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Vacation Club Member
- Thread starter jcrb
- Start date
Disney Doll
New Member
My husband and I bought into the vacation club in September 1997, and I have to say that it is the BEST thing we've ever done, by far!!!!! I love the whole concept, of being able to go to WDW, and not have to come up with that big chunk of money all at once to pay for accomodations. I know we're paying a monthly fee, but to me, paying X amount of money per month is easier than having to come up with $1500-$2000 all at once. And I like the fact that the accomodations are that much nicer, with the minimum being a studio with the little kitchenette,which is still more than you get with most of the hotel rooms on property. I love the fact that I know I will be going to WDW at least once or twice per year...and a couple of times we've been EXTRA lucky and gone three times!!!!
It is one decision that I have never regretted for a minute. As a matter of fact, hopefully later in the year, we will be buying more points.
It is one decision that I have never regretted for a minute. As a matter of fact, hopefully later in the year, we will be buying more points.
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wishiwere@wdw
Well-Known Member
I'm just curious how much is out of pocket to become a member of DVC? I understand if you don't want to answer but the contracts seem so confusing to me and they make it very difficult to understand the "true" cost. I'm wishing we had already done this since we have now gone three years in a row. Same goes for airline points. I always think about looking into it at the time but I never do when we return
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DisneyPhD
Well-Known Member
wishiwere@wdw,
We bought 170 points at VWL just this past Feburay. I kinda wish we had waited until beach club opened, but I think we will be fine with WL.
Anyway this is my advise. Don't finance it with Disney, it is 10% interest. If you need a loan, take out a second morage or something like that. We bought outright with savings.
Buy where you want to stay the most. You can book at other places, but your best bets are at your home resort. Look into resale if you want to stay at a resort that buying new is "closed".
Take advantage of the MS representive that will sell to you. They can be very acomodating and answers questions well.
Check out Dis board DVC board. I wish I had before I bought. You can learn alot there.
DVC is good until 2042. If you buy in 5 years it will still be good until 2042, so the sooner you buy the better.
Buy as many points as you think you will need now. Adding on you pay more for points and get less years to use them.
More points means more dues and that can add up.
There is different rates for week day and weekend rates. It's double or sometimes more on weekends. Not staying on Fri or Sat can save you many points. You can stay at non DVC but Disney owned resorts, but it is not as good of value. There is vaule seasons and peak sessions also. Different resorts have different point prices. OKW is a good vaule and easy to get in.
Selling points per year goes for around $10 a point. We figured that if we added the cost of the points (170) plus 40 years worth of dues and divided it again by 40 it comes down to a little over 5$ a point each year. That does not take into acount that dues can go up (I think Max 15 % a year, but historly has been around 2 to 3 % I belive, I am not sure on this)
150 points will not get you a week in a 1 bedroom every year, but will one year in a suido and the next year in a 1 bedroom.
Sudios are like normal delux hotel rooms, but with a frig, micro wave and a few other things. You also have access to a washing machine and dryer for free, but have to share with other guests and may have to wait for avilabilty.
You can book Disney crusises and other vactions with your points, but they charge 75 dollers to do this. There is no charge for WDW resorts or DVC resorts.
Banking is not as easy as any unused points get banked. You have to do it by a certin time or can lose the points. It requres planning ahead to not loose any points. You can always borrow from the next year, then borrow from the next year again.
I wish we had started sooner. We have had a WDW vaction every year for the past 6 years. But then we were in grad school, didn't have real jobs and couldn't aford to do it then.
If you plan to keep going, look into it. Once you get over that first cost, it is worth it. I am happy thinking about our next 40 years worth of vacations!!!!!
Hope this helps!!!!
We bought 170 points at VWL just this past Feburay. I kinda wish we had waited until beach club opened, but I think we will be fine with WL.
Anyway this is my advise. Don't finance it with Disney, it is 10% interest. If you need a loan, take out a second morage or something like that. We bought outright with savings.
Buy where you want to stay the most. You can book at other places, but your best bets are at your home resort. Look into resale if you want to stay at a resort that buying new is "closed".
Take advantage of the MS representive that will sell to you. They can be very acomodating and answers questions well.
Check out Dis board DVC board. I wish I had before I bought. You can learn alot there.
DVC is good until 2042. If you buy in 5 years it will still be good until 2042, so the sooner you buy the better.
Buy as many points as you think you will need now. Adding on you pay more for points and get less years to use them.
More points means more dues and that can add up.
There is different rates for week day and weekend rates. It's double or sometimes more on weekends. Not staying on Fri or Sat can save you many points. You can stay at non DVC but Disney owned resorts, but it is not as good of value. There is vaule seasons and peak sessions also. Different resorts have different point prices. OKW is a good vaule and easy to get in.
