Still Feel Like DVC was the Right Choice

[Micca]

We've been WDW fans forever, but DVC for only the past 6 or 7 years. It's been really enjoyable for us and I know we're staying in accommodations we'd never have paid cash for. I think if it's something you want you can justify it. If you want to tear it apart dollar for dollar you can do that too. We're very pleased and have added points on two occasions.

 

[bakerworld]

We love our DVC altho I'll admit we'd purchased after we've done a lot of other traveling. Pre-children we traveled Europe, enjoyed it but became tired of the travel so the WS gives us a taste of the areas we remember without the misery. Post children we spent so many vacations at various beaches to the point a beach just reminds me of a lot of work. So much time spent in the car driving from one educational adventure to another. Our best family vacations were at Disney. Our oldest moved to FL shortly before we bought so that's another plus.

IMO the people who become disenchanted with Disney are the ones who are too caught up in re-sale - adding and selling, have limited vacation time to use their purchase or forget they purchased the use of a room only. When we stay in other hotels they convince me of the value of our DVC.

For us the value of Disney isn't the purchase price - it's the 'easy'. We love to enjoy a clean environment. So much of our travel was/is spent in venues where trash is blowing around the historical bldgs. I've sat on beautiful Caribbean beaches with infected animals trying to get our attention. Yes, it's an educating experience but I prefer the more antiseptic Disney experience.

 

[sgtpet]

Owner for 12 1/2 years and still love it!!!

 

[Coach81]

We continue to love our DVC.. best investment in our family we have ever made!

 

[Hopefully]

Another content and happy DVC owner.
And yes we have travelled to other parts of the country/world. Last year we went to Hong Kong and yes we went to Hong Kong Disney for a day while we were there. I do not believe we are brainwashed. We make conscious decisions on how to spend our time. This October will be our second trip in 4 years to Florida and we will not go to Orlando --- we are going to Vero Beach. We love it there as well.
We treat our adult children to a WDW trip every few years, and we could not afford to do that without our DVC. Lots of happy family memories and I look forward to making more.

 

[brertoad]

Although we are very new DVC owners, we have been thrilled with our purchase. I only wish I had taken the time to research it and find out about it years ago... I would have made it work somehow - financially. I would have loved to have been able to take vacations the last 15 years, even on a payment plan buying direct instead of resale, I would have probably done it right off the bat. I think we really do get an amazing value for the money we spent, and it's going to save us so much in the long run. I've already figured that just for our birthdays and anniversary trips, that right there is equivalent to the MF costs, every other DVC stay during the rest of the year is icing on the cake.

Oh well, better late than never!

 

[ppony]

We bought in 2009 so that was after a lot of perks people liked were gone, but we didn't buy for those perks, so we are still over the moon w/ our membership and plan to add on @ the Poly. We simply can't bring ourselves to vacation away from the mouse. AT ALL.

 

[ppony]

Still love it!!! We are a Disney family and without DVC there is NO WAY we would be able to go yearly. My parents didn't take us anywhere when we were kids, and I mean that, not a single vacation. I didn't go on my first vacation until my honeymoon 5 years ago. I am happy to be able to ensure my kids get at least one vacation per year not including plans to visit national parks or a cruise... Etc. when they are older.

I think your parents were related to mine. We got to take vacations, IF you could drive there within 5 hours and stayed in a tent or run down cabin w/ an outhouse with a discount no less! no lie! My dad's idea of fun was taking the long way anywhere and visiting an iron ore dig site. I never flew on a plane until I was 18 and I think we drove from MN to Denver once when I was 8. Other than that, it was all staying within the state. That's why we vacation so differently. Both my DH and I hated our lack of fun growing up. We still can't get to WDW but every other year (because of airfare), but dang it, we live it up in style when we do.

 

[disneybass]

Very happy with DVC. We bought in 2006 with the mindset that we were prepaying for lodging at Disney World at todays prices. We enjoy the other perks that come and go but did not play into the reason we bought.

 

[dmoore22]

Loved it in 1993 and love it 2013! Yes it was the right choice for us. Main reason, it forced me, stubborn DH, to take a break every year and understand that there is more to life than work.

Same here ! We joined in 2000 and wish we had done so much earlier. We've added on once and, even though we are now empty nesters, we still have the urge to add on more. For us the perks and benefits are so much better than when we first bought in.

 

[minniqt7]

We too LOVE OUR DVC!!! It has brought us more and fun and memories than I could have ever imagined Growing up we went to the shore every year for a week and I loved that. So I don't think Disney has reeled and locked us in.. we CHOOSE to go and love it. We also do other vacas like this year we went to Niagara Falls and wine tour and later this summer going to Boston but we have 2 DVC trips also planned. Sometimes we use our DVC and just hang around or do other things like the beach or sightsee. We love going to Hilton Head and Vero for variety. Our adult kids also love Disney and whenever we take someone new they also fall in love with the whole idea. When we purchased we did not do it for the sheer value or perks because really what vacation is a value!!?? We purchased to provide enjoyment and family for years to come including our daughter's wedding in 2008. Aulani is in our future for 2014!!! Just read this...what a way to explore the world out there using your membership!!! I am very thankful and proud to be a DVC member!!!!!!

 

[FreeTime]

We purchased in 1999 and still enjoy DVC. We have been buying APs every other year and sometimes every year, but still make sure we do other trips. Every other year we go to Lake Tahoe and this year are adding DL to that trip. We have taken our family to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, montezumas castle, Universal, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Toronto, San Diego, Cruises, I could keep going. I think it is important to understand that there is more out there. If you lock all of your vacation dollars into DVC trips, IMO , I think you will eventually regret what you have missed.

