What perks or little known facts have you learned along the way in owning DVC?

[kniquy]

so we are going to finally be owners of AKV. (Yea!!!) My husband has a coworker who owns DVC and she had mentioned things we weren't aware of - being DVC owners we can go to California grill to simply have a drink and watch the MK fireworks with out needing to be a resort guest or have dinner reservations. She also mentioned being able to pool hop, I think except at beach club (could be wrong on that one).

So this got me wondering what other little things can you do because of being DVC members? I do know of the various tours, shops and restaurants with discounts.

What have you learned during your time owning DVC?

 

[spiceycat]

now if you are staying in a DVC resort and a DVC member you can definitely go to TOWL (BLT not CR).

since even being allowed to California Grill requires going thru a separate desk on the 2nd floor not sure about CG

what I have learned - well always ask for a discount - use to not do this - then realized I was paying more because I did not ask.

when making reservation online or thru MS - always have other dates just in case your first choice is gone.

 

[crisi]

when making reservation online or thru MS - always have other dates just in case your first choice is gone.

Or a second choice or other options - "hope for the best, plan for the worst." We own at BW - if we want a standard view or boardwalk view, we plan ahead and call early, but we always PLAN around getting a preferred view room and set our expectations there. Likewise, the few times we've switched at seven months, we've always gotten what we wanted, but we've always gone into the call with a priority list.

Pool hopping is far more limited now these days than just the Beach Club.

 

[com_op_2000]

Get yourself together a spread sheet with points, UY, member number, logon and PSW to DVC sight, planning, currently booked, banked, and borrowed columns/rows. You need to start planning at least three years out to be sure you are using your points the most effectively.
Also, create a spread sheet for trips taken with any details you want to remember (IE: resort, room number, things you did, things you had planned but did not get too, etc).

 

[BoVance]

When we became members we decided to do something special each trip. On our very first trip in 2006 we decided we would find the 3 bathtubs in magic kingdom. My son still talks about the 3 bath tubs. Every trip we try to find something we did not know before. We look at a lot of books and post to decide what we will do.

 

[bwvBound]

One Time Use (OTU) Points! Rent these directly from Member Services each year, if needed, to complete a reservation booked w/in the 7-month window.

 

[meryll83]

When we became members we decided to do something special each trip. On our very first trip in 2006 we decided we would find the 3 bathtubs in magic kingdom. My son still talks about the 3 bath tubs. Every trip we try to find something we did not know before. We look at a lot of books and post to decide what we will do.

I've never heard of the bathtubs, what are these?

 

[bwvBound]

Allow yourself to enjoy the larger units. Having the full kitchen, laundry and jetted tub is where DVC really begins!

 

[bwvBound]

Community Hall! Borrow DVDs to watch in your room; play table tennis; etc.

 

[disneyktee]

We're still new but one thing we've already learned is to always compare prices and remember to use that Florida resident discount! We took a trip in March on points but spur of the moment (literally 48 hours before the trip) decided we wanted to go down a night early and booked Port Orleans with cash really cheap with the discount! Compare the value of points to the actual cost of hotels, sometimes it actually makes more sense to use cash (and sell the points or just save them up for a bigger trip).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've never heard of the bathtubs, what are these?

Bathtubs! At first I thought you meant what I was told on our first stay as DVC members. We were given a HA room, and when I asked for a change because we needed a bathtub, the front desk told me "Oh, now that you're in DVC a bathtub is just a request, not a guarantee." Thirteen years and I still remember that comment-but fortunately we've almost always had a tub.