Interesting thread in the resort section,...

[tgj]

I think another reason for people not buying in is the misconception that initial costs are out of their range. I myself thought for years that the initial price was closer to $100K than $10K!!!!!

DVC should make a point of informing the public that you can buy in for about the price of a car....

 

[stopher1]

I probably would have been one of the people writing about going every year and staying in Deluxe accomodations just a year ago. Well, by a year ago, maybe not, since we had decided we were going to buy sometime... But for years we thought DVC was not for us for the following reasons:

1. It's a Timeshare. Timeshare? You've got to be kidding me, we aren't the type of family that would ever own a timeshare. Timeshare, slimeshare, no way, we're not getting suckered into something like that. They're all scams anyway.

2. We only stay in DELUXE accomodations. We love the Beach Club, the Boardwalk, and the Grand Floridian best, although Animal Kingdom savannah view is pretty cool.

3. We plan far in advance, but we'd probably have to buy some week or something, and we go at different times every year.

4. We do a lot of travel to places other than WDW. Who wants to get locked in to going to the same place every year?

Seriously, this was what we would have said just a few years ago. We're Disney fans, we go just about every year, and we were literally perfect DVC candidates... but we had NO idea. We didn't even know enough to worry about no housekeeping... that became a fear once we learned more. And I will say, it really did used to be the best kept secret. I learned about it here, not at WDW. I will also say, I have an automatic reflex to sheer away and give a wide berth to anyone trying to sell me something. To this day, I see a timeshare kiosk anywhere and I walk to the other side of the path... old habits die hard, even though we might be in the market for another one before too long!

We were very much the same in a variety of ways to your 4 reasons in our-pre-DVC days - especially #1. My FIL has 7 or 8 different timeshares with various companies, with the intent of "leaving them" to the kids one day. Sadly he never plans appropriately and ALWAYS ends up with left-overs, and then likes to "share" with his 4 kids and their families... every place we've been with him is yuck. Definite bad taste in our mouths regarding timeshares - and with that, DW has already said, if he does pass one on to us in his will, we'll be selling it as quickly as possible - she just doesn't want it.

Fast forward through the years of DW stating emphatically she never wants to own a timeshare and staying at all levels of WDW resorts, as well as DL to us finally enjoying our first trips home last year to AKV, as well as staying at BWV, and at all 3 of the DLR hotels on points and now our membership is at 3 resorts (well, we will be 3 next week when we get the paperwork finalized on our VGC purchase). We love the the flexibility DVC provides, and can't wait to be able to try to use our points someday in Hawaii, as well as using our points to visit other Disney destinations around the world. DVC may not be the cheapest timeshare out there, but in our opinion, it is well worth our time and money. We still do travel to other places OUTSIDE the Disney sphere (and always will) - our kids have been to 35 of these United States as well as Canada and Mexico - and eventually will go abroad to Europe & elsewhere, whether via our DVC or not. There's definitely more to traveling than just going to WDW - but since we're going anyway, we're making the most of our membership and not regretting it. To each his/her own.

 

[Nikisha421]

interesting posts here and even more interesting posts overs there...anyhow all i say is that the grass always looks greener from the other side no matter what side your on!!!

 

[nyck]

I just spent way too much of my time that I will never get back reading that thread. I do agree with the statement that DVC is not for everyone, but the ignorant reasons people give are just flat out silly. LOL. I respect the people that say it is just not for me, but the " I don't want to see a kitchen" or " I want my bathroom cleaned and sheets changed everyday" are just down right pathetic. They don't change the sheets everyday at the resorts anyway. LOL. They just make up that bed with the same dirty sheets and comforter. They don't even change the comforters between people! They had a story on dateline about hotels not doing that. So the "Germaphobic" people better be taking there own linens if they feel it is necessary to clean a bathroom on daily bases. They would have a heart attack if they put that comforter under a UV light to see what was actually on it. LOL.

 

[Golden Rose]

interesting posts here and even more interesting posts overs there...anyhow all i say is that the grass always looks greener from the other side no matter what side your on!!!

Oh, I don't know about that. The grass is definitely greener on this side!

It may have taken me a few years to believe and buy, but I don't waste any time longing for the days of smaller, more expensive rooms and mousekeeping. (On the other hand, I do hope they'll eventually do a DVC at the GF or the Poly. I love the monorail resorts, but the CR/BLT isn't really our thing.)

