It's been 6mos since presentation...

[Luckymommyx2]

...and I think that DH and I are ready to commit to a DVC. Other than the upfront money I only have two concerns or questions.

First, I want the DVC to seem like a vacation for me. I'm not sure all the cooking, cleaning, etc. that comes with the DVC would make it feel as much like a vacation compared to staying at a regular resort (like the Poly) and eating at the parks or resorts. Does this make sense? Has anyone felt this way?

Second, is there a general number to call to speak with a DVC representitive to find out if there are any special incentives to purchase now? When we had our presentation several months ago there was one but I can't remember exactly what it was. I would rather not work with the gentleman that gave us the last presentation since he did give us a big push to sign right then and there. He even called us once we got back home and was extremely rude when we told him we couldn't at that time--unexpected medical expenses.

I think DVC would be the best value for us. We never thought we would become Disney fanatics--my DH and I used to make fun of our friends that were!! Now look at us...we can barely stay away for 6 months at a time!!!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
...and I think that DH and I are ready to commit to a DVC. Other than the upfront money I only have two concerns or questions.

First, I want the DVC to seem like a vacation for me. I'm not sure all the cooking, cleaning, etc. that comes with the DVC would make it feel as much like a vacation compared to staying at a regular resort (like the Poly) and eating at the parks or resorts. Does this make sense? Has anyone felt this way?

LOL, Cooking and cleaning? Who does that? It's entirely optional. It is nice to brew your own coffee in the morning and to have snacks available, but I never cook entire meals. The most that I do is have some cereal and bread for toast in the morning - we're not always up for a full breakfast. As for cleaning, I don't even make the bed (well DH does, but it only takes a few seconds) and I may load the dishwaher if we run out of coffee mugs - that's about it! Once I did vacuum, but that was because my nephew spilled some cereal all over and I didn't want to walk on it.

If yoo need daily housekeeping, you can have it for a fee. Personally, I really like going without - no worries about when housekeeping will be in the room. JMHO. YMMV.

Second, is there a general number to call to speak with a DVC representitive to find out if there are any special incentives to purchase now? When we had our presentation several months ago there was one but I can't remember exactly what it was. I would rather not work with the gentleman that gave us the last presentation since he did give us a big push to sign right then and there. He even called us once we got back home and was extremely rude when we told him we couldn't at that time--unexpected medical expenses.

I think DVC would be the best value for us. We never thought we would become Disney fanatics--my DH and I used to make fun of our friends that were!! Now look at us...we can barely stay away for 6 months at a time!!!

Just call DVC and ask to have a new guide - tell them that you just didn't click with the first person assigned and want to deal with someone else.

Best wishes -

 

[JMWSR518]

I think DVC is a much better vacation experience than any of the other resorts (example; poly) because yes you have the availability to cook and clean, but if you dont want to cook you dont have to. And if you do not want to clean you really dont have to. Think about it, how dirty can you get a place in 5,7 or 10 days ? And if you have to take a vacuum out and vacuum so be it. Other than that the rooms are much bigger and more homelike for overall a much cheaper price compared to alot of the other resorts. No brainer for me. Good luck in your choice, im sure you will make the right one for you.

JMW

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
...and I think that DH and I are ready to commit to a DVC. Other than the upfront money I only have two concerns or questions.

First, I want the DVC to seem like a vacation for me. I'm not sure all the cooking, cleaning, etc. that comes with the DVC would make it feel as much like a vacation compared to staying at a regular resort (like the Poly) and eating at the parks or resorts. Does this make sense? Has anyone felt this way?

Everyone vacations differently. If you don't want to cook or clean...don't.

We have young children, both of whom are pretty cranky if they don't eat or drink something shortly after awaking. So, it only makes sense for us to have frozen waffles or cereal in our room to start the day. Most days we come back to the room so the kids can get a mid-day nap. With 3 hours to kill, it's not inconvenient to slap together a couple of sandwiches or mac and cheese.

But nothing is obligating you to cook while on vacation.

