DVC Website

[CaptainAmerica]

We went to Aulani a few years ago thinking it would be one and done, and now we can't wait to go back.

Same. The flight was daunting coming from the East Coast (2 kids and my wife was pregnant at the time) but it was so worth it.

We just had a DCL cruise in October with our younger son and his wife, so we are done with cruises until all the COVID stuff is done.

Funny, DCL is the one thing that I think is still worth it during COVID. I know it's certainly not "normal," but it FEELS more normal than most other things right now.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Same. The flight was daunting coming from the East Coast (2 kids and my wife was pregnant at the time) but it was so worth it.


Funny, DCL is the one thing that I think is still worth it during COVID. I know it's certainly not "normal," but it FEELS more normal than most other things right now.

Oh, we certainly think that it is still worth it, but with Omicron, we won't be cruising for now. We are both fully vaccinated and boosted, but not willing to risk it right now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

At which point I skip Walt Disney World entirely, go to Aulani in a 2BR OV every 3 years, and get my pixie dust fix from the Cruise Line.

Well you’re getting thoroughly ripped off on cruise line…but I get your point

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Funny, DCL is the one thing that I think is still worth it during COVID. I know it's certainly not "normal," but it FEELS more normal than most other things right now.

Cruises have had the roughest time of it - for obvious reasons. Sadly, it’s probably best to avoid them until this has more or less flatlined

…I bet none of them would have resumed operations if they had the choice.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Based on what I know of the AP holders for DVC vs local AP holders, outside of MF of course it's a wash. Disney's core clientele was never AP or DVC. The European visitors get different ticket offers too and don't usually do APs as well.

I do not drink and my husband will be giving it up for health reasons. We do some booths and lounges. We do more up charges lately but that's financial reasons. Like I was shut out of a VIP tour for March. We are not the average DVCer I see though. Some will do the booths and such but many are budgeting. That's why they bought DVC to begin with. We are not Disney's big money or core they want.

Some of what I say is experience (more than people want to believe…their prerogative), some fairly straight forward deductive reasoning, and admittedly some supposition to fill in the margins…nobody bats 1.000

but I’ll just pose this question and move on:
Even in a different era/time with different management, do you think they would have built it if they saw that it would become a “budgeting tool” overtime? And remember, they are exceptionally good at analyzing data.

if was never about the point fees, the dues…or the tickets.

 

[correcaminos]

Some of what I say is experience (more than people want to believe…their prerogative), some fairly straight forward deductive reasoning, and admittedly some supposition to fill in the margins…nobody bats 1.000

but I’ll just pose this question and move on:
Even in a different era/time with difference management, do you think they would have built it if they saw that it would become a “budgeting tool” overtime? And remember, they are exceptionally good at analyzing data.

if was never about the point fees, the dues…or the tickets.

Keep in mind my comments are based on what I read directly first hand from verified DVC owners

I don't think they realized what would happen when they lowered the direct buy in for new until it was too late. Making it so low caused a lot of issues as a whole. No surprise minimum new is back to 150. Before then you had to rely on small point add ons to hit resale to buy small.

DVC at first included tickets. Then no specials at all then access to FL levels. Too many weren't spending as they hoped. Now they have a huge mess of issues on hand due to small contract only owners and pandemic. The latter will resolve. The issues with allowing too many 50 point owners won't though.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Keep in mind my comments are based on what I read directly first hand from verified DVC owners

I don't think they realized what would happen when they lowered the direct buy in for new until it was too late. Making it so low caused a lot of issues as a whole. No surprise minimum new is back to 150. Before then you had to rely on small point add ons to hit resale to buy small.

DVC at first included tickets. Then no specials at all then access to FL levels. Too many weren't spending as they hoped. Now they have a huge mess of issues on hand due to small contract only owners and pandemic. The latter will resolve. The issues with allowing too many 50 point owners won't though.

I totally understand what you’re saying here

I never understand the low direct buy…that was undoubtedly a rash decision to boost sales.

that is not what they were looking to get…they want a certain type of wallet behind the DVC contract…not “limited investment”

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Well you’re getting thoroughly ripped off on cruise line…but I get your point

To clarify for us - we have never used points for a cruise, and won't. Cash only.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Keep in mind my comments are based on what I read directly first hand from verified DVC owners

I don't think they realized what would happen when they lowered the direct buy in for new until it was too late. Making it so low caused a lot of issues as a whole. No surprise minimum new is back to 150. Before then you had to rely on small point add ons to hit resale to buy small.

DVC at first included tickets. Then no specials at all then access to FL levels. Too many weren't spending as they hoped. Now they have a huge mess of issues on hand due to small contract only owners and pandemic. The latter will resolve. The issues with allowing too many 50 point owners won't though.

I'm not following... what issues do the 50 point owners cause?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

To clarify for us - we have never used points for a cruise, and won't. Cash only.

Same. As a lowly White Card, I couldn't if I wanted to, but I don't, so it doesn't matter.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

To clarify for us - we have never used points for a cruise, and won't. Cash only.

