How do DVC Rooms Compare to Hotel Rooms?

[SherylLC]

I recently bought DVC Beach Club Villa but we have not had a chance to stay. We did stay at the Beach Club Resort last month and the rooms were great. One of the most comfortable hotel beds I have ever slept in! Hotel was very nice and temperature was wonderfully cool. We walked through the DVC building and it did not feel the same. The temperature was MUCH warmer in the hallway and the "decor" (forgive my lack of vocabulary) was not as "plush" as the resort building. Completely different feel. I am wondering if we really did buy Beach Club or just it's distant cousin.

Has anyone stayed at both DVC and host resort? Comments?

 

[disneynutz]

Different budgets, different customers. IMO once a DVC resort is sold out, things change. No reason for money to be spent when DVC rooms maintain full occupancy year round.

Bill

 

[ScubaCat]

I've stayed at BC and BCV many times. The temperature in the hallway was probably just an anomaly that will be fixed. They've been replacing the BCV elevators recently which is probably done or close to being done by now. That said, DVC is on a more stretched out refurbishment schedule and is more heavily occupied (and thus less incentive to maintain regularly), so you'll have more issues. On the other hand, I have had maintenance issues with the regular hotel rooms too over the years, so it's fairly similar IMHO. We've always had generally good experiences staying at BCV. If you're going to be there more than a couple of days, just report any maintenance issues right away so they can be addressed. I've been pretty critical over the years, but in all fairness maintenance has improved dramatically on recent trips.

The other good news is that BCV is extremely popular, so if you end up not liking it, you can sell it very easily for at least what you paid for it.

 

[ELMC]

With its hotels, Disney does what it needs to do to attract customers to stay there. For its timeshares, Disney does what it needs to do so that the customers that are already coming won't complain. As you pointed out, sometimes there is a noticeable difference between the two.

 

[crisi]

You bought a distant cousin.

 

[Bing Showei]

You bought a distant cousin.

OK, this made me laugh out loud.

It seems a lot of the veterans on this board have a very sobering, bordering on jaded, perspective on DVD's handling of the DVC facilities. One might conclude from reading these comments about how we're a captive audience, that DVC resorts are the red-headed stepchild of the Disney resort family.

I know you're all proponents of DVC, so how do you reconcile what, by your own accounts, appear to be a substandard product with that advocacy?

 

[skippytx]

I don't consider DVC to be a subpar product when comparing to the hotels. It's a different product. DVC is not the same as staying at the hotel. A studio at beach club is what, about 600 a night? Similar room is about 300 dollars worth of rented DVC points.

Different people also have different expectations when it comes to things, and folks tend to be more vocal when something goes wrong. If I was paying 1600 a night for a 1 bedroom suite at the contemporary I would be a lot more critical of things than I am when I'm at BLT.

 

[ELMC]

OK, this made me laugh out loud.

It seems a lot of the veterans on this board have a very sobering, bordering on jaded, perspective on DVD's handling of the DVC facilities. One might conclude from reading these comments about how we're a captive audience, that DVC resorts are the red-headed stepchild of the Disney resort family.

I know you're all proponents of DVC, so how do you reconcile what, by your own accounts, appear to be a substandard product with that advocacy?

Good question. I think I reconcile it by not thinking of DVC as substandard. DVC rooms are very nice. They're not the most luxuriously appointed or well maintained rooms I've ever stayed in, but they're also not $600 a night either. I think a lot of our critique is more nitpicking. As a whole, the rooms are clean, well appointed, have a good layout and features, and are some of the most convenient rooms on property.

Keep in mind, Disney's definition of "Deluxe" resorts does not meet my definition of deluxe outside of WDW. So that's sort of the starting point for comparisons.

 

[ScubaCat]

Keep in mind, Disney's definition of "Deluxe" resorts does not meet my definition of deluxe outside of WDW. So that's sort of the starting point for comparisons.

That's an excellent and important point. A Disney "deluxe" resort is an average hotel anywhere else. Half the price is just for being on property. (the moderates are a bigger rip-off... $200 a night for POR, for instance, is a scam)

DVC is a timeshare, and the rooms are fine. Could be better, but could be a LOT worse too. The current DVD management has made some noticeable improvements IMHO, despite my regular complaints on here

 

[Cyberc1978]

The current DVD management has made some noticeable improvements IMHO, despite my regular complaints on here

Just curious what kind of improvements?

