All I know is when you're facing a $750+ per night room rate (and climbing each year) to stay at the Polynesian during Christmas, and that's where your family wants to go every year, DVC looks like a deal.
Perks come and go.
Anyone who bought into DVC in 2008 has made out like bandits. I’m especially jealous of the early VGC buyers, and kicking myself for not joining them. Back then I just thought “Timeshare? No way!” without bothering to do the research into how DVC is very different, and vastly superior, to normal timeshares.We've been DVC since '08 and have never regretted our purchase. I think people confuse DVC with WDW theme parks and think being at the parks is included in the vacation club. As cash vacationers using AP discounts we couldn't afford more than the mid-level resorts by the 2000's. Being DVC members we've stayed at the Poly several times which is one of the most expensive cash venues and a venue we haven't been able to afford since we stayed in 2001 on our daughters cast member discount.
Yeah - the only thing 'Perks' seem to be doing these days is going...
As far as resort cost is concerned, DVC members appear to have a bad habit of making this comparison. With no perks, staying offsite - or near offsite at WDW - can be done for much, much less. I have read recent posts on these boards where visitors rented houses - with their own 'private' pool - for a fraction of Disney - or DVC - resort cost. With no perks, there is very little tie to the Disney bubble, so visitors are free to explore many cost effective alternatives. Belief that your DVC annual cost (plus that enormous up front payment) is far superior to the Disney resort rack rate - and there are no alternatives - is just your confirmation bias talking.
I think the discounted stays are great. But why should anyone buy DVC direct if that’s the only appreciable benefit?