What are the Benefits of DVC???

[Jenngoofys]

We just joined and so far all I can find are negatives?

1. No Mousekeeping everyday - aka no towel animals :-(
2. Pay in full for DDP at time of booking
3. Pay in full for DCL instead of a deposit, cash and points paid at time of booking.
4. People who book the same resort at the same time I do with free dining get a better deal. (actually my DVC agent did the math)
5. I dont get to book when I want I have to wait for a window to open up - aka 11 months or 7 months
6. after waiting for my window to open up im not guaranteed the rooms availability I may get put onto a waiting list??
7. points go up every year so eventually the points i purchased wont be enough I will have to purchase more at a higher rate than I have now.
8. $95.00 fee for anything Disney doesnt own so there goes any savings you might get and get this they dont own their own Cruise line!!
9. Buses come less often (as compared to value resorts) so I would assume they would be more crowded.


SO what exactly am I paying for if I dont have a guarantee of a room when I want to stay and my room doesnt get cleaned every day?
There doesnt seem to be any positives? We are hoping to find some so Please if you have any to offer please do so.

 

[mousefan1972]

Why did you join if all you can find are negatives? None of those things are secrets, and if you had done adequate research, you would have known before you purchased that perhaps DVC isn't for you.

Also, # 7 is completely incorrect. Points do NOT go up every year. Each resorts points are fixed, although Disney does have the ability to reallocate them as they see fit. So if points increase somewhere on the point chart, they have to decrease somewhere else to offset.

As to the rest.... I'm sorry you feel that way. We love our DVC. I personally don't give a hoot about towel animals, nor do my kids. We actually prefer to not have someone in our room every day. In 30 years, will you still think Free Dining is a better deal? If you stay at Pop Century, perhaps. No thanks. I'll take my 1 BR at BLT anyday.

 

[Brian Noble]

You are getting a very nice effective discount on Deluxe-level lodging at Moderate-level prices, or 1BR Villa lodging at Deluxe-level hotel room prices. That's kind of nice.

Also, your #7 is not true. Points can be reallocated, but the total number of points required to book the resort have to remain the same. The *cost-per-point* goes up (generally), but not the number of points required.

However, if you bought DVC to use for DCL, or anything Disney doesn't own, or are comparing to Value-class lodging, (and you are still in your rescission period), you should probably rescind now and buy again when you know what it is you are buying.

 

[southerngirl1014]

Well I just joined and there are a couple things I like.
1. Actually I have only stayed at deluxe resorts when going to Disney and I did not wait very long for buses. That and most of the Deluxe resorts have more then one option for transportation (boat/bus and sometimes monorail)
2. While you have to play for DDP when you arrange for it I am waiting to say I want until a couple months after I book my place to stay. You have 48 hours before your trip to decide DDP so you can wait a while to pay for it.
3. I love the fact I don't have to figure in my room payment when I do a trip. For instance I am able to take my parents, sister, BIL and niece this Decemember. I would NEVER be able to afford it without DVC.
4. I plan on buying an AP since its discounted which helps encourage me to go to Disney more then once in a year!
5. Although I love to try different resorts I picked BLT as my home resort because I am pretty much guarenteed I can be there if I plan 11 months out. I love it there and would be more then fine with only staying there.

I guess you really have to weigh the pros and cons and if you think the cons out weigh the good then maybe resell? My DH and I turn to each other every time a Disney commercial comes on and say we are glad we own. But that was a choice that was right for us. We liked being able to stay in Deluxe resorts and being able to allow our family to go to Disney too (and maybe get some extra cash from it if we charge them!)

Hopefully you are able to enjoy your choice or change if you feel its not right for you.

 

[Lynne M]

I don't mean this unkindly, but it sounds from your questions as if you bought without much knowledge of what DVC is and how it works. Can I ask why you bought? What you were hoping to get from your DVC membership? Knowing your expectations, we can help you figure out if it will work for you.

