*where* is the tour?

[Karenj2]

I never really thought about it at all - I always thought that each DVC villa had it's own tour & guide, but now I don't think I'm right.

We're going down in August, and on our last day we're eating breakfast at the Beach Club. Can I get a tour of the BCV while I'm there? Or, can I call to get picked up there, take the tour, then get dropped off back at our hotel (All-Star Sports)? (I'm not really interested in SSR, possibly AKV but I *really* like BCV, BWV or WLV - or possibly BLT if it ever gets announced.)

 

[Disney Spaz]

I believe you can ask to see a room at BCV but the actual tour is at SSR. They will pick you up where ever you want and drop you off after the tour where ever you want so there should be no problem with transportation.

As for which resort you pick the DVC guides will probably tell you they are selling AKV only now but if you push about a specific resort BCV or BWV they can put you on a waitlist for that resort. However, the current incentives; $96 per point, matching developer points on contracts over 160 points and $500 Disney Reward points if you put the downpayment on a Disney Visa are only available at AKV.

 

[backyardponder]

Since we were planning on buying resale, we did our own tour...we went to each of the resorts to get the "feel" of them. We had a car, so that helped a lot. When we got to each resort, we asked for a map of the property and wandered around ourselves. If the DVC is a separate wing (like WLV), make sure you wander into that wing.

Good Luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

There is also a tour available at BWV (at least there was as of March). The preview area is just to the right of Big River Grill. If you are going to be at BC, you could walk or boat over to BWV to see the room. I don't know whether the guides there will give you details about buying points at any resort other than AKV, but you could at least learn about DVC and see what a BWV room looks like.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Yes, BWV does have a room open for viewing.

 

[janni518]

Our initial information meeting was in the back end of Tony's in the MK. We got picked up at our resort (BC) and taken to SSR for actual tour when we went down to sign papers.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

When we did our tour we didn't schedule it, we just showed up at SSR and asked at the DVC kiosk and they took us right off. You can see SSR and AKV rooms at AKV and as others have mentioned, you can also see the BWV room at BWV. You can stop by any DVC kiosk in any of the parks or at DTD and arrange a time and they will pick you up and drop you back off if that is what you need. We had our car, so we did it on our own timetable. They make it very easy and very convenient.

 

[RavenRob]

We just came back this weekend. The wife and I were celebrating our 15th anniversary alone with no kids...

We stayed at the BWI for two nights. On Saturday afternoon, we stopped by the DVC kiosk and finally scheduled our tour. We have wanted to do this for the past 3 visits that we have been to WDW but we have always been with our children.

We were picked up on Sunday morning in front of the BW and taken to the SSR Welcome Center to have our appointment with Frank Perez (who I think is one of the most professional guides I have met in the timeshare industry. No pressure whatsoever).

You are greeted at the reception desk and escorted back to the waiting area to have a snack before your guide meets you. After about 10-15 minutes, Frank met us at the couches and talked to us to get a feel for what our needs were.

We were then escorted back to a meeting room so that he could show us what the points you purchase would entitle you to.

We then were taken on the "tour" of the new AKL Kidani villas. It is actually in a building behind the SSR Welcome center that has models of the Studio and One-Bedroom Villas. I WAS READY TO SIGN RIGHT THERE!!!!!

We then were escorted back to meeting room 3 where Frank explained to us the incentives and financing options.

Under no time did I feel pressured into signing anything by Frank. He then explained to us that we have three days to discuss this offer and get back to him.

We now can say that we have officially become members and heard the words "Welcome Home" from Frank.

 

[danv3]

Speaking of the tour, can you schedule in advance for a certain day & time? If I know my trip plans in advance and 3:00 on Saturday afternoon works for me, can I call them 2 months out and say that's what I want?

(I'm a planner!)

 

[vicki_c]

Yes, we scheduled our tour in advance. We already had a referral, so we called the guide and picked the time that worked in our overall vacation plan -- arrival morning before our room was ready.

Be aware, though, that we did not get any of the frequently mentioned "freebies" - no FPs, no gift cards, etc. I assume that is because they didn't have to "convince" us to go on the tour.

I still prefer the way we did it because I had a lot of plans during the trip and didn't want to give up my park time to do the tour.

 

[janni518]

Oh yes forgot about the BW model. My hubby was just walking around while we were staying at the BC and kind of ran into it. I had been talking up the whole DVC thing for a couple of years so he knew what it was. He did a walk through and then we walked through together later that night. No actual tour they just let us wander around.

 

[shortypots]

Can you look at any of the rooms at the resorts? DH and I are considering selling our large 300 pt contract and buying 2 smaller 150 contracts at 2 resorts, and need to decide on those two resorts. This way we can have 450 pts every year, and spend it in a different resort each year. We are just thinking about it right now.

 

[jana]

You can ask to see the rooms at the resorts, but if they are fully booked they won't be able to show you any. But even if you see the rooms, you can't get much useful information on how the program works.

The model next to the big river grill isn't a "tour" per se, it's a room you can look at, but you can't get in depth information on finance etc.

As Rob says Disney doesn't pressure you into making a decision. You really have nothing to lose (and everything to gain) by getting a professional to give you ALL the information you need during the course of a tour. You also benefit from seeing ALL the room sizes not just one size of room (you are after all "buying" ALL the different room sizes so just looking at one doesn't really give you a full idea of what's on offer).

Danv, you can book that far in advance, but as vicki says you may miss out on any freebees they are offering. If you know when you want to go (Saturday at 3pm ) as long as you leave the slot available in your schedule and can stop at a booth the day before (even that day) to set up a pick up. If time in the parks is your biggest concern those FP will really help you out.

 

[bwvBound]

Or, can I call to get picked up there, take the tour, then get dropped off back at our hotel (All-Star Sports)?

Oh, I'm sure DVC will be quick to offer transportation -- especially from their own hotels.

Our last add-on was completely unplanned during a visit to DL. When the sales team realized I didn't have my drivers license with me they immediately offered a van ride to our hotel across Anaheim. Not a moment or opportunity lost!

 

[wildernessDad]

Have a great breakfast! The Cape May Cafe character breakfast is the best!

 

[Karenj2]

Thanks - My sister picked it out - it was the only character meal we could get with this last minute trip, and our reservation is for 7:40. UGH!

Thanks, folks! I think I'll contact DVC at some point during my stay, and schedule a tour for Thursday.

 

[iteachlit]

Oh, I'm sure DVC will be quick to offer transportation -- especially from their own hotels.

They sure will pick you up and drop you off. We didn't decide to take the tour until our last night last summer. We stopped at the DVC kiosk located just before entering World Showcase. Our flight didn't leave until 3PM, so we thought we might as well take the tour.

Well, they were booked solid, but the CM at the kiosk called the office and arranged a priority tour for us at 9:30 the next morning.

A DVC van picked us up at the WL at 9:00AM. The driver took us to SSR and we went through the same process described above.

Normally you get ice cream at the end of the tour, but we wanted to get back to the WL to grab some lunch and catch our Magical Express bus. A different van arrived to pick us up; it dropped us right off at the front door of the WL.

The van will take you anywhere on property at the close of your tour, including the parks. In fact, some have received Fast Passes when the guide finds they are going to a park.

BTW, we didn't buy that day. I had to go home and "crunch some numbers." We joined about 10 days later.

The tour is great. Don't worry about any pressure; the presentation is just amazing!