Is DVC what you expected?

[323sarg]

My wife and I have had our DVC membership for about 4 years now. While we really like the discount on rooms is this really a good deal now considering you can but a package cheaper now. Not to mention, we bought it to use all over not just Disney which works pretty well except for cruises which is a huge disappointment and to stay somewhere other than a DVC resort they charge $95. Discounts are specials are nothing to write home about. I know they do not have to offer anything, but taking care of your customers / members is or should be a big part of the equation.

While I don't think I am totally disappointed with my membership, I thought there would be better perks / benefits. With that said, I don't see myself getting rid of my membership.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I have the same issues as you. We bought in 2005 and loved the options of some of the concierge locations. Sadly, since then, they have removed all of those locations from our options (Atlantis resort, Arizona resort). We wait listed to do an RCI trade with a big window of months to go, 18 months in advance and at several different locations, and nothing came through. While we have used our membership by staying at the DVC resorts as well as on property hotels, we thought it would be easier to get to travel to all of the locations they offer. We've seriously considered selling our membership.

One more thing to add that I was recently told by a DVC castmember-once the new DVC resorts open (Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian, Bay Lake Towers) as DVC members we will not be able to stay at those hotels using our points. We will only be able to stay at the DVC resort within that property. We own at SSR and we've stayed at the Grand Californian every year. Now we won't be able to unless we stay at the DVC part of it. Since we don't own there we have to wait until the 7 month window and with only 40 some units, availability will be small.

The more they change things, the less we are able to use our membership the way we wanted. Last year I went on a tour of the new Grand Californian sales area and spoke to the DVC guide about just this issue and her response was for me to buy more points at different resorts. Huh? Even with buying more, say 50 points at the Grand, I can only make reservations for that many points at the 11 month window. Her reasoning made no sense to me.

With the economy the way it is, selling probably isn't a good idea. But I agree with you that I feel that they should take care of their members, too!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

DVC is a timeshare. Although it's a flexible, points-based system, DVC has many of the same advantages and disadvantages of a conventional week-based timeshare.

The big advantage is that, in the long run, you can stay at really nice Disney resorts for just the cost of your annual dues. And the annual dues represent the actual cost of operating and maintaining each resort, plus a set "management fee" (profit) for Disney.

The disadvantage is that, for as long as you own, you are committed to paying the annual dues and you need to figure out how to use your points each year. (Usually, that's a nice problem to have, but it's not good if changes in your life make it difficult to take vacations for a few years.)

Any perks are just gravy. Our annual dues do not fund perks (nor should they). So the perks, such as park and dining discounts, are designed to increase revenue for the business entities providing those perks. That makes complete sense to me.

The "trade out" options are not guaranteed and are subject to change.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I...One more thing to add that I was recently told by a DVC castmember-once the new DVC resorts open (Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian, Bay Lake Towers) as DVC members we will not be able to stay at those hotels using our points. We will only be able to stay at the DVC resort within that property. We own at SSR and we've stayed at the Grand Californian every year. Now we won't be able to unless we stay at the DVC part of it. Since we don't own there we have to wait until the 7 month window and with only 40 some units, availability will be small. ...

It's always been that way. Starting with the BW. Members could never use their points at BWI. Then when VWL was built, WL was gone. BCV built, BC gone. It was to be expected with AKV, BLT and VGC.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We wait listed to do an RCI trade with a big window of months to go, 18 months in advance and at several different locations, and nothing came through.

If you requested an RCI trade, you did so since the beginning of 2009. It would be much too early to expect a trade to come through for 18 months in the future. There is no availability until deposits begin for the locations that you want to trade into. Typically, deposits start about 12 months in advance, and continue until close to the check-in date.

You're doing the right thing by putting in your request 18 months out. When deposits into RCI eventually begin, you'll have an advantage over people who requested later (all else being equal).

Since we don't own there we have to wait until the 7 month window and with only 40 some units, availability will be small.

There will be 50 two-bedroom villa equivalents at the Villas at Grand Californian. That's still a small number, but not as bad as 40 total villas.

Last year I went on a tour of the new Grand Californian sales area and spoke to the DVC guide about just this issue and her response was for me to buy more points at different resorts. Huh? Even with buying more, say 50 points at the Grand, I can only make reservations for that many points at the 11 month window. Her reasoning made no sense to me.

With banking and borrowing, a 50-point purchase would give you 150 points (with the 11-month window) every three years. And you would have the possibility of adding nights by using your other DVC points at 7 months if there is availability.

The cost per night is likely to be much more attractive than the current Disney Collection chart for the Grand Californian. And the DVC resort will have studios, 1BR, and 2BR villas, not just conventional hotel rooms.

In reading what I've written, it sounds like I'm arguing. That's not what I'm trying to do. Nor am I trying to talk anyone into keeping DVC if they want to sell. However, the better that DVC members understand the program, the better it will work for them.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Yes its what I expected.

