What don't you like about the DVC?

[FLYNZ4]

To me, as a new DVC owner... the banking process seems convoluted and more complex than necessary.

I think you should be able to bank a year's credits up till the end of your use year. This would make the concept of a "use year" a less important decision, and would reduce the complexity of the system.

I will also get ready to be flammed here... but I would create designated smoking areas at each resort, and make all of the condos non-smoking. I was really surprised to see that they still allow smoking. It seems that most condo associations have banned smoking... or are in the process of banning it as far as I can tell.

/Jim

 

[gopherit]

To the OP -- I can relate to the house taking priority. We were all set to do a DVCadd-on when termites took up residence in our abode. A homeowner's gotta do what a homeowner's gotta do, I guess! Use the coming timeframe to really explore -- including resales.

In fact, that is probably one thing I would do differently, given the chance -- I would "go resale". We didn't get a choice on resort when we bought in '99 and I think we would have gladly taken an OKW resale.

I think one thing with DVC is that it's so easy to get caught up in the "points, points, gotta have more points" race and lose sight of what you really "need". Each point costs money upfront but also dues -- annually -- and a person only has so much vacation time (at least, in my and dh's line of work, anyway!) So you need to use those points. Each trip comes with far more costs than just a roof over your head -- travel, ever-increasing park ticket prices, food, entertainment, etc. When you calculate the "cost" of DVC, you have to be sure you reflect all those issues in your budget.

I guess our main issue with DVC is that we don't always feel so "magical" -- or at least, no moreso than anyone who booked a vacation from WDW travel or their agent. Lots of CMs are grossly uneducated on DVC -- just TRY to work with this Magical Gatherings program as a DVCer and see what I mean. No real ticket perks for DVC... well, let's face it, no real perks at all. I just don't consider 10% a big "perk" when it barely covers Florida sales tax! So where's the magic / love.... Of course I have issues with the Disney company as a whole having lost a fair chunk of magic -- their animation and movies have really suffered as of late (Home on Range was PITIFUL), and the Disney Stores -- well, don't EVEN get me started on those. They did away with Disney Club and thought giving us a plain ol' credit card was a good substitute. Yeah.. right.

On the other hand, I should be very emphatic as I state that in spite of all this, I really do love my DVC, and could spend more than just a paragraph or two counting the many ways. I guess Disney must know that, so if I am their "cash-cow", as has been said before, well.... Moo.

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_3_109.gif' alt='Cow' border=0></a>

Good luck with your decisions down the road....

 

[goofyguy1958]

Thanks for all your help and suggestions everyone. Now I have one last question, does anyone know how I can contact (a phone number) someone at DVC to get my $500 deposit back? I have made repeated calls to Dave the rep we were dealing with and he has yet to reply. This is very unfortunate as now I would have a really hard time commiting to joining the DVC once our home repairs/expenses were taken care of.

 

[Steve BWV'99]

I love my DVC membership! I think the only negative is not for it to end in 2042 I would love to pass it off to my children.

 

[JimC]

Dean - I thought your suggested changes much earlier in the post were interesting and ones I would support. However, as we only own at DVC and have never traded outside of the Disney collection, I do not understand the issues around a change in II relationship or developing BVTC (Buena Vista Trading Company?) into a separate exchange company. Would you expand on those?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by JimC
Dean - I thought your suggested changes much earlier in the post were interesting and ones I would support. However, as we only own at DVC and have never traded outside of the Disney collection, I do not understand the issues around a change in II relationship or developing BVTC (Buena Vista Trading Company?) into a separate exchange company. Would you expand on those?

Obviously some are more beneficial thaqn others and some directed at dues mostly. DVC members are not II membersw. DVC has a corportate membership. IF DVC members were direct members there would be more choices and options but more cost potentially. It would work better for those who trade routinely but worse for one who wanted to trade every few years. BVCT is the part that does points trades directly with Club Intrawest and Cordial group. IT would be fairly swimplet to forge alliances and operate a private exchagne company.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If I understand the membership in II correctly, an individual membership thru DVC means that I could also deposit my Marriott weeks, too, wouldn't it? That would really be a nice benefit for those of us who own other timeshares.

I wouldn't like to see the 11/7 window change, since it really would restrict all of us to stays at our own resort only, a real deviation from the "flexibility" concept that attracted most of us in the first place. As a BWV member, I would benefit in one sense, since BWV is a popular resort, but the trade-off isn't worth it.

Just my $0.02

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville

SNIP.......
I wouldn't like to see the 11/7 window change, since it really would restrict all of us to stays at our own resort only, a real deviation from the "flexibility" concept that attracted most of us in the first place. As a BWV member, I would benefit in one sense, since BWV is a popular resort, but the trade-off isn't worth it.

Just my $0.02

It is so interesting to see how different DVC members regard their membership. For us, a change in the booking window which would result in the much more favorable advantage to a DVC member at their home resort-----would be our ideal situation.!!

 

[FanofDis]

My biggest complaint is that there is no annual pass discount for DVC members!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
If I understand the membership in II correctly, an individual membership thru DVC means that I could also deposit my Marriott weeks, too, wouldn't it? That would really be a nice benefit for those of us who own other timeshares.

I wouldn't like to see the 11/7 window change, since it really would restrict all of us to stays at our own resort only, a real deviation from the "flexibility" concept that attracted most of us in the first place. As a BWV member, I would benefit in one sense, since BWV is a popular resort, but the trade-off isn't worth it.

