Talking about DVC with strangers

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Guests will soon also be restricted based on their height and star sign.

Except at All Star resorts ;-)

 

[DianaMB333]

I could sell Disney but to already Disney fans.. I haven't been able to explain family and friends why I go so often, they just think I’m nuts LOL

Every now and then somebody plans -once in a lifetime trip to Disney- and I am the person to go to, but I can see how they feel a bit overwhelmed with the info after 5mins and I was just starting hahaha

 

[heynowirv]

I just went to the bank to get my cashier's check to buy our resale Aulani account. The bank teller saw that I was sending the money to a title company and congratulated me on my real estate purchase. Then after typing the check up, he came back and said, "Sorry. I just have to ask... I'm a dad of five kids, and saw Disney on the name. What are you buying?" And then I had to tell him all about DVC and grab a sticky note to give him websites to learn more, where to look for listings, etc. It's actually a lot more difficult to explain DVC in a super short conversation than I thought. He definitely looked interested, but I didn't want to bombard him with info. As we know, DVC is a topic that can go on for quite a while.

Anyway, I'm not even an owner yet, and already enthusiastically telling people about DVC. It was fun for me, since it was my first time. I'm sure it's less exciting as time goes on.

Have you had any fun DVC conversations with strangers? Did you feel like a pusher or a recruiter?

That's soo funny. When we were getting our funds wired at the bank ,we had the same conversation with the manager . In his case he's a grand father and had heard about DVC but wanted more info .Like you I just gave him a few sites to check out and if he had any other questions to shoot me an email.

 

[heynowirv]

That has always been my answer! It does make a quick exit when talking with strangers ... but those who know me/us aren't quickly put off. They know we own several timeshare ... and that we take great vacations. If they are asking questions about our DVC ... they likely expect a longer conversation.

EDITED to add: I generally wear the DVC string-backpack at the DLR parks. If you see me ... feel welcome to strike up a conversation!

That's like picking out the bearded long haired dude at a Grateful Dead show.

 

[mustinjourney]

We'd use last year's banked, this year's points and next year's borrowed points. If you have 150 points, this is like having 150+150+150=450 points to use every 3 years.

2022 - We are going this year on banked 2021 points, 2022 points and 2023 borrowed points.

Then we'll go again in 2025 using 2024 banked points, 2025 points and 2026 borrowed points.

In the past, we would have used up all of our 2023 borrowed points. Now there is a restriction that we can only borrow 50%. So now we have to rent/sell our remaining 2023 points. (And we only have 150+150+75=375 to use). It's probably this one time only until Disney goes back their 100% borrowing.

this plan works well under normal circumstances. But if you have to cancel your trip within 30 days, all of those points go into holding...and depending on when your trip falls against your use year, you could really be screwed.

Also -- canceling outside of the 30 day period if the trip falls somewhat close to your UY (say within 7 months), you could end up getting stuck with a lot of points having to rent out since the banked and borrowed points can't be redistributed at all. You could bank the current UY points if you haven't past the banking deadline -- but that might not be helpful if your plan is to go every 3 years since those points would be on an island by themselves.

 

[bbeagle]

this plan works well under normal circumstances. But if you have to cancel your trip within 30 days, all of those points go into holding...and depending on when your trip falls against your use year, you could really be screwed.

Thats the case with points, no matter where you get them from.

We never cancel. But if we couldn't go, we're not going back soon, it would be another year at least. I wouldn’t cancel, I’d just put up our reservation on a rental site. Could even split it in two. Then buy more points the next year from the cash I got for renting.

if I can’t rent it, that’s just the breaks, and I know that going in.

 

[pirate33]

I was against DVC for approximately ten years because I thought it sounded nuts. I sat through a presentation once and thought anyone who bought this thing had rocks in their heads. The notes on my file indicate I was perceived as a time waster because i kept asking questions (newly trained guide left them up on the TV). But five contracts later...

Count me in with you. I’m California based and remember seeing the DVC kiosks at DL when VGC was on direct sale. Knowing the general rep of timeshares, my thought was “no way!” Then a few years later we stayed at Aulani on the hotel side and were constantly asked at restaurants, etc., if we were members. Aulani was so beautiful that I began there learning all about DVC. Within 6-9 months, I bought my first resale contracts at VGC for close to the lowest original direct price. So glad I did! Now I have something like 1300 points and have sold two contracts for a nice profit as I rearranged things. (Being a Californian, I chose my use years at WDW based on the California seasons and only after visiting WDW many more times did I realize what a mistake that was…)

 

[pirate33]

I love finding out someone you know is DVC.

