Are you sick of DVC Yet??

[Emerald Rose]

Not sick of the DVC at all. We love ours.

 

[wherewhy]

Not have to pay for accomodations? Come on now. That's just plain false. I'm all for DVC, too, but let's not call it something it isn't.

You know, there are a lot of people who go stay for a week on property and still pay less than ANY DVC owner's dues for one year. It's called a Value Resort.

I understand it's great to have the (arguably) nicer accomodations for less money (eventually less money...let's not forget the initial MINIMUM approx. $15,000 buy in for 150 points, which will only get you a studio on any decent week), but you can definitely still do WDW cheaper than DVC, which is FAR from "free accomodations."

We started out with 150 points and if you hit the right time you can stay two full weeks on 150 points in a studio, heck I'll take the quiet of a DVC resort over the craziness that always seems to be at the value resorts.

 

[Main Street USA]

We started out with 150 points and if you hit the right time you can stay two full weeks on 150 points in a studio, heck I'll take the quiet of a DVC resort over the craziness that always seems to be at the value resorts.

Well, that's really not true, though. Even on the slowest weeks of the year, a weekly stay at the cheapest DVC, Old Key West, is 80 points. That, times 2, is 160. There are a hundred different variables, and it's impossible to cover them all here, so.

I've stayed at Value Resorts 3 times in my life, and I've NEVER had a problem with quiet, "craziness", people smoking outside my room, or anything similar. I loved the food courts for breakfast (decent food courts don't exist at Deluxes and DVC properties), the larger than life Disneyfied atmosphere.....and the buses were GREAT. When I'm at WDW, I spend my days and evening away from my resort. I sleep at my resort, not much more.

 

[jmani56]

I really don't think that the DVC advertising is all that bad. I see it on buses, billboards, etc., but I never felt like it was being thrown in my face. Maybe I'm just blind to it...

My family and I actually looked into the DVC, and it's a pretty nice idea. For collectors out there, if you sit through the presentation (about an hour), you get a free tour of Saratoga Springs, a nice free hardcover DVC book and a free ice cream Sunday. It's a decent way to kill some time if you are out of money by the end of your trip.

I would like to see a resort like Saratoga Springs built without having to be a member to stay there. The resort is very nice; it resembles a little town.

As for Coronado Springs, I think that it is a very nice resort. Disney did a great job of theming each area differently, especially the desert areas. I've never been out west or across the border, so that resort is something fresh for people like me, like Port Orleans is to people who have never been down south.

 

[jmani56]

As for value resorts, I agree that the All Stars and Pop Century aren't quite what they could be. But for that matter, hotels like the Polynesian are quite old and really not that nice for the price. If it wasn't for the location, I doubt many people would ever pay such a price for that hotel.

 

[DVC_Couple_PA]

I, for one, am hoping they build a DVC add-on to all the existing resorts. At least the deluxe ones anyway. Not only would it really add variety, but I could stay at some of my old favorites using DVC. I can't wait for the Animal Kindgom Lodge Villas and the "Villas at Tempo Bay" :animwink: to open.

Now if they would only build one at the Poly.

 

[meryll83]

Finish the Pop for goodness sake. :fork:
Ok I feel better now. Just had to vent. :wave:

Yeah, they really should do this...

 

[emmersandjack]

we bought into the dvc about 3 years ago and love it!! the first place we stayed at was a 2br villa at WL and i immediatley began to think-"this place pays for itself!"


the dvc allows members to stay in unreasonablely priced villas that the average guest cannot afford. i will openly admit that without dvc, i could NEVER afford to stay in a 2 br villa, let alone a studio that only has a studio style kitchenette. what you are essentially paying for is convienence(sp).

while the actual math break down probably does indicate a loss of money due to intrest and whatnot without a immediate payoff, for our family it is more affordable to continue paying monthly.

however, i do wish that when we do go "home" to wdw, we could have a large neon sign surrounding us indicating that we are dvc members-only visible to those soliciting people to join the dvc-so that we do not have to even address the sales people. WE GET IT! WE ALREADY JOINED! now leave us alone.

if i ruled the world, i would take everyone for one fun filled day at mk!

 

[jim1051]

If you are happy staying in values, DVC probably does not make sense. If you like the more expensive resorts or the idea of staying in a condo "on Property" I t probably does make sense. A member since 1999, I have recouped my initial ionvestment and the annual dues paid so far. So from now on, I stay at these great places for the cost of annual dues.

I agree there is too much advertising and marketing done. It gets annoying.

 

[slappy magoo]

30 years from now, I'd like to revisit this thread, then look at how much it costs to stay at WDW compared to 2006 prices, and see if DVD still seems like a value. Someone remind me?

 

[Main Street USA]

30 years from now, I'd like to revisit this thread, then look at how much it costs to stay at WDW compared to 2006 prices, and see if DVD still seems like a value. Someone remind me?

If you stay in a value resort, with 3.5% price increase on your stay each year (the average yearly price increase), you'll save little more than a couple thousand bucks.

If you usually stay in a room like the Contemporary Tower, you'll end up saving more than $70,000.

....and of course, all of this is based on the fact that your life doesn't change, you keep your job, you have the ability to go to Disney every year, and you DON'T finance the initial buy in. If you finance it, you're looking at a sdignificant loss over a value resort.

