Having second thoughts already...

[TexasAggie73]

We have 300 points at BWV"s and will be leaving in 2 days for a one BR at BLT for 9 nights. Our 2010 dues is $133. per month That come to a cost of of $1596 this year or $177 per night. Not a bad cost.Also, we paid $62.50 per point many years ago and feel we could sell them for more than we paid. Plus I deduct the $240 property taxes paid in my dues off my 2009 income.

 

[Tiger926]

First, thanks for all the input.

As for the responce on me not doing the research..... That is exactly what I am trying. We have not signed the paperwork and need to know we can afford the dvc. Which means we have to be able to itemized costs for all other Disney needs. For the last 2 or three times we traveled Disney had the free dining promotion offered and took advantage of it. So depending on if we upgraded or utilized the free dining offer we wer not paying more than $30 per person. We never paid for DDD before in full. I know Disney does not always offer free dining.

Also I tried to ask guest services and dvc customer service about the dining options on dvc,since I did not know dvc members could not take advantage of free dining when it is offered. Guest services would not answer my dining questions since I am a potentional dvc member (they told me to call dvc services) and dvc would not help me since I don't have a dvc number as of yet. My dvc consultant was off for a few days and I thought I would post here. As you can see from my status I am very new to this forum and have not been alble to go through all the dining posts yet.

We don't base our trips on free offers or do we base this dvc purchase on those offers. We love Disney and travel ther alot. However, we need to know how much more we would need to have to travel and thought this forum might offer me alittle help untill the dvc adviser got back to me.

Again thanks for all the help and thoughts.

I'm sorry if I frustrated you at all, as that was not my intention. I am confused as your initial post said you had already bought 160 points and so it worried me that just because you couldn't take advantage of some Disney promos, that you would have second thoughts on your DVC purchase - there is so much more to it than just food (you mentioned upgrading to DxDP). Now I'm even more confused as your new responses say that you haven't signed the paperwork yet, but you are sure you are buying in?

It's great you are doing research - I'm a major research gal, myself. So, at this point, I don't know if you have already purchased or not, so hopefully everyone's responses have helped you in some way. There is lots to digest, but most importantly, you are right in itemizing all of your costs for a DVC vacation (tickets, food, transportation, buy-in purchase and dues). This way, you'll know if vacationing as a DVC member is something you can afford on a regular basis. As I, and others have mentioned, being DVC members will allow you to actually lower your food costs in several ways: cooking in villa, DVC discounts, purchase of DVC AP ($100.00 discount) which will then allow you to purchase a TIW 20% food/beverage discount card. Sure they aren't 'free' dining promos, but they will surely give you some savings into your vacation budget. And although you can't count on DVC discounts for tickets, food and recreation, you can utilize them while they are available, and this will save you more money too! You should be able to lower your accommodation budget as well - for us, we are paying about the same, or just a touch more per night as what we paid for moderate rooms, but we are in a 1 bedroom with full kitchen, laundry, king bed & sofa couch (sleeper chair in Kidani & BLT) and bathroom (2 in Kidani & BLT). Much more space than moderates!

The biggest thing to keep an eye on is if you travel more after becoming DVC members. If you cannot afford to, this will surely hurt your budget. We did this for the first 2 years, and it cost us too much money - we normally only went 1x per year, so once we added more trips, it added to our travel budget considerably. When comparing and analyzing whether DVC is for you, you need to compare it to the way you normally do your Disney vacations.

I wish you luck in your purchase decision, Tiger

 

[DeeCee735]

Ok, thanks for the info. We are 100% sure we are buying in, and just trying to get as much info as possible.

Take a look at the menu's posted on this site and on wdwig.com. You'll get an idea of what the food is going to cost since there's no free dining.
As a DVC member you can purchase the Tables in Wonderland Card (or is that AP holders only? anyone?)
This card gives you 20% off food and beverages (including alcohol), but they add 18% tip. I believe the cost of the card is $70.00 and it's good for 15 months.

Good luck with your final decision and enjoy your membership!

 

[Lost in Neverland]

First, thanks for all the input.

