thinking about joining DVC

[luckynyc]

My sister and I are thinking about joining the DVC but we are hesitant for a few reasons - hoping some people could help with some of their own personal stories:

1. We've been to Disney but never visited any of the DVC resorts - does anyone know if DVC will sponsor a trip down to visit? Did any of you purchase without viewing the home resorts?

2. In my reading on this msg board it looks like some people purchase more points after becoming members - is this common? i was under the impression when you initially purchase you work with a sales rep to ensure you are purchasing the points that will fit your needs - are any of you finding that your needs changes? How so?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I would venture to say hundreds of thousands have purchased without touring a DVC resort. DVC will not sponsor any type of trip...they honestly don't need to. Do you and your sister travel to WDW on a regular basis? Do you stay in resorts other than the Values? If so, DVC might be a good fit for you.

The top of this page shows links to the DVC point charts. The best thing to do is go on the DVC website, look at all the resorts and determine which one you would like as your home resort (you can book up to 11mo. in advance at your home resort -- have to wait for 7mo. for the others), then look at how often you go and how many nights you normally stay. The point charts will allow you to estimate how many points per year you might need.

Keep in mind that you can take the current year's points and transfer (bank) them into the next year, then when that year starts...you can also borrow from the upcoming year to actually have three years worth of points at one time. This is sometimes advantageous to families that don't travel to WDW on a yearly basis as it allows them to purchase less points upfront.

Anyway, in many cases, the contract owner that has used this strategy finds that once they become members they actually start going to WDW more often and therefore realize they would like to purchase more points. That's where the add-on comes in.

I don't know how much info you already have on DVC, so I hope I'm not being repetitive. Just know upfront that you can purchase any DVC resort directly through DVC (150 pt. min), in spite of them insisting SSR is all they can offer. A couple of the non-SSR resorts do require a wait-list, but it usually takes just a few months. Or, you can buy via the resale market (no pt. min).

 

[Lynne M]

1. We've been to Disney but never visited any of the DVC resorts - does anyone know if DVC will sponsor a trip down to visit? Did any of you purchase without viewing the home resorts?

Disney won't sponsor a trip down to visit the resorts. I know that some timeshare companies give you a huge discount on a room if you sit through a presentation, but DVC doesn't work that way. The DVC resorts sell out without them offering much of anything but free ice cream at the end of the tour. There are some incentives/perks from time to time, but they'll never pay anyone's way down to FL. They don't have to, DVC pretty much sells itself.

I bought at VWL sight unseen, and have never had a moment's regret. I can certainly understand why you wouldn't be comfortable with that. I'd stayed at many different on-site resorts over the years, so I had no qualms whatsoever about the quality of the accommodations.

It might be worth your while to schedule a quick trip over a long weekend, just to check out the resorts.

 

[Figment2]

I have added on 5 times (although one time was WLV points which I have since sold). Reason - I find I want to go more often than when I first bought my 150 points. I used to go to FL every 2 -3 years now it's 2 -3 times a year.

Cyn

 

[Dr. DVC]

Try renting first.

Buy where you like best.

 

[DVC Grammy]

The "addonitis" you refer to hits a lot of DVCers after a few trips "home". For us, owning DVC turned what used to be somewhat of a whirlwind trip to WDW into a relaxing, leisurely vacation, since we'd know we could come back soon (It's that "soon" that causes addonitis; we were infected ..........look at my signature and many of the other DVCers! )

 

[MinnieGirl33]

2. In my reading on this msg board it looks like some people purchase more points after becoming members - is this common? i was under the impression when you initially purchase you work with a sales rep to ensure you are purchasing the points that will fit your needs - are any of you finding that your needs changes? How so?

There is a highly contagious disease that only affects DVC members called add-on-itis.

The only known cure is more points.