Why have you NOT bought DVC?

[Mouseaholic!!!]

First off I do not own DVC- mainly because I can't afford it right now


As for the Early december reservation- from what I hear, early december is the most popular DVC time (with the epcot resorts for F&W a close second)

That may be true......but you don't have any of those worries if you book right NOW without DVC.

I was addressing convenience and using DVC comments as an example.

 

[Luv4Disney]

One of the things our guide said it's also best for people who plan ahead. We do, so it's not an issue for us. We have it mapped out in our heads and then book at our 11 month window. For those who do last minute trips and trips 3 months out, DVC would most likely not work for them.

We booked for Dec. 2008 in February at our home resort. I know I won't be able to switch resorts now, but when I called at our 7 month window for another resort for our May trip, I got everything I wanted with no problem(BWV). You definitely need to be a long term planner with DVC.

 

[shelly3girls]

Remember when I said one of the reasons we do NOT participate in DVS is the convenience of non DVC reservations. I copied the last page of the "waitlist" thread in the DVC section. It sounds like if you like SSR or OKW you are set....but otherwise you must book FAR in advance. Where's the convenience and flexibility?



So the convenience of DVC boils down to....."We are hoping the waitlist clears for Vero Beach but will take anything to stay in Florida". YIKES. This is for a reservation in EARLY DECEMBER - 200 days away. DVC Convenient?

Now I know why our DVC friends book as a second room on OUR reservation when they travel with us.

Although I do not necessarily disagree with your statement, please don't misquote me. Your quote above is a direct quote from my post concerning my DVC reservation for New Year's Eve, a very popular time to be anywhere. I am not within my 7 month window so for all I know there could be tons of availalbility at Vero Beach, I will not know until I try in a couple of weeks. At worst I will have to waitlist and from my experience, they usually come through. If is doesn't, we will be "stuck" in WDW instead.

As for early Dec we have waitlisted twice and both times came through at least 6 months in advance. Not ideal, but not a big deal for me.

 

[ChickieToo]

The original reson for this thread is ..... why we DON'T want to own DVC.

My reason given is I have a terminal illness and I do not have 50 or even 5years most likely. For my husband and I - a long-term commitment doesn't make sense.....(even if we did not travel at WDW with castmember benefits).


To answer this posting by explaining the cost savings of DVC vs deluxe resorts seems to .... miss the point just a little, don't you agree?

There are many valid reasons to not pre-pay for a vacation. That's what we are talking about here. Medical conditions are just one that had not been mentioned here before.

Mouseaholic, I am deeply sorry for your illness, and I pray that you can defy the odds and pull out of this. And you are right, serious/terminal illness is a very valid reason not to own DVC, and it wasn't previously mentioned.

However, I wonder why you are so vehemently opposed to DVC. Your posts seem kind of rancorous to me and I wonder why. It is true that the OP asked for reasons NOT to join DVC, and some, myself included earlier in the thread, offered info on why/why not to own, adding their own caveats. You seem distressed by this.

Trust me, as someone who didn't want to join DVC and fought with her husband about it in the sales office, I can attest to the fact that it is a very convuluted issue which can't really be separated easily into buy or don't buy lists. Arguments can be made for both sides of the issue and you can easily talk yourself in or out of it depending on what you want to do. It is a very personal decision and it certainly not one size fits all, and very dependent on the criteria set forth by many of the DVCers who have posted already. There are many ways to skin this cat, and many of them don't include a $20,000 up-front cost.

Many DVCers only want to share our experience and let others know that if you really want to do this, there are many good reasons to, and many ways to minimize your buy-in costs. Some of the info shared on this thread cannot be known by a non-member or someone without experience, and they are just sharing their knowledge. The whole idea is to make an educated decision.

After that argument with my husband in the DVC sales office back in 2001, I am a true convert. The only downside is having to admit to DH that he was right. For us, that is, he was right. No that HURT!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Thank you.

I posted the very same question several pages back...Ops original question is being ignored...

 

[jodifla]

Well, for that and a good $15,000 upfront...

Well, if you didn't spend all your time overthinking and talking yourself out if it, it could have been a lot cheaper....like when we bought 12 years ago and paid about $9,000.

In those 12 years, we've had 2 to 5 trips a year, for at least 75 nights in DVC rooms ranging from studios to grand villas.

Now, with two bedrooms going on Expedia for $530 a night, and studios for $285, and one bedrooms for $385 this coming August, say, my DVC rooms that I paid 9 grand plus dues for would be anywhere from 30 grand to 40 grand.

And, I could currently sell the DVC points I paid $62 for about $74 a point, so I'm pretty pleased.

 

[dvczerfs]

Well, if you didn't spend all your time overthinking and talking yourself out if it, it could have been a lot cheaper....like when we bought 12 years ago and paid about $9,000.