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Definately an "interesting thread" to read and as they and we, always say, DVC is certainly not for everyone.

 

[hakepb]

I guess ignorance is bliss.

IF someone wants to pay that much more not so see a stove and to have a mint on their pillow at night (MANY of them have said exactly this), then far be it from me to suggest they shouldn't.

I look at it this way. Somebody's gotta be the sucker and pay the high prices at WDW CRO so they can continue to turn a profit and stay in the black. Somebody's gotta do it. Some of those people have so much as said they have so much money that it doesn't matter to them. GOOD for them! Keeps things more affordable to me. Suits me just fine.

I'd rather have deluxe accomodations for 1/3 the price and they can keep the mint. Different strokes for different folks.

Personally, I wish DVC was Disney's Best Kept Secret.

If someone realizes there is money to be saved in DVC ownership, but chooses to pay more for something they value(even if "kitchenitis" makes no sense to me), then good for them! They are spending their money on what makes them more happy and in the end, that is fine.

 

[Anal Annie]

I only read the first page of that thread...I agree the kitchen comments are sorta funny. There is no obligation to cook and I also do not want to cook on vacation but that's why we can get by just fine in a studio. The microwave, toaster & frig. are perfect for us. ANYWAY, we bought because we liked the deluxe resorts and were going just about every year but felt we were being priced out of the deluxes.

Now, I have a cousin who also goes once or twice a year - usually in the ASM suites...they skipped last year 'cuz she just had another baby...but are going in May to Caribbean Beach on the buy 4 get 3 deal and again next January 'cuz he runs the marathon...not sure where they will stay for that trip. They didn't take the DVC tour but they checked into the DVD & mailings for DVC about a year or so ago and were frankly just turned off by the annual dues. They figured they were staying for less on whatever the deal of the day is that they find. They have not tried a deluxe or a DVC resort yet so they don't know any better & don't know what else they may be missing and I can accept that. I see her point and I am not going to push DVC at them if they're happy with the cheaper resorts. It's their money and they could always change their minds if they can't find any "good deals" thru CRO. For now they just prefer to plan & pay for 1 trip at a time. That's what works for them and we did the same thing for many years. Of course we wish we'd bought sooner now, but it IS a big commitment for many people.

DVC eventually made sense for us and makes planning vacations a lot easier but we DO still spend a lot as we go more than once for sure now. We have a total of 14 nights booked for this year and I'm still budgeting $3,000 spending money above and beyond our airfare for the 2 trips. So yes, our accomodations are covered...but it's still not "free". I think we'd have still spent about $5-6,000 w/o DVC though.... It just depends on your individual vacation habits.

 

[DizGirl20]

This is a really good thread, as is the one the OP refers to over on the resort boards. We are considering a DVC purchase, so I need to consider all points of view. Keep it coming, I say!

 

[fkj2]

You guys DO realize that anyone can come over here and read this, right?

We're on the edge of deciding to buy, and it would be very good for us, and we don't let people sway us, but some people do consider the company they might keep, and this sort of "let's laugh at their thoughts" thread is really...my true feelings about it probably shouldn't be typed, but it's just not very nice. It's probably pushing people away, emotionally at least, when they might have wanted to check it out.

As far as I know there are no private forums here, so remember, anything you write about people "over there" can easily be read by those very same people.

I don't see any difference between owners teasing a bit about DVC and other resort guests who think it's ridiculous that we've paid all that money to buy into DVC; it cuts both ways. I don't think it's necessarily anyone's intent to laugh at people as much as some of their misperceptions.

As an example, I booked a studio at OKW in January to attend an off-site medical conference. Based on the maintenance fees, I should be paying about $277.30 (give or take) for five nights. I'd pay more than that for ONE NIGHT at the Gaylord. Why wouldn't I want to sway someone to enjoy the same savings?

Look, if DVCers weren't actually trying to help other folks who also love vacationing at WDW, we wouldn't encourage you to buy in. It's just that we've found DVC to be a wonderful experience: great accommodations and at a reasonable price, certainly after the buy-in. Am I trying to "sway" you? Perhaps, but it'd be for your benefit. There's nothing to be gained by me as an owner. My maintenance fees will remain the same regardless of who does--or doesn't--buy in.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Look, if DVCers weren't actually trying to help other folks who also love vacationing at WDW, we wouldn't encourage you to buy in. It's just that we've found DVC to be a wonderful experience: great accommodations and at a reasonable price, certainly after the buy-in. Am I trying to "sway" you? Perhaps, but it'd be for your benefit. There's nothing to be gained by me as an owner. My maintenance fees will remain the same regardless of who does--or doesn't--buy in.

