FP from DVC tour: worth it?

[supersnoop]

I’m wondering this too. We might do this on Epcot or HS day but I was just wondering if during the amount of time it would take to do the tour we could have done 3 major rides anyway. Depends how crowded it is that day I suppose.

This was why we never bothered with the tour....the time spent doing that could instead be used on rides....or relaxing.

That’s kind of the whole point of the fastpasses; to make you whole for the time you spent on the tour. Like any timeshare sales, they have to take away the “no’s.” “I’d love to take the tour, but that’s time we could spend on rides” is easily overcome with, “We’ll give you all that time back by giving you these anytime fastpasses.”

Don’t do the tour for the “perks.” Do it because you’re interested in the product. Otherwise, it could turn into some very expensive fastpasses.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

OK I have 0 interest in buying DVC but for $100 GC and ice cream, I could be persuaded to do the tour....I'd be more inclined for that than 3 FP+, as much as I love having them, I'd rather have a gift card. But if it took more than an hour for the tour only (not getting there and back), I would probably be annoyed. And part of me would feel bad since I know we'd never ever join so I'm just wasting their time. My DH knows someone that does time share tours all the time to get free stays for orlando area hotels, I don't have the patience, time or interest in doing that.

 

[ArielSRL]

Last June my daughters boyfriend did the tour and I tagged along with my two daughters. He got the gift card and we all got fast passes. I own DVC.

We are resale owners as of Sept. Our June trip is 4 nights with only 1 Park day and we will already be at WL bc we own at BRV. Since we are already there and have extra time this trip, I’m going to try this on the Monday bc 3 extra FPs for MK on the Tuesday (our 1 Park day) would come in handy. Gift card would be welcome too, but certainly not a necessity for me to think the tour is worth it.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I forgot to mention in my previous reply. They let my 20 year old son do the tour also (it was a mon/son trip) so we each hot 3 FPs for each of us for our presentation plus a $100 gift card.

For under 2 hours $200 total and 6 FPs each!

 

[wdwplanner13]

Are the tours only at Saratoga Springs?

 

[lolomarie]

Do you have to be staying on property to qualify for the fast passes and gc? If I attended the tour, but my DH and mother stay back with the kids could we all get fastpasses? What if 2 adults went? We will be staying at Sheraton Vistana Villages this upcoming trip.

 

[Betsy82]

We’ve always been intrigued by the idea of DVC but when they told me they’d drive us to Blizzard Beach and pick us back up it was a no brainer. We did an 8am tour (BB opened at 9) and we were walking in the water park by 930. They picked us up to sign the paperwork that afternoon lol We were an easy sell. Knew what we wanted and just wanted to get it over with!

We got 18 FPs, family of 6, that we didn’t even end up using entirely because they were tied to our Bands and expired before our trip ended (disappointing). Also got a $100GC and a bag of Rice Krispie treats I threw away because we don’t eat them. Wish I’d realized that’s what was in the bag before I left...

 

[PrincessNelly]

Are the tours only at Saratoga Springs?

Yes, that is where the DVC center is.

 

[PrincessNelly]

It was well worth it for us. We've done it twice actually. Last year we got 3 fastpasses and a $100 gift card. They picked us up at Port Orleans Riverside and dropped us off at Wilderness Lodge. We wanted to see copper creek in person, so not only did they drop us off there but they let us tag along the cabin tour!

 

[Smposchman]

My Fastpass success rate for our trip in October is very low. SO we are considering doing the tour on our first morning since we weren't planning on hitting DHS until noonish anyway. I've seen that there are FP restrictions in Disneyland, is the same true for WDW? Are these the type of FP you can just get in any FP line and boom instant FP or are they just the ability to make additional reservations?

If we can't use the additional FP for FoP and Slinky Dog, not sure if it will be worth it.

 

[Ben E N]

My Fastpass success rate for our trip in October is very low. SO we are considering doing the tour on our first morning since we weren't planning on hitting DHS until noonish anyway. I've seen that there are FP restrictions in Disneyland, is the same true for WDW? Are these the type of FP you can just get in any FP line and boom instant FP or are they just the ability to make additional reservations?

If we can't use the additional FP for FoP and Slinky Dog, not sure if it will be worth it.

Then its not worth it for you. They work as anytime passes, but are not good at Pandora, FEA, Peter Pan, and I would assume Toy Story Land.

 

[ArielSRL]

Are the tours only at Saratoga Springs?

Yes, that is where the DVC center is.

Ours was at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

As a general rule I do not do timeshare tours on vacation. The DVC one may be okay, but I don't think I'll do that one either.

 

[Ben E N]

Ours was at Wilderness Lodge.

Yes, mine too. Once Riviera opens they will probably do them there, too.

 

[leebee]

Are they still giving the $100 gift card, or just the fast passes?

 

[ScubaCat]

I went to the center they had at the Boardwalk in 2014, asked about the beach club, was told it wasn't for sale, and said I wasn't interested but wanted the fast passes since I walked over and they gave them to me no questions asked. I was barely there by myself for 20 minutes and got a gift card and the 3 FPs for the entire party. And then, I went home and bought beach club points resale.

It's a YMMV situation but the 3 FPs were quite handy. There's plenty of attractions with long lines to use them on.

 

[PrincessNelly]

Yes, mine too. Once Riviera opens they will probably do them there, too.

Ours was at Wilderness Lodge.

That the first I've heard. What other room tours did you see besides Copper Creek Villas while there?

 

[Ben E N]

That the first I've heard. What other room tours did you see besides Copper Creek Villas while there?

Just a Copper Creek 2 BR. When we toured there, we instantly told our guide "eh, no. We like the place enough but are drawn to only BLT." He then sort of tried to push Poly to us, but was happy to go BLT once we said we were only interested there. Perhaps if I had shown more interest in CCV, he would have shown us around.
It's worth noting that this tour/ sales pitch was about 9 days before CCV was open for business, so perhaps they were trying to show off their shiny new product while it was still not impeding on anybody's DVC stays.

 

[PrincessNelly]

Just a Copper Creek 2 BR. When we toured there, we instantly told our guide "eh, no. We like the place enough but are drawn to only BLT." He then sort of tried to push Poly to us, but was happy to go BLT once we said we were only interested there. Perhaps if I had shown more interest in CCV, he would have shown us around.
It's worth noting that this tour/ sales pitch was about 9 days before CCV was open for business, so perhaps they were trying to show off their shiny new product while it was still not impeding on anybody's DVC stays.

Oh ok. We did the Copper Creek cabin tour at WL after our tour over at Saratoga. Our first DVC Tour, the DVC Center had AKL and GF on display but our last trip, they had Copper Creek and Aulani Rooms.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Seems the FP they offer are the same ones that can be made as 4th FP on same day. And, I've looked at our typical Disney budget and for a family of 4, we spend about $1000 per day. For a typical 16 hour day, that's $62/hour. I would need more than $100 if I am going to give up 2 hours of vacation or I'm losing money.