Which week(s) did you buy?

[CapeCodFam]

Whenever I share that we've bought into DVC, we always get asked this question... Most are extemely surprised that we can go whenever we want. It's also fun to see them fall off their chair when I explain that we can trade to stay outside of Disney too.



Before DVC, I didn't really take vacations regularly. I continually kept accumulating vaca time. With DVC, it forces me to go!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by CapeCodFam
With DVC, it forces me to go!

One of the reasons I joined DVC.

"Honey, we have to use our points."

 

[NancyDVC]

"You don't have weeks? How do you use it?" Then maybe it's my explanantion about how DVC works but they seem to either zone out, "Uh Hum" a lot or change the subject.

Some friends also tell me about all their timeshares in variuos places and how cheap they were. They will never know how special DVC is. And it will continue to be our special secret.

One friend just spent a week at OKW with her husband, daughter, SIL, & granddaughter on her daughter's Marriott points. They had a ball and loved the resort even if Jeanne curtailed their first day's activities.

I believe that once you go for DVC you can't go back!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by CapeCodFam

Before DVC, I didn't really take vacations regularly. I continually kept accumulating vaca time. With DVC, it forces me to go!

That's exactly how I convinced DH to buy DVC-he never took vacation time, knew he should, and this would FORCE him to. What's really bad is that he couldn't even accumulate it, so the standard joke (though not really funny to me) at the end of the year was "So how many weeks of vacation are you giving back this year?" Yet, we joined 2 years ago, and now he uses all his vacation.

 

[meier56013]

And, what do you mean, you get a 1,2 or 3 br. How can it be different each trip? The flexibility works great for us!

CapeCodFam, see you in a couple months!

 

[newholiday]

this is what I just realized the other day - DH wants to skip a Disney trip in 05 - we had 93pts to rollover from 04 - I told him we HAD to use those cos we couldnt roll them over again
DS & I are having our 1st mother/son WDW vaca in Aug
- will rollover 05s pts to 06

 

[Dean]

It's amazing how many people know so little about timeshares but think they know much more. It's not that DVC is that unique but that so many people are ignorant about timeshares in general. Don't be surprised when you find someone truly knowledgeable and tell them about trading out if you get a different reaction. They may remind you you can only trade for about 15% of the II options and would be trading a week worth $2-4K for one they could likely rent for $1000 or trade the samee week with one they paid only $1000 total for and $300 a year maint fee.

Nothing directed at you but in general, DVC members overall are not well informed about timeshares. I've heard several say they don't even own a timeshare, including on this board a few years ago. There are many flexible plans and points systems. DVC is likely less than 1% of the total points units in the US alone.

 

[CapeCodFam]

Dean, that's a good point. I wouldn't argue against it.

But, I bought DVC to stay at WDW at our favorite resort, during popular times of the year, with an 11 month booking window. I don't think any non-DVC timeshare would have that advantage. It may even be harder to trade into DVC, and get what you want, than trade out of it. But, that's just my opinion and is not defendable by any real facts.

 

[poohj80]

I have a friend who owns a typical timeshare (owns a specific week) but the company recently started offering members the option to convert their week to a points system so she was very interested in learning how DVC works. Even though I think the points system is much more flexible, this other timeshare company is charging members to make the conversion so she didn't do it.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by poohj80
I have a friend who owns a typical timeshare (owns a specific week) but the company recently started offering members the option to convert their week to a points system so she was very interested in learning how DVC works. Even though I think the points system is much more flexible, this other timeshare company is charging members to make the conversion so she didn't do it.

That statement could be about a number of systems including Sunterra, Starwood, Bluegreen, Fairfield, RCI points to name a few. Typical conversion charges are in the range of $2000 for many of them and frequently more than the timeshare or points would be worth. Timeshares come in all varieties. If one wants a specific view, unit, week, etc; a fixed week/fixed unit options is the best. Many are a full week but float for part or all the year. There are almost as many variations as we could think up.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I waited for several years to buy into DVC, because I had heard so much about timeshare scams in Florida. Finally, in 97 I took the plunge, sure that I had thrown away $$ for a pig in a poke! Imagine my shock when Disney didn't pack up and fly away with my money! Now I own 3 contracts with DVC, and one Marriott, and 4 weeks of vacation time isn't nearly enough time! I can't wait until I retire, and can use it all myself!

 

[bwvBound]

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