Toying with the idea of taking a DVC tour...what should we know?

[gharter]

On a previous trip, we took a tour at Board Walk, which we already knew we loved. It sold us on the idea. We came home, did our research and decided to buy resale.
Today, with the loss of some benefits purchasing through resale, you have to decide if the benefits of purchasing direct are worth the extra cost.
Many will buy their main contract through resale and then add on direct points to get the benefits they lost in resale.
Nobody can make that decision except you.
Good luck in your decision as DVC is not making it easier on buyers. We had it easy as we purchased resale before the loss of benefits.

 

[chalee94]

Gizmo74, what were you glad you asked when you took your first tour? Were there things you had wished you had asked, especially on that first tour?

Take the tour for the shiny pictures. If you have questions, you'll get better answers here. Numerous times guides have slanted the truth and we have had to set people straight...

Do some searches in the DVC boards. Read some random threads to get a sense of what DVC owners like or don't like. There is a ton of useful info in the stickied resource thread - like annual dues history and resort room sizes. Make sure you have a handle on concepts like Use Year or the Rule of 4.

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you, Gizmo74. I had no idea what to expect in terms of what happened on a "tour". If we go, I will definitely ask to go to SSR. We were not sure how to get to a tour, so I'm glad to know they can pick you up from the park and drop you off at your resort. I'm curious...how long did the actual tour take? My boys will be almost 16 and 13 at the time of our trip, and they have no interest in missing out on riding rides. I know they won't want to come, or if they do, they won't want it to drag on forever.

You can schedule a pick up from your room phone or stop at any of the ASA desks/kiosks at the resort or DS. Tours are 1.5 to 2 hours long. Can't tell you how many people who have come to the DIS, asked tour questions, stated that they weren't ready to buy, then report back that they are new owners.

Disney is really good at selling DVC, they train for it, they attach DVC ownership to the the thoughts and memories of magical Disney vacations. DVC is nothing more than a prepaid room that may save you some money. You can still have wonderful Disney vacations without being a DVC owner.

Bill

 

[Sherrkel]

Six weeks ago I didn't even know that DVC resale existed!
We took a tour...our second in the last five years or so...in a whim to get the free FP and also we got $100 gift card (which we applied to our room charges ).
Along with us was my DBILs (2) and SILs as well as DMIL & DFIL. We left my young adult nieces and nephews at the parks and enjoyed our break for a couple of hours.
We never felt any pressure from our Sales guide. I'm similar as you mentioned being the wheeler and dealer in the family, but felt more comfortable with our guide than am car salesperson!
After the tour, we quickly learned about resale. Since then, one DBIL and DSIL have passed ROFR on SSR resale and awaiting contracts , and DH and I are 1 week in on BRV@WL waiting for ROFR.
My other DBIL & DSIL are seriously considering resort options for a future offer too. We all love DW equally, our children are getting older and we"ll be taking more adult only trips
Good luck on whatever you decide to do, only you can determine what's best for you. As long as you're well informed on all the options, the better you'll feel about your decision!

 

[Sarahraegraham]

Six weeks ago I didn't even know that DVC resale existed!
We took a tour...our second in the last five years or so...in a whim to get the free FP and also we got $100 gift card (which we applied to our room charges ).
Along with us was my DBILs (2) and SILs as well as DMIL & DFIL. We left my young adult nieces and nephews at the parks and enjoyed our break for a couple of hours.
We never felt any pressure from our Sales guide. I'm similar as you mentioned being the wheeler and dealer in the family, but felt more comfortable with our guide than am car salesperson!
After the tour, we quickly learned about resale. Since then, one DBIL and DSIL have passed ROFR on SSR resale and awaiting contracts , and DH and I are 1 week in on BRV@WL waiting for ROFR.
My other DBIL & DSIL are seriously considering resort options for a future offer too. We all love DW equally, our children are getting older and we"ll be taking more adult only trips
Good luck on whatever you decide to do, only you can determine what's best for you. As long as you're well informed on all the options, the better you'll feel about your decision!

I have a question about the free FP. Are they good for a set amount of time? I am adding some time into our plans for a DVC tour at the Poly, and wondering how long I would have after that to use them. Someone said 3 days, someone said 10. I'm hoping that if our tour is on Saturday I will be able to save them for Tuesday

 

[disneynutz]

I have a question about the free FP. Are they good for a set amount of time? I am adding some time into our plans for a DVC tour at the Poly, and wondering how long I would have after that to use them. Someone said 3 days, someone said 10. I'm hoping that if our tour is on Saturday I will be able to save them for Tuesday

Don't know about the expiration but I do know that not all tour perks are the same. Poly perks may be different than the perks at the SSR sales center and perks from tele-sale guides may be even more different.

Bill

 

[Strikan]

I have a question about the free FP. Are they good for a set amount of time? I am adding some time into our plans for a DVC tour at the Poly, and wondering how long I would have after that to use them. Someone said 3 days, someone said 10. I'm hoping that if our tour is on Saturday I will be able to save them for Tuesday

We took the tour at SSR this week and the Fastpasses could be used for 4 days including the day of the tour. The Fastpasses cannot be used on Frozen Ever After, Mine Train and, I think, Peter Pan (not sure about the last one).

