Seeking information from LONG TIME DVC members...

[csharpwv]

My wife and I first bought into DVC in September of 2008 at Animal Kingdom Villas.
Before we bought in we had been in DVC's communication plan as prospects and had received a lot of information about the program including a hardback 'dream book' which we were blown away by! What a beautiful and quality publication! But we haven't received once since - we keep getting the paperback version - and don't have any problems with it - but it's not as nice.
Does anybody else miss the nice hard bound edition dream book?

Also from reading up on DVC history over the last few years I have found that yearly point charts hadn't really changed much until the last 3-4 years. Is this correct?

Also when we showed up an Animal Kingdom Villas last December expecting free Valet service - we were shocked! That was one of the selling points for us for DVC - it's a step 'above' staying at a Deluxe- resort, not only because of the same standard of customer service - but for the 'perks' that are exclusive to members of the Disney Vacation Club!

I guess what I am saying is that we miss some perks that were park of the program when we bought just a few short years ago - and are wondering "What will disappear next?"

With all of the pricing and promotional offers that are out there for the general public to stay on Disney property - I feel like 'perks' should not be disappearing. DVC members cannot use points and take advantage of free dining, DVC members are not offered reserve X number of nights - and get X number of nights free, and I guess most importantly DVC members are no longer the only ones greeted by 'Welcome Home!" It has spread to almost all of the resorts!

DVC is - based on my research - one of the most expensive timeshares/fractional ownership/vacation clubs out there - not only to buy into but to maintain as well - and we expect a lot out of our membership.

So, DVC should be doing more to keep its members happy, satisfied, and coming back.

What perks do you miss that you have been removed since you became a member?
How many times has your point chart changed since you purchased?

Do you keep an eye on the various DVC resale groups to see if your investment is holding its value or if the bottom has dropped out?

I guess I'm just curious to hear from and start up a conversation with the 'old guard' - people who are charter DVC members - or bought into DVC when there were only a few resort options, and people who have been members for 8-10+ years.

My wife and I are 27 and 28 respectively - so we are young - and we consider ourselves SO very fortunate to be owners - and have the ability to call member services anytime and know that a getaway could just be a day away!

Thanks in advance for all of your posts!

 

[edk35]

 

[Margie J]

I joined in 1994 when OKW was the only DVC Resort and not yet finished either. Back then the major selling point perk were the free park passes until the end of 1999 for us and guests staying at a DVC Resort. That was huge and saved me, my friend and family a ton of money.

Since buying the perks have changed. For example, we didn't get discounts on annual passes until a few years ago. Many of us had complained previous to getting that perk. We felt that DVC Members had invested a lot so we deserved a discount such as this.

Valet parking has never been a perk I've taken advantage of. I'm often at OKW or VB so it's not needed, nor offered, there.

When I first joined I was given a hard covered binder to hold my paperwork and point charts. Each year DVC sent new chart pages to add to the binder. I still have that but I do like the new yearly paperback books. They are fine with me. Plenty of info, pictures, charts, etc. If it saves all of money (instead of a hardback book) it's even better.

 

[vicki_c]

Nothing you're mentioning hasn't been discussed many times here. Perks are not what DVC membership is for. It's for prepaying for your resort room. There's an entire thread on the points chart changes and all discussions of that are moved to that thread.

 

[SusieBea]

I joined in 1994 when OKW was the only DVC Resort and not yet finished either. Back then the major selling point perk were the free park passes until the end of 1999 for us and guests staying at a DVC Resort. That was huge and saved me, my friend and family a ton of money.

Since buying the perks have changed. For example, we didn't get discounts on annual passes until a few years ago. Many of us had complained previous to getting that perk. We felt that DVC Members had invested a lot so we deserved a discount such as this.

Valet parking has never been a perk I've taken advantage of. I'm often at OKW or VB so it's not needed, nor offered, there.

When I first joined I was given a hard covered binder to hold my paperwork and point charts. Each year DVC sent new chart pages to add to the binder. I still have that but I do like the new yearly paperback books. They are fine with me. Plenty of info, pictures, charts, etc. If it saves all of money (instead of a hardback book) it's even better.

