Why would anyone sell their DVC membership?

[RAMWDWFAN]

I sold my membership because my baby is now 21 years old. I have two other timeshares (Fairfield and Hilton) and use them to stay in Orlando and my favorite vacation spot, Las Vegas. But lately I've been considering buying a new membership. There's something about staying on property in a one bedroom at SSR...

 

[edk35]

I feel like I can answer this because we are considering selling ours. A major reason is that I love hotels. I love daily maid service. I love nightly turn-down service. I hate the fact that you don't get fresh towels and clean sheets every night at DVC reosrts, unless you pay extra for it. I thought when we bought that I would get used to these things (after 2 trips) and be okay with just washing our towels daily, but I didn't.

I also want to stay at different resorts at Disney. I want to stay at the POLY with the MK view. I want to stay at the BC or YC. I feel tied to BWV, which is our home resort. Don't get me wrong, I love the BW. It's just that last trip when we took the boat from the MK to eat at Kona, I was sad walking into the great cerimonial hall, knowing that I can't really stay here with DVC. I feel too much that my vacation decisions are decided for me for the next 30 some years and I don't really like it. When I told DH that I want to stay at the POLY in May 08, I expected him to talk me out of it, because of DVC. Instead he told me that I should book the trip I want and maybe we should sell our DVC contract. At the very least, we can bank our points. I booked the POLY. DH is now trying to convince me to switch to the YC/BC (his favs) and we'll do the premium plan. He knows I love premium plans and is just trying to get me to switch to his resort.

I want to go on a Disney cruise maybe next year. Except that I know that I can't use DVC for that-way too many points-we are a family of 5. That makes me feel like we shouldn't do the cruise. Or maybe we should just sell the DVC and than pay for the vacations we want to do. In 2 years we want to go to Universal-my kids are huge, huge Harry Potter fans. I know we will all want to stay at a Universal resort-and then that's another vacation not using DVC. We want to go to Hawaii in a few years when our DD 5 is older. I want to actually research and PICK to hotel we stay at, not hope for an aceptable trade through Interval.

In retrospect, buying DVC probably wasn't the best fit for our family and the way we like to vacation. After 2 trips at BWV, I am ready to stay somewhere else. However the only other DVC resort we would do is the BCV. I don't want to have to call at 7 mos day by day, go on waiting lists, etc. I just want to pick up the phone and call WDW travel and tell them I want to stay at the BC-done! I feel like using DVC every trip we would be settling for something that wasn't our first choice. I'm thinking DH is probably right and that we should sell. I have to admit that the thought of selling makes me feel happy-kind of like we'll be free to than do whatever we want with our vacations. I guess that's a sign we should sell.

WOW so what made you guys buy in the first place if you don't mind me asking? I mean everything you write here is so NOT DVC....and was wondering why you even bought in. Maybe you can sell off some points and keep a smaller contract. We too are a family of 5 and we are so excited to stay at our home resort for the first time and HAVE ALL THAT WONDERFUL ROOM AND COMFORT. You are really limited to where you can stay as a family of 5 when it comes to Disney hotels or any hotel for that matter.

 

[WDWBarb]

I have a question what is CRV??

The (at the time still-rumored) Contemporary Resort Villas. Again - just rumored, never confirmed (although that might give me a reason to buy into DVC!).

 

[NMW]

WOW so what made you guys buy in the first place if you don't mind me asking? I mean everything you write here is so NOT DVC....and was wondering why you even bought in. Maybe you can sell off some points and keep a smaller contract. We too are a family of 5 and we are so excited to stay at our home resort for the first time and HAVE ALL THAT WONDERFUL ROOM AND COMFORT. You are really limited to where you can stay as a family of 5 when it comes to Disney hotels or any hotel for that matter.

As a family of 5, there are quite a few resorts you can stay at in WDW. The BC/YC, BWI, POLY, CR, GF. You can also stay in a JR suite at WL I know because we looked into that before. Most hotels we have stayed at in places other than WDW, for example the Hilton we stayed in last month 2 nights for a wedding, provide a roll away bed. It was really pretty comfortable and perfect for one of my sons. If we were staying longer than 2 nights, we would have just gotten 2 rooms.

