Why I am downsizing my DVC..

[SamSam]

Now the food at Disney has gone downhill, but since I go to Europe on my other vacations... that covers food I also make it a point to eat at resturants who are NOT on the DDP where the food tends to be better. Plus I want to support them so they don't go the way of the DDP and choices it forces on the resturant management.

Now I'm curious, what restaurants are NOT on the DDP? The biggest complaint dh and I have is the slipping quality at the nicer restaurants since the start of dining plans and 'free' dining.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Wow, 1550 I can only dream!!!!!!!!

As a single parent, and a Floridian, I purchased DVC just to do long week-ends, or 3 to 4 days stays. I started with 210 points, a loaded resale, with the intention to add on later. Well, 12 years later, I haven't added on, I'm comfortable with the cost of my maintenance and more importantly, I do vacation abroad and troughout the US so 210 points really has been enough. Every few years I purchase transfer points for bigger gatherings/family reunions etc. I stayed at 210 because I felt it could be manageable in my old age.

I still really enjoy the Orlando area and the resorts, a Disney fan since 1971, it's not about WDW any longer for me, it's about a quick getaway. We eat offsite often, Orlando has some really good restaurants. Luckily I've not had many instance to complain, I've had great vacations in what I considered well maintained villa's. So, I'm still happy with my 210 but I can certaily understand downsizing!

 

[spiceycat]

sorry you are selling - you are keeping VWL right?

will never have the points you have. Can only afford the Polyn when they are having a sale - haven't had many lately.

do you like the changes that Disney will do Polyn?

Sold OKW because of problems with CM - but since love BLT still happy with my purchase. of course with BLT getting the heavy hit from DVC points and maintence fees - that may change.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Now I'm curious, what restaurants are NOT on the DDP? The biggest complaint dh and I have is the slipping quality at the nicer restaurants since the start of dining plans and 'free' dining.

Sadly not many I discovered after I posted above that some of my standard fall backs as NOT on DDP have CAVED this year. So now it's probably more offsite.

Last year Bistro de Paris, Fultons and some others were NOT on the DDP. But this year... I expect the cuts to come fast and furious.....

 

[Hollymom1229]

I completely understand your decision, while I still love our DVC and have no intentions to sell, we will not be adding on anymore which was the original plan. With our 290 points we get about 2 studio weeks, or 1 1/2 weeks in a 1BDR. Pleasure Island was shut down right after we bought SSR, which is one of the main reasons we bought there. We miss the Adventurer's Club, Comedy Club, and the R&R Beach Club. As two adults with no kids PI was a big thing for us. Then with the decline in many of the restaurants we don't center our Disney trips around dining as much as we once did. We are big foodies, so another loss for us. So we vacation other places more now and keep our Disney contracts right where they are.

 

[Greysword]

Rightsizing is always good, and congrats on the decision! MG, I think you are a great example of how changes in life (kids, jobs, location, hobbies, etc) can effect the need to change our point holdings, and I wish you the best on getting a good price for your contracts.

On another note, congrats on finding a job you love! Fly small jets seems to be a career done only by those who enjoy flying, due to the effort to get into the field and effort to remain (both professionally and at home). Hats off to you for it.

 

[SamSam]

Sadly not many I discovered after I posted above that some of my standard fall backs as NOT on DDP have CAVED this year. So now it's probably more offsite.

Last year Bistro de Paris, Fultons and some others were NOT on the DDP. But this year... I expect the cuts to come fast and furious.....

Love Bistro de Paris, so that's nice to know. I'll look it up before our next trip and see if there are any of our favorites not on the dining plan. Our trips are all about wining and dining (mostly) so it is important to us.

 

[kylmac]

We always talk about adding on (especially with Grand Floridian coming) but for now we are holding at 480 (BLT and GC). We had Aulani but were able to get rid of them a few months ago-living in Northern Virginia was not real practical to own in Hawaii. Good luck with everything-I hope you have more happier times in the future.
Elizabeth

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I am with you on the Adventurers Club issue. I know you didn't say it explicitly, but I know how you feel. It was a huge mistake to shutter it. I think you're doing the right thing for you. But what if they bring it back....

I still get very angry about the AC every time I think about it. In the unlikely event it returns, I will still have a good number of points plus the cash I save in dues!!

Kungaloosh my friend!!
MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

sorry you are selling - you are keeping VWL right?

will never have the points you have. Can only afford the Polyn when they are having a sale - haven't had many lately.

do you like the changes that Disney will do Polyn?