You can pay for daily housekeeping if you wish. Even with that additional expense, you will still be saving thousands of $$$ over the life of the contract. Most DVC members don't seem to mind the lack of daily housekeeping, so it only makes sense to make it a chargable item rather than spreading the expense over the entire membership base.

Second, is there a general number to call to speak with a DVC representitive to find out if there are any special incentives to purchase now? When we had our presentation several months ago there was one but I can't remember exactly what it was. I would rather not work with the gentleman that gave us the last presentation since he did give us a big push to sign right then and there. He even called us once we got back home and was extremely rude when we told him we couldn't at that time--unexpected medical expenses.

Call the main DVC sales number (it's on the web site) and ask to speak to a manager. Briefly explain your disappointment in the past and ask to have a new Guide assigned.

There are many good guides. If you want to send a PM, I'd be happy to share the name of our Guide. He was the exact opposite of what you described--no pressure, no unsolicited phone calls, very helpful.

Good luck.

 

[RobDoc]

You can call the Preview Center at 1-800-800-9100 and they can answer your questions about current incentives that you may be eligible for.

As for the housekeeping chores, that is certainly optional. If you want daily housekeeping service, it is available. You can set it up when you arrive at the resort.

Enjoy!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thank you guys for your replies so far! I'm a little nervous about the big "jump" but again, I really think it's the best for us.

I do have two younger children so the perhaps paying for the housekeeper, even every other day, would be a good idea for us.

Trying not to start yet another thread...would you recommend a resale or buying SSR? I'm afraid that SSR would feel too far away from all the action but I like it from the model walkthrough. Boardwalk and Beachclub sound really good since Epcot is my favorite but they are only available through resale. Can anyone tell me which one is the closed to the international walkway? I'm thinking it's Beachclub but I'm drawing a blank.

Thanks again for all your help. This is my first time (now second) posting on the DVC boards and you all have been very nice and patient with me---thank you---this whole thing is a little intimidating to me!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
Trying not to start yet another thread...would you recommend a resale or buying SSR? I'm afraid that SSR would feel too far away from all the action but I like it from the model walkthrough. Boardwalk and Beachclub sound really good since Epcot is my favorite but they are only available through resale. Can anyone tell me which one is the closed to the international walkway? I'm thinking it's Beachclub but I'm drawing a blank.

The BCV is the closest to the Internation Gateway entrance but the BWV are very close as well. Both are also close to MGM.

The big advantage of SSR is easy financing through Disney and a 50 year contract. But if you really want to be near EPCOT, then you should look re-sale and buy at the BCV or the BWV. The BCV is one of the smallest DVC resorts, so owning there will be more important as time goes on to get a reservation there.

You will hear this often here. Buy where you want to stay. Then you will never be diappointed.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

As HBC said, you should definitely buy at the resort you want to use the most. That 4 month booking advantage can be important at times.

Which resort that is is up to you. To some extent, I'm always kinda mystified by this concept of "being away from the action". I've not done a head count, but it seems there are probably more Disney-run resorts that are NOT immediately adjacent to a theme park than those which are. Port Orleans (both), Coronado, Caribbean, the All Stars, Pop Century, AKL, Old Key West, SSR, even WL and Fort Wilderness to a degree.

We've stayed at many of the on-site resorts and never felt removed from the action.

Whichever resort you decide, I would recommend basing your decision on what's best for you and your significant other. Make the children a secondary part of the decision. Remember you're buying a contract that will last the next 40-50 years. Vacations with your children are likely to be only a very small part of that time. For example, if you are in love with the Wilderness Lodge, but think your kids would enjoy the pool better at BCV, personally, I'd buy at VWL. You can always try to book BCV a handful of times at 7 months while your children are young and still willing to go on family vacations. But don't deprive yourself of VWL (or whatever your personal preference may be) for all of the years after your children are grown and starting families of their own.

