Disney Vacation Club

[gwhb75]

My family is thinking of joining the DVC. I'm looking for people's opinion of it (people who are members, former members, etc). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Computer Magic]

Talk about a loaded question...:ROFLOLeople take the topic personel. Each think their decision is the correct decision and hate being told otherwise. I guess I can understand. Who wants to hear it is a bad idea and who wants to hear you are missing a great value.

The best unbias I have read is from this link: http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html

good luck. Remember most views you will hear will be biased based on if they are a member or not.

 

[luvlifeinfl]

ok, I will put my thoughts in.

We have been members since 2006. I can tell you at 1st I was like why would I want to give them all that money.

When we went to the presentation ( were taken on a tour to see the accomidations) I was skeptical ( you know Dog & pony show). Well it was no pressure they talked to you and gave you information, well of course I told my DH that we were not buying & I needed time to think about it, so we thanked our guide and went back to the resort.

Well returning home I thought about more & more, I called the guide back to ask more questions. Well needless to say I finally was convinced. We purchased in at 160. In 2007 we purchased another 50 points. Then in 2008 we were purchased another 110 points, so we currently have 320 for every yrs use.

I can tell you I enjoy being part of the DVC, when we go we always get a Villa since we stay more than a week at a time. The convience of having a kitchen, seperate Bdrms a washer & dyer. Has been a benefit for me. Also my loan amount is less that 200.00 a month. To get a 2bdrm Villa for 10 nights at say 540.00a night ( just an average) is over 5k for accomidations. My loan amounts are less than that and I will pay them off in less than 5yrs. Now mind you my contract is good for the next 40yrs. So basically I have secured my accomidations at Disney and any of their locations Internationally for the next 40yrs.

So all I want to say is what are your expectations for wanting to go w/ DVC. I for one do not want to say you becasue we love it & you should do it. It needs to fit your family cost & expectations, see for us we plan on going to WDW every yr and hopefully soon we can look at the International locations and travel, so if we have the points our accomidations are taken care of. We just need to worry about our transporation & food.

one last thing I want to mention is like this yr we are going for 9 nights/10days during Thanksgiving, just to stay at SSR for those days in a Villa was going to cost us over 6k just for the room, since we had the points we are booked and since my monthly loan payment amount to DVC is under 200.00 we paid less then 2,500 this yr.

So I guess again it needs to fit your needs.

 

[nolatron]

It seems like unless you are certain you're going to visit WDW yearly and stay for at least week (10 days is what I read often), it's not worth it.

I rent points for our typical 3-4 night trips mid-week during value season and that works for me.

Here's just my cost comparison I usually do when I think about buying into DVC every time I rent points, heh.

4 Night 1BR BWV Garden View rental - Midweek and value season - 88 Points (our ressie for next week) (standard view is 64 points)
At $9.50/point that I paid this room cost me $836.
Continue for 24 years = $20,064

DVC Buy-In direct with Disney 160 points minimum: $16,740
Yearly Due on Average: $674
(based on mouse savers)
Continue for 24 years: $32, 916

So for my travel needs, renting is cheaper over that 24 year period by $12,000, and that's if I go to WDW every single year (which we probably won't).

So its stuff like that you have to think about when doing your pros/cons and what not.

That mousesavers page as lot of good info, and if you meet the typical DVC User it might well be worth it to you. I know there's MANY DVC members who love it and get a great deal of use out of it.

 

[cemeb4dk]

as the others have stated above.

But for ourselves, it definitely has been worth it. My wife and I bought on our Honeymoon in 2002. We where down there and just on a whim took the tour. No sales pressure at all. And told the sales lady we where on our honeymoon and have not even counted our wedding envelopes or anything. But she gave us all the info we needed and she left it at that. After we got home we looked at our finances and discussed it more and decided to do it. It honestly has been one of our best decisions. We just love doing a trip once a year or a bigger trip every other. We own at the Beachclub and we prefer to stay there, we have tried the others but just prefer the BC. Honestly we never broke it down like alot of people did or do. We just looked at it as an investment into our future vacations. For us its much easier to make that monthly mortgage payment and or dues payment than to try and save for a vacation every year. We just look at it as an expense just like a utility bill. But when its time to save for vacation its great knowing that we only have to save for spending money and food and travel. The biggest expense part is taken care of already. Since being members we have been able to take family members down that may have not been able to go, and been able to give nights to friends that may not have been able to stay on property or what not. So to us it has more than paid for itself already. Maybe not mathematically but the way we feel it has and DVC just makes everything easier for us.