As for the responce on me not doing the research..... That is exactly what I am trying. We have not signed the paperwork and need to know we can afford the dvc. Which means we have to be able to itemized costs for all other Disney needs. For the last 2 or three times we traveled Disney had the free dining promotion offered and took advantage of it. So depending on if we upgraded or utilized the free dining offer we wer not paying more than $30 per person. We never paid for DDD before in full. I know Disney does not always offer free dining.

Also I tried to ask guest services and dvc customer service about the dining options on dvc,since I did not know dvc members could not take advantage of free dining when it is offered. Guest services would not answer my dining questions since I am a potentional dvc member (they told me to call dvc services) and dvc would not help me since I don't have a dvc number as of yet. My dvc consultant was off for a few days and I thought I would post here. As you can see from my status I am very new to this forum and have not been alble to go through all the dining posts yet.

We don't base our trips on free offers or do we base this dvc purchase on those offers. We love Disney and travel ther alot. However, we need to know how much more we would need to have to travel and thought this forum might offer me alittle help untill the dvc adviser got back to me.

Again thanks for all the help and thoughts.

We were in your shoes a few months ago. This is what we have discovered for what it is worth. We book split stays and for the shorter half of the stay we do the DDP. For the longer portion we buy groceries for the villa and eat out only for lunch which is cheaper. This is a significant savings in our cost for our trip since the dining plan costs more than our monthly grocery bill at home. There are also ways to save on tickets by using a place like Undercovertourist for pre purchasing tickets if you do not get season passes.In the end we decided that the ability to save on our room and having a really great room we could not afford otherwise was the best reason of all to do DVC. It is really nice to come home to your villa and actually be able to spread out and not have to sit on the bed to watch TV or fix a snack in our own kitchen. In the end I think all of us felt a little nervous about our purchases and wondered if we did the right thing. At this point our answer is unquestionably YES.

 

[rhonimouse]

---I am not sure what you are trying to say, but I disagree with #1 about needing a lot of money. All things are up to interpretation. What is a lot of money to one, may not be a lot to another. Then again, what is alot? If you mean $59 to stay at Contemporary Resort ... consider their initial rate was $29 - in 1971. Heck, I paid $89 per night at Port Orleans in 1994. Rental rates will continue to increase. If you are saying Disney property costs more money that others - I agree. Usually, you get what you pay for.

#2 - Disagree. We have owned DVC since 1994. Originally purchased 160 points (OKW), added 50 more. Recently picked up 140 at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We haven't been to WDW for several years. We've used our points to stay at Manhattan Club in NYC. We have also been using our points to take various cruises on Disney Cruise Line. After considering the cost of annual dues, we figure we are still saving 50% +/- on the cost of the cruise. We are also contemplating a trip to Austria on our points. We would have NEVER thought about going to Austria, but it is within reach, now that we have DVC.

#3 - DVC will offer perks at WDW, DL and other facilities, in an effort to get the consumer to spend more time at the various resorts and facilities - for various amenities. Of course, these change from time to time ... otherwise ... it would grow old ... and become meaningless. This is common sense marketing. This does not mean it benefits DVC more than the members. Of course, some members will get more use of the perks, than other members - it's up to individual tastes.

#4 - WOW, I totally disagree. If you honestly believe Disney is NOT in the Customer Satisfaction business, you are sponsoring the wrong venue.

#5 - Again, I totally disagree. We purchase Old Key West in 1994, which opened in 1992 (50 year contract). We recently took advantage of a option to extend the 50 years, to 65 years (nominal cost). Currently, OKW is 18 years old, and has been constantly refurbished from time to time (several times) over that time frame. You *do* realize Disney refurbishes rides and exhibits inside the Parks ... don't you? Same concept!

I was glad to see others felt the same way I did when I read the obviously negative reply that this quote addresses.... aren't we all on DIS because we are FANS of DISNEY? If someone is that "sour grapes" on Disney and DVC, is this really the right site for them to be a member of ? OP already is feeling unsure and while offering PROS and CONS could be seen as a bit of wisdom, I wonder what disneyNutz was hoping to accomplish? Offering a reply like this to someone who is already doubtful does not seem very helpful... I find myself sometimes feeling upset at the negative tone if the responses I see from people on DIS. If I wanted NEGATIVE I would stay in the real world...when I want HAPPY and MAGICAL, I look to all things DISNEY...