Are you still within the cancellation period? I think you might want to consider cancelling the contract, and then doing lots of reading until you're sure you understand the ins and outs of DVC. It's a really good value for some people, not so much for others. It really depends on how you're planning to use it and what your expectations are.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Disneyfiles Magazine makes it all worthwhile.

HBC

 

[hakepb]

I stayed at values prior to DVC and I always thought bus service at the DVC resorts was better than values. Plus DVC resorts have bus stops a little closer to the park entrances. From what I see, Values regularly have huuuuuge lines at the parks, and a line longer than a bus load rarely happens @ DVC.

But, since I get an annual itemized budget for my ownership, including the exact amount I am paying for transportation, I expect more than good, I expect great

 

[Starr W.]

Disneyfiles Magazine makes it all worthwhile.

HBC

I'll remember that when I'm paying the MF's.

 

[mybabesuz]

We just joined and so far all I can find are negatives?

1. No Mousekeeping everyday - aka no towel animals :-(
We still get towel animals;we like not having daily maid service, I bet you will too after you get used to it
2. Pay in full for DDP at time of booking
We pay less for the DDP during peak times and don't need to buy park tickets
3.Pay in full for DCL instead of a deposit, cash and points paid at time of booking.???
4. People who book the same resort at the same time I do with free dining get a better deal. (actually my DVC agent did the math)
We actually did the math too and DVC was a better deal for us. We booked $15000 worth of rooms our first year of DVC.
Paid for itself by the second year!
5. I dont get to book when I want I have to wait for a window to open up - aka 11 months or 7 months
I would say that falls in the range when most people book their vacation.
6. after waiting for my window to open up im not guaranteed the rooms availability I may get put onto a waiting list??
It is not the norm to not get what you want at 11 months. I think waitlists come through more often than not
7. points go up every year so eventually the points i purchased wont be enough I will have to purchase more at a higher rate than I have now.
points do not go up every year. Points got moved around to even out the days of the week. Weekends used to be double the points of a weekday.
8. $95.00 fee for anything Disney doesnt own so there goes any savings you might get and get this they dont own their own Cruise line!!
As with most timeshares there is a fee. DVC is not really for people who don't want to go to Disney. This is a known fact.
9. Buses come less often (as compared to value resorts) so I would assume they would be more crowded.
We have never had any problems with bus service. The bus stops are closer to the park gates. Less walking...


SO what exactly am I paying for if I dont have a guarantee of a room when I want to stay and my room doesnt get cleaned every day?
There doesnt seem to be any positives? We are hoping to find some so Please if you have any to offer please do so.

If all you are looking for is a cheap value vacation in a small room or to stay in studios every trip, DVC is not for you. But if you price out the 1 and 2-bedroom villas with a full kitchen and a washer and dryer and don't forget the KING size bed and our own bedroom and the Jaccuzzi Tub... DVC is worth every penny.
We love our DVC...

 

[Jenngoofys]

Thank you all for your corrections on 7. I guess it is just the DCL points that change. Sorry.
We do Disney every year. Our Vacation schedule for the next 3 years includes an 10 night stay at WDW August 2011. Disney's Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy in 2012, and a 5 night stay in DLR Nov 2013.
We find that the price per point makes the Cruise and DLR well worth it, but at WDW as long as they offer the free meal plans that deal is better.
We decided to buy into the DVC because I was ready to start being pampered a bit more at a better hotel. Have a better hotel at relatively the same price. Yes there are about a billion questions we asked and researched.
However who in their right mind would imagine no housekeeping? For real? When im on vacation I dont want to cook, make beds or clean that is not a vacation.
So when we purchased our DVC it was after a tour in October 2010 and then more research and then another DVC presentation while on a Disney Cruise in December 2010. We did the math and read Disboards and asked many questions and to be honest when asked we got lied to straight out by the lady we bought from because she said and I quote " we offer free dining to our DVC members at different times". Which I have asked around member services a couple different times and have been told no they do not.
Bottom line we bought into DVC because we wanted more for our $$. We want to stay in the nicer hotels, but would like to be treated as a regular paying guest as we are Paying and have made a commitment to Disney for many years to come. Why should we get less than a regular guest? Again I ask what are the Benefits? I want to hear what makes DVC your choice?