I guess we bought because we love the Epcot resorts and thought it made financial sense to do so. Kind-of like pre-paying for our vacations. We only would have bought BWV or BCV because they are connected to hotels we like. At first I was happy. The extra space is nice and I like the washer and dryer. I just find myself longing to stay in other hotels now and feel sort of trapped. If that makes any sense. I KNOW I can book the POLY and pay cash for it anyway, but then I feel I am "wasting" this DVC contract I pay monthly dues on. Even my husband when we walked into both the YC and the GF asked me if it bothered me that we can't stay at these resorts for our vacations. It does. I have never stayed at the GF and it's not in my top 3 resorts, but I might want to stay there SOME DAY. However, owning DVC and not using it for our WDW trips seems pretty stupid to me. I paid for it, I should use it-right? I should add that we only do one 9 day trip to WDW per school year, which we take our kids out of school for. We can't and wouldn't take them out more than once.

I really do want to do a Disney cruise and I really do want to stay at a Universal resort when we go there in a couple years. Neither of those vacations would use DVC. So, I would have to keep banking points or lose them. Or, I'd have to not take these vacations altogether and just stay at BWV. I have no interest in the whole renting points thing. That's something I would never do.

We have friends who own DVC and stay every year at OKW for like the past 8 years. So, a lot more than our 2 DVC trips. I asked them if when they walk into someplace like the POLY to eat dinner if they get a little sad that they can't just say "next year let's stay here and try the concierge." You know because of the whole owning DVC and not using it to stay at a DVC resort is dumb thing. They looked at me like I was crazy! They claim that OKW is like their home and they would never, ever want to stay anywhere else. I said "EVER??" and they said "yes." This line of thought baffles me and is probably what makes them perfect for DVC and me not so much.

I think we rushed into DVC. We heard about it from our friends for years and finally looked into it when they began to sell SSR. We didn't want SSR and weren't going to buy. Then, a year later we found out that we could buy a resale of an Epcot DVC, and jumped on it. Like we literally bought it that week.

 

[mprewitt]

I just find myself longing to stay in other hotels now and feel sort of trapped. If that makes any sense. I KNOW I can book the POLY and pay cash for it anyway, but then I feel I am "wasting" this DVC contract I pay monthly dues on.... However, owning DVC and not using it for our WDW trips seems pretty stupid to me....
I really do want to do a Disney cruise and I really do want to stay at a Universal resort when we go there in a couple years. Neither of those vacations would use DVC.

You are aware that you CAN use your DVC points to stay at the WDW resorts, as well as for a Disney cruise, right? You are not just limted to staying at DVC resorts.

 

[iluvflorida8]

We owned DVC 98-05. Decided to move to Vero Beach from Ohio.So we sold our 600 pts(OKW+VB) and have been living in Vero for the last 2 years.Best decision we ever made.

Since we are onlyand hour and 20 minutes miles from WDW we didn't see the need to pay dues every month.So now we have Florida residents Seasonal Passess.

 

[crisi]

You are aware that you CAN use your DVC points to stay at the WDW resorts, as well as for a Disney cruise, right? You are not just limted to staying at DVC resorts.

Yep, but it doesn't make great financial sense - the rates on those options go up every year and particularly with the WDW resorts, AP discounts can usually bring the cost down below the cost per DVC point. Cash is simply more flexible - and you don't have the time value of money issues ($15,000 tied up in DVC goes a long way to turning cruising on points from 'cost comparable' to 'not a great financial decision.').

I'm a little like NMW, but more content - having the kids sleep in a different room is worth not getting clean towels or beds made or have cost effective stays at the Poly. So we are likely to hang onto ours longer. But I think that around here we often like to tell people that DVC is a Deluxe resort - it isn't, in a Deluxe resort my bed gets made every day. And it may be true that most DVC members don't care, or even prefer no daily maid service, but that isn't going to hold true universally. (I don't give a darn about clean towels, but four days of trash and unmade beds I do care about, not enough to pay for maidservice though). We are big around here on "its the best thing I've ever done, should have done it sooner" and not so big on "I DO miss the Poly, and while CRV (should it happen) will put me on the monorail, it still won't be the Poly." And for moderate resort loyalists (I visited POR for the first time when I was down in Orlando for a conference, beautiful) you are probably spending more to get something you don't really want.

 

[mprewitt]

Yep, but it doesn't make great financial sense - the rates on those options go up every year and particularly with the WDW resorts, AP discounts can usually bring the cost down below the cost per DVC point. Cash is simply more flexible - and you don't have the time value of money issues ($15,000 tied up in DVC goes a long way to turning cruising on points from 'cost comparable' to 'not a great financial decision.').

Yes, I understand that. However, the person I was responding to talked about paying cash for WDW resorts; potentially wasting their points. If you're tired of the DVC resorts, you can use your points for the WDW resorts. I personally wouldn't, since I get maximum value from staying at a DVC resort.

