If you could do it again would you?

[lulukate]

We are in discussions with DVC to purchase a contract. Haven't made a decision yet and are going back and forth on whether or not we want to do this, it's a lot of money, which resort should we have as our home, we have been to both DLR and WDW twice in the last 5 years, not sure if we should have GCV or one of the WDW as our home. I have lots of questions about the pros and cons of DVC membership but I guess the bottom line is - if you could do it again would you? Why or why not?

Thanks

 

[DenLo]

Yes I would do it again. If purchasing at WDW, I might consider buying resale only. Resale still seems to be a pretty good rate. However, if you want BLT the resale contracts are few and far between. If buying VGC then you would need to buy through the DVC.

Since you seem to split your vacations between WDW and DL, I would consider buying two smaller contracts, one at WDW and one at VGC. Maybe start with one and add-on later with the other.

Buy where you want to stay. That way you can get the 11 month advantage. As the resorts sell out the more important the 11 month reservations become especially during peak times like spring break and Christmas.

Since you vacation with Disney so frequently you will recover your initial investment within 5 to 7 years (possibly longer if you finance the cost). There are several threads about the recovery rate. And DVC Mike and others have good threads about which Use Year and whether the DVC is for you. Please check them out via a search.

Here is a good website on DVC for Beginners at DVC.com: http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/dvc-for-beginners

Good Luck.

 

[hakepb]

Yep, very, very glad I bought. The different resort experiences have been great! (I've stayed at SSR, BWV, AKV, OKW so far)

As far as DLR or WDW, which is usually a shorter/cheaper traveling distance? i.e if something (financially) happened and you had to do a cheaper driving vacation one year could you still use your 11 month advantage there? If you expect to vacation at WDW every year, you'd want WDW points (not outside). Same thing for DLR.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sure we would do it again. In fact, we would have bought more points. We love our DVC purchase. It allows us to go often and stay in really nice resorts.

 

[disneynutz]

We would buy again because we visit WDW 2 or 3 times a year and the discounted rooms do save us money. At the same time we spend a lot of money at WDW also. Restaurants, airfare, and shopping at Disney adds up.

We bought where we love to stay. If you are going to spend this much money, it only makes sense to get the resort and room you want, when you want it. Some folks don't care where or when they stay, but that's not us.

Expect Disney to change the DVC perks, rules of ownership, and what is offered at the parks and resorts. They call it enhancing the Guest experience, we call it getting greedy. Based upon our experience, Disney is 80% out for Disney and 20% Guest experience.

Expect your dues to go up 3% per year.

With all that being said, if you love Disney and visit WDW often, owning a DVC membership can save you money.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We bought our first contract in 1997. We added on with four more contracts (one resale, three through Disney). We sold two of them about three years ago. We'll probably be selling off the rest in the near future if the resale price on points goes back up.

It was fun while it lasted, but I think Disney charges way too much for new resorts. They are more into sales mode than maintaining mode and keeping existing members happy. Their focus is on growth rather than management.

It was more enjoyable when it was a cozy little "club". Now it's just a way for Disney to manage their bottom line.

 

[Pakey]

I feel similar to Deb & Bill. We have 3 contracts (the last one was purchased 6 years ago) and I would be willing to sell all 3 if I could. While I still enjoy going to Disney, I wish I didn't have to be tied to Disney or obligated to go so often. I also miss staying at some of the hotels but can't justify it with all of the points.

So I wish I had no points and I could have a nice deluxe hotel stay every 3-4 years and it would be enough Disney for me.

 

[nmmom95]

I would definitely do it again. We only go to WDW every 18-24 months, but we like stay sleeping habits, so it is very convenient. The DVC properties are all very nice. We have also gone to Disney's HHI Resort, and used points for a cruise. That may not be the best use of points, but it was fun!

 

[starbox]

This is our fifth year owning DVC, and I've NEVER regretted it!!!

We own at SSR and AKV - which were great for us, and we've had no problems at all getting other resorts (we've stayed everywhere except BLT and have that booked this May). I like the new resorts because of the longer contract, and SSR will make it possible for me to get a treehouse for future big family trips while I use AKV to book value studios for spring break every year.

