Thinking of DVC

[dznygirl64]

Forgot Im on vacation and dont want the internet:hurl: and can park my own car.Maybe thats what I want a discount club and a timeshare.Im sorry for Disney to use my $35000.00 plus maintenance costs for 50 years I want more than just a room with a view.I should be treated like a king there.DVC people have made a long term investment in the property where the average guest does not.Sorry but for my to join DVC I want a large discount on my annual pass a large discount on food and gifts 20% to 35% like the cast get.And stay where I want and clean my room,give me all that and I would sign.

 

[captainkidd]

We keep doing the math and still find DVC not a good deal for us.WE go three times a year each time for a week.September,October and January these are off times and generally lower room prices.The thing that gets me is the maintenance costs.Do your math first before investing its worth visiting a DVC showroom or seeing it at WDW first.Do your homework to see if this is truely for you.

I've done that math a hundred times and it always works out the same - Yes, we will save money in the long room, but not enough to justify the commitment. If you have the money upfront to buy in, it can pay for itself in under 10 years. If you finance for 10 years, forget it.

 

[captainkidd]

Not sure who or why anyone would pay $380.00 a night for a room.We usually stay at the Poly and have never payed more than $125.00 a night.We will be there in 24 days and I booked for $110.00 a night.

How in the world are you only paying $110 a night for the Poly? Are you a CM or something? If so, then your situation is different from the average person. I don't know anyone who has ever paid that little for the Poly.

 

[DVCOwner]

I think my ownership in the DVC is well worth the money I invested and the money that I pay annually. Actually I just added another 100 more points to my original 150 that I purchased 6 years ago and my best friend who has been going with my family the last three years has just joined BLT. I like having a full size suite (we always get at least a two bedroom) and a kitchen and washer/dryer in the room. That room the size I get at the DVC would cost over $500.00 a night. A lot of it has to do with how my family visits WDW. We love getting up in the morning and eating breakfast together and than heading to the parks. In the evening we get together in the room and have a drink and relax. Part of it is that staying at a DVC villa is more than just a room; I really do feel like I am at home when I am in the DVC villas. Is it for everyone, no; what is.

 

[dizzney]

Not sure who or why anyone would pay $380.00 a night for a room.We usually stay at the Poly and have never payed more than $125.00 a night.We will be there in 24 days and I booked for $110.00 a night.We just dont see the deal in DVC.With the points and staying at the Poly (a non DVC resort it would cost way more than that) thats the problem we like to stay at the Poly and Riverside all non DVC resorts.We have visited all the DVC resorts and dont care for the DVC areas of the resorts.They seem isolated away from places to eat.We where interested in Bay lake tower but if you want to eat you have to go to the Contemporary?

We bought into the Broadwalk BECAUSE we loved the restaurants around the BW and BC/YC as well as Epcot and the Studios, you cpould not ahve a better location for choice in WDW.

We have found that we ahve truly saved money over the yyears - granted we did not finance - we bought in and added points when we could pay in cash - but it has been a savings,

Also you state 35,000.00 as being the cost, we own 375 points and we didnt pay anywhere near that amount, granted we bought in 4 parts, 220, 30, 25 and then 100, but did not pay 35,000.00

We always stayed prior to purchase at the deluxe resorts -WL, Poly, BC, Contemporary and it has really been worth it and such a comforable way to vacation, my kids hate it when we stay at a hotel since its just not the same. We stayed last summer at the Grand Californian on points - park view for 4 nights and they were wishing the the GC DVC villas were open since they felt cramped by the accomodations.

 

[dizzney]

I think my ownership in the DVC is well worth the money I invested and the money that I pay annually. Actually I just added another 100 more points to my original 150 that I purchased 6 years ago and my best friend who has been going with my family the last three years has just joined BLT. I like having a full size suite (we always get at least a two bedroom) and a kitchen and washer/dryer in the room. That room the size I get at the DVC would cost over $500.00 a night. A lot of it has to do with how my family visits WDW. We love getting up in the morning and eating breakfast together and than heading to the parks. In the evening we get together in the room and have a drink and relax. Part of it is that staying at a DVC villa is more than just a room; I really do feel like I am at home when I am in the DVC villas. Is it for everyone, no; what is.

I so agree with you, sounds like our vacations! Cannot wait until New years Eve our next trip.

 

[captainkidd]

I really do feel like I am at home when I am in the DVC villas.

If there's one place I don't want to feel like I'm at when I'm on vacation, it's home.:lol:

 

[dznygirl64]

If there's one place I don't want to feel like I'm at when I'm on vacation, it's home.:lol:

You read my mind:lookaroun how did you do that? I got the Poly room rate by calling Disney and useing my Passholder rate I booked this in May.The deals are out there everytime we get a code mailed or e mailed to us we call and check the room prices and the price slowly creeps down.Just like with the rental car,keep booking till you get the price you want.

 

[captainkidd]

You read my mind:lookaroun how did you do that? I got the Poly room rate by calling Disney and useing my Passholder rate I booked this in May.The deals are out there everytime we get a code mailed or e mailed to us we call and check the room prices and the price slowly creeps down.Just like with the rental car,keep booking till you get the price you want.

