Is DVC what you expected?

[rodserry]

Thrilled. Actually it has exceeded our expectations. We've had the best trips of our lives, love the new AKV, and we have used excess points at the Hotel Del Coronado for romantic getaways for my wife and I.

Cannot be happier.

 

[WDWLVR]

We've been members since early 2000 and are quite happy with DVC and it is everything we expected. We purchased to be able to get a one bedroom villa anytime we wanted at Disney. We most often use those one bedrooms, sometimes a studio, once even a two bedroom.

We have enjoyed the extra perk of $$$ off of our AP's. We've enjoyed the Merry Member Mixers in the past as well as paid events like the Member Cruises. For us DVC was and is what we expected and more.

 

[mooneyda]

DVC is perfect for me I do not plan on doing anything other than Disney resorts.So it is everything I expected

 

[nordkin]

DVC is everything we expected and more. Before we bought I did a lot of research and fully understood the contract. We are not upset with the recent point reallocation because we knew it could happen because it states it in the contract. The key for us is understanding everything before we bought. We understand it is a business and has to be run like a business.

We recently stayed at SSR and had a wonderful experience. We feel our DVC trips are more relaxed and the people staying at the DVC villas more friendly than the hotels.

We are going to do our second add-on in the very near future and do not regret the purchases one bit.

 

[AnnaS]

So far (8 1/2 years) it has been everything I expected and sometimes more.

We have taken 4 DCL cruises and have used a combination of points and cash. Because of DVC, our family of five took the 11 N. Med. cruise in 07 (paid one cabin - 2 adults with cash and one cabin - three children with points). That was really special.

We were lucky and got our match for what I call our first official trade to The Royal Sands for this July (I know the future is RCI and will wait for feedback and TUG reports to see if I want to try again in a few years).

Because of DVC - I plan on trying all the DVC resorts that I know I would not have paid cash for - we would have stayed in moderates only. We have stayed at the BWVs, OKW, BCVs - this August we are staying at AKVs (Kidani) and plan on adding HH on the way home from AKV.

So far, so good.

 

[Sheribo]

We have loved our DVC membership - 4 trips so far. We planned to spend many lazy hours the DVC resorts in the future. Sadly, we now feel shafted since our vacation will go up by 45 points next year and we can't afford it. We knew it was possible that they would change the charts but I didn't think it would be so much. We'll still go but for shorter periods of time and will caution anyone thinking of buying in to budget for that possibility.

Just 48 days until our next visit home!!!

 

[alldiz]

I bought DVC to be able to travel to WDW and stay in very nice accomodations more often than I would be able to without DVC.

Mission accomplished
Kerri

 

[stitchineeyore]

All we expected, and much more. My DH bought the first points as a birthday gift for me, and has added on since. BLT was my last birthday present! While we usually go to WDW, we have also gone to Scotland (125 points for a week in a cottage, back then), London, nearly three weeks in California (including 5 nights in Disneyland), and a cruise. The point is, we have tried most of the things available, and every single trip has been wonderful. Also, I have never experienced the difficulties with member services some folks talk about. Certainly, there are CMs who are more experienced than others. Also, as with any business, some CMs are terrific and others only so-so. We have had both. Bottom line, I cannot imagine selling off my membership. My BLT contract will outlive me, but my DD will enjoy it and remember all the good times we had together at WDW and other places, all because of DVC. Love it!

 

[twinklebug]

We recently stayed at SSR and had a wonderful experience. We feel our DVC trips are more relaxed and the people staying at the DVC villas more friendly than the hotels..

It's true. I think it's due to the fact that most hotel families are in the mindset that this may be their last trip to Disney and try to squeeze every last bit of activity out of it. DVC folk on the other hand can sit back and relax knowing we'll have more visits coming ... hence, more time to stop and say hi. Knowing we have more trips coming also eliminates the "I earned this trip for my family, so my kids are better than yours" attitudes from the villas. There has to be a name for that mentality - anyone know it?

DVC probably considers "Welcome Home Wednesdays" the equivalent of happy hour.