Our vacation plans have changed as our approach to Disney has changed. With a teen and a tween, and many trips under our belt, we've gradually stopped being ride-focused or park-focused. We spend lots of time at the resort, lots of time dining, and lots of time doing whatever special thing the park has going - like we spent an entire day just doing F&W w/ no rides - and we do all the holiday storytellers, go see the gingerbread houses. I feel like we really slow down and enjoy things so much more now - and that would not have happened without DVC.

 

[Rainman]

Yes we would do it again. In fact we now feel we waited too long. We were not sure that we would make multiple trips and we thought it was too expensive. Ultimately, we made a second purchase. Additionally, we have made annual trips with an occasional second trip in a year. So by waiting to make the initial purchase and then for a second purchase the price went up.

The why: Our family really enjoys WDW. So, we want to make trips. The DVC resorts have what is important Location, Location, Location. Additionally, we enjoy the suite style accommodations. We find that the value of our vacation increases by not utilizing an off property suite style hotel or being on property in a standard room. This is a huge advantage.

 

[jodifla]

We are in discussions with DVC to purchase a contract. Haven't made a decision yet and are going back and forth on whether or not we want to do this, it's a lot of money, which resort should we have as our home, we have been to both DLR and WDW twice in the last 5 years, not sure if we should have GCV or one of the WDW as our home. I have lots of questions about the pros and cons of DVC membership but I guess the bottom line is - if you could do it again would you? Why or why not?

Thanks

Yes, I'd do it again...but not at today's prices. Today, I'd buy resale. I'd buy where I wanted to stay most often, just in case they change the rules.


We've been members 14 years, now, and have LOVED it, but have not loved all of the changes. But it's paid for, and has been for many, many years. It's a great value for us, as we like to go to WDW frequently.

 

[tiggspring]

Yes, I'd do it again...but not at today's prices. Today, I'd buy resale. I'd buy where I wanted to stay most often, just in case they change the rules.


We've been members 14 years, now, and have LOVED it, but have not loved all of the changes. But it's paid for, and has been for many, many years. It's a great value for us, as we like to go to WDW frequently.

What changes have upset you the most?

 

[DVC Mike]

Yes, I'd do it again - absolutely no regrets!

 

[travelbug]

Yes, I'd do it again. But at today's high prices for points, I'd definitely pursue resale.

I bought my first points 10 years ago, sight unseen, and have never regretted it.

 

[edk35]

I have no regrets other than wishing we had done in back in the early 90's when we almost bought in. Love DVC. Looking back we should have bought long before 2007.

 

[AirGoofy]

What changes have upset you the most?

I went re-sale and waited for the resort and specific number of points. After we did and made it through ROFR, the change that upset me was the adjustment of the points for the stays. It knocked my out of the originally planned two vacations a year. However, I don't regret it. I just have to be creative in banking & borrowing, and will probably buy another small contract in the future to make up the difference.

 

[Donna M]

We are very glad we bought about 7 years ago, we even added on. We like the option of staying in different resorts. When staying for a week, a one room hotel just wouldn't do anymore; we've been spoiled by the space and amenities of the villas.

 

[theww228]

Yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat.

The important things to understand/do before buying:
Do not plan on any of the perks lasting
Understand the point system (banking, 7 and 11 month ressies, borrowing, transfers, etc.)
Understand how point reallocations work
Understand what is involved to trade out for different vacations
Visit the resorts before buying

Best of luck in your choice!

 

[littlestar]

Yes. For one use only though - staying at a DVC resort. And I'd only buy resale now because the spread between developer and resale has grown too far apart from when we first joined DVC in 2002. We bought our BCV points for $75 a point.

Over the years we've owned a total of 550 DVC points. Now we're down to 155 at SSR. We've bought other timeshare systems (resale) for very cheap (almost free) for our other non-Disney trips. No way would I ever buy DVC to trade it in RCI when a $1.00 timeshare on Ebay will work just as well.

 

[spiceycat]

Yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat.

The important things to understand/do before buying:
Do not plan on any of the perks lasting
Understand the point system (banking, 7 and 11 month ressies, borrowing, transfers, etc.)
Understand how point reallocations work
Understand what is involved to trade out for different vacations
Visit the resorts before buying

Best of luck in your choice!

that a tall order many of the guides don't understand those things.

brought back in 1993 - DVC (now called OKW), also brought VB, BWV, VWL and my latest BLT.

sold OKW in 2008 to buy BLT. sold vb long ago.

love disney - moving close by it. So no regrets