 

[KristiKelly]

We purchased SSR a few weeks ago, we had taken the tour back in Oct., & like you, we were not able to commit at that time. DH didn't think we could afford it, but I always manage to find a way to afford another trip down anyway, so DVC it is. He is not the Disney-aholic that I am, cut is starting to get into the whole thing. As far as housekeeping not coming daily, when we rented points last fall, we needed towels one day, DH tracked down housekeeping in the hall & they gave him some. Also, when we stayed @ AKL in 2002, some mornings housekeeping came before 8:00 a.m., we are not early risers, one morning I had just gotten out of the shower, one morning we were all still asleep (7:38 a.m.) & one morning our kids were still asleep. I don't think we'll miss that. Good Luck!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

KristiKelly and those who have purchased recently...were you offered the complimentary Disney vacation? I was wondering if anyone could give an overview.

I'm leaning towards SSR just because I can finance through Disney. We normally go during value season, September, so if we would like to stay at BCV sometime do you think it would be a problem getting something that sleeps four? I love the decor of SSR but I really would like to be closer to Epcot.

 

[JimC]

Byron is our guide and we highly recommend him. Very patient and very much a gentleman.

We stay in 1 or 2 bedroom units. As to cooking, cleaning etc.......We love having the laundry in the room because we can pack a lot less for a long trip and do wash when we need it. Rarely need to clean (except when I spill something ).

We have breakfast and snacks in the kitchen and maybe we cook a pizza or warm up something we brought back from a restaurant. There are some who do use the kitchen extensively either because they are really in to cooking or because it eases the food budget while on holiday or it just fits their needs.

The great thing about DVC is it is there to use if you want or not.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[gjw007]

Lucky;

I can understand your desire not to deal with the individual person that you talked with. I have talked with several of the individuals who are at the booths at the theme parks and downtown Disney. One of the first persons that I had talked to wasn't very forthcoming, not even admitting that they were solicitating sales for a timeshare even when point blank asked if it was a timeshare sales. This was probably in 1998 or 1999. I finally decided this year to make a purchase. My initial experiences left a bad taste. I expect honesty and integrity in these dealings yet if they won't answer basic questions, well, that says it all. Not all are like that, most have been very helpful and when there is something that they can't answer, they politely suggest go through the presentation. I can accept that rather than my first experiences. I wish I had actually made the purchase when I was first aware of it rather than now as I have gone to Orlando every year since then, many times 2 or 3 times a year.

Currently I am purchasing through Betty. I'm sure that others can give you recommendations as well. IF you are uncomfortable with your guide, ask for another. I purchased through Disney at SSR but I provided my own financing options so that wasn't an issue for me. I would have went with the Villas at Wilderness Lodge if it had been available (I think it will become more difficult to book in there in the future with the growth of DVC and the small number of units). SSR works for me as I like to go to downtown Disney and watch the choirs and Chirstmas activities there (I have been going to Disney for the last 5 or 6 years the week before Christmas) but I love the theming of the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. I probably could have gotten the VWL at the time of my initial introduction. Who knows what would have happened if the gentleman had been more helpful at the time.

 

[KristiKelly]

LuckymomX2,

Yes, we were offered either the complimentary vacation ($95 per point) or $10 per point off= $85 per point. We chose the complimentary vacation (developers points). We bought 180 pts. (wanted more but 180 fit our budget for now). The dev. points can be used anywhere BUT SSR between now -9/30/2005. Since we already have a trip for the Poly booked for Oct. of this year, we won't use the dev. points until 2005. We've already booked 4 nights @ Hilton Head for 6/05 & will use the rest of the points for BWV in Sept. 05. We will have roughly 165 (2005)points to bank into 2006. Taking the comp. vacation, gave us a years worth of points to play/bank for future. Good Luck!!

 

[JenB]

I actually found that I liked not worrying about Mousekeeping everyday (i.e. going back to give the kids an early nap and they hadn't been there yet, etc.).
I hardly cook at home much less on vacation, LOL, but I did find having the kitchen EXTREMELY convenient for bagels in the morning and pb&j for lunch.

As far as guides go, that's such a shame that your's was pushy! I think DVC prides themselves on the oposite. If you need a guide, Ricardo was AWESOME-so patient and thorough!
Good luck!!

