Unappreciated

[Jennasis]

The only problem I have with DVC is that I'm not an owner. I'm insanely jealous of those who are. We've had the opportunity to try out a villa thanks to a generous relative and it was so enjoyable.

I don't feel like DVC'ers get catered to more than the regular visitor. I just wish I could afford to join LOL!

 

[PCFriar80]

Quote:
Originally Posted by RHMH
IMO - people purchase DVC as an investment first and then look at it as a place to stay. Instead of investing in DVC, I decided to invest in Disney Stocks years ago. NOW!! there is only one primary thing you expect from this investment is to make money. Disney stock hit a few pennies over 80.00 last week... Maybe one day I can buy a house in Orlando. If anyone does not feel appreciated...... Let me say I appreciate everyone visiting Disney and I can honestly say HOME.

This exactly. DVC is not an investment I have heard all their pitches about how it is. If you know anything about investments you know it's not. If your looking for a real investment look else where. As for loyalty no offense to the DVC owners but your "perks" our not worth what you paid and continue to pay yearly. So OP I would stop worrying about any perceived perks. Whatever DVC members do get they deserve for signing those 40-50 year contracts.
**************************************************************************************************************
DVC is an investment [not in the traditional sense], if you lay out "x" amount of dollars and are able to to vacation for 40+ years; investment + dues you're ahead of the game within 10 years, depending upon your accommodations. As a stockholder, my annual dividend pays for our dues and our APs, and I have have some spending money left over. Investment's are not singular, but more how you bundle them to get the best ROI.

 

[dd50]

As someone who has spent more than $100k in WDW over the last 20 years, I don't really need or expect a loyalty program. I just want WDW to continue to provide for me and my family what they always have.

Would I turn my nose up at a program like this? No. But I don't need or expect it to continue my visits.

 

[think-like-tink]

We do not own DVC, we have thought about it before we decided to just buy a house in the area. We have been stationed down there and we just love the area...

As Deluxe resort snobs.... I really feel appreciated when I hear welcome home.

 

[doconeill]

I have owned DVC (BWV and BLT) since 2003. I'm not sure what perks you think we get but they sure aren't a big deal. The only real perk we get is the ability to buy an AP for less than you can buy it for. It's about $125 or so. We used to get free valet parking, but that's gone. We used to get free wifi, but everyone gets it now. We used to be the only ones to hear 'Welcome Home' but now everyone hears it.
Believe me.....our perks aren't 'all that and a bag of chips'. I pay about $1500 a year in dues. If I stay a total of 10 nights, that breaks down to $150 a night, which would be a moderate at the cheaper end. But, I get a nicer resort for my money. Of course that doesn't include my initial costs of purchase. For me, it has taken about 10 years for me to get to the break even point. But even now, I still pay those dues every year. Is it worth the break I get in APs? Probably not. If I didn't own DVC, I wouldn't need an AP.

Believe me, DVC doesn't lock me down at all. Sure, I have to plan my trips a year out, but even if I plan 6 months out, I can still find someplace DVC to stay. Maybe not during Food and Wine time, or other equally busy times. But, it's just not an issue for me. Are you sure you understand how DVC works?

All in all...we really don't get that many perks. We tend to feel pretty under appreciated by Disney!

Just piping in to say I concur.

 

[RHMH]

Quote:
Originally Posted by RHMH
IMO - people purchase DVC as an investment first and then look at it as a place to stay. Instead of investing in DVC, I decided to invest in Disney Stocks years ago. NOW!! there is only one primary thing you expect from this investment is to make money. Disney stock hit a few pennies over 80.00 last week... Maybe one day I can buy a house in Orlando. If anyone does not feel appreciated...... Let me say I appreciate everyone visiting Disney and I can honestly say HOME.