I just joined in August and just returned from my 1st DVC vacation and I love the decision I made! The resort (AKV) exceeded any expectation I may have had. There are still many perks available to members and all of the value is not qualified in ONLY a dollar value- We created amazing family memories together as we spent Christmas at WDW, and look forward to a another visit to celebrate Thanksgiving 2010 with extended family....what do the Mastercard commercials say? PRICELESS!

OP, most people get butterflies when making a decision that lasts for so long ( 50 years) even a traditional mortgage is only 15-30 years...so it is not unusual at all...hope your research calms your fears and you are able to make the best choice for your family!

 

[snowbunny]

am just wondering if will save us money....i suppose in the long run?

No, you will not save money in the long run or the short run. DVC is great, buy in for many reasons, but do NOT buy in with thoughts of saving money vs. paying rack rates for the same accomodation (which few people ever do).

There is a whole active thread on here about this, which I don't have at my fingertips. Good luck with your decision. Edit: found it -- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2363744

It's not negativity. As I said, there are many reasons to buy. It's going in with your eyes open.

 

[ToddyLu]

I agree there is negativity here many times and it is heartbreaking when you are a new member or becoming a new member. People can make you fill stupid for asking a basic question. However, taking my heart out of the equation I guess I have learned from the responses on the DIS positive and negative....it just hurts sometimes when you are just starting to gather your thoughts, doing the research and then are made to fill inadequate. I do not think it is intentional most of the time....people are really trying to help you nake a decision based on their experience. Any way....I love DVCeeee, I love DVCeee.

 

[Slakk]

While I am not completely unhappy I am disillusioned about DVC. We used to spend every vacation at WDW - in fact had 550 points. Right now after our BLT points close we will have 150 and plan to move down to 50.

For us it is a couple things. One is that our son is 12 and we now have options to do more things. Another is I am tired of planning - I feel like everything at WDW is a plan, plan where I am going to eat 6 months in advance, plan which parks to go to...plan plan plan.

Two years ago we bought a Marriott EOY timeshare in Aruba (thank you Dean!) and last year instead of sweating in Orlando I drank an adult beverage while floating on a raft relaxing - I thought I would miss WDW but learned you could actually vacation WITHOUT PLANNING every minute.

We enjoyed it so much that we bought another EOY from MVCI in St Kitts.

One think I like better with MVCI is that they give the owners priority in rooms. You make a request and requests are filled in order, Owners, MVCI owners, then everyone else.

We requested top floor, pool view and got just that....not the room at VWL over the dumpster (we got it!), or the BWV BW view over Big River (sorry...can't hear you over the drunks!) or my personal favorite the worst MK view 182 points can buy (you know it's bad when your friends walk in and LAUGH!).

For us I feel like DVC feels the need to grow versus take care of their owners. I don't find it Disney's Best Kept Secret anymore .... I feel like it is Disney's Best Kept Moneymaker.

We plan to keep the one small HHI contract and do short weekend trips either with our AP or a CRO room with discount, or if needed get any points we need via transfer.

I spoke with my guide and DVC Member Satisfaction after our BLT room fiasco and everyone said it was unfortunate but feeling bad does not make me feel great about spending another 18K...

 

[disneynutz]

I was glad to see others felt the same way I did when I read the obviously negative reply that this quote addresses.... aren't we all on DIS because we are FANS of DISNEY? If someone is that "sour grapes" on Disney and DVC, is this really the right site for them to be a member of ? OP already is feeling unsure and while offering PROS and CONS could be seen as a bit of wisdom, I wonder what disneyNutz was hoping to accomplish? Offering a reply like this to someone who is already doubtful does not seem very helpful... I find myself sometimes feeling upset at the negative tone if the responses I see from people on DIS. If I wanted NEGATIVE I would stay in the real world...when I want HAPPY and MAGICAL, I look to all things DISNEY...

I just joined in August and just returned from my 1st DVC vacation and I love the decision I made! The resort (AKV) exceeded any expectation I may have had. There are still many perks available to members and all of the value is not qualified in ONLY a dollar value- We created amazing family memories together as we spent Christmas at WDW, and look forward to a another visit to celebrate Thanksgiving 2010 with extended family....what do the Mastercard commercials say? PRICELESS!

OP, most people get butterflies when making a decision that lasts for so long ( 50 years) even a traditional mortgage is only 15-30 years...so it is not unusual at all...hope your research calms your fears and you are able to make the best choice for your family!

