Has anyone regretted becoming a DVC member?

[dpjl]

We love our DVC we purchased AKV through disney wish we had done research and bought in the resale market. We love treating family to memorable vacations. We recently sold our AKV and purchased BWV we found we like going to the food & wine festival and just couldn't get reservations at 7 months out. Also will be looking for a BLT contract in the near future. We haven't regretted one penny spent. As for dining we use our DVC membership and buy Tables In Wonderland tried the dining plan once and it was just too much food.

 

[Capwkidd]

The bold portions above say exactly what we think. My wife has been going to Disney for over 30 years--at least once each year, usually twice--and I've been on that same pattern for the last decade. We have no intentions of slowing our visits, and with grandkids entering the picture, the demand will certainly increase. We've maximized our DVC points, and we enjoy deluxe accommodations (how deluxe DVC rooms are certainly can be debated); ergo, we have no regrets. However, as others caution, do your research; be diligent; and I urge you to visit a few of the resorts first. If you do these things and still buy, then you will be less likely to become one of those who regret that decision.

How is this possible?

 

[disneynutz]

How is this possible?

You can visit the DVC resorts and ask to see a room, you may have luck, you may not.

You can rent from DVC owners and stay at the resorts that interest you. We found out that until you do, you really can't get a good feel about the place. We bought BLT before staying there and it is our least favorite resort.

Bill

 

[Capwkidd]

No regrets here, except I wish I had purchased a few more, smaller resale contracts are few years ago. We started out in the late 90's with direct purchase from DVC. Once we found out about the resale market, we've never looked back. We sold Beach Club in order to direct purchase BLT. Our first direct purchase was BoardWalk. It was considered very expensive back then....so I guess everything is relative. We have been able to use our points from Saratoga to go to Hawaii twice. And we've also gone on three very inexpensive cruises....DVC lets us know when a ship is not filled to capacity and we can pay a greatly reduced rate. Doesn't happen often, but their cruises are wonderful.

DVC works for us. We make two or three trips a year. We have not tired of Disney yet. I am not really happy about the AP price increase....and a lot of their restaurants have gotten very pricey. Getting additional discounts for being a member and an AP holder, along with the tables in wonderland card, helps, but we also get a one bedroom so we have a full kitchen. We make breakfast and lunch and sometimes dinner (nothing fancy...but we do love using the grills at BLT).

I agree with Bellablue2. But I would also say make sure you buy where you want to stay. Also, smaller contracts are easier to sell (but more expensive to buy). Make sure you do your research regarding "loaded" or "stripped" contracts.

Loaded and stripped?

 

[disneynutz]

Loaded and stripped?

A loaded contract has all UY points available and maybe some extras. Stripped, the owner has used points for a reservation.

Bill

 

[junglejoy]

We live in the West so our first visit to WDW in 2006 was our introduction to DVC. At the time we were going to DL 4-5 times a year. We also knew we'd never be able to afford airfare to FL on a regular basis with our large family so we didn't buy. When we discovered VGC we purchased, sight unseen. We have never looked back. We love VGC and will be having our first vacation to a different resort, Aulani, in a few weeks. We've been able to invite friends and family on our vacations, several of whom are now DVC members, and mostly, we've had great times with our family and can't imagine a better resort than VGC. We loved staying at the hotel before we purchased DVC and appreciate VGC even more. No regrets here.

The years we were on a very limited income (recession hit our business HARD) we were still able to vacation because we had already "paid" for our lodging. So it's been a win-win for us. I look forward to the time when we'll be staying at VGC with grandchildren or our children with their families.

 

[LisaS]

Loaded and stripped?

It is sometimes possible to find a "fully loaded" resale contract with all of the previous UY's points banked into the current UY and all current and future UY points available. If you find one of those, you will be getting the maximum number of points you could possibly get. There are also contracts for sale that have been stripped of all points that could be used to book a stay immediately: no banked or current UY points and all points from the next UY have been borrowed and used as well. So you would not be able to book a stay for some time, until the points from two UYs from now are available to be borrowed.

Most contracts fall somewhere in between: partially loaded (some banked points, all current UY points, all future points) or partially stripped (no banked, some but not all current UY points, all future UY points), etc. When purchasing a resale contract, it's important to check the details in the listing to see exactly what you are getting.

 

[sleepydog25]

How is this possible?

As Bill says, go to a particular resort and just ask. It won't always work, but sometimes it does. When VWL first did its new refurb, we were booked elsewhere but asked to see one of the newly redone rooms. The front desk gladly obliged. In other cases, we've not been as fortunate. Last summer, we were staying at a Marriott in HHI, but we wanted to see one of the newly refurbished rooms. We were told they didn't have any to show, but we walked around the grounds and found where Mousekeeping was airing out a room (the oven autoclean had been accidentally engaged), and we stepped inside to check out the 2BR. If you are persistent, you will get to see some rooms. Just as important, however, is the feel you get for a resort when you walk the grounds, explore, get a look at the flow of the buildings, experience the CM interaction, and even check out the resort's QS. Best of all, certainly, is to rent points and stay at least a couple of places before deciding to make the plunge. As always, the more info you have the better decision you will make.

 

[disneynutz]

Check with the ASA's at each resort at the DVC desk. SSR has SSR and PVB and maybe VGF models. BWV has a BWV model, the BLT and AKV models may be closed.

Bill

 

[crisi]

How is this possible?

Even if visiting the room isn't possible, get a feel for the resort. Do you like the layout, the public areas, the pools, the location? OKW and SSR are spread out with exterior hallways and parking close to the resorts - some people like it, some don't. BWV has no zero entry pool and the scary clown slide and the restaurants are out on the Boardwalk, but its close to Epcot and DHS location creates a huge draw for people who don't mind clowns.

The layout and decor of the rooms can be gotten from photos and floorplans. The feel of the RESORT can be gotten by wandering around the grounds.

And sometimes visiting isn't necessary. You can look at photos and know if the decor isn't to your taste (if that is important to you) or floorplans and know you want maximum bathrooms (if that is important to you) or know that its really important to you to be close to the Magic Kingdom.

Also, it can be a good idea if you aren't sure about buying to rent points for a trip. DVC rooms aren't like regular hotel rooms - most members like not having daily housekeeping, and if the rooms aren't refreshed as often, its a savings on our dues. But some people find they really prefer the regular hotel rooms. I do if I just want a single hotel room or studio.

 

[Slakk]

Regrets, no. Unhappy how Disney treats long time owners YES. I have watched perks whittle away and that annoys me. Our vacation habits changed as our son grew and we use our Marriott Vacation Club more (we are down from 450 points to 150 with DVC). Marriott treats members better, we get priority in room choice and it works for us. My son is in High School and has no interest in being at Disney all the time. I prefer vacations where I do not have to plan months in advance.