Going to dvc open house today. ?'s to ask?

[sukhakuli]

After thinking about it for years, dh is now very interested. So we are going to the open house.

Will they answer questions honestly? Any suggestions about what to ask? Dh is very interested in staying in places besides Disney also. Is it really as easy as they say? Is booking a non home resort as easy as they say as well?

We were told we would get instant fast passes for the kids if they came but they had a late night and I think they need the sleep. Any chance they will give them to us anyway?

 

[disneynutz]

Go to the sales meeting and get their information.

Booking anywhere but at a DVC resort can be difficult and is not guaranteed.

The rules that allow you to book else where can and have changed recently.

Don't buy direct if you want the best deal.

Spend time learning all you can buy reading the posts here on the DIS, unless you have money to burn and don't want to take the time.

Bill

 

[rock_doctor]

Go and enjoy yourself. If you ask for the proper number of fast passes they probably will give them to you. We originally had a great guide and we did feel he told us the truth but be aware even though they are called "Guides" they are salesman... Booking at a non-home resort can only be booked 7-months before you want to stay. So if you go during busy time of the year you most likely will not be able to get a room. If you go over those times you will have a hard time getting a room at the 11-mo window at your home resort (at BLT i have had a hard time getting a room a couple days into the 11-mo window)... If you plan to just use your points at WDW DVC resorts only then i would buy though resale (aftermarket) but if you plan to use points for cruises, trips and stay at resorts outside WDW you will need to buy direct. Buying resale is the same as buying a piece of property with the same steps. Buying from Disney you can put it on your credit card and use the points immediately. Also remember after the initial buy in you have to pay a yearly maintenance fee that can and will increase each year. So it is not a, you bought it and can use it for free for the rest of you life, kind of deal. You do have to pay yearly costs. Good luck and have fun. We take a tour every time we go.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The yearly maintenance fees are not locked in when you purchase. They go up every year. This year saw a larger than usual increase.

If you are considering DVC to take trips other than DVC, buy as many DVC points as you need for DVC stays and buy another timeshare to trade out and see the world. DVC is expensive to trade.

 

[disneynutz]

How many points did you buy and what's your home resort?

Bill

 

[sukhakuli]

We didn't buy, but we will at some point in the future. Tbh, the tour annoyed me a bit. I felt they were talking down to us, trying to mislead us, and the tourguide's math was flat out wrong. My dh is a walking calculator and the guide was snippy when he was pointing out his math mistakes. Simply put we ended up not trusting our guide, and that makes us feel like we can't trust the product, so we need to research more.

 

[disneynutz]

We didn't buy, but we will at some point in the future. Tbh, the tour annoyed me a bit. I felt they were talking down to us, trying to mislead us, and the tourguide's math was flat out wrong. My dh is a walking calculator and the guide was snippy when he was pointing out his math mistakes. Simply put we ended up not trusting our guide, and that makes us feel like we can't trust the product, so we need to research more.

Sorry that you had Guide troubles. You can always get a different Guide, we are on our third and are very happy with him.

Owning a DVC interest may work for you and it may not. You are very wise to take your time and work the numbers.

Bill

 

[geovaz641]

The yearly maintenance fees are not locked in when you purchase. They go up every year. This year saw a larger than usual increase.

If you are considering DVC to take trips other than DVC, buy as many DVC points as you need for DVC stays and buy another timeshare to trade out and see the world. DVC is expensive to trade.

I totally agree with this. DVC resorts are far better than that are offered by interval international and RCI. I use Diney ONLY for Disney. I use my Sheraton vistana to go everywhere else.
George