 

[mprewitt]

But I think that around here we often like to tell people that DVC is a Deluxe resort - it isn't, in a Deluxe resort my bed gets made every day. And it may be true that most DVC members don't care, or even prefer no daily maid service, but that isn't going to hold true universally.

The various resort categories are just groupings of resorts with similar (not identical) amenities. All Deluxe resorts are not identical.

Disney doesn't group DVC resorts in with the Deluxe resorts, but groups them in a separate (4th) grouping.

Yet, in terms of room size and amenities, I think DVC is closer to the Deluxe category than the Moderate category.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Disney doesn't group DVC resorts in with the Deluxe resorts, but groups them in a separate (4th) grouping.

Yet, in terms of room size and amenities, I think DVC is closer to the Deluxe category than the Moderate category.

Yes, they do group the DVC Resorts in a fourth category, but...
They are actually "deluxe". For example, BWV, VWL, BCV, and AKV are all part of a deluxe resort. DVC has yet to add a resort to a moderate.
This means room service, valet parking, and all amenities available to WL guests are available to VWL guests (and the same for BCV, BWV, and AKV).

In my opinion the fourth category was created to differentiate a room with kitchens, living rooms, and so forth. Kind of like a "deluxe plus"

MG

 

[AnotherNYCKid]

Quite interesting answers here. I am currently not a TS holder of any kind. DVC is looking like our choice because, well simply, she LOVES WDW. And I like it enough to where I can see the value.

It seems like WDW is the only vacation most posters here are taking. I'd never go for that. But with airfares the way they are and gas prices going up and up I easily can see a couple 4 day 3 night stays each year for the forseeable future at least. So I personally wouldnt see selling. Seems if you dont want your points in a year banking would work or set up a friend.

Basically there is value in it if you use it and there are options to where dont need to always go. Go for a shorter time.

So selling some points, I can see. All, Nope. Not me.

 

[Donna]

In my opinion the fourth category was created to differentiate a room with kitchens, living rooms, and so forth. Kind of like a "deluxe plus"

MG

Exactly. That is why it's called "home away from home". Most people don't have their towels changed over at home every single day, they wash and clean as needed. I think disney meant for owners to feel they are truly "living at disney world", or as close to that as you can get. I never cared for the "hotel feel" of the dvc's that have deluxes attached but for those members that like that, it is great. I prefer OKW for the golf course community atmosphere that you get when staying there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Exactly. That is why it's called "home away from home". Most people don't have their towels changed over at home every single day, they wash and clean as needed. I think disney meant for owners to feel they are truly "living at disney world", or as close to that as you can get. I never cared for the "hotel feel" of the dvc's that have deluxes attached but for those members that like that, it is great. I prefer OKW for the golf course community atmosphere that you get when staying there.

Take a look over at the WDW website. They don't use the term "home away from home" any more. They just call them DVC resorts.

 

[crisi]

My point is though that regardless of the availability of room service or staying in the same building as the BWI, there is a qualitative difference between DVC and a Deluxe resort. The rooms aren't kept up as well. You don't get clean towels every day (unless you are willing to pay for them). If you are a Deluxe hotel lover, and you buy DVC expecting a Deluxe hotel, you may be content - or you may be disappointed. We tend to say "DVC is just as good" and in some cases we say "they are better" than the Deluxes - but that is only true if you don't place a high value on having your bed made every day (or whatever else you liked about Deluxes).

 

[Donna]

My point is though that regardless of the availability of room service or staying in the same building as the BWI, there is a qualitative difference between DVC and a Deluxe resort. The rooms aren't kept up as well. You don't get clean towels every day (unless you are willing to pay for them). If you are a Deluxe hotel lover, and you buy DVC expecting a Deluxe hotel, you may be content - or you may be disappointed. We tend to say "DVC is just as good" and in some cases we say "they are better" than the Deluxes - but that is only true if you don't place a high value on having your bed made every day (or whatever else you liked about Deluxes).

"kept up" meaning maintenance or "kept up" meaning clean towels and beds made? I think people see the space in a DVC resort and get won over by that. Then sooner or later, they either miss the daily housekeeping or they don't (i love not having the intrusion), and then if they miss that too much, they either use the points for a "deluxe" or they sell. If you go on vacation expecting those conveniences, DVC isn't for you for sure. I know when we bought in , in 1996, "home away from home" was stressed and that is why they say Welcome Home when you check in, not Welcome to your Vacation Room, lol.

