DVC: what am I missing?

[DVCOwner]

As so many people have said:

First - if you do not plan on going to Disney Parks alot - DO NOT BUY DVC.

Second - if you plan on staying off park - DO NOT BUY DVC.

Third - if you can not afford it - DO NOT BUY DVC.

Last - if you at all think your missing something and it is wrong for you - DO NOT BUY DVC.

But just because it is not right for you does not mean that it is not right for everyone. I take my family and friends on a DVC vacation every year and I could not do that without DVC. Lat trip we had 4 two bedroom villas for 5 nights. This year we are going on a Disney Magic Crusie (I know that the best use of points). In 2012 we will be booking 5 rooms in November for the Food and Wine. I works for me.

 

[tjkraz]

But without DVC would you have realistically paid $12k for a room at Disney 5 years straight?

It's not much of a comparison unless that is what you would have done without DVC

Calculating a breakeven point is just one way of looking at it. Another is to amortize the up-front investment over the entire length of the contract.

The poster in question spent $19,000 for about 43 years of ownership (1999-2042). That's $441 per year.

So for $2000 in dues plus $882 share of the up-front cost (2 years worth of points), poster receives 14 nights in a BoardWalk Two Bedroom villa.

$2882 cash outlay for 14 nights = an effective room rate of $204 per night with no taxes or other fees. For an 1100 sq ft Two Bedroom villa on Disney property.

Won't come close to that rate with "free dining" or 30% off rack deals.

 

[BeachClubNut]

And assuming you vacation at disney EVERY year for 2 weeks a year and plan on doing so for so long in the future.

I get that your dues will be cheaper then buying the hotel room - but that's if you are such a consistent visitor.

Getting DVC into DLR and Hawaii helps the story a good bit I think because of the variety of destinations increases so much.. but I could never see myself dumping that much money into ONE vacation type for the next 2 decades or more.

I mean if your kids are 8 now.. do you really think you are going to take them every year when they are in their 20s? Plus add in the cost of an AP each year per person to actually pay for the park tickets, etc too.

I'm just amazed so many people visit Disney that religiously or think they will.

If your amazed so many people visit Disney that religiously, you'll never get the overall value or concept. Enjoy your rental home or try Pop Century.

 

[NikiMouse]

I mean if your kids are 8 now.. do you really think you are going to take them every year when they are in their 20s?

I'm just amazed so many people visit Disney that religiously or think they will.

Off topic but this seemed funny to me.

I have been to Disney every year since I was born and since I have been an adult I have been at least 2 - 3 times a year. My husband and I bought our DVC prior to having children. Our kids are 4 and 8 now and I am sure we will use our DVC way after our kids have moved out. We may even get to share our love for Disney with our Grandchildren.

 

[googilycub]

And assuming you vacation at disney EVERY year for 2 weeks a year and plan on doing so for so long in the future.

I mean if your kids are 8 now.. do you really think you are going to take them every year when they are in their 20s? Plus add in the cost of an AP each year per person to actually pay for the park tickets, etc too.

I'm just amazed so many people visit Disney that religiously or think they will.

You do realize that DVC owners can trade their points into RCI, and stay just about anywhere, right?

 

[montyz81]

Best thing to do here is get a good timeshare through someone else. Then make sure they are connected to RCI. Through RCI's 10 year contract with Disney, you can get the same DVC resorts for much less. I paid 6k for my timeshare in St Maarten, This gives me enough points to get a good DVC vacation. My Maint Fee is on par with those for DVC though, about 1k/ year. Net net, I didn't have to put up as much up front as a DVC and I get access to all the same DVC resorts, including Aulani.

 

[tjkraz]

Best thing to do here is get a good timeshare through someone else. Then make sure they are connected to RCI. Through RCI's 10 year contract with Disney, you can get the same DVC resorts for much less. I paid 6k for my timeshare in St Maarten, This gives me enough points to get a good DVC vacation. My Maint Fee is on par with those for DVC though, about 1k/ year. Net net, I didn't have to put up as much up front as a DVC and I get access to all the same DVC resorts, including Aulani.

First time I've ever heard the RCI contract defined as a 10 year deal. Do you have a source for that information?

I agree that trading in through RCI is a viable way to approach DVC. Biggest pitfalls IMO are:

1. Uncertainty of that contract. Even if it is 10 years, it may not be 11 years (or 30 years or 50 years) which you are guaranteed with a DVC purchase.)

2. Availability through RCI is a fraction of what you see as a member. Given RCI's status as a trade middle-man, all they can offer is what DVC decides to give them. If you don't mind monitoring the trade lists and making compromises in your travel dates, room sizes and resort choices, trading in can definitely save money. But you don't get unfettered access to all DVC availability which members have.

 

[RSD Part Deux]

If you only spend $800-$1500 a year on your Disney vacation, then DVC wasn't meant for you anyway.

Not entirely accurate. I spent that much (a tad bit higher) on yearly Value resort vacations. I pretty much look at that I am spending the same amout but now getting upgraded to Deluxe resorts.

 

[dizzney]

Best thing to do here is get a good timeshare through someone else. Then make sure they are connected to RCI. Through RCI's 10 year contract with Disney, you can get the same DVC resorts for much less. I paid 6k for my timeshare in St Maarten, This gives me enough points to get a good DVC vacation. My Maint Fee is on par with those for DVC though, about 1k/ year. Net net, I didn't have to put up as much up front as a DVC and I get access to all the same DVC resorts, including Aulani.

But try to get the exact dates and accomodations you want, it all depends on availibility

We jsut had a two bedroom in BW for 9 nights plus a studio at BW for anither 6 in that time frame, we invited family and had a blast.