Sold OKW because of problems with CM - but since love BLT still happy with my purchase. of course with BLT getting the heavy hit from DVC points and maintence fees - that may change.

Hi Spicey..
We are keeping some VWL points, as that was our first (DVC) love. If we ever sold all of our VWL it would only be so we could stay in the main lodge club level!!

Enjoy your BLT!!
MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I completely understand your decision, while I still love our DVC and have no intentions to sell, we will not be adding on anymore which was the original plan. With our 290 points we get about 2 studio weeks, or 1 1/2 weeks in a 1BDR. Pleasure Island was shut down right after we bought SSR, which is one of the main reasons we bought there. We miss the Adventurer's Club, Comedy Club, and the R&R Beach Club. As two adults with no kids PI was a big thing for us. Then with the decline in many of the restaurants we don't center our Disney trips around dining as much as we once did. We are big foodies, so another loss for us. So we vacation other places more now and keep our Disney contracts right where they are.

We also almost purchased SSR for PI/AC, as we don't have kids either. I still feel sick about my beloved AC.

Kungaloosh my friend!
MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Rightsizing is always good, and congrats on the decision! MG, I think you are a great example of how changes in life (kids, jobs, location, hobbies, etc) can effect the need to change our point holdings, and I wish you the best on getting a good price for your contracts.

On another note, congrats on finding a job you love! Fly small jets seems to be a career done only by those who enjoy flying, due to the effort to get into the field and effort to remain (both professionally and at home). Hats off to you for it.

Thanx, Grey..
Been flying since I was a teen. I flew for the small airlines back in the 90's before I got in the corporate end of things. It's definitely a challenge compared to the airlines, but not nearly as boring.. Always adventure!!

MG

 

[pmcpmc]

however for us it still is the perfect holiday investment.
We are off to Australia for the month of August on rented Disney points.
Our points have already paid us back in wonderful holiday memories.
We have already booked our first New year stay at BWV,our sons are goiing in September and October and my brother is taking his son down for thanksgiving
maybe you can find a cheaper way for us to fly from Ireland.
if you were to rejoin one of the larger airlines maybe we could once again get mates rates
all the very best Patrick

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes the quality of the rooms has us questioning our ownership. Just two weeks ago we stay at VWL and the couch was broken. If you sat on it, it pitched you forward throwing you off the couch. The fridge ran non stop. No hot water for morning showers everyday we were there, wifi was spotty or not available. Stayed in a studio and we went down to do laundry but only one washer was in working order. Oh and it smelled like a cat peed right by the door as you walked in!! We reported all these problems yet it was not fixed.

During our stay at VWL I sent an email to the satisfaction team who called me two days after we got home and they confirmed that they saw no work order for our VWL room. I told her not only did we report it during our stay I reported the problems again when we checked out. I did not want them to put someone else in the room until all the issues could be fixed.

During our stay we spent one night at OKW and in my opinion our room was dirty. All of the light switches were "caked" with grim. It was as if they had not been wiped down in months the dirt was so black on the switches. Wanted to do a load of laundry by Turtle Pool and again found one of the washers out of order leaving just one washer for guest.
The morning we were leaving I noticed the pipe under the kitchen sink was leaking.

Out of curiousity while at SSR I stopped in the laundry room by the main pool and it too had a washer out of order. Thankfully I did not have to do laundry while we were there!
The satifaction team did refund some of our points for the stay at VWL. We are seeing a slow decline in the quality of the rooms. I know they are rehabing some of the resorts but to have stayed at 3 different resort during our most recent stay and encountering various problems at all of them is troubling.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Yes the quality of the rooms has us questioning our ownership. Just two weeks ago we stay at VWL and the couch was broken. If you sat on it, it pitched you forward throwing you off the couch. The fridge ran non stop. No hot water for morning showers everyday we were there, wifi was spotty or not available. Stayed in a studio and we went down to do laundry but only one washer was in working order. Oh and it smelled like a cat peed right by the door as you walked in!! We reported all these problems yet it was not fixed.

During our stay at VWL I sent an email to the satisfaction team who called me two days after we got home and they confirmed that they saw no work order for our VWL room. I told her not only did we report it during our stay I reported the problems again when we checked out. I did not want them to put someone else in the room until all the issues could be fixed.

