What Influenced Your Decision to Join DVC as a UK Member?

[DJRUK]

As UK DVC members (or soon-to-be ones!), we all probably have different reasons for taking the plunge. Beyond the poll options, what made you decide to buy in? And now that you’re a member, has it lived up to your expectations?

For us (hopefully passing ROFR soon on our RIV contract ), it was all about getting deluxe resort stays for a similar price to what we’d usually pay elsewhere!

 

[McCrae]

We bought BLT in 2009 due to its location. Prior to that we usually stayed at GF. The BLT location, size of rooms and reasonable pricing all swung it for us. At that time Disney estimated a 7 year pay back period. We are well beyond that point now.

 

[Ruttangel]

The offers on deluxe rooms with free DDP used to be good but prices are insane now
I’ve been staying for 2 weeks using about 200-250 points and then renting out about 100 I own to get some funds back
It’s worked well so far, got to stay at PVB/VGF/BWV/BCV and our favourite resort AKV
We do have extras so can pop into DVC lounges like TOTW/Epcot/DS and new one at MK this year
We did a Moonlight Magic at HS last year which was pretty cool
Ultimately though cost savings main driver for us

Good luck with your purchase, RIV will defo pass ROFR

 

[Minniesgal]

For me it was simply that since we have joined DVC at the end of a trip it’s not so hard to leave as we know we will always be back

It certainly wasn’t cost savings as having DVC has absolutely lead to us spending more we have taken many trips we would t have taken without it

 

[cheryl.UK]

As you can see from my signature, we go a lot and prefer to stay on site. Since our first contract in 2006, wI don't think we have 'paid ' for a single Disney hotel room except in 2012 when we got married and spent 4 night at the GF. We chose DVC because we could see the potential for saving $$$. Some of the US members use fancy spreadsheets to show that there is no real saving but they are not comparing like for like in my opinion and they also take into account discounts that are harder for us in the UK to achieve.

Let's just take my next trip. We have 410 points in 3 contracts (150 +160 at SSR and 100 at BLT) + 80 BLT points banked

9 nights at BLT, studio
6 nights at BCV, 1 bed
8 nights at OKW , Studio

I still have 49 BLT points to bank. I checked on the WDW website and this came to £16,000. That's right £16,000. My husband likens my ability to eek out our points to the loaves and fishes.

We rented out our points last year and some of the year before's which paid the dues for those years, this year and next year. (Through Disney Gift Cards). I spent £26,000 in total for these points, (great exchange rates for 2 contracts). How does this not make financial sense? There's no way, now that I'm reaching retirement, we could afford to spend so much money on deluxe resorts. We're heading to BLT and OKW in 2026 but then giving it a rest until 2028 or 29. We will rent out our points to cover dues.

 

[ThatCubT]

We only signed up in January of this year after booking our first ever visit and aa last minute trip with three weeks notice. The only rooms available were at All Stars Music and..... I hated it immediately. Whilst it was perfectly fine, it didn't feel like I was in Disney World.
So.. we stopped by a DVC stand in the Magic Kingdom and the following day went to see the GF & the new Polynesian Tower. Two days later, we signed the dotted line and closed/paid in cash earlier this week.

Best decision ever!

 

[zavandor]

Before joining DVC I didn't extended research for months on these forums to be sure it was a good choice. But at the end, what made me pull the trigger was because I got the all clear from leukemia. Passing from not knowing what the future would hold to planning 40 years of vacations was exhilarating. Parks have always been my happy place.

 

[JackosinDIS]

For me it was having access to the deluxe resorts, which I wouldn’t otherwise have paid for as they are just so expensive. I know I will be going back to WDW for many years, and hope to be able to spend a good chunk of my retirement hanging out at the various resorts.