Why DVC - No Number Crunching Allowed

Disneykidder

Well-Known Member
I've only been to Oahu once but it was amazing. The airfare was the biggest expense but any decent resort on the beach is serious cash. Food is also really expensive, as mentioned above, plus you'd have to rent a car to get to see all of the wonderful places.

We will definitely use our points to go to Hawaii when the kiddies are older and can withstand such a long plane trip.
 

hiptwinmama

Well-Known Member
For our family, it didn't make sense for us to buy. However, 2 years ago we rented our first DVC and we will never go back. I have one particular owner that we rent from every year.

DVC resorts are amazing 5 star, usually.
But the ability to slow down and relax a little more is worth every penny.
The amazing pools are a huge deal for us too.
 

hiptwinmama

Well-Known Member
I've only been to Oahu once but it was amazing. The airfare was the biggest expense but any decent resort on the beach is serious cash. Food is also really expensive, as mentioned above, plus you'd have to rent a car to get to see all of the wonderful places.

We will definitely use our points to go to Hawaii when the kiddies are older and can withstand such a long plane trip.


I've never been to Oahu, but have spent several weeks on Kauai. You can trade your RCI point for Poipu Point on Kauai, it is a nice resort but the location is awesom. Kauai is very chill, we took our kids for a month when they were 2. Poipu Beach is very kid friendly.
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
I've never been to Oahu, but have spent several weeks on Kauai. You can trade your RCI point for Poipu Point on Kauai, it is a nice resort but the location is awesom. Kauai is very chill, we took our kids for a month when they were 2. Poipu Beach is very kid friendly.

I think the place we traded in for was a Wyndham timeshare that was pretty nice. Kauai has so much natural beauty. The jungle scenes and the arrival in the helicopter with the big waterfall from Jurassic park were filmed here. Waimea Canyon is like the grand canyon but much greener. The beaches were great too. We rented snorkeling gear from a local shop our first day on the island and kept it in the trunk of the car. Most of the beaches were great for snorkeling and a lot were practically empty. Definitely worth a visit if you are already staying at Aulani for a few nights or a week and want to check out a second island.

Sorry for the thread hijacking, but like WDW I could talk about Hawaii all day to anyone who will listen.
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
Maui only - my Company paid for the whole thing as a performance award. Loved the island... but around 1985, the food selection was really poor... and I don't mean the prices: there just wasn't anything :(. If this has been corrected, I would LOVE to know... might go back :).
Restaurant reviews are so subjective, but IMHO the place had a lot to offer. Of course we were there on our honeymoon so maybe that influenced my view a little bit. If you consider going back I highly recomend the Maui revealed guide book http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/books-apps/maui-revealed These guys do a fantastic job of giving real local insight and good reviews of places to see, stay and eat plus the book is actually pretty funny with some side stories and history. We were very happy with their restaurant suggestions - they pointed out the best of the high priced touristy places as well as harder to find local favorites. I have the 2nd edition of the book and they are up to the 5th edition so it seems like they keep it pretty fresh.
 

LuvtheGoof

DVC Guru
Premium Member
But without the numbers, there's just no point to DVC.

Every single thing on your list can be had without purchasing a DVC membership. All of it. Anyone can make a cash reservation at a DVC resort and have the master bath, and the separate rooms, and the extra room, and the whirlpool, and the kitchen, and the washer dryer, and the booking well in advance. You can even get substantial discounts on villas through CRO. Many people do stay in villas on cash reservations, or rent from an owner, because they don't want the multi-thousand dollar upfront payment, and the 40 years of mandatory maintenance fees whether they want to take a Disney trip that year or not.

IMO, DVC is the most cost effective way to stay in the DVC resorts for most people who plan to do it on a regular basis for many years to come. So it's the number-crunching that makes DVC make sense.
Sorry a bit late to the thread. Been busy.

Lynne, while it may be true that a cash guest can get into SSR or OKW pretty much anytime, try getting into BCV or BWV during F&W, or VWL or the SSR Treehouses during busy times of the year. It will be next to impossible. Now, of course, a cash guest can stay at BW Inn or plain BC, but that doesn't get them a 1 or 2 bdr (unless you want to pay a thousand dollars a night) with a full kitchen and w&d. Oh, and don't count on the discounts from CRO lasting forever. The current discounts are normally only at a few resorts, and limited rooms and dates. I would expect most of them to go away over the next few years as our economy improves.

In addition, let's not forget some of the discounts (APs and now PAPs come to mind!) that we receive as DVC owners. I mean, c'mon, $399 for a PAP!! That discount alone pretty much pays for my dues for my family of 4 for the entire year! I know that APs (which we also have) get better discounts, and we always buy the TiW, but for people that don't, the other discounts, even if only 10%, still add up. Something a cash guest or renter does not receive.

So we are one of those that go to Disney multiple times per year, only stay on-site, and only stay in deluxe resorts. We bought DVC many years ago, and we have never looked back. We don't check discounts to see what other people might be paying, we would NEVER do free dining since we save so much with the TiW (try using your DDP at V&As! - yes, we dine there at least once a year).

