations.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Based on many recent threads, this is a great poll Granny--thanks!

 

[MinnieGi]

We purchased in '02 so we just meet the 5 year cut. I voted satisfied just the same as when new. But the more I think about it we could easily fall into the MORE than satisfied with DVC. We more than doubled our point holding last year b/c of HHI. We all loved the feel of the resort but still with a Disney touch and purchased an additional contract there.

I guess we are easy DVC members. We always book 8 - 11 months out. Bank and borrow very few points as most are used every year. We also do not exchange out of DVC. The DVC system is very familiar to us now and so are our vacations, but with WDW being so large we always find new things to try out while still doing old favorites. We like our AP discount and are thrilled with now being able to get Internet for free. The only thing we are disgruntled about is the 2008 dining plan. I loved that the tip was included in the old way of the plan - but that is not even DVC and we don't always do the dining plan anyway.

I think if you even asked my DH who was skeptical of joining DVC five years ago he would tell you how satisfied he is we became members.

 

[goldilocks_63]

We love the AP discount,

but now we are Disney'd out. We'd like to do more trades outside of Disney, and not only is it more expensive, but also hard to do....

and now the decimated the Concierge collection. So I'm hoping Disney is going to expand outside of the world, and not just rely on Interval Int.

Goldi

 

[Granny]

Interesting "results", IMHO. With 184 votes, almost a quarter of the voters are less satisfied with DVC than they were 5 years ago.

That coming from a group of people who frequent a Disney-focused web site. Obviously, most of the people who voted continue to hold their ownership rather than sell, but that's a significant number.

And equally interesting is that almost the same number of people are more satisfied than they were 5 years ago. The AP discount could be a major reason for that, plus the expansion of DVC within and external to WDW.

Anyway, more grist for the mill. I just thought it was interesting, and some great comments from everyone who participated.

I also thought it was interesting to get that large of a voter total since I was looking for 5+ year owners. That's a lot of loyal Disney people frequenting a site like this who obviously aren't here to learn about UY rules!

 

[Granny]

Interesting "results", IMHO. With 184 votes, almost a quarter of the voters are less satisfied with DVC than they were 5 years ago.

That coming from a group of people who frequent a Disney-focused web site. Obviously, most of the people who voted continue to hold their ownership rather than sell, but that's a significant number.

And equally interesting is that almost the same number of people are more satisfied than they were 5 years ago. The AP discount could be a major reason for that, plus the expansion of DVC within and external to WDW.

Anyway, more grist for the mill. I just thought it was interesting, and some great comments from everyone who participated.

I also thought it was interesting to get that large of a voter total since I was looking for 5+ year owners. That's a lot of loyal Disney people frequenting a site like this who obviously aren't here to learn about UY rules!