No room for DVC'r on Cruises with Availability

[NWmom]

We just used our points to book on the Fantasy. I always plan trips dar in advance. That is a key to DVC and getting the mosy out of your vacation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes we bought DVC a year ago have taken one trip and it seems DVC has been a thorn for us. Never do they have availability when we call for cruises, rci exchanges . There are a lot of if this than not that and if that than not this going on. I know there are guidelines but it is overboard in my opinion when cash guest get better choices while I am making dedicated payments to them. take the Jr suites at Coronado springs if you want to trade into that for the collection resorts its not available and what about the new princess rooms at port Orleans cant book those either cause no one knows how those are handled. No internet free if you stay at a collection resort on points and pay 95.00 too. No room cleaning unless you pay for it too. Makes me wonder what I agreed to this silly membership for but whats done is done. Right?

Timeshares are always best used for what you purchased. Trading out (which is what you are doing when you cruise, use the Disney collection, or use RCI) is always a crap shoot no matter WHICH timeshare you own. You should never purchase DVC ONLY to use for trade outs.

 

[Scott H]

It is a shame the way DVC puts the emphasis on tradeouts in their sales advertisements. They make it sound like you can go on a safari with a minimum point purchase, meanwhile it takes over 1,000 points. Now it's almost impossible to book cruises unless you are a year in advance. Disney Collection hotels have inflated points, they have gone way up recently.

It used to be DVC was put on a pedestal for not being "shady" timeshare sellers. I don't think so anymore.

I agree 100%, also totally agree with another poster planning 11 months out is the best bet.

DVC is a business and as a consumer one need to watch them, prior to the change in the limited cruise booking policy, we had a negative experience, basically told due to the contract with DCL a specific cruise was unavailable, we paid cash for the cruise and then learned several other DVC members were allowed to use points, DVC response was basically too bad so sad. I was not a happy camper.

 

[dzorn]

Yes we bought DVC a year ago have taken one trip and it seems DVC has been a thorn for us. Never do they have availability when we call for cruises, rci exchanges . There are a lot of if this than not that and if that than not this going on. I know there are guidelines but it is overboard in my opinion when cash guest get better choices while I am making dedicated payments to them. take the Jr suites at Coronado springs if you want to trade into that for the collection resorts its not available and what about the new princess rooms at port Orleans cant book those either cause no one knows how those are handled. No internet free if you stay at a collection resort on points and pay 95.00 too. No room cleaning unless you pay for it too. Makes me wonder what I agreed to this silly membership for but whats done is done. Right?

DVC is truly best used for DVC stays with advanced planning.

Denise in MI

 

[Dean]

It is a shame the way DVC puts the emphasis on tradeouts in their sales advertisements. They make it sound like you can go on a safari with a minimum point purchase, meanwhile it takes over 1,000 points. Now it's almost impossible to book cruises unless you are a year in advance. Disney Collection hotels have inflated points, they have gone way up recently.

It used to be DVC was put on a pedestal for not being "shady" timeshare sellers. I don't think so anymore.

They slant the sales presentation to make sales as they should. There is nothing wrong with this as long as they don't truly misrepresent the product. It's up to the consumer to read the materials and learn the rest of the story. It's no different than buying a car or anything else.

 

[disneynutz]

They slant the sales presentation to make sales as they should. There is nothing wrong with this as long as they don't truly misrepresent the product. It's up to the consumer to read the materials and learn the rest of the story. It's no different than buying a car or anything else.

We use to think that Disney was different than other companies including timeshare companies. Ether they have changed or we have wised up.

Talking to many, many CM's over the years and experiencing the changes first hand, I would have to say that most of all Disney has changed, and because we deal with Disney so often, we now see behind the curtain where before we didn't.

Bill

 

[Dean]

We use to think that Disney was different than other companies including timeshare companies. Ether they have changed or we have wised up.

Talking to many, many CM's over the years and experiencing the changes first hand, I would have to say that most of all Disney has changed, and because we deal with Disney so often, we now see behind the curtain where before we didn't.

Bill

IMO DVC has always beens just another good timeshare. Years ago I was often chastised by other members for holding that view. Timeshares change over time. Some owners have realized that they made false assumptions that DVC was different than other good timeshares, they're not, never have been and they don't need to be, they are a timeshare even though I've seen people post on this board that they were not and they did not own a timeshare. While I can think of things they should have done differently (some pos and some neg from an owners view), I can't think of any policy changes or decisions that were inappropriate or unreasonable though I think the communication and implementation could be better at times.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO DVC has always beens just another good timeshare. Years ago I was often chastised by other members for holding that view. Timeshares change over time. Some owners have realized that they made false assumptions that DVC was different than other good timeshares, they're not, never have been and they don't need to be, they are a timeshare even though I've seen people post on this board that they were not and they did not own a timeshare. While I can think of things they should have done differently (some pos and some neg from an owners view), I can't think of any policy changes or decisions that were inappropriate or unreasonable though I think the communication and implementation could be better at times.

Dean, I respect your opinions and posts but you know as well as we all do that the DVC isn't a timeshare, it's a club.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

Dean, I respect your opinions and posts but you know as well as we all do that the DVC isn't a timeshare, it's a club.

Bill

Funny guy, Bill.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I respect your opinions and posts but you know as well as we all do that the DVC isn't a timeshare, it's a club.

Bill

Sure..., the problem is that some actually believe that.

 

[quirty30]

Dean, I respect your opinions and posts but you know as well as we all do that the DVC isn't a timeshare, it's a club. l

 

[jpabst17216]

I understand that cruises are more expensive than if you would just pay cash, but how do you rent your points in time for your vacation? I want to cruise November of 2012, but can I really rent these points out in time? Or should I just start renting them out with plans of a 2013 cruise?

 

[tomspixie]

It is frustrating that there is currently no availability on DCL for DVC members. And if you sail and see DVC MEMBER magnets on doors, don't be surprised. They booked early and/or were included in a promotion DVC ran several months back.
If you added on, or got a new contract, you got a cruise. So, most of the DVC rooms that the cruiseline alots were set up for the promo purchasers. Stinks for those of us with availability and desire to use our points to sail prior to October of 2012...but it is what it is.
I still find value in being a member of DVC...but also see the reality of it being a timeshare, with flexability. Granted, there isn't as much flexability as there used to be...but I still love it!!!