What's one tip you would give a new DVC member?

[Inkmahm]

We passed ROFR yesterday and we're looking forward to closing on our 150 points at BWV in the next few weeks. My husband and I will be new DVC members! If you could give us one tip about the DVC, what would it be? Help us learn from your mistakes (or good fortune...) Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

Just one?

The best one I have is to spend some time here on the DIS reading any and all of the threads that interest you - especially the ones about making reservations, banking & borrowing and DVC perks & benefits. Feel free to ask and answer questions.

Congratulations and welcome home!

Welcome to the DVC Forums!

Best wishes -

P.S. Try to get a feel for the personalities that post here and don't take any negative comments/opinions personally. Sometimes posters type before they think, LOL!

 

[Plutofan]

Take advantage of going Sunday - Thursday when you get a real bargain with your points. Most of the time Friday and Saturday points are more than double the other nights.

 

[westjones]

Don't rush into an add on right away.

We bought 150 points and during our first visit I loved it SO much that I tried to talk DH into adding on more points. He was stronger and wiser than me and held firm. We didn't do it, and now, four years later I am so glad we didn't. Our 150 points gives us a very nice vacation every year without worrying about having left over points that we need to try to rent. If we want to skip a year, that is fine we can easily use up 300 points the next year.

We were SO excited about WDW and our DVC that first two years that we ran out of points and stayed at various other WDW resorts. But now, we have 'settled down' and are going to WDW once a year (which is best for our budget).

So my advice, give yourself some time before you make the decision to add on. The dues for 150 points isn't bad and we don't really notice that monthly deduction from our checking account, but if we had 300 points, that would be a different story.

DJ

 

[gilld]

Getting a UY that fits in with your anticipated holiday plans. We didn't think about it and got an October UY when we holiday in September - not good!

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, my advice is quite different from some you have received here! I would say start with more points than you think you will need. We started with 230 and quickly figured out it wasn't enough and was too limiting. Hence the 150 point add on a year later.

I guess what I am saying is, be sure you KNOW more exactly how many points you will likely want each year. We greatly underestimated that with our initial purchase.

 

[Inkmahm]

Thanks for all the tips so far! I know I have a lot of reading to do- I'm hoping quite a few of my questions will be answered when I get the paperwork from Disney after we're registered as members.

We generally get to WDW twice each year, but our stays always include a Friday and Saturday since it takes fewer vacation days to be there over the weekend. We may try the DVC Sun-Thur and resorts with cash on Fri and Sat. approach. I guess we'll see once we figure out how many points we need for planned trips.

We did think about the year (our points are Oct 1) when picking a contract. We go to WDW in early December and then again in March or April. I'd never go in May-Sept timeframe but we are trying late April this year. I think with Oct 1 I need to know by April 1 if we're using points or I have to bank them. We shouldn't have any problems with the timing.

As for "addonitis" I'm sure that will hit me at some point. I want to see how everything works first before I'd buy more points. That may be in our future, but I think the 150 will probably be enough for us. Maybe.

 

[crisi]

Go with realistic expectations. I enjoy my DVC, but if I believed the hype about it being the best thing people ever did for themselves, or that the rooms are so superior to Deluxe resorts, I'd have sold after the first trip. DVC has a few "quirks" compared to staying at a regular Disney resort - the check in after 4:00 thing as pretty much gone away (that was a big one).

On the other hand, the rooms are very nice, and you should expect that this may change the way you vacation. Don't be surprised to want to go more often, but take it slower than you used to. You'll be back.

 

[Jimbo]

My advice would be to relax and enjoy your membership. We've stayed at all of the onsite and offsite DVC resorts except for BCV, and haven't had one bad experience. We've enjoyed every resort we stayed in, and liked every room we've been given. I think I'm a pretty picky, spoiled guy in a lot of ways, yet in 10 years I've never been unhappy with a DVC stay.

