Will the new studio policy......weaken our trading power?

[alldiz]

I doubt it'll make any difference. Studios are not that desirable overall, even for DVC. And if the extra $95 fee DVC charges inbound exchangers doesn't do it, I doubt anything will. DVC studios have always been sub par compared to many others out there esp for Marriott. And the truth is that DVC doesn't have that great of trade power/value anyway.

I know your right....DVC has been dissapointing me lately and I'm only a member for a year.

Before DVC I turned my nose up at all timeshares because of their cheesy sales and hi pressure tactics.

Last month I visited Silverleaf Resorts because my niece who owns there invited us for the weekend. I just knew it would not compare in any way to DVC and in fact, they apologized because they knew it would never stack up.

Well I was surprised! Especially for the money, dues, and distance.

So the timeshares are definitely coming up and we are actually considering selling most of our DVC and buying a resale Silverleaf for quick getaways and maybe a more upscale timeshare like 4 Seasons for our Golden years. Im not really feeling the magic with DVC anymore and our ownership outlook is short term like 1-3 years.

Never would consider another timeshare.....till now .....they better
put those mugs back.....or mousekeeping will get harrassed....not right.

For MANY this is a large inconvenience: they will now need to haul to WDW all the mugs, glasses, & soap to outfit the now useless kitchenette.

For MOST it's the principle: DVC has once again degraded the value to the existing membership to either 1) save a buck or 2) misguidedly fix the housekeeping 'issue.' In either case DVC clearly was not thinking of our best interest. I’m slowly realizing that we are considered a captive audience of fanatics and, as such, we’re on the bottom of list to satisfy.

Exactly this is what pisses me off. These bigwigs think they can do anything
and we will just lie down and say thankyou....Not this time....If you see
a crazy person in the lobby of BWV on 4-17 around 10:30am....it's me demanding coffee mugs.
Kerri

 

[spiceycat]

timeshares are definitely coming up and we are actually considering selling most of our DVC and buying a resale Silverleaf for quick getaways and maybe a more upscale timeshare like 4 Seasons for our Golden years. Im not really feeling the magic with DVC anymore and our ownership outlook is short term like 1-3 years.

yes but DVC is the only timeshare on WDW property. as long as they have the guest benefits will kept DVC.

you can do what some of us do - sell part of your DVC then buy silverleaf or some other timeshares.

as long as I love WDW and staying onsite - will kept DVC. now it might get smaller. Especially since the kids (DNi & DNE) are at college or almost (junior). Definitely time to down grade or shortly.

 

[littlestar]

Before DVC I turned my nose up at all timeshares because of their cheesy sales and hi pressure tactics.

Last month I visited Silverleaf Resorts because my niece who owns there invited us for the weekend. I just knew it would not compare in any way to DVC and in fact, they apologized because they knew it would never stack up.

Well I was surprised! Especially for the money, dues, and distance.

So the timeshares are definitely coming up and we are actually considering selling most of our DVC and buying a resale Silverleaf for quick getaways and maybe a more upscale timeshare like 4 Seasons for our Golden years. Im not really feeling the magic with DVC anymore and our ownership outlook is short term like 1-3 years.

It can definitely be a real eye opener looking at the competition in Orlando. Marriott Grande Vista studios are bigger than DVC studios and have king size beds.

Talk about nice Orlando timeshare properties - there are some very nice ones out there! We stayed at Marriott Cypress Harbour again this past month and my husband prefers it to DVC (except a 1 or 2 bedroom at VWL - then it's a tie). We've scaled our DVC points down because we like Marriott quality so well. Bathrooms were spotless at the pools and checked frequently by housekeeping - I was amazed at the upkeep. They have excellent management.

 

[LIFERBABE]

It can definitely be a real eye opener looking at the competition in Orlando. Marriott Grande Vista studios are bigger than DVC studios and have king size beds.

Talk about nice Orlando timeshare properties - there are some very nice ones out there! We stayed at Marriott Cypress Harbour again this past month and my husband prefers it to DVC (except a 1 or 2 bedroom at VWL - then it's a tie). We've scaled our DVC points down because we like Marriott quality so well. Bathrooms were spotless at the pools and checked frequently by housekeeping - I was amazed at the upkeep. They have excellent management.

Thank you for sharing.

After 5 years of owning, the parks are not that big of a draw for us. We really dont use the onsite benefits like EMH or ME most of the time. 3-5 hours is plenty for us in any park.
Family time is important to us and we still love vacationing at WDW, but this year we will have passports for all of us and with the reduction in DVC quality and service, the cost and the distance, other options are looking pretty good.
Im sorry, but I write a check every month and I dont feel warm and fuzzy knowing Im getting less and less but they are charging us more in dues.

And I agree, Jim Lewis looks at us as a bunch of fanatics that will buy anything and put up with anything. The OKW extension is another example of that. Make the members pay for their equity in the resort?

 

[BillPA]

Changed my mind.

 

[toocherie]

I am in the minority on this one (although we haven't stayed in a studio in a long time).

I am always a little grossed out by the questionable cleaning methods used by any hotel/motel/timeshare housekeeper. Haven't you heard about the glasses being just wiped out with a cleaning rag between guests?