We had a good experience. Very low key. The CCR villas actually look much better in person. Very good feel to them.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

We took the tour at SSR this week and the Fastpasses could be used for 4 days including the day of the tour. The Fastpasses cannot be used on Frozen Ever After, Mine Train and, I think, Peter Pan (not sure about the last one).

We had a good experience. Very low key. The CCR villas actually look much better in person. Very good feel to them.

Thanks for the info! I'd love to see the Poly rooms. Will I need to make an appointment or if we walk up will they take us right away?

 

[Strikan]

Thanks for the info! I'd love to see the Poly rooms. Will I need to make an appointment or if we walk up will they take us right away?

The Poly rooms are there as well. You should make an appointment. Just go to the DVC site and click on the request a tour link. They will call you and arrange everything.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

The Poly rooms are there as well. You should make an appointment. Just go to the DVC site and click on the request a tour link. They will call you and arrange everything.

Thanks!

 

[Little E]

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

 

[Gizmo74]

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

They have a few models set up at SSR. They have Poly, Copper Creek and Aluani models to view. I believe SSR is only Disney World location with these models. If you do your at Poly, they will show you a real room.

 

[chalee94]

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

Yep - it's not that you're touring SSR rooms, it's just that that is where the sales center is which has the model rooms.

 

[Little E]

Thank you for clarifying!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

As mentioned, SSR is where the DVC sales center is located so they have models of the resort rooms that they are currently selling - PVB, CCV and Aulani. BWV has a model open along the Boardwalk - right next to the Big River Grille that you can walk thru anytime - not positive of the hours but it's open most of the day. And they do tours at PVB - you would have to pre-arrange that. I expect that CCV will start tours at the resort soon too.

 

[ELMC]

OK, my Dis friends, here's another dumb question. Can you ask to tour any of the DVC resorts, or are there only certain ones you can tour? Gizmo74 mentioned the SSR tour, and I assumed this was a model you could visit? We aren't thinking of purchasing SSR...are there prescribed "models" you visit on a tour, or can you request to go anywhere?

Also keep in mind that DVC salespeople are going to strongly push the current offerings and tell you that other resorts are "sold out". While that may technically be true, what they won't tell you is that you can go on a waiting list for one of the "sold out" resorts (except VGC). My point is, if you do decide to purchase direct, please don't be forced into buying the home resort that they will strongly steer you towards, buy the home resort that works best for you. If you don't know what that is, take the time to figure it out, you won't regret it!

 

[kmc8826]

Also keep in mind that DVC salespeople are going to strongly push the current offerings and tell you that other resorts are "sold out". While that may technically be true, what they won't tell you is that you can go on a waiting list for one of the "sold out" resorts (except VGC). My point is, if you do decide to purchase direct, please don't be forced into buying the home resort that they will strongly steer you towards, buy the home resort that works best for you. If you don't know what that is, take the time to figure it out, you won't regret it!

I am in the same position as OP as thinking about the tour on our upcoming May trip. I just finished the phone tour on Monday. The CM on phone said only resorts were Aulani, Poly, and Copper Creek. She said they were all the same price at $176 and that minimum points to buy were 100. That seems a little different than the preliminary research I have done so far (and even as stated above). If I could buy 50 points direct from Disney for BLT I would probably do it. Is that something Disney would even consider for a first time buyer? Is it worth doing the tour and asking?

 

[ELMC]

That is not entirely true. Those are the only resorts being offered right now, but that doesn't mean that those are the only resorts you can purchase. Here is a great link that details prices and minimum purchases:

http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

If you have done the analysis and decided that buying 50 points at BLT makes sense for you, both from a budgetary and use standpoint, I would recommend going on the tour if you think you have the ability to resist the inevitable push towards doing something you don't want to do. At the end of the pitch, I would simply tell them that you would like to buy 50 points at BLT with the specific UY you choose, and that your two choices are to buy that or buy nothing. I would be interested to see if they would let you walk out of there.

 

[kmc8826]

That is not entirely true. Those are the only resorts being offered right now, but that doesn't mean that those are the only resorts you can purchase. Here is a great link that details prices and minimum purchases:

http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

If you have done the analysis and decided that buying 50 points at BLT makes sense for you, both from a budgetary and use standpoint, I would recommend going on the tour if you think you have the ability to resist the inevitable push towards doing something you don't want to do. At the end of the pitch, I would simply tell them that you would like to buy 50 points at BLT with the specific UY you choose, and that your two choices are to buy that or buy nothing. I would be interested to see if they would let you walk out of there.

Thank you! I will continue my research between now and our mid May trip. Once I decide exactly what I want I will try it and see. I am good with saying no; and as I have been thinking about it after the phone presentation I thought it might be worth a shot. If I try I will report back.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I am in the same position as OP as thinking about the tour on our upcoming May trip. I just finished the phone tour on Monday. The CM on phone said only resorts were Aulani, Poly, and Copper Creek. She said they were all the same price at $176 and that minimum points to buy were 100. That seems a little different than the preliminary research I have done so far (and even as stated above). If I could buy 50 points direct from Disney for BLT I would probably do it. Is that something Disney would even consider for a first time buyer? Is it worth doing the tour and asking?

I believe that it is possible to take the tour at BLT. When we bought in 2015, we took the tour at BLT and saw the model villlas there. When you call, ask if you can meet a guide at BLT.