How much does word of mouth affect DVC sales?

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We are in the process of buying at BLT. The docs should be here tomorrow, but after reading this thread I am REALLY having cold feet!! We bought at DL for 160 pts, and got matching DL points to be used by 10/3 along with 2 premium passes and a $5.00 p/pt credit.
I haven't seen the 2010 point chart and NOTHING was mentioned about reallocating points at our mtg only 2 weeks ago. In fact our rep was careful to point out that the charts had only been reallocated 2x during the history of DVC.

Should I still sign on the dotted line???:confused3 Would love your opinion.

If you can deal with not always getting the accommodations you want, are able to book most of your vacations 10 - 11 months in advance, plan on vacationing once per year, and don't mind changes, then go for it.

Other wise, I would rent from an existing member, for as long as they allow renting.
 
We are in the process of buying at BLT. The docs should be here tomorrow, but after reading this thread I am REALLY having cold feet!! We bought at DL for 160 pts, and got matching DL points to be used by 10/3 along with 2 premium passes and a $5.00 p/pt credit.
I haven't seen the 2010 point chart and NOTHING was mentioned about reallocating points at our mtg only 2 weeks ago. In fact our rep was careful to point out that the charts had only been reallocated 2x during the history of DVC.

Should I still sign on the dotted line???:confused3 Would love your opinion.

If I was new, I don't know if I would be signing. I loved my DVC but right now I am just disappointed in how it is being run right now. Its still a good deal. Just doesn't feel the same the last few months.
 
If I was new, I don't know if I would be signing. I loved my DVC but right now I am just disappointed in how it is being run right now. Its still a good deal. Just doesn't feel the same the last few months.

Actaully now that I think about it I WOULDN'T sign and I would rip it up send it back and buy resale. There are some GREAT bargins going on right now.
 
I have to say NOT one of these changes had any impact on our vacations. They all sound so bad but in reality our vacations are awesome, we book both at 11 months at AKV and at 7 months (BCV) with no problems whatsoever with availability. We get great rooms with HUGE accomodations for a very reasonable price the kids have a fantastic time. We take MORE vacations together now than before (this is a good thing) and our family all joins in to plan our next trip. It's a great bonding experience. I would challenge people to see past the internet hype of these changes and look at the big picture.

I own Starwood and Marriott too and by far the best TS system is DVC. You should see what sort of changes these other companies are making right now. :sad2:
 

For example:


Anyone else got something to add?

9. They created a program that would allow you to be a founding member at GCV to be able to purchase "up to 160 points" 90 days prior to the property going on sale to the general public. This was done with a signed contract. Clear expectations and discussions with sales people at the time were that it would be no different than the 25 points minimums that had been going on forever. Once the founding member sale was announced a minimum of 100 pts was created.

10. Are beginning a new limitations on waitlists. Only two current at any one time.
 
I can no longer in good conscience recommend DVC anymore, since with all the changes, who knows what value it will have for any individual in the future. I know for my use my membership has devalued by my estimations at least 25% in the last year (Weekday stays have gone yup 20%, waitlist changes make it more difficult to pickup pieces at a time, other members (who stay a full week in the same DVC resort) have that ability to book the same room for the same date before me and nothing new to offset these declines. Do not get me wrong I still enjoy DVC, it is just “devalued”

I lot of being comfortable about buying for me was reading “with a grain of salt” the opinions on this board, good and bad. I am quite sure that if the number of changes had occurred before I was considering purchasing that I would not have and would have viewed DVC as just another typical timeshare (which I would never buy into).

bookwormde
 
We are in the process of buying at BLT. The docs should be here tomorrow, but after reading this thread I am REALLY having cold feet!! We bought at DL for 160 pts, and got matching DL points to be used by 10/3 along with 2 premium passes and a $5.00 p/pt credit.
I haven't seen the 2010 point chart and NOTHING was mentioned about reallocating points at our mtg only 2 weeks ago. In fact our rep was careful to point out that the charts had only been reallocated 2x during the history of DVC.