 

[aggiemullins]

We just joined and so far all I can find are negatives?

1. No Mousekeeping everyday - aka no towel animals :-(
2. Pay in full for DDP at time of booking
3. Pay in full for DCL instead of a deposit, cash and points paid at time of booking.
4. People who book the same resort at the same time I do with free dining get a better deal. (actually my DVC agent did the math)
5. I dont get to book when I want I have to wait for a window to open up - aka 11 months or 7 months
6. after waiting for my window to open up im not guaranteed the rooms availability I may get put onto a waiting list??
7. points go up every year so eventually the points i purchased wont be enough I will have to purchase more at a higher rate than I have now.
8. $95.00 fee for anything Disney doesnt own so there goes any savings you might get and get this they dont own their own Cruise line!!
9. Buses come less often (as compared to value resorts) so I would assume they would be more crowded.


SO what exactly am I paying for if I don't have a guarantee of a room when I want to stay and my room doesnt get cleaned every day?
There doesnt seem to be any positives? We are hoping to find some so Please if you have any to offer please do so.

Well I don't know about the bus thing, i've never had too much problem with it, but I think you're over thinking everything else. About the one big negative is that if your resort is anything other then SSR then you have to prior plan a little as everything but SSR is typically booked by about 3 to 4 months out.

I personally kind of like having to plan far out as it forces me to always have a vacation in the works.

As for DCL, its a little known fact that you're usually better off renting your points out and using the rental money to pay cash for your ressie as the point transfer value stinks for DCL.

I've run the numbers many times for friends looking to rent points and if you give your points a yearly value of $10 per point, (which isn't hard to get on here or through our illustrious sponser's rental website) apples for apples, it's about half the cost as going cash through Disney, free DDP or not. There might be those one or two times where Disney is hurting so bad that you MIGHT get a one time better deal but as the economy gets better, that certainly won't be the case anymore.

Now you don't get the towel animals anymore, but I agree with the previous poster who said they appreciate not having someone in their room everyday.

Over the course of your 50 year contract, you will definitely save money though. I'll forgo the daily cleaning for that.

 

[Jenngoofys]

I stayed at values prior to DVC and I always thought bus service at the DVC resorts was better than values. Plus DVC resorts have bus stops a little closer to the park entrances. From what I see, Values regularly have huuuuuge lines at the parks, and a line longer than a bus load rarely happens @ DVC.

But, since I get an annual itemized budget for my ownership, including the exact amount I am paying for transportation, I expect more than good, I expect great

Thank you this is what I want to hear closer bus stops shorter lines at the bus stop that is Great We stayed at values all the time I want the pampering the better resorts offer.
From what I remember faster boarding on Magical express at the airport too Im really sorry to have offended some of you I know you Love DVC just tell me why please.
What are the advantages we get for the stuff we have to give up?

 

[mousefan1972]

I think part of the problem is that you are expecting "pampering" (your word), however DVC is designed to be your home away from home. In fact, for a short time the DVC Villas were categorized as "Home Away From Home" by Disney. At home I make my bed in the morning, hang up my towel after I shower, and generally pick up after myself, hubby and our 2 kids. I do the same in our villa. We don't clean per se, nor do we cook (unless you call eating cereal in the am cooking), but we do tidy up since we are not slobs at home.

If you are used to daily housekeeping, towel animals, and free dining at a value resort, DVC is going to be a very, very different vacation for you. Only you can decide if that is good or bad. For us, it is one of the best things we ever did.

 

[ToddyLu]

Good things I love about DVC and make it worth it to us.

