Resale only buyer here. Prior to owning, we would spend 8-10 days at WDW every few years, so not that often. Since owning we have averaged 27 days a year at WDW. That's a lot of park tickets, food and trinkets we've bought over that time that would never have been spent without us owning DVC. If DVC had of been like any other timeshare, I wouldn't have gone near them. DVC had a quality product. To my mind they are diminishing their brand and the value of their product for a few extra bucks. Very short term thinking.
We spend approximately the same, if not more DVC time per year @ WDW. Don’t think that is necessarily rare, especially when members start to accumulate more vacation/free time & discretionary income as they age.
There is the contingent of those who bought in thinking speculatively (to make money on their point price or to rent out points). More than few stated they had specific intent to sell within a decade or so, but I don’t think it’s quite as prevalent among Disney people; who tend to emotionally identify with the brand.
Thus far, having bought direct and being grandfathered in, will state I’m not a fan of any changes to the model as they will always be geared to benefit the house. I’m just carefully watching the embers in this fire and hoping for the best. I’m sure I’d feel quite differently if I had active plans to sell my points down the road. My perception is that my contracts (at popular resorts) haven’t diminished in actual value, yet.
Have lost count of the times I’ve heard the adage of DVC members being substantially more frugal vs CRO guests as to their spending $$$ @ WDW. Can’t say I disagree with it. IMO you visit enough, you wind up purchasing a discounted APH (oh, please, keep this perk going DVC!). Our souvenir purchases have segued into artwork and collectibles, but that’s a personal preference, not sure it’s across the board with members.
Once the kids went off to college we started to venture offsite more to enjoy other dining & entertainment options. We’ve enjoyed the disney tours over the years & still visit our fav restaurants onsite, at least once a year. However, unless friends & family are along who want to be fully immersed, we tend play things by ear and not schedule our trips around ADRs.