This definitely shouldn't have been its own thread AND I’m a loser who fell out of love with Disney so I’m outta here

[nerdboyrockstar]

This boggles my mind too. People do not seem to grasp the basics - booking windows, banking/borrowing, points charts, etc. I recently saw a post where someone had bought RIV resale and did not understand why they couldn’t use the points for a different resort.

Hey hey hey.. In my defense, I fully expect to understand banking/borrowing eventually.

 

[zavandor]

Agreed. A huge part of why we initially bought in was that we couldn’t stomach paying 700$ per night for a normal hotel room 2-3 times per year (and that was in 2008). Now we have better rooms (1BR or 2BR or bungalow) and feel like it is a savings. Yes dues increase and perks come and go but we like having weeklong relaxing trips in a room with space. Spouse and I would probably lose it if we were in a standard hotel room for 8 nights.

This boggles my mind too. People do not seem to grasp the basics - booking windows, banking/borrowing, points charts, etc. I recently saw a post where someone had bought RIV resale and did not understand why they couldn’t use the points for a different resort.

A few years ago it was reported a Facebook post by someone who hadn't used their points for 6 years and was looking forward to use them all for a big family gathering. Poor unfortunate soul.

 

[matt_in_nh]

A few years ago it was reported a Facebook post by someone who hadn't used their points for 6 years and was looking forward to use them all for a big family gathering. Poor unfortunate soul.

Obviously this is on them not understanding what they bought. When you buy direct does Disney sit you down and explain all the details? I am sure there are cases the guides tell the customers the details and they just dont get it. I am buying my first contract resale and I think I am informed from reading threads here. Curious, does Disney send any information to someone who buys resale?

 

[zavandor]

Obviously this is on them not understanding what they bought. When you buy direct does Disney sit you down and explain all the details? I am sure there are cases the guides tell the customers the details and they just dont get it. I am buying my first contract resale and I think I am informed from reading threads here. Curious, does Disney send any information to someone who buys resale?

If I have to guess, it's likely that direct purchasers know the product less than resale. Some of them are at WDW, they do the tour, they buy with pixie dust in their eyes. Of course some direct purchasers do their research and then choose to buy direct, but many, the majority?, are sold the product while on vacation. How much research do they do when they're back home?

 

[tx911]

If I have to guess, it's likely that direct purchasers know the product less than resale. Some of them are at WDW, they do the tour, they buy with pixie dust in their eyes. Of course some direct purchasers do their research and then choose to buy direct, but many, the majority?, are sold the product while on vacation. How much research do they do when they're back home?

 

[bakerworld]

Personally, we bought direct but we researched the Vacation Club 3 times between '92 and '08, when we bought. I always tell people who ask me about the Vacation Club to not join until you are going 3 times a year, or more than 2 weeks a year, every year. Then you really know you're interested.

 

[disneylandtour]

Obviously this is on them not understanding what they bought. When you buy direct does Disney sit you down and explain all the details?

They receive material which most people never read. Guides will answer all questions anyone has.

It's just a cultural shift in many areas, away from expertise and knowledge. And probably not a good cultural shift.

 

[CWTC]

When you buy direct does Disney sit you down and explain all the details?

We bought VGC direct last year and got a welcome to DVC email which instructed us to call and set up a time to go over how to use our membership. We didn’t do so because we had been members for 10+ years already. I assume though that would have been when someone explained the most important points of ownership. But maybe not.

 

[matt_in_nh]

We bought VGC direct last year and got a welcome to DVC email which instructed us to call and set up a time to go over how to use our membership. We didn’t do so because we had been members for 10+ years already. I assume though that would have been when someone explained the most important points of ownership. But maybe not.

I guess it is what it is but that person who thought they were accumulating points for years find out the actual rules, they are going to be very unhappy and probably not wanting to do anything with Disney. I would think DVC would reach out if someone is not using points for years but I guess so long as the dues get paid it is better for them....they can rent those points out to someone else.

 

[buzlite]

Was at Aulani and picked up a DVC brochure since we are thinking about adding on. The last page of the brochure does give a summary of everything including banking and borrowing… we own direct. But it was after my fifth trip that we finally made the purchase. Mostly because VGF came available and the prices had tripled since my first trip.
My wife likes to play bad cop tho. Usually I have to do a big presentation about why it’s a good idea. She usually pays half attention and makes me repeat myself multiple times and asks my very annoying questions that I need to figure out answers to. Usually at the end she says if I think it’s a good idea then we should do it. But along the way I am forced to learn every single detail and cut out all the lies I told myself.
Examples of questions include: what if the resale value crashes to 0, what’s stopping Disney from using dues as a cash cow, what if I don’t want to go one year, is moonlight magic garunteed etc.

 

[intamin]

Twice on my last vacation I spotted people decked out in DVC clothing and merch standing in line with me. Both times I tried chatting them up about vacation club and it was pretty clear they had zero clue how it worked. I stopped trying to engage with people after that.

My next question is were they even members? I feel like a lot of people are oblivious to it despite Disney trying to push it so hard and may have simply thought this looks nice.. I'm on a Disney vacation.. and I want to be part of a club..

 

[ClaraOswald]

Personally, we bought direct but we researched the Vacation Club 3 times between '92 and '08, when we bought. I always tell people who ask me about the Vacation Club to not join until you are going 3 times a year, or more than 2 weeks a year, every year. Then you really know you're interested.

