Who is the unhappiest with DVC?

[2TinyWings]

Which of these groups would you say usually ends up being the least happiest with buying into DVC vs. continuing to rent cash rooms through Disney?

A) Clean freaks
B) Bargain hunters
C) Bad planners

 

[tjkraz]

My initial thought was "all of the above." But in terms of MOST dissatisfied, I would probably go with bad planners. The same resorts tend to be most available on short notice so there won't be a lot of variety. And there will be times when NOTHING will be available.

DVC isn't great for bargain hunters but buyers should know that going in.

Cleanliness will always vary from one room to the next. Some will tell you that Disney standards have slipped over the years but I find it hard to believe that--on average--Disney rooms are worse than any other big hotel chain.

 

[Bangerang]

C) bad planners. Good planners know that in the long run DVC is better bargain than renting and they bring what they need to satisfy their clean freakishness while at Disney. (Of course I can say this because I am A and B but not C. )

 

[chalee94]

yep - "c."

 

[JimMIA]

I'd offer a 4th group -- the "over-extenders" -- people who finance DVC when they either can't afford it, or can barely afford it.

When something changes in their financial position, they can't make the payments and find themselves stuck with a DVC contract they can't sell for the remaining balance on the loan. Many of them can't work through it, and either get foreclosed or deed the contract back to DVC in lieu of foreclosure.

Those folks take a big financial loss, and often have a huge black mark on their credit as a result. What is a rewarding vacation ownership for most of us becomes a financial nightmare for them.

Of course, you could say that they should be mad at THEMSELVES, not DVC. But you could also say that DVC engages in predatory lending practices, approving virtually anyone with a pulse for financing in order to make the front-end sale.

 

[nolanboys]

Definitely c. I love a good bargain, but with DVC, I feel like I can plan when I want to go instead of when I have to go because of discounts. The discount is always there. I like things clean, but so far have not had issues with any rooms. Hope that continues to be the case. And I live for planning. Already have our NYE 2012 trip planned out. Now just have to wait until January of next year to book it!

 

[Td1290]

Definitely bad planners, it is defintely not for the last minute trip planners.

 

[phelps]

Bad planners!!! You must decide early what dates and resorts you want to stay at for a great vacation. Those who don't plan ahead are unhappy, since they didn' get what they wanted.

 

[psac]

Late planners and bad planners aren't necessarily the same. Some people just CAN'T book far in advance because of work schedules and such, and for those people, DVC just isn't a good fit. They may still do WDW through other means on short notice, and plan the heck out of their time there, but DVC still wouldn't work well for them. I'm glad I'm not in that boat though!

 

[kespo]

I would say Bad Planners and ones who didn't purchase in the home resort they like best!!!!!

 

[crisi]

All the above plus Jim's. Bigger is "anyone who doesn't understand the program and doesn't KNOW THEMSELVES."

I actually think that FLEXIBLE bad planners can be happy. If you don't mind whatever room is available and sometimes having to move your own plans around due to availablity, lack of availability isn't going to be as big of a deal as the bad planner who thinks that BCV should be available when they want it - even though they are only planning six weeks out.

Bargain hunters are only going to be unhappy when Disney runs great deals that they could take advantage of. For the past "long time" that's been a lot. But if "free dining" isn't being run when you could take advantage of it, or doesn't impress you - then that isn't your bargain - and DVC can be a good bargain by itself. (OK, I shouldn't say only - someone a few years ago was up in arms over free dining, and admitted that they couldn't travel when it was offered anyway because kids had school and sports, but were still irate about the great deal they could get IF they didn't have DVC - some people like to be unhappy.)

Clean freaks are going to be unhappy with a certain percentage of rooms regardless of if its a timeshare or a hotel. For a true clean freak, rooms are seldom going to be cleaned to standards - because their expectations are SO high. But if they "know themselves" they can adapt to MOST room circumstances - there are DisBoarders who pack their own sheets and lysol, wash the towels in their own detergent when they arrive, and give the room their own cleaning.

There is little help for the over-extenders.

 

[Plutofan]

C - if you do not plan in advance you will probably be dissapointed in DVC unless it does not matter where you stay.

 

[moredisneyplease]

agreed with C. Honestly 2 categories could easily be upset;

1) a clean freak will ALWAYS find something to piss and moan about

2) a bargain hunter should easily be able to see the financial benefit of owning but also recognize that DVC may not be right for him/her if they arent going to use it/go often. For those that dont go often then the bargain hunter would be able to see the amazing deals they can get by renting.