1. Seeing animals out my window--we had only done values and would have never paid cash for a $3500 SV studio for 9-10 nights. We have had 4 studios with SV to the tune of $14,000 since we purchased in 2009.
2. No more vending machine ice or drinks.
3. As much Disani water as the fridge will hold, without buying it in the parks
4. "Welcome Homes"
5. Telling people I have a timeshare on Disney Property when they are interested in where we stay.
6. Bus stop 3 instead of 13
7. Covered bus stop
8. AP with $100 discount
9. Sofa beside my bed, plasma TV
10. Free laundry
11. Able to treat parents to trips
12. Go to Dsiney more often
13. Able to make cool tickers on the DIS
14. Trasported to Africa and Disney all in one trip
15. Cool CMs from South Africa
16. Fire pit with cool stories
17. More refined quiet surroundings
18. Fine pool
19. Terrific bus service when compared to Values
20. Competely changes my trips to Disney like a Corvett would change your drive to work.
21. Microwave in my room for snacks
22. Toaster for bagels in the a.m.
23. Larger bathroom

DH will not go on a cruise and will not give up his Citizenship to do so--his issue not mine. DH does not like to travel--Disney is perfect for him--Europe in a day. I mean it is a world class resort. The amenities of AKV and the friendly Welcome Home makes me feel like a princess, but then I only had to UP from values when we purchased DVC. DDP doesn't really save us money and we get the TIW card with our APs.

The OP post reminded me of purchasing a Ferrari then upset about the cost of gas and the fact it only holds two people. I mean to each his own and I wish there were some way I could make you feel good about your purchase the way we do.....Free Dinning will dry up at some point, and I will still have DVC.

 

[ToddyLu]

Just think OP you have what I have and probably more

 

[DebbieB]

I bought DVC because I love the 1 bedrooms. The rack rate is about $500 per night. When I bought, I was going twice a year for 5 or 6 nights. Even with discounts, that really adds up. Back in 1999, discounts were rarely more than 20%. Even at 40% off you are talking $300 a night. My initial purchase for 250 points ($14,750) is long paid off, I'm paying dues of about $1300 a year ($111 per month). Only once in 11 years was I not able to get a reservation I wanted and that was when I called 3 weeks in advance for a Sunday night in mid-October.

 

[southerngirl1014]

Well at any other time share you would have to make your own bed and clean up after yourself. And at time shares in say Key West or even Orlando you do not even have options like transportation to theme parks (granted this is just Disney places but still).

I think the problem is that you are looking at it as buying into a Disney resort versus buying a vacation/time share in Disney.

I think the value and the ability to go multiple times a year with great affordability is wonderful. I only ever wanted to stay in Deluxe resorts, especially seeing the lines and tons of children for the buses every time I looked at value resort stops. It really has to be a personal thing. To me I would rather be able to take my family to Disney and go multiple times a year versus have some towel animals and not have to make my bed.
However that is a personal choice.

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you all for your corrections on 7. I guess it is just the DCL points that change. Sorry.
We do Disney every year. Our Vacation schedule for the next 3 years includes an 10 night stay at WDW August 2011. Disney's Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy in 2012, and a 5 night stay in DLR Nov 2013.
We find that the price per point makes the Cruise and DLR well worth it, but at WDW as long as they offer the free meal plans that deal is better.
We decided to buy into the DVC because I was ready to start being pampered a bit more at a better hotel. Have a better hotel at relatively the same price. Yes there are about a billion questions we asked and researched.
However who in their right mind would imagine no housekeeping? For real? When im on vacation I dont want to cook, make beds or clean that is not a vacation.
So when we purchased our DVC it was after a tour in October 2010 and then more research and then another DVC presentation while on a Disney Cruise in December 2010. We did the math and read Disboards and asked many questions and to be honest when asked we got lied to straight out by the lady we bought from because she said and I quote " we offer free dining to our DVC members at different times". Which I have asked around member services a couple different times and have been told no they do not.
Bottom line we bought into DVC because we wanted more for our $$. We want to stay in the nicer hotels, but would like to be treated as a regular paying guest as we are Paying and have made a commitment to Disney for many years to come. Why should we get less than a regular guest? Again I ask what are the Benefits? I want to hear what makes DVC your choice?

I think part of the misunderstanding is that timeshare stays are much different than a hotel stay.

As far as free dining, it is really too bad that your guide mislead you in this area.

But here's how the numbers work for me. Based on what I paid, and my yearly MF's, I will have invested about $33,000 in my DVC ownership over the next 15 years.

