The Disney Vacation Club?

GoofyMike29

GoofyMike29

New Member
I just recently was thinking about joining the DVC. Is it worth it.
I pretty much try to go to Disney every year in the summer, so that is why I was thinking about joining.
 
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DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
After going to WDW for 6 years in a row my husband and I just joined in 2002. (after coming home from WDW Dec 2001.) We reschured it and even though it didn't seem like it at frist (that 12,000 to start seems like so much at the time), it is worth it in the long run. I learned alot about it on the disboards (www.disboards.com I think.) They have a very active form just for DVC members. Don't think about it too long, the sooner you join the more use you get out of it. The whole things ends 2042. I wish we had joined 5 years ago, but could not have affored it then.

Good luck.

Oh one word of advice. Buy at your very favorite resort, it can be difficult to get in others if you do not have felxibilty in your vacation times.
 
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A

Alyssa

New Member
We are members and love it. We joined in 95 and haven't regretted one bit of it. I don't know how someone in the UK can join. Maybe on your next trip there.
 
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TheDisneyBoy

Member
We have been DVC members for about 5 years now. Even thought it may not seem like a HUGE deal right now, just remember that your rates are fixed for the next 30 years or so! As each year goes by, it becomes more and more of a deal! Not to mention all of the discounts and perks. Free movies at Town Hall at BoardWalk Villas is my favorite perk! If there are any really specific questions, post them and I will try to answer them. DVC Rules!!!!!!
 
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Talsonic

Talsonic

Account Suspended
Originally posted by Ratcat
Anyone know how you join from the UK? Can you?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can join. As DisneyPHD suggested, go to www.disboards.com as they have a separate DVC section for people from the UK. However, I would suggest to both you and GoofeyMike29 to "rent" points first just to see how you like it before you buy. My experience has been that since visitation to WDW is now so low (including the DVC) that you can rent points at significant discounts. Some DVC members find themselves with "use or lose" points and they are often willing to rent their points rather than take a total loss. We've rented DVC points on 5 of our last 8 trips to WDW and saved a lot of money.
 
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jeffs10

jeffs10

Member
I have been going to disneyworld for along time now and just found out about it this year. I saved alot of money this year and wish i could of joined it a couple years ago.

I say join it you will make up for the Money it cost to join with your first resorvations. it really worth it.

jeff
 
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C

captainhook1974

New Member
I've been looking at buying a Vacation Club myself...I'm getting married at the Wedding Pavilion Dec of next year..so won't be able to afford one till after...But you can buy them used from people at quite a discount..anywhere from 15% or more off the rate you get from Disney...

And no matter if you buy one from a private person or from Disney it is only good till 2042...Here's a couple of sites that sell them used...and I know people that have bought them thru these sites...So they are reputable timeshare resale companies..

http://www.dvc-resales.com/

http://www.atimeshare.com/

try these out..and see what you can find..I think Disney gos for around 78$ a point...and these are anywhere from 60-68 $ a point
 
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Talsonic

Talsonic

Account Suspended
Originally posted by GoofyMike29


How do you rent points and what does it consist of?
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Hi GoofyMike29. If you buy into the DVC then you will have to purchase a minimum of 150 points at $75.00 per point (current retail). Also, you will have to pay an annual "maintenance fee" that currently costs about $600.00. You may "rent" points from current members. Many times members plans change due to a variety of reasons and they are unable to use their points. So rather than loose them, they will often rent or trade their points. Average current point rentals at the OKW go for anywhere from $6.00 to $9.00. At www.disboards.com there is a thread devoted to "rent/trade DVC points". The webmaster has detailed information about the "how to's".
 
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mickeyfanatics

mickeyfanatics

New Member
DVC is one of the best things Disney ever created. Look at how slow Pop Century is coming along, but they keep on building and selling out of DVC resorts. We bought in at Vero Beach and then added more points. The points currently run $80 per point at any resort. Right now, Vero is trying to sell out so they will "buy back" your first year of points at $15 per point, making it only $65 per point. When we bought in 2 years ago, they were $65 per point, but we got the same deal at Vero and bought in at $50 per point, the original price.

As for buying at your favorite resort, that is hogwash unless you have to go at the busiest times of the year. Even so, I was able to book at Boardwalk for 4th of July week and I own at Vero Beach. The key to DVC is careful planning.

If you want to make DVC a "great value" here are the two best pieces of advice I can offer. First, you need to be able to book Sunday-Thursday nights only. The prices for Friday and Saturday are much higher. Second, you must be ready to book the first day the 7 month window opens. I have done those two things and have never had to settle for a different resort than the one I wanted. The only time I have settled for a different resort is when I waited to the last minute to book.

