Kinda Bummed

[WelovMickey!]

You know I was all excited about becoming a DVC member and have been for awhile. But I am hearing about free dining in Dec. and free upgrades from value resorts to DVC resorts. Maybe I should have just stayed a non-DVC member? I would like to get some "freebies" because I am a DVC The discounts are OK but I won't do or use a lot of them. Just wanted to whine It kind of stinks!

 

[thelionqueen]

You can take advantage of all these offers as a DVC owner; just don't use your points.

I guess I don't understand why you would be questioning your DVC purchase when these offers are available to everyone, not just non-DVC owners. You can take advantage of these specials and bank your points, or use your DVC points and a room at a value, the options go on and on.

I know that sometimes you can feel slighted when someone gets something you think you should be entitled to, but you should have been aware what you were and were not getting when buying DVC.

Maybe in 5-10 years, when they don't have offers like these anymore, and a standard garden room at POP is $300 per night, and you're staying at a DVC deluxe for your MF's you will think differently

 

[ead79]

I know it's easy to get that bummed out feeling when Disney is releasing some pretty good discounts. Just remember, DVC will pay off in the long-term. Once the economy improves, those discounts will dry up, and you'll still own DVC and enjoy the savings it provides.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

You have every right to feel bummed.. I pray the do not open free dining to the public in December ( I think it is only visa cardholders right now). I will be very upset if I have to deal with all of that during my dec ressies..

 

[rentayenta]

Rent your points and pay cash to take advantage of said offers.


Again, the value of my DVC is not based on what others may or may not be getting. :

 

[WelovMickey!]

You can take advantage of all these offers as a DVC owner; just don't use your points.

I guess I don't understand why you would be questioning your DVC purchase when these offers are available to everyone, not just non-DVC owners. You can take advantage of these specials and bank your points, or use your DVC points and a room at a value, the options go on and on.

I know that sometimes you can feel slighted when someone gets something you think you should be entitled to, but you should have been aware what you were and were not getting when buying DVC.

Maybe in 5-10 years, when they don't have offers like these anymore, and a standard garden room at POP is $300 per night, and you're staying at a DVC deluxe for your MF's you will think differently

Right I undersatnd the long time thing and I will try to remind myself of that. But why would I want to pay for my DVC AND a room at a non-DVC that doesn't make sense to me.

 

[WelovMickey!]

Rent your points and pay cash to take advantage of said offers.


Again, the value of my DVC is not based on what others may or may not be getting. :

That's a good idea!

 

[Greysword]

You OWN a part of the magic!! How cool is that?

 

[rentayenta]

That's a good idea!

I have friends doing this currently for September. After renting out their BCV points they paid for the POFQ with free dining, the DDP for their 3 additional nights at OKW, and even part of their flights. Be creative.

 

[Sandisw]

I know that the initial reaction, when you just buy in, can be wait, maybe I made a mistake.

However, DVC is for the long run and most of us bought because we know that we will be going to Disney for many years to come.

Just for the heck of it, I ran some numbers based on how I am using my DVC and the specials. I will be typically staying 5 nights in a 1 bedroom in the summer. There will be 4 of us. The cost of this during "free dining" would be about $2700.00.

Based on this, it will take me 15 years to "break even" with what I paid for my DVC, my MF's, and the cost of the dining plan for my family. So, for the next 15 years, I won't be paying more than the those going on the "free dining" plan. And, if I go to sell in 15 years, there is a good chance that I could get back some of my initial investment, making the trips a lot less than free dining. And, of course, I bought in at BLT so that I can go for a lot more than 15 years.

I guess my point is that in the short term, it seems like the deals Disney is offering make owning DVC questionable, but in the long term, we definitely make out--and, we don't have to hope that the deals will stay.

 

[WelovMickey!]

you own a part of the magic!! How cool is that?

very cool!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I guess my point is that in the short term, it seems like the deals Disney is offering make owning DVC questionable, but in the long term, we definitely make out--and, we don't have to hope that the deals will stay.

I agree Sandi. DVC allows me to go when I want and stay how I want.

Every trip we take is extra special because of DVC. Last month we spent a week at AKV Concierge, DCL then BCV. Could not have done that if we were not members. Going again in October, November and 2 weeks in a THV over Christmas. Because I am a member.

I dont begrudge anyone anything, but DVC is shooting themselves in the foot with the submarketing of SSR.

DVC has alot of points to sell at SSR and they are giving rooms away. Even if these guests do decide to purchase, most likely they will not select SSR because DVC itself has devalued the resort by giving it away. The guests may enjoy their stay there, but will think "if its so great, why did we get a free villa upgrade here" maybe this will always be the "free upgrade resort" and we should choose something more desireable that we cant get with an upgrade". I know that is what I would be thinking.

Looking at the dates, this offer is during the same timeframe as the Developer Points offering at SSR too. They have a glut of Developer inventory that purchases did not consume so now they are upgrading guests.

 

[rentayenta]

very cool!!

Is is the best!