 

[crisi]

OK, this made me laugh out loud.

It seems a lot of the veterans on this board have a very sobering, bordering on jaded, perspective on DVD's handling of the DVC facilities. One might conclude from reading these comments about how we're a captive audience, that DVC resorts are the red-headed stepchild of the Disney resort family.

I know you're all proponents of DVC, so how do you reconcile what, by your own accounts, appear to be a substandard product with that advocacy?

I bought a timeshare, not a hotel room. For a "reasonable" amount of money up front and a "reasonable" amount of dues every year (I bought resale 15 years ago), I have had fifteen years where my kids have never slept in the same room with my husband and I on a Disney trip while staying onsite within walking distance to Epcot. I've made scrambled eggs and pancakes for breakfast before heading off to rope drop, and I've come home with clean clothes because we just do a load every day. To do that on the hotel side would have been cost prohibitive and laundry and breakfast wouldn't have been possible. To get the same sort of plush room feel would also be cost prohibitive in terms of dues. Now that my kids are older, its year to year on whether we use our points, rent them out, or possible just sell them and take less frequent Disney trips in a hotel room. I tend to prefer Deluxe hotel rooms for two people - I like daily maid service (a lot of DVCers don't) and plusher room appointments.

 

[crisi]

I also think that I'm a little jaded because I've been here for the fifteen years and this question comes up a lot after people spend $15000 or more on DVC. DVC is different than a Disney Deluxe hotel and here is some of the reasons (there may be others) - comparing a studio at DVC and a Deluxe hotel room at Disney. You should evaluate this before you buy.

1) DVCs refresh cycle is less frequent than the hotels. As members, we tend to like this because we pay for it via our dues, and less frequent renovations keep our dues lower.

2) DVC tends to be less well appointed than the hotel side. Again, keeps our dues lower. People have been known to steal things like themed lamps - and at $500 a night, Disney can replace them on the hotel side.

3) I find DVC beds to be less than great. I don't know if they don't use the same mattresses, or if the DVC mattresses don't get changed out as often. But my sample size is small, and I will say that our last couple trips have had better beds.

4) DVC does not get daily housekeeping. You won't get clean towels every day (you can pay for daily housekeeping or clean towels). Again keeps our dues low. Most members like this.

5) A DVC onsite studio will (with the exception of OKW) one queen bed and a pullout couch. There is sometimes a murphy bed to sleep a fifth, now. There are no studios (other than OKW) with two real beds and no studios with king beds, and no studios with bunkbeds (configurations available in the hotels).

6) DVC cancellation policies are different and its important to understand cancellation policies and your banking window.

7) A DVC studio unit will dedicate some if its square footage to a kitchenette

8) DVC units are often not fully integrated into the CRO 'host' resort. BCV is a separate building tucked behind the Y&BC as is BRV (Wilderness Lodge). Animal Kingdom has some units in the main CRO hotel and a seperate DVC building as well. You won't watch the monorail move through the lobby from BLT (Contemporary), its a separate tower. BWV is a different wing. Of course, some DVC resorts (SSR and OKW) are DVC only. Sometimes BCV owners are disappointed to learn that there is no view of the lake from BCV.

9) DVC is sold to be at (for practical purposes) 100% occupancy. That means that availability is sort of a game of musical chairs - especially at popular times or for rooms in small supply. You can't expect that what you want will be available 7 months out all the time - and if you are booking four months out, you may find nothing at all.

10) Members staying on points are not eligible for promotions like "free dining" or "stay and play" Those are package sales - buy a room and tickets and we throw in dining

11) DVC checkin is AFTER 4 (you may get in earlier, but you may get in later, my personal experience has been usually between 2 and 4 - but other posters here have waited until evening to get into their room), checkout is 11 and there is no late checkout. Its that 100% occupancy thing.

12) It is exceptionally rare to get an upgrade on your room type or view. Generally, its only done if a room has been pulled from service and the room they have left to move you into is an upgrade. They don't upgrade just for "magic" like the resorts sometimes will.

 

[ScubaCat]

Just curious what kind of improvements?

