Crunching the numbers...

[captainkidd]

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but you jumped into the conversation trying to convince the OP that DVC is the best way to go, based on false numbers. Sorry, but there is NO WAY you are staying 16 nights per year in any DVC room for 96 points. And to mislead someone to believe they can do that is wrong.

Now, it's possible that you stayed 16 nights over 2 trips that either didn't fall within 12 months of each other, you borrowed points, or you had banked points from the contract you bought. That's not the same thing.

Just because I don't own DVC doesn't mean I haven't done my homework and don't know the point system and dues costs VERY well.

 

[BCVTalsJam]

I'm not posting anymore to you coversation...I am telling you right now if you want to say in lying then that's fine and you can write what you want. I pay our bills and with the points we have they are the true numbers give or take a few lets say 20 bucks for math. They way we have out points set up at it works for us...but I'm not trying to convince anyone anything in telling them to go see if it will work for them and their bills. All I'm saying is that I did the cash and have done the Dvc and I have saved a lot of money. Everyone disregard my posts cause I'm obviously lying to everyone for my own gain...?



I'll say it again make your own decision I'm not telling you to not do one or the other or to do one or the other. But I am saying its all how you can make the points work for you. How about you just go talk to somone who sells the DVc and ask then to see how it can make it work for you. Stepping off the soap box

 

[captainkidd]

Everyone disregard my posts cause I'm obviously lying to everyone for my own gain...?

If you're claiming to be able to stay 16 nights every year in even the least expensive DVC room for 96 points, then yes, you are.

Even if you were staying on non-weekend nights, 4 trips per year for 4 nights per trip, at the least expensive DVC Resort, you'd still need 144 points.

 

[dreamfinder]

I have been researching DVC incessantly. We have been averaging 1 trip a year for the last 4 years, I want more! ( I spent my entire childhood spending at least 2 weeks a year at WDW!) Honestly, I want at least 2 trips a year!
The only thing holding me back from DVD is the other idea I have, of buying a trailer and going to fort wilderness for at least a month every winter! My other big concern is wanting to try out some moderates or values,but I think I can live with deluxe! ;-)
We homeschool, 2 kids, have lots of flexibility. We tend to go in "off-season times", February, Late January, September, thinking of October asap!
We do stay about a week at a time for now, or 7-8 days.
Because we go in off times, we think resale with a cheaper buy in might work, since 7 months out, downs't seem to be a huge issue at those times of the year, and the fact that we would like to try a new resort at least every other time- so if we had to pick a different resort, we would be fine with that!
I do like Boardwalk, and being near EPCOT. I think all the DVC resorts are pretty cool, though...except GF, that frou-frou style just makes me uncomfortable! I am desperate to stay at AK, VWL, etc.
So, long story short, we have the cash for buy in, just trying to see if I have missed something. Do I sound like a DVC member? Have I missed any important points? Tell me what you think!

You need to remember to take into account the financing costs (if any) along with the annual dues. You may be able to afford a grand each year (or whatever it ends up being) in dues at this point, but will you still in 15 years?

Oh, and our main confusion is how many points and where? Do we really need to buy at a resort we love? Or should we just go for SSR or OKW since we are flexible?

And since I forgot to say hello-Hi! I've been a longtime disboard member, but it's getting on my nerves, so I'm looking for a calmer Disney home!

Number of points depends on where/how long you want to stay. Staying a week at a studio mid January is a vastly different amount of points than staying a week at a 2 bdrm over Christmas. You would need to look at the resort you want to stay, the room type you would want, and the time of year you would go, and see how many points it would cost you. That is really about how many points you would need. If you do end up resort hopping like you describe, each one has their own point charts, so what may get you a week at AKL may only get you 6 days at WLV or 5 at BLT over the same time span.

Thanks!
I know it's not the cheapest, but with being in a good place financially now, and not knowing where the prices will go, or if dh will love his high pressure sales job years from now, I like the idea of getting the points part-pre paid now, rather than paying the full prices each year. Yes, we get discounts, but we never go during "free"dining, since I never think it makes financial sense. We also try to avoid crowds at all costs (summer will never be on our list!). I am sure TIW would be A much better deal for us. That along with going to ap's, seems to make the numbers make sense for us. I would love to do 2 trip a year in a studio or 1 bedroom for now, switching to a 2 bedroom as the kids get older, with options to bring family members if we feel like it.
we love deluxe, we love theming, we love variety. I have considered akl, since the theming is right up our alley, but the distance to epcot kills me! ;-) Poly is my dream hotel, but staying there might not work for us since we love epcot a bit more than mk! (and there is no DVC ...yet!)
I think our main decision is which resort makes sense!

