To Dvc Or Not---that's The Question

[BEASLYBOO]

Yes, Yes Yes, By all means do and if you're doubtfull or scared, rent some points, try it out and the decison will be made for you. Buy though Disney or save money though resales (I did), it doesn't matter, the magic is the same. The only reason not to, expense, there are yearly maint. costs (do the monthly install.) and if you have to finance. If you have disposable income then do it, the only question you'll ask yourself is, "Why didn't I do it sooner."

My parents and I started going to Disney from the moment it opened. It was magical then even with the huge wait in lines and the old ticket system, but we loved it still. My parents are gone now but I make memoires with my own family and friends. The memories created through Disney are truly "Magical" and the magic starts at the guard gate when the guard welcomes me home.

I've heard the complaints about towels, buses, cleanliness etc. and you know what it's all good. You're at Disney, it's almost like being transported to a magical island, who cares about the towels and if the bus was late. Once or twice I've had maintenance problems with my accomodations but they were taken care of immediately. People, don't sweat the small stuff, have you walked around Disney and seen the people yelling at their kids, looking miserable, what's that about, these people need to take Vacation 101, learn to have fun. DVC ownerships gives you the power to relax and enjoy your vacation at your own pace! No more killing yourself all day at the parks, come home, take a swim or a nap, regroup and head back out. Take a day off, don't do the parks, relax there is so much to enjoy in Orlando.

I've had 2 family reunions in the OKW Grand Villa, I've stayed in all of the other resorts and hotels and my only complaints are, I don't have enough vacation time or points. By the way, if I'm short points I buy them from the rent/trade board, I've delat with some really nice people( and you knwo who you are).

June 2008, 3rd family reunionscheduled, OKW Grand Villa of course, we can't wait. The next one hopefully will be in Hawaii, yeah ! ! Life's too short, have fun. By the way, favorite resorts: Short Stay BW, long relaxing stay-OKW.

B.

 

[Granny]

Sounds like you have had some wonderful memories with your family at WDW, and any place you can accomplish that is indeed "magical".

I think that you might be construing "complaints" posted on these boards as people who are dissatisfied with WDW and DVC completely. On the contrary, I think most people really like both and care about them so when they see something amiss they want to point it out.

I've pointed out a few shortcomings in my trips to WDW, but every trip of ours has been "magical". We don't "sweat the small stuff", but I think like many others we know that we have made a substantial investment and commitment to Disney by purchasing DVC...and we don't want to see the investment and commitment going down on Disney's side.


If you read people's trip reports carefully, almost all of them talk about their wonderful trip they just took to WDW. But if they mention any problem at all, that's where the ensuing comments tend to focus. Just human nature, and doesn't mean that the OP had a less than magical trip.

Personally, I like to hear it all and make my own judgements. I don't see complaints about valid issues as being petty...I see them as providing a service to all of us especially if they addressed their issue with the proper management while still at the resort.

I do think that many are disillusioned with Disney these days, and some are selling their DVC. It's a personal decision and no one can tell someone else if the ongoing financial commitment is "worth it".

Personally, I've found that the benefits of DVC ownership and visiting WDW far outweigh the small issues we've encountered. But it doesn't bother me when people report less than magical experiences. Like I said, the majority of them also say that they had a great trip.

 

[crisi]

I disagree, there are lots of reasons not to do it other than the expense.

If you prefer a hotel over a timeshare, do not buy DVC. Its a nice timeshare, but it is not a hotel - even the hotel based DVC resorts.

If you aren't going to go to Disney regularly, do not buy DVC. DVC is a timeshare for people who have chosen a Disney lifestyle. If you want a timeshare lifestyle, there are cheaper and better traders. If you want ultimate flexibility in vacationing, pay cash and don't timeshare at all.

If you aren't going to go to Disney in a fairly consistant pattern, don't buy DVC. DVC isn't good for "we will spend two weeks with ten people this year, a week with the kids next year, a long weekend the year after, then skip two years." You'll either find yourself short points or having far too many.

If you haven't established yourself as a "Disney person" think carefully before buying DVC. Your first trip may indeed be magical, and for some people their 100th trip is just as magical. But it isn't uncommon to have a magical first trip, and after the fifth trip be a little "been there, done that" about Disney. While addonitis is a disease well recognized on the DISBoard, there is the unacknowledged "Disney burnout" that happens as well.

If you like bargains, don't buy DVC. DVC is a great way to control your spend on Disney vacations, but if you get a thrill from "free Dining" or using your Hilton Points in DTD for a free stay, you may find yourself not getting the same satisfaction from your trips.

If your life is unpredictable and prone to change, DVC may not be the best bet. DVC (and the accompaning Disney vacations) need to be afforded over the long term. This year DVC may be affordable, but if you have an unstable job, an unstable marriage, or unstable health, you may regret the committment (or you may not).

If you have a hard time saying no to a difficult family, you may find DVC to be more of a burden than a pleasure. Some families are very good at using "your" timeshare.