Should I still sign on the dotted line???:confused3 Would love your opinion.

I would sign on the dotted line, as the pros of DVC far outweigh any cons.
 
As I have never used a waitlist in 16 years, the new 2 per year rule has no impact on my usage at all, the first reallocation in 1996 had basically no impact, nor does the current reallocation. The 100 point minimum add-on, if I were to be purchasing DVC today, would also likely have no impact, I simply would have done a single 115 point add-on rather than 3 smaller ones spread out over 4 years.

I know many members own small add-ons at multiple resorts, and it works for them, but for me, I like my vacation planning simple...all of my points are at OKW. I like staying at my home resort. If I want to stay at a different resort, but can not get availability at 7 months, it is not a major disappointment. I don't plan vacations years in advance, our vacation habits/seasons change over the years, so a 25 point contract at a different resort with the necessity to constantly bank/borrow just for a few days at a different resort every 3 years just has no appeal to me at all.

Remember any change will affect different members in different ways. A change may be good for some members, bad for others or have no impact at all on many, no matter what the change may be. For instance, the AP discount. It works to the advantage of many members, but not everyone. A regular ticket discount may work for some, and not for others. Dining discounts works for some, not for others, the DDP is popular with many members, for us as two adults, we eat more TS than the standard DDP allows, and still spend less on food than the DDP would cost us. No change or system is perfect for everyone.
 
Thanks everyone for all your input. I will actually read all the legal-ease in the contract and now with all your help, I can make an informed decision.

See you at BLT (hopefully!!)
 
For example:

1. Suddenly, DVC removed all the ceramic mugs and real glasses out of the studios and replaced them with styrofoam cups. Not as environmental as Disney claims to be, but probably in response to a story on TV or in the newspaper about dirty hotel rooms and WDW was mentioned in the story. DVC offered the reason as no dishwashers in the studios.

2. A few years ago, commercial renters started taking advantage of transfers and DVC suddenly decided to enforce the one transfer in or out a year. Up to that point, members were able to transfer multiple times a year and it was stated as such in a previous POS. However POS before that one stated one in or out a year.

3. OKW members were "offered" the ability to add additional years to their contract. OKW members had to return notarized documents by a deadline if they wished to decline the offer. Rather than opt in, it was opt out. OKW members who opted in were supposed to receive a gift. Nothing was heard for months until a few members finally received information. Members who opted out were also supposed to receive something. Nothing was sent out.

4. Vacation Magic was suddenly stopped and replaced out of the blue with the Disney Files. Vacation Magic was all about DVC with one or two smaller stories about Disney. Disney Files is all about Disney with one or two smaller stories about DVC.

5. Eagles Pines was announced as a new future resort. Suddenly, SSR appeared and EP just seemed to disappear. EP property was sold to Four Seasons for a Four Seasons condominium.

6. AKV founding members were told they would have their names stitched on a tapestry that would hang in Kidani Village Lobby. Suddenly the tapestry disappeared and was replaced with an African robe. They were also supposed to get a miniature copy of the tapestry for as a perk. This tapestry was replaced with two different items for some of the founding members. Founding members were asking when for months before they finally heard about their copy of the tapestry. Some never got the copy of the tapestry.

7. Some early members who purchased into AKV and BLT did not receive Developer points with their purchase. Later purchasers did. The way to use the DP changed as did the number received.

8. DVC suddenly decided to raise the minimum number of points without much notice. It went from 150 to 160 to buy in. At BLT the minimum add-on went from 25 to 100.
9. They created a program that would allow you to be a founding member at GCV to be able to purchase "up to 160 points" 90 days prior to the property going on sale to the general public. This was done with a signed contract. Clear expectations and discussions with sales people at the time were that it would be no different than the 25 points minimums that had been going on forever. Once the founding member sale was announced a minimum of 100 pts was created.