 

[crisi]

"kept up" meaning maintenance or "kept up" meaning clean towels and beds made? I think people see the space in a DVC resort and get won over by that. Then sooner or later, they either miss the daily housekeeping or they don't (i love not having the intrusion), and then if they miss that too much, they either use the points for a "deluxe" or they sell. If you go on vacation expecting those conveniences, DVC isn't for you for sure. I know when we bought in , in 1996, "home away from home" was stressed and that is why they say Welcome Home when you check in, not Welcome to your Vacation Room, lol.

Maintenace as well. I've never been in a DVC room where at least one drawer wasn't broken, one light burned out, there was a rip in the upholstry or obvious stains on the carpet or the toilet wouldn't stop running. Its never been a "big enough deal" that I'm not satisfied - I think I'm getting a deal with DVC. But if my room at the Grand Floridan had drawers broken, stains on the carpet, or lights burned out - I'd complain to the manager.

The studio room isn't any bigger than a Deluxe room (except for AKL and VWL). The one/two bedrooms (and GVs) win people over (and that is why we are owners), but the one bedrooms aren't saving you money over a single regular deluxe room.

So if you bought planning on saving money in DVC Studios and having a Deluxe resort experience, you may be disappointed.

(If Disney would guarentee connecting studios for a family of four, I'd sell - but they won't.)

 

[NMW]

You are aware that you CAN use your DVC points to stay at the WDW resorts, as well as for a Disney cruise, right? You are not just limted to staying at DVC resorts.

Yes, of course I am, but I also know that it's a terrible value. Because we are a family of 5, on the Disney cruise we need the deluxe family stateroom which is about 700 points during regular season-not even peak-on a 7 night western caribbean cruise (the one we want to do). We could use 270 points for a 2 bedroom villa at the boardwalk for 7 nights. That's a terrible value.

The points at the resorts are not a much better deal. Let me explain that we didn't buy DVC planning to trade into WDW hotels or cruises. We knew that was a bad choice. We thought we'd be happy with DVC resorts always.

 

[NMW]

My point is though that regardless of the availability of room service or staying in the same building as the BWI, there is a qualitative difference between DVC and a Deluxe resort. The rooms aren't kept up as well. You don't get clean towels every day (unless you are willing to pay for them). If you are a Deluxe hotel lover, and you buy DVC expecting a Deluxe hotel, you may be content - or you may be disappointed. We tend to say "DVC is just as good" and in some cases we say "they are better" than the Deluxes - but that is only true if you don't place a high value on having your bed made every day (or whatever else you liked about Deluxes).

This is us exactly. I thought that because BWV was attached to the BWI it would be the same thing, but it's not. It does not not feel like the deluxe hotel to me. I miss the towels, I miss the housekeeping. I like turn down service with those little chocolates. I know many DVC members don't care about these things, but I do.

Also, maybe it's just the experience we had with our two DVC trips...but the CM's checking us in didn't seem to treat us the same way as they did when we stayed in the deluxe hotels. They were polite and quick but, just kind of like "your room won't be ready until after 4." Maybe it was just our luck but every trip we ever had in a deluxe hotel at WDW prior to DVC, was a different (wonderful) experience. The CM's went out of their way to offer free upgrades (3 times) and ALWAYS gave us a choice of several room locations. At our 2 DVC check-ins I felt like they were just saying "yeah, here's your room." It didn't bother me at the time and it still really doesn't, but it's just not the same experience.

I just wanted to add that I'm certainly not slamming DVC. I think it's a great program. Our friends love it. It just may not be for everyone-people who want to stay in other deluxe hotels at Disney, do cruises, or non-Disney vacations like Universal, etc.

 

[JimC]

Maintenace as well. I've never been in a DVC room where at least one drawer wasn't broken, one light burned out, there was a rip in the upholstry or obvious stains on the carpet or the toilet wouldn't stop running. Its never been a "big enough deal" that I'm not satisfied - I think I'm getting a deal with DVC. But if my room at the Grand Floridan had drawers broken, stains on the carpet, or lights burned out - I'd complain to the manager....

I would inform maintenance about those items in any room of any hotel. And I would expect them to be repaired.

 

[JimC]

This is us exactly. I thought that because BWV was attached to the BWI it would be the same thing, but it's not. It does not not feel like the deluxe hotel to me. I miss the towels, I miss the housekeeping. I like turn down service with those little chocolates. I know many DVC members don't care about these things, but I do. ....

Timeshares like DVC are not hotels and are not meant to be like hotels. If you want a first class hotel experience, then timeshares are not what you should pursue. Unless you want to go with fractionals like Ritz or Four Seasons.

Nice thing about Disney is that they cover a broad spectrum of vacation experience -- Something for everyone.