So what has DVC taken away over the years?

[JimV]

I have seen comments in other threads about how DVC has changed and what they have taken away. I was about to send the rest of my payment, but if there is a subtle bait and switch thing going on, I would like to know before I pay them $27K.

Thanks,

 

[DVC Mike]

I have seen comments in other threads about how DVC has changed and what they have taken away. I was about to send the rest of my payment, but if there is a subtle bait and switch thing going on, I would like to know before I pay them $27K.

Thanks,

I don't think there has been any bait and switch. The DVC program has experienced changes over the years -- some good and some not so good.

Some members are not happy over the $95 fee to book the Disney Collection, when it used to be free.

Some don't like the recent banking rule change, while others do.

 

[JimV]

But I saw references to discounts on DDP, free passes, reservation priorities at OKW, etc.

I know that people will post about negative changes, so I was just wondering.

BTW, I actually like a lot of the expansion of the program. We stayed at VB six years ago and listened to the pitch, but didn't buy in at the time because of a lack of an exchange program, limited options outside of DVC, etc. So, I do like the growth.

 

[DVC Mike]

But I saw references to discounts on DDP, free passes, reservation priorities at OKW, etc.

DVC members get discounts on Annual Passes, which entitles us to purchase the DDE card for dining discounts. Plus, DVC members get discounts that average 10-20% on dining just by showing their DVC card.

Free passes were something that was done very early on in the DVC program.

By reservation priorities, I assume you mean the thread on booking a Hospitality House catagory. That is going to happen.

 

[crisi]

In the past, we got discounts on Hoppers - we don't anymore (back when they were UPHs). In the past we COULDN'T get the dining plan (now we do). Way back in deep history we were eligible for maybe the Silver Plan or something. Dining discounts and perks come and go (and are fairly limited). So do member events and little perks. Sometimes there is more or less happening at the Community Halls. Pool hopping to SAB used to be available, now it isn't, and they could remove that perk entirely anytime.

The availability at seven months has - in the perception of some people - tightened for some of the resorts. The availability even ten or eleven months out has tightened for some rooms at some resorts.

Over the years, there have been changes to housekeeping (the first few years at OKW it was daily), in room linens, and some of the stuff in the room (like they added DVD players and wireless - which we had to pay for for a few years and should be free this Spring now that the equipment is paid off).

Big recent changes are the booking fee at Disney non-DVC resorts and the banking change.

When I joined they had room assigners who assigned rooms in the order they were reserved. Book at eleven months, and you pretty much got what you requested. Then they got rid of the room assigners - for a bit BW wasn't a guarenteed category and BW owners had fits. So BW became a guarenteed category. The system then was "room ready" - the front desk CM put you in whatever room was clean and/or coming available that day - if it met your requests great - if it met someone else's requests - too bad, they didn't get there first. We seem to have gone back to pre-assigning, but as far as I can tell, it isn't the thoughtful assigning it was six years ago - the worst of both systems.

Disney has been making noise (some of it is Disney, some of it is just amplification of some people here's wishes) about commercial renting.

Trading options seem to get more expensive each year - and I get the feeling that they are also shrinking.

Read the contract and figure out if its a good deal for you based on what the contract promises you. Don't buy for perks or trading options. Buy to stay at your home resort. Buy knowing that a timeshare is "first come, first served" and there are not enough rooms for everyone over holidays - so you need to be able to plan ahead.

 

[dianeschlicht]

See, I'm one of those who don't feel the "negative" things have been all that negative. The exchange fee doesn't bother me...who wants to stay in a regular room when I can stay in a 2 bedroom villa??? I do think some of the new rumored "rules" will be a negative for some folks, but may actually help; some others. I can still honestly say DVC is still the best larger purchase we ever made!

 

[hockey_chauffeur]

This year they have dramatically cut down the non-disney hotel options and eliminated the Alaska Cruises. Also, as a word to the wise, many of the Interval International Exchanges are with properties that are not up to Disney standards. Disney has negotiated II exchanges with a limited number of II properties - not their whole catalog. And the best ones, like the Atlantis in the Bahamas are almost impossible to book. So, while the core disney properties are fine I wouldn't buy if your plan was to use points in a lot of other places. The exchange rates are pretty expensive vs just paying cash.

 

[Chuck S]

DVCers never received discounts on actual Park Hoppers. We received 10% discount on Length of Stay passes. The differences was that you could not purchase them for longer than your stay, and they expired on your check-out day. It you wanted a non-expiring ticket, you had to purchase a full price park hopper. This was the only theme park discount offered, except for the free LOS passes for the early purchasers, I think you had to puchase DVC prior to 1995 to receive the free passes, they were for 1/2 the stated occupancy limit of your room (2 passes for studios and 1 bedroom, 4 for 2 bedroom, 6 for GV). We received the free passes with stay at OKW through the end of 1999.

The DVC program has not changed substanially over the years. I think people were expecting more than what DVC promised in our contracts.

The price of non-DVC trade option has to be renegotiated annually, with Disney and non-Disney hotels, as well as the cruise line. Those options can change, or be withdrawn at any time. For those options to be viable DVC has to rent a room for cash to pay for those options. If the cost of those trades excedes what DVC can reasonably expect to recover, the trade either has to be discontinued, or our dues and fees increased.

