I am with DVCowner on the hate stuff towards DVC owners. DVC is not a normal timeshare company and you don't "buy weeks" you buy "points" to use when you want to. It is not for everyone but it works for some families.
ChrisM there may be folks that think you are a "Rube" for spending too much time on a Disney Message Board. Just my 2 cents.
-Steve
First off I don't consider myself a rube either.
The DVC has a number of difference that make it, to me, beneficial over a 'normal' time share.
1) The fact that you have points, not weeks.
2) The fact that you can book on short notice and still have a pretty good chance of getting a room (not maybe where you want with the view you want, but still a room) - of course peak times do not apply
3) The fact that there are other resorts in the DVC system (Vero Beach, Hilton Head, California, and Hawaii) that I can stay at without invoking transfer costs or draconiain booking requirements.
4) The fact that Disneys ROFR keeps the resale market at a decent level. Meaning if for some reason I ever have to sell my DVC units, I will get at least a somewhat decent price.
I took a long look at the DVC and it does work for me. I pay $702 in dues per year. I have enough points to stay roughly for a week in a deluxe level resort - $100 a night. Of course I also factored in all the up front costs. But what it comes down to now, is the DVC takes about $60 out of my checking automaticly each month, and when vacation time comes, I do not worry about accomidations.
I have friends who own other timeshares, who have been looking at the DVC because it addresses the shortcommings they are finding in the ones they already own.
-dave