So good luck in your choice you yourself has to decide on what your looking for, if your looking for a wise financial investment I am not sure it is or isn't. But it is a great investment in your family happiness, and to me thats more than $$ signs.

 

[cemeb4dk]

It seems like unless you are certain you're going to visit WDW yearly and stay for at least week (10 days is what I read often), it's not worth it.

I rent points for our typical 3-4 night trips mid-week during value season and that works for me.

Here's just my cost comparison I usually do when I think about buying into DVC every time I rent points, heh.

4 Night 1BR BWV Garden View rental - Midweek and value season - 88 Points (our ressie for next week) (standard view is 64 points)
At $9.50/point that I paid this room cost me $836.
Continue for 24 years = $20,064

DVC Buy-In direct with Disney 160 points minimum: $16,740
Yearly Due on Average: $674
(based on mouse savers)
Continue for 24 years: $32, 916

So for my travel needs, renting is cheaper over that 24 year period by $12,000, and that's if I go to WDW every single year (which we probably won't).

So its stuff like that you have to think about when doing your pros/cons and what not.

That mousesavers page as lot of good info, and if you meet the typical DVC User it might well be worth it to you. I know there's MANY DVC members who love it and get a great deal of use out of it.

I totally respect your decsion and each choice is their own. But if I am reading your math right, where you came up with the 20 thousand figure you based it on 88 points, where as buying in you based it on 160 points almost double. So if you where to buy in DVC you could either go twice then length of time or twice a year or rent the remaining points every year which would then come off your total cost.

Again not trying to bash but trying to clarify your math so I understand, and if you read my above post its not about math to me anyways.

my math using your math.
if you bought: you would have 72 remaining points a year
72pts X $9.50= $684 a year If you rented points at what you pay
$684x 24 years = $16,416.00
$32,916 (DVC Cost) - $16416.00 (money earned form renting) = $16500 total DVC cost

Also not sure where your getting 24 years from if you just chose that for example but DVC length is either 40 or 50 years.

 

[luvlifeinfl]

It seems like unless you are certain you're going to visit WDW yearly and stay for at least week (10 days is what I read often), it's not worth it.

I rent points for our typical 3-4 night trips mid-week during value season and that works for me.

Here's just my cost comparison I usually do when I think about buying into DVC every time I rent points, heh.

4 Night 1BR BWV Garden View rental - Midweek and value season - 88 Points (our ressie for next week) (standard view is 64 points)
At $9.50/point that I paid this room cost me $836.
Continue for 24 years = $20,064

DVC Buy-In direct with Disney 160 points minimum: $16,740
Yearly Due on Average: $674
(based on mouse savers)
Continue for 24 years: $32, 916

So for my travel needs, renting is cheaper over that 24 year period by $12,000, and that's if I go to WDW every single year (which we probably won't).

So its stuff like that you have to think about when doing your pros/cons and what not.

That mousesavers page as lot of good info, and if you meet the typical DVC User it might well be worth it to you. I know there's MANY DVC members who love it and get a great deal of use out of it.

The only one that confuses me is your 24yrs $32,916. When I divide that it comes to 1371.50.

Any why the loan repayments terms only go to 10yrs. The only thing you will continue to pay is your dues and again your contract use is for 40yrs. We were able to pay our loan off in a yr.

But this is good that we all can show how the DVC works/does not work for us and they will be able to see boths sides.

 

[nolatron]

I totally respect your decsion and each choice is their own. But if I am reading your math right, where you came up with the 20 thousand figure you based it on 88 points, where as buying in you based it on 160 points almost double. So if you where to buy in DVC you could either go twice then length of time or twice a year or rent the remaining points every year which would then come off your total cost.

Again not trying to bash but trying to clarify your math so I understand, and if you read my above post its not about math to me anyways.

my math using your math.
if you bought: you would have 72 remaining points a year
72pts X $9.50= $684 a year If you rented points at what you pay
$684x 24 years = $16,416.00
$32,916 (DVC Cost) - $16416.00 (money earned form renting) = $16500 total DVC cost

Also not sure where your getting 24 years from if you just chose that for example but DVC length is either 40 or 50 years.

As mentioned we usually only travel for 3-4 nights for our WDW trip, so we usually would need anywhere from 70 to 90 points depending on room view. We don't want to go twice a year, nor would we take a week+ long trip for vacation/work schedules/etc...