This exactly. DVC is not an investment I have heard all their pitches about how it is. If you know anything about investments you know it's not. If your looking for a real investment look else where. As for loyalty no offense to the DVC owners but your "perks" our not worth what you paid and continue to pay yearly. So OP I would stop worrying about any perceived perks. Whatever DVC members do get they deserve for signing those 40-50 year contracts.
**************************************************************************************************************
DVC is an investment [not in the traditional sense], if you lay out "x" amount of dollars and are able to to vacation for 40+ years; investment + dues you're ahead of the game within 10 years, depending upon your accommodations. As a stockholder, my annual dividend pays for our dues and our APs, and I have have some spending money left over. Investment's are not singular, but more how you bundle them to get the best ROI.

Respectfully a great point..and yes annual dividends do come in handy at times...

 

[RHMH]

We do not own DVC, we have thought about it before we decided to just buy a house in the area. We have been stationed down there and we just love the area...

As Deluxe resort snobs.... I really feel appreciated when I hear welcome home.

OMG Tink, you and I are all over the Dis - Board.... Have you heard from you Better Half?

 

[Networth]

Quote: Originally Posted by RHMH IMO - people purchase DVC as an investment first and then look at it as a place to stay. Instead of investing in DVC, I decided to invest in Disney Stocks years ago. NOW!! there is only one primary thing you expect from this investment is to make money. Disney stock hit a few pennies over 80.00 last week... Maybe one day I can buy a house in Orlando. If anyone does not feel appreciated...... Let me say I appreciate everyone visiting Disney and I can honestly say HOME. This exactly. DVC is not an investment I have heard all their pitches about how it is. If you know anything about investments you know it's not. If your looking for a real investment look else where. As for loyalty no offense to the DVC owners but your "perks" our not worth what you paid and continue to pay yearly. So OP I would stop worrying about any perceived perks. Whatever DVC members do get they deserve for signing those 40-50 year contracts. ************************************************************************************************************** DVC is an investment [not in the traditional sense], if you lay out "x" amount of dollars and are able to to vacation for 40+ years; investment + dues you're ahead of the game within 10 years, depending upon your accommodations. As a stockholder, my annual dividend pays for our dues and our APs, and I have have some spending money left over. Investment's are not singular, but more how you bundle them to get the best ROI.

That is not an investment. That is pre-paying for an expected vacations. You will never make a return on your DVC contract. You may lower the cost of a vacation but that does not make your contract an investment. You are buying into a timeshare. You do not "own" the unit in the same way you own a vacation condo. Yes it is deeded but it's time restricted and expires no other type of property investment has such an expiration. And yes you can rent out points or even sell the contract for some funds but that does not make buying the initial contract an investment.

The sales person will push you saying "We have almost sold all units than you won't be able to buy in yada yada" Yet the truth is their are always people selling contracts or renting points. DVC villas are even sold by Disney on a per night basis. I just dislike scheming sales men who tell these families they are buying an "investment in their future".

If DVC works for your families vacation needs that wonderful that's what it's for, to have a vacation. It is not a tool to make money which is why it's not an investment.

 

[bcrook]

DVC is a timeshare. You pay for your share of the property upfront and pay maintenance dues on your share. Do you realize how much dues would be if there were daily housekeeping included? DVC or Disney is not going to pay for that, you are the property owner, you are responsible for paying for the operating costs. Your contract was for accommodations, they owe nothing beyond that so any "perks" we get I consider a gift.

LOL! I have been using timeshares since 1980. I also mentioned that I have three different types of timeshares. I know how they work. My point was in response to the OP. We pay in advance for expensive vacations, we don't get any significant perks, and we do our own cleaning. It is a great deal for Disney.

Plus we really aren't "owners" in DVC but vacation club members. We have to turn our investment over to them in the future.

That being said, I am ok with my purchase. I really enjoy bringing large groups of people with me to Kidani. I am working my DVC as well as it can be worked. But I fully realize that I am being taken advantage of by Disney.

 

[bcrook]

That is not an investment. That is pre-paying for an expected vacations. You will never make a return on your DVC contract. You may lower the cost of a vacation but that does not make your contract an investment. You are buying into a timeshare. You do not "own" the unit in the same way you own a vacation condo. Yes it is deeded but it's time restricted and expires no other type of property investment has such an expiration. And yes you can rent out points or even sell the contract for some funds but that does not make buying the initial contract an investment.