We joined in 1993 and what Margie says pretty much reflects my feelings. We enjoyed the park passes but knew they were temporary. We took advantage of the annual pass discount for the first time last year, and really appreciate that. Even though we usually stay at OKW where it isn't necessary, I miss the free valet when we visit the other resorts for dinner. However, we recently purchased TIW, so, when you use that for dinner at a resort w/ valet and show them your receipt for dinner, valet is free. I still have the hardcover binder, too, but I prefer the once-a-year paperback volumes for the pictures. Perks are just that - perks - and unfortunately can come and go. But we didn't join for the perks; we joined for the accommodations, and we still love them.

 

[Chuck S]

My wife and I first bought into DVC in September of 2008 at Animal Kingdom Villas.
Before we bought in we had been in DVC's communication plan as prospects and had received a lot of information about the program including a hardback 'dream book' which we were blown away by! What a beautiful and quality publication! But we haven't received once since - we keep getting the paperback version - and don't have any problems with it - but it's not as nice.
Does anybody else miss the nice hard bound edition dream book?

The dream book is paid for by DVC marketing to introduce prospective members to the program and sell the timeshare. It is not a regular DVC Member publication. Annual updates have never been hard bound. Original purchasers use to receive a 3 ring binder, and updates were loose leaf 3 hole punched pages. I liked that better than anything that has come out since.

Also from reading up on DVC history over the last few years I have found that yearly point charts hadn't really changed much until the last 3-4 years. Is this correct?

DVC has the ability/responsibility to balance demand by reallocating DVC Resort point charts. There was a reallocation in 1996, then no further reallocation until 2010 and 2011. I wold not expect to see any more for a few years, but they do have the right to do so at anytime.

Also when we showed up an Animal Kingdom Villas last December expecting free Valet service - we were shocked! That was one of the selling points for us for DVC - it's a step 'above' staying at a Deluxe- resort, not only because of the same standard of customer service - but for the 'perks' that are exclusive to members of the Disney Vacation Club!

Who should pay for that perk? Increased dues? DVC Marketing, Disney itself? What we are legally entitled to under contract is the ability to reserve a room at our home resort based upon availability. Perks come and go, if you perchased for perks, you did so under a mistaken assumption.

I guess what I am saying is that we miss some perks that were park of the program when we bought just a few short years ago - and are wondering "What will disappear next?"

I don't know, pool hopping would be my guess, but it could be free internet, dining discounts, AP discount or any other perk. Again, perks can come and go on a whim.

With all of the pricing and promotional offers that are out there for the general public to stay on Disney property - I feel like 'perks' should not be disappearing. DVC members cannot use points and take advantage of free dining, DVC members are not offered reserve X number of nights - and get X number of nights free, and I guess most importantly DVC members are no longer the only ones greeted by 'Welcome Home!" It has spread to almost all of the resorts!

Those promotions are offered to cash guests during times when room would sit empty. Disney still has bills to pay on those rooms (electricity, insurance, hotel staff) whether they are rented or not. They need to recoup that expenditure by filling those rooms. At DVC resorts, those expenses are paid by dues, whether the room sits empty or not. There is not driving force for Disney to fill a pre-paid DVC room.

DVC is - based on my research - one of the most expensive timeshares/fractional ownership/vacation clubs out there - not only to buy into but to maintain as well - and we expect a lot out of our membership.

So, DVC should be doing more to keep its members happy, satisfied, and coming back.

What perks do you miss that you have been removed since you became a member?
How many times has your point chart changed since you purchased?

There really isn't any true perk that has has been lost that I really miss. As much as I like the AP discount, I am aware that it could also go away at any time.

The point charts have changed 3 times since I purchased in 1992. Changes in 1996, 2010 and 2011. Of course, the non-DVC resort charts and options have changed just about every year. And we went from RCI, to II, and back to RCI for the timeshare trading company.

Do you keep an eye on the various DVC resale groups to see if your investment is holding its value or if the bottom has dropped out?

I guess I'm just curious to hear from and start up a conversation with the 'old guard' - people who are charter DVC members - or bought into DVC when there were only a few resort options, and people who have been members for 8-10+ years.

My wife and I are 27 and 28 respectively - so we are young - and we consider ourselves SO very fortunate to be owners - and have the ability to call member services anytime and know that a getaway could just be a day away!

Thanks in advance for all of your posts!