In those 12 years, we've had 2 to 5 trips a year, for at least 75 nights in DVC rooms ranging from studios to grand villas.

Now, with two bedrooms going on Expedia for $530 a night, and studios for $285, and one bedrooms for $385 this coming August, say, my DVC rooms that I paid 9 grand plus dues for would be anywhere from 30 grand to 40 grand.

And, I could currently sell the DVC points I paid $62 for about $74 a point, so I'm pretty pleased.

im on the same "sinking ship". i paid 20,000 for 300pts in 1999. have stayed 69 night over 8 years in a two bedroom. our points dont lose there value, only there mod and delux. rooms are. i stay at okw, love it! i never had a problem and thats at 7 mon. out. including christmas season, most popular time for dvc members getting a 2 bedroom.(which is $768.00 per night at disneyworld.com) were going for10 nights. we love it. it is not for everyone, but for us, it saved me a ton money.

 

[eliza61]

Obviously no one here gets it.

There is NO WAY that DVC pays!

First - If you don't buy, you can put the money in the bank and earn interest, and use those funds towards your vacations.

Second - It is rare that anyone pays rack rates. When you take into account the great discounts they offer (like free dining), it costs much less than you might think.

Third - You are now locked into DVC for 50 years or so. I went to Disneyland this past summer and I am leaving for a week in a 1 bedroom BWV this friday (though an II exchange, whose total cost including maintenance and fees were $545). I am not sure that I want to go back again next year, I will see how I feel after I come back. But I am sure I will not want to go each year for 50 years!

Joe

Ahh Joe, nothing like the smell of gross generalizations to get me in the mood to post.

First, the money I spend on my dvc comes from my discretionary money. It would not sit in the bank, that is called "savings". The money would have been blown because I'm one of those people who work to enjoy life, not live to enjoy work. So I go on vacation each and every year.

Second. If you take disney up on the free dining you pay rack rates. See that's the beauty of Disney and most big companies. Nothing is ever free. Oh with my dvc membership I can take advantage of the dde card which gives me 20% off my meals & alcoholic drinks. Yes sad to say I'm on a first name basis with the Margaritas and Bellinis at WDW.

third. Just as you are sure you won't want to go back in 50 years, I am sure I will want to go back. Hey if you can be that sure, so can I. I've been 15 times in the last 6 years, each time staying at a deluxe resort so I don't forsee that changing.
Oh I broke even on my initial dvc purchase on my 8th visit.

You know that old saying about what happens when you make assumptions....

 

[MiaSRN62]

It sounds like if you like SSR or OKW you are set....but otherwise you must book FAR in advance. Where's the convenience and flexibility?

Mouseaholic......
There are certain "seasons" that are a little more challenging to get at CERTAIN DVC resorts. OKW and SSR are the two largest DVC's so there is usually availability at them. But even at OKW I've been waitlisted for early Nov and the week between Christmas and New Years.

Tough to get at 7 months :
BWV or BCV during Food & Wine Festival (Oct/Nov). Tough....but not impossible. I could have had BWV Oct 4-8, 2006, but I went with VWL instead.

VWL is tough to get around the Christmas holiday. The first two weeks in Dec can be tough because point charges are at their lowest. This means Members can use their points to their full advantage and many like to do this for the lower point cost PLUS all the holiday decor/happenings are in full swing.

President Week/Easter are also tough.

Most of Jan is fairly easy (excluding right around New Years). Sept is usually pretty open at all resorts too.

But I've had my choice of BWV, VWL, BCV during the late April to late Sept time frame. Once Oct hits, the Halloween parties/Food & Wine etc are very popular with DVC Members.

I've gotten BWV/VWL/SSR/OKW/AKV at less than 7 months. I got BWV and VWL at 60 days out before. I just got a one bedroom at AKV in March. Had a standard view initially but waitlisted for a savanah view and it came through. This was 5 months out.

So it's definitely possible. As an example, if you really know you want to stay at BWV (and no other DVC will do) during Nov for Food and Wine---it's best to make that your "home" resort. But if you usually travel during the summer months, you should have little or no problem getting most DVC. I know BCV can be a tad tough because of the SAB pool being very popular in summer----but I've even got that resort at 3-4 months out.

 

[mikkiwikki]

I believe the OPs question was -

why have you NOT purchased DVC.

 

[ChickieToo]

I believe the OPs question was -

why have you NOT purchased DVC.

And again, we are just choosing to show both sides of the coin because depending on a list of reasons "NOT" to buy coming from a group of people who aren't members and have not lived with the system, and don't know all the variables (and based on some of the statements throughout the thread there is a lot of misinformation here) is foolish.