The sales person will push you saying "We have almost sold all units than you won't be able to buy in yada yada" Yet the truth is their are always people selling contracts or renting points. DVC villas are even sold by Disney on a per night basis. I just dislike scheming sales men who tell these families they are buying an "investment in their future".

If DVC works for your families vacation needs that wonderful that's what it's for, to have a vacation. It is not a tool to make money which is why it's not an investment.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'm a DVC member since 2001. It's ironic to me that the poster complaining of all the perks DVC members get and that someone who goes to WDW a lot gets nothing because several years ago I called MS and complained about our lack of perks. During that time, Disney was offering all these great packages with great pricing on rooms/stays which included dining plans and park passes. We're always told there are new and better perks coming down the road but it never happens. If anything, things are taken away.

 

[doconeill]

I think it is semantics, but DVC can still be thought of as an investment of sorts - not one you'd expect to be worth more when you get rid of it, like most, but an investment against inflation, or if you aren't in the for the long term, hope that it loses less value on the resale market than the fraction you used.

I'm a DVC member since 2001. It's ironic to me that the poster complaining of all the perks DVC members get and that someone who goes to WDW a lot gets nothing because several years ago I called MS and complained about our lack of perks. During that time, Disney was offering all these great packages with great pricing on rooms/stays which included dining plans and park passes. We're always told there are new and better perks coming down the road but it never happens. If anything, things are taken away.

All those perks are to get people into the rooms. Something DVC has no problem doing. At best, they might offer incentives for people to visit at times that are currently less popular, but DVC has far less difficulty with that than CRO. And they already have the incentives in the form of points costs for the rooms.

 

[AmyB2006]

Am I missing all these super cool perks that I'm supposed to be getting as a DVC member?

I'm right there with you. Lol

 

[DebbieB]

I'm a DVC member since 2001. It's ironic to me that the poster complaining of all the perks DVC members get and that someone who goes to WDW a lot gets nothing because several years ago I called MS and complained about our lack of perks. During that time, Disney was offering all these great packages with great pricing on rooms/stays which included dining plans and park passes. We're always told there are new and better perks coming down the road but it never happens. If anything, things are taken away.

I don't think longtime DVC members realize how much Disney room rates have gone up. Due to a work schedule conflict, I had to change dates on a trip last November. I couldn't get a points room at BWV, so while I waitlisted I got a 35% off AP rate for a studio. It was $284 a night with tax! That's the "great pricing"? Luckily I was able to get the room via stalking the reservation website and waitlist. 20 points a night. So 20 points a night vs $284 with an AP rate. Could have got the free dining for $437 a night (full price room) plus I would have had to buy a separate ticket for 2 days (already had AP). Sure, rates for values & moderates are cheaper but you aren't getting the same room or location. Really depends on what you want. If you are happy with a value or moderate, then DVC is probably not for you.

What has been taken away besides free valet parking?

 

[PoohsFan1]

Funny how you mentioned the "Welcome Home" part. That bothers me too. And now I am seeing it at Wyndham and BlueGreen vacation clubs too. I don't even know who started it, but I liked it best when it was connected to my DVC stays.

This bothers me a bit too, I don't know why but it just does. "Welcome Home" has always been associated with DVC and before we were members I used to think how nice it was that DVC owners were welcomed home because, well, they are at their home away from home. So when we became DVC members ourselves (in 2010) I was really excited to hear it coming from the CMs but a bit disappointed that they were telling that to everyone who checked in. And what was even stranger to me was when my girls and I went to Gatlingburg Tennessee with my parents last March (they own a Timeshare there), my parents were checking in and right as we got to the front desk, the woman said "Welcome Home" to us.