I apologize if you find the truth to be a negative reply. What I intend to accomplish is to tell the truth, good or bad, fair and balanced, about Disney and the DVC.

To post only "Priceless" posts is doing our readers a dis-service as far as I'm concerned. Yes Disney provides a wonderful product that can provide amazing memories but there is a cost to buy those memories and lately, very slowly, Disney continues making cuts, changing policies and increasing pricing even more than before as they continue to stray away from Walt's vision.

Buying a DVC Membership is just a small expense compared to what a Member will pay each year for as long as they own. Many readers don't take this into consideration when they purchase and they may regret it.

Everyone has an opinion and mine comes from dealing with all levels of management at Disney and the discussions that I have had with them. I also visit Disney several times a year and so I am exposed to the good and the bad more frequently then the typical member.

I stand by my original post and I would be glad to discuss my views if anyone wishes to. Pete Werner the founder of the DIS Boards has always told it like it is, good or bad. I respect him for his honesty and I intend to do the same.

Bill

 

[goldilocks_63]

I love DVC, and I think you would be very happy if you purchased. But the economy is bad, and there will be plenty of opportunities to join DVC after you have no doubts.

The cash deals are good, and if you are having second doubts, I'd say wait until you have full confidence.

There are plenty of resales available the next few years, so don't think that you are missing your only opportunity.

Can you add more specifics as to what your doubts are, so maybe we can help address them.

Goldi

 

[Slakk]

I apologize if you find the truth to be a negative reply. What I intend to accomplish is to tell the truth, good or bad, fair and balanced, about Disney and the DVC.

To post only "Priceless" posts is doing our readers a dis-service as far as I'm concerned. Yes Disney provides a wonderful product that can provide amazing memories but there is a cost to buy those memories and lately, very slowly, Disney continues making cuts, changing policies and increasing pricing even more than before as they continue to stray away from Walt's vision.

Buying a DVC Membership is just a small expense compared to what a Member will pay each year for as long as they own. Many readers don't take this into consideration when they purchase and they may regret it.

Everyone has an opinion and mine comes from dealing with all levels of management at Disney and the discussions that I have had with them. I also visit Disney several times a year and so I am exposed to the good and the bad more frequently then the typical member.

I stand by my original post and I would be glad to discuss my views if anyone wishes to. Pete Werner the founder of the DIS Boards has always told it like it is, good or bad. I respect him for his honesty and I intend to do the same.

Bill

I agree, maybe because I too have issues with the treatment of DVC owners by DVC - it is not sour grapes, it is an erosion of benefits. To some people the loss of some things is no big deal. I can tell you my husband who NEVER cares about stuff is still angry about the loss of valet parking. LOL

For me it is that DVC keeps telling members they are special while taking benefits away and at the same time putting effort into expanding ownership. I understand sales but I personally feel that there need to be a balance and in the last two years I have seen less effort put into the care and feeding of existing members.

I have mentioned before the final straw for me was watching a 10th floor 1 BR MK view given to the CRO ressie when they booked a LV studio while I got the 4th floor crappy MK View that I reserved 10 minutes after BLT opened.

When I complained to DVC Member Satisfaction I was told that the only MK View rooms that had been declared were low floors so that is all I was allowed to be placed in - ummmmm BULL. I wonder how often they use that one.

DVC is not all rainbows and ponies - if the issues do not bother someone then maybe DVC is for them...I have enjoyed many of my vacations but the stress of planning and then fighting to not be put in the worst room has made WDW not fun for me anymore. It is not sour grapes

 

[Tiger926]

I am feeling a bit uneasy about some of the posts in which people are upset that it isn't like a private 'club', or that there are too many members. That is a very segregated and elitist way of thinking, IMHO. So, how would Disney decide who gets to be a member? Country of residence, salary, colour of hair, etc...?

Seriously, I totally get that some long time members may be sad or disillusioned with the way DVC has progressed and if you have valid concerns over bookings, point allocations, perks, etc., then that is ok. But once people start saying that they don't care for DVC anymore because it's not a 'private' club, that will surely leave hurt and insulting feelings to the rest of us. We've only been members for 5.5 years, so I would suspect that I would be in the not part of the 'private' club group, and that is not a good feeling. If it's in reference to having too many members and not enough rooms or MS staff to properly handle member requests, than that is very valid. I'm not sure what to make of those comments though and I would hate for any new members on here not to feel welcomed, as those sentiments, IMHO, are not very welcoming at all.