Undoubtedly…points are a terrible deal.

but even cash is 2x the competitors…the “gap”…If there is one…isn’t anywhere close to that

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Undoubtedly…points are a terrible deal.

but even cash is 2x the competitors…the “gap”…If there is one…isn’t anywhere close to that

My problem with the competitors is an atmosphere/culture thing. It's not that DCL is so much *better* per se, but it's culturally different in a way that suits my personality.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My problem with the competitors is an atmosphere/culture thing. It's not that DCL is so much *better* per se, but it's culturally different in a way that suits my personality.

That’s a fancy way of saying “I love Disney!”

but I can understand that.

a casino is unnecessary and a little low rent on other ships…but the better enhanced dining and recreation makes up for that.

I do like the movie theater on Disney ships

 

[correcaminos]

I'm not following... what issues do the 50 point owners cause?

It has put an incredible burden on the studio bookings. It's why they tried to do studios mostly at PVB and why the VGF expansion is studios only. The balance of booking types shifted during this time to a mix to more studio heavy. Helps most of the time when you are a 1 and 2 bedroom dweller but as a whole there is a massive imbalance.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That’s a fancy way of saying “I love Disney!”

I hate casinos and parties and nightlife, and I'm not a big drinker.

I think I'd like Viking Ocean Cruises without kids. Small ships, interesting itineraries, and rich old people. I'm a big fan of rich old people, in fact I hope to be one some day.

It has put an incredible burden on the studio bookings. It's why they tried to do studios mostly at PVB and why the VGF expansion is studios only. The balance of booking types shifted during this time to a mix to more studio heavy. Helps most of the time when you are a 1 and 2 bedroom dweller but as a whole there is a massive imbalance.

Good point, not to mention the pressure it puts on 2br lockoffs, which sort of forces people into paying the lockoff premium to stay in a 1br.

 

[nickys]

If that’s the case…then they’ve missed the point. The reason Marriott (what DVC used as a model), DVC, etc exist was to break the week model of low grade timeshares.

that “our week” stuff is archaic and tasteless.

back story: I worked with the original DVC gm later in his tenure. Enlightening.

But you’re not buying “your week”. The point is that you have flexibility to choose what week to go or whether to split it into three shorter stays. That is breaking the model.

No way could we afford flights to the US every year. The DVC model allowed us to use the on site timeshare but use it once every 3 years, by which time we’d have saved enough to fly over there.

Equally even if you only have enough points for one week, you can book in May one year and April the next and get value out of an AP.

There is more than one way to use DVC. There is no such thing as “the correct way”.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

@helenabear could DVC "solve" this by simply jacking up the points cost of studios?

 

[correcaminos]

@helenabear could DVC "solve" this by simply jacking up the points cost of studios?

For every time they up some room types they have to reduce points elsewhere. So it would be tough but they could adjust. You run the risk of ticking off studio only dwellers.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

For every time they up some room types they have to reduce points elsewhere.

I thought that a studio that's part of a lockoff 2BR is essentially excluded from that calculation, and that the "total points cost" of a resort for a given year only applies to 2BR units.

Disney can't increase the total points at the resort, but if a 2BR is 30, a studio is 15, and a 1BR is 25, the total points cost at that resort is 30, not 40.

 

[nickys]

You really are out of touch with a good number of who DVC people are now I think. I'm also not sure what you are getting at with point amounts too. There are many DVC people who are budgeters and come once every two or so years who do cook entirely in rooms. It's changed.

You do DVC your way and obviously not enough to have an AP, but your way isn't all what others do. They may not spend as you do.

We would certainly tend towards that group. We don’t cook entirely in the room but we almost always have breakfast (bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, cereal) in the room and try to do at least every other dinner in the room.
But we love the lounges and spend quite a few evenings in them.

they are attempting to “break” the core clientele - easy examples Florida residents, DVC and the 2 weekers from the UK - into “accepting” the daily ticket fees. Which are a horrid ripoff all things considered based on today’s conditions.

Not sure why you would group the U.K. visitors in with DVC.
Our ticket deals are still good, despite a couple of sneaky changes as of November. Date based pricing, albeit that it’s really only Christmas and New Year that is an extra $100 per person over the rest of the year. And it seems that the water parks now count as a “park day” - although it’s ambiguous and I’m trying to get confirmation. But per day it’s still good value compared with the US tickets.

I thought that a studio that's part of a lockoff 2BR is essentially excluded from that calculation, and that the "total points cost" of a resort for a given year only applies to 2BR units.

Disney can't increase the total points at the resort, but if a 2BR is 30, a studio is 15, and a 1BR is 25, the total points cost at that resort is 30, not 40.

Correct on the lockoffs only counting as 2-beds, but the total points cost includes all room types - dedicated studios, dedicated 1-beds, 2-beds and GFVs. Pretty sure all resorts have some dedicated studios and 1-beds. If they increased the cost of studios then it has to be offset somewhere else. They started doing that but back-tracked part way…. they’ll almost certainly make another shift soon.

And if they do that then those members who were permitted to buy just 50 points direct will have a valid grievance.