 

[wendybeth75]

I have not really noticed it either. We took the plunge and bought the AP this year and it seems as though AP holders get a lot of similar perks. Now DVC members get the discount on the AP, but I think because of the commitment they have made, they deserve that discount. We are considering DVC, but only for the reason that it may make financial sense, not for the extra "perks"

 

[Planogirl]

This bothers me a bit too, I don't know why but it just does. "Welcome Home" has always been associated with DVC and before we were members I used to think how nice it was that DVC owners were welcomed home because, well, they are at their home away from home. So when we became DVC members ourselves (in 2010) I was really excited to hear it coming from the CMs but a bit disappointed that they were telling that to everyone who checked in. And what was even stranger to me was when my girls and I went to Gatlingburg Tennessee with my parents last March (they own a Timeshare there), my parents were checking in and right as we got to the front desk, the woman said "Welcome Home" to us.

You hear it on the Disney buses as you pull up to the resorts too. I admit that I like it.

 

[Postal68]

Are there any other people out there who are loyal, frequent Disney visitors who feel unappreciated by Disney because they aren't DVC members? I really love Disney World. My first trip to WDW was in 1972 when I was 1 year old and there was only 1 park and a few hotels. I have stayed at more than a dozen Disney properties since then totaling somewhere between 200 and 300 nights. Three out of the last four years, I've taken my family of 4 on non Disney cruises out of Florida and all 3 times we've stopped off at WDW for 4 or 5 nights at the Contemporary with park hopping passes and the dining plan. It seems like more and more Disney is giving DVC members extra perks to make their program more appealing. I don't want to sign up for a vacation club because it locks me down too much, but isn't my yearly $5000 contribution significant? What would you think of a loyalty program similar to what the cruise lines have? Disney could track park visits and on sight hotel stays to determine membership levels. Once you reach certain levels they could send you invitations to events like they do with DVC members and could also offer discounts or upgrades to loyal visitors. Sorry for the long rant.

I don't know where you're getting your info or your observation from. In my opinion Disney doesn't offer any incentive that makes me want to buy into their vacation club. Years ago when my Aunt bought she used to get Park passes for the length of stay for each week of her stay. Now THAT would be an incentive. I don't see a single thing offered by DVC that makes me want to buy into it or gives me an advantage compared if I was a guest that was booked as a guest at one of the resorts.

 

[king kamehameha]

At our last stay at Beach Club I had an eye opening experience. We went down to the pool where they were having a make your own Mickey tye dye t-shirt activity, which had a fee attached. It wasn't a problem that there was a fee, but when I went to pay, they asked me if I was part of DVC, when I said no they added two dollars to the price! It bothered me then and it bothers me now. I feel like I was penalized because I wasn't part of the "club". It left me with a sour taste and I don't feel the same way about Disney anymore. That was just one of too many things that have changed for the worse so we are now looking at other vacation options. I'm not saying they owe us anything but they do cater to DVC because it makes them a boatload of money. Oh well....moving on. There are many more places to go in this world. You can see by our ticker that we don't hate Disney, This trip will be our last for a while.

 

[bcrook]

At our last stay at Beach Club I had an eye opening experience. We went down to the pool where they were having a make your own Mickey tye dye t-shirt activity, which had a fee attached. It wasn't a problem that there was a fee, but when I went to pay, they asked me if I was part of DVC, when I said no they added two dollars to the price! It bothered me then and it bothers me now. I feel like I was penalized because I wasn't part of the "club". It left me with a sour taste and I don't feel the same way about Disney anymore. That was just one of too many things that have changed for the worse so we are now looking at other vacation options. I'm not saying they owe us anything but they do cater to DVC because it makes them a boatload of money. Oh well....moving on. There are many more places to go in this world. You can see by our ticker that we don't hate Disney, This trip will be our last for a while.

I could see how that would make you feel that way. Just curious was the tye dye experience at storm along bay or the DVC pool - Dunes Cove?

Must timeshares are fairly secluded and when "guests" stay at the resort, they realize it is run by a homeowners association. At Disney the "homeowner" association (and I use that loosely) or DVC resorts and hotel components are mixed up together sharing the same amenities. This is one of the reasons that DVC isn't anything more than member funded development.