Perhaps I am missing something or misunderstanding? I surely hope I am...Tiger

 

[DeeCee735]

While I am not completely unhappy I am disillusioned about DVC. We used to spend every vacation at WDW - in fact had 550 points. Right now after our BLT points close we will have 150 and plan to move down to 50.

For us it is a couple things. One is that our son is 12 and we now have options to do more things. Another is I am tired of planning - I feel like everything at WDW is a plan, plan where I am going to eat 6 months in advance, plan which parks to go to...plan plan plan.

Two years ago we bought a Marriott EOY timeshare in Aruba (thank you Dean!) and last year instead of sweating in Orlando I drank an adult beverage while floating on a raft relaxing - I thought I would miss WDW but learned you could actually vacation WITHOUT PLANNING every minute.

We enjoyed it so much that we bought another EOY from MVCI in St Kitts.

One think I like better with MVCI is that they give the owners priority in rooms. You make a request and requests are filled in order, Owners, MVCI owners, then everyone else.

We requested top floor, pool view and got just that....not the room at VWL over the dumpster (we got it!), or the BWV BW view over Big River (sorry...can't hear you over the drunks!) or my personal favorite the worst MK view 182 points can buy (you know it's bad when your friends walk in and LAUGH!).

For us I feel like DVC feels the need to grow versus take care of their owners. I don't find it Disney's Best Kept Secret anymore .... I feel like it is Disney's Best Kept Moneymaker.

We plan to keep the one small HHI contract and do short weekend trips either with our AP or a CRO room with discount, or if needed get any points we need via transfer.

I spoke with my guide and DVC Member Satisfaction after our BLT room fiasco and everyone said it was unfortunate but feeling bad does not make me feel great about spending another 18K...

Jeez, if I had these experiences I'd sell too! I think you've got the right outlook on your timeshare ownership. We LOVE our DVC, owned for 10 years now and can't stop booking trips. I don't plan so much anymore, a couple of adr's in a couple of restaurants we never ate at, but that's it. I don't book 11 months out anymore either, I haven't ever had a problem getting something I love when I want it. But, having said that, our timeshare must be what we want it to be or it's no longer something we'd want to keep.

You used your DVC when it worked the way you wanted it to, and you're moving on to something that works for you now. Good for you! Enjoy your Marriott trips, they sound wonderful.

I always thought once my twins got older (they're 20 now), they wouldn't be so interested in going to Disney, yet again. It was mine and DH's fav place to be, so I figured they'd grow out of it. Boy was I wrong! While my son loves to go on trips I book, he's not one to think ahead and ask to book a trip for himself and friends, but my daughter! wow, she's really into it. I just booked a trip for her 21st with her and some friends.

This is the timeshare for us, of that we have no doubt. It's always the first destination we want. When it becomes secondary, we'll trade out, but in 10 years that hasn't happened yet. We aren't worldly people, but we do get other places, Vegas, California, cruising, Hawaii, Maine, Boston, Caribbean, of course HH, etc, but for the most part, it's Disney. We love it still, so for us it works.

I think that's what those who are having second thoughts have to really consider. If this is the place you want to go over and over and over again, it makes perfect sense. If not, looking elsewhere is the reasonable thing to do.

Good luck with your decisions, and enjoy each and every vacation!

 

[Disneypubgal]

Jeez, if I had these experiences I'd sell too! I think you've got the right outlook on your timeshare ownership. We LOVE our DVC, owned for 10 years now and can't stop booking trips. I don't plan so much anymore, a couple of adr's in a couple of restaurants we never ate at, but that's it. I don't book 11 months out anymore either, I haven't ever had a problem getting something I love when I want it. But, having said that, our timeshare must be what we want it to be or it's no longer something we'd want to keep.

You used your DVC when it worked the way you wanted it to, and you're moving on to something that works for you now. Good for you! Enjoy your Marriott trips, they sound wonderful.

