Is DVC worth the money, does it give you what you deserve?

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I researched DVC before buying, and fully understood the contract I was signing before doing so. I knew I was buying a timeshare, and not joining an elite club. According to my contract with Disney, what I "deserve" is timeshare accommodations equivalent to the number of points I purchased. Disney's meeting that legal requirement.

Do I like perks? Sure. Who wouldn't? I fully understand, though, that the perks DVC offers are things the Walt Disney Corporation believes will help them either attract new members, or otherwise achieve profits. If it's a win-win for both me and Disney, that's great. I'm all in and will take all the free swag they want to throw my way. So long as it really is free.

If, on the other hand, someone is suggesting that DVC should start offering benefits, discounts, or offerings that would need to be paid for through an increase to everyone's annual dues, count me out! The dining plan always seems to be one of the first examples that comes up when people complain about DVC members not getting the perks that everyone else does. Free dining isn't free. People pay more for their room package than they otherwise would pay, and Disney shifts those profits to cover the cost of the food. It's a shell game. With DVC, there is no cash to shift. The only way to fund it would be from the members. We don't use a dining plan and don't always travel during the free dining months, so pardon me if I'm not thrilled at paying a portion of someone else's "free dining."

If there are member-exclusive events that interest me (such as the DVC fireworks cruises or Splitsville nights), I don't mind paying to enjoy those offerings. I don't want to pay for things I don't use, though.

 

[Missyrose]

My only reason for a little disappointment was when I purchased DVC in 2007, I thought that the idea of being able to purchase the meal plan for $37 (which included appetizer, entrée, drink, dessert and tip) was amazing. A few years later the appetizer and tip disappeared and the cost has gone up but in all honesty, I could not be happier with DVC and understand all good things usually end at some point.

The price of the DDP has gone up for everyone, not just DVC members. DVC has nothing to do with the DDP or how it's priced.

 

[nalajms]

To everyone who believes that DVC members should get free dining:
WHY?
Should Disney offer you something for free, when you have a contract that you agreed to.
I have yet to hear from someone that can answer this question and make sense of their answer.

If they were smart, they should offer a few FD rooms at moderates and AoA for DVC, then jack up the points per night for trading in. Why not let some of the crazys spend their points that way. Plus it'd be a HUGE marketing for the sales people to say that.

My only reason for a little disappointment was when I purchased DVC in 2007, I thought that the idea of being able to purchase the meal plan for $37 (which included appetizer, entrée, drink, dessert and tip) was amazing.

Weren't tickets included at some point in the 90s? I remember my SIL mentioning it.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Weren't tickets included at some point in the 90s? I remember my SIL mentioning it.

The first buyers at Old Key West also received 10 years worth of park tickets. Not sure if it was for a family of four, the whole family or whatever, but what a great incentive that was!

As to "getting what I deserve"....all I "deserve" is what I signed the contract for. There was a time when DVC members were not allowed to "buy" the dining plan. (I, too, loved the original $37 one....there was a revolt amongst the servers' union, as the "included tip" was capped at a certain amount, and most people were not aware of that, and there was a lot of unintentional undertipping going on).

Perks are perks, and they come and go. I am happy we can purchase the TIW card for $100. I am happy that I can renew my annual pass at a good discount. I am happy to receive a 10% discount on certain merchandise and some dining locations. I am happy to get a discount on the speed boats and the soon to be defunct Richard Petty driving experience.

But mostly I am happy that we have enough points to vacation very comfortably and no longer have to do value or moderates. I am happy that I got to visit Aulani twice.....never would have done it without DVC. I am happy that I've been able to take 3 Disney cruises when the cruise line offers staterooms to DVC members at a considerable discount when staterooms have not been filled. I am mostly happy that we bought in '97 and added on a few years ago before the prices for resale went crazy.

I kind of miss the yearly "gifts" DVC would send, but am okay without them, as they cost money to supply and send.

There are certain people that go on and on about the lack of housekeeping, rude CM's, long wait times when calling member services. We just returned from the BoardWalk....our room was not one of the refurbished ones, but it was spotless and in very good condition. All of the CM's, from the front desk to the housekeeping staff to the people doing the landscaping were all very friendly and helpful. I have noticed there is increased waiting time when calling member services if it coincides with the 7 month window opening for a very popular time.

