Mini-rant: People who dont' "get" DVC!!!!

[lovinthemouse]

DVC works for our family. The numbers worked, the flexibilty worked,it just works. Personally I could care less what others think. If it is not for them then fine, but we love and have not regretted our purchase for a single minute.

 

[snackyx]

We bought into DVC in early 1992 @ $51.50/point. 600 points later (and adding) we just keep going back. There have been times we have been at OKW for a week and never set foot in the parks! IMHO OKW is the best kept secret at Disney. It was the first development and was the first to sell out, thus many newer members have never stayed there and are missing an entire world within the world. There is no resort like OKW--largest rooms, lushest landscaping, the most "resort" feel. The concept of the resorts that followed were to better utilize the space they had, thus they are mostly based on a hotel concept rather than a condominium concept (entry from internal hallways rather than exterior entry). The result is OKW is really sprawled out and gives you a feeling of your own community secluded within WDW. Value? We just stayed over spring break in two 2-bedroom conds at OKW with six teenagers and six adults. The rack rate for these condos were listed at $660/night each. Do the math--the points make it all possible.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

A disclaimer before I start ranting: I completely get that DVC isn't for everyone. You really have to want to spend a lot of time at Disney for the next 50 or so years to make it worthwhile. And you have to be in financial shape to do it. And you can't think that staying in a value resort is like living in paradise.

That being said....

What IS it with folks and the whole anti-timeshare views, and why can't they see THAT DVC IS DIFFERENT!!! There's a whole long thread on the resorts board about why folks didn't buy in. A lot of it has to do with the endless crunching of numbers. And that somehow DVCers are suckers because they bought into the whole timeshare scam.

It's NOT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS...(Even though our numbers have added up quite nicely. We could sell our DVC for more than we paid for it 12 years ago. And even though we financed, we broke even a long time ago....That trip in the GV with our family really put us over the top! Ever priced out a GV to see how much the cash rate would be?)

IT IS ABOUT:

King size beds
Hot tubs
Balconies
Full sized kitchens
Separate rooms for the kiddies
(and all of the above, while available at off-site condos, comes in the heart of the DISNEY MAGIC and SERVICE!)

And for anyone who's struggled to get a spouse to sign on? I say....just ask that spouse..."Do you want to sleep in the same room as your kids on vacation, or do you want your OWN room?"

end of rant. you know, for the moment.

Perhaps the reason is our travel interests and opinions are simply different than yours. Is this not allowed?

We always find plenty of Disney Magic without DVC.

We aren't bad people.

We just do not share your opinion of DVC.

 

[jodifla]

Perhaps the reason is our travel interests and opinions are simply different than yours. Is this not allowed?

We always find plenty of Disney Magic without DVC.

We aren't bad people.

We just do not share your opinion of DVC.

All noted in my lead disclaimer.

 

[DeeCee735]

I have a co-worker who just can't get her mind around us buying DVC
OR travelling there every year. I explained to her that different strokes for different folks also means different VACATION ideas. I'm not one to travel to Cancun in August, or Niagra Falls in January, or cruising past ports of call to avoid the hurricane that's following, but I RESPECT the fact that these are the vacations they choose and enjoy! (?) I don't get it, but I respect it and don't "get on her case" everytime she mentions a new off season venture.

She constantly makes negative comments on our repeat travels to WDW and asked me why on earth we would want to go to the same place over and over, (as if there was something wrong with us). I reminded her that many many people return to a favorite vacation destination, be it Hawaii, Outer Banks, Cape Cod, Cancun, etc. It's a matter of loving a place so much you want to "own a piece of it". I further explained that timeshares overall are a purchase in one place for the exact purpose of being able to return to that place as much as possible (as well as the fact that most timeshares offer the option of trading out to go elsewhere). Her reply "Disney? I don't get it" I don't talk to her about it anymore (or much of anything for that matter )

Different strokes for different folks - I'm REALLY happy that DVC isn't for everyone......could you imagine trying to get into BW for F&WF if it were??

 

[DeeCee735]

Forgot to mention the "pre-paid vacationing". We bought in 2000 at $65.00 a point (at least for that initial and largest contract purchase ).
The first trip we went on was the land/sea vacation for the four of us, cash value was equal to half our purchase price. Two 1 week vacations in one bedroom BW view accommodations and one weekend trip in a one bedroom and we were even - it took us less than 3 years to break even on our initial purchase price (no financing). Now, we get at least 14 nights a year (depending on size of accommodations and time of year) out of our points. Most of the time these are one bedrooms, but once in a while we do 2 bedrooms. We've added 50 points a couple of years ago, and we've broken even on that very quickly as well. Not to mention the use my 19 year old kids will have out of it in the upcoming years as well!