I always thought once my twins got older (they're 20 now), they wouldn't be so interested in going to Disney, yet again. It was mine and DH's fav place to be, so I figured they'd grow out of it. Boy was I wrong! While my son loves to go on trips I book, he's not one to think ahead and ask to book a trip for himself and friends, but my daughter! wow, she's really into it. I just booked a trip for her 21st with her and some friends.

This is the timeshare for us, of that we have no doubt. It's always the first destination we want. When it becomes secondary, we'll trade out, but in 10 years that hasn't happened yet. We aren't worldly people, but we do get other places, Vegas, California, cruising, Hawaii, Maine, Boston, Caribbean, of course HH, etc, but for the most part, it's Disney. We love it still, so for us it works.

I think that's what those who are having second thoughts have to really consider. If this is the place you want to go over and over and over again, it makes perfect sense. If not, looking elsewhere is the reasonable thing to do.

Good luck with your decisions, and enjoy each and every vacation!

Ditto!

 

[SEC]

We bought into WLV in 2000 and are very pleased. Initially we bought enough points to stay in a studio for 2 weeks during Food and Wine. As our needs changed, DVC still works well for us. We now have a two year daughter and have been able to take our parents on two trips to celebrate her birthdays! The last two DVC trips we have taken have been in a 2-bedroom unit for 7 nights. We also have used our points at the Grand Californian many years ago and were lucky enough to stay at that hotel which we could not/would not have been willing to pay cash for our stay there. As others have said, the deals will not be as good when the economy improves and we will still have DVC! Prior to DVC, I spent a lot of time looking for deals and waiting for AP rates to come out to see if I could afford a trip, now I do not have to do that and that only is worth the price of DVC to me! Our purchase has long been paid for and we did see it as an investment in mental health and it is nice to being able to take our parents so they can see our daughter's reaction to everything Disney and we can go out to dinner by ourselves a couple of nights!

 

[Slakk]

Jeez, if I had these experiences I'd sell too! I think you've got the right outlook on your timeshare ownership. We LOVE our DVC, owned for 10 years now and can't stop booking trips. I don't plan so much anymore, a couple of adr's in a couple of restaurants we never ate at, but that's it. I don't book 11 months out anymore either, I haven't ever had a problem getting something I love when I want it. But, having said that, our timeshare must be what we want it to be or it's no longer something we'd want to keep.

You used your DVC when it worked the way you wanted it to, and you're moving on to something that works for you now. Good for you! Enjoy your Marriott trips, they sound wonderful.

I always thought once my twins got older (they're 20 now), they wouldn't be so interested in going to Disney, yet again. It was mine and DH's fav place to be, so I figured they'd grow out of it. Boy was I wrong! While my son loves to go on trips I book, he's not one to think ahead and ask to book a trip for himself and friends, but my daughter! wow, she's really into it. I just booked a trip for her 21st with her and some friends.

This is the timeshare for us, of that we have no doubt. It's always the first destination we want. When it becomes secondary, we'll trade out, but in 10 years that hasn't happened yet. We aren't worldly people, but we do get other places, Vegas, California, cruising, Hawaii, Maine, Boston, Caribbean, of course HH, etc, but for the most part, it's Disney. We love it still, so for us it works.

I think that's what those who are having second thoughts have to really consider. If this is the place you want to go over and over and over again, it makes perfect sense. If not, looking elsewhere is the reasonable thing to do.

Good luck with your decisions, and enjoy each and every vacation!

That is what I like about options. I consider this like I am on a break from DVC for now. When my son is older DH and I will probably start traveling more to WDW again.

I am a Project Manager in real life and honestly I got so stressed out planning then fretting when we got the worst room (not always, but I think I have stayed in the worst room at all the resorts now LOL) that it was not fun anymore. I came home more stressed than when I left.

The Aruba tripped was like a dream...I actually relaxed. For us it is a good decision - not the decision everyone comes to which is what is great. In your case DVC is working and that makes me smile - it gives me hope that the love will come back for us.

What I have learned is that people need to make the decision that works best for them and buy only small contracts!!! So much easier to change your point allocations!

 

[lark]

I think if the dining plan is a significant part of what a person enjoys about a WDW vacation, that is something important to take into account when purchasing DVC. If ADR planning, table service meals, sampling the different restaurants, and ordering things you otherwise would not if you weren't on the plan is a major part of your WDW experience, as it is for many, I do think you need to take into account the cost of the dining plan when considering a DVC purchase.