 

[DVCJones]

One more reason I love my DVC is that is allows me to afford vacations to other places. We are a Disney family and love our once a year trip. However, we also like going other places too. We usually take two family vacations a year. DVC keeps our Disney vacations so affordable, that we can afford to go and see other places.

Between our DVC, AAA 10 day no exp. hopper + tickets, (used over 3-4 trips) TiW, Target red card discounts on GC, Disney Visa points and driving instead of flying... My family of 4 can stay for 8 days in awesome resorts, eat TS every day, visit parks all for under $2K (sometimes less) That leaves us enough funds to go on a 2nd vacation.

That is why I LOVE DVC!!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The only reason I still think DVC is worth the purchase is that I bought our contract at $52/pt. All of my other contracts I sold while I could still break even. I would not buy anything at today's direct prices, as I do not think the break even point will be less than 15 years.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Okay, so I'm seeing many posts from people that seem to think Disney is losing its value and that Disney doesn't offer us anything for our loyalty. I am here to say that I still love my DVC, am amazed by the value it has proven to be, and I appreciate the discounts they offer. Over the life of my contract with dues and everything I will have paid $7 - 8 a point per year. What this gets me are great accomodations at a fraction of the price of rack rate.

In addition, Disney offers an AP discount regularly, the chance to purchase the TIW card, MNSSHP and MVMCP discount tickets, and various discounts at restaurants all over property. These are similar to the discounts offered to Florida residents. Also, the PAP discount offered last year was phenomenal and my friend who lives in Florida is completely jealous.

I'm okay with no Free Dining, because who would want to pay rack rate at a Disney resort when you have DVC. I know others have issues with DVC, but I'm still happy with my purchase. All they have to give us for our points is the room. The discounts they offer are a complete bonus. I know they offer them to entice us back more, and it's working. So no complaints from this incredibly happy DVC owner.

I totally agree. We have owned DVC for 16 plus years, and we consider it to be the single best purchase we made in our 45 years of marriage.

We didn't buy in for perks. We simply "pre-paid" for a place to vacation, and that's how it should be looked at.

 

[JWG]

I totally agree. We have owned DVC for 16 plus years, and we consider it to be the single best purchase we made in our 45 years of marriage.

We didn't buy in for perks. We simply "pre-paid" for a place to vacation, and that's how it should be looked at.

Anyone who looks at any timeshare as a financial investment with a deep rooted expectation about "return" on that investment in a monetary fashion, will likely be very disappointed.

We look at it as investing in our family and time together. With the pact of life and the stress of work, school, etc. It's easy to not take the time together to stop and enjoy things. This forces us to do so because we've already paid for it. Call it stress management therapy.

 

[dmoore22]

Anyone who looks at any timeshare as a financial investment with a deep rooted expectation about "return" on that investment in a monetary fashion, will likely be very disappointed.

We look at it as investing in our family and time together. With the pact of life and the stress of work, school, etc. It's easy to not take the time together to stop and enjoy things. This forces us to do so because we've already paid for it. Call it stress management therapy.

Yes, its the intangibles we receive that one cannot place a monetary value on. Priceless!

 

[Dean]

Anyone who looks at any timeshare as a financial investment with a deep rooted expectation about "return" on that investment in a monetary fashion, will likely be very disappointed.

While I'd agree in general, I'll tell you that those who do their homework and put in the effort can do quite well in some segments of the timeshare world.

 

[mom2mizmous]

We just paid off our loan this month so yes we still think it is worth it to us - taking our granddaughter who has become just as addicted to Disney as we are ( We had the privilege of adding her to our family when our son married her mother and soon her new baby brother will go also )? priceless. Not to mention the fun we still have taking our Disney savvy 29year old daughter. yearly and oh yes the occasional trips with just dh and me. Great! Now there are changes we don't like and disappointments at time but overall it is our happy place!

 

[LPnerd]

I bought Vero back when you got comped park hopper passes when you stayed at WDW... I think that was over in 2001. It was magic! we don't to wdw AS MUCH WHEN WE STAY NOW, USUALLY A party with dvc discount, and maybe a one day at epcot then the rest of the time we are at, ( gasp), universal. our kids have all kinda outgrown WDW... I have out grown the ticket prices. not just for us, but for everyone... I think their prices are outrageous and shameful to be blunt. and if YOU don't, you're either wealthy or have rose colored glasses on. and the prices are just about to go up again!
but until peeps stop going, it will continue.
I rather they get rid of all the discounts and make the tickets all hopper, and a fair price for all. then there'd be no need for discounts!
have said this, we love our dvc... we have used it out of disney every year, and stay at wonderful places around the world that we'd never afford otherwise. Yearly dues exceed what it would cost for me to stay in a nice hotel for a week I'll sell it.
we go to orlando once a year and use up about 1/2 our points. the other half we use to go, well , blue ridge mountains, rocky mts, breckenridge and steamboat springs, yellowstone national park , northern and southern Ca. disneyland, england, spain, Italy, and Greece. plus a few islands in the caribbean.
so yeah, we more than love our DVC we hate what a money grubing cheat the Disney people have become, and so did walts family. but, they are two separte issues to me, and I am a happy DVCER!

Oh, and VAncoover! which is beautiful and I highly recomend it!