I got the passholder rate last year, but it was still $301. I've never seen a passholder rate go as low as $110 for the Poly, at least not in the last 4 years since I've been a passholder.

 

[DisneyPhD]

With the points and staying at the Poly (a non DVC resort it would cost way more than that) thats the problem we like to stay at the Poly and Riverside all non DVC resorts.We have visited all the DVC resorts and dont care for the DVC areas of the resorts.They seem isolated away from places to eat.We where interested in Bay lake tower but if you want to eat you have to go to the Contemporary?

Clearly based on where you like to stay and how you like to vacation, DVC is not right for you and its good that you figured that out before you made a purchase you might have regretted.

Your comment about having to walk from BLT to Contemporary to eat can't be that big a deal since you could have a much longer walk to dining at your favorite resorts, Poly and Riverside.

DVC works great for us, we don't have to wait for postcards or emails or passholder rates and can get great "rates" throughout the year not just in september. For what we pay in dues, our rooms have averaged $80 per night for our last 7 years of vacations depending on where we stay and time of year.

 

[DVCOwner]

Let me tell you what I mean by “I feel at home when staying at a DVC resort.”

We go once a year so we are never in a rush to do everything and if we do not see or do it this time we can always do it next year. That said, I like to be able to go to the parks in the morning for Extra Magic Hours and return as often as I want to our villa. We usually return to the parks in the afternoon when the they start to get a little less crowded. If the wife and I want to stay at one of the parks and eat dinner, we can or I might just put a pizza in the oven at “home”. We always keep a great assortment of adult beverages in the room and the family and friends drop by when ever they want to just to put their feet up and relax at bit. There is always ice cream bars in the freezer for the Grandkids and a host of other stuff to eat for everyone else. When it is time to return to my other “home”, I am going to work the next week not feeling that I need a vacation from my vacation. I know that in one month I will be booking my next trip to my Disney “home” and have that to look forward to. It is well worth the money to me and my family.

 

[dznygirl64]

Im not going to argue to own or not to own.Its just not what we want at this time.For some this is a deal and for others its not.As long as we have WDW who cares.

 

[majortom1981]

Wow

It's my last day here at Saratoga and I ended up buying into the dvc . Anybody on the fence, they are running a 100 point package with them providing 1300 down . I bought this and it's a great way to get into the dvc while not being to expensive. The package is only for animal kingdom but I thought the rooms were gorgeous. So for $11200 to start and Disney throwing $1300 in ontop of your down payment I thinks it's a real bargain

 

[Disneykidder]

We have been really doing our homework. It is actually cheaper to purchase a new DVC rather than a resale. Here is the reason....the amount of years you get to use it and the annual dues are higher for older resorts. Even to buy a SSR resale vs. a BLT new, it pays to get the BLT due to a few more years on it and lower dues.

I think Disney has the best timeshare policy around...being able to go to Disney and other places in the country and world, too.

BTW, we stayed at a friends timeshare in VA a few days ago and we didn't get housekeeping at all...not even on the 5th or 6th day...they only do 7th day. We had to wash our own towels. I believe every timeshare place doesn't include housekeeping, either.

 

[disneygirl76]

Thanks for the great information everyone! I might have missed this but...what are the annual dues or does it depend on where / when you buy?

Also - yes, I have heard that you get discounts on the tickets - for like annual passes. We looked at doing an AP last year just b/c we were are living closer to WDW now. And we figure that the price of a 10 day park hopper with no expiration is about the same as an AP. And with a discount for the tickets when you buy them - i'm not worried about the tickets.

I would like to see the ability to get on the dining plan - does anyone know if that is in the works?

Thanks all! :wave:

 

[DisneyPhD]

You are correct, dues vary by resort. Here are the dues for 2009

Year OKW BWV VB VB(sub) HH VWL BCV SSR AKV BLT

2009 4.73 5.21 6.41 4.97 5.36 5.04 5.00 4.34 4.85 3.67

Currently, the only ticket media with a DVC discount is the AP.

DVC members staying on points have been able to book the dining plan without purchasing a package for several years now.

 

[disneygirl76]

You are correct, dues vary by resort. Here are the dues for 2009

Year OKW BWV VB VB(sub) HH VWL BCV SSR AKV BLT

2009 4.73 5.21 6.41 4.97 5.36 5.04 5.00 4.34 4.85 3.67

Currently, the only ticket media with a DVC discount is the AP.

DVC members staying on points have been able to book the dining plan without purchasing a package for several years now.

Thanks for the info! By the way - LOVE you profile pic!! I'm a U OF M Grad!!!! Go BLUE!

 

[danv3]

Resale is definitely something to look into.

• The prices per point are much cheaper.
• You can buy at resorts that are "sold out" (BWV, VWL, etc.).
• You can buy contracts at sizes smaller than 160 points.

Also, once you own, there's no difference from DVC's point of view of a resale buyer vs. someone who buys direct from DVC.

We bought 100 BWV points earlier this year. It was the right size contract for us and the right resort. We weren't interested in 160+ points at AKL at a higher price.

 

[Disneykidder]

Question---if you have no points can any amount be purchased on the resale market or is there a minimum to start?

 

[Hakunamatata]

Question---if you have no points can any amount be purchased on the resale market or is there a minimum to start?

Any amount that being offered for sale.