Psychological traps of DVC

[brightmango]

DVC is just as much of an emotional purchase as it is a financial one. As a recent owner of DVC, I often wonder how we may or may not become victims DVC’s hidden agenda. Now that I own, there are a few ‘feelings’ that I have now that I never had as a cash buyer such as add on-itis, you feel like deluxe is the new standard and you can’t go back, justifying longer trip or bigger rooms to “use the points,” spending more in the parks because you saved on the room.

Has this happened to you? And what are the things you gain from buying DVC that I have yet to experience?

 

[bigkats]

Simply put ..Yes!

 

[MICKIMINI]

WDW since 1973. DVC since 1996. We do spend quite a bit, but would be stuck in small rooms if we didn't own DVC. Our son has grown up with DVC. Since he married and moved 3K miles away due to both their jobs, we are able to meet at WDW. Thankfully, he married a Disney girl!

 

[VGCgroupie]

100% yes. Ive said before if you read my "I bought my first DVC" post I am completely different person now than I was then. My mindset and feelings on DVC is much different.

 

[Genie+]

Yep! I used to not look down from the MK monorail because I didn’t want to be tempted by what was not possible. Those pretty resorts were for other people Fast forward almost 20 years… I can’t fathom a trip not staying DVC and our default is VGF if we can’t find something more enticing at 7 months to trade into.

 

[Chili327]

Yep! I used to not look down from the MK monorail because I didn’t want to be tempted by what was not possible. Those pretty resorts were for other people Fast forward almost 20 years… I can’t fathom a trip not staying DVC and our default is VGF if we can’t find something more enticing at 7 months to trade into.

I had never even been to WDW until Jan 2024, & I can't imagine I'll ever stay at a moderate or less. Unless I'm trying to kill the first night from a late flight. lol

 

[brightmango]

100% yes. Ive said before if you read my "I bought my first DVC" post I am completely different person now than I was then. My mindset and feelings on DVC is much different.

Doesn’t look like I can view your past posts. Do you mind elaborating?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Doesn’t look like I can view your past posts. Do you mind elaborating?

Here is my post. https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ffer-accepted-how-i-made-my-decision.3945274/

I thought 100 points was more than enough. I thought buying VDH was stupid. Now I have over 1000 points and own VDH

 

[Chili327]

Doesn’t look like I can view your past posts. Do you mind elaborating?

It's probably the name change.. it used to be "Veg in AZ".

 

[airjay75]

Yep. One year ago, I had just returned from my first WDW trip with my family. We stayed offsite at an Airbnb. I remember telling coworkers at the time, you know, it wasn't terrible, but it was really hot. I can see us going back in a few years, but definitely at a different time of year. FFW to now, 2 more WDW trips since then, and I own 750 points . We got our Sorcerer's Passes in July, and have 3 trips planned for the next 10 months. If someone had told me this is where I'd be today last year, I would have laughed really, really hard.

And, every time one of those good resale contracts come along, it is so hard to resist thinking of all the ways you could make that work - well, maybe I'll bank and borrow it for this or that, well, if it ends up being a few too many points, I can just rent some of them out. Can I afford it? Well, I could probably make it work if I do this and this. Mental jumps I could never have imagined myself doing, even just a few months ago.

 

[Chili327]

Yep. One year ago, I had just returned from my firsts WDW trip with my family. We stayed offsite at an Airbnb. I remember telling coworkers at the time, you know, it wasn't terrible, but it was really hot. I can see us going back in a few years, but definitely at a different time of year. FFW to now, 2 more WDW trips since then, and I own 750 points . We got our Sorcerer's Passes in July, and have 3 trips planned for the next 10 months. If someone had told me this is where I'd be today last year, I would have laughed really, really hard.

And, every time one of those good resale contracts come along, it is so hard to resist thinking of all the ways you could make that work - well, maybe I'll bank and borrow it for this or that, well, if it ends up being a few too many points, I can just rent some of them out. Can I afford it? Well, I could probably make it work if I do this and this. Mental jumps I could never have imagined myself doing, even just a few months ago.

The ugly truth. lol

 

[VGCgroupie]

It's probably the name change.. it used to be "Veg in AZ".

Thank you for being nice about it

 

[Cfabar1]

I'd say our membership has been wonderful, but my experience has been a little bit different.

Part of it is our location - we can (and do) go to the parks for a day.