If asked I would tell anyone about dvc and have at length, but only when asked. But in general I dont bring it up, especially while at wdw. And iif someone says a single negative thing regarding dvc then I say no more and let them think I am the fool. If I were to try to sway them, that would make them right, being a fool. Think about it, why would I want to sway someone to compete with me for the resorts/villas/dates of my preference? They can have (or not have) their wdw ways/means and I will have mine. I have said time and time again that my ONLY regret is not having bought dvc sooner !!!

 

[wulfekamp]

I love it when you talk to people about DVC and within minutes you see there eyes glaze over. Most people don't get it. I'm kind of glade more for me.

 

[wulfekamp]

Ok everyone be quit. Were a secret you know. And for gods sake don't show them the secret hand shake. Some of those people over there don't have a clue. Where did they get some of that stuff. With what some of those people have paid at rack rates they could have paid off there DVC. Do you think they know our secret pass word is Welcome Home.

 

[NSL]

I am just glad there is a place like the DVC discussion forums where some do understand. I don't even mention Disney around my family or friends. People just look at me like I am crazy wanting to go to Disney more than once in my lifetime. I love my DVC, if for other reason because I don't have to worry about the cost (as much), I know there are tickets, food, etc., but not as much as we were once planning for. I know I can go on vacation at least once a year, and it has been paid for. I have my dues that I pay once a year, but I know it is coming and have planned for it.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

My favorite is people are TERRIFIED to have an oven in the room! They would feel obligated to cook

As someone said, different strokes for different folks. I love going all out on vacation (we budget as such, so that we don't have to worry about the expense while ON vacation), and eating at the nice restaurants is part of the experience. HOWEVER, for our family of five, there is very little value in eating out at an expensive breakfast every single day of our trip. One character breakfast is nice, but that is usually enough for us. The kids would much rather down some cereal (hot or cold), or have me whip up banana pancakes and scrambled eggs, and get on with the day...and the price beats out spending $50 (or even $100) for breakfast for every day of our stay.

On the money front, besides the breakfast $$$ savings, with a kitchen we can whip up hot late night snacks (frozen pizza, frozen lasagna, frozen chicken wings, etc.) easily, instead of spending $$$ on room service.

Again, to each his or her own, but we expect to make good use of the kitchens; in fact, they will enhance our stay by giving us flexibility.

- Wide Eyed Wonder

 

[Judy WI]

My husband still doesn't understand it and we have been members for a few years now. I just remember when I was telling him about DVC and told him the up front cost he just about had a heart attach - he thought that was each YEAR. So I control our DVC and all is well.

 

[Brian Noble]

You know, if you think a DVC vs. Resorts feud is bad, get involved in one of the onsite vs. offsite "discussions". That'll curl your hair!

 

[wulfekamp]

Thats why I only post on DVC boards I lurk on the others. If your not DVC you don't get it. And you can't make them get it.

 

[SunnieRN]

Before I learned more about DVC I really believed it was "Just another timeshare". Worse yet, the cost seemed prohibitive as we are a family of five. What do you mean that we have to stay in a 2 bedroom once the baby is three?? How many points is that....etc etc etc.
Then everywhere we walked we saw a dvc kiosk....Hmmmm I bet that if you went to a sales presentation it would be horrible, terrible pressure!
Well, we found out that AKV 1 bedrooms sleep five comfortably and bought there....
We went to a no pressure whatsoever sales pitch and got our socks blown off!!
Then we added on to be at a deluxe monorail resort!! How cool is that for the price??!!
As for not understanding the dvc concept, not surprising, with all the garbage out there!
I'm VERY glad I didn't let my pre conceived notions keep us from purchasing!!

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Most, if not all of the objections are totally unfounded.

We only like to say in Deluxe resorts
We may not go every year
We don't want to have to clean and cook
We don't want to have to book at 11 months out
Points have to be bought from DVC
Banking/borrowing is to hard
We get cheaper Deluxe rates from coupons
We don't want to have to clean my our bathroom every day
We don't want to be forced to go every year
We like to vacation outside of WDW
We don't like the look of a villa

What else did I miss?