3) like everyone said above the late minute planners should be content with SSR or OKW for every single vacation!!!! If you love those resorts than it should be fine!! but if variety and the chance to see a different resort is what they owner is looking for than i wouldnt own DVC unless they can plan early. I never thought of myself as an early planner but now I always do plan early so i can get what i/the kids want!

4) as for #4 that was mentioned a few posts above, I agree that those that purchase DVC when they cant afford it will suffer the most

 

[Starr W.]

Late planners and bad planners aren't necessarily the same. Some people just CAN'T book far in advance because of work schedules and such, and for those people, DVC just isn't a good fit. They may still do WDW through other means on short notice, and plan the heck out of their time there, but DVC still wouldn't work well for them. I'm glad I'm not in that boat though!

Our guide told us that if you can't plan vacations in the DVC booking windows(11 months if you want to go for major holidays, 7 months for other times), DVC isn't for you.

I agree with the poster, clean freaks will always find something to complain about.

 

[cally533]

Bad planners

 

[crisi]

3) like everyone said above the late minute planners should be content with SSR or OKW for every single vacation!!!! If you love those resorts than it should be fine!! but if variety and the chance to see a different resort is what they owner is looking for than i wouldnt own DVC unless they can plan early. I never thought of myself as an early planner but now I always do plan early so i can get what i/the kids want!

A lot of people DO love those resorts. And sometimes you find the oddest openings as well at the "book full earlier" resorts that someone who is really flexible can take advantage of.

(It wouldn't be MY way to be happy with DVC, but I've seen enough posts from people who make it work to believe that it isn't an automatic disaster - IF you understand the limitations and liklihood of getting frozen out - or frozen out of certain resorts - upfront.)

 

[Granny]

I agree with "all of the above" plus Jim's 4th group.

I'll add another group called "entitlement cherishers". This group feels entitled to special treatment, special deals, extra perks, etc because they have "invested so heavily" in Disney.

They tend to be very unsatisfied when perks are changed or dropped. Or when Disney offers free dining at full rack prices and think they should extend that to DVC members.

They tend to be dissatisfied when room requests are not met, or resort availability is not what it used to be, or anything that makes them think that Disney is not treating them right.

But if I had to choose from the original options, I agree that bad planners will be disappointed the most assuming they care where they stay, or assuming they want to book at the highest booking times a few months out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I agree with "all of the above" plus Jim's 4th group.

I'll add another group called "entitlement cherishers". This group feels entitled to special treatment, special deals, extra perks, etc because they have "invested so heavily" in Disney.

They tend to be very unsatisfied when perks are changed or dropped. Or when Disney offers free dining at full rack prices and think they should extend that to DVC members.

They tend to be dissatisfied when room requests are not met, or resort availability is not what it used to be, or anything that makes them think that Disney is not treating them right.

But if I had to choose from the original options, I agree that bad planners will be disappointed the most assuming they care where they stay, or assuming they want to book at the highest booking times a few months out.

I was going to say the same thing. Especially the newer members who don't have any experience with DVC and really believe that their guide is going to get them all their reservations, no matter when they try to book them.

 

[sarahk0204]

Bad planners, but even good planners need to be flexible. If you are absolutely rigid in what you want, you are sure to be disappointed somewhere.

For example, for our upcoming June trip, we had to book slightly under 7 months due to sorting out which extended family was going. I knew I needed a resort that slept 5, and I only wanted to do our home resort, BLT, for a couple of nights - to save points. OKW was my first choice for the other nights, but because the renovations aren't done, I couldn't be guaranteed a room that slept 5. Ok, how about AKL - Kidani? Not available. Jambo House? Yes!

Now I could either be annoyed at the family members for not deciding fast enough or at DVC for not having the renovations done at OKW. Instead, I am looking forward to my pool view and being in the same building as the QS restaurant when we stay at Jambo House.

 

[starbox]

Well, I'm a clean freak and I've had well over 30 check-ins and never been that upset. I'm also a bargain hunter and it is possible to feel like you get a bargain w/DVC when you stay in studios. I've also gotten sloppier and sloppier at planning - but snagged BLT July 2nd 3 days prior to a trip.


SO, I'm going to go with people that overextended to buy DVC. The one constant for us is all the additional and escalating costs of travel. If I'd been stretching to buy DVC, I'd hate it now that park ticket and dining costs have increased dramatically (we also went from to "children" to two "Disney adults" after buying in.)