General Feeling of DVC membership

[disneynutz]

People tend to mix Disney and DVC. Disney/WDW, the parks, music, attractions, parades, fireworks, and more have nothing to do with DVC. IMO they do a pretty great job at making Disney a great place to vacation.

DVC is a pre-paid hotel room and they throw in some discounts, most by outside companies. They have website problems but they have provided limited online booking. The waitlist process has some problems and we have had account problems, missing points, canceled reservations in error and other MS issues. People have posted that they would hang up on MS advisers if they felt that they didn't know what they were doing and others would call back until they get the answer they want.

DVD is the unit that sells the timeshares and they do everything they can to sell as much as they can including placing restrictions on resale buyers and deliberately causing delays to extend the resale time-line. They will advertise all of the places that you can use your points but it will cost you and there are restrictions and sometimes limited availability.

IMO people tend to put up with more than they should because it is Disney and they cut them slack when in actually they should be held to a higher standard.

Bill

 

[Msmithmd]

Amydek, sounds like your reasoning is mostly spot on. Two items to consider, though-

1. The lodging is FAR from "paid for" after you own a dvc interest. Over the life of the contract the maintenance costs many times more than the purchase price. For example my 300 VWL points cost nearly $1800 a year in maintenance fees. For us it is well worth it, but I cannot kid myself that I couldn't get very nice lodging in an off-property condo or timeshare for the cost of my maintenance fees alone without the buy-in. I've stayed a full week in a beautiful three bedroom, within a twenty minute drive of the magic kingdom, for under $500- within the past five years. But not on-property, of course.

2. If you finance, whether by direct or resale market, you will eat up most of the cost savings of dvc. Even worse if you don't hold the contract out to its end term- you might not get back to a break-even on cash stays this way, depending on how long you hold the timeshare interest. There was a good recent thread that showed just how much it would cost to finance, and it was pretty staggering.

So yes, we love our dvc. But don't get so wrapped up in the hype to think this is the only way, or most financially wise way, to stay near the theme parks. It IS the most financially wise way to stay in deluxe disney villa accommodations, and it compares favorably to other Disney properties on-site... Best of luck!

 

[Hunclemarco]

I agree with many of the comments already given. When we initally bought, we had closed eyes about our purchase. We had lots of "Pixie dust" as it were. I found out about the DIS after we joined a month later. While we are still extremely fond of Disney, many of the long time "experts" here helped us appreciate the value, and the reasonableness of what the 'club' actually was. The support here is invaluable.

We had a major setback and had to get out of DVC. Now a few years later, we are now back in,...with a renewed and better understanding of how to control finances, and still keep DVC if we have setbacks again. (boy i hope we don't) LOL...

Throughout our membership, we've had the ability to have many people join us on our vacations...something that we couldn't do if we didn't have DVC. DVC also allows us to relax and enjoy the time we're there, and not feel rushed.

I think what may come across as dissapointment may be just that from time to time...it's no secret they have cut long time perks from time to time. And entitlement issues may stem up from time to time due to the cost of entering "the club", but again, many of the comments are not dissapointments but rather realities of what we should know "the club" to be before purchasing in the first place.

No regrets on my part! and gratitude to the long time "friends" here on the DIS!

 

[Apps]

I am laughing at your comment, because that was my plan too. Alas, that day has never come. My kids love Disney as much as they did when they were little, just in a different way. One thing about kids is that they always teach you that you cannot predict what they will like or not like in the future.

If my kids like Disney in 10 years, I have no problem keeping it. One reason I bought DVC was for Aulani...really really nice option if I don't want to go to WDW.

 

[AirGoofy]

We have owned DVC for 5 years. We really enjoy it. DW and I honeymooned there without children 13 years ago. After my youngest was 15 months, we found ourselves vacationing there once per year. After 3 years of that, we bought DVC because we realized we would be vacationing there year and year. DW and I both would be happy to return for an adults only trip, once they are gone.

If you plan on years of Disney vacations and can afford it (direct or resale), then DVC seems to be a good idea. As others have mentioned, after the initial purchase there are still annual dues, theme park ticket costs, food, merchandise, etc. Good luck in your decision.