Since there is not a dishwasher in the studios so that I can make sure my mug or wine glass is nicely sanitized, I much prefer the paper products. We don't eat much in our room anyway, usually just a quick breakfast. That is what the WDW restaurants are for! (at least as far as my family is concerned)

Now about those coffeepots.....

But really, how do we know ANYTHING is sanitized in a unit? I believe we take it "on faith" that the sinks, tubs and toilets have all been properly cleaned between visitors--but can we really know? I pooh-poohed some of the posters I have read here on dis who indicate they give their units a cleaning when they first arrive . . . . but the more I read the more I think they may be right!

 

[ldo]

we were at a MArriott suite in Fl that even had a DW and they had a big sign posted saying "we cannot certify that plates, cups, etc. have been sanitze according to OHSA regulation blah, blah, blah..." I have seen it at a few other hotels with kitchens, as well.
The only acceptable thing without a DW is to take out all dishes, cups, and put them in a DW somewhere and replace them with every stay. I am sure that DVC decided disposable was cheaper and easier---personally, it is fine with me---without a DW--it sort of gives me the creeps to use them anyway. I will just put a mug and a few microwable bowls in my luggage.

 

[LIFERBABE]

You can easily sanitize anything with a bleach tab or sanitizer. No need to change out the entire kitchen between guests.

If these things really bother anyone, they should not own a multi occupant product. Nothing gets sanitized between guests and if it did, they would have a hard time proving it, short of cleaning while the guest is present and watching.

I personally dont trust any of it, (I worked housekeeping) but once I arrive I bring the Villa up to my comfort level and enjoy the rest of my stay.

 

[eliza61]

After 5 years of owning, the parks are not that big of a draw for us. We really dont use the onsite benefits like EMH or ME most of the time. 3-5 hours is plenty for us in any park.
Family time is important to us and we still love vacationing at WDW, but this year we will have passports for all of us and with the reduction in DVC quality and service, the cost and the distance, other options are looking pretty good.
Im sorry, but I write a check every month and I dont feel warm and fuzzy knowing Im getting less and less but they are charging us more in dues.
:

I guess it is all how you look at it. I've owned for 6 years now and I did look around, we have not been interested in any other time share simply because we like to stay on site. Our main reason for purchase was to get a deluxe room at a savings over time. So I guess since we still go mainly for the parks, if they ended all the perks associated with it, I would still keep my membership. It still gives me a great room at a much lower price. I generally go 2 times a year and have been extremely fortunate in that my rooms have been great and my service excellent.

 

[Dean]

Before DVC I turned my nose up at all timeshares because of their cheesy sales and hi pressure tactics.

Last month I visited Silverleaf Resorts because my niece who owns there invited us for the weekend. I just knew it would not compare in any way to DVC and in fact, they apologized because they knew it would never stack up.

Well I was surprised! Especially for the money, dues, and distance.

So the timeshares are definitely coming up and we are actually considering selling most of our DVC and buying a resale Silverleaf for quick getaways and maybe a more upscale timeshare like 4 Seasons for our Golden years. Im not really feeling the magic with DVC anymore and our ownership outlook is short term like 1-3 years.

Don't people hate it when I'm right? I'd caution you to looks around a little more and make sure that's the best option for you. If it is, go for it, but if that's about all you've seen, there might still be even better and/or cheaper options for you.

I know your right....DVC has been dissapointing me lately and I'm only a member for a year.

We've been members for 14 years (almost) and DVC certainly has changed. Some of those changes were for the better and some for the worse but overall I'd say the growth and new resorts has been good but the niceties have certainly gone downhill. I realize some of this is inherent in the growth, but much of it is not, IMO. I think DVC has lost sight of the customer service that was plentiful in the early days and if it continues, the system and all members will suffer eventually. That's not to say it's bad, it's not, just that it is not as good as it once was and probably not good enough to consistently keep many of the members happy. Some won't be happy no matter what but if DVC doesn't start sweating the small stuff eventually the entire system and membership is likely to suffer.

I bought DVC because I felt it made good sense for us to do so. That is still the case at the present time though the field has certainly shifted. There are reasons that DVC doesn't have control over, my knowledge is far more and my options for other and cheaper choices are also far greater. These are the kind of reasons why I say that anyone who has the emotional aspects of DVC at the core of their enjoyment and value are making a big mistake. Anyone who owns DVC should do so because it makes financial sense for them, the rest is just icing on the cake.

 

[bounceliketigger]

yes but DVC is the only timeshare on WDW property. as long as they have the guest benefits will kept DVC.

you can do what some of us do - sell part of your DVC then buy silverleaf or some other timeshares.

as long as I love WDW and staying onsite - will kept DVC. now it might get smaller. Especially since the kids (DNi & DNE) are at college or almost (junior). Definitely time to down grade or shortly.

I own DVC and some other timeshares & I have to say, other than for peak times and short stays, my dollar is starting to look better with the other timeshares. First, you can spend ALOT LESS and still get great times, great locations and even 2 br villas in DVC when you trade w/ II.