Please tell me everything you love and don't love about DVC

[shellynn24]

We are really wanting to buy into DVC. I love the idea, but my husband is a little skeptical about initial expense. We would put down at least 20%, and I think all he is seeing is a couple thousand dollars just disappearing from our account! I like to read to him from the posts on the DIS and would like as much input as I can get. The biggest plus I can see is a garunteed vacation to WDW every year, which I like to do anyway! This would also make my parents happy because they live in Ocala. Also please include your favorite DVC resort, this is just becasue I'm nosy !!

 

[d-r]

The only bad side is that I think the toilet paper is kind of cheap.

 

[NCRedding]

I love that I could sell my DVC today for more than I invested in it. The accomodations quality cannot be beat. The differing options are awesome. After staying in a villa, a regular hotel room is almost unbearable. I like paying my dues over time. I love receiving a bill at checkout which has no lodging charges on it. I love endlessly planning my vacations, playing with points, trying to optimize my time.
The only negative I can think of is that you do have to "plan" to take advantage of the system (not a disadvantage to me), but hard to be spontanteous with trips.

 

[DisFlan]

I'd like a discount on park tickets other than the AP. (And better toilet paper!) Other than that, we're very happy with it.

DisFlan

 

[browniemtb]

The only negative I can think of is that you do have to "plan" to take advantage of the system (not a disadvantage to me), but hard to be spontanteous with trips.

You got that right...my DW sprung a, "Hey lets go to WDW the week of March 13th."...one of her friends is heading down with the kids. So basically we are 35 days to departure. What do you think my chances are for a studio....nil,zippo, notta.....wait list??
On the other hand the trip we planned for November, 1 bedroom at BWV with a Boardwalk view came through no problem....we own at BWV and took advantage of the 11 month window. But it can be hard to wait 11 months....I get the itch to go a lot.

Brownie

 

[aDVCguy]

Things I love about owning @ Saratoga Springs...

1- It's DISNEY! Everything about WDW is GREAT!
2- Where else can you go and act like a kid again w/
thousands of other adults?
3- Your children get to inherit DVC
4- The food is outrageous!
5- ...and all those character meals

There's NOTHING I don't like about DVC and The World!

Like I always post... "Have...itch must see Mouse!"-aDVCguy

 

[dianeschlicht]

Things I love:
-LARGE accommodations of 1,2, and 3 bedrooms with full kitchens and in the case of OKW, full laundry rooms and a HUGE balcony.
-It's at Disney!
-I feel like I'm at home instead of in a hotel'
-It's at Disney!
-I don't have to race around doing the parks, because I know I'll be back soon.
-It's at Disney!
-A VERY flexible timeshare system compared to many others.
-It's at Disney!
-Ability to book my home resort 4 months ahead of owners of the other DVCs.
-It's at Disney!
-Ability to book at DVC resorts I don't own more than 6 months out (7 months).
-It's at Disney!
-High quality rooms and furnishings compared to some other timeshares.
-It's at Disney!
-Better maintenance than at some timeshares.
-It's at Disney!

Things I don't like about DVC:
-I can't buy enough points to spend the winter there.
-I can't go as often as I want, because my budget doesn't allow it.
-They don't have a Hawaii DVC.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Count me in! I also hate the toilet paper but love my DVC.

 

[WDWLVR]

DVC was right for us because we love Disney and had gotten to the point where we were going down every year. We also loved staying in the more deluxe accomodations. We called for the kit and crunched the numbers. We then made a trip down for a long weekend and arranged for a tour. We stayed at All Stars on that trip and will it was fun it really made us appreciate what we saw on the DVC tour.

A separate bedroom with a King size bed, the jacuzzi, the full kitchen, the washer/dryer. I love it all. It works for us and gives us an excellent vacation. I know that with my points I have trips to Disney until 2042 if I live that long.

I love the flexability that I can stay in a one bedroom (our favorites) one time or a studio another. We've even done a 2 bedroom and brought my in-laws. I love how I can give trips to my in-laws down to Vero Beach (they don't love Disney as much as wel do). I also love the special events like the DVC cruises.

What each person loves about DVC is unique to them and that is another reason to love DVC!

 

[shellynn24]

Thank you all for the input. I have been looking at the costs and running numbers all day, I think we will be starting our paperwork as soon as my husband gets out of the field. I'm very happy that we will be joining such a wonderful enthusiastic family. Oh and I will love to hear "Welcome Home" when I get to WDW, since my secret desire is to live there!

I will try to remeber to bring tushie friendly TP for our trips!

 

[jarestel]

I'll repeat what most have said already: The best thing about DVC is the flexibility on vacation dates and accomodations. We've had many wonderful vacations with friends and family over the last 5 years. And as someone pointed out, "It's at Disney"!

The other side of the coin:
Smoking/HA preference is not guaranteed.
Dues rise approximately 4% per year with not a lot of tangible improvements to show for it.
"Owners" ( and dues payers ) at a specific resort have no benefits over non-owners except for a 4 month booking advantage.

No timeshare is going to be perfect, but DVC does a fairly good job of making things run smoothly. We've been happy with our decision to buy, and always look forward to our next DVC vacation.

Good luck!

 

[Merilyn]

We love everything about DVC and WDW. We go every year and still find new things to do and see. It was the best purchase we ever made and well worth the money. I do wish we had more luck with trades. I would like to go to WDW and make a trade every year. The really great places are almost impossible to get. We love the trades we have done and hope to do more in the years to come. We have never had any problems at WDW that weren't resolved quickly. I truly believe Disney knows how to make vacations "MAGICAL".

 

[kpk89]

Is the relaxed approach we can take to our vacations, knowing that we'll be back again and again. So far we've only stayed at SSR and OKW, but have stayed at WL (not villas) and visited BW and BC and I have to say, I can't choose a favorite. They are all wonderful for their own reasons. It's like having to choose which of your children is your favorite!