Finally, even if you have disposable income to do it, you need to evaluate the opportunity costs of using that disposable income to do THIS. By buying DVC you may be giving up a new car, or putting money aside for the kids college, or going out to dinner as often as you want, or a boat or a deck or..... In any decision to spend money, you should realize you are also choosing NOT to spend money on something else.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Crisi, I agree with you whole heartidely, people in ill health, with unstable jobs and marriages probably shouldn't focus their objectives on "vacationing". Also, bargain hunters out there, Disney's no bargain, be prepared to bring your cash/credit cards! My post was and is directed to those individuals who are in the process of considering DVC as a vacation option. By the way, In 2009 I'm getting a new roof and if I can't afford to go anywhere for vacation, not just to Disney, then I'll bank my points.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Wow. This thread started as a very upbeat positive post and turned into a real downer. After reading the posts that replied to OP, I'm not sure why anyone would buy DVC.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Wow. This thread started as a very upbeat positive post and turned into a real downer. After reading the posts that replied to OP, I'm not sure why anyone would buy DVC.

All the reasons listed apply to purchasing "any" timeshare, not just Disney!! Ya know, some people just need to move on. I'm not sure that other things may be happening in people's lives, and its just easy to blame it on "Disney". Cheer up!! We have many things to be thankful for this holiday season, and one is that we can visit Disney!! Have a Merry Christmas!!

 

[flyerron]

There are too many people that focus on the negatives. In fact they go out of the way to find negatives to shout about. While ther are reasons to not buy at WDW .most are obvious & don't need mentioning cause only an idiot would buy under those situations. There are many reasons to buy. Just use some common sense & if WDW is for you & you plan on going regularly, then do it. The timeshare concept is a much better vacation for us than a small hotel room.
Good luck with your decisions.Keep a positive outlook but use common sense.

 

[flyerron]

Keep in mind that it is always easy to find reasons to NOT do things, but it is the successful people who find reasons & ways to do things.

 

[moepanz]

Subscribing was thinking about the DVC but I am really not sure Spoke to cousin Christmas Eve (DVC and also a Disney employee) I don't know, she loves it but sounds like a lot of money I feel we could do it cheaper every year!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Subscribing was thinking about the DVC but I am really not sure Spoke to cousin Christmas Eve (DVC and also a Disney employee) I don't know, she loves it but sounds like a lot of money I feel we could do it cheaper every year!

There are a lot cheaper ways to do Disney than owning DVC. You have a large outlay of cash just to buy the initial points. Then you must pay annual fees/dues. True, you can have them deducted from your checking account (that's what we do) on a monthly basis. But if you pay them annually, they come due right after Christmas. And the dues keep going up.

Don't think of DVC as a cheap way to go to Disney. It's just a prepaid vacation plan for Disney vacations. Get another timeshare to trade out for those non-Disney vacations or pay for them out of your pocket.

We've been members for over 10 years and bought back when the price of points was half what new members are paying now. We've had some great vacations with friends and family. But we have also started selling some of our contracts.

 

[wildernessDad]

DVC is not for everyone.

If you love Disney, if you are committed to taking vacations every year or every other year at WDW or one of the other DVC resorts, and if you typically stay in a deluxe or moderate resort, then DVC is for you. It happens to be right for me. I wish that I had joined sooner. DVC does not save one money. If you want to save money, put your money in a bank. As others have mentioned, DVC is pre-paid vacation accommodations.

That is all... Breckenridge.

 

[crisi]

Wow. This thread started as a very upbeat positive post and turned into a real downer. After reading the posts that replied to OP, I'm not sure why anyone would buy DVC.

If you go to Disney every year or every other year and have a long term commitment to it. If you stay in Deluxes now, and don't mind the change to a timeshare (big one is no daily housekeeping), if you want an affordable way to have the kids sleep in a separate room, if your family is more than five people, if you wouldn't dream of going to WDW and staying offsite, and if you can afford it (and don't see any clouds on the horizon), DVC can be a GREAT way to add value to WDW vacations - and maybe even save money.

There are a lot of people who DVC is a wonderful fit for. And a lot of people who it isn't a wonderful fit for. And guess what - people are different with different wants, different needs, and different resources - DVC is not a one size fits all solution.

 

[BrentR]

Subscribing was thinking about the DVC but I am really not sure Spoke to cousin Christmas Eve (DVC and also a Disney employee) I don't know, she loves it but sounds like a lot of money I feel we could do it cheaper every year!

Moepanz....You have to remember that DVC is not about cheap accomodations. It is a way to hedge your future costs though, if you plan on vacationing at Disney for many years to come.

The #1 reason we bought (and we are new DVC owners as of November '07) is that it locks in our room costs for years to come (with the exception of dues increases). The initial cost is rather heafty then there are those pesky dues each and every year, however, after doing much research we strongly believe that with the escalation of hotel/motel prices at disney we will be far better off in 5-10 years with DVC than without it.(even with dues increases)

I believe you could vacation at Disney cheaper paying cash today than paying for DVC. However if you pay for DVC today I don't think it will continue to be cheaper say 5-7 years from now. Even considering dues increases. And if you chose to sell your contract in the future you will re-coup a portion of you initial investment.