This past summer we stayed at the Paradise Pier at Disneyland and it was wonderful to not have to pay for the room in cash (285 per night).

In 2004, we are going on an Alaskan Cruise, then staying in San Francisco, then going back to Disneyland, all with DVC. We also took the Disney Cuise with it and it was wonderful.

If you have any other DVC questions, feel free to ask me. Yes you pay a lot upfront, but 10 years from now, you will be taking vacations that cost up to 10,000 per year for only 1000 or less in maintenance fees.
 
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Worldphile

Worldphile

New Member
As with many things in life, it depends. It will mostly depend on when you go. If you go during peak season, it may be more worthwhile. If you go more than once a year, it may also be more worhtwhile.

We go to WDW the week right before Christmas which is still value season and we stay for ~6 nights. We've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge the past couple of years and usually pay around $175.00 per night. So, for the week, that works out to $1,050.00. If I were in the DVC, I would be paying $600.00 per year in maintenance, so my trip only costs me $450.00 more than being in DVC. However, by saving ~$400.00 per trip, it will take 25 years to recoup the $10,000.00 initiation fee. (And don't forget that the maintenance fees increase every year. They aren't fixed.)

Finally, for us, lodging is not necessarily the most expensive part of a WDW trip. We have also to factor in airfare, park hoppers, and food which we need even if we are DVC members.

There are probably a zillion other intangibles. Someone will say that you can trade your points, or sell your points or whatever. But for us, based on how we vacation, it didn't seem worth it.
 
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Jedi Osborn

Jedi Osborn

Active Member
Worldphile
That's exactly where we are. We hear so much about the DVC (and it seems like there's stuff all over the parks about it) that I look into it everyonce in a while, thinking I missed something. But I come down to the same calculation you used. I just can't get past that point.

And I've heard other things too, like your room doesn't get cleaned everyday (certainly not a big deal, but a nice little perk) and that you have to pay extra for more towels?!?

I wish I could just sit down and talk to someone about it who has all the details but isn't try to sell it.
 
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Worldphile

Worldphile

New Member
Originally posted by Jedi Osborn

And I've heard other things too, like your room doesn't get cleaned everyday (certainly not a big deal, but a nice little perk) and that you have to pay extra for more towels?!?
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Yup. That is my understanding as well. And, like you, that was a big negative for us. When I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation. I want daily maid service and not have to make my bed, etc.

If I remember correctly, the DVC rooms only got maid service every third day or so. But, I could be completely wrong on that. One of the DVC members here should be able to clear it up for us, though.
 
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dreamer

dreamer

New Member
I'm about to use my first DVC points in September. I can see both sides of the argument. One reason I bought them is to have a guaranteed vacation. When we go to DW, we need a 2BR condo anyway because I have 5 kids. If we stayed in the hotels, I wouldn't have bought the points -- I don't know if you can recoup your cost that way.

I don't have time or inclination to bargain hunt. My schedule is not that flexible. If I had a flexible schedule and could always use the bargain codes, I probably would have stuck with that. But I can't and wouldn't want to.

The points disappear in 42 years. They are not permanent. I never looked into the option of getting another time share and then "trading into" Disney whenever I wanted to go there. That might be a better option. Maybe in 42 years Disney will offer members the option of extending at a reduced price. But then I'll probably be dead by then and that may be a fat chance.

The DVC units have washer and dryer, so if you need towels before the replacement (they are replaced every 4 days for free) you either have to pay or wash them yourself. (I don't know if studios have W&D.) I think they may have extra towels at the pools for free -- they did at OKW when we were there last. We paid for the 2BR then and the room was cleaned every day.

Your room doesn't get cleaned at all unless you stay 8 nights, in which case it will be cleaned on the fourth day. They have vacuums, so you have to do it yourself. Or pay $40 for a cleanup in a 2BR -- I don't know the charge in the others. We change sheets at home once a week, so it doesn't matter. We would only need to vacuum.

Plus your investment is linked to Disney's future. If they fail your investment suffers. (IT's not a financial investment. It's a vacation investment.)

If you're not a Disney lover, don't buy in. If you are, it's probably worth it unless you want to stay at a hotel or are flexible enough to shop for and use the bargain codes all the time.

I can also use my points at a couple of my favorite ski resorts, although I don't know how the value compares to paying for the condos outright. Specifically Iron Blosam at Snowbird, which is slopeside at my favorite place to ski.
 
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