I believe that "free" dining is a promotion that is not going anywhere for a long long time. Disney has offered promotions for many years, even in a good economy, and I think they have struck gold with "free" dining. They get you to pay rack for a hotel room, and in exchange what they give you costs them relatively much less than most other discounts. Even if the value to you of the dining plan is $100 per day, the cost to disney is much less -- they already have to pay all the most expensive parts of operating restaurants (the overhead) and because gratuities are not included, you are heavily subsidizing the labor. The food on the plate is one of the least expensive parts of running a restaurant, and that is really all it costs disney, plus incremental overhead and labor. If the choice is between disney giving away "free" dining or giving you a cash discount on rack rates, they'll take the former every time. When you add in the massive number of unused credits or the fact that so many "free" diners end up coming out of pocket for significant amounts anyway for food (since most people who get these promotions aren't the excellent planners that frequent these boards or do sophiticated analyses of DVC value), it's a boondogle for WDW. This is a long winded way of saying I think free dining is a promotion that we're going to see at least in some form at some times for the relatively medium term future.

So, for a person that derives a great deal of value and pleasure from the free dining, and would come out of pocket relatively less or wouldn't be as happy, you do lose some value with DVC. For me, the value of free dining is relatively low. We would not purchase it, don't like table service that often at WDW, and make use of the kitchens in the villas. I put a premium on the extra space of the villa, which is where I think nothing can touch DVC.

 

[mopee3]

This is the timeshare for us, of that we have no doubt. It's always the first destination we want. We love it still, so for us it works.

Love your answer because it is right where we are, and have been since we joined. One 38 year old daughter can hardly wait to get back, another 35 year old daughter can’t wait to take her 2 daughters and son back, then we have a son and daughter who wonder what the big deal is all about.

Some people see the glass as half empty and others half full. I believe we receive what we believe we will receive.

If you think you will get a crappy view....... well you probably will. The trip last fall, 4 adults and 2 teen boys, we were put in rooms that were wonderful. A corner room at WLV which was huge, a end room at AKV that was close to the main lobby, a THV room 100 feet from the pool and 200 feet from the boat dock, and a top floor room within 150 feet from quiet pool on the canal at OKW. Wow did we get great rooms. But then again maybe it's luck of the draw or maybe when you believe you will receive the best you get it! But then again in the few short years, and half a dozen trips, we have been going to the world we have never had a bad room or experience. But then we are newby’s compared to the old “private members”.

Now back to the show.

Moe

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Its a big commitment and a lot of money, especially now, but don't worry so much about saving money.

DVC is really about enhancing your Disney experience. We own at the BW and BLT (will be there 1 month from today!!) Although we haven't stayed at the BLT yet, the BW is just awesome. It really has a great atmosphere, theme and views. Staying in a 1 bedroom BW view for a week is soooo nice--I like it even better than an ocean view room at the beach

Think of what you get for the price of a moderate. If you stay in a 1 bedroom
you get a KING SIZE bed, Washer /dryer (doesn't sound like a perk but it is believe it or not), a full kitchen with a full size refridgerator where you can get a nice COLD glass of soda or beverage of your choice after touring the parks all day. You will save money on breakfast by eating in your kitchen (if you chose to). You have a nice jacuzzi tub, an awesome balcony, themed pools with waterslides at all the DVC resorts, you have access to HH & VB of which VB is Right on the beach, you can stay at all the resorts and be within walking distance to Epcot & DHS (BC & BW) or Mk (BLT) or a short boat ride away (WL).

Think of it as being a better model of a car. Some cars don't come with A/C-- but A/c makes driving in the car that much better. In the end the payments don't make much difference on a monthly basis, but the experience is worth every dime to be comfortable. That is what you are getting with DVC-- Better experiences at Disney!!! at a moderate price. What is more magical than that?

 

[lark]

Two years ago we bought a Marriott EOY timeshare in Aruba (thank you Dean!) and last year instead of sweating in Orlando I drank an adult beverage while floating on a raft relaxing.

You'll also probably need another stiff adult beverage or two over the next few years as the MFs keep rising and special assessments keep rolling in on the roof problems and the hurricane damage to Aruba Ocean Club!

$2,000 for a 2 BR in Aruba? Ouch.