Questions about DVC

[christa112]

We went and checked out the DVC property at Saratoga and listened to the whole sales pitch and I am pretty much sold on the DVC, though I may purchase through a resale and not directly from DVC. The sales lady didn't really touch on what kind of deals do you get with the DVC?

Do they ever offer Free Dining, discounts on DDP, Park tickets or hoppers? I would love to hear what they are offering now or what they have offered in the past to DVC members.

TIA.

Christa

 

[ChelleinNC]

Nothing other than your points are the point charts are guaranteed (with some extreme exeptions). However, some "perks"/"benefits" are:

1. ability to purchase the DDP without buying tickets or package (no free dining)
2. $100 discount off of annual passes (no discounts on any other tickets)
3. ability to use points for DCL or trade out thru Interval International
4. some discounts on restaurants (usually about 10%)
5. DVC golf membership ($50 good for 1 year, gives substantial discounts at the Disney courses for member and up to 3 guests)
6. Discounts on party/special event tickets (MVMCP & MNNSHP)

that's off the top of my head. I'm sure someone else will pop in with more

 

[CraftyMouse]

Nothing other than your points are the point charts are guaranteed (with some extreme exeptions). However, some "perks"/"benefits" are:

1. ability to purchase the DDP without buying tickets or package (no free dining)
As ChelleinNC said, Free Dining is never offered to DVC members. And truthfully, it really isn't "Free". It is a marketing tactic to get people to book a WDW vacation. Disney is still making money with packages that offer Free Dining. To get it you must book a package that includes a hotel room at rack-rate and tickets. Since, with DVC, our rooms work out to be much less than rack rate we do not qualify for free dining. Those who book discounted rooms (AP rates, AAA discount, etc.) are also not eligible for the Free Dining.

2. $100 discount off of annual passes (no discounts on any other tickets)
The discount is actually $100 off of regular APs and $125 off of premium APs.

3. ability to use points for DCL or trade out thru Interval International
Also through the Concierge Collection and the Buena Vista Trading Company. Just remember that there will be a $95 fee each time you use this option.

4. some discounts on restaurants (usually about 10%)
Make sure to see what's currently offered in your Portable Perks guide that you will get every time you check in. Also, we get a lot more dining perks at Disneyland than we do at WDW. Nearly every sit-down and counter-service restaurant at DL offers a 10% discount to DVC members.

Also, DVC members can...

• Use their points at the non-DVC WDW resorts (although it's never as good a deal as using them at the DVC properties and these reservations will incur the $95 fee)
• Use their points at the Disneyland resorts (no $95 fee at this time)
• Use their points at the Disneyland Paris resorts

We also get...

• Free valet parking at the DVC resorts that offer it.
• Special member meets at WDW during the year (Merry Mixers in Dec. for example)
• Discounts (usually 15%) on most tours at WDW (Segway, Backstage Magic, etc.)
• Goodies on Disney Cruise Line, whether you book with points or not. (DVC baseball hats, a special member mixer, and more)

 

[Lynne M]

DVC isn't a discount club, it's a timeshare. There are some perks offered to members, but you shouldn't really take those into account when considering your purchase. They change constantly, and none are guaranteed in the contract. Sometimes we get a few discounts and perks, sometimes more. They don't HAVE to give us any.

The best current discount is the $100 savings on APs. But that's a fairly recent addition, and could go away at any time. The rest of the current perks are pretty minimal shopping, recreation and dining discounts, at limited locations. With the exception of the AP, they'll only save you a few bucks.

Free dining has never been offered to DVC members, and I can't imagine that it ever would be. It's a promotion to get people who wouldn't otherwise go to WDW to book resort rooms at rack rate. Since we prepay for our lodging, Disney has no reason whatsoever to give us that deal.

 

[christa112]

I didn't think it was a Discount Club, but when we were listening to the time share sales pitch the sales lady said being an owner you get certain discounts because you are an owner, but she didn't get into details.

May I should reword my original post to say "incentives or perks to being an DVC member"

 

[Lynne M]

Well, I didn't mean you thought it was a discount club, really. Pardon my poor wording. I was trying to emphasize that it's a timeshare, and timeshares generally don't give discounts of any substance.

The reason that the salesperson wouldn't get into details is that the perks change so frequently. Any discount she mentioned could have been gone the next day.

Bottom line is: yes, we get some discounts and perks, but except for the AP discount, they're pretty minimal, and they come and go. Nothing that would or should affect your decision to buy.