Tour and info.

[NEL]

Hello everyone,

I am an avid WDW visitor. I live in FL and I visit WDW about 6 times a year. I have been interested in learning about DVC before but have been hesitant because I am afraid of being locked into a system with lots of restrictions and hassle, I also don't like to go to tours because I feel pressured to buy. I just got a mailer inviting me to do a "phone tour" and offering me a $40 Disney gift card if I do. My question is if DVC offer perks like this to tour either by phone or at WDW and if they do is $40 usually what they offer or do they offer more or less. Also, are they high pressure sellers. Any and all info, tips, suggestions, and reviews will be great .

THANKS

 

[tjkraz]

Typically low pressure. All salespeople are different so I hate to speak in absolutes but reports of high pressure are very few and far between. Honestly if the salesperson senses that you are not interested, there is a greater risk that he/she will rush through the presentation to get rid of you and move on to the next prospect.

But you will not be subject to the tactics other timeshares often employ: locking you in a room, making you stay through the full commitment, verbal abuse if you are reluctant to buy, etc.

As for the incentives DVC offers, I'd say the $40 is toward the higher end of their maximum incentive.

When DVC has done the "phone tour" incentives in the past, it's usually $25. Those offers tend to be selectively extended to certain prospects. You really can't call up and say "I'm ready to talk--how much are you offering now?" Perhaps they got your name from a Passholder list, recent Disney hotel stay, etc.

If you tour while on Disney property, usually they will offer some instant FastPasses as a reward. It's a card that will return a FP which can be immediately used rather than waiting the usual 1-2 hours. They typically grant 3 FPs per person in your party.

Very occasionally they will also offer gift cards to those touring on-site. But again, those offers are scattered and seemingly random. I've been told they are often tied to foot traffic at the sales center--if it's a slow day, or even a slow hour, they'll offer a little extra to convince folks to tour.

For $40, there's probably no reason to NOT take the tour. Especially if you have some interest in DVC. Odds of getting a better offer are relatively slim.

 

[NEL]

Typically low pressure. All salespeople are different so I hate to speak in absolutes but reports of high pressure are very few and far between. Honestly if the salesperson senses that you are not interested, there is a greater risk that he/she will rush through the presentation to get rid of you and move on to the next prospect.

But you will not be subject to the tactics other timeshares often employ: locking you in a room, making you stay through the full commitment, verbal abuse if you are reluctant to buy, etc.

As for the incentives DVC offers, I'd say the $40 is toward the higher end of their maximum incentive.

When DVC has done the "phone tour" incentives in the past, it's usually $25. Those offers tend to be selectively extended to certain prospects. You really can't call up and say "I'm ready to talk--how much are you offering now?" Perhaps they got your name from a Passholder list, recent Disney hotel stay, etc.

If you tour while on Disney property, usually they will offer some instant FastPasses as a reward. It's a card that will return a FP which can be immediately used rather than waiting the usual 1-2 hours. They typically grant 3 FPs per person in your party.

Very occasionally they will also offer gift cards to those touring on-site. But again, those offers are scattered and seemingly random. I've been told they are often tied to foot traffic at the sales center--if it's a slow day, or even a slow hour, they'll offer a little extra to convince folks to tour.

For $40, there's probably no reason to NOT take the tour. Especially if you have some interest in DVC. Odds of getting a better offer are relatively slim.

Thanks for all the info. If they are low pressure and this seems like a good offer I will probably go ahead and sign up for it.

 

[goodanu]

When we did our tour the four of us each received a $15.00 gift card. They actually gave us five so we got $75.00 to tour...well worth the time. We were never pressured to buy.

 

[dreamfinder]

That's about the best you can do. I think we got $50, or maybe $100, when we toured onsite I can't remember, but we had a flyer in our room and we had to bring it with us. Otherwise it would have just been the fastpasses.

The only real pressure will be a possible offer of a lower point buy in if you seem unsure about the initial numbers mentioned. It's really low key.

 

[EOD K9]

I purchased my ownership back in 2005. At the time, they gave you a free certificate for a meal and a later scoop in the ice cream shop at Saratoga Springs. My guide was very low pressure. At no time did I feel pressured. Like most people, I was kicking myself for not taking the tour sooner. If you can afford it, and makes financial sense for your family, take the tour and buy.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have been on the tour twice and they are about as low pressure as you can get. On the last tour we did, the cast member flat out told us that DVC was not for us.

 

[toolsnspools]

We stopped by just to show my Mom some of the model rooms. They were more than happy to walk us through the models and let us have a look around.

They even had wicked good Florida Orange Juice in the lobby. Yum...

 

[Sumrdog]

We got a 100$ gift card in 2010, they gave the kids each a coloring book with crayons and we got ice cream afterward (score!). It was really low pressure. They also offered us bonus points if we bought right then and to waive our dues for that year.

But we ended up buying a resale instead and got grandfathered in before they changed the rules about how resale points can be used. I guess when we do eventually go to add on, which I am sure we will, I will have to buy through Disney and then I will happily seek out our guide Stephanie from that day because she was really nice.

 

[Sumrdog]

I have been on the tour twice and they are about as low pressure as you can get. On the last tour we did, the cast member flat out told us that DVC was not for us.

That is refreshingly candid for a time share presentation!

We went to an RCI presentation in Canada once and after we told the salesmen we weren't interested he said, "Well you agreed to a 2 hour presentation, so you can sit in this room and stare at the walls for the next 90 minutes if you want to get your hot springs passes." He wasn't very nice and even if we had wanted to buy into RCI that day I wouldn't have just because the guy was such a jerk and I wouldn't want to give him a sale. I am so glad they aren't like that at Disney.

 

[foreverbelle]

I agree its low pressure, in fact when our tour guide finished and he handed over the information he told us he didn't want us to buy right away, he said to go home sleep on it, make sure its what you wanted to do. They would be waiting when and if we decided. We felt no pressure at all...so I agree I think if you can afford it and all, its dif worth at least a look into.