10. Are beginning a new limitations on waitlists. Only two current at any one time.
Anyone else got something to add?

1) This is not the worst idea. How do you now the people before you washed those dishes?
2) Not an issue, never have used transfers.
3) Yep, we opted out, never received anything.
4) Disney Files is ok. No matter which magazine, I find the articles more interesting. Before it used to get a 2 minute flip through the pages and heaved into the garbage.
5) Don't Golf. Company priorities change. No affect.
6) Didn't buy then so didnt expect anything. However, the DVC promise department definitely needs fixing (see 3 above).
7a) This sounds like timing. Were DPs being offered when the people that did not receive them purchased?
7b) Agree, Dining plan now sucks. This is Disney, not DVC though.
8) They do have the right to do this. I would "hope" they did this in light of knowing the upcoming point changes for 2010.
9) I dont fully understand what you are trying to say, but I kind of get it. Their timing has been bad on a few things.
10) I like this change. Hopefully this will improve availability!

Most of the changes I don't view as bad. What I do see are two things that DVC is falling down on.
The 1st being delivering on promises. ie:#3 and #6.

For a company that manufactures pixie dust and makes dreams come true, this is inexcusable.
The 2nd is delivery/execution. This is where they have fallen down recently.

Disney freaks, yep thats us, don't really like change. We want change, but anything that was there in 1971 better be there now or there will be heck to pay. :lmao: The execution of these changes has been horrible, especially to new members (If i closed a week ago, i wouldn't be happy now). We as DVC members should speak out that the team in charge of DVC is not doing their job. If change is phased, in with reasons for it, it would be more palatable. Heck, they could have even done all of these changes at once, but let us know 6 months in advance so we can plan for it.
 
Members with larger contracts seem less concerned by the point changes. Perhaps they tend to stay for longer periods of time whereas anyone with the minimum buy in stays for just the weeknights. That was the only way we could afford DVC but we were thrilled that we could do it knowing that weekend stays would not be an option. While we will still use the points that we have to enjoy DVC, we will end up staying elsewhere for 3 nights a week now instead of just Friday, Saturday. I don't think DVC cares one way or another as long as the room is occupied.

We have friends that purchased last year and are very disappointed so we regret promoting it. Neighbors who will be traveling with us in November will no longer be attending the DVC presentation.. They are looking elsewhere and I think it's a wise choice.
 
If you buy at BLT - I would take the total weekly number of points and divide by the nights you want to guarantee getting every year - and buy that amount. If 165 covers your needs for the season and nights you need - then great. Don't buy counting on those Sun-Thurs. points. That's what many did and are now facing deficits of 40-60 points for their regular vacations.
 
I actually was upset at the changes but with the initial contract you still have quite a few points if you plan good enough you can still do a lot with them.Will I buy any more points probably not .Will I recommend I have not decided but( but probably) I still think Disney's vacation club is still probably time share programs out there .To get the most of the points you just have to plan a little better. In stead of a week maybe cut down to 6 days or split a large room with a studio.Just my opinion though
 
We are in the process of buying at BLT. The docs should be here tomorrow, but after reading this thread I am REALLY having cold feet!! We bought at DL for 160 pts, and got matching DL points to be used by 10/3 along with 2 premium passes and a $5.00 p/pt credit.
I haven't seen the 2010 point chart and NOTHING was mentioned about reallocating points at our mtg only 2 weeks ago. In fact our rep was careful to point out that the charts had only been reallocated 2x during the history of DVC.

Should I still sign on the dotted line???:confused3 Would love your opinion.


I wouldn't. In fact, I didn't. I had 2 51-point BLT add-ons in my hands awaiting signature when the latest changes happened. Now 51 points won't work for us. I debated a few days, then called my guide and told him I would not be signing. He still has not called me back, btw, but I notice the 2 contracts are now missing when i check my account at dvcmember.com. As I told my guide, I'm just going to sit back and watch for a while. ;)
 
Since this thread has morphed into a discussion of the new points requirements, you may visit This Thread on our DVC Planning Board to continue it. Thank you.
 
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