 

[littlestar]

If I were you and you love the Epcot area, I'd try to buy a resale there or see my last paragraph for another suggestion. We toured Saratoga and there is going to be some major hikes to get to the main pool and food area from some of the buildings. Very, very spread out and we had to look at the maps posted around the place to even tell where we were. It was pretty, but it's definitely a condo feel and not a resort feel like you get with BCV, BWV, and VWL. With VWL you're just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom or boat ride away from the Contemporary Hotel to hop on the monorail or walk to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary. With BCV and BWV you can walk to two parks.

We actually enjoy not having housekeeping coming in every day. The 4th day trash and towel service works great for us. If we stay in studios we bring extra wash cloths from home (colored so I can tell them apart from DVC's white ones) and we hang our bath towel over the towel hanger to dry for the next day's use. I usually do laundry about our 2nd or 3rd day (free for DVC members). If we stay in a one bedroom or higher there is a washer and dryer in the unit. It's no big deal to straighten the bed and DVC puts plenty of extra trash liners in the bottom of the trash cans if you need to take the trash out. We just drop off our trash on the way to the pool if it gets too full before trash and towel day.

Is there any way you could grab a cheap flight and fly down for a night to take a look at Saratoga and all the other DVC resorts to make sure you make the right decision? Southwest had some great $116 flights this week.

Our Disney guide is Betty Prikryl and she is great! You could tell Betty your heart is set on BCV or BWV and she could put you on a waiting list with Disney for points at BCV or BWV. That way you could still go through Disney. Good luck!

 

[gjw007]

Littlestar:

You and I have the same guide. I would recommend her as well.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by littlestar
You could tell Betty your heart is set on BCV or BWV and she could put you on a waiting list with Disney for points at BCV or BWV. That way you could still go through Disney. Good luck!

With all due respect, paying $84 per point for a contract of 150+ points direct through DVC is about the most expensive option on the board.

Going the resale route, one can easily save $10-12 per point, or nearly $2000. For that difference, OP is better off finding her own financing even if she has to pay a couple points higher than what DVC is offering to finance. Better yet, consider a home equity line which would likely have a rate of half DVC's best rate over 10 years.

If DVC financing is the only option, SSR will cost just $1 more per point, but provides a contract 11 years longer than at BCV. The annual dues are also lower.

If this is a case simply of wanting to occasionally stay at BCV (or any of the other properties), then I wouldn't worry too much. There will always be opportunities for stays at your non-Home resort. Some times of the year will always be more difficult than others. And, as DVC continues to add more members, it may get harder to book some resorts. But all that means is you need to plan further ahead and try to book right when the 7 month window opens.

If BCV is the #1 choice, the by all means buy points at that resort. But there are more economical ways to do it than going on a waiting list to pay $84 per point through DVC.

 

[Divamomto3]

Originally posted by KristiKelly
Also, when we stayed @ AKL in 2002, some mornings housekeeping came before 8:00 a.m., we are not early risers, one morning I had just gotten out of the shower, one morning we were all still asleep (7:38 a.m.) & one morning our kids were still asleep. I don't think we'll miss that. Good Luck!

Yikes! I had an opposite experience at the Swan. We'd come back from a day at the parks, hot and sweaty and looking forward to showering and getting ready for a nice dinner. It would be anywhere from 4-5pm and housekeeping wasn't at our room yet!

 

[Nlihte]

Luckymom listen to me. The Boardwalk or Beach Club is what you want ! Your kids will love the pools for years to come and being between Epcot and MGM and the Amazing restuarants is just some of the reasons. Room Service, walking along the Boardwalk.
Visiting the Dolphin and Swan. You can walk to the World Showcase in five minutes and walk along the canal to MGM in about 15. BWV and BCV are 4 star resorts. If you choose one of the two and are not happy I will refund your investment. Signed Michael Eisner.

 

[littlestar]

tjkraz,

You're right that going through Disney at $84 might be more expensive than a good resale without stripped points. But, a lot of the stuff I'm seeing resale doesn't have any points available for a couple of years - very stripped. If that's the case, buying through Disney might be better. You definitely have to do the math and figure it out.

gjw007, Betty is really nice, isn't she?