 

[mom of princessx2]

Love my DVC!! We bought in 2008 and DH and I still talk that it has been our best purchase ever. We know we won't sell once our girls are grown because we are already looking forward to the day when we can enjoy it by ourselves!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've owned for 10 years (already)! We have thoroughly enjoyed the DVC experience. We or members of our family have been pixie dusted with special things, not very often, but enough to make us smile. We have never had a "bad, dirty to us" room, but we have had to wait for a room past 6PM. Years ago they tried (and did for awhile!) to take away real glasses and mugs in the studios and I was outraged. Yes, it would be a different experience for me without those amenities.

I have spent 3-5 weeks in January into February in DVC properties for 2 years now, and this coming January, DH is finally retired and he will join me!

We have shared the DVC villas with family and friends, and like at our Cape May NJ house, it feels good.

We own over 1200 points and we feel we are getting our money's worth.

Bobbi

 

[jade1]

I am laughing at your comment, because that was my plan too. Alas, that day has never come. My kids love Disney as much as they did when they were little, just in a different way. One thing about kids is that they always teach you that you cannot predict what they will like or not like in the future.

Exact, just changed what they like best.

Now its the weather, fishing, resorts/pools, dining, drinks, strolling parks, couple headliners, night shows, staying out late and sleeping in while off work.

 

[SuperRob]

I suppose your happiness level really has a lot to do with your expectations going in. We're only a couple years into our membership (just about to take our second trip), but so far, we're very satisfied. Disney has raised the bar for what we expect from everyone else. One of the places we expected to struggle was in booking rooms, but so far, I feel like we've gotten lucky. When we get to the point where the room we want at the resort we want isn't available when we want, I'm sure that's going to impact our satisfaction a bit, since that's really our only criteria. (I'm going to try to book BCV for a week next year. Pray for me. )

I'm very Type-A, and I say that knowing that many here are, and I think I'm probably right up there with the best of you. I research, and make sure I know just about everything about something before I make a decision. I am one of the only DVC members that I know of that bought direct from Disney and got only 60 points. We're squeezing every last bit of value out of those points by planning our trips years in advance. I knew if there was value to be had, I was going to get it, by golly. We also paid cash. It put a serious dent in our savings, but I feel like even though we haven't "broken even" quite yet, we've gotten our money's worth.

But for me, part of it is about status. When I tell people we're going to Disney, and staying at a $500 a night hotel, they can't believe we would spend that kind of money. When I tell them that we're not spending a dime, boy, does that get their attention. I don't need perks or special treatment from Disney when I get those envious looks (and occasional glares) from my friends.

 

[rentayenta]

Love owning DVC but this is a message board and we chat about all things, even the less positive. But trust me, not getting a first resort choice is by no means a real life heartache.

We have only 170 points and have owned since 2009. We've stayed at the GCV twice, AKV, and the THV. DVC was the best vacation decision we've made. It's allowed us to stay at resorts that we couldn't have otherwise afforded. A 2 bedroom villa at the GCV is something like $800 a night. We'd all be cramped into a standard at the PPH if it wasn't for our DVC purchase. We also traded into RCI and stayed at a sweet resort in Cabo.

Same goes for a THV. The 6 of us had so much elbow room and it was heaven. I'd have been the POR otherwise. There is nothing wrong with the POR in fact, it's a nice resort, however it doesn't provide what DVC does.

All my rambling aside, we love our DVC.

 

[DebbieB]

I've owned for 14 years and have always been happy with it.

I was just reading over on the resorts board people complaining that they didn't get their dates for free dining or they didn't get a pin or room rates are too high. More and more people are talking about renting points. If you look at the rack rates for deluxe resorts, we got the best deal! When I bought in, my plan was for the first week of December at BWV in a 1 bedroom. Rack rate for that room is now $617! Vs 20/28 points weekdays.