So I'd basically be buying another $16,000 in points I'd never use. Sure, I could rent them out each year and get my money back, but why tie up $16,000 for 24 years and only get $684 of it back each year?

24 years was just a number I pulled out of the air also.

I guess my point is for me, because I take short vacations of just a few nights, I don't feel the DVC buy-in of 160 points is cost effective.

But I see what you're saying, if I rented those remaining points every year, renting would begin to cost me more at about 20 years.

But see, I'm glad I post crazy stuff like this because someone always is able to toss in a different point of view.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Like my very first post said. Only you can make the choice for you and your family. I am sure for every member there is their own point of view and how they decided it was best for them. Whether you buy based on a math formula:brick: or just because of your love for Disney :sohappy: you know your families financial situation and your vacationing habits.

 

[nolatron]

The only one that confuses me is your 24yrs $32,916. When I divide that it comes to 1371.50.

Buy in + 24 years of annual dues

Any why the loan repayments terms only go to 10yrs. The only thing you will continue to pay is your dues and again your contract use is for 40yrs. We were able to pay our loan off in a yr.

But this is good that we all can show how the DVC works/does not work for us and they will be able to see boths sides.

I think regardless of long your loan is you're still paying a total cost over a period of time with your yearly dues *and* the original buy-in you already paid. Sure, the yearly dues are cheap, but you have to also add in the $16,000+ you paid to initially.

Ok, so let's see. Let's try 40 years then and see if I've been looking at all this right way (I'm thinking not now).

4 Night 1BR BWV Garden View rental - Midweek and value season - 88 Points
$9.50/point - $836.
Continue for 40 years = $33,440

DVC Buy-In direct with Disney 160 points minimum: $16,740
Yearly Due on Average: $674
Buy in + 40 years of dues: $43,700
Rent probably 72 unneeded points each year at $9.50/point:$27,360
Total DVC cost over 40 years: 16,340

Well, I'll be. See, the problem I always did was not think about those extra points from the DVC buy-in. So after 20 years, DVC would be the cheaper way to go.

:hammer: and now I'll :zipit:.

 

[cemeb4dk]

and you thought that high school algebra would never come in handy :ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

 

[nolatron]

and you thought that high school algebra would never come in handy :ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

lol. I know! Thanks though for pointing that out. :hammer:

 

[Phonedave]

There is more to it than the pure financials

Be fully aware of what you are buying into, and if that fits your lifestyle.

Specific points:

- Be aware of the booking windows - 9 and 11 months and how they work
- Be aware of that at certain times and resorts you need to book at 11 months if you want to get a room
- Be aware of the rules and restrictions on banking points.
- Be aware of current yearly dues, their historical increases, and the maximum they can increse
- Be aware of maid service schedules for rooms on points
- Be aware that perks, while nice, are not guarenteed to continue.
- Be aware of the point charts, and that the point charts can change (and how they are allowed to change)

It's a complicated time share, partly so because of the flexibility it allows.

Your best bet is to go on the tour and ask LOTS of questions. It is a no pressure sales tour. You might get hit with a deal that is only good for the next two weeks or something like that, but other than that its no pressure. If something like that concerns you, then schedule your tour for the end of your vacation, so you have time to go home and think about it. The tours are also very easy to schedule. They will send a van for you, and then drop you off wherever you want afterwards.

I am an owner and am very happy with it. But I looked it over very carfully before I even took the tour, and then thought about it for an other week before I made the call.

If you have any specific questions, please ask.

-dave

 

[DVC Mike]

My family is thinking of joining the DVC. I'm looking for people's opinion of it (people who are members, former members, etc). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am a very satisfied DVC member. I love my DVC!

 

[bigkidz895]

I'll chime in here too and will preface by saying that we will be purchasing a membership (on the resale market) soon. I've done my own analysis based on staying at Disney's HHI resort and also one that includes going to WDW every 5 years. What I found, after considering inflation, taxes, loan payments, dues, etc. is that it does indeed make sense for us to prepay our vacation expenses for the next few decades; after all, this is basically what this membership does.

The Mouse Savers websight is very helpful. Also I'll recommend Pass Porter's. They have written a good book about DVC membership and does a good job answering most, if not all, questions one may have: http://www.passporter.com/disney-vacation-club.asp

Good luck!

 

[foreverbelle]

I think it will all come down to personal opinion. After all you are the only one to know what you guys like. How you want to travel, where you want to travel. How often and your own finances.

