Any bad experiences as a DVC member?

[disneynut1234]

We are still deciding about a DVC membership. If anyone has anything positive or negative about the membership, please tell me. Thanks for your help with this decision!!!

[OKWTink]

Postive? Gosh, I could go on forever.

I love having the beautiful villas as my accomodations. I love the full kitchen, bath with jacuzzi, and king size bed. When I choose to stay in a studio, I love the little kitchenette that allows me to conserve my food dollars.

I love the flexibility of using the points. I can stay anywhere the points are valid (global!) and at any time of the year there is availability.

I have had excellent luck with spur of the moment arrangements.

I love the fact that it paid for itself in the first 4 1/2 years.

I don't like the higher weekend points, but hey, you have to have something from keeping it too perfect!

Wish I'd bought in sooner, for more points and wish I were able to add on points every time I wanted to!

[SorcererMickey]

I have to agree with OKWTink, we have been DVC members for just a year and it has been incredible.

The resorts are beautiful, rooms incredible, choices and flexibility cannot be matched... I cannot think of any other vacation club that comes closest to the ideal of what a vacation club should be. Our home resort is Vero Beach and we love it, its secluded, peaceful... the perfect getaway from the rigors of daily life.

I give it

[BigThunder]

We joined a year ago in June. We've taken 2 trips so far (getting ready for 3rd in 13 days) & have loved it. I only wish we'd done it sooner. I know that sounds corny or like one of the people from the videos but really I do. WE are staying in rooms & resorts that if we were paying cash we probably couldn't/wouldn't be able to do. We're staying in a 1BR at the BCV this next trip. If we were paying cash it would cost ( I believe)$390 a night plus tax. To rich for my blood. But because of the dvc we can do it. And it's not like we have a huge amount of points either. We have 220. But we can get two vacations a year out of that.

I can't think of any bad experiences. I'm constantly bugged by the fact you dont' get maid service or clean towels every night like you do in a regular room but I'm slowly coming to terms with that

[Dotty Dot]

how much does it cost to have 220 points then ???? and do you pay the same every year

[BigThunder]

Do you mean cost for points or cost for dues? Our cost for points was $17,000 I believe. The cost of points have gone up a little BUT you get 50 years instead of 40 years like I did. I guess SSR is the only one you can buy now? Not sure. As far as dues I pay around $66 a month. It's just taken directly from my checking account each month. It seems less painful than having it taken out all at once!

I think I figured up this trip we are taking would cost me over $3800 in cash if I were paying cash instead of points for the lodging. That's just one of three trips I've taken so far. I really do see it paying for itself in a short time. Yes, you will always have to pay dues but if I can pay $800 +/- in dues for the points I have & stay somewhere that would cost over $3000 in cash then it seems like a good deal to me!

[OKWTink]

You pay for the purchase of your points once. You pay dues and maintenance fees yearly. Those will rise once in awhile.

The cost for points is dependent upon whether or not you buy them directly from Disney, or buy them resale. (Resale being cheaper per point).

[spike]

We have just come back from a two week vacation and decided to join the vacation club while we were there.

A couple of the reasons we decided to join are:

1. We will not have to take our vacation in Florida every year they have places you can stay all over the world.

2. The length of contract is now 50 years and not fourty like some of the other resorts, this means we can pass it on to my daughter.

I would like to write more about our experiences on joining but i am still suffering from jet lag and need some sleep desperatley ZZZZzzzzzzz

[OKWTink]

Spike!!! Welcome home! Congratulations on being the newest DVC member (at least here on the boards)!

You are going to love your DVC so much you won't know what to do with yourself.

When you wake up, tell me where you may use your points instead of WDW? I am always interested in how folks use their point. I am so uninspired. I need to live vicariously through others' holidays.

[BigThunder]

congrats Spike! Glad you decided to take the plunge. I think you'll be happy you did. I would have liked to have gotten 50 instead of 40 but I keep telling myself I saved some money & it's not like I'm living to be 75 anyway, my kids will get it long before it expires.

I'm like you OKW, I have only used mine for WDW. Right now that's enough for me. When the kids get older then we will try other places. Well.....I have stayed at Vero Beach, does that count?