I'm sorry - I saw Deevee See's intro to BLT & don't think I could put up with a "game show" run by her character and consider it a way to meet other DVC folk ... I'd be running in the other direction too fast.

 

[disney1474]

Yes!! We are very happy with our membership

 

[teacher2525]

we are quite happy with our DVC. We were fortunate to buy when the interest rates dropped dramatically so the large chunk of money needed for the initial purchase felt like free money because we refinanced our mortgage and actually lowered our mortgage payment and purchase our DVC points Our only cost out of our pocket is dues and the dues are well worth the opportunity to stay in the deluxe resorts and all the price, I certainly couldn't afford it.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Pretty much, yes. There's always surprises, regardless of how well versed anyone thinks they might be pre-purchase, but generally it's what we expected.

 

[buzz5985]

Member since 2002. We love our DVC. We have had the opportunity to share our vacations with DH's sister family - they keep asking us when they can return to HH, and my sister's family last year. When we purchased, my DM was still alive so she and DF used our first points at VB and BWV, since she passed - my DF travels with us, DVC is flexible for us to be able to get the 2 BR we need with him traveling with us - previously we were a studio/1BR family.

Janis

 

[Maribel]

We purchased in 2004, after my first daughter was born.
Previous to purchasing, I had the opportunity to stay several times at the Dolphin and on the Beach Club Hotel during work conferences.
I remember walking by the Boardwalk thinking how great would be to stay there on vacation, walking right into epcot, but the epcot area hotel were expensive to my budget.
Now, I'm a DVC owner and not only I get to stay at the epcot resort in a 1 bd villa with kitchen, big bathroom, king size bed, and space for everyone to unwind and relax after the parks, but I do so at a very discounted rate, being able to pay my MF monthly without interests.
I also was able to trade my points last years for a stay at the Disneyland Hotel in Paris, where you go from your hotel to the park in about... 1 minute walking, and the total cost of the whole trip was just about half what it would cost me if I had done it on cash.
There are minor disadvantages, like the need to plan well ahead of time my trips, when I was used to making last minute kind of plans using the florida resident room discounts. But that's ok, and I have to say I'm very happy with my purchase and I'm not planning in selling anytime soon. If anything, I may add-on on BLT in a couple of years.

 

[CheapMom]

Yes- I think it is what I expected for the most part. I have learned some things since buying in and there have been some changes but I haven't seen any of the changes as "major". I have rolled with the punches.

The one thing that has surprised is the inept execution of some the changes, the member site which is just plain broken, and the poor communication. Before my DVC experience I held Disney in a higher esteem regarding their professionalism. Hopefully though, as they evolve, they will step-up their game and show us members that "Disney Difference" they are always talking about.

 

[PrincessV]

I'd hazard to say that DVC has exceeded some of my expectations. Living near WDW, I take last-minute trips as well as long-planned trips. I didn't think I'd be able to count on DVC points for the last-minute varieties and consequently bought fewer points, planning to pay cash for a few nights a year. Turns out, I've been able to use my points every time and I really should've bought more!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Yes, DVC is exactly what I've expected, and we're very happy so far. We've only been members for about 1.5 years and have done I think 3 DVC stays in that time. I've been a DIS'er for a long time though and lurked on the the DVC boards for years before we purchased. Haven't had any bad surprises and love it!

We bought DVC for Disney resorts and I haven't done any other kind of stay. I'm not even sweating the 2010 point changes, I knew that could happen.

 

[WOW]

We have been members since 1996 and we still love it and go there often. We usually go several times each year, but this year will be hard to be able to do that........we will be renting points for the first time.......

 

[ILuvTigger]

DVC is so much better than I expected. I have 4 trips planned for this year, before DVC I vacationed in WDW once. I wouldn't have thought about doing that before.

 

[eliza61]

I bought in to stay at WDW at a decent price. Mission accomplished.

I 2nd. We have used our points at other places (mainly concerge collection) and they have been fantastic vacations, but basically we purchased so we could return to Disney at least every other year.