Then there are those that think they "deserve" the location of a room they request. Then they have a meltdown it they don't get it. A request is just that....a request. Fighting with the front desk and getting your way by being a bully results in someone else NOT getting the room they were supposed to get.

 

[tgropp]

The price of the DDP has gone up for everyone, not just DVC members. DVC has nothing to do with the DDP or how it's priced.

Yes I realize that, hence the comment all good things come to an end. I also voted "Very Happy"

 

[com_op_2000]

Weren't tickets included at some point in the 90s? I remember my SIL mentioning it.

The first buyers at Old Key West also received 10 years worth of park tickets. Not sure if it was for a family of four, the whole family or whatever, but what a great incentive that was!

Yes in the '90s you got free tickets for:
Studios - 2 tickets
1Bdrm - 2 tickets
2Bdrm - 4 tickets
GV - 6 tickets
It was a marketing ploy by WDW/DVC/Disney cause they had no idea how successful DVC would be. The tickets started the first day DVC opened and continued through 12/31/99. You could choose to use them the first day of a check-in or the last day of check-out but not both. You also got every day in between check-in and check-out.

 

[rocketriter]

...do you feel being DVC member gets you more privileges then when you came as a regular guest , because i think more should be done for DVC members.

Would I like more discounts and privileges? Of course! I would also like a pony. But I bought into DVC years ago in order to give my family larger, less expensive rooms on frequent trips to WDW and that's exactly what I've received.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I haven't been at this DVC ownership thing very long, but I'm pretty happy so far. I mean, I knew what I was getting into when I signed up: rooms in hotels I like. That's about it. I pretty much look at any extras as a bonus. Discounts on APs? That's nice, too bad I won't ever use them. Ability to purchase TIW? Wow, that's useful! Hey look, I get a special lanyard on my upcoming Disney cruise! Sweet, sign me up!

But really, the benefits are not in the extras, and I don't think anyone would argue otherwise.

 

[Judique]

Unknown who is funding the videos, Disney bills the DVC owners every chance they get, we don't even know when they are allowed to bill us.

For us perks aren't the issue it's the sub par customer service, the resale game that DVC plays, the website issues, phone hold time, mixed answers from MS, room cleaning, maintenance, and referb design choices and quality. The feeling that once you buy, we gotcha and don't need to look out for your best interests.

Bill

So, Bill - are you happy or unhappy?

Nobody seems to be complaining in the poll.

 

[eliza61]

I am a recent DVC member and recently i received a video in a email, and the video was this DVC member song which was not good at all and either was the video. After i watched the video i looked at all the comments below for it and discovered there are a lot of DVC members that are not happy with there membership. I noticed the posts talked about how members do not get half the discounts on rooms and tickets as people buying trip packages. Then after reading all the negative comments i thought to myself instead of making all these videos for us members why don't they use that money to help get us more and better discounts on room and tickets. So i guess i would like to ask everyone do you feel the same way i do, do you feel being DVC member gets you more privileges then when you came as a regular guest , because i think more should be done for DVC members.

So I brought my dvc pretty much as an insurance policy and like any other type of insurance some times it pays off, some times it does not.

I did not purchase it for the "perks". I wanted deluxe accommodations for reduced prices. the more I go the better the bargain. Now another reason I purchased it was because I would never, ever pay the price disney asks for it's Deluxes.

Now my displeasure isn't with the dvc program, it's with disney itself. I hate the fp+ system and the magic bands. I also hate the decrease in customer service and food quality.
I mean come on, disney had ridiculous profits last quarter and still can't manage to operate a halfway decent IT department.

 

[eliza61]

If they were smart, they should offer a few FD rooms at moderates and AoA for DVC, then jack up the points per night for trading in. Why not let some of the crazys spend their points that way. Plus it'd be a HUGE marketing for the sales people to say that.

Weren't tickets included at some point in the 90s? I remember my SIL mentioning it.

I purchased in 2001 and we got park tickets for that year. definitely not lifetime tickets. lol I also got a nifty backpack which I still use.

 

[went503]

Yes in the '90s you got free tickets for:
Studios - 2 tickets
1Bdrm - 2 tickets
2Bdrm - 4 tickets
GV - 6 tickets
It was a marketing ploy by WDW/DVC/Disney cause they had no idea how successful DVC would be. The tickets started the first day DVC opened and continued through 12/31/99. You could choose to use them the first day of a check-in or the last day of check-out but not both. You also got every day in between check-in and check-out.