That being said.

We bought into it back in 2007 after three trips within two years. We took it all in, we looked at the information we crunched numbers and for us it just made sense. Not to mention I love the fact that we were able to hit up the beach one time and Disney the next. Yes it costs money. But in the long run, we think we will be happier off....

Plus it forces both of us to actually go on vacation. While I never had an issue with vacation time my husband felt as though vacations wasn't something you should necessarily need.

Now, he can't imagine life without them!

So obviously, we are proud DVC members and love it.

But we also realize that it isn't for everyone and not everyone shares the same feeling as we do.

But I think the majority of the owners are quite happy with it.

 

[luvlifeinfl]

There is more to it than the pure financials

Be fully aware of what you are buying into, and if that fits your lifestyle.

Specific points:

- Be aware of the booking windows - 9 and 11 months and how they work
- Be aware of that at certain times and resorts you need to book at 11 months if you want to get a room
- Be aware of the rules and restrictions on banking points.
- Be aware of current yearly dues, their historical increases, and the maximum they can increse
- Be aware of maid service schedules for rooms on points
- Be aware that perks, while nice, are not guarenteed to continue.
- Be aware of the point charts, and that the point charts can change (and how they are allowed to change)

It's a complicated time share, partly so because of the flexibility it allows.

Your best bet is to go on the tour and ask LOTS of questions. It is a no pressure sales tour. You might get hit with a deal that is only good for the next two weeks or something like that, but other than that its no pressure. If something like that concerns you, then schedule your tour for the end of your vacation, so you have time to go home and think about it. The tours are also very easy to schedule. They will send a van for you, and then drop you off wherever you want afterwards.

I am an owner and am very happy with it. But I looked it over very carfully before I even took the tour, and then thought about it for an other week before I made the call.

If you have any specific questions, please ask.

-dave

Dave,

:wave:I am so glad you jumped in, you always have a thought for the small deatils that others just let pass them by and then when something like point charts changing, perks, etc. they get upset but this was one area I keep asking questions so I understood the effect it would be to us.

So for me, once i understood those factors, it was not an issue and I was willing to work around that.

Hey Noltron,

[/quote]
Well, I'll be. See, the problem I always did was not think about those extra points from the DVC buy-in. So after 20 years, DVC would be the cheaper way to go.

:hammer: and now I'll :zipit:. [/quote]

Do not worry about it, that is why it is good to chat it helps us see something we might miss.

 

[dizzney]

We love it also, bought in in '99 on the advice of a DVC member who kept saying, you're staying in the deluxe hotels, its costing you a fortune, go try DVC.

We did and never looked back, bought into Boardwalk for 220 points, we have added on three times twice at the BWV going to 275 there and now adding 100 at Bay Lake Towers.

Its well worth it to us, last year we were in BWV for 9 days on Presidents Break and then stayed in Disneyland's Grand Calfiornia with a Park View room for 4 nights,

We're now going down for New Years Eve, have a two bedroom Boardwalk view for 5 nights and then a two bedroom Magic Kingdom view at bay Lake for four nights, cannot wait,

My family loves the space and how comfortable it is, my husband and I love the fact that our vacations are paid for. We paid up front in full without financing each time (saved til we could do that) and only pay the monthly dues now. :sohappy:

 

[Computer Magic]

Dave,

:wave:I am so glad you jumped in, you always have a thought for the small deatils that others just let pass them by and then when something like point charts changing, perks, etc. they get upset but this was one area I keep asking questions so I understood the effect it would be to us.

So for me, once i understood those factors, it was not an issue and I was willing to work around that.

Hey Noltron,

I should state first, I have no clue how the points charts can change. I always wondered if I bought 100 points today, would that get me a week in 30 years? I would hate to have to buy more points because I didn't have enough. I know you can't buy 100 points from Disney but resale you could. Either way, I would hate to be forced to add points because I don't have enough to use in 30 years.

 

[cemeb4dk]

I should state first, I have no clue how the points charts can change. I always wondered if I bought 100 points today, would that get me a week in 30 years? I would hate to have to buy more points because I didn't have enough. I know you can't buy 100 points from Disney but resale you could. Either way, I would hate to be forced to add points because I don't have enough to use in 30 years.

The actually point totals cant change. If they add points at one place they need to remove from another, so in the end the totals stay the same. I am sure others can explain it more specifically than I.