Selling points per year goes for around $10 a point. We figured that if we added the cost of the points (170) plus 40 years worth of dues and divided it again by 40 it comes down to a little over 5$ a point each year. That does not take into acount that dues can go up (I think Max 15 % a year, but historly has been around 2 to 3 % I belive, I am not sure on this)
150 points will not get you a week in a 1 bedroom every year, but will one year in a suido and the next year in a 1 bedroom.
Sudios are like normal delux hotel rooms, but with a frig, micro wave and a few other things. You also have access to a washing machine and dryer for free, but have to share with other guests and may have to wait for avilabilty.
You can book Disney crusises and other vactions with your points, but they charge 75 dollers to do this. There is no charge for WDW resorts or DVC resorts.
Banking is not as easy as any unused points get banked. You have to do it by a certin time or can lose the points. It requres planning ahead to not loose any points. You can always borrow from the next year, then borrow from the next year again.
I wish we had started sooner. We have had a WDW vaction every year for the past 6 years. But then we were in grad school, didn't have real jobs and couldn't aford to do it then.
If you plan to keep going, look into it. Once you get over that first cost, it is worth it. I am happy thinking about our next 40 years worth of vacations!!!!!
Hope this helps!!!!
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wishiwere@wdw
Well-Known Member
Hey all. Thanks for the info! I'm glad I asked I think I'll wait a bit longer to save cash. I agree that going through a separate means of financing would be best but there is something weird about going on vacation every year on a loan. Hopefully I can buy in the next 2 years or so after saving the cash. I don't think we are going this year anyway (baby #1 on the way!) so now I already have 3 grand saved!
Thanks again everybody for explaining this in plain english that everybody can understand! It actually sounds like a good idea if you plan to go every year. I'll now be sure to look into this a bit more before making any commitments.
I think I'll wait a bit longer to save cash. I agree that going through a separate means of financing would be best but there is something weird about going on vacation every year on a loan. Hopefully I can buy in the next 2 years or so after saving the cash. I don't think we are going this year anyway (baby #1 on the way!) so now I already have 3 grand saved! Thanks again everybody for explaining this in plain english that everybody can understand! It actually sounds like a good idea if you plan to go every year. I'll now be sure to look into this a bit more before making any commitments.
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DisneyPhD
Well-Known Member
We sold back all of our first year (back dated to Sept even though we bought in Feb) and took it off our down payment, for 10 a point (for a 170 points. ) That is really why we bought VWL and didn't wait for BC to open. Still regreting not geting beach club, but my feelings may change after I actually stay at VWL!!!
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Married@WDW
Member
DisneyPhD --
Granted I haven't seen the Beach Club rooms yet and they might be just as amazing, but we stayed in a VWL one-bedroom for our anniversary in December. We only stayed there because it was what we could get -- there was very little available as our anniversary is 12/28. We just needed someplace to sleep as we'd be out and about for the most part.
Well, once we saw the room and realized how amazing it was we got room service for breakfast and just hung out for a while. You're gonna love it!
Granted I haven't seen the Beach Club rooms yet and they might be just as amazing, but we stayed in a VWL one-bedroom for our anniversary in December. We only stayed there because it was what we could get -- there was very little available as our anniversary is 12/28. We just needed someplace to sleep as we'd be out and about for the most part.
Well, once we saw the room and realized how amazing it was we got room service for breakfast and just hung out for a while. You're gonna love it!
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DisneyPhD
Well-Known Member
Married@WDW.
Glad you think so. I have heard they are great. I am sure we will love it. It is just that Y&B is one of my fav resorts and I just love the theming (and the pool) But I am sure we will also love VWL and they are closer to MK! I hope to stay at BCV sometime also, there is just so much to try! My goal in life is to stay at all the WDW resort (expect all stars and S&D). Now with DVC we are that much closer!
Glad you think so. I have heard they are great. I am sure we will love it. It is just that Y&B is one of my fav resorts and I just love the theming (and the pool) But I am sure we will also love VWL and they are closer to MK! I hope to stay at BCV sometime also, there is just so much to try! My goal in life is to stay at all the WDW resort (expect all stars and S&D). Now with DVC we are that much closer!
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Married@WDW
Member
Yup -- we were married 12/28/98 at WDW, honeymooned there for a while, then went on a Disney cruise. In December, we celebrated our three year with a quick stay at Wilderness Lodge (only one night -- I wish we'd had longer!) before heading to my in-laws house to celebrate a belated Christmas -- they live just outside Orlando.
AKL is beautiful, though we haven't stayed there yet. Have you done Victoria and Alberts? Friends finally convinced us to try it for this anniversary and it was fantastic. Expensive, but so surprisingly enjoyable! We'll definitely do it again for a special occassion, once I get over the sticker shock from the last time!
Have a great time!
AKL is beautiful, though we haven't stayed there yet. Have you done Victoria and Alberts? Friends finally convinced us to try it for this anniversary and it was fantastic. Expensive, but so surprisingly enjoyable! We'll definitely do it again for a special occassion, once I get over the sticker shock from the last time!
Have a great time!
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