 

[look1angel]

My only regret was not doing it sooner. I LOVE IT!!! I use it every year between family & friends. But I'm a Disney Fanatic so I can never get enough of the Magic

One of these days I'll use my points to travel elsewhere but until then it's WDW for me

 

[Dean]

Maybe it's just my perception, but it seems like for the most part people don't seem entirely thrilled with their DVC memberships. There's a lot of talk of resale, issues with reservations, resorts being unavailable, lots of issues with member services, talk of how savings are lost when you travel to Disney so much, and a general feeling of Disney being in it to make money and not to make DVC members happy.

Is this the general consensus? I appreciate all of the honesty, I just can't figure out if people enjoy their member ships or feel trapped or treated like second rate citizens with the system.

Thanks!

I think it depends is the best answer. DVC is a great system with very good resorts most of which (not all IMO) are in great places. There are no bad resorts. The non DVC stuff (DCL, ABD, etc) is simply a waste and worse than having nothing for new buyers, IMO.

Thanks for your responses. So would you say my reasons for wanting to buy DVC are the right kind:

I want to take my kids to WDW as often as possible, I would love to take them once a year. I love staying on property and would love even more to stay at the deluxe resort villas with the kitchenettes. I doubt that we will be able to afford to go once a year to a deluxe resort without DVC. I have no issues planning trips far in advance, as a matter of fact I like having something to look forward to! I understand that having DVC will cause us to go more often, in turn spending money. However, I would think that no matter what if we go each year for cash it will cost a boat load more AND if we purchase our points up front now it will be easier for us to afford going to WDW later on with all of our kids since the hotel will be paid for and we'll just be paying dues, park tix, food and airfare.

We have one child that is 2 months old and hope to have at least 2 more kids! I can see us going to WDW with our kids consistently for the next 15 years at least. I can also see some trips that are at WDW resorts but that don't involve visits to the parks every single time, or especially if it's just me and my hubby!

Vacationing is important to me and my husband, before our daughter we traveled at least twice a year. Once to an all inclusive in the Caribbean and once to Europe. When we go to Europe we usually see two cities, we stay at a moderate cost hotel in one city and we splurge on the hotel for the other. When we go to the Caribbean we stay at 4 or 5 star resorts. We want to keep up the traveling once a year with our kids (hopefully to WDW) and keep the Caribbean trip for possibly just us. Maybe doing Europe every 3 years or so rather than every year. We have NEVER met a vacation that we didn't love!! No matter what happens on our vacations we are in vacation MODE once we're there and almost nothing can bother us! We have reasonable expectations and don't expect 5 star treatment when we're not paying 5 star prices!

Neither of us had a lot of family vacations when we were kids-- we each had one WDW trip as a child, and we really want our kids to have that experience, to see WDW through their eyes as they grow and experience it with them as they grow. We see DVC as a way for us to afford giving yearly trips to WDW to our kids.


Ok....what do you think? Am I one of the buying for the wrong reasons type??

I don't think one could truly tell if DVC is a good choice for you or not. You talk about what you'd like to do but don't give much about your experience or history of travel to Disney/Orlando other than as a child. IMO DVC is for one who can pay cash, easily afford the yearly fees without worrying about it, can/will plan ahead at least 7 months/preferably 11 months and has a track record (and values) of staying on property preferably in moderates or higher. There are many ways to accomplish almost everything you posted as goals without owning DVC or even staying on property. There are other timeshares that would be better for some, not for others. It might be perfect for you but it didn't sound like you had enough info to know based on what you provided. Some of our best trips have been off property though we generally prefer to stay on property.

 

[goofy30]

It took me four years to make up my mind, but finally in 1995 after HHI went up for sale we took the plunge. After 18 years I have no regrets at all. Did we have more perks back then, yes, but I didn't buy it for the perks. We go to HHI at least twice a year and WDW every other year. I even had a wait list come through for December.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

It is also important to realize that on forums like this one (arguably the largest of the DVC forums), we mostly discuss gripes, complaints, and things we generally don't like about what may be going on at any particular moment in time. It's the nature of these forums. Try to never forget that because it is very important.

