Looking for former DVC'ers who were unhappy and sold/trying to sell (need your input)

[pstepka]

I am not posting this on the DVC board because I know that everyone over 'there' is satisfied and happy, or they wouldn't be there! So...I'm looking for people who are former members and who sold because they were dissatsified (or are trying to sell).

We are seriously considering joining and I'd like to hear all opinions.

I'm not interested in hearing about particular rooms, bad experiences with the resort, etc. (those exist whether you're a member or just a guest), but rather things along the line of feeling it was not a good value AT ALL, etc.

Thanks!!!

Pam

 

[mrsltg]

Well, I'm not an owner but we did seriously consider it and then decline. Here's why.

1. no cap on maintenance fees - meaning that DVC couldn't guarantee that major maintenance wouldn't cause a big spike in fees. I was not comfortable with that, especially as these buildings age and need things like new roofs and HVAC systems.

2. expiration date - DVC is not forever. It does expire in 2042 (I think that's the date). This made me look at it as a long term rent rather than a purchase.

3. resorts - the resorts that are part of DVC are gorgeous! We, however, like to resort hop trip to trip, but we don't like to move during a trip. The point expenditure for a night at any of the deluxes that aren't DVC was astounding. This would severly limit my goal of trying each resort at least once without attaching an astronomical price tag to non-DVC rooms.

Anyway, those were our reasons. As you point out though, I don't think I've ever heard of a DVC'er who wasn't happy with their purchase. I think it just depends on the type of vacation that you enjoy and the $$$ you are willing to spend for different things.

Good luck in your decision!

Erin

 

[pstepka]

Thanks for your input! I totally see your points and the maintenance fee thing does kind of make me nervous. We changed resorts while we were there at the beginning of this month and hated it! So...resort hopping is NOT for us!!! Also, 39 years from now might as well be forever in MY book, so that is not an issue.

I'm very glad to hear the negatives (as they pertain to each person) so that I can compare and see if those are things that would affect my decision, also.

I want to be sure that I don't miss something and buy and then end up regretting my decision.

Keep the info coming!!!

Thanks,
Pam

 

[jel0511]

I am a DVC owner, so I'm not going to try to sell you on it's laurals, but I did see a misrepresentation on the part of maintenance fees by the previous poster that I want to clear up.

no cap on maintenance fees - meaning that DVC couldn't guarantee that major maintenance wouldn't cause a big spike in fees. I was not comfortable with that, especially as these buildings age and need things like new roofs and HVAC systems.

Actually, there is an annual cap of 15% on maintenance fees rising per year. In the last 11 years that DVC has been in existence, the fees have gone up an average of 3% per year. Also, a large part of our maintenance fees are for reserves to take care of the exact type of major maintenance mrsltg is talking about. There are various categories, broken out by maintenance type, painting, roof repair/replacement, etc, where the money is held and then used as needed. You receive a statement of these reserves once a year, when you receive your dues statement. So, using the supposed "no cap" on dues and the possibility of a major renovation hitting an owner as a reason not to buy in are incorrect. Any good condo association or timeshare for that matter, MUST keep these reserves as a protection to the owners to avoid the potentional large assessments that mrsltg is talking about. All the reserves on VWL (the only property I own) are in the tens of millions of dollars, leaving me feel pretty comfortable that I as an owner are pretty well protected against something failing.

 

[DaveH]

jel0511 beat me to the no cap on maint fees. I am a happy DVC owner. That said. I will agree with mrsltg if you want to use points to try every resort at WDW or trade out all the time. DVC is a bad investment on vacations. If you go mostly on Fri and Sat nights, it might not be good for you also. Fri and Sat nights are higher point costs. There are plenty of reasons not to join. The current DVC's end in 2042. They new DVC at SSR is a 50 year commitment. Ok I look at it like a closed end lease on vacations at WDW. If you do not want t go to WDW at least every other year or every year for the for seeable future it is not for you. DVC is not for everyone. Some folks worry about what WLV or OKW or BWV will look like 40 years from now. That to me is concern with any timeshare. The DVC board here has plenty of passionate DVC owners. I think if you asked over there why or under what conditions you should not buy DVC you will get some honest straight answers there too. I hope this helps. You mightt consider giving DOC a PM at the DVC board and ask him. He has always given me honest straight answer without opinion unless asked for. The same can be said for Reg over there too.

 

[franw]

Hi pstpka, Just wanted to let you know that I also agonized over joining DVC for years as my husband and I always swore we would never buy a timeshare. Meanwhile the costs of our vacations at WDW kept skyrocketing. I don't think the increase in maintenance fees compare to the increases in room rates, especially now with the days of deep discounts seemingly behind us.
So, I broke down and bought 300 points a couple months ago. Gosh, why did I wait so long. You know the prices are only going to go up and the DVC properties are all beautiful. We will have our first trip in November. Actually I am gifting our points to our son's family this trip and they will stay at BCV and then VWL. We are more excited about this trip than any we have ever taken. The Member Services people have been wonderful to work with.
I probably polled hundreds of people before I bought in. The only regret any of them had was that they had waited so long to join. And what a wonderful gift to pass down to our kids and grandkids while enjoying their future legacy in the meantime. Yes, it only is good for another 40 years but by the time that passes there will be another generation enjoying "grandma and grandpa's" gift. If you love going to WDW and know that you and your kids love it -- go for it. Don't think for a minute that only people who don't find fault with WDW subscribe to these or DVC's boards. Read some of the ranting and raving that goes on under "AP Discounts" and you will see that if people had real gripes about DVC they'd be sharing it with the boards. Sometimes in life we just have to go with our heart and our gut. Once I did the decision was easy.

 

[GladysK]

One reason to not join- "Some" kids ,when they reach the teen years refuse to go to WDW ,or anywhere with their parents. This happened to us and we had a 4 year break from WDW. Now that we can travel "alone", we are going to other places around the USA, alternating with WDW.Yes, there ARE other vacation destinations, believe it or not!