I think there are a lot of DVC people, like myself, who don't go that often or for that long though.

We bought at VGC first. And have never gone multiple times a year or for 2 weeks at a time. (Well, except for when we lived in town.)

 

[jarestel]

That is odd unless something happened to them (i.e. death).

Not really that odd!

 

[bakerworld]

I think there are a lot of DVC people, like myself, who don't go that often or for that long though.

We bought at VGC first. And have never gone multiple times a year or for 2 weeks at a time. (Well, except for when we lived in town.)

We always enjoyed WDW. We use to go annually in the late 70's. Then we started having kids in the 80's and that ended WDW for me until the smallest could walk. This coincided with the inception of DVC. Still it was financially out of our reach. Meanwhile, we did gain an understanding of DVC. By the time we purchased in '08 the College expenses were ending. I had never stopped researching so in '08 I knew how to save about 7K purchasing Direct between incentives, Disney credit card and more (can't remember anymore).

The guide told us to research the Disney forums, which is when we discovered a TON information, along with resale. I will say the forums - especially this one - I found really negative. I think if I'd've been computer literate pre joining DVC we'd've still never bought.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Obviously this is on them not understanding what they bought. When you buy direct does Disney sit you down and explain all the details? I am sure there are cases the guides tell the customers the details and they just dont get it. I am buying my first contract resale and I think I am informed from reading threads here. Curious, does Disney send any information to someone who buys resale?

When I bought resale, I received an email prompting me to call to learn more about how the product worked. I did call, and spent about 30 minutes on the phone with a very nice lady who explained all the ins and outs and answered any questions I had. I had already done a lot of research, but still found her very helpful!

 

[intamin]

We always enjoyed WDW. We use to go annually in the late 70's. Then we started having kids in the 80's and that ended WDW for me until the smallest could walk. This coincided with the inception of DVC. Still it was financially out of our reach. Meanwhile, we did gain an understanding of DVC. By the time we purchased in '08 the College expenses were ending. I had never stopped researching so in '08 I knew how to save about 7K purchasing Direct between incentives, Disney credit card and more (can't remember anymore).

The guide told us to research the Disney forums, which is when we discovered a TON information, along with resale. I will say the forums - especially this one - I found really negative. I think if I'd've been computer literate pre joining DVC we'd've still never bought.

I'd say the forums here are for people who are further along in their research. The FB groups are flooded with people asking extremely basic questions and also with people who are giving out poor information. We're probably not the most friendly/tolerant of people who haven't even tried to do the research themselves when theres a lot of good sources on YouTube about it and podcasts. However, once you're past that initial phase and have a half decent understanding of it these forums have an abundance of knowledge and you can go as far down the rabbit hole as you want.

 

[VandVsmama]

Was at Aulani and picked up a DVC brochure since we are thinking about adding on. The last page of the brochure does give a summary of everything including banking and borrowing… we own direct. But it was after my fifth trip that we finally made the purchase. Mostly because VGF came available and the prices had tripled since my first trip.
My wife likes to play bad cop tho. Usually I have to do a big presentation about why it’s a good idea. She usually pays half attention and makes me repeat myself multiple times and asks my very annoying questions that I need to figure out answers to. Usually at the end she says if I think it’s a good idea then we should do it. But along the way I am forced to learn every single detail and cut out all the lies I told myself.
Examples of questions include: what if the resale value crashes to 0, what’s stopping Disney from using dues as a cash cow, what if I don’t want to go one year, is moonlight magic garunteed etc.

I see that your wife and my husband must be cut from the same cloth because my DH asks all of these types of Negative Nancy questions, too!

 

[MsChristy12]

I'd say the forums here are for people who are further along in their research. The FB groups are flooded with people asking extremely basic questions and also with people who are giving out poor information. We're probably not the most friendly/tolerant of people who haven't even tried to do the research themselves when theres a lot of good sources on YouTube about it and podcasts. However, once you're past that initial phase and have a half decent understanding of it these forums have an abundance of knowledge and you can go as far down the rabbit hole as you want.

Yep that's me! I didn't even come on here to get DVC info, I was looking for DCL help! We went to WDW after the cruise and actually did a tour w/ a guide and she was very impressed I knew about UY and what it means. Then after that trip, that's when we were more serious about DVC and I started reading more about the resale here and also stalked the ROFR thread! Then here I am now nearly 2 years laters...3 resale contracts between 2 resorts......and also met some wonderful DIS friends that we have actually met up on both coasts! Something really nice came out of this rabbit hole for me after all

 

[heynowirv]

I don't either but I can still poke fun at it especially since they ended the post with "Later sk8ers"

Must be a Arvil Lavigne fan.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Yep that's me! I didn't even come on here to get DVC info, I was looking for DCL help! We went to WDW after the cruise and actually did a tour w/ a guide and she was very impressed I knew about UY and what it means. Then after that trip, that's when we were more serious about DVC and I started reading more about the resale here and also stalked the ROFR thread! Then here I am now nearly 2 years laters...3 resale contracts between 2 resorts......and also met some wonderful DIS friends that we have actually met up on both coasts! Something really nice came out of this rabbit hole for me after all

Same for me! Except still working on meeting up with my DIS friends.