DVC overall holds resale value better than almost any other timeshare, partly due to an artificial floor on resale prices through Disney's Right of First Refusal on resale contracts. DVC, or any timeshare, in not an "investment" in terms of monetary returns, nor is it sold as such. IT is a way to save money over comparable cash stays at Moderate and Deluxe Disney resorts. Comparing apples to apples, and room to room, DVC is still cheaper then "free dining" at full rack rate and the other promotional offers out there...if you are comparing a DVC room to a DVC room under the terms of those promotions.

And really, the value of any timeshare is in the USE of that timeshare. Resale prices have absolutely no impact on that use. The only time resale prices have any bearing is if you actually sell your membership interest.

 

[CarolMN]

We've been members for almost 11 years. BWV & OKW were the only WDW DVC resorts when we purchased.

Perks come and perks go, but I expected that. Perks for annual passholders worked the same way. (Frequent changes, depending on where Disney wanted to increase revenue).

Personally, I was thrilled to see the $100 discount on regular annual passes and hope that one stays around. It's great to be able to add the Dining Plan without buying a ticket or staying a minimum umber of nights. (We don't use that perk, though). I was sorry to see valet go, but it's not the big deal to us as it was to others. I am not one who ever cared about being greeted with "Welcome Home". I an happy to have the dining discounts (esp those 20% offers at the Swan/Dolphin restaurants), but those seem to change more often than the other perks. Love the free internet, too.

It's nice to see that we could sell our membership (even in the present environment) and get more than our initial investment back. But I am not expecting that to be the case in the future and believe at some point, the resale prices will drop to nearly zero. I'm OK with that. DVC is NOT a financial investment. It's a prepaid vacation lodging program. That's it.

So far, we've gotten what we paid for and then some. I understand that the discounts and promotions Disney offers to the general public are to fill empty hotel rooms. I do not expect them to be offered to DVC members.

FWIW, Disney is already cutting back on the room discounting. In a few years or so, we won't see so many members posting about not getting the same offers the general public does. There won't be very many discount offers and they certainly won't be as good as they have been lately. Before DVC, I can remember thinking myself lucky to get a 10% discount off rack rates, having to book more than a year in advance to even get a room, and plus I had to enter the "Dialing Derby" to get ine if the discounts. DVC changed all that for us.

Bottom Line: I'm not at all disturbed to see discounts for the general public. DVC is a good long term value for us and I expect it to remain so.

 

[csharpwv]

VickiC - I looked for that thread and it must be buried a few layers in as I couldn't find it -

Anyone have a number of link for the other thread?

 

[CarolMN]

VickiC - I looked for that thread and it must be buried a few layers in as I couldn't find it -

Anyone have a number of link for the other thread?

Here you go --

2011 Point Chart Discussion

If you look near the top of the Mousecellaneous Forum, you'll see a STICKY THREAD called Ongoing DVC Discussion Topics. You may find several discussions there that are of interest to you and other new members.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We bought in 1997 at OKW - at that time we could have purchased points at OKW, BWV, VB or HHI. We bought our points to stay in the villas when we visited WDW. We have seldom used the dining discounts or shopping discounts. We have used the discount on Length Stay Tickets way back when (when it was available) and in recent years have used the discount on Premium Annual Passes (when it became available).

We've stayed mostly at DVC resorts - used points for a single four night cruise many years ago. We bought four more contracts - one resale - and sold two contracts. Both sold for more than we paid. But I don't think that is going to happen to the more recent buyers.

We haven't noticed much change in the number of points we use - we mostly stay at OKW or BCV (we love VWL and own there, but our son doesn't care for the boat ride to the MK - go figure - he's heading off to college next year so we'll be planning at trip to VWL that year).

We stopped drinking the Kool-aid about five or six years ago.

 

[CarolMN]

Hmmm, maybe I spoke too soon about discounts decreasing in quality and quantity. Just saw this:

2011 Discount Rumors - posted by Pete W on 8/14

(But I'm still happy with our DVC purchase).

 

[Donald Duck 57]

Ok going to throw my two cents into the mix. We think DVC is/was a great investment. If we had to "pay" for our rooms we couldn't afford to stay in such nice accommodations.and as far as perks, it would be nice to have more dining discounts sure but the AP discount is a good perk.I know I must sound like an advetisement but another thing we are glad about DVC is that we can and sometimes do go down more then once a year.How many familys that get room discounts and meal plans can afforrd to do that more then once a year, I bet not many.Just my thoughts on this and hope your still happy you bought into the DVC family.

