There was a time when advice to "buy where you want to stay" would dominate all Disney Vacation Club discussions, regardless of the financial impact.  But as prices for newer resorts have risen, the conversation has increasingly turned toward the most cost-effective means of joining DVC, with buyers advised to "take their chances" with non-Home resort bookings 7 months prior to arrival.

The price disparity is most profound at the newest properties including Disney's Polynesian Villas and the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, properties where both direct and resale prices are nearly double other resale alternatives.  Securing the Home resort advantage at either of those properties comes at a steep price.

 Topic:  What purchase advise you would give to a buyer today, particularly one with a preference for either the Polynesian or Grand Floridian? 

Living in the Internet age, we are constantly bombarded with news, information, rumors, opinions and all other types of feedback on...pretty much any topic imaginable.  Visit any Disney discussion board and you will see commentary regarding the quality of every Disney resort, guest rooms, theme parks, restaurants, and so on.  Often times the commentary will vary wildly from one guest to another.  It's clear that not everyone has the same taste in resort location, in-room furnishings, food quality, etc.  

 Topic:  Do you allow Internet commentary to sway your opinion regarding Disney / DVC resorts, restaurants, etc? 

In recent years, Disney has been the subject of some criticism for a lack of new attractions and experiences at its parks.  However, at the recent D23 Fan Expo in Anaheim Disney thrilled theme park fans with a slew of new additions for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  Both Resorts will receive a 14 acre Star Wars Land in the coming years.  At Disney's Animal Kingdom work progresses on a new nighttime show and the highly-touted Pandora expansion, designed in conjunction with filmmaker James Cameron.  Soarin Around the World will arrive on both coasts.  Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, Arendelle at Epcot and the ongoing Disney Springs expansion are more examples of Disney's substantial investment.  

But with no dates attached to many of these projects, completion timelines remain an uncertainty.  

 Topic:  How have the construction announcements impacted your satisfaction with the Disney parks & DVC resorts?

This summer Disney Vacation Club debuted the Neighborhood Beach Bash, a complimentary evening at Typhoon Lagoon offered exclusively to members.  In some ways, this event may be a spiritual successor to the recurring Welcome Home Wednesdays gathering which was discontinued earlier this year.  

Holiday visitors have grown accustomed to the Member Merry Mixer gatherings, similar exclusive events with limited dates available.  For financial reasons, it may not be practical to offer these functions year-round, but those who are able to attend seem to get a little return than the refreshments and free baseball which were staples of Welcome Home Wednesdays.

 Topic:  Would you rather see DVC offer modest weekly memeber gatherings or more elaborate--and infrequent--events? 

While Disney Vacation Club now has a presence at nearly every Deluxe resort at Walt Disney World--plus one at Disneyland--there are still more than a dozen Disney hotels to choose from.   And there are many reasons for guests to patronize those hotels:  insufficient points available, good cash rates offered, stay close to friends or relatives who are also vacationing, change of scenery, and so on. But are any of those reasons compelling enough to compel you to avoid a points stay, or even a rental if additional points are needed?  

 Topic:  Do you still stay at Disney's cash resorts after becoming a DVC member?