Comparing Deluxe Resorts to DVC Property
 

My wife and I are looking into joining the DVC.

Aside from the basics, like kitchens, and living areas... How does staying at the DVC compare to the deluxe resorts?

Having stayed at deluxe before but never on DVC, I just wonder if a little of the "magic" is missing. Thanks for you help


Thanks for your help

Sorry for the typos at the end

imo deluxes are much prettier and do not look worn like dvc rooms. bwi is so pretty where as bwv needs a lot of work. The rooms are beautiful on the inn side, they got rid of those nasty bed spreads but bwv still has them

Having never stayed in a non DVC Deluxe room I am wondering...in your opinion, is the difference in quality worth the difference in price between booking direct at the Inn and staying on points at the Villas?

We have stayed at most of the Deluxe resorts and have experienced issues with those rooms as frequently as at DVC Resorts. We have had very few problems at any Disney resort, but want to make it clear that deficiencies are not limited to either Deluxe or DVC Resorts - they occur at both.

We had problems at GF a few years ago with a very sub-par room regarding cleaning. After complaining, they did send someone to address the issues but even then they were not taken care of. After asking a manager to come inspect our room we were moved to another room. We have had that happen once at OKW years ago with a room we had just checked into. We were moved immediately that time without having to unpack or sleep in the room unlike our experience at GF.

The differences we see in Deluxe resorts vs DVC resorts are basically the daily housekeeping and the slightly higher quality linens at the Deluxe Resorts. We usually stay at DVC resorts 40 - 50 nights each year and at Deluxe Resorts 3-5 nights each year at this point. We've typicallly had no issues at either, but have found cleaning issues on only a few occasions in 20 years of DVC stays and 40 years of WDW Deluxe stays.

DVC resorts are timeshares. That means that members pay for everything that happens at that place. The maintenance, the housekeeping, the renovations, etc. So unless you want member fees to go out the roof, they manage the fees to take care of things so that they are okay, but not like the deluxe resorts.

You get limited housekeeping services every four days. You don't get clean towels if you just ask for them without paying for them. You don't get turn down service. Only AKV has a conceirge villa (and there are only five two bedroom lockoffs) which are hard to get unless you book them at 11 months out (so you have to own there to get those).

Now it also depends on what you mean about "magic". If you mean stuff like free upgrades, they don't happen. If you mean decor riddled with "Mickey", nah, not much of that either. Theming is good, but can be subtle at times.

IMO service is the biggest difference.

The level of service is slightly less at DVC but overall price per night is better.

:) DVC is the only way for us to stay at a Deluxe-type Disney resort once and especially twice a year. Prior to DVC we stayed at Values...we can appreciate that difference. Loved Pop, but after years of trips we have been pleased with our deluxe accomodations. Never stayed deluxe on cash.

We own at the VGC and since it is quite a bit smaller than all the other DVC resorts there is, I believe, no dedicated DVC staff. Maybe a manager, but all of the housekeeping staff I believe is the same as for the resort. Further, if you have a problem you deal with the CM of the resort hotel. I've never encountered someone who just dealt with DVC.

Because of this, I've never had any problems with the staff or the rooms at the VGC. The difference between the hotel rooms and the deluxe studios is that the studios are larger and have a small kitchenette area. Further, the deluxe studios don't have any "parking lot" view rooms. You either look out on the pool (toward Disneyland and the fireworks), on the Redwood Trail in DCA (views of trees and Grizzly River Rapids if you're high enough) or Paradise Pier in DCA. Further, the VGC has some rooms on the first floor, and although you may like the view from higher up, it is really nice to be able to walk straight to your room without an elevator.

We've also stayed at the AKV and had no problems there with the rooms being dirty.

The big difference in my mind between the deluxe resorts and DVC is that I can get a one or two bedroom at DVC, whereas I would never be able to afford a suite at the hotel resorts. That is the big difference in my mind.

I agree with this as VGC is where I own and is also the only DVC I have stayed at, I don't see a difference except having kitchen option, 1 and 2 BR, etc. I have stayed in the Grand Californian rooms many times and they are very similar in furnishing and theme as the villas. I really think VGC is the perfect DVC property and although I hope to use my points other places at some point I am completely pleased with my DVC purchase and villa quality.

A BWV studio over spring break is about 18 points a night. Renting those points at $12/point, the room is around $216/night. Rack rates for the BWI room is about $500/night. So is it even possible to have $200-$300 better stuff in the BWI room as compared to the BWV room. Not in my opinion. I'd much rather take that money and do something else with it.

As another VGC owner I also agree with EVERYTHING the 2 OP before me! Also I can invite others to share in the experience of what a deluxe type place has to offer without breaking my bank account all the time! We also own @ BCV and notice more wear n' tear there but still LOVE being in close proximity to 2 of the parks (like VGC)! The LAST time we paid for more than a few days stay @ Disney Deluxe Hotel was @ Beach Club 2005 & 2007(that time was a studio) WHICH then made up our minds to buy into DVC!
NO REGRETS since then!!