New dvc member...give me your number 1 fact I need to know

[arkbrowns]

My wife and I just got our dvc membership and bought our points at boardwalk. We are very excited and we have already booked five nights in march 2011 for spring break. With that being said, we know we may have tons to learn how everything operates.
We would love everyones feedback on what you think would be the number one thing we need to know.
It can range from booking reservations, banking points, room types and views or even locker rental and shopping lists.....this is all new to us and we are dying to know what people suggest as important.
Thanks and hope we get some good ones

 

[com_op_2000]

Welcome Home
My #1 items is:
Do whatever makes you and your family happy (From Haunted Mansion DVD)
DVC is a VACATION club enjoy it, you will find multiple ways to use it.

 

[toniosmom]

Enjoy the resorts. Now that you will be traveling to WDW more often, it's not necessary for you to be there from the minute the park opens until it closes, trying to squeeze every bit of fun into that time. It's exhausting! We never go to the parks every day. Sometimes we just sleep in and lay around the pool all afternoon. It's a great thing to do after a couple of park days -- it really recharges you for your next park day.

Most of the time, we go to the park in the morning and get back to the resort for a late lunch and then lounge at the pool. Many times we don't even go back to the park. I never thought I would consider a WDW vacation relaxing!

 

[adminjedi]

Be prepared to buy more points!

 

[jnsolomon]

The best use of your points is at a DVC resort. They give you a far better value than any of the exchange options.

 

[jekjones1558]

Plan your DVC trips as far in advance as possible in order to have the best chance of getting the resort and room you want. BUT, when a last minute opportunity arises, have fun trying a resort or room category you might not have otherwise considered.

 

[Disneypirate85]

Enjoy yourself! Shawn

 

[TisBit]

Don't read these boards too much

Honestly, you will hear a lot of negative things and develop paranoia if you read too much. Learn from your experiences and take everything here with a grain of salt. There are a lot of things that people will complain on and on about, but most people would never notice or wouldn't be bothered by. Enjoy yourself and just because someone does like something, doesn't mean you will and if someone doesn't like something, it doesn't mean you won't like it!

 

[Daddio]

Don't spend alot of time worring about room location requests. Every room at DVC has its pros and cons and within the first few days, you'll find the pros outweigh the cons.

David

 

[skelooch]

WELCOME HOME

You have already learned the number 1 most important thing to know about DVC and that is you discovered the DisBoards. Anything and everything you will ever need to know about your membership can be obtained here. READ, READ, READ, and if there is something you don't understand, ask and you will get answers fast.

When I joined DVC in 2002 my guide suggested I check out the DisBoards, that was the single most important info I ever received from Disney, and I have been visiting these boards regularly ever since. I don't post a lot but I do read a lot.
Everything I have learned about DVC I have learned here, I am by no means a DVC expert compared to some of those who post on the DVC boards, they have probably forgotten more than I will ever know or need to know about DVC.
IMHO these boards are the home of the real hard core DVCers.

I hope you enjoy your membership for many years to come.

 

[photobob]

Pay attention to your 11 month and 7 month windows and when your banking deadline is, other than that enjoy!

We have found we have become much more laid-back on our trips. You know you'll be returning with regularity so you don't have the urgency to do everything every trip. Staying in 1 BDR and 2 BDR especially gives you the extra room to relax and you'll probably be spending more time in the room now that you are a DVC member. Boardwalk is an excellent Resort with one of the best locations on property, Welcome Home!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

Don't stress over things other Disers complain about regarding resorts/rooms. Go to a resort and experience it for yourself before deciding whether or not you will go back again.

Like a pp said just because your at Disney doesn't mean you have to go to parks every day. Take a day or two and enjoy the resort.

 

[nolanboys]

We only bought 200 points for every other year trips. I try to think of our next trip when we plan our current one. We just booked our Spring Break 2011 trip and I had a list of points to stay at different resorts as well as a list of points for our New Year's 2012 trip. I choose to keep some of our days at a less expensive point resort, so I will have more to spend over our future New Year's trip.

 

[grafxgirl]

We never spend every day at the parks. We usually spend 2-3 days in the parks and the rest of the time visiting the different resorts and looking for other activities like golfing and swimming.

 

[Hunclemarco]

Now that you have DVC, get or at least look into an Owners Locker at http://www.Ownerslocker.com
It has made our trips much more easy to prepare for. And if you do choose to get one, go through the DIS to get it...you get more "use for your money".

As others have said...there will be no need to go commando in the parks. My wife and i plan different goals on each trip...see a different show, collect "X" this time around, check out the other resorts...there are tons of things to keep each vacation exciting.

Oh...watch out for addonitis...

Welcome Home!

 

[CMOORE185]

Be careful when reading these boards. Alot of what people write is their opinion or speculation, not fact. I always try to write that it is my opinion or in my experience, because people seem to have a wide range of experiences on the same subject.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The best advice I have is to familiarize yourself with banking, borrowing windows etc. Knowing this helps you maximize your points and better yet ensures that none of your points are lost!

Other than that, it's fun, fun, fun!

I bought in 2000 and my enjoyment of DVC has never waned!

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Remove the following terms from your vocabulary on vacations because you will be coming more often: hurry, run, we gotta go now, and let me check my spreadsheet. Enjoy your resorts as many have said you do not have to squeeze it all into one day, take your time and have fun and one of our goals was to try every resort and come up with our own opinion on which we like best.

 

[DebbieB]

Welcome Home Neighbor! You will love BWV! I just passed 11 years as a BWV member and have no regrets!

My favorite tip - once you book a boardwalk view, you will not want to go back to standard!

 

[Caren]

Be prepared to buy more points!

Yup, you will always need more points. Especially if you're like us--it only took us one stay in one-bedroom villa to decide we will never, ever stay in a studio again.