And I say yippee for those getting deals. Everyone loves to save money. Maybe these deals are allowing a family who could never otherwise go share the magic with their children for the first time. Sure there will be those throwing nasty statements around but don't bother with them- just be grateful you have the option to deal or not deal with them and be thankful it's only on a message board. Enjoy your DVC!!!

 

[princessbride6205]

I agree that as an almost new member (we're waiting on ROFR), it can be frustrating to see awesome discounts to the general public, Disney VISA holders, etc. For us, if it seems like a ton of good discounts will be coming, we can just bank our points. If discounts come out too close to our trip to bank, that's okay, too. The best part of becoming a member (so far), was putting a big ZERO in the out-of-pocket resort expense column of our next trip's budget. (I know it's not free, we bought points, pd MF, but you know what I mean.)

 

[WelovMickey!]

Is is the best!

And I say yippee for those getting deals. Everyone loves to save money. Maybe these deals are allowing a family who could never otherwise go share the magic with their children for the first time

I think it is great for families to have this opportunity!!
It's going to make the trip even more magical

 

[Tinkerbella001]

I too would think it VERY cool to own a piece of the magic! That's why I was looking into it. I must apologize for repeating that awful statement made by another DVC owner. I must not get involved in a nasty thread again or let it spoil my magic. I just got the feeling a lot of people regretted buying in. How do people on this much nicer thread feel about their memberships? In spite of the great deals made to non-owners?

 

[rentayenta]

I too would think it VERY cool to own a piece of the magic! That's why I was looking into it. I must apologize for repeating that awful statement made by another DVC owner. I must not get involved in a nasty thread again or let it spoil my magic. I just got the feeling a lot of people regretted buying in. How do people on this much nicer thread feel about their memberships? In spite of the great deals made to non-owners?

The deals offered have ZERO effect on how much I love my DVC membership. I am glad that deals and promos give others the opportunity to enjoy WDW. Free dining in 9/07 made our first trip possible. After much investiagtion and staying DVC with friends we decided to buy. I am as pleased then as I am now. If I want to take advantage of fee dining, I can rent my points.

The throw-it-in-your-face attitude coming from both owners and non-owners is absolutely silly IMHO. Who gives a flying fig?

Again, to the OP and to keep this thing on topic- just enjoy your DVC.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I'm bummed that they extended free dining up until the 17th of december because we're going to be there at the beginning of december, and I'm worried that it's going to add more crowds to what is traditionally a beautiful, somewhat tranquil time of year for us. (Pop Warner aside).

I will say that the arguments that say, don't use your points just stay on cash or just rent out your points aren't really helpful. If I wanted to pay cash I wouldn't have shelled out a ton of money (for us) to buy DVC, and how easy is it to rent points when the renters can't get free dining, either? Plus the whole pain of renting points in the first place.

Mostly I just want free dining to go away. Permanently.

I can't see how it's benefitted any repeat guests. Food quality suffers, nobody can get an ADR, people eat more than is healthy because it's free, and it creates crowds at traditionally quieter times.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't regret buying in. I'm going the first week in December staying in a boardwalk view 1 bedroom, 155 points for 6 nights. That room is $450 a night plus tax. So if I switched to the Visa deal with "free dining", I would be paying $2700 plus tax, approx $3,000 for the same room (not really the same room because cash reservations can't get boardwalk view). Renting those 155 points, I would only get $1550 @ $10 a point, nowhere near the cost. Sure I could do it cheaper if I stayed at a value or moderate but I'd be giving up the room I really want. There are 2 of us, to add the dining plan would be $480. Still nowhere near worth it.

 

[alamode]

I've been on both sides of the arguement. My family's first trip to Disney was in May, and we stayed at the All Star Music. I carefully planned our trip out to see as much as possible, not knowing when or if we would return.

On the trip we did a tour of SSR, and I was loving the idea of DVC. So much so that I just purchased a resale contract for 130pts.

Judging whether I made a good purchase for me is a no brainer. While I enjoyed the all star music experience, as we were running around seeing everything we could, all we needed that trip was a bed. Once I saw the resale pricing, decided that we would be returning for several years to come (as my kids are 9, 6 and 6), and that I wanted a better resort experience now that we wouldn't have to see ebverything in one trip, DVC seemed right for me.

The reason for me puchasing DVC was also based on the fact that as a single parent, I now have a fixed price for one aspect of our vacation. I'm not waiting around for deals and packages every year. I can plan my time and money that much farther out, and not worry about hotel packages fluctuating in offers and pricing.

As for people judging others as somehow lower class "value" people staying in their "deluxe" resort, that's just being rude and arrogant. I see the same thing in the condo we live in. I rented from a friend for 2 years, and was treated like dirt by some owners. "Oh, you're just a renter, you don't care about the property like we do." Once my wife passed away I bought in the building with her life insurance, and immediately the same people treated me like "one of the privledged few" all of a sudden.

I'm happy for the families that received the upgrade, and happy of my decision to buy DVC. After all, it's about enjoying your vacation, and someone else getting a deal shouldn't take away from your vacation experience in any way.