We did check awhile back and found that we had saved several thousand dollars over the DISCOUNTED rate of rooms (even if not offered when we went) that we had stayed at. We found that we could have saved some money by renting points each time, but we much prefer owning the points ourselves, rather than relying on someone else. Just us. YMMV.
 

trs518

Active Member
My benefit? I get to stay at BLT, when I would have probably stayed at CBR. CBR is a nice resort, but we like BLT much better. It has nice rooms, on the monorail, a good community room, and you can walk to the MK.

A side benefit, I can stay at Aulani, which otherwise wouldn't have been in my price range. Aulani is truly a like it or leave it resort based off it's location. The resort itself is great and other than the food, I haven't heard many complaints. For us it was a great location, away from the noise of Honolulu, but stil accessbile to everything on Oahu for a day trip. (Avoid the Dole Plantation....It's a tourist trap).
 

midwest_mice

Well-Known Member
Have DVC at SS and BLT. Bought both when we were both under 30 yrs old. To me, the money savings thing was never a factor when we purchased. Knowing that we would visit WDW at least once a year for the next ??? years was what hooked us. The last 3 times now, we've stayed at BLT. The one bedroom is our favorite as we enjoy making our own meals from time to time when we visit WDW in January and parks close early in the night. Also, to be able to borrow movies, games, etc in community hall is a plus for something to do for a change.
The ability to bank and borrow points is great so we can save or borrow to take extended family. We stayed at OKW grand villa once and it was a blast. Plus, never have to watch the discount room rates!!
 

Goofnut1980

Well-Known Member
For me. It just makes sense. We bring friends and don't have to pay the extra per person room charge. Plus not having to save up all the time for trips. I love it!

Oh and I think the AKL has the best Christmas tree on property.
 

DVCOwner

A Long Time DVC Member
Original Poster
Just got back from Walt Disney World and spent one night of the six we stayed at Old Key West just to see what it is like. Loved the resort and it gave me another reason to love Disney Vacation Club; many different resorts to stay at on property.
 

hiptwinmama

Well-Known Member
I would love to own, but we go for 1 week every year. I can get us a studio for $700-$1300 for the entire week. Since we only go 1 week a year it just doesn't make sense to buy. Now if we moved back to Florida, that would be another story.
 

MousingAround

New Member
There are several reasons that DVC was right for our family. Many of those reasons were already mentioned in the thread, so I wont beat that horse. I will offer up something that isn't easy to notice at first but will probably become evident after I point it out. When we were there earlier this month something became abundantly clear.....The guests at the DVC properties are "easier to deal with" (and I know that isn't nice to say-but hear me out). DVC members know what they are doing at Disney. They are not typical tourists.... they are HOME. Less hold ups for us when checking in, less people standing around trying to figure out where to go & things seem less chacotic.

I LOVE WDW but struggle with the crowds (mostly people who are completely unaware that others are around). So when we are home at BLT its evident to us that things are a bit more subdued. We walked 8-9 of the Disney properties this month and were turned off by the crowds and chaos of the other resorts. I KNOW, its Disney. However, DVC just feels like a calm in the storm to me.
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
There are several reasons that DVC was right for our family. Many of those reasons were already mentioned in the thread, so I wont beat that horse. I will offer up something that isn't easy to notice at first but will probably become evident after I point it out. When we were there earlier this month something became abundantly clear.....The guests at the DVC properties are "easier to deal with" (and I know that isn't nice to say-but hear me out). DVC members know what they are doing at Disney. They are not typical tourists.... they are HOME. Less hold ups for us when checking in, less people standing around trying to figure out where to go & things seem less chacotic.

I LOVE WDW but struggle with the crowds (mostly people who are completely unaware that others are around). So when we are home at BLT its evident to us that things are a bit more subdued. We walked 8-9 of the Disney properties this month and were turned off by the crowds and chaos of the other resorts. I KNOW, its Disney. However, DVC just feels like a calm in the storm to me.

We're better looking too;););)

In all seriousness, I hear what you are saying. My last stay at BLT I met several fellow owners who were more helpful than even the CMs with answers to some questions I had.
 

Disneykidder

Well-Known Member
There are several reasons that DVC was right for our family. Many of those reasons were already mentioned in the thread, so I wont beat that horse. I will offer up something that isn't easy to notice at first but will probably become evident after I point it out. When we were there earlier this month something became abundantly clear.....The guests at the DVC properties are "easier to deal with" (and I know that isn't nice to say-but hear me out). DVC members know what they are doing at Disney. They are not typical tourists.... they are HOME. Less hold ups for us when checking in, less people standing around trying to figure out where to go & things seem less chacotic.

I LOVE WDW but struggle with the crowds (mostly people who are completely unaware that others are around). So when we are home at BLT its evident to us that things are a bit more subdued. We walked 8-9 of the Disney properties this month and were turned off by the crowds and chaos of the other resorts. I KNOW, its Disney. However, DVC just feels like a calm in the storm to me.

Just like GoofGoof, I MUST agree. I like helping others who may be lost or have advice when I am there but it is also nice to have a convo with people who DO know what they are doing and can tell me some inside tips.This is not to say that only a seasoned Disney vet will stay at a DVC resort or there aren't some of "us" at non-DVC resorts, but I get what you are saying.

I am a teacher and this week were parent/teacher conferences. There was one father whose daughter is amazing and very bright so after discussing her, we spent the rest of the time talking about Disney. They are DVC owners, too. It was a refreshing conversation.
 

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