Long Time DVC Owners - Still Enjoying It?

[Cybertruck]

Bought BWV in 2003, when our oldest was 1yr old. We now have two kids in their twenties and they still come with us on our yearly family trip. Now we also do a long weekend couples trip.

I'd say I'm enjoying it differently. We do less park time and more pool time, we cook in dinner almost every night on the big trip because I find the restaurants overpriced and just average. I used to enjoy planning but the LL stuff has gotten out of hand and frankly expensive and we don't buy it, but rope drop instead to get in what we want.

This year we tried Riviera for the family trip and I loved it and that trip felt different because of the new location (my husband had been pretty adamant about staying at our homes of BWV and BLT because of park closeness). Same with the couples trip when I booked Poly lake view. Trying to keep it "new" has been a challenge though.

We're back at Boardwalk for our October couples trip and I will always love it there but what they've done to food options over there is a disgrace.

100% agree on the food options at boardwalk are a huge disappointment. We are fans of the food options at the Swan and Dolphin which are go to when visiting EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or staying at BWV and BCV.

 

[gleddo]

We bought at BWV in 1996 and added on there in 1997. We bought at VB in 1997 and added on there later that year. We currently have two BLT contracts awaiting ROFR. We enjoy DVC as much as ever. Honestly I’m a bit concerned about the rising dues at VB but I don’t regret buying there at all. We bought those points at VB to use at VB. We’ve gone for a week every year since 1998 except in 2020. Our kids grew up going to DVC resorts and our daughter now owns at CC and VGF. She and her husband go more often than my wife and I do.

 

[Pinnochio]

We're back at Boardwalk for our October couples trip and I will always love it there but what they've done to food options over there is a disgrace.

We love Trattoria al Forno, Flying Fish, Ale & compass, and Yachtsmen steakhouse....but if your talking quick option then yes i agree

 

[tx911]

Owners since 2006 and, to be honest, I am enjoying it less. Not a fan of all the planning and cost hikes. Just isn't as magical as the early years (2006-2012 range). Plus we live local and go often. Use our DVC about 1 night a month on average. I told the DH living so close would wear the magic a bit for me and it has. Just have to keep finding new things to keep some magic

Interesting. I wonder if living local takes away some of the magic too. It's no longer a "trip" but perhaps just a ride across town.
I think if I lived locally it would have at a minimum caused me to buy fewer points.

 

[Minniesgal]

We live in a cold country. We bought thinking as we age out we will use our DVC as some winter sun in a place that holds wonderful memories for us and it is working perfectly for us

 

[MICKIMINI]

We are 28 year DVC owners. We started at OKW in 1996 and have owned more than a dozen contracts and now are back to two OKW. One is direct and one resale but 2057. When we bought, our son was 8 yo and already a WDW veteran. It just seemed natural to own and we made great use of all those contracts (at one point we were mid 600 points) with multigenerational visits and stays in all types of villas and at different resorts. Those were great times when DVC and WDW was flying high.

When our son began undergrad and grad school, we were F & W empty nesters. Our son and DIL were at WDW when it shut down and we sent them quite a few times once it reopened and also to Aulani. Our last trips together were both in 2022 and we all were getting tired of Disney so we skipped 2023. Our son is there for business next month so DIL decided to go for a few days and we will meet them there. We will certainly talk about our commitment to DVC and WDW in the coming decades. They have been traveling internationally several times a year and we aren't quite a year in our newly built home. It seems we are all moving on and this trip will likely move us all one way or the other. As young as they are, they remember the glory days, so it isn't just us old folks who have fond memories of clean parks, no door knocks, smaller crowds etc. It is way too expensive to not be all in for WDW!

 

[BeachClub2014]

We first bought in 2000 when our kids were young and have been going nearly every year. Our kids grew up going to wdw. Its what we did and created amazing family memories. We now have grandkids and have begun taking them, which is awesome.

We obviously still enjoy wdw and will continue going. Maybe its just nostalgic thinking, but it feels like the wdw/dvc of the 2000's was a much better experience and the quality higher than the wdw/dvc of today. It's always been expensive, but felt like a better value.