Everyone enjoyed it so much they all want to return, since my family also does their own thing, we will have the family again in 2 years 2013, in the meantime, we will be there for 8 nights enxt february with a Boardwalk view with 2 of our 3 kids (College son is mad we booked then as he cant join us)

We booked a two night disney cruise next summer for teh 5 of us out of NY. Debated actually renting out the points and using the proceeds to pay for it, but the cruise bookings went fast - got two cabins acrooss from each other,

So next year two more disney vacations and then I still have all my 2013 points,

DVC works for us, we LOVE to vacation in comfortable villas, we LOVe to
stay on site (off site is just not the same) We LOVE the immersion into Disney life, and are so glad we bought in.

As an fyi, we purchased 220 points in '99 in BW, did two add-ons to bring it to 275; bought 100 points at BLT when it began selling; always paid cash (saved for it) feel we made back our cost with the way we used it in 5 years; and HAVE NEVER regretted the purchsaes, and DS 20, DD 12 and DS 12 absolutely love it too.

 

[slappy magoo]

I was going to purchase 220 points at Vero Beach in 2001 for a mere $10k at the time. I backed out at the last minute and had got my deposit back. I've wondered after 10 years if that was the right decision.

Just for giggles, I checked the other day and saw "annual dues" were up to almost $7/point. A 50% increase since 2001!!!

Just out of curiosity, is there any way to find out what a room at Vero Beach was going for 10 years ago if you were a non-DVC member paying cash?

It's possible those rates went up by even more than 50%.

 

[NikiMouse]

Best thing to do here is get a good timeshare through someone else. Then make sure they are connected to RCI. Through RCI's 10 year contract with Disney, you can get the same DVC resorts for much less. I paid 6k for my timeshare in St Maarten, This gives me enough points to get a good DVC vacation. My Maint Fee is on par with those for DVC though, about 1k/ year. Net net, I didn't have to put up as much up front as a DVC and I get access to all the same DVC resorts, including Aulani.

My husband and I own our DVC but my family inherited 6 RCI timeshares from my grand parents when they passed.

I regularly check the availability for Disney when I am searching other vactions on RCI and I have yet to see any weeks available as exchanges. They are always available as Extra Vacations for a fee (usually an VERY HIGH fee).

JUST CHECKED RCI - no weekly exchanges into a Disney resort between now and Jun 2012. OKW has "extra vacation" availability from Sept to Dec 2011. From 3 - 4 nights Studio to 1 bedrooms from 909.00 to 2559.00. This does not seem like a better deal that DVC to me.

Oh and no other DVC resorts came up. - I did do a quick search (not extensive).

 

[ScoutN]

Best thing to do here is get a good timeshare through someone else. Then make sure they are connected to RCI. Through RCI's 10 year contract with Disney, you can get the same DVC resorts for much less. I paid 6k for my timeshare in St Maarten, This gives me enough points to get a good DVC vacation. My Maint Fee is on par with those for DVC though, about 1k/ year. Net net, I didn't have to put up as much up front as a DVC and I get access to all the same DVC resorts, including Aulani.

Interesting. My neighbor has RCI and spent 19 months on the waiting list to be able to stay at Kidani.

 

[captainkidd]

Not to veer off course, but DVC always intrigues me, especially as someone who goes to Disney at least once a year.

I think you can definitely save money in the long run. And I say this after YEARS of crunching numbers and accepting my own stupidity for not buying when it was more affordable.

Members always talk about the convenience and flexibility. That was one thing that has kept me away from DVC. For example, our favorite DVC resort to stay at would be Wilderness Lodge. We could buy on the resale market for less money, but wouldn't own as many years. Otherwise, we'd have to buy into BLT or AKLV, neither of which we would want to stay. So, there's no guarantee of being able to stay at WLV. And considering it's the smallest DVC resort, chances are even lower. However, I've never been shut out of a resort booking 6 months out at Disney.

I think people need to really look at all the factors when considering DVC, not just "I want to go to Disney every year."

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Not to veer off course, but DVC always intrigues me, especially as someone who goes to Disney at least once a year.

I think you can definitely save money in the long run. And I say this after YEARS of crunching numbers and accepting my own stupidity for not buying when it was more affordable.

Members always talk about the convenience and flexibility. That was one thing that has kept me away from DVC. For example, our favorite DVC resort to stay at would be Wilderness Lodge. We could buy on the resale market for less money, but wouldn't own as many years. Otherwise, we'd have to buy into BLT or AKLV, neither of which we would want to stay. So, there's no guarantee of being able to stay at WLV. And considering it's the smallest DVC resort, chances are even lower. However, I've never been shut out of a resort booking 6 months out at Disney.

I think people need to really look at all the factors when considering DVC, not just "I want to go to Disney every year."

If you heart is set on just one resort, then yes it can be problematic if you don't buy in that one location. I don't book my trips very far out anymore since I find myself taking overnight or weekend trips now that I am local. However, I usually go in there wanting a resort and being content with what I get. If I know I am planning a longer stay, then I book farther in advance, and since I am a fan of AKV I don't usually have problems.

 

[fredtom]

I can certainly understand if you have a favorite resort, such as VWL. Everyone has a favorite... But what I don't understand is why you would not want to stay at BLT or AKV. Each one has its own unique theme, character, features and benefits.


"An Adventurer's life is best!" :lol:

 

[Phonedave]

I can certainly understand if you have a favorite resort, such as VWL. Everyone has a favorite... But what I don't understand is why you would not want to stay at BLT or AKV. Each one has its own unique theme, character, features and benefits.


"An Adventurer's life is best!" :lol:

A matter of personal taste.

I for one do not like Kidani village at all and am not exactly thrilled with AKV either. Quite honestly I would rather stay at SSR than there. Thats just me. Some people love it. For me I would rather stay at VWL or Boardwalk. It is just a matter of what people like.

-dave