Please try to convince me NOT to buy DVC. No, really.

[BWV2001]

Honestly, I really do want to own DVC.

I asked for some info from a guide today. He's mailing it to me and it just can't get here fast enough.

I haven't gotten any info other than the DVD that highlights the benefits and what I can glean from these discussion boards.

Heck, I haven't even discussed this with my husband! LOL

But at this moment I'm really needing to hear about the downside to ownership. Even if you are DVC's biggest fan, you must have some bad experience to share. No matter how good something is, there is always a downside.

In our family, I am Positive Patty and hubby is Negative Nick. Once I show hubby all the info I'm being sent and we start discussing it, I want to be ready for all the negative things he's gonna ask me about.

So please, any bad stories, experiences, etc. you were part of that you could share with me?

My husband and I are both very practical, so before we bought into dvc in 2001 we explored lots of options. One aspect we discovered was that you are allowed to have up to 4 names on the deed. So....we enlisted my cousin and her husband to buy in with us, and it has worked beautifully. We bought the minimum number of points (150 at the time) and agreed to share it. We never use points for weekend nights, and we have started cutting back to just 1 visit every other year. I have not one regret---except maybe that we didn't buy a few more points. We are able to stay in either 2 studios at any property (we have 3 kids and usually take my sister-in-law)or a 2 BR standard view (to save on the points) at BWV. The only time we stayed somewhere other than our home, we were able to get a studio at the BCV (pre-3rd child) at the 7-mo. window. I do agree with the posters who remind you that it is only worthwhile if you plan to stay at DVC properties---doesn't seem like a good value for points to trade with another timeshare or even for a Disney cruise. Anyway, good luck with your decision.

 

[Buffman]

I have owned for over 10 years, and I love DVC. However, you do have dues every month that you have to budget for. Do you vacation in Florida every year? Then DVC is a good value for you, but if you would rather vacation in a different place each year, then you will want to buy a different timeshare. I find that after 10 years, we spend most of our time at the resorts, golfing, and seeing other parts of Orlando, and less time at the parks. We love the luxury, too, but if you don't care for luxury and space and being part of the magic, then you might want to save your money.

Yes but with the RCI connection, the ability to takes cruises, and now the Grand Californian, the options continue to grow. I do like DL, though have only been their once and stayed at the Paradise Pier. I loved the Grand Californian resort (fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and his style influence).

As for saving money, my kids are getting too big to pack into a 2-bed hotel room, so I now rent two rooms...usually not equipped with kitchen/kitchenettes, which means eating out all the time. This all adds up too. Having my kitchen of food beats $70 bills for cheeseburgers for 6 at Hollywood Studios .

Mark

 

[pearlieq]

Downsides we're experienced so far:

1.) For all the perks you are sold, you are actually guaranteed very little. If they make a change or add a fee and you don't like it, tough beans. They already have your money. Even if you sell your membership, it doesn't hurt DVC in any way. You no position from which to negotiate.

2.) No Polynesian. I really, really like it there.

3.) No pin codes, no 4/3, no free dining.

4.) You're locked into Disney. If you get tired of it, or get disenchanted with how things are run, you either still have to go there, lose your points, or go through the hassle and expense of an exchange.

5.) Dodgy last-minute availability. Once rooms go back into inventory for general sale, the good resorts and dates are hard to get.

6.) Underwhelming properties. SSR just doesn't do anything for me. It looks like an apartment complex. OKW looks very tired to me. I don't like exterior corridors or local wildlife by my door. These are just personal preferences.

There are, of course, upsides as well. But you didn't ask for those.

 

[mitros]

Downsides we're experienced so far:

1.) For all the perks you are sold, you are actually guaranteed very little. If they make a change or add a fee and you don't like it, tough beans. They already have your money. Even if you sell your membership, it doesn't hurt DVC in any way. You no position from which to negotiate.

2.) No Polynesian. I really, really like it there.

3.) No pin codes, no 4/3, no free dining.

4.) You're locked into Disney. If you get tired of it, or get disenchanted with how things are run, you either still have to go there, lose your points, or go through the hassle and expense of an exchange.

5.) Dodgy last-minute availability. Once rooms go back into inventory for general sale, the good resorts and dates are hard to get.

6.) Underwhelming properties. SSR just doesn't do anything for me. It looks like an apartment complex. OKW looks very tired to me. I don't like exterior corridors or local wildlife by my door. These are just personal preferences.

There are, of course, upsides as well. But you didn't ask for those.

Agree with you, 100% We are getting less and less for our money. If I had not bought in 1991, and saw what was being offered today, we would NOT have spent the $$$ Disney is most assuradley giving less and less for your membership! Upsides? Can't think of too many any more.

 

[Dean]

Agree with you, 100% We are getting less and less for our money. If I had not bought in 1991, and saw what was being offered today, we would NOT have spent the $$$ Disney is most assuradley giving less and less for your membership! Upsides? Can't think of too many any more.

I don't think we're getting less for our money only that the difference between what we're getting and what we could get without DVC has shifted, likely temporarily. In my view as long as I'm getting a room subject to the reservation restrictions and appropriate MS and management, I'm getting what I signed up for.

 

[Greysword]

You'll be spending your vacation cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry as a DVC members!

It is much better to vacation in a standard WDW resort hotel room for twice the price, so you can eat in restaurants for every meal, wash cloths sparingly, and have daily mousekeeping!

Besides, moderates are just as nice as deluxe hotels...or so they say on the Resort board

Good luck with the decision!

- Chris

P.S. Just throw the $$ spreadsheets at your husband, usually this is the fastest and most effective argument.

P.S.S. I JUST realized this thread started seven months ago! Guess I'm bit out of it...