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

[ILoveMyDVC]

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.

And they were hoppers...

 

[jeepnjudy]

I bought in for the flexibility of accommodations period. I get what I paid for so I'm very happy. Any perks are just icing on the cake. Member since 2000.

I agree...we bought in for the flexibility and the location of our accommodations. Any of the perks to us are just a bonus and were never expected.

 

[Kuzco]

I understand some members' disappointment. We all hold Disney to high standards and should continue to do so. I've personally been very happy with my membership. I purchased in 2008 and have been numerous times, stayed in Deluxe resort accommodations, and made lots of great memories. Some experiences have been better than others, but so far the positives have far outweighed the negatives.

 

[DebbieB]

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.

But only if you bought before early 1996. BWV opened in mid 1996 and owners there did not get it.

 

[com_op_2000]

But only if you bought before early 1996. BWV opened in mid 1996 and owners there did not get it.

I bought my 2nd OKW in '97 and I got the passes.

 

[DebbieB]

I bought my 2nd OKW in '97 and I got the passes.

Maybe it was 1998. I have a friend who bought at OKW around then and just missed it. I thought they cut it off when BWV opened in 1996. Was yours resale? I think resales kept it.

 

[CarolynFH]

We bought BWV in November 1997 and free tickets were not available.

 

[deedisneydream97]

We bought BWV in November 1997 and free tickets were not available.

So did we...or maybe it was October. Our "incentive" was being reimbursed for the $$$ I had paid for our one bedroom. We were supposed to have a standard view and when I was finalizing our plans on the phone, the person said she "upgraded" us to a better view. I had no idea what that meant....until I saw Spaceship Earth from our balcony.

Saratoga Springs....I think we got two annual passes.

Beach Club...a back pack.

Bay Lake Tower: The amount of points purchased were matched for use at Saratoga Springs...something like that. We purchased 170 pts and I think we got 170 pts. to use at SSR during a certain time-frame. We also got a "first buyers" tile installed at the fountain.

 

[Nanajo1]

I keep revisiting this thread. I am still happy with DVC. I don't expect Free Dining but I dislike that when there is free dining I have trouble getting ADRs. I wish there was as some way for DVCers to get ADRs during free dining. 180 days out I could not get Cali Grill, Narcoosee, BOG and others.

 

[rocketriter]

Because those who expect more usually end up getting more. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The people who don't complain when they have problems aren't usually going to be reimbursed if no one knows they have a problem.

I have a few pet peeves...

I agree with your pet peeves, although none of them has happened to our family, at least not yet. But I don't see how your reasonable expectation of good service--and being a squeaky wheel if you don't--equates to the unreasonable expectation of our "deserving" more discounts and freebies. There's another thread on this board that asks whether we "deserve" a free 4th of July party. That level of entitlement (which, to be fair, might not be the poster's intention) baffles me.

 

[Judique]

I agree with your pet peeves, although none of them has happened to our family, at least not yet. But I don't see how your reasonable expectation of good service--and being a squeaky wheel if you don't--equates to the unreasonable expectation of our "deserving" more discounts and freebies. There's another thread on this board that asks whether we "deserve" a free 4th of July party. That level of entitlement (which, to be fair, might not be the poster's intention) baffles me.

It baffles me also.

And, I hope I am putting this in proper context - I have what I consider to be a reasonable expectation of good service that does not hinge on getting freebies. Or discounts. Squeaky wheel to me means 'fix it for everyone' not just throw a bone to the squeaky wheel.

 

[Missyrose]

I keep revisiting this thread. I am still happy with DVC. I don't expect Free Dining but I dislike that when there is free dining I have trouble getting ADRs. I wish there was as some way for DVCers to get ADRs during free dining. 180 days out I could not get Cali Grill, Narcoosee, BOG and others.

You're staying onsite and at 180 days out from your arrival day, you couldn't get California Grill or Narcoosee at all?

 

[gdrj]

I keep revisiting this thread. I am still happy with DVC. I don't expect Free Dining but I dislike that when there is free dining I have trouble getting ADRs. I wish there was as some way for DVCers to get ADRs during free dining. 180 days out I could not get Cali Grill, Narcoosee, BOG and others.

If true, I would try again as dates get closer. As long as I'm flexible I have been able to get in to many restaurants well within 180 days and sometimes day b4 or day of. I also wonder if they hold back ADRs and release closer to date.

With the cancellation policy, a lot of ADRs get cancelled close to date as well.

 

[com_op_2000]

Maybe it was 1998. I have a friend who bought at OKW around then and just missed it. I thought they cut it off when BWV opened in 1996. Was yours resale? I think resales kept it.

Not resale, directly from Disney.

 

[OhioDVC]

We have been DVC members since 1993. At one time we owned at every DVC property, we have since sold Vero Beach, Bay Lake and Animal Kingdom and half of Saratoga.

I, my wife not so much, have been critical of DVC at times. BUT after owning 9 different timeshares and a high of 2,775 DVC points (2040 now) I can honestly say buying DVC was the BEST purchase of my life! Except for my wife's engagement ring, much better return on investment.

DVC is far from perfect (management) but it is a great deal if you like Disneyworld or Disneyland and plan on vacationing there for years to come. Our kids were 3 and 5 when we bought DVC (now 25 and 27). They feel like they grew up at Disneyworld, it is a second home to them. We averaged 3 to 5 trips a year when they were in school.

Traveling in DVC style totally changed the way we vacation. I'll never go in a hotel room again.

We had such a great time with DVC, we bought 8 other timeshares and spent 2 years living out of our timeshare full time. We are now building a new home but are keeping 6 months (we are retired) of timeshares and plan to travel half of the year. We still visit Disneyworld quite often as a couple and family.

Don't expect perfection or pixie dust and realize it is a for profit company and you will enjoy yourself.

DVC changed out lives for the better!!!!

 

[OhioDVC]

PS...
We now rent out about 900 to 1000 points and it pays for all of our DVC MX fees so now we get to use a little over 1,000 points for 0 cash flow.

Not counting our purchase price. Paid off long ago. So our current DVC cash flow is basically zero to our monthly budget.

 

[Hollymom1229]

Our DVC membership has given us exactly what we bought, and with occasional perks a little more. We like the AP discount and the TIW card and generally take advantage of both. We have stayed in accommodations that we could not have afforded if it weren't for DVC and allowed us to continue to vacation in years when the budget was tighter. Do I have things I would like to see improved, yes, but I report those to Disney and then keep on enjoying what we have.

 

[Julylady]

What I "deserve" is a clean, well appointed, comfortable room. That's all I paid for.

 

[rubbergypsy]

Purchased in 2006 SSR 150 points the following year added on 50 more SSR I think price of point initially was 84 per point. We have taken over 25 trips using those point and I have been able to send both my older sons and respective others on honeymoon trip etc.. I have taken 3 cruises with those points 2 7 night and 1 5 night. We could have never done so much if I hadn't purchased DVC. I am so happy I am able to share these points with my 3 children. Fabulous memories and nothing compares to that!!

 

[dsneygirl]

Very happy. I could care less about free dining. In the decade we've owned we've eaten at just about every restaurant on property and some 10x so eating a nice smaller meal in our unit is often more enjoyable. I love the 1 bedrooms, the location of many of the properties (BLT, BC walking to a park). AKL is probably my son's favourite place on earth and the fact that we can go there almost any time we want is amazing.