wouldnt discount codes be cheaper?

[hellokitty]

on the "confused" post someone did an awesome job explaining the pt. cost over 20 yrs. however, there are several codes out each yr that save lots of money
how would the DVC price compare to just using the AP codes
or other codes disney posts.

let assume i can get the contemporary for my AP code of
$134 a night standard room--let's use an easy one-for 10 days
that would be 1340 for the year.
now explain how DVC would work out cheaper...
thanks so much
i am trying to convince my husband to purchase into DVC

[DebbieB]

I like to stay at OKW or BWV 1 bedroom. The rack rate with tax is over $400. With 30% off discount code (which is never guaranteed) it would be around $300. Comparing it to a Contemporary standard room is apples to oranges, it's about 3 times the space.

[Dean]

No one said DVC was cheaper in every case. There are several points though to determine if DVC might be cheaper IN THE LONG RUN, for you. The price you quote of $134 per night would be $1500 with tax for a regular hotel room. Moderates are as cheap as $84 per night which would be less than $950 for 10 days. At $10 pp rental, the lowest for Wilderness lodge would be 120 points or $1200. For that you're getting a studio which is much better than a regular hotel room, even at the Cont. The discounts are not usually present in the higher deamand times or will be much less. While the points will also be higher, the points will not go up nearly as much. If you stay 5 days avoiding weekends, the savings can be substantial even compared to moderates.

Having said all of that, I don't feel DVC is for the person who is happy going occasionally or only when they can find "bargains", esp. if the are happy in a regular hotel room for 10 days. I'd recommend you rent from an owner and stay in both a studio and a 2 BR unit (or 1 BR if you can't use the 2 BR) and see what it's like. The extra space and savings of a kitchen (even the mini kitchen) is a different type of luxury.

[goofeyshell]

we have four children and we either had to get two rooms or a 2 bedroom. Even with any discount over the years this is a wonderful deal. An added bonus for us is that we are able to take extras with us....grandparents or a friend:)

[Doctor P]

Agreeing with everything that has been said, and only adding an additional two cents worth: in current dollars and at current prices, we bought in August 2000 and DVC works out to about $100 per night total if you travel at the peak holiday time. That is less than the cost of All Stars at that time of the year (except for under extreme circumstances like last year). Depending on when you travel and how hard you want to shop, DVC in my opinion works out to be a good deal (but you are locked into going to Disney a lot if you want to get the maximum value from your points).

[maepartner]

Originally posted by Doctor P
DVC in my opinion works out to be a good deal (but you are locked into going to Disney a lot if you want to get the maximum value from your points).


Hurt me Doctor, hurt me! :D :jester: :o

[Doctor P]

LOL. Yeah, yeah, it's a tough life isn't it?? ;) :D

[PamOKW]

Keep in mind that the number of codes and the amount of discount offered in the last 12-24 months were just about unheard of in the past. You were usually very lucky to get 10% off the posted rack rate for rooms and, in fact, lucky to get a room at all.

My guess, and hope, is that things will return to normal with our economy and with people desiring to take WDW vacations in the short-term. The 40%+ discounts seen lately will be a thing of the past before long.

[drusba]

If you assume (a) the code rate will always be available, (b) that the resort and trip time you want will always be covered by the code, (c) that Disney hotel rates won't increase to the point where even a code rate becomes very high, and (d) want only a hotel room and don't want to stay in the 1 or 2BR's at the DVC resorts (seldom discounted through any code), then I guess DVC loses the "cheaper" analysis. I personally try to avoid thinking about so many "ifs." To be certain, the cost comparison between DVC and renting resort rooms is a factor that should be considered before buying, but it is only one. The main factor for us was being able to get at least a 1BR and preferably a 2BR in a premier resort right next to a park (BWV in our case) because frankly I could not stand staying in single hotel rooms anymore.

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by drusba
because frankly I could not stand staying in single hotel rooms anymore.

This says it for me.

[disneyma]

Don't forget that room rates go up each year by 5 -10 %. Also remember Sales Tax of 10-11% added to each of your resort stays....

So lets see if you were ALWAYS able to get the Cont. for 10 nights a year at $134.00 that would be $1340 plus tax of 134.00. for the next 40 years would be a total of $58,960.00. This makes a large assumption that there is NO increase in room rates AND you were able to get that deal each and every year for a standard hotel room.

This is how I looked at it when I decided to buy into DVC.

Good Luck!

:bounce: :pinkbounc

[hellokitty]

wow, thanks for all the responses maybe I should just attend
a booth session?

