Onsite DVC Tours?

[leebee]

[Mods please move if there is a better place to post this!]

November will be my 3rd trip to WDW in 2025, and we already have a trip planned for 2026 (renting points at SSR). I'm starting to think that DVC might be a good option for us! I have a "down day" during my solo trip in November and was wondering about taking a DVC tour. Do they still do this? Does anyone know what the tour is like, how long it takes, how to sign up, if there are any specific requirements (DH won't be with me on this trip) or incentives offered, etc.?

 

[muppets3d]

You can walk up to any DVC booth on property and ask for a tour. They'll get you set up immediately. You could also contact DVC before your trip and schedule it ahead of time if you want.

 

[airjay75]

You can definitely take a tour during your visit - link below to schedule in advance. You might want to decide which resort you would like to tour in advance and request that your tour be set up at that resort - Cabins at Fort Wilderness, Poly Island Tower, and Riviera are three resorts currently in active sales and where they would probably prefer that you do a formal tour. That said, you can also tour some of the other "sold out" resorts, although I'm not sure which ones. I believe you can tour the Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs. I know that tours are no longer offered at Bay Lake Tower (only because I asked). And, just in case you don't know, "sold out" doesn't mean you cannot buy there, it just means it is much more expensive and you will generally not receive any sales incentives on purchases at those resorts.

https://tours.disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/s/

 

[MattB2G]

Also, keep reading the DVC part of Disboards to learn the ends and outs of the system. It is a pretty easy system, but the more you know the better you will be prepared to buy your first contract.

One saying goes, "Buy where you want to stay" you can never go wrong with this when buying into DVC. Just because you can save money buying another resort, doesn't mean it will be a good fit for your family.

 

[HFJohnson]

As mentioned above there are a number of ways of arranging a tour. I booked one in May by popping into the DVC place in Disney Springs and they arranged for me to visit their DVC location in the Canada pavilion in Epcot. They have a mock up of a Poly Tower 1 bed there but I would have a think about whether there are any specific locations you're interested in and ask what your options are.

I was given a $50 gift card because I was staying at Pop. I think you get $100 if staying at a moderate and $200 if at a deluxe but check when you book.

The actual tour took around an hour. The guide talked me through DVC and the general costs, points tables etc and then took me to look at the mock up room. There was no pressure to buy (I had no intention of signing up there and then) and I got snacks and drinks so it was a nice way to spend an hour!

 

[Hubalorian]

[Mods please move if there is a better place to post this!]

November will be my 3rd trip to WDW in 2025, and we already have a trip planned for 2026 (renting points at SSR). I'm starting to think that DVC might be a good option for us! I have a "down day" during my solo trip in November and was wondering about taking a DVC tour. Do they still do this? Does anyone know what the tour is like, how long it takes, how to sign up, if there are any specific requirements (DH won't be with me on this trip) or incentives offered, etc.?

If you are going to be a new member, you would qualify for the dream if forward discount. You would save $500 off the purchase price and whoever refers you gets $100 dinning gift card. You can find many wonderful people on this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-it-forward-referral-thread.3924074/

Who would be happy to refer you. This only applicable if you buy through Disney.

 

[muppets3d]

If you are going to be a new member, you would qualify for the dream if forward discount. You would save $500 off the purchase price and whoever refers you gets $100 dinning gift card. You can find many wonderful people on this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-it-forward-referral-thread.3924074/

Who would be happy to refer you. This only applicable if you buy through Disney.

There is no longer a discount for being referred by an existing member, per my guide this past weekend. However, the referring member still receives a dining credit.

 

[leebee]

We have stayed on points at AKV, BWV, SSR, and OKW, and on BounceBack offers at WL and Poly. Jambo House is my very favorite place to stay so ideally I'd love to buy in here as my home resort, but as usual, money makes a difference!

Do I need to have my spouse with me to do the tour? I know some timeshares require this. I will be staying at Coronado Springs in November, solo, but DH will be with me in January, staying at SSR, so if I can't do a tour in November, maybe we'll do it in January.

 

[muppets3d]

We have stayed on points at AKV, BWV, SSR, and OKW, and on BounceBack offers at WL and Poly. Jambo House is my very favorite place to stay so ideally I'd love to buy in here as my home resort, but as usual, money makes a difference!

Do I need to have my spouse with me to do the tour? I know some timeshares require this. I will be staying at Coronado Springs in November, solo, but DH will be with me in January, staying at SSR, so if I can't do a tour in November, maybe we'll do it in January.

I think the main reason some timeshares require married couples to be present is because they use high-pressure sales tactics and they want to eliminate the objection of "I need to talk this over with my spouse".

 

[sndral]

Why not do a tour on your solo trip in Nov. & if you’re still interested, then do another tour in Jan. w/ your husband, perhaps at a different resort.

Some things to consider:
- Where do you want to buy - some resorts are harder to reserve than others & thus home resort matters more for them.
- When do you plan on going - some times of year are more popular & if you plan to visit then home resort priority matters (ex. early Dec..)
- How many points will you need - this depends on what size villa you’ll want & how many days per year - some resorts cost a lot more points than others & some times of year cost more points than others.
- What use year would work best for your travel dates.

If Jambo is your favorite resort & where you want to stay, then you should consider buying resale. There are pluses & minuses to buying resale, but if your goal is to stay at AKL/V Jambo & you don’t care about membership benefits & are ok w/ not staying at the restricted resorts (Riviera, the cabins, the Disneyland Hotel, & future new builds) you likely can cut your buy in cost in half at AKV by going resale.
Right now the direct purchase price for AKV is $215 per point https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program-menu/financial/pricing-a-promotions whereas it looks like folks are buying resale AKV points for $85 - $109, see this thread for an idea of the prices folks are negotiating for resale contracts https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...ost-for-instructions-formatting-tool.3969776/.

 

[muppets3d]

It would be difficult for me to consider buying AKV direct, given how easily it can be booked at the 7-month window and how expensive the direct points are vs. resale. I did buy AKV direct a few years ago during a nice incentive period, but I don't think the resort has any active incentives today.

Disney really prefers to sell it's new resorts direct, those are the resorts that get the most incentives. Although they do offer incentives on the older resorts periodically - and sometimes, they're very attractive (like a recent OKW "blowout" sale).