The very nature of DVC is to appeal to those who already are predispositioned to return to WDW.
I've been going to WDW for 36 years. DVC did not suddenly make me want to go more than I already intended. DVC simply was the least expensive way to stay at WDW hotels over the long haul.
I can sell any of my DVC memberships for approximately $10-$20/point more than I paid for them, even after deducting 10% commission. I don't know what barrier you're taking about.
Seriously though, the OCC website lists scores of DVC members who jettison their memberships every month by essentially what amounts to mutual agreement between Disney and the former members. There really is no barrier to dumping a membership.
Over the course of my last 24 nights in a DVC room, I've spent 3 days at WDW theme parks and another 3 at WDW water parks. (I still love the water parks.
) The rest have been spent elsewhere, mostly at Universal where, it seems, they
do give a damn about their paying customers.
There's a growing number of DVC members who simply don't go to WDW theme parks any more.
DVC villas have there own kitchens and many members don't eat meals at WDW's grossly overpriced restaurants anymore. DTD now is selling a lot of the same generic merchandise that can be found online for less.
DVC members are spending less and less at WDW, not more and more.
This is a trend that has been growing in the last 5 years. It's why Disney has, for example, offered DVC members deep discounts on its Premium Annual Pass for the last 2 years. Disney recognizes that members are no longer visiting the parks like they used to.
You'd think DVC members would be easy money.
As it turns out, they're not much different than anyone else. When they vacation in Orlando, they go where they think they get the biggest bang for the buck. Right now, it's not at WDW theme parks. Quite the opposite. Their frequent visits means they get bored with the same old same old faster than most.
With WDW's theme parks undergoing few changes in the last 5 years, members are growing bored with Disney and increasingly exploring what else Orlando has to offer.
P.S. Sorry, there's one other thing I wanted to mention.
DVC members are happy with the product, i.e. the WDW hotels, and are in no particular rush to sell. I enjoy staying at AKV even when I visit Universal.
However, DVC members are not happy with the parks, nor the price of tickets, food, or merchandise.
My (for example) BWV Maintenance Fee is up an average of 3.2% over the last 3 years. WDW ticket prices are up an average of 7% per year over the same period. WDW food prices are even worse.
Florida timeshare laws keep my annual fees in check. There isn't anything keeping the rest of WDW in check.
