DVC Tour Questions: FastPass and Toddler Care?

[MidnTPK]

I just read an old post that mentioned if you went on the DVC tour, you can get three immediate access FastPasses per family member that goes on the tour. Does the DVC still do this? Can you get Toy Story Mania FastPasses with the ones DVC gives out?

Secondly, what do you do with your kids during the sales pitch and tour? I'll have a squirmy active toddler (she'll be 27 months old when we're in WDW) with me on my next visit, and I can't imagine being able to pay attention to the sales rep if we have her with us. Or could I go alone on the pitch/tour or do they require both spouses to be present on the tour?

Finally, how long does the typical tour take?

Please feel free to refer me to existing threads if my questions have been discussed recently. at least for my first question, there was no recent discussion in the DVC forum.

P.S. If/when I buy into the DVC, I'm likely going to buy resale at the BCVs. I know I won't get a tour of the BCVs and I'm okay with that. My thinking is that it is a good idea to get the pitch from Disney before I move forward. But if there's a compelling reason why I shouldn't do the Disney pitch if I expect to buy from the Timeshare Store or something, please let me know.

[LoriSan]

as of Sept 08, they were still offering the fastpasses. They can be used at any attraction that had Fastpasses.

At the DVC tour, they have a secure, supervised playroom for the children. My son was almost 4 at the time and had a blast in there. I don't remember if there were any requirements about being potty trained or not.

I don't see why you could not take the tour. I would probably keep the plans to buy resale to myself, but it may give you a better understanding of how DVC works. But, I don't think I would take the tour JUST to get the Fastpasses.

[LoriSan]

oh, and we were there for a few hours, but we bought, too. I don't know how long it is if you don't buy.

[sassafras]

We're DVC members, buying in at the BCVs. Right after they opened the villas at Saratoga Springs we went on the tour. We didn't have children with us, but I don't think we were there more than 1 hour since we didn't buy in. At that time, all they offered for taking the tour was a collectible trading pin.

[MidnTPK]

But, I don't think I would take the tour JUST to get the Fastpasses.

The FastPasses sweeten the deal enough to get me to go on the tour.

Given my family's typical schedule, TSM was virtually impossible to go on last year (I rode alone once last year on our last full day while my wife took DD back for naptime...I waited in a 70 minute standby line). The line was always too long to ask a toddler to sit through, and the FastPasses are during nap time by the time we get back to the machines.

So adding the passes into my existing interest in DVC crosses the threshold for making it valuable enough to spend my time at WDW on the tour. Plus giving my toddler some structured play time might be a bonus for all of us.

Thanks for the info.

[DebK]

We got the fast passes when we toured in December 2008.....

[ldc12377]

A word of caution.....Don't go to the tour expecting anything extra. When we went on our tour, the only thing we were given was free ice cream in their ice cream shop.

I had my three kids with us when we went on the tour so I have some experience with the child care. They have a small area set-up for the kids to stay and be entertained. It's a lot like the kids' club that are at some of the resort(Never Land Club for example) without the age requirement. My kids were 8, 6, and 2 when we went on the tour. They will give you a beeper/pager type thing if you have a child who isn't potty trained that way if your child needs to be changed then you can come back and take care of it. My kids had a really good time and always ask if we can go on another tour so that they can go to the "play room".

[mouseketeer mom]

We took the tour last month. I booked the tour over the phone prior to our trip thru the DVC. We were told we would get fastpasses. Well, after a few hours on the tour, we were in the car, ready to leave, and we were given no fastpasses. I remembered this, and my husband ran back in to ask. Our tour guide said that our tour wasn't coded to receive fastpasses, but since we were promised them, he gave them to us. 4 each for each family member, so 20 in all, 5 rides. It helped out sooo much during our trip. Apparently, they put in certain codes if you are promised something..we luckily got our "gift" even though the person didn't code it.

[LynneM]

If the time spent taking the tour wouldn't be worth it to you without the FPs, then you may want to rethink taking the tour.

There's no guarantee that you'll get anything at all for touring. Sometimes they do FPs, sometimes it's a small gift card, sometimes it's just a serving of ice cream. Many, many people have reported just getting ice cream, it really depends on what they're doing that day.

[MickeyMousse]

We didn't get FP's or anything else when we did the tour in February.

[DVC2004]

Child care does not take anyone who is under 3 and children who are not potty trained.

[MidnTPK]

My kids were 8, 6, and 2 when we went on the tour. They will give you a beeper/pager type thing if you have a child who isn't potty trained that way if your child needs to be changed then you can come back and take care of it.

Child care does not take anyone who is under 3 and children who are not potty trained.

Conflicting info alarm!!!

LDC when was your visit?

DVC2004: when did you get your information?

[MidnTPK]

Apparently, they put in certain codes if you are promised something..we luckily got our "gift" even though the person didn't code it.

We didn't get FP's or anything else when we did the tour in February.

Having been through several time-share sales presentations, I no longer have any shame about negotiating what I will receive for participating. Thank you both for sharing your experiences, and I'll be sure to make the deal clear before participating.