The resort gets you the 4 month head start on booking. You mention Boardwalk and going down in October. Trying to stay at BWV or BCV in October during F&W fest is difficult to do if you don't own there, as they tend to book up at the 11 month window. Waiting til 7 months out may have no availability. The same will often apply at other peak times. If you want Christmas week at WLV, those go pretty close to 11 months out. If you truly don't care what resort you stay at, then by all means go for the cheapest at WDW. That way you pretty much guaranteed a room on property. Vero Beach or Hilton Head might be cheaper, but then you don't have the on property fallback. Remember, you will own those points at that resort for the next 40 years.

Remember that shifting from a studio to a 1 bdrm, and then again to a 2 bdrm dramatically changes the number of points you need and your breakeven. You may only be able to go half as long or half as often if you change from a studio to a 2 brdm.

 

[DVCOwner]

I was not going to jump in this time, but here I go.

If you really want to go to Walt Disney World and stay the way that I do (at least on two-bedroom villa with a full kitchen), than there is only two ways to go. Own DVC or rent DVC points. Staying in Disney controlled rooms is just to high in price. I own DVC because I want to plan my trips well in advance (usually right at the 11 month window) and was concerned about the rental market at the time I purchased. If you are happy renting points and can get the rooms you want, than that is most likely cheaper than owning. I just would not work for me. So I purchased points from DVC and than added additional points on the resell market. If this best for everyone - NO!; but it works for me. I do also have two friends that own DVC and in addition to borrowing and banking points we can also lend each other points we are not using this year. Works great for all of us.

 

[GoofGoof]

I was not going to jump in this time, but here I go.

If you really want to go to Walt Disney World and stay the way that I do (at least on two-bedroom villa with a full kitchen), than there is only two ways to go. Own DVC or rent DVC points. Staying in Disney controlled rooms is just to high in price. I own DVC because I want to plan my trips well in advance (usually right at the 11 month window) and was concerned about the rental market at the time I purchased. If you are happy renting points and can get the rooms you want, than that is most likely cheaper than owning. I just would not work for me. So I purchased points from DVC and than added additional points on the resell market. If this best for everyone - NO!; but it works for me. I do also have two friends that own DVC and in addition to borrowing and banking points we can also lend each other points we are not using this year. Works great for all of us.

I am in the same boat with you. I almost exclusively stay in 1 or 2 bedroom villas and there is no practical way to do that without DVC. Paying cash for villas is insane. You can rent points and over the long run it may end up being cheaper, it may not, but you are always dealing with contracts and running the risk of deals falling through. For me the savings doesn't justify the hassle.

If you are staying for 2 weeks a year and want to go to waterparks the new Premium AP rate of $399 is $300 less than the regular rate. The savings even before this newest discount were still $150 per AP. if you have a family of 4 that's a $600 savings which would cover your maintenance fees for over 100 points.

 

[Disneykidder]

DVC may be for some and not others. For us, it is right. The cliche, "we wish we had joined sooner", really is true for us. We admit we are boneheads and really should have joined ten years ago when I first looked into it. Oh well...we move on and here we are.
The OP needed a little advice and I think she received it. Ultimately, it may not be right for every family but it could be right. I think DVC has made me happier and changed the way in which we vacation. There are also some great perks (new ones, too!!) that we will definitely take advantage of which will work for US!!
To each his own. Good luck!!

 

[captainkidd]

DVC may be for some and not others. For us, it is right. The cliche, "we wish we had joined sooner", really is true for us. We admit we are boneheads and really should have joined ten years ago when I first looked into it. Oh well...we move on and here we are.
The OP needed a little advice and I think she received it. Ultimately, it may not be right for every family but it could be right. I think DVC has made me happier and changed the way in which we vacation. There are also some great perks (new ones, too!!) that we will definitely take advantage of which will work for US!!
To each his own. Good luck!!

This is exactly it. I wish I had been in the position to join 15 years ago. But hey, what can you do?

Ultimately, we've decided against joining, but those who think it's a scam, are completely wrong. It's a business for Disney that is aimed at making money, and it does.

 

[GoofGoof]

This is exactly it. I wish I had been in the position to join 15 years ago. But hey, what can you do?

Ultimately, we've decided against joining, but those who think it's a scam, are completely wrong. It's a business for Disney that is aimed at making money, and it does.

Lots and lots of money for Disney. But it still works for a lot of people (me included). Definitely not a scam, but if you fail to really understand how it works or what you are actually paying for or if you are just bad at math it may seem like a scam. There is a subset of owners who probably bought in after the sales pitch without really knowing what they were getting into that are sorry after or feel scammed or tricked in some way. In my limited time here and on other boards that group seems to be pretty small. The vast majority of owners seems quite happy.

