Is it all about the money???

[Dean]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
When I first stayed there back in 94 as a cash customer I thought the CRO made some mistake. I thought the place was for the super rich and non-members were not allowed near the place. I saw nothing there on my first trip to OKW to change my mind. Everything was just perfect. I saw the place wtih very rose colored glasses. I left never thinking I could ever afford to buy in. Months later I discovered it only cost about the price of a mid-size car. They sent me a video with 270 points as an example of what you can do with 270 so I bought 270, had the video had 400 I would have bought 400. After about 2 or 3 visits as member I began to see some things that lead me to believe that my original impression may have been wrong. I won't get into it but after about 5 visits I was on the phone with management down there very upset about what was going on. The buses did not run on schedule, they had schedules in the bus stops, they then did away with the member only check-in area. One thing lead to another, now I see on this board that I was really wrong like I said in the previous post.

I understand your feelings. In a way it's good DVC is affordable but there are negatives. I bet many people THOUGHT they were buying something different than DVC really is. What would you say if I told you DVC offered to buy back my first contract from me cash money (what I paid for it) even though I actually bought it resale. That's how much I complained about certain items and how much in a corner they were. I'm glad I didn't take them up on it but had it not been for my wife, I likely would have.

 

[cbrothers]

I totally agree with that! For us it's not about the money ..It's about family, magic and the memories of all 3 for years to come!

Carol



Carol

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I have been away from the boards for a few weeks because of work, and family duties (much work, wife surgery, new car).
Just to let you all know, I am still here!

Anyway, to the topic at hand...

I see way too many posts about price, price per point, whether or not it is worth the bucks, cost for trading for a cruise ect... (you get the picture.)

Anyway-- Disney and DVC is not always about the precise "dollar amount per point". Quite often I think we over analyze the dollar aspect of being a DVC member.

Disney in general is an emotional thing... something that tugs on our heartstrings. If we were only out to save a buck while on vacation, WDW is not the place to do it.
Disney is a special place, and to think of DVC in only terms of money, in my opinion, is a grave error.

Being a DVC member is much more than less expensive accommodations. Being a DVC member carries a certain amount of pride, and assurance of a great lifestyle for our families.
Some may call this arrogance, but I call it a good use of the money that we members work hard for.

Corny?... Perhaps.... But the way I feel.
Anyone else agree???

MG

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by cbrothers
I totally agree with that! For us it's not about the money ..It's about family, magic and the memories of all 3 for years to come!

Don't mean to pick on you, Carol, but let's he honest here. If DVC points cost $150 each, would you still have purchased? How about $200 apiece? $250?

 

[Granny]

Maistre G....great to see you back here on the DVC board again! You've been missed! Best wishes for you and your family.


As for DVC, well for us it isn't really about the money either. If it was that, then we would have gone a different route, probably staying off site in nice condos or villas for less money.

On the other hand, if DVC weren't affordable, then it wouldn't make sense for us either, so money always factors in somewhere unless one is very wealthy.

But for us DVC was about investing in higher quality vacations. Better rooms. Longer stays. "Forcing" me to take vacations every year, and even a two week vacation this year for the first time in my life.

I can honestly say that DVC has improved our family vacations, which I dearly treasure. And even when the kids are gone, we look forward to returning to the place where so many happy memories have occurred.

So I agree....for us, it's not much about the money. I guess Disney saw us coming a mile away!

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by tjkraz
If DVC points cost $150 each, would you still have purchased? How about $200 apiece? $250?

Money is a factor in everything we buy, from what we're willing to pay for a pound of hamburger to the cost of a new house. I think the point is though, that once we decide we're ok with the cost, it ceases to be a factor anymore and the more "emotional" reasons become more important. IMO anyway, I don't mean to speak for anyone else.

 

[gmboy95]

ok....here is my 2 cents....I believe that their are intangible values that need to be counted when deciding if this is a good buy or not...just like in any cost-benifit analysis you have to assign a monetary value to things like convenience, cleanliness, location, family-friendly etc.....not to mention the fact that if you travel every year that you actually have points, figuring what you would have spent without having DVC.

there is also the kitchen factor....that would be the ability to purchase groceries for meals that can be cooked in the room instead of paying the high prices in restaraunts all week....all of this has a monetary value attched to it, and when weighed against the overall cost, i believe it is an easy decision....heartstrings or no heartstrings!!

Oh and by the way....one should also be able to place a dollar value on how much their heartstrings are pulled....when doing a cost-benifit that as well has value.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
When I bought I thought I was buying into more expensive accommodations that rent up to about $1400 per day. I had no idea it was going to turn into a poor mans vacation club. I thinking it was a very upscale club for the well off. Boy was I wrong. When I bought it was not sold as a savings, and people were warned not to look at it as a savings. Things have changed.

Poor man's vacation club? Geez, we better tell all the people who live in slums and can barely afford bread that they can afford DVC!

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
...a poor mans vacation club...

If I show my membership card to the IRS do you think they might lower my tax bracket?

 

[spiceycat]

I brought in 93 - I almost brought in 92 - but got talked out of it by relativies and friends.

well I brought my brother, sil, niece, nephew and mother to WDW in 93 - this cost me a small fortune - I had to pay for everything - food, tickets, room, etc....

So when I returned home and got a letter from DVC saying that they had lower there point from 230 to 190 - I jumped on it.

DVC has saved me alot of money over the years. My brother (except for one trip) stays in a 2-bedroom. While I stay in a studio or 1-bedroom - generally what I can get. I happen to like the studio.....I have send friends, relatives and co-workers to WDW - it is pretty great!!!

WDW is a vacation place - and yet it is more - it is for families to renew themselves in a safe environment. It is one place that I never get sick of.....and I still love after all these years.

Okay I have tried to branch out - went to Williamsburg, HH, VB, St Augustine, Atlanta - but I still love WDW. And I think I will always...

MG hope you and your wife are both fine and little ones will be in your future. What kind of car do you get?

when OKW was the DVC it was a very grand place. I remember on my first visit as a member (93) - I couldn't believe I owned such a wonderful place - so Pa@okw95 - I can see your point. the service members received then was so great - well - on the bus the bus driver gave me the schedule - just gave it to me. Told me that anywhere I wanted to go he could take me.....oh boy those were the days....

when I first visited in 92 - we were staying at the Cont and I was just showned the place - it was very different from staying there.

and I agree - lots of the cut back over the years have hurt the members. but the quality and type of service then could not last when the membership got up there.

but hey it is still DVC and still on WDW property - that is what the top price is for and still is a great value. Although at the current price I would not be able to afford what I have....

 

[poohnpiglet3]

I haven't read the responses, but wanted to also add my best wishes for your wife. I hope she's recovering well.

Oh, and how funny for you, of all people, to say "a GRAVE error!!" LOL!!!!!!!

Quite the pun. Glad you're back.

Sherri
(I'll go back and read this thread after I get home tonight, I'm running out the door now.)