What will make you sell?

[eliza61]

As always with message boards, there are plenty of posts about why we are disappointed with DVC and its operations. At what point will things get to the point where you will sell? If selling hasn't even crossed your mind, why have the "problems" not gotten to you? I would try a poll but I don't think I could even begin to guess all the responses!

Actually I don't have any problems with my DVC. It is Disney itself that I am beginning to dislike.

IMO, disney is doing a tremedous slide into Great Adventure land. maybe it's because we have been going yearly and some of the pixie dust is wearing off.

1) Restaurants: Food is mediocre at BEST, lousy most of the time. Maybe it's because my family owned a restaurant for much of my youth but disneys food quality has taken a "747" plummeting to the ground nose dive.

2) homogenous: Ahh the good ole days when you actually saw different stuff in different shops. Really do I need to see "the nightmare before Christmas" in the star tours gift shop? And the best you can do with a Mickey shirt is to put the current year under his picture? So sad....I'll admit, I like buying a nice souvenier (sp?) that is resort specific. Last August we stayed at the BC and I think they had maybe 2 items

3) cutbacks. cutbacks in fantasmic scheduling has made going to HS a nightmare. cut backs in live shows. Hopefully the arrival of fantasy land will be the first of updates, etc.


Are we ready to sell? No not yet but I'm extremely glad I don't have a large contract. We have stop going annually and before where we would stay 10-14 days we are now doing 1/2 that or if we do go for a long stay we do universal and seaworld for 1/2 the time.

We have recouped our initial outlay but if we were offered the chance to add on really cheaply, we would pass.

 

[myxdvz]

This will be year 2 of my DVC membership (bought in 2010) and so far haven't had any problems. I only bought enough for a 1 BR every other year, but have been going every year so far with no problems.

I would only sell if our financials have change. I've been thinking of becoming a full-time SaHM so our income may come down - but as long as my points are renting enough to pay for the MFs itself (and even give me some income), I wouldn't sell.

 

[murmkc]

I will sell if Epcot does not bring back "The lights of winter"!

OK.. probably not - but I miss those things!

 

[JimMIA]

I can think of several obvious selling triggers, most of which have been cited by other posters:

• Financial changes that make it impossible to pay for DVC, or make vacationing to WDW impossible.
  
  In this area, the skyrocketing costs of park passes have made the value equation so different that I think it's adversely affected the value of DVC ownership. I know our costs, even as Florida residents, have more than doubled in the 8 years we've been going to WDW regularly. It's important for prospective buyers to understand that DVC provides a rather expensive solution to only ONE component of your total vacation costs. As the other costs escalate, the value of DVC declines, IMHO. YMMV,
  
  
• Health changes which make WDW not a good option
• Family changes -- divorce, necessity of providing longterm care of parents, kids (or parents) outgrowing WDW, etc.

The other two that I don't see mentioned very often are:

• Realizing you made a mistake. Some purchasers get blinded by pixie dust and buy something they really shouldn't. It's better to have a horrible ending than a never-ending horror, so that's a good reason to sell.
  
  Unfortunately, many of those folks also financed, so they have a double problem.
  
  
• Vacation priorities change. DVC works very well for WDW, provided you begin with the assumption that you MUST stay onsite in a Disney property. But once you leave the Orlando area, DVC doesn't work as well -- even at the DVC resorts. There are many other options available for a fraction of the cost of DVC.

 

[jodifla]

We've been members 16 years now. Overall, we've been quite happy. We bought in when prices were low. Our dues are very manageable, and we have a modest amount of points in 2 contracts, 206. We also have 10 year old who loves WDW. There has been an overall slide of DVC service though, and WDW dining has plummeted since the stupid and horrible DDP.

What could possibly make me sell:

Losing employment or illness in family
Only able to stay at home resorts
Minimum stays

 

[Brian Noble]

cutbacks in fantasmic scheduling has made going to HS a nightmare.

This has been more or less fixed. Except for the current refurbishment, it's been playing just about every night for several months now.

 

[ajseagles3]

I would sell for a lot of reasons, but I'd always be open to buying back in. We currently have two contracts with more points total than we really need. We have no particular use for the one contract for the foreseeable future (over a year), so we might sell it. Or we might rent some points to a friend. Or... whatever.

I think that if you are open to the resale market, the world's your oyster as far as being flexible.

That said, the only thing that would make me sell for good would be a profound and steady decline in the quality of our WDW vacations over a few years. Don't foresee that anytime soon.

 

[TDC Nala]

I haven't had any of these major problems. If I couldn't afford the fees anymore I'd have to sell, or if I decided I wasn't going to Disney World or on Disney cruises anymore. I can work around the new booking rules, I don't get the dining plan so the loss of segmenting or free dining doesn't bother me; nor does losing the free valet perk. I can't remember what else has been "lost." I also don't have issues regarding children losing interest in Disney, as I don't even have any children.