 

[captainkidd]

Lots and lots of money for Disney. But it still works for a lot of people (me included). Definitely not a scam, but if you fail to really understand how it works or what you are actually paying for or if you are just bad at math it may seem like a scam. There is a subset of owners who probably bought in after the sales pitch without really knowing what they were getting into that are sorry after or feel scammed or tricked in some way. In my limited time here and on other boards that group seems to be pretty small. The vast majority of owners seems quite happy.

Yeah, you're always gonna find that. But as you said, the vast majority of owners seem very satisfied, and if that doesn't tell you something, nothing will.

 

[Disneykidder]

Agreed. If they are unhappy, they can simply sell it off. I am beyond thrilled to be a member!! I can kick myself for not joining sooner but such is life. It really is a savings and the perks are great and just knowing I can vacation whenever I want is awesome!!!!

 

[captainkidd]

Agreed. If they are unhappy, they can simply sell it off. I am beyond thrilled to be a member!! I can kick myself for not joining sooner but such is life. It really is a savings and the perks are great and just knowing I can vacation whenever I want is awesome!!!!

This is one thing DVC tried selling me on, but my only reply to them was "How does NOT being a DVC member stop me from vacationing whenever I want?"

 

[Disneykidder]

I guess I meant as opposed to any other timeshare...not locked into a certain week and having to pay $95 to swap a week. A point system really is convenient.

 

[GoofGoof]

This is one thing DVC tried selling me on, but my only reply to them was "How does NOT being a DVC member stop me from vacationing whenever I want?"

I agree with Disneykidder that they are comparing DVC to many other timeshare options. If you pay cash to Disney you can also go whenever you want. You may not get as many discounts at prime times, but you can still go. If you are comparing to renting points you do have to find someone who lines up with the time you want to go. There seems to be plenty of inventory out there to rent so I can't see it being a huge issue.

 

[captainkidd]

I agree with Disneykidder that they are comparing DVC to many other timeshare options. If you pay cash to Disney you can also go whenever you want. You may not get as many discounts at prime times, but you can still go. If you are comparing to renting points you do have to find someone who lines up with the time you want to go. There seems to be plenty of inventory out there to rent so I can't see it being a huge issue.

Renting has worked out perfect for us. Rented now 5 times, and always gotten exactly what we wanted.

 

[GoofGoof]

Renting has worked out perfect for us. Rented now 5 times, and always gotten exactly what we wanted.

Never tried it myself. I have heard mostly about positive rental experiences.

 

[captainkidd]

Never tried it myself. I have heard mostly about positive rental experiences.

If you're not a DVC member, I highly recommend it. I could give you some great people I've rented from in the past. There are some reputable sites that you can book from, but they charge about $13.00 per point. Still a good deal, but I've paid as little as $8.00 per point.

 

[stlbobby]

I've seen, and had, this argument on-line many times, as has been said much depends on your vacation style, but I think the most important aspect of DVC is that it becomes a better deal the longer you own. You'll always beat rack rate, but at first discounted rooms may be cheaper, but the longer you own, locked in at the same price, the better the deal gets.

Then when you throw in AP discounts TiW and other perks it really does payoff--if you really are going to go two or more times a year. My wife and I use our AP discount for short trips in a value resort. I consider these great rates part of my DVC perks because I wouldn't have the AP if I didn't have DVC.

 

[captainkidd]

Then when you throw in AP discounts TiW and other perks it really does payoff--if you really are going to go two or more times a year. My wife and I use our AP discount for short trips in a value resort. I consider these great rates part of my DVC perks because I wouldn't have the AP if I didn't have DVC.

The discount on the AP themselves for DVC owners is a plus, but shouldn't be a determining factor in whether you join DVC or not. Anyone can get an AP, and any AP holder can get TiW. I've got both and I'm not in DVC.

 

[stlbobby]

The discount on the AP themselves for DVC owners is a plus, but shouldn't be a determining factor in whether you join DVC or not. Anyone can get an AP, and any AP holder can get TiW. I've got both and I'm not in DVC.

I know anyone can buy AP's and TiW. I didn't say it was part of DVC, I said I consider it part of my DVC perks. I consider it all part of the package because I get a great DVC discount on the AP and I would never buy an AP unless I was assured of several visits a year, which DVC provides. Hence without DVC, living in North Carolina, I wouldn't get an AP and wouldn't get the room discounts when I go without DVC.

DVC leads to better discounts which leads to more visits, which is exactly the cycle WDW is trying to perpetuate. Once I have the DVC the AP seems logical. Once I have the AP four days in a discount room is a cheap get away, because I'm getting in the parks free. Of course I'm eating at restaurants and buying t-shirts and dish towels and mugs, but it seems like I'm only spending 70 bucks or so a night.

I'm being manipulated, but I'm OK with it. In fact I love it.

And all of that is pertinent to someone looking to buy into DVC, because it really becomes a the more you buy the bigger the savings situation. They need to understand they are buying into a vacation lifestyle not just a timeshare.