When we bought initially, we thought we would buy for studios and for 1 or 2 night stays every month or two.

We have come to learn, at this point in life, that's too much a hassle with the kids. Instead, we have come to enjoy our yearly retreat to the Grand Floridian as a respite and true relaxation from the rest of the world - and we get to eat in some of our favorite restaurants, spend some times in the theme park, and best of all, not have to drive for an entire week.

Initially I thought we would pursue a path of never-ending addonitis - why not enjoy that one or two nights in a one bedroom, how many of those can we get... how many in a two bedroom etc.

We have enough points for our "week" in a 1 BR at VGF... This is the biggest thing we gained... The sense of a forced vacation, a respite from the world for that one week where we can connect as a family, know the hotel bill is already paid, and just enjoy each other's company. It is a really special feeling, and the more we do it, the more it really does feel like we are going "back home" in a way our day trips or S&D trips don't.

We were at the CCV room tour last week, we like the points chart, but will probably continue to use VGF as a home base.

When we bought initially, I imagined we would want at a minimum of 500 points some day... Since then, we have fallen in love with other kinds of trips - Cruises (DIS for now, but probably not as the kids get older), Extended Family Travel (they're not DIS folks so we go elsewhere). In this phase of life, I think we are likely to want to be around 250 points for the next 5 years or so, and down the road I could see us either building out our membership slightly, or could envision us offloading the thing entirely.

 

[TCRAIG]

If you would have told me, as a kid growing up in the 1960’s watching Mickey Mouse Club, that one day I would end up owning a piece of Disney (albeit a 0.000000001%), I’d have thought you a fool! I Love My DVC!

 

[tx911]

Here is my post. https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ffer-accepted-how-i-made-my-decision.3945274/

I thought 100 points was more than enough. I thought buying VDH was stupid. Now I have over 1000 points and own VDH

You're done now though, right?

 

[VGCgroupie]

You're done now though, right?

Yes 100% done. I have caught myself looking at cheap Aulani contracts.. not sure why... don't tell anyone... since my husband still has no phone I trust you wont tell him.

 

[Ruttangel]

You’re on a site that users promote and encourage getting more points at lowest possible price
You keep thinking you are in a deluxe resort and staying cheaper than everyone else when in reality you have prepaid a very high number of vacations and won’t be better off for 10-15 years
My biggest concern with DVC is the volume of owners is growing, try going to a DVC lounge or try Moonlight Magic registration or just try and book your favourite room at 7 months. It’s all getting less special, every new resort at WDW is DVC, every building conversion is DVC.
It’s no longer Disneys Biggest Secret it’s just a standard way that everyone is exploiting and it won’t feel that special for much longer.

I still love it but it’s on a knife edge of having too many people in the exclusive club and what then?
It’s why DVC created membership magic beyond, yet another tier of exclusivity but what is the end goal, more FOMO, more money to keep your family at the top table?

 

[DianaMB333]

If you would have told me, as a kid growing up in the 1960’s watching Mickey Mouse Club, that one day I would end up owning a piece of Disney (albeit a 0.000000001%), I’d have thought you a fool! I Love My DVC!

x2!

 

[DianaMB333]

Yep. One year ago, I had just returned from my first WDW trip with my family. We stayed offsite at an Airbnb. I remember telling coworkers at the time, you know, it wasn't terrible, but it was really hot. I can see us going back in a few years, but definitely at a different time of year. FFW to now, 2 more WDW trips since then, and I own 750 points . We got our Sorcerer's Passes in July, and have 3 trips planned for the next 10 months. If someone had told me this is where I'd be today last year, I would have laughed really, really hard.

And, every time one of those good resale contracts come along, it is so hard to resist thinking of all the ways you could make that work - well, maybe I'll bank and borrow it for this or that, well, if it ends up being a few too many points, I can just rent some of them out. Can I afford it? Well, I could probably make it work if I do this and this. Mental jumps I could never have imagined myself doing, even just a few months ago.

x2!.. the mental jumps got me to the 1000 pts club… … initially I thought 100 was more than enough

 

[davidhr]

We got DVC to save on accommodations. A small one for a trip every two years. Now we’re traveling multiple times per year, we’re passholders and spend a ton of money on dining and merchandise….

The mouse is very efficient at taking our money.

But I’d do it again without hesitation. I enjoy our trips much more now as we don’t have to maximize our time there as we know we’ll be back in a few months.