How has DVC changed over the last 10 years?

[bobbiwoz]

You can use TIW at CS at Saratoga Springs.

Yes, I forgot about that one!

 

[Sammie]

Some of the sofa beds have improved. The ones at OKW are not that good and are sit very hard when it is closed up. I'd prefer the old ones with the bar over the platform ones. The ones at BCV and BWV that flip from the back are comfortable for sleeping but still not so comfortable for sitting.

Also if you have someone that has trouble getting in and out of the bed, the ones at the BCV, while more comfortable, are difficult due to the position of the cushion right where you need to step out of the bed.

I think with sofa beds its simply a lesser of the evils.

As to changes to DVC, the perks don't bother me. While I like the AP discount, it is not always the best ticket option for us. A discount on a 5 day pass would work better for us personally.

I don't like the changes to banking but I am sure it does not bother others, so I have learned to live with it.

I miss the magazine we used to get, the current one is a waste of the cost to print it.

 

[SusieBea]

You used to be able to pool hop to Storm Along Bay.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I know that it's not only DVC villas, but I love having the free WIFI in the room!

10 years ago, I didn't own DVC, but now we do, and it's been great for our family gatherings!

 

[dianeschlicht]

The title of this thread probably should have been "What has DVC changed over the past 20 years" so as not to exclude those of us who purchased earlier than 10 years ago.

 

[Tamar]

The AP discount is the biggest plus for the way we travel. It makes the APs a no-brainer for us, and it sure is nice to not have to even think about how our ticket choice might limit us during our vacation.

 

[wcpamotm]

Thanks for answering... Wow this would be great! Can TIW be used at CS restaurants or just TS?

To be excruciatingly complete, TIW is also good at Sassagoula Floatworks at Port Orleans as well as places already mentioned.

 

[Judique]

I think overall, perks have gotten better, except for the valet parking.

And the valet parking only bothers me when we dine at another resort. Buying a TIW card would ease that one, but I haven't had a need for one in several years.

What I miss most is DVC being small. When it was small you didn't have to worry about just having SSR or AKV as choices. I prefer the hotel type resorts. And you could waitlist and they would call you before booking it - you had 24 hours to get back to them. (I realize this is all unrealistic now because of size.)

And, when it was small, welcome home wednesdays were more intimate. It's just a little thing, but you would go in the morning to OKW and they would have a pastry tray, orange juice, coffee and a nice presentation. I bought 4 times, probably because the hype was more personal. And, you would do trivia for prizes - little prizes, such as pins, umbrellas, beach bag, can cosies, window shades for your car, beach towel, hats, a DVC watch, keychains, picture frames, picture albums - we've won them all.

I don't do the sales presentations now. It feels like a cattle call to me.

And I'll probably buy again for my grands - Blt or GFV - maybe even buy direct depending on what I feel like at the moment.

All that said, location is what is most important to me - and my DVC's still have that and I love it.

 

[Greysword]

The biggest change is that its about 3x bigger...

Because supply has gone up and due to the economy, demand isn't what it was - both for people renting points and for resale. Resale rates have drastically dropped while rental rates have remained stagnant, even perhaps going down a bit. There are other factors in play - shorter life left on the older resorts for instance.

I would say this is the most dramatic change that has occurred. Prolific building coupled with the loose financing options = foreclosures in the "great recession", which is leading us to the specter of a tiered system. "Back in the day" resale prices were ok, but not as great.

On another note, there was a lot less SSR bashing ...since it was going to be Eagle Pines, instead

Oh, and a VERY popular conversation was whether it was better to invest the money with a "likely" (LOL!) 5% ROI over the life of a DVC contract and use the interest to stay in a WDW hotel or to buy DVC. Well, we won't talk about that ROI

 

[Poppin]

In a word...crowds. Perks come and go. New resorts open. Parks are refurbished....new rides are introduced. But all I notice are crowds. It's quadrupled (at least) since we first began visiting. WDW needs to expand a bit faster to keep up.