I expected to be able to book a week at the BWV every year for the 37 years I had left on my contract. (bought in 2005 too). Some years I've had to book a studio, some years I've booked a 1 bedroom with a standard view and some with a Preferred view-- depending on what season I travel in.

I expected to be able to use my points to stay at the BCV, AKV and VB -which I have.

To be able to stay in a 1 Bedroom (most years) for $900 --- the cost of a moderate-- it what I expected. I have also expected that DVC could reallocate the point charts, raise MF and cancel perks. But all and all- I still get to stay a week at the BWV for around $900.

In 2002, I paid $179 per night to stay at the Contemporary-- When I tried to book the Cont in 2006 the rate was $450 per night Its a bad economy right now!! They need to offer deals to book the rooms, but these deals will not last forever!! Just look at the ticket prices. In 2005 I bought 10-day park hoppers for $365 each. That price today is about $537!!!

 

[323sarg]

But the point is, as time goes on the rules change and not in the members favors. I will say however the point of business is to make money and increase the bottom line so I would expect the rules to go to Disney's favor, but I would be nice if I could stay at the Contemporary and not pay an arm and a leg. I am fine with the dues, but it would be nice if I could at least get a better deal on the dining plan or tickets other than the $3 off Annual Passes.

 

[DVC Mike]

Yes, DVC is what I expected. I'm happy with it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I am fine with the dues, but it would be nice if I could at least get a better deal on the dining plan or tickets other than the $3 off Annual Passes.

Adult WDW Annual Pass: $100 savings per pass for DVC members.

Adult WDW Premium Annual Pass: $105 savings per pass for DVC members.

When it comes to the dining plan or other discounts, who should pay for discounts that go beyond what makes business sense for business entities offering those discounts? Should our dues be increased to subsidize such discounts? (I don't think so.)

 

[KathyRN137]

I'm generally pleased, but I must admit that I was shocked at the # of points needed for a family to cruise. I hadn't really researched that prior to purchase.

Our contract isn't big enough to include Disney cruise line (yet) Perhaps sometime in the future....

Kathy

 

[oakmanner]

It is what we expected. We don't want to travel to any other destinations other than WDW and perhaps DL. If we wanted to travel to non Disney destinations we would have bought one of the other timeshare programs.

Dennis-

 

[lbren]

We are fairly happy with our membership but also have many of the same concerns as you

 

[SLM]

We've only been members since 2004, so we haven't had a chance to get tired of the Disney properties-in fact, we were suprised how much we LOVED the Vero Beach and Hilton Head resorts-as empty-nesters we liked the non-theme park options. We added on at AKV this past fall because we could see ourselves escaping the cold weather for a few days and just enjoying the resort. We'd like to cruise using our points-we have more enough if we use two years worth-I get nervous thinking about renting. I think for us the biggest advantage is traveling at different times of the year in different types of rooms-we've done 2BR, 1BRs and ocean view inn rooms! So, yes! We're happy DVC owners!

 

[Donald is #1]

I have only been a member since 2006, but for me, yes it is what I expected and more.

Why the and more? Well, since I have become a member, I have been able to take my 2 sisters for a long weekend and stay in a 2 BR. I have also been able to take my sister, niece and nephew and stay in a 2 BR at AKV. Without DVC, those trips either wouldn't have happened or we would all have been stuck in a moderate. I didn't buy expecting to trade out, so those changes haven't impacted me.

 

[wildernessDad]

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

 

[twinklebug]

I was happy with DVC even before I became a DVC member. That said, the "C" in DVC stands for "Club" and I see nothing club like about the experience. Just a funky mis-nomer. I would LOVE if they'd institute a happy hour time to welcome members just moving in for their stay.

 

[LJC1861]

We became members in May 2008, and have just finished our first stay at Hilton Head and our home resort Saratoga Springs.

We are very happy with our DVC purchase and are already looking forward to several more stays at Hilton Head and another week long stay at Saratoga Springs in June.

Linda

 

[RLRDA]

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

This about sums it up for me. We've owned since 2004 and have been satisfied since. Love the larger accomodations and flexibilty.

I would LOVE if they'd institute a happy hour time to welcome members just moving in for their stay.

That would be nice, wouldn't it?! DVC probably considers "Welcome Home Wednesdays" the equivalent of happy hour.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We're still happy... since 98.

 

[Silver Queen]

We just joined in April 2008 but I did quite a bit of reading (on the Dis Boards and other places) and spoke to quit a few people before making the decision to join. As a result we were aware that the best value from our membership would be staying at DVC resorts, not cruises and not trading out to II (now RCI). Our guide also suggested to only use our points for II as a last resort because there was not as much value there. The bottom line is that so far we are satisfied and looking forward to two more trips in the next 8 months. The discounted APs that we got along with the TiW were nice little dividends.