More frequent refurbs, for one. Also maintenance actually responds now... every time. There was a time when I'd call about the same issue 3 times and it would just be entirely ignored every time. (It was as if the person on the phone would take the information and probably do the right thing, but the maintenance tech would take the post-it and throw it right into the trash.)

The biggest problem is that it's a timeshare. Anything prepaid (timeshare units) will carry less urgency than something that's still being sold (hotel rooms). The biggest things that help DVC owners, IMHO, is that DVC carries the Disney brand and it's reputation, and that they're still aggressively selling new properties. If we ever hit critical mass, where there's nothing new for them to sell, I'd expect the quality to decline somewhat. I doubt that'll ever happen, though.

DVC does expose the corporate greed and profit motivation, though. You're definitely buying a timeshare, not a luxury resort.

 

[crisi]

Yeah, there are people who think Disney runs off pixie dust - but Disney is a business, and if you expect Disney not to look after themselves like a business you'll be disappointed. That becomes more obvious to long term owners.

Also, some of us prefer to set "tempered" expectations rather than "best thing since sliced bread" expectations. If you go in expecting a Beach Club hotel room, you will be disappointed. If you go in with realistic expectations about what DVC is, there is plenty of room to be delighted.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant where people tell you the food is wonderful - and its just pretty good. And you are disappointed. But if you'd gone to the restaurant expecting just ok and it was pretty good, you'd be delighted. (That happened to me at Boma. Boma has pretty good food. It was not nearly as good as the rave reviews at the time said it would be. Had I gone in expecting pretty good, I would have enjoyed my meal much more)

 

[SherylLC]

I bought a timeshare, not a hotel room. For a "reasonable" amount of money up front and a "reasonable" amount of dues every year (I bought resale 15 years ago), I have had fifteen years where my kids have never slept in the same room with my husband and I on a Disney trip while staying onsite within walking distance to Epcot. I've made scrambled eggs and pancakes for breakfast before heading off to rope drop, and I've come home with clean clothes because we just do a load every day. To do that on the hotel side would have been cost prohibitive and laundry and breakfast wouldn't have been possible. To get the same sort of plush room feel would also be cost prohibitive in terms of dues. Now that my kids are older, its year to year on whether we use our points, rent them out, or possible just sell them and take less frequent Disney trips in a hotel room. I tend to prefer Deluxe hotel rooms for two people - I like daily maid service (a lot of DVCers don't) and plusher room appointments.

Yes, for my situation, I should have passed on DVC. I don't care about kitchens or laundry and for other reasons I didn't consider, but should have, I'm now selling my BCV....any takers?

 

[crisi]

Yes, for my situation, I should have passed on DVC. I don't care about kitchens or laundry and for other reasons I didn't consider, but should have, I'm now selling my BCV....any takers?

You'll have plenty of takers. I'm not sure how much longer I'll hang onto my contract, since I prefer the Deluxe hotel rooms when its just my husband and me. I'll probably rent out my points in the future, and pay cash when I go for a hotel room instead of a timeshare. Right now we have a nephew trip planned though (he'll be six), so there is at least one more DVC trip in my future.

 

[bwvBound]

Yes, for my situation, I should have passed on DVC. I don't care about kitchens or laundry and for other reasons I didn't consider, but should have, I'm now selling my BCV....any takers?

It is often interesting to see the differences between us. Just when you figure, "We all want the same thing/s," something reminds us that what one person values, another does not. FWIW, we bought into DVC in order to have the 1BR unit with its jetted tub, full kitchen and laundry even though we travel as an adult couple, no children. Our reason for visiting WDW was a grueling work-related conference that ran Sat through the following Thurs at break-neck speed. I needed the 1BR so I could 'escape' from the conference crowds, prepare my everyday foods, enjoy my veggie juicing, and maintain my health as I completed this challenging and exhausting event year after year.

Isn't it good to be different?