That puts my average cost at $2200/yr. and allows me 6 nights a year, in the summer, in a 1 bedroom villa (more if I ever travel in a lower points season or a lot more if I book studios).

Those same 6 nights would cost me around $3200, if I paid rack rate, for my typical CR tower room. Of course, no one really ever pays rack rate, so let's assume, I get a 30% discount. Now, my room cost has just been reduced to about that same $2200.

What I have now done is guaranteed myself a 30% discount for 15 years and I have given myself a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom!!!

Obviously, I plan to own DVC for a lot longer than 15 years so when you consider that, my discount works out to be even more.

I know that some would argue the figures and as with everything, you can make numbers say what you want.

DVC really allowed us to buy ourselves and our children/grandchildren a great vacation future at the happiest place on earth.

Some of the other aspects you mention as cons are not to us. I LOVE not having to worry about someone coming in my room each day. It was so nice not having to make sure everything was locked up tight. Honestly, I don't need a perfectly made bed each night--I don't have one at home all the time so having pulled up covers works for me. Throwing in a set of towels after a few days is no big deal. And, with a studio, I could an entire new set for only $6 which would more than hold me over until trash and towel day.

As far as the towel animals, we never really got them much as cash guests so not something we miss. We also use a rental car to get around the world so any issues with busses and waits I can not comment on.

 

[photobob]

I think part of the misunderstanding is that timeshare stays are much different than a hotel stay.

As far as free dining, it is really too bad that your guide mislead you in this area.

But here's how the numbers work for me. Based on what I paid, and my yearly MF's, I will have invested about $33,000 in my DVC ownership over the next 15 years.

That puts my average cost at $2200/yr. and allows me 6 nights a year, in the summer, in a 1 bedroom villa (more if I ever travel in a lower points season or a lot more if I book studios).

Those same 6 nights would cost me around $3200, if I paid rack rate, for my typical CR tower room. Of course, no one really ever pays rack rate, so let's assume, I get a 30% discount. Now, my room cost has just been reduced to about that same $2200.

What I have now done is guaranteed myself a 30% discount for 15 years and I have given myself a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom!!!

Obviously, I plan to own DVC for a lot longer than 15 years so when you consider that, my discount works out to be even more.

I know that some would argue the figures and as with everything, you can make numbers say what you want.

DVC really allowed us to buy ourselves and our children/grandchildren a great vacation future at the happiest place on earth.

Some of the other aspects you mention as cons are not to us. I LOVE not having to worry about someone coming in my room each day. It was so nice not having to make sure everything was locked up tight. Honestly, I don't need a perfectly made bed each night--I don't have one at home all the time so having pulled up covers works for me. Throwing in a set of towels after a few days is no big deal. And, with a studio, I could an entire new set for only $6 which would more than hold me over until trash and towel day.

As far as the towel animals, we never really got them much as cash guests so not something we miss. We also use a rental car to get around the world so any issues with busses and waits I can not comment on.

I agree with your reasons, they mirror mine.

In addition:

Space is the big thing. The more we go the more time we have spent in the villa. I like having the comfort of lounging in a room that has more than just two beds in it. When staying in a 1 or 2 BDR it's also nice for my DW to take a nap in the bedroom while I watch TV in the living room area without bothering her.

We make use of the full kitchen, great use of the full size fridge and my wife really likes having the w/d. It allows us to take less clothes and come home with little laundry to do.

You can find more space at cheaper prices but it requires staying offsite which isn't what we want to do. If I can't stay onsite I'd rather not go. As far as housekeeping service everyday, I'd just as soon not have it instead of worrying about locking everything up when I leave the room.

 

[Donna M]

space -- living room, 2 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms
kitchen-- with everything you need
washer and dryer-- packing less clothes means a carrry-on suitcase
multiple resorts-- choice of great theming and locations
cheaper-- we would never pay that much to stay there
flexibility--we stay one night or over a week
able to bring along extended family and friends without paying more


Plus, there's the emotional side; just being a part of 'it' is special.