 

[PinMadness]

I would like to see a resort like Saratoga Springs built without having to be a member to stay there. The resort is very nice; it resembles a little town.

I am not sure if this has changed.
But I stayed at Saratoga Springs this past August with my mom and neither of us are DVC members.
I loved the feel of the resort! It was adorable.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Those staying in Value Resorts aren't always the ones joining DVC. We've stayed at Value Resorts a lot - I'd guess 6 times since 1997. We've stayed at Moderates. And I can honestly tell you that, other than the food courts, Deluxe-type resorts (we've stayed at SSR and WL in the past year) have them beat by a mile, in our book.

Like I said, our family would need two rooms at basically any "standard" resort now. Over the life of the DVC, I'm pretty sure we'll be saving money.

Anyone can rent a room at a DVC resort. But the number of rooms available is like 2% of it's total, so it's not particularly likely that you'll get a room there.

 

[Main Street USA]

Those staying in Value Resorts aren't always the ones joining DVC. We've stayed at Value Resorts a lot - I'd guess 6 times since 1997. We've stayed at Moderates. And I can honestly tell you that, other than the food courts, Deluxe-type resorts (we've stayed at SSR and WL in the past year) have them beat by a mile, in our book.

Like I said, our family would need two rooms at basically any "standard" resort now. Over the life of the DVC, I'm pretty sure we'll be saving money.

Anyone can rent a room at a DVC resort. But the number of rooms available is like 2% of it's total, so it's not particularly likely that you'll get a room there.

Oh, you definitely will. Like I said....TONS of variables. When people ask "Should I join DVC," they don't realize what a loaded question it is. No one can answer that for you without knowing nearly EVERYTHING about you.

It seems that every single family's case is different, and in your case, it definitely makes sense.

 

[ryguy]

Wouldn't investing your money in something like the stock market or interest bearing account be a smarter idea. For example, take the $25,000 you would spend on locking in a hotel room price, and put that amount in a cd that gives you 5% interest that would be $1250 a year, I could make a nice trip to Disney for that amount of money (Just for accomodations of course). The stock market when played right will give you an even better percentage rate a year. I think that makes more sense, I always feel better having that kind of money in my control than in someone else's (ie Disney's). Don't forget the maintance fees of 400.00 a year that's an extra $18,400. WOW

$25,000 + $18,400= $43,400 for 46 years.
$43,400 x .05 = $2170.00 for 46 years = $99,820.00 is what you lose in interest over 46 years. :hurl:

I am not a DVC member and it's late here in the East, my numbers could be off but you get my drift. Feel free to correct my math or estimates. :wave:

 

[DisneyPhD]

Wouldn't investing your money in something like the stock market or interest bearing account be a smarter idea. For example, take the $25,000 you would spend on locking in a hotel room price, and put that amount in a cd that gives you 5% interest that would be $1250 a year, I could make a nice trip to Disney for that amount of money (Just for accomodations of course). The stock market when played right will give you an even better percentage rate a year. I think that makes more sense, I always feel better having that kind of money in my control than in someone else's (ie Disney's). Don't forget the maintance fees of 400.00 a year that's an extra $18,400. WOW

$25,000 + $18,400= $43,400 for 46 years.
$43,400 x .05 = $2170.00 for 46 years = $99,820.00 is what you lose in interest over 46 years. :hurl:

I am not a DVC member and it's late here in the East, my numbers could be off but you get my drift. Feel free to correct my math or estimates. :wave:

I'd like to modify a few things you're saying here. First, $25,000 will buy a minimum of 250 points which will get you two weeks (or more) in a BCV, BWV or VWL studio during any season but Holiday. The $1250 you calculated in interest would translate to a room for around $90 per night including tax for the same two week period. That limits you to a value resort (probably with a discount if available), while DVC gets you into a Deluxe guaranteed. If room type doesn't matter then you're coming out ahead.
Another issue I had with your numbers is that $18,400 for dues, you're not paying that amount every year and so you would be earning interest on that money either way.
As has been said numerous times, DVC isn't right for everyone. Those that go at least once per year, staying in Deluxe and can afford the purchase price without having to finance, stand to benefit the most from DVC. If you only go every few years and always stay in Value resorts, you won't save anything going with DVC and will most likely pay much more.

 

[ryguy]

What are the maintance fee's anyway?? I would assume they go up every couple of years as well. How often do you have to pay them? Thanks

 

[Main Street USA]

What are the maintance fee's anyway?? I would assume they go up every couple of years as well. How often do you have to pay them? Thanks

Maintenance fees generally go up every year. They're based on how many points you have, and are subject to increases as inflation continues, just as resort rates are.

 

[Kevin]

The way I think about it is DVC allows you to pay Value Resort prices to stay at a Deluxe Resort.

When you factor in the perk they’ve had the last couple years of $115 savings on annual passes, and you factor in the 11.5% sales/resort tax you pay for a resort room right now, it puts a little icing on the cake since there’s no sales tax on the DVC points. It’s also hard to predict the long-term availability of passholder rates being offered. A couple times this year I wasn’t able to get the passholder rate at the Pop.

 

[Honor]

DVC made sense for us

We visit WDW 6 to 8 times a year. Just the two of us. We bought lots of points at SSR less than a year ago. We were able to pay cash, no finance charges. So for us, this made good financial sense. Plus we enjoy deluxe resorts and staying in the middle of the world.