 

[DebbieB]

I just passed the 11th year mark and am happy. The biggest perk change for me during that time was the addition of the $100 annual pass discount.

There has been point chart changes for 2010 & 2011 and those were not in my favor. Not alot of point difference but a few more for each trip.

I have a 6 night stay at the end of October at BWV in a 1 bedroom. It is during "free dining". Just to compare, I priced the "free dining" package for the same dates and resort. It would be over $3800 for 2 adults, including the 2 two day tickets required. I'm paying 170 points. I could add the dining plan for around $500 (we don't think we eat enough for it to be worth paying for). We both have annual passes. I think I'm still ahead with DVC. I sure wouldn't want to put out $3800 right now. My dues are $111 per month (my initial purchase is paid for).

 

[Goofy DVC]

I'll make my answer short and sweet. We joined early in 93 when OKW was the only game in town. When I think about what was offered back then to what is offered now there is no comparison at all. For us, DVC is much better now; more resorts with a nice annual discount tops the program in 93. The free passes were great but you only received half the # of passes in relationship to the size of the room. For example, if you were staying in a 2 BR which sleeps 8, you only got 4 passes NOT 8. Don't get me wrong it was nice but not what some people think. DVC did not give you free LOS passes for everyone in your party.

 

[com_op_2000]

What perks do you miss that you have been removed since you became a member?
Park Passes but I have reason no one else does. I have not paid to attend any park since at least 88. I have a family member who is a CM and can get us in free at any time. So no matter the reduced number of passes given, we still got the rest of our group in. Plus, we enjoyed giving family and friends stays that include the park passes without us having to get the CM involved.

How many times has your point chart changed since you purchased?
3 times - When we first purchased we bought enough points for 27 days per year during the low seasons. Since the latest changes have happened we are down to 17 days per year during the low seasons.

 

[csharpwv]

What perks do you miss that you have been removed since you became a member?
Park Passes but I have reason no one else does. I have not paid to attend any park since at least 88. I have a family member who is a CM and can get us in free at any time. So no matter the reduced number of passes given, we still got the rest of our group in. Plus, we enjoyed giving family and friends stays that include the park passes without us having to get the CM involved.

How many times has your point chart changed since you purchased?
3 times - When we first purchased we bought enough points for 27 days per year during the low seasons. Since the latest changes have happened we are down to 17 days per year during the low seasons.

WOW cop_op_2000 - that' is a tough pill to swallow - having bought in with the knowledge that you have the ability to vacation 27 days each year and have that down to 17 now - That's frightening! DVC is a sizable investment upfront and each year there after - and to know that a right to use situation is that volatile - is troubling.

That's awesome that you have a CM in the family that can 'get' you in. We have a CM in the family as well - but we never ask them for anything - if offered we jump but otherwise - we leave it up to the 'magic' to encounter surprises!

 

[com_op_2000]

"That's awesome that you have a CM in the family that can 'get' you in. We have a CM in the family as well - but we never ask them for anything - if offered we jump but otherwise - we leave it up to the 'magic' to encounter surprises!"
We feel the same way about asking but the CM gave us an open invite (in writing), that goes on forever. Every time we talk with the CM and his DW, they remind us of the offer and ask us about the next time we are scheduled.

 

[csharpwv]

Sorry, I didn't intend to imply in any way that you take advantage of your family member - it's not at all what I intended, and I just wanted to make sure you didn't take it that way or imply anything. I hope you didn't take it that way - I hope I'm just being a little paranoid that it may have come across that way!

I think your arrangement is fantastic!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

You can pretend to just watch.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

"Also when we showed up an Animal Kingdom Villas last December expecting free Valet service - we were shocked! That was one of the selling points for us for DVC - it's a step 'above' staying at a Deluxe- resort, not only because of the same standard of customer service - but for the 'perks' that are exclusive to members of the Disney Vacation Club!"

Chuck.
"Who should pay for that perk? Increased dues?"

I hope not. I don't use valet parking and don't want to pay for other's.

I like toll roads... you use... you pay.

Shields up!