So we're happy to call when we've decided on our dates, and the size of the room and take whatever's available. And something always seems to be available. At the end of the day, DVC always makes us happy. And if we ever do have a bad stay, we'll just get 'em next time.

There seem to be quite a few uptight DVC members here; be the opposite of uptight.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Given the distance we are from WDW (I see you are about the same), we figured on doing week long trips at the very least. We also figured there was no real savings to it if we only stayed part of that time with DVC, so we originally purchased enough points for a 1 week stay in a 2 bedroom during the time of year we most liked to travel. That was when we were only going to WDW for a week every other year. One year in DVC, and we knew we wanted to up that to every year. Then we knew it would be more like 2 weeks every year.....You see the snowball effect. We have been able to stretch points by occationally staying in a 1 bedroom when it is just the two of us, and even doing a studio for weekend nights for 2 of us. No way would we think of staying in a studio with more than that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't think of Fri and Sat as costing a lot of points. Just average the number of points out over the trip. Moving on Fri and Sat is tiring.

Don't forget to bank your points if you have points to bank. You don't want to lose them. Be careful about tracking your points.

Be careful about borrowing. If you borrow and have to cancel, you can't put those points back into the next year. They become current year points.

Keep it a secret from your family members and only invite the ones you want. Forget about the needy family members or the ones who only cause you grief. Take the family and friends who appreciate your gift.

 

[byoung]

You can relax a lot more now, you know you will be going back soon.

 

[Twingle]

We've been DVC members for almost a year now, but I just wanted to see what some of the tips were.

DEB & BILL, I had to laugh at your post! I had mentioned to a family member when we were thinking about purchasing DVC, and I swear, she's called me at least every six weeks wanting to know if she can borrow our points! She's not even a "close" family member! Now that we are adding on points, I don't dare tell her!

 

[jdvm]

Take it easy and be willing to try new things while enjoying old favorites. This can be a new chapter in your enjoyment of the Orlando area. Take time to relax and try not to attack the parks with a vengance. We like to think of DVC as a second home that we return to fondly for relaxation. We try new things and begin new traditions. Enjoy your membership.

 

[BillPA]

WELCOME HOME!!!

I suggest you learn the banking rules, you don't want to lose any points.
See if you can get any member guide books from the seller.

As already mentioned, check here often, ask lots of questions. You will find a very knowledgeable collection of DVC members on the DIS DVC board.

 

[Doctor P]

I agree with the advice to not underestimate how many points you will really want. We ended up adding on three times in the first four years we owned! Which brings on the second piece of advice (tongue-in-cheek, mostly)--don't stay at DVC resorts other than your home resort--you will end up costing yourself money buying an add on because you want an 11 month window at all the wonderful resorts, LOL (all kidding aside, that is basically how we ended up buying points at HH--it might be the nicest of the DVC resorts, especially in terms of studio accomodations and the location is beautiful).

 

[magicmama]

Everything may seem a little confusing at first but take it easy. Everyone at these boards have been helpful and know a lot. (A lot more that me....I'm still learning) Just enjoy the magic. Staff at the resorts have been understanding with me about various things and they seem so helpful overall.

Just enjoy the magic! And Welcome Home!

 

[Inkmahm]

WELCOME HOME!!!

I suggest you learn the banking rules, you don't want to lose any points.
See if you can get any member guide books from the seller.

As already mentioned, check here often, ask lots of questions. You will find a very knowledgeable collection of DVC members on the DIS DVC board.

Member guide books? Won't I get those from Disney after we close and the contract is transferred to us?

 

[jimmytammy]

My first thought is...relax and enjoy! Our biggest mistake on our 1st trip as DVCers was still rushing around, trying to see and do it all. Keep reminding yourself, you will be back. It made us rethink what we had done, but after the next trip home, it made us firm believers! We slowed down and began to realize what DVC was really supposed to be about.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Member guide books? Won't I get those from Disney after we close and the contract is transferred to us?

On a resale, the original ones with all the detailed information comes from the seller. If you bought from Disney, they will send them to you in a big packet.