 

[Cybertruck]

We first bought in 2000 when our kids were young and have been going nearly every year. Our kids grew up going to wdw. Its what we did and created amazing family memories. We now have grandkids and have begun taking them, which is awesome.

We obviously still enjoy wdw and will continue going. Maybe its just nostalgic thinking, but it feels like the wdw/dvc of the 2000's was a much better experience and the quality higher than the wdw/dvc of today. It's always been expensive, but felt like a better value.

Our kids started in the late 90s agree the experience (e.g., boardwalk entertainment), quality of food and value was significantly better. Kids remember when you could have a good meal at Yachtsmen or Le Cellier. Now we make the trip to Shula's, Todd English Bluezoo or Il Mulino. We pretend the walk back to BWV or BCV makes up the dessert. Like you we will continue to visit however seek out value for our hard earn dollars.

 

[TinkAgainU]

I enjoy Disney as much or more than I did when younger - the good news is there is a lot to do which does not involve rickety rollercoasters lol. And I think oldsters "hope" our kids will continue the Disney traditions generation after generation. But not sure the DISBOARDS is the place to get a truly credible Survey done for this particular question

 

[BeachClub2014]

Our kids started in the late 90s agree the experience (e.g., boardwalk entertainment), quality of food and value was significantly better. Kids remember when you could have a good meal at Yachtsmen or Le Cellier. Now we make the trip to Shula's, Todd English Bluezoo or Il Mulino. We pretend the walk back to BWV or BCV makes up the dessert. Like you we will continue to visit however seek out value for our hard earn dollars.

Totally agree. I miss the days of complimentary valet parking, getting a bucket of amazing chicken wings at the ESPN bar, the Boardwalk Bakery when it was good, the Bellevue Lounge before they killed it off, the Boardwalk Buskers, cleaner rooms where all the appliances actually worked.......it's the little things.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

This is a really interesting thread to read. As a someone going to Disney as long as many of you have owned, yet being a relatively new DVC member I have some mixed emotions about the responses here. Had my child later in life so we're in that making magical memories phase that many of you have experienced however I also know what many of you are saying regarding the "better" Disney of the early 2000s. I wonder how DVC would've changed my relationship with the parks if me and my wife had bought back then instead of waiting till we had our kid. All I know is that DVC has changed the way we Disney for the better so maybe it's better we waited as this has just renewed the magic for us that might've grown stale otherwise.

 

[suebeelin]

Hi- we are of the camp that we are starting to lose interest. We now go two weeks a year, and kids are starting high school and middle school. We have owned not quite 15yrs but close (14+ years— 15 years in 6 mo).

We might sell one of our contracts. We are also skipping next year’s trip.

I guess the price of the tickets and the nickel and diming is taking its toll.

 

[jekjones1558]

Have owned for 25 years. At one time we had 1150 points but my DH developed major health issues and we could no longer travel. Sold 50% of our points and let family use the rest for about 5 years. DH passed away. I have returned to WDW and enjoyed it but the new system for reserving rides just isn't as nice as the old days of having Fast Passes all set up 60 days ahead. I will continue to visit WDW but now enjoy yearly trips to Hawaii (including Aulani) more than WDW. Still have never regretted for one second our DVC membership.

 

[OhhBother]

We’ve been members since 1996. Bought at OKW when DH was 28 and I was 24. It was the two of us then and still the two of us now. We’ve taken so many wonderful trips together - we usually go about three times a year. We were just kids when we bought - in our 50s now - and we still love it!

 

[DVC Jackie]

We bought at BCV in 2003…look forward to our Disney vacations every year! We take things slow, do our favorite rides/attractions and visit with friends and family in the area. One of our sons went to Rollins College in Winter Park (it was used ALOT those four years!!)

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi!

Owners since 2003. It was hard for me to choose, because for me it’s not better or worse, just different as we have aged. I still enjoy going to WDW….earlier we went with extended family, DM, plus our DS his family! Our grandchildren began going when they were 2,3 and 4. Now they are 19, 20 and 21, and we are not likely to all be together there again! Other DS and his family have gone three times, and Amusement parks are not what they really like. Japan, Columbia and far away destinations are more their style.