As far as travelling other places, we do sometimes, and always come home with an urge to go to WDW. Not that our other travels aren't great, there's just an "unsatisified" feeling we come home with! I know, I know, we are Disaholic's - thank goodness for small blessings!

 

[DVC Eric]

My DW said in the beginning that we didn't need all that space. Now that we bought we have went from a studio for the two of us, to a 1 bedroom and are thinking of adding on more points.

 

[jodifla]

You know, that's one of the best things about DVC, imho. I know so many in my family who would love to go to Disney, but get sticker shock when they add up the cost. We are able to alleviate a lot of that with wonderful accomodations just a short walk from two parks.

My wife and I have been to WDW probably a dozen times, so we don't have to run ourselves ragged trying to see everything. We can now enjoy sharing what we love, and planning trips, for those who haven't been there.

Yes, taking family and friends is GREAT! WE do it all the time. It's not something we'd be able to do without DVC.

I LOVE taking newcomers to OKW and watch them walk into a 2-bedroom for the first time!

 

[Kurby]

Actually, my wife and I won't benefit from most of those things, as we intend to use studios most often (no kids for awhile), and DVC still makes sense for us because we typically have gone every year and only stay in moderates or deluxes.

separate rooms wasn't an issue for us either - i grew up travelling in a motor home with my parents during our vacations for over 10 years. having a 1 or 2 bdroom room didn't even come into the equation when we did "the numbers" for us it was about how much we loved Disney. How often had we gone down since meeting each other and how often did we expect to go in the future.

Did we want to stay at deluxe accomodations instead of value and mod's? yes.

Did we want to "own" a pc of something we loved? yes.

we also didn't take into account the "off property" resorts/hotels we could stay in if we wanted to travel else where.

for us - it was about planning what we think we'll continue to love doing in the future.

i wouldn't get too worked up if others "get it" or not - if they don't so be it - more room for us right

 

[bobbiwoz]

I chatted with a woman in the BC Tidal pool on Monday morning. She and her hubby yearly gift her family with 10 night Villa stays. Since she thought "villa" was just the word for her accomodations which I think was a 2 bedroom, I am not sure at how many actual bedrooms this entails. Each of the 3 families have their own "villa." They were staying at BCV accomodations, and usually stay either there or at BWV for cash.

She says her hubby looked into DVC a few years ago, but "decided it wasn't for us." I was surprised. Her husband thought the "over 500 vacation destinations" that DVC advertised "wasn't for him" that they wanted to take the family every year to WDW!

I did mention that going to WDW was the BEST use of points, and let it go. I do hope her DH and she look into DVC again.

Bobbi

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

What IS it with folks and the whole anti-timeshare views, and why can't they see THAT DVC IS DIFFERENT!!!

Uh...who really cares how they feel?

 

[aDVCguy]

They don't understand the power of the...

MOUSE!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Uh...who really cares how they feel?

That's funny?

Hummmmmmmmm.........

 

[FLYNZ4]

Uh...who really cares how they feel?

Or as Jimmy Buffett says: Breath in, Breath out, Move on.

I honestly do not care what other people think.

/Parrothead Jim

 

[kaelarad]

For the number crunchers over on the other thread, I have gotten our money out of our DVC investment already. We bought in 1999.

When I crunch the annual dues times three trips this year and compare the same accomodations paying cash, my number crunching comes out thousands of dollars ahead for DVC. Who is the SUCKER now.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

That's funny?

Hummmmmmmmm.........

Yeah...but not in a direspectful way.

If someone 'doesn't get DVC', that is fine by me. It's not for everyone.

I was laughing at myself. Keeps a smile on the face.

 

[dzorn]

I've been checkin the other tread out too and just had to put my two cents in on it. Some people just don't get it and never will. But Who Cares how someone else choose to take vacation. We only hope the make they an informed decision with all the facts and choose for themselves. Some do not realize we are just trying to spread the magic

Denise in MI

 

[jodifla]

OMG! Now there's someone on their who has whipped up a doomsday scenario that DVCers are all risking PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY by being a part of DVC.

Under this scenario, Disney starts to fail in 30 years, and comes after us for monstrous dues to keep them in business, and forces all into bankruptcy to take all our money to keep themselves afloat.

 

[tubtruck]

Surley if you dont pay your dues the worst case scenario is that they withdraw your points.
If it ever gets to that point I imagine that for the mouse to come and get me ,the airfare to the UK would be more than it was worth anyway.

 

[dzorn]

OMG! Now there's someone on their who has whipped up a doomsday scenario that DVCers are all risking PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY by being a part of DVC.

Under this scenario, Disney starts to fail in 30 years, and comes after us for monstrous dues to keep them in business, and forces all into bankruptcy to take all our money to keep themselves afloat.

Doesn't have a very high post count either. It was very funny. Especially the comebacks that he forgot to include asteroids in his scenario.

Denise in MI