 

[kirstenb1]

We've been members since 1993, so we've seen lots of changes. The ticket prices are killing me honestly.

WE only go once a year, so the AP discount doesn't help us. We do have platinum passes to Busch Gardens here, so we get into Sea World and BG Tampa for free, which really helps.

Another change has been the ease of renting from an owner, or renting a week at Vistana, etc. These weren't really options back in 1993.

If it were just up to me, I'd probably sell. DH and our children would outvote me every time, however!!

 

[BabsBunny]

As long as Syracuse keeps getting a winter and JetBlue keeps flying direct, I will hold onto our contracts. But my first thought was we'd sell if we could no longer afford the maintenance dues or if they got out of hand. Obviously, if there as some type of hardship where we could no longer use our contracts or needed the money, we would sell.

Honestly, I'm kind of burned out on the parks lately, but I still enjoy going down there even for just R&R. And it seems we are always finding excuses to visit again. For example, we weren't going to go down this winter as my kids are in HS and college and have different vacation schedules. But my husband has business in PBI late Feb, so I decided to fly to MCO and meet up with him after his meetings for a long weekend at AKV.

As far negative trip reports, while some people do have legitimate complaints, I just have to roll my eyes at those that feel their trip was ruined because of a missed hair in the sink.

I also think that some of the changes are for the better. I love having new resorts to try out. I like that they lowered points for Friday and Saturdays. I no longer have to plan my vacation so that it falls from a Sunday to Friday. This is a big help when it comes to getting lower airfare.

 

[happyann79]

I love disney too much to want sell

 

[evenrude]

I think in general those who bought earlier and bought more points are more likely to be disillusioned (and I count myself among them) since we are more likely to see problems due to frequency of trips and we have unfortunately had a front row seat over the years to the decline in customer service, maintenance and removal of perks (even though I know they were not promised). This is true of DVC and WDW in general. I don't want to sell I just want my magic back, I think the following would go a long way to solving all problems:

1. No more renting points....No non-member cash reservations....Require a member or associate member to be present at all stays or make the member fully responsible for damages and enforce it. I believe turning DVC into priceline.com is degrading and leads to folks treating it like a motel not somebodies home away from home. (I know this is probably unreasonable but what the heck I'm venting)

2. Please Disney get over the free dining rouse...(Again I'll never see it but I'm venting)

3. Go back to the "Walt Standard"....Quit outsourcing, clean the parks up, repaint and replace bulbs every night, etc.., etc... In general just justify the prices you are charging by returning to the old-days... (Again Crazy talk)

 

[WolfpackFan]

Members since 2003 and been to WDW and HHI 2-3 times a year ever since then. Never really had any problems to speak of. We love our DVC membership now as much as we did when we first made our purchase. The only thing that would cause us to sell is when DW and myself reach the age and physical condition that we can't get around that great. We are in our 60's now and hope we have at least 20 more years before we have to start slowing down. But still even then we could always just go to HHI and sit out on the balcony.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I'm happy with my purchase and would only sell if financially I had to. I financed my purchase but am getting ready to pay it off in full within the next two months and possibly add on a few points.

 

[Sammie]

I can think of several obvious selling triggers, most of which have been cited by other posters:

• Financial changes that make it impossible to pay for DVC, or make vacationing to WDW impossible.
  
  In this area, the skyrocketing costs of park passes have made the value equation so different that I think it's adversely affected the value of DVC ownership. I know our costs, even as Florida residents, have more than doubled in the 8 years we've been going to WDW regularly. It's important for prospective buyers to understand that DVC provides a rather expensive solution to only ONE component of your total vacation costs. As the other costs escalate, the value of DVC declines, IMHO. YMMV,
  
  
• Health changes which make WDW not a good option
• Family changes -- divorce, necessity of providing longterm care of parents, kids (or parents) outgrowing WDW, etc.

The other two that I don't see mentioned very often are:

• Realizing you made a mistake. Some purchasers get blinded by pixie dust and buy something they really shouldn't. It's better to have a horrible ending than a never-ending horror, so that's a good reason to sell.
  
  Unfortunately, many of those folks also financed, so they have a double problem.
  
  
• Vacation priorities change. DVC works very well for WDW, provided you begin with the assumption that you MUST stay onsite in a Disney property. But once you leave the Orlando area, DVC doesn't work as well -- even at the DVC resorts. There are many other options available for a fraction of the cost of DVC.

Pretty much what Jim said. I don't feel like buying DVC was a mistake as much as I guess at the time, I did not think 50 years ahead and honestly I am not sure that is even possible.

I mean it is hard enough to predict our lives on a daily basis much less that length of time in the future.

 

[BeccaG]

It sounds like several folks are more disappointed in Disney as a whole not being what it was instead of DVC specifically...and that makes sense to me.