So, that leaves DH, myself, DSis, and all friends, cousins who like WDW. It’s a lot more expensive, and we are older. My Dashboard shows 8 DVC vacations we will enjoy over the next 11 months..the most recent booked is a two night stay in VB before the August 2025 DVC Member Cruise.

We were in our 50’s when we bought, and I also have no regrets that we bought it later in life. We did most of our European travel before buying, and I was more mobile then. I enjoy our more relaxing WDW trips now. We have MNSSHP and MVMCP tickets this year. Heading to a DCL cruise and WDW next week! We do what we like and enjoy the resorts. Very happy DVC members!

 

[Willow Ufgood]

We sort of "inherited" Mom's and Dad's ownership. They put me on the deeds after I finished school. They've lost their passion for Disney over the past decade and I basically manage the contracts now.

We (DH and I) are not thrilled with the way that the domestic parks are being managed lately and have found ourselves renting out the points about as much as we used ourselves. But now we've got a couple of kidlettes and Grandma and Grandpa want to see the same excitement in their eyes that my brothers and I once had. So we may find renewed interest in visiting the parks again.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

First bought in 2001 - kids were in high school. Have added on and sold some along the way. Now I have 5 grandkids and need more points! Thinking of adding on more BCV - perhaps we will expire at the same time! Trips have changed over the years, but we’ve never gotten tired or bored.

 

[CarolynFH]

Woohoo! Just spent yesterday with DGD whom we’ll introduce to WDW in January, and DD is already talking about staying in CFW when she’s 4 or 5. I’m happy to know DD plans to carry on with Disney visits.

 

[zackiedawg]

28 year owner at Boardwalk - bought all our points on day 1, no add-ons since (we bought enough to cover the trips we intended - two weeks in a 2-bedroom at Boardwalk during 2 higher-priced seasons and 2 cheaper seasons, It actually works out to about 25-30 days a year when choosing 1-bedrooms, occasional studios, staying at lower point resorts, etc.

My trips have changed over the years - but they're no less enjoyable - just for different reasons. Does that mean I haven't been disappointed with some Disney changes? Of course not - I loved the original fast passes (before you reserved them online even), hate Genie. I find lots of little perks and included services have disappeared or are now charged for. Some restaurants have gone a bit downhill. I don't think I ever encountered a mediocre Disney cast member, let alone a bad one, until the past 5 years or so, where now it's a little more common to get someone who's not quite as friendly or magical. Costs have definitely skyrocketed.

Yet, I still enjoy my trips, and just work around the things that changed. I don't bother to drive my car most places - I just use the Disney transportation. I don't use the Genie system at all - I just decide what to ride based on standby times. As I've aged, hitting as many rides as possible in a day is no longer important...so if the line is over 40 minutes, I can just skip it and plan on trying next visit.

Food, drinks, and entertainment are more important to me now than they used to be. They were still important in my 20s, but I still wanted to go on rides with friends and get in as much as possible. Now in my 50s, I enjoy strolling and walking around the grounds and resorts - I spend probably equal amounts of time in parks as I do in and around various resorts these days. I like some changes - more DVC lounges and resorts are nice - I think restaurants are starting to improve again after dropping a bit since the pandemic...more bars are sprouting up which I like. And various expansions to Disney Springs and the parks have been nice to see - with more coming.

I'm not in-town local, but I'm a 2 1/2 hr drive away local - so Disney trips are still easy to plan - just a quick drive, no airport messes and schedules, packing limitations, and transportation from airports to deal with - I toss whatever I want in my car (I can overpack like a maniac, because there's no real penalty for taking too much), take a short drive, and I'm there. While I'm paying for my Disney trips, most of my expenses are 'pre-paid' - ie: DVC is already purchased, dues are annual, and I buy an annual pass...so all I need to think about when I make my Disney trips is gas to get there, and food & entertainment while staying there.

My trips used to be very family centric - I owned points with my parents who also liked to go, and my brother who lives in the same town could bring his family. Now, my brother doesn't really go anymore and his 3 kids all grew and moved away, both my parents passed away last year, so the trips are now either solo or with friends. Most of my friends have become addicted to Disney trips the way I like to take them - relaxed, no rope-drops, late starts each day, good food and bars, etc. The same way my family liked to do it too - so really little has changed other than who I go with.