You'll also notince that most of us have been here a "long" time. That ought to tell you something else. Most of us love our DVC timeshare (I too, don't like the term "membership" or "club," because as has been mentioned, it is a real estate ownership. Nothing more. Nothing less.). I guess I shouldn't have put parenthesis around that point because that is very important too. Many of us that are new to timeshares bought and came here thinking we were part of some sort of exclusive club or something. Why? Because that's the way it's sold, that's why. We come to forums like this and realize that while it does have perks, they come and go. It's all part of the "deal." That's part of what you learn on forums like these.

Most of us that are "still here after all these years" and still own our DVC have come to realize that we love our WDW and DL vacations and accomodations despite the ever changing parameters and landscape of DVC and DVD.

Don't let the griping get to you too much. The good thing is that you're learning all of this before purchase. Good for you. Many of us weren't so fortunate.

 

[RachaelA]

My only regret is that I wish we had bought BLT before it opened. We knew exactly what we were buying so we don't have any real complaints. Yeah it will stink if something we want isn't available, but we knew going in that we weren't going to magically get everything and have it be perfect. We go in to every trip with an open mind and have not been disappointed yet.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've owned for almost 16 years. We like king sized beds and I want a washer and dryer at my beck and call. We like a real refrigerator. And we like to go to WDW. So we bought DVC.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We've owned for almost 16 years. We like king sized beds and I want a washer and dryer at my beck and call. We like a real refrigerator. And we like to go to WDW. So we bought DVC.

Deb and Bill could be Diane and Dick!

 

[DenLo]

Love our DVC and it's lived up to our expectations, but then we bought to use it at DVC resorts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for your responses. So would you say my reasons for wanting to buy DVC are the right kind:

I want to take my kids to WDW as often as possible, I would love to take them once a year. I love staying on property and would love even more to stay at the deluxe resort villas with the kitchenettes. I doubt that we will be able to afford to go once a year to a deluxe resort without DVC. I have no issues planning trips far in advance, as a matter of fact I like having something to look forward to! I understand that having DVC will cause us to go more often, in turn spending money. However, I would think that no matter what if we go each year for cash it will cost a boat load more AND if we purchase our points up front now it will be easier for us to afford going to WDW later on with all of our kids since the hotel will be paid for and we'll just be paying dues, park tix, food and airfare.

We have one child that is 2 months old and hope to have at least 2 more kids! I can see us going to WDW with our kids consistently for the next 15 years at least. I can also see some trips that are at WDW resorts but that don't involve visits to the parks every single time, or especially if it's just me and my hubby!

Vacationing is important to me and my husband, before our daughter we traveled at least twice a year. Once to an all inclusive in the Caribbean and once to Europe. When we go to Europe we usually see two cities, we stay at a moderate cost hotel in one city and we splurge on the hotel for the other. When we go to the Caribbean we stay at 4 or 5 star resorts. We want to keep up the traveling once a year with our kids (hopefully to WDW) and keep the Caribbean trip for possibly just us. Maybe doing Europe every 3 years or so rather than every year. We have NEVER met a vacation that we didn't love!! No matter what happens on our vacations we are in vacation MODE once we're there and almost nothing can bother us! We have reasonable expectations and don't expect 5 star treatment when we're not paying 5 star prices!

Neither of us had a lot of family vacations when we were kids-- we each had one WDW trip as a child, and we really want our kids to have that experience, to see WDW through their eyes as they grow and experience it with them as they grow. We see DVC as a way for us to afford giving yearly trips to WDW to our kids.


Ok....what do you think? Am I one of the buying for the wrong reasons type??

I think you are a good candidate as long as you are realistic about the costs. Don't buy DVC or any timeshare unless you can pay for it up front without financing. That way you won't pay more each year in financial fees. Then, you need to know that purchasing involves maintenance just as it does on any property you own. So you have to figure in your initial investment plus the yearly maintenance. If you can handle those numbers, then yes, DVC is probably a good choice for you.

The thing we like best is having a "home" instead of a hotel room. It seems so much more luxurious to vacation that way.