Just my $0.02

I'm sure an individual membership would be at our own expense but you could combine with Marriott if that was the case and you'd only have one membership.

Remember the home resort window could go UP or DOWN. As you noted, there is a small trade off either way. The advantage of a shorter home resort window, say the 11/10 that was on the books to start with, means that planners will have a better advantage at all resorts. I don't think the window could go below the 11/7 currently in place wihtout a vote. The only difference if it were shorter, would be that the non planners would come into play more and that some people might give up on a non home resort more often. But overall, there would be little difference no matter what the home resort window at least for planners.

 

[bray]

We will be using our membership for the very first time this week. I can't wait. One thing that I would like to see is more discounts for DVC members--especially annual passes.

However, that is all that I can say at this point.

 

[Bmwdsny]

I LOVE my DVC and we added on 5 times!!
The only beef i have is that i wish they would give tickets discounts to Parks.
Also, i wish the 1 BR would sleep 6. The studio sleep 4, the 2 BR sleep 8, so it really forces lot of people with a family of 5 or 6 to have a 2 BR. .

 

[yasuern]

I LOVE EVERTHING ABOUT DVC AND WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP FOR NOTHING!


Okay that said - The more points you have the more the taxes and yearly fees are - we have 700pts 300 VWL and 400 OKW and its like a 2 mortgage payments when they are due each year!

And if you look at the units like you live there fulltime every little thing ie:missing one fork slight and I mean VERY SLIGHT noticable wear on the traffic path of the carpets in a unit a scratch on the fridge door - these LITTLE things may bother some - not me - I don't LIVE there - my house is worse .

I stayed my 1st 3 WDW vacations at the ALL-STAR resorts -2x at MOvies 1x at Music - and our 1st trip HOME to OKW - HEAVEN!!!! to have a kitchen, washer&dryer, patio/deck, seperate bdrm (1bdrm and larger units) was worth it alone!

DVc has increased our joy of vacationing100x over - at the end of a long day in the park(or what ever you did) its nice to have space places to sit without sitting on a bed. VERY RELAXING! Oh and having the VERY large jacuzzi IS GREAT!

We vacation more - I mean if you have points - once paid - its like free accommadations so its just getting there and if you LOVE wdw annual passes are the way to go (or Premium APs). And the way we tour WDW is different - we know we are going to be back so when in the parks its very relaxed - we don't have a hr to hr schedule! NO PRESSURE!


I can't say enough good things about DVC - WE truly love it!


Sue

 

[gtrist4life]

So far (owners for about 10-11 months), no major complaints.

I agree with other posts about not caring for the inflationary tendency of DC and DCL point requirements and would like to see a deflationary trend. (This did happen with the moderates last year......Cmon Jim Lewis I know you can do it!!)

Speaking of Jim, I look forward to seeing him and his team walk the talk.

Did Goofyguy get his deposit back???

Peace
G4L

 

[OneMoreTry]

I'm sorry I didn't read all the posts, but wanted to give my view.

On this last trip I realized my kids were tired of "attractions." (Except for the 6yo.) We stayed at BWV, which we loved, but I realized that our next trip to Orlando would probably involve as much off property stuff as on property. So we will probably stay at OKW or SSR (to try it out). Our home is OKW.

In choosing a home resort, think about future as well as present.


Otherwise I think the "don't likes" would be the same as any time share. You've got to trade out to stay outside of DVC. You take a risk buying into it, whatever you calculate that risk might be.


I don't want to end on a negative, so i will say I love DVC and for us the positives outweigh any downside.

 

[goofyguy1958]

gtrist4life, goofyguy1958 here. No, I have not gotten my deposit back yet. However, Dave did call me on Saturday and advised me to write a note to DVC and my Disney Visa will be credited. I will let you know what happens after I send out the letter tomorrow.

By the way, I found out that the replacement of the heating and cooling system will be a bit higher than thought, like between 12 and 15K.

 

[Desperado]

What I don't like about DVC is the poor trade value of DVC points for cruises, consierge collection hotels, and other non-DVC resort accomodations and activities. The point structure for these activities should be more favorable to DVC members. A cruise costs too many points! So do most of the stays in the hotels!

 

[goofyguy1958]

Well, I got my first quote on a new HVAC system today. As I opened the envelope I could actually hear the money being sucked in. The quote is actually a little less than the tech thought, but I could still take DW, DD and DS on 2 & 1/2 more 7 day cruises - $13,000 - or buy 150 points at SSR. Oh well, maybe next year when we visit WDW......

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Desperado
What I don't like about DVC is the poor trade value of DVC points for cruises, consierge collection hotels, and other non-DVC resort accomodations and activities. The point structure for these activities should be more favorable to DVC members. A cruise costs too many points! So do most of the stays in the hotels!

I'm afraid the current value is about as good as it is going to get for the options where DVC actually pays cash for. The only way this will become more favorable is if DVC can get a better contract price. The only way I see this happening is if DVC gets tough and is willing to walk away from a deal unless they get what they want. And I suspect most members aren't willing to lose options, even if the price remains too high.

 

[goofyguy1958]

A little update. It has been about two weeks since sending the officail cancelation notice and still no credit for the $500 deposit. I am starting to get concerned and more than a little angry. I saw that the original deposit posted to my credit card within 24 hours, why then is it taking so long for the credit to post? The taste is becoming more and more bitter.......