Touring AFTER DVC purchase

[NUHuskies#1]

My family and I will be taking a short trip to WDW Memorial Day weekend in May. We bought at SSR in November sight unseen (we close in June) and would like to make arrangements to do a tour while we are there. I called our "guide" this morning and he was on vacation again! I have only called a couple of times, but the last two times I have called he was on vacation per his voicemail. Has anyone done the tour after they made their purchase? I was hoping to do it on the Saturday we arrive 5/28 do you think this will be a problem? What should I expect?

 

[tjkraz]

They usually try to steer members toward the self-tour hours which, last I heard, are 5-7pm, Monday to Friday. During that time period you can just walk in and check out the models at your leisure.

Any other time it seems that they prefer to have someone accompany you on the tour. When you Guide gets back, talk to him about scheduling something in advance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes, the self-tour hours is what we did. Before we bought, I'd done the tour on a solo trip, DH had never done the tour. So after we bought, on our first trip home, he wanted to see the models, which we did on our own.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We actually did a tour with our Guide after we bought. We already had a FTP (Fairy Tale Package) booked for October, 2003, but we ended up buying "over the phone" & sight-unseen in August/September. Our Guide actually suggested the tour; he sent a DVC van to pick us up at the Polynesian where we were staying, and they took us over to the Boardwalk DVC Center (SSR not being ready to tour at that time ). He tooks us into one of their sales rooms and chatted - both DVC and other topics - then showed us all of the models. We then got some cotton candy - DW was happy, he thanked us again for our purchase, and they drove us back to the Polynesian.

It was quite a nice guesture, and was particularly helpful, as we wouldn't be staying at SSR until Founders Day!

ETA: Regarding Doc's suggestion a few posts down: we actually set a date and time with our Guide before we left home - the van was there right on time.

 

[mark&sue]

Yeah we did the standard tour. About a week later we really wanted to tour again (and take DD who didn't take original tour) so we just turned up after 5 and did a tour on our own.

Well worth it if just want to see what you have bought and have not got a proper trip.



Susan

 

[RobDoc]

Has anyone done the tour after they made their purchase? I was hoping to do it on the Saturday we arrive 5/28 do you think this will be a problem? What should I expect?

That should be no problem. If are unable to link up with your guide, just call the sales office at 1-800-800-9100 and let them know what you'd like to do. I know they'll be happy to give you the sales presentation and tour. You can even set up a specific time (recommended) instead of having to wait around. They'll even pick you up at your resort!

While the self tours are fine, I think you may enjoy seeing what you missed by buying sight unseen!

Enjoy!

 

[Alexander]

We did this exact thing in February. Bought over the phone in early Feb. and was in WDW for President's Week. We didn't schedule anything, just walked in told them we were brand new members and would like to see what we bought. This was done on the advice of our guide who told us she wasn't working the days we would likely be visiting. We waited about 10 minutes for someone to be available, had a nice snack of coffee, tea, water, lemonade and some snacks in the beautiful waiting room. Then we went over to the villas set aside for touring. We had a great tour! Marni gave us pins and postcards before we left. It was wonderful.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Thanks for this. We also bought sight unseen and will be in Orlando for 3 weeks before we check into OKW so will call and arrange a tour for early into our trip to get some of the magic and see what we bought .

 

[ParrotAtOKW]

My partner tried to arrange a tour of SSR for a trip she took alone last May, after we had purchased OKW earlier in the year. When she got there our guide was not available. In his absence, the DVC Sales Manager escorted her, answered all questions, and gave her gifts like the ones mentioned before (post cards, pin, pen, etc.). Very pleasant experience, all in all.

She went back to stay at SSR in October and we went back together in late Jan. this year - both times as members at SSR!

Enjoy your "tour" and Welcome Home!
ParrotAtOKW.

 

[goofy4tink]

We bought sight unseen also. Bought in Oct. '03. When my dd and I made a quickie trip in Dec we stopped at one of the DVC sales booths in MGM and explained that we had never seen the DVC setups and could we arrange to do that. No problem. We were even asked if we needed transport from the resort we were staying at!!! A different guide walked through with us. Evidently he hadn't noticed that we had already bought since he started his sales pitch. Was a little disappointed when I told him we already owned. He looked at his paperwork and said that it did mention that but he hadn't noticed it!!!

 

[quentina]

They usually try to steer members toward the self-tour hours which, last I heard, are 5-7pm, Monday to Friday. During that time period you can just walk in and check out the models at your leisure.

Any other time it seems that they prefer to have someone accompany you on the tour. When you Guide gets back, talk to him about scheduling something in advance.

When I was in SSR last week, the models were only open of either Tuesday or Wednesday from 5-7pm.

Kim

 

[dallastxcpa]

Our guide is awesome (Ricardo Florez) and we stop in to see him everytime. When we were down we actually arranged to take a tour of SSR with him on Christmas Eve. I told him that I was sorry he had to work that day, but I was so glad that he was able to meet the whole family.

Needless to say he gave us a tour of SSR including the Grand Villa and treated my children like royalty.

I feel very fortunate that our guide is such a wonderful person.

 

[EdTreo]

What does the tour consist of ? Is it worth the time after the fact.

 

[Alexander]

What does the tour consist of ? Is it worth the time after the fact.

If you are already members and let them know, they will show you a studio, and one bedroom, which combined they'll explain is a two bedroom lock-off. Then they'll take you over to a grand villa. This was worth it for us, because at this point in time, I'll probably never see one otherwise.

However, DS decided that we now need to stay in the villa that has an upstairs and four bathrooms! LOL--there are three of us! Not to mention it's something like a million points a night during the times we travel!

It was nice to hear the little bits of information about the resort that you may not hear otherwise. She talked about who makes the furniture (which now I have totally forgotten) and where the extra bedding is stored (in the coffee table), told DS where to find the hidden mickeys, etc.

 

[DrTomorrow]

What does the tour consist of ? Is it worth the time after the fact.

If your schedule is already quite full, then I'd honestly say no it isn't. As a DIS DVCer, you probably know more important & useful information than some guides . However, if you have the time, it's a quite pleasant and enjoyable hour or so. You will get to see all of the different rooms, and you'll also get some of the surface patter & chat that Guides love to give.