 

[Bing Showei]

I bought a timeshare, not a hotel room. For a "reasonable" amount of money up front and a "reasonable" amount of dues every year (I bought resale 15 years ago), I have had fifteen years where my kids have never slept in the same room with my husband and I on a Disney trip while staying onsite within walking distance to Epcot. I've made scrambled eggs and pancakes for breakfast before heading off to rope drop, and I've come home with clean clothes because we just do a load every day. To do that on the hotel side would have been cost prohibitive and laundry and breakfast wouldn't have been possible. To get the same sort of plush room feel would also be cost prohibitive in terms of dues. Now that my kids are older, its year to year on whether we use our points, rent them out, or possible just sell them and take less frequent Disney trips in a hotel room. I tend to prefer Deluxe hotel rooms for two people - I like daily maid service (a lot of DVCers don't) and plusher room appointments.

I actually feel like these sorts of threads are most helpful to prospective buyers. Just to be clear, in no way was I being critical of the cynicism from the veteran DVCers. In fact, it makes sense a more accurate assessments of the system would come from people who have been in it for 10 plus years. Something I, personally, appreciate.

As @Dean and other veterans have pointed out repeatedly, spend time understanding the system before you buy; know what you're buying into; stay in a DVC on rentals, etc. All solid advice that I can see falling on deaf ears when we're caught up in the excitement of Disney.

I will admit I'm still in the honeymoon phase with Disney. I'm excited about Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge, Epcot updates, Tron, etc., etc., but it really is the honesty of threads like these that sets a good starting place for prospective buyers. I think "sobering" is an fair/accurate description of this wisdom. And as such, it's also an excellent baseline for people buying in for the first time, in terms of expectations.

 

[SherylLC]

I actually feel like these sorts of threads are most helpful to prospective buyers. Just to be clear, in no way was I being critical of the cynicism from the veteran DVCers. In fact, it makes sense a more accurate assessments of the system would come from people who have been in it for 10 plus years. Something I, personally, appreciate.

As @Dean and other veterans have pointed out repeatedly, spend time understanding the system before you buy; know what you're buying into; stay in a DVC on rentals, etc. All solid advice that I can see falling on deaf ears when we're caught up in the excitement of Disney.

I do hope this is helpful to prospective buyers. I spent about three months on these boards before I bought and back then I only saw great things said about DVC. This is 1,000% my responsibility as I was obviously only taking in what I wanted to hear. What these boards did for me was give me a lot a great insight (LOVE the ROFR thread!) and helped me get a great price. I will even make a little money on my sale.

I have had my DL annual pass pretty much straight through since 1990 (and I'm holding on to my VGC contract). I've been fortunate enough to travel to WDW at least ten times. I'll most certainly be back many times!

THANKS EVERYONE! No regrets!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Yes! All advice / commentary is helpful! It gets you thinking about things you may have never thought about. And I appreciate all the knowledge here.

I have gone "against the advice" of some DVC vets on a couple things already, but I did so with eyes wide open, knowing how what I'm looking for may be different than the typical DVCer, and comfortable with my own plan. But I'm learning this through posts of the negative and the positive and paying close attention.

For example, a common thought would be to buy enough points for 1beds or larger. For us, we don't want them. If there is no studio availability, we change our dates, change our resort or don't go. Period.

I'm to the extreme on this. If someone tells me I have to make my own sandwich or do a load of laundry on vacation, I'd rather not go. So, I don't even want to look at a kitchen and for there to be any expectation that "I could just make....." NO. I do like the idea of a microwave though. Possibly to heat up some leftovers if from a restaurant at our resort. We often eat cereal for breakfast, but we all really enjoy oatmeal. I will make some oatmeal in the microwave. That's it though. No other cooking. I mean it!

And no laundry!!!!! We have even purchased new clothing and thrown away clothing on vacations past. Throwing away I usually do on purpose - I pack stuff that I want to get rid of soon anyway and just toss it after wearing to avoid doing laundry, clean out my closet and free up some room in my suitcase. If we end up forgetting something, we buy it. I always wash new clothing before wearing, but on vacation, unless we're talking about underwear or a swimsuit, I'll skip this rule. My DH sometimes ends up needing to do laundry for some reason or another. I love that this gets him out of the room (and out of our hair) for a little while (he doesn't like it much if the girls and I just want to sit around in the room - he's way to antsy) and he always makes a social experience out of the laundry room anyway. He's made many a new friend that way.

I'm also starting to see that multiple memberships may be the way to go for me, even though more people seem to recommend against it. I have a little time on this decision yet and I'm glad. I'll keep reading and learning!