Yes!!!

 

[pirate33]

If you tell people it is Disney's version of a timeshare you probably won't get as many questions.

This is what I do, and I usually add that it is the ONLY timeshare that holds its value and actually appreciates. Plus how else can one get an apartment with a kitchen and washer/dryer on Disney property. Heaven on earth as far as I am concerned!

 

[pirate33]

I see this attitude all the time. I think, from their perspective, you bought free hotel rooms for life by buying DVC. And if you're not using them right now, why can't they? It's similar to if you're rich and buy a beach house.

Boy, this would pretty much be the end of a relationship for me. How cheeky! I did get a lot of joy out of gifting a stay to my personal trainer for the upcoming New Year’s Eve period because he and his girlfriend are so into Disney. We will have a lot of fun!

 

[koncra]

I've already "convinced" 3 people I know to buy in..... Not intentionally of course. They asked me about my trip, asked or hinted at how much we go or which resorts we stay in and wanted to know how we afford it, and from there the conversation gradually turned into a DVC resale sales pitch. I don't know if i could work for DVC directly, but I could definitely work for one of the resale companies.

 

[ParkHoppers]

Just don’t start with the word “timeshare”

 

[pirate33]

Just don’t start with the word “timeshare”

I feel like an idiot when I mention owning a “timeshare” to anyone, like my accountant or estate planning attorney. I always feel compelled to offer some explanation as to why owning DVC is not a silly financial move. And, of course, owning DVC brings me a lot of joy, and that counts too, but I don’t bring that up with my professionals.

 

[Ashlotte]

I just went to the bank to get my cashier's check to buy our resale Aulani account. The bank teller saw that I was sending the money to a title company and congratulated me on my real estate purchase. Then after typing the check up, he came back and said, "Sorry. I just have to ask... I'm a dad of five kids, and saw Disney on the name. What are you buying?" And then I had to tell him all about DVC and grab a sticky note to give him websites to learn more, where to look for listings, etc. It's actually a lot more difficult to explain DVC in a super short conversation than I thought. He definitely looked interested, but I didn't want to bombard him with info. As we know, DVC is a topic that can go on for quite a while.

Anyway, I'm not even an owner yet, and already enthusiastically telling people about DVC. It was fun for me, since it was my first time. I'm sure it's less exciting as time goes on.

Have you had any fun DVC conversations with strangers? Did you feel like a pusher or a recruiter?

I had to go back to the bank for a different transaction and got the same guy. I sooo wanted to ask if he had looked into DVC since we talked, but I didn't want to feel like a stalker. He didn't remember me from before, so it would have been awkward. But I am definitely curious!

 

[RamblinWreck]

I could sell Disney but to already Disney fans.. I haven't been able to explain family and friends why I go so often, they just think I’m nuts LOL

Every now and then somebody plans -once in a lifetime trip to Disney- and I am the person to go to, but I can see how they feel a bit overwhelmed with the info after 5mins and I was just starting hahaha

I'm one of those weirdos who enjoys planning a Disney trip almost as much as going on one.

When one of my close friends or family members is planning to go, I'm offering to be the guy to try to get them into whatever restaurant they are looking for

Partly because I actually kind of enjoy it. And partly because doing it is more fun than trying to explain to newbies how to use the system effectively.

 

[RamblinWreck]

I feel like an idiot when I mention owning a “timeshare” to anyone, like my accountant or estate planning attorney. I always feel compelled to offer some explanation as to why owning DVC is not a silly financial move. And, of course, owning DVC brings me a lot of joy, and that counts too, but I don’t bring that up with my professionals.

People who don't know about it are definitely instantly judgmental in my experience.

It feels like they instantly think "oh, you got suckered into buying one of those?" even if they don't use those exact words.

And I'm thinking "no, actually I had my eye on them for like 10 years before I ever bought in, and then I bought a contract on the secondary resale market at a big discount. And then a few years later, I sold that contract for more than 20% more than I bought it for."