I think one of the nicest perks that has been discontinued was the ability to call your resort prior to check-in, give them your Credit Card info, then when you arrived, show your DL, sign a slip of paper and be on your way to your room. Express Check-in was nice, but with the sheer number of members, and growing security, I can see why it was discontinued.

 

[disney54us]

I don't think it is a bait and switch. That said, some of the negatives you read are true. It is more difficult to book at a seven month window, for the first time in ten years I just completed booking day by day at my eleven month window (if you can't beat em join em). I personally don't like the $95.00 booking fee to stay somewhere other then a DVC resort. I may love my 'home resorts' but we do like to stay from time to time for a few days at some of the deluxe resorts in the conceiage buildings. I will agree w/ other posters about placement in your resort, When someone books eleven months out and request a particular area, there is no reason they should not get what they requested. If someone is booking a vacation a year in advance, they usually specify and pay for what room type, area, etc. they want. DVC, is not free, we have paid or do pay quite a bit for ownership. There are some that seem to feel that we should accept and be happy with what is given, as if it is a gift. There are less and less places listed for exchange and yes there are rumors that sooner or later they may do away with that. I don't know if that is true, I hope not. Not that I have used them (just can't seem to not go to WDW), but I do hope to have access to them just in case. I missed the boat when DVC members received free passes, but I do enjoy the discount on AP's. So, yes DVC has changed and I don't care for some of them, but it still allows my family to enjoy some wonderful vacations.

 

[JimV]

I understand that the economics of the exchange programs are not always in my favor as a DVC member, but I am specifically purchasing because when we go to WDW we want to stay onsite, but it will only be an every-other year thing. And, in the other years we might do DCL, or like 2009, stay at the Grand Wailea for a few days as part of a 25th Anniv. trip to Hawaii. So the exchanges are specifically part of our interest. Seeing the contract language now, your statements about DVC offering more than the contract (thereby having the ability to rescind part of any year's offering) raise some concerns for me.

Time to call the guide, I guess.

 

[La2kw]

I understand that the economics of the exchange programs are not always in my favor as a DVC member, but I am specifically purchasing because when we go to WDW we want to stay onsite, but it will only be an every-other year thing. And, in the other years we might do DCL, or like 2009, stay at the Grand Wailea for a few days as part of a 25th Anniv. trip to Hawaii. So the exchanges are specifically part of our interest. Seeing the contract language now, your statements about DVC offering more than the contract (thereby having the ability to rescind part of any year's offering) raise some concerns for me.

Time to call the guide, I guess.

When we bought years ago, our guide was very specific about the exchanges being a perk and not what you should buy into DVC for. Your best value is always at a DVC resort. I am very excited about Hawaii, Grand Californian, possibly CRV and the new rumors about Tahoe and the Caribbean are pretty cool as well.

 

[Mimmy225]

The guide I saw at the park, did not make it seem that exchanges were a perk. My aunt who also purchased made it very clear to the guide that exchanges were a big part of her future travel plans. I think the guides all need to be on the same page, so people understand exactly what is permanent and what is not. Of course, the guide mentioned that we can not count on the animals always being at the AKV....they are a perk.

And some fast passes like they give out to the people who listen to the DVC pitch would be a nice cost effective perk

 

[llmurphy17]

 

[Chuck S]

The guide I saw at the park, did not make it seem that exchanges were a perk. My aunt who also purchased made it very clear to the guide that exchanges were a big part of her future travel plans. I think the guides all need to be on the same page, so people understand exactly what is permanent and what is not. Of course, the guide mentioned that we can not count on the animals always being at the AKV....they are a perk.

And some fast passes like they give out to the people who listen to the DVC pitch would be a nice cost effective perk

Usually the contact people in the parks and at the resorts are not guides, they will make an appointment for you to see a guide at the sales center. They simply give you some basic info to see if you are interested in DVC and refer you to your guide.

 

[keishashadow]

we're certainly not founding fathers; still in our honeymoon phase think one of the greatest things is the flexibility to be all things to all members...you don't have to book a larger unit to enjoy the accommodations and amenitiesat the resorts or to be able to utilize the percs.

percs are subject to change @ any time and aren't always geared to the needs of every member. We were so glad when the DP was finally offered ; many long time members bemoaned it since they were used to the other discounted plan .

Seems that many are leery of new offerings at the expense of long-time ones they like going by the wayside. While we'd like the option of a discount on MYW tix (even a length of stay tix) I could only imagine the outcry if the AP discount was eliminated.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I understand that the economics of the exchange programs are not always in my favor as a DVC member, but I am specifically purchasing because when we go to WDW we want to stay onsite, but it will only be an every-other year thing. And, in the other years we might do DCL, or like 2009, stay at the Grand Wailea for a few days as part of a 25th Anniv. trip to Hawaii. So the exchanges are specifically part of our interest. Seeing the contract language now, your statements about DVC offering more than the contract (thereby having the ability to rescind part of any year's offering) raise some concerns for me.

Time to call the guide, I guess.

JimV:

If you only want to go to WDW every other year, please consider purchasing less than 160 points through resell. DH and I bought 100 points through resale and are very happy with our decision.

Of course the AP discount doesn't help, and we do have to be more careful with our banking and borrowing, but we are very, very happy.

We will eventually want to try some of the other options, if they are still out there, but that can wait until our add-on at CRV!