BTW, it is interesting to see the variety of responses, most not wanting to sell...but I am starting to think folks who are selling probably aren't on this board!

 

[cseca]

I can think of several obvious selling triggers, most of which have been cited by other posters:

• Financial changes that make it impossible to pay for DVC, or make vacationing to WDW impossible.
  
  In this area, the skyrocketing costs of park passes have made the value equation so different that I think it's adversely affected the value of DVC ownership. I know our costs, even as Florida residents, have more than doubled in the 8 years we've been going to WDW regularly. It's important for prospective buyers to understand that DVC provides a rather expensive solution to only ONE component of your total vacation costs. As the other costs escalate, the value of DVC declines, IMHO. YMMV,
  
  
• Health changes which make WDW not a good option
• Family changes -- divorce, necessity of providing longterm care of parents, kids (or parents) outgrowing WDW, etc.

The other two that I don't see mentioned very often are:

• Realizing you made a mistake. Some purchasers get blinded by pixie dust and buy something they really shouldn't. It's better to have a horrible ending than a never-ending horror, so that's a good reason to sell.
  
  Unfortunately, many of those folks also financed, so they have a double problem.
  
  
• Vacation priorities change. DVC works very well for WDW, provided you begin with the assumption that you MUST stay onsite in a Disney property. But once you leave the Orlando area, DVC doesn't work as well -- even at the DVC resorts. There are many other options available for a fraction of the cost of DVC.

I agree with the above and add:

* Frequent mousekeeping issues (decreasing mousekeeping level).
* Policy changes that negatively affects our visits.

Other than that I think we'll keep our points

It's funny to read this thread because while we were at WDW 2 weeks ago (bringing our new DS), we saw an older couple holding hands (maybe in their late 70s) going up the escalator on Transportation Transit Authority ride. The gentleman was having some issues walking but they were still enjoying the attraction.

I turned to DH and asked "Do you think that might be us down the road?" and he said "Most probably... especially when the kids are all married off with their own families.".
Which surprised me because between the two of us, I'm the Disneyphile. But apparently I've turned him around...

 

[CMOORE185]

Not just sugarcoat, but downright lie. The original Guides were very ethical and told you all the facts. They wanted to make a sale, but wanted to make sure they didn't tell you any stories.

I was always skeptical about timeshares because of their sales techniques, but our original salesman from Disney was fantastic! If I were coming in new today, chances of me buying would be less. I have not seen a guide to equal our original one since he left.

What probably will keep me from ever selling is the HHI resort. It would be tough for me to use all my points at WDW as the cost and the desire to keep it exciting to go too, make me only want to go to WDW no more than once per year. We like to alternate between WDW and HHI,(throw in DCL every two years, but we try not to use our points for this) I hope they keep building offsite properties as it gives you choices as your vacation habits change.

 

[normr]

Why sell? Just rent your points out, it will pay for your dues and also put a good deal of money back in your pocket which would easily pay off your loan in a short time or repay you back for the money you've invested in DVC, Look at it like this, let's say you have 200 points and you are never going back to Disney, instead of selling, rent the 200 points @ $11 per point, that's $2200 back and lets say your dues are $1100 per year, so that would put $1100 back in your pocket at least for the next few years depending on what dues do, so in my opinion it's a no brainer, you would have your money back totally in 20 years and then depending on when your DVC ends it would all be profit during the remaining years.

 

[dnoyes]

It sounds like several folks are more disappointed in Disney as a whole not being what it was instead of DVC specifically...and that makes sense to me.

BTW, it is interesting to see the variety of responses, most not wanting to sell...but I am starting to think folks who are selling probably aren't on this board!

I just put ours on the market Monday. That would be the only reason I opened this thread.
To us DVC is fine but Disney as a whole needs to take a step back and stop building new resorts. They can't even take care of the DVC units they have now.
We just returned from an 11 day trip on the 19th of last month. First off, we had a great time in the parks and with some great people we traveled with. Our rooms however ... um, not so much.
We were in 5401 and 5402 (two bedromm lockoff) the studio room was just fine but the one bedroom section had several issues. The alarm clock was broken, no fan in the bathroom or above the stove (all reported day one) around day 5 I reported that the dishwasher was leaking on the floor and the washing machine would only work on hot and the dryer would take up to four hours to dry a small load. At the same time I reminded them about the other issues.
Long story short when we checked out on the 19th nothing had been fixed. Now, it is what it is and it really didn't upset me in the least. I was on vacation and having a good time. I was just trying to give them a heads up before someone checked in to that room and had a fit.

Disney didn't lose me as a customer, I'll go back some day. But as a DVC owner? I just don't feel right paying monthly fee's for nothing.

ps. should have mentioned. Housekeeping was GREAT on this trip. Went way over the top on those towel thingy's.