Stick with me people, DVC isn't for everyone, but you should make an informed choice.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

I believe the OPs question was -

why have you NOT purchased DVC.

And again, we are just choosing to show both sides of the coin

But that side of the coin is addressed in the "Why did you buy into DVC?" thread.

 

[dzorn]

And of course no thread ever goes OT from the OP

Denise in MI

 

[MiaSRN62]

But that side of the coin is addressed in the "Why did you buy into DVC?" thread.

One really does need to know some of the background from those who DID buy DVC to make informed decisions and even some of the comments that are being made here. I'm seeing (and I'm sure other DVC Members are as well), a few misconceptions laced throughout this thread from non Members who might not fully understand how DVC works and choosing not to buy based on this information.
Honestly, it doesn't bother me when someone says "DVC isn't for me" & they've done their research. But it does bother me when they say that and it's based on misconceptions/untruths. If I was not entirely clear on something, and basing a decision on it, I would hope someone would point me in the right direction A little help/education never hurt anyone

 

[ChickieToo]

One really does need to know some of the background from those who DID buy DVC to make informed decisions and even some of the comments that are being made here. I'm seeing (and I'm sure other DVC Members are as well), a few misconceptions laced throughout this thread from non Members who might not fully understand how DVC works and choosing not to buy based on this information.
Honestly, it doesn't bother me when someone says "DVC isn't for me" & they've done their research. But it does bother me when they say that and it's based on misconceptions/untruths. If I was not entirely clear on something, and basing a decision on it, I would hope someone would point me in the right direction A little help/education never hurt anyone

This is exactly my point in my post above. Different strokes and all that, but at least understand the system so you know if it is really for you.

 

[Malela9]

I have Disneyland in my backyard, and we go to WDW everyother year. I just love Hawaii too much to spend the money on DVC. I want the variety in my vacations, I don't care what the "infomertial " in my Disney hotel room says.
I get plenty of fixes at home at Disneyland.

 

[Ka-chow!]

Just warning you. I'm really not this much of a pessimist, just giving a strong Devil's Advocate position against DVC...

I have thought about buying over the last 6-9 months. I think the issue have always come down to being locked into a relationship with a company that always has the power to:
1) Dramatically decrease the value of the product or services offered, as much and any time they wish.
2) Dramatically increase yearly fees as much as they wish, any time they wish.
3) Forcing DVC Members to pay said fees with little recourse except what the market is going to bear.
4) Simple Math: $20 thousand invested in the market over 40 years = $1 million
5) Big Companies can and do go Bankrupt!!!

If you locked yourself into any company's product back in 1968, would you feel ok about it now, 40 years later? Those Dow components from 1968 must ring a bell: Anaconda Copper? Woolworth's? Johns-Manville? Bethlehem Steel? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Really, when was the last time you really went into a Sears?

How would Disney fill the parks and hotels if a gallon of gas climbs to $10 by 2013? $20 in 2018? $40 in 2028?

So how will be get down there if gas is rationed? I was very young in '73, but I remember waiting with my mom in the 1979 gas lines pretty well. I paid about a $1 a gallon ten years ago, and that was before 1.3 billion Chinese and a billion Indians wanted automobiles like we have now, so those prices and limits may not be too crazy. Yes, there will be technological advances, like hydrogen or electric, but we would all have to buy those new cars with that new technology= less money. And electric cars cannot go long distances without recharging.

Being more cash strapped few people will get to Orlando. Disney weakens, as other sources of revenue, especially from their advertising and tourism assets, falter. More people can't afford the travel, stop buying DVC memberships, and those that do, try to sell their DVC memberships. Disney initially tries to support that market through 1st refusal, but with little money coming in from their parks, and other diversified assets, they quickly get into a liquidity crisis. They lay off cast members. Services deteriorate. Disney cannot continue to support operations, much less the DVC market, and files for bankruptcy protection. More DVC owners, unable to travel across the country to Orlando, try to sell. No buyers await, (as they are not buying property a tangible assess or property, but a vacation), so the DVC market crashes.

BUT there will be one place where Disney can always make money.
In fact, as much as they want, i.e. DVC Annual Maintenance Fees!!!
Oh yes, that's right, DVC members are contractually obligated to pay for their vacations/maintenance fees year after year, no matter what they want or can afford, and to the $ amount that Disney designates!!!

And to get out of this timeshare... I mean vacation club, what does the DVC member have to do? That's right, file for Bankruptcy!!! Now the DVC member is really in it deep!

A lot, and I do mean a whole lot, happens over 40 years, especially to a corporation, and market forces may kill it. Or everything may ultimately wind up being great for Disney over the next 40 year, and this may be a gross overestimation of the risk. There are clearly unforseen barriers and advances in technologies, but you can't count on it.