During our stay we spent one night at OKW and in my opinion our room was dirty. All of the light switches were "caked" with grim. It was as if they had not been wiped down in months the dirt was so black on the switches. Wanted to do a load of laundry by Turtle Pool and again found one of the washers out of order leaving just one washer for guest.
The morning we were leaving I noticed the pipe under the kitchen sink was leaking.

Out of curiousity while at SSR I stopped in the laundry room by the main pool and it too had a washer out of order. Thankfully I did not have to do laundry while we were there!
The satifaction team did refund some of our points for the stay at VWL. We are seeing a slow decline in the quality of the rooms. I know they are rehabing some of the resorts but to have stayed at 3 different resort during our most recent stay and encountering various problems at all of them is troubling.

This is precisely the type of stuff we see. I really like your light switch example. It's those type of less visible items that many people over look, but those are the type of things that show me the villas are not deep cleaned.

MG

 

[disneynutz]

Many don't realize that Disney like other companies, has a problem with one department working with another department. When the DVC contacts the resorts they have to ask that things get fixed, they can't tell them what to do because resorts doesn't report to the same group and the DVC doesn't have any pull.

Resorts has their marching orders and the DVC has theirs and sometimes they are different orders.

The Satisfaction Team keeps records of our contacts and reports are forwarded to the DVC management team and are also used when they meet with the resort management team so it is really important that all problems get reported to DVC Member Satisfaction.

Same with MS problems, they need to be reported because there are different groups within MS and you can't expect someone who makes a mistake to report themselves.

I have had several conversations with management and non-management and they all are very impressed with the new VP for DVD/DVC. She is reportedly working hard to improve the DVC and can often be found on property asking members for their input and concerns.

Bill

 

[buzz5985]

I saw a thread a few weeks back asking what would make you sell. Well, here are a few reasons why I am downsizing (not getting out).

1) It's only my wife and me, and we have too many points. 1550 for two people is a bit much. We are slimming down to roughly 800-ish.

2) The quality has suffered, both cleanliness and maintenance.

3) The many cutbacks at WDW have left a sour taste in my mouth. Pleasure Island, generic menus at restaurants, and Christmas cutbacks to name a few.

4) We have noticed lately that we have been treated like second class citizens when it comes to things like room preferences.

5) New instability in my career. As some here may know, I make my living as a corporate pilot. It has become politically incorrect for the wealthy to own their own aircraft. I only wish people would realize all the people those evil rich people employ when they spend those millions on a jet.

As I said, we will still stay fairly involved with DVC..... For now.

MG

Best of luck with your decision. I am so sorry about the instability with your career. There was a show on Dateline?? About China hiring all our pilots away by doubling the money they make here. It was on this past week.

Isn't it strange that we live in a time when it is unpopular to be successful??

Janis

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

MG, I hope all goes well with you, and understand that we have to make the best decisions for our own peace.

Threads like these reinforces our decision to stick with our 100 points as long as there are only 2 of us to use them. We have no desire to add on...no desire to sell. Perfect.

I would love having 800 or 1000 to play with sometime though.

 

[jekjones1558]

MG,
Glad to see you post but sorry about the subject. Hope your new points level will fit your vacation needs well. It is sad to read of DVCers unhappy with the quality of rooms. Our Oct. and Jan. stays at BWV showed a marked uptick in the quality of mousekeeping. Several other DISers noted the same thing. I will be interested to see if that is the case when we are at OKW soon. Cleanliness of units matters. Maybe someone in management is finally getting the message.
Good luck on the job front. Things are picking up in MN where I live (unemployment down to 5.6%). Obviously the economy has a ways to go but it seems to be moving in the right direction here. The corporate jets surely will follow!

 

[CarolMN]

MG,
Glad to see you post but sorry about the subject. Hope your new points level will fit your vacation needs well. It is sad to read of DVCers unhappy with the quality of rooms. Our Oct. and Jan. stays at BWV showed a marked uptick in the quality of mousekeeping. Several other DISers noted the same thing. I will be interested to see if that is the case when we are at OKW soon. Cleanliness of units matters. Maybe someone in management is finally getting the message.
Good luck on the job front. Things are picking up in MN where I live (unemployment down to 5.6%). Obviously the economy has a ways to go but it seems to be moving in the right direction here. The corporate jets surely will follow!

MG - What Jean said about the BWV & MN. Hope your job situation improves and stabilizes very soon. It's so good to be able to do what you love and get paid for it. It was fun for me to meet you and your wife at my first F&W event a few years back (Sweet Sunday). Hope to run into you again sometime. Carol