The DVC New Member Mentorining Program.

[jpolak]

As an educator I always found the best lessons were those that had real life applications. You could read a text book and gain knowledge, but you really know something when you could apply it. So I was thinking DVC should have this. I mean the new member handbook is great and has a lot of information. I want to learn from the veterans. What have you learned / discovered that you wish you new as a new member? No fact of tid bit too small. Please share and help all of us newbies find our way.

Edited to add: Don't get me wrong since I discovered Disboards I have been totallty hooked. The knowledge I have gained and used on our last trip has been great. I am thinking a long the lines of one pearl of wisdom that you have about DVC that you would like to share. Something that a new member may not think of. Maybe even a mistake you made or something you would do differently. Sort of like if you could do it over with the knowledge you have now. That's all.

 

[mwehttam]

But there is a mentoring program: The DISboards!
I have learned tons from this site. Even though I am not a member yet (plan on calling my friends guide this coming week ), reading the posts here have given my such insite that I have a better knowldege then if I just joined and had to figure everything out myself. I would guess that everyone here has saved many a newbie form making mistakes , from buying in the wrong resort to messing up thier banking and losing points.
I have to say that the DIS is probably better then any mentoring program that Disney could put together.

-Matthew

 

[RobDoc]

This site has served as a pretty good resource for potential members, new members and veteran members for almost 8 years now. If you have a specific question about some aspect of DVC, chances are very good it can be answered by the body of experience available right here.

Some knowledge is from personal experience, some is from extensive research of the DVC documents and some is from the history of DVC over the past 14 years.

Ask away!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

One thing I learned, don't buy a huge contract!!! Say you want 600 points, I would buy 3 200 points contracts, all the same resort and same use year!! That way as you get older, and the kids are gone you arn't strapped, and you can easily hand down the points. I just looked at TTS website for listings, I couldn't imagine trying to sell some of those huge OKW contracts, the maintenance fees are almost 4K a year!!!

 

[NYMomof4]

Disney-itis: Similar to add-on-itis for DVC
A syndrome which has regular everyday people becoming preoccupied with everything Disney. This is especially true for DVC members.

My story: Visited Disney WOrld and took SSR tour in Sept. Bought DVC in September. Planned trip in November upon closing. Two weeks later-planned trip in late February before going on Nov. trip (that's MY trip insurance!) Now thinking about next August's trip.

Current dilemna: To buy more SSR points or wait a painful amount of time until Disney announces a new DVC

This is what happens when you buy DVC.............

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have also learned that you can't transfer points in and out of your account in the same year. Even if you only transferred 3 points out of your account to help your brother out when he didn't deserve it in the first place, you can't transfer IN to your account when you decide you need another trip to Disney--I ask you, how mean is that?? I thought the transfer IN was a trip for medical reasons(I needed a stress-relief trip), but Disney did not see it the same way. I have heard on these boards that Disney is lenient for medical reasons, but they weren't with me

 

[aDVCguy]

If I knew back then in March of 2004, when I planned our family's
fisrt trip to WDW, of THIS web site...I wouldn't have spent $$$$ on a
weeks long Vacation at the Polynesian Resort(all top shelf accoma-
dations). In it's stead...I'd have bought into DVC right away and
have used $$$$ on MORE POINTS!
The best source of information I've found was on Disney Message
boards! I haven't seen them all but this web site is by far one of
the best managed around! Knowledge is power!
Good luck!


Boardwalk Villas 2/06
Saratoga Springs 4/05 We're Home!
Polynesian Resort 7/04
WDW(spring break) 3/77
Disneyland 8/73
____________________________________
Have itch...must see Mouse!

 

[ceejay13]

I used these boards extensively before we bought in 2000, as we purchased sight unseen. Like NYMomof4, it becomes very addicting. We purchased 230 points initially thinking that is all we would ever need. We have added on 3 times since then. If you are wavering at all on the amount, buy as much as you can afford. Only buy where you want to stay most, even that means purchasing a resale. I agree with the smaller contracts, if you buy more than the minimum. The best use of your points is at WDW. It's great that you can use them wherever you want but you will get the most for your points at the WDW DVC resorts. Consider purchasing annual passes. If you go yearly and can get two trips out of your passes, it can become a better deal especially with the DVC discount. For example, we are going in December this year and will return in October next year getting 2 weeks out of our passes. This last year we ended up spending 20 days at WDW and got a really good deal out of our passes.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

As an educator I always found the best lessons were those that had real life applications. You could read a text book and gain knowledge, but you really know something when you could apply it. So I was thinking DVC should have this. I mean the new member handbook is great and has a lot of information. I want to learn from the veterans. What have you learned / discovered that you wish you new as a new member? No fact of tid bit too small. Please share and help all of us newbies find our way.

Edited to add: Don't get me wrong since I discovered Disboards I have been totallty hooked. The knowledge I have gained and used on our last trip has been great. I am thinking a long the lines of one pearl of wisdom that you have about DVC that you would like to share. Something that a new member may not think of. Maybe even a mistake you made or something you would do differently. Sort of like if you could do it over with the knowledge you have now. That's all.

I have to echo what many have already posted but here are my thoughts. Don't over pack. Even if you are in a studio the washer and dryers are free to DVCers. Don't over shop either. We have used a limo service with a free grocery stop and we purchased way too much food. I now pre-plan before we leave so I know which meals we will eat in our room and which ones we will eat out. Speaking of grocery shopping - remember you are only going to be at DVC for x number of days so you probably won't need or eat all of that king-size jar of peanut butter (right Kristen? ).

Annmarie

 

[nono]

And, you now have a place to reuse your leftovers as well! We use our leftovers from the generous Disney portion meals for snacks in the room either for Happy Hour in the room or late night snacks! So, I totally echo the don't overshop for food!