When I was 8, they said I'd be wearing a jetpack. Maybe I'll finally get one.

For me, I'll sleep better keeping the cash free and have the option of going or not going to Disney whenever I please or whenever I can afford to, or not, whatever the case may be.

 

[rogerram]

BUT there will be one place where Disney can always make money.
In fact, as much as they want, i.e. DVC Annual Maintenance Fees!!!
Oh yes, that's right, DVC members are contractually obligated to pay for their vacations/maintenance fees year after year, no matter what they want or can afford, and to the $ amount that Disney designates!!!

They have to justify what the annual fees are at the meetings with members. They can't just pull any amount out of a hat. Every year you get a statement about how these fees are determined. I have twice had my annual fees go down in the past.

And to get out of this timeshare... I mean vacation club, what does the DVC member have to do? That's right, file for Bankruptcy!!! Now the DVC member is really in it deep!

You don't have to file for bankruptcy. If you refuse to make your annual dues payments(as in wanting out and don't for some foolish reason try to sell the contract), then Disney will take over the contract. It has happened before.

 

[Tinks]

About annual fees: If I understand it correctly, Disney is capped at the % amount they can raise your dues per year. So a smart planner would plan for the highest amount raise per year on their dues over the course of the entire contract and then decide from that if DVC is an affordable and good option for them in the long run. Make sense?

I certainly wouldn't but into DVC without planning for the worst scenario in terms of dues. It's not likely to happen, but you've got to be prepared!

But I don't own DVC so someone step in if I am not correct!

 

[toesmom]

Just warning you. I'm really not this much of a pessimist, just giving a strong Devil's Advocate position against DVC...

I have thought about buying over the last 6-9 months. I think the issue have always come down to being locked into a relationship with a company that always has the power to:
1) Dramatically decrease the value of the product or services offered, as much and any time they wish.
2) Dramatically increase yearly fees as much as they wish, any time they wish.
3) Forcing DVC Members to pay said fees with little recourse except what the market is going to bear.
4) Simple Math: $20 thousand invested in the market over 40 years = $1 million
5) Big Companies can and do go Bankrupt!!!

If you locked yourself into any company's product back in 1968, would you feel ok about it now, 40 years later? Those Dow components from 1968 must ring a bell: Anaconda Copper? Woolworth's? Johns-Manville? Bethlehem Steel? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Really, when was the last time you really went into a Sears?

How would Disney fill the parks and hotels if a gallon of gas climbs to $10 by 2013? $20 in 2018? $40 in 2028?

So how will be get down there if gas is rationed? I was very young in '73, but I remember waiting with my mom in the 1979 gas lines pretty well. I paid about a $1 a gallon ten years ago, and that was before 1.3 billion Chinese and a billion Indians wanted automobiles like we have now, so those prices and limits may not be too crazy. Yes, there will be technological advances, like hydrogen or electric, but we would all have to buy those new cars with that new technology= less money. And electric cars cannot go long distances without recharging.

Being more cash strapped few people will get to Orlando. Disney weakens, as other sources of revenue, especially from their advertising and tourism assets, falter. More people can't afford the travel, stop buying DVC memberships, and those that do, try to sell their DVC memberships. Disney initially tries to support that market through 1st refusal, but with little money coming in from their parks, and other diversified assets, they quickly get into a liquidity crisis. They lay off cast members. Services deteriorate. Disney cannot continue to support operations, much less the DVC market, and files for bankruptcy protection. More DVC owners, unable to travel across the country to Orlando, try to sell. No buyers await, (as they are not buying property a tangible assess or property, but a vacation), so the DVC market crashes.

BUT there will be one place where Disney can always make money.
In fact, as much as they want, i.e. DVC Annual Maintenance Fees!!!
Oh yes, that's right, DVC members are contractually obligated to pay for their vacations/maintenance fees year after year, no matter what they want or can afford, and to the $ amount that Disney designates!!!

And to get out of this timeshare... I mean vacation club, what does the DVC member have to do? That's right, file for Bankruptcy!!! Now the DVC member is really in it deep!

A lot, and I do mean a whole lot, happens over 40 years, especially to a corporation, and market forces may kill it. Or everything may ultimately wind up being great for Disney over the next 40 year, and this may be a gross overestimation of the risk. There are clearly unforseen barriers and advances in technologies, but you can't count on it.

When I was 8, they said I'd be wearing a jetpack. Maybe I'll finally get one.

For me, I'll sleep better keeping the cash free and have the option of going or not going to Disney whenever I please or whenever I can afford to, or not, whatever the case may be.

It appears that you haven't visited lately... disney parks are packed, in fact, disney is the no. 1 vacation destination worldwide. So I think your thinking is way way off.

You also forgot to mention global warming somewhere in your doomsday outline.