I bought AKL in 2009 and the incentive I received was 8 annual passes with purchase. Those were valued at $389.00 at that time no where near that now which is good for us and I still have 3 left as I get 2 years out of one pass planning it correctly.

 

[Julylady]

When reading these Boards and a Facebook site I joined, I am continually amazed by how many people don't understand what they actually purchased when they bought into DVC. They complain about lack of free dining, the fact that there room isn't cleaned each day, they can't get last minute reservations at their resort of choice, no current ticket discount other than the AP discount. Disney doesn't need to offer ANY perks at all, but they do and I appreciate them. I also think people have legitimate complaints about DVC units that are shabby, broken appliances, air-conditioning issues. When these things happen, I support your right to complain loud and long. But we don't "deserve" anything except a room in exchange for our points.

 

[Little Chef]

I hope everyone doesnt think im complaining about being a DVC member i was just putting this conversation out there because i saw so many complaints about DVC after i watched that video.

 

[Little Chef]

 

[DougEMG]

I bought DVC to save money on overall room costs within a 6-8 year time period, so I'm extremely happy with our purchase , but we got in at a very low resale price.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hope everyone doesnt think im complaining about being a DVC member i was just putting this conversation out there because i saw so many complaints about DVC after i watched that video.

I think a lot of us don't like those videos because they are rather poor quality. Saw the third one today on Facebook. If they are trying to sell us on buying more points, it ain't working. I have enough and paid $50 direct for my first 175 points. Those videos only show me that someone else is trying to convince themselves that they are doing a great thing at DVC.

I enjoy my stays. At some point, we won't go to the parks because ticket prices are getting too high. But I can enjoy the pools, dining outside the parks and just relaxing at OKW.

 

[freediverdude]

I think it would probably benefit both Disney and DVC members to offer tickets at a discount. I mean, here you've got a whole group of hundreds of thousands of people, locked in to visit your resorts every year for decades, and from what I've heard people are buying less tickets because of the prices and staying at the resort more instead of visiting the theme parks. It seems like it would really benefit Disney to get those people through the turnstyles and spending money inside, even if they discount the tickets a bit. But I'm sure they've run the numbers on guest spending and decided it isn't worth it or something. It doesn't really affect me, since I'm a Florida resident and keep a Florida resident annual pass that is already less expensive, but a lot of people kind of balk at those MYW ticket prices and non-Florida resident annual pass prices.

 

[crisi]

Unknown who is funding the videos, Disney bills the DVC owners every chance they get, we don't even know when they are allowed to bill us.

For us perks aren't the issue it's the sub par customer service, the resale game that DVC plays, the website issues, phone hold time, mixed answers from MS, room cleaning, maintenance, and referb design choices and quality. The feeling that once you buy, we gotcha and don't need to look out for your best interests.

Bill

I can never figure out why you haven't sold out. I'm content - not thrilled and admit there are issues, but content - I've never had website issues, problems with phone hold times, my rooms have always been clean enough - the rooms aren't terribly well maintained, but for the price, its awesome, and if I don't care for the refurb choices, it isn't that big of a deal. You always seem to be discontent.

 

[suebeelin]

I don't know about complaining.... So much as expecting a reasonable quality- and being taken aback when those expectations are disappointed.

I am overall happy because I get a nice big room/suite at a reasonable prepaid cost.

But I have to admit, I've had terrible IT issues with Disney (shockingly bad a few years ago- it's gotten better thankfully). I used to work in SF for an IT consulting firm. I can say with candor the IT support was and is definitely subpar to what I would expect of a Fortune 500 company.

Phone holds can be long... Upwards of an hour. I expect it on certain times (Monday mornings... Or when needing to pay my annual dues via target cards, lol). But overall the phones are ok.

In our experience thus far, rooms have also been dirty. Body hair in the tub and floors. Carpets not vaccuumed with crumbs everywhere. Appliances not working. But they tried to make it right and credited us a meal or two for the inconvenience. That made me feel better, enough to enjoy the vacation and shrug off the issues.

Is dvc perfect? No. But given the convenience (2 hr flight) and cost (we bought resale at decent prices), I'm happy