It seems exciting to me to join, my husband is leary though
he thinks we should just do our own thing....

so I have to show him in black and white the cost benifits, and you all have given me many things to work with and think about.
thanks
:)

[infobahn]

Too Much Math
Toooo Muuuch Maaath
Toooooo Muuuuuuch Maaaaath

Must Just Enjoy
Muuuust Juuust Enjooooy

[Landof10000lakes]

Hellokitty,

You sound just like my situation. I would buy into DVC in a heartbeat, but DH wants to "see" the cost/benefit etc. A great websit to look at is

www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/index.htm

Although this website is abit dated in parts, it gives a wonderful overview of the pros and cons of owning DVC. (It also has current point charts for 2002, so you can get a feel for what a studio / 1Bd. would cost in points)

We just started the process of a DVC resale, 205 pts. at$63 a point. (OKW) I liked the resale avenue because it was less expensive than buying thru Disney (even with the closing costs of $450.) and this resale gave us 151 banked pts to use immediately.

DVC is not for everyone, however if you
a.) like Disney and want to visit at least every 2 yrs
b.) want to stay in nicer, larger rooms
c.) or have a larger family that requires 2 hotel rooms
DVC might be what you are looking for.

When you mentioned the Contemp. at $134 a night, you must also include 11% tax (DVC is not taxed).

Also, compairing a standard hotel room at $134 with a Studio or 1 bedroom is not really fair. The studio and 1 Bd. are larger, with more ammenities. You must decided if you would rather have the extra room (be willing to pay for it) then compair the rack rate for a studio / 1Bd witht he points it wouls cost to use it.

Good Luck on your search.

ps. I would definitely go on a tour while you are in WDW. It couldn't hurt. (he he he):D

[ripleysmom]

Hellokitty and Land, just have them take a tour of the models. Period. Trust me they will be sold.

[hellokitty]

but are the model always nicer than the real thing?

[Landof10000lakes]

No, no, no

The models are the real thing! Except that models have thousands of people walking thru them each day. (okay maybe hundreds) ;)

But the models are set up to look exactly like the real things. No better, no worse.

[hellokitty]

do you go to each ind. resort to see models?

[Regina]

While you might be able to take a peek at a room, the DVC resorts that are sold out will no longer have a model to tour.

Just one more thing to think about, those discounts are virtually non-existent during the holidays. My family will be there for our third Christmas/New Year's trip. We're staying 13 nights in a 2 bedroom at OKW, all on points. We'd never be able to do this if we had to pay cash.

The options are what it's all about.:)

[JonHM]

The models are at the Boardwalk, which is where the main DVC sales office is. When we bought in last June, they were mock-ups of the Wilderness Lodge Villas, which they were selling at the time. If you go down now, they will be mock ups of the Beach Club Villas, which is what you could buy direct from Disney if you were to buy now.

Other than the scenery out the windows not being the same, they were/are exact replicas of the actual villas. You should definitely go on the DVC tour - absolutely 100% *no* pressure - just very interesting and informative. And - they will send a van to pick you up from *any* of the parks, Downtown Disney (or any Disney resort, I believe), drive you to Boardwalk for the tour, and then when you're done, they'll drive you anywhere at WDW that you'd like to go. (They may even give you coupons for a free lunch on the Boardwalk)

:bounce: :bounce:

[PamOKW]

Just to expand on Regina's comments about Holiday time savings at WDW....

With the exception of last year, this time of year is always full rack rate. For this year, that's $860.25 per night (including tax). Regina's 13 night stay would run $11,183.25. :earseek:

Another point to look at, in 1997 the 2 bedroom pre-tax for Christmas week would be $425 per night. In 2002, it's $775. That's an 82% increase in the cost of the room in 5 years.

So, feeling like a genius Regina? ;)

[denman007]

Pam,

Would Regina's 13 night stay in, lets say, 2010, still cost the same amount of points as it does today?

In otherwords, does that points per night stay the same for 42 years? It seems that's what DVC is claiming.

If that is truely the case, then that would be a good selling point.

[Landof10000lakes]

Disney is allowed to change the points per night stay, but only for a net zero sum.

Example, if disney wants to make an OKW studio cost 10pt per night, instead of 8pt (adventure season, Sun-Thurs) they must take those extra 2 pts. from somewhere else, say lower premier season from 15pts to 13pts (Sun-Thurs).

Any changes in the point system must equal out to a net zero sum, over the course of the year. If they add points to a nights stay, they must subtract them from somewhere else.

Disney has adjusted the point system in the past at different resorts. (OKW I think)

[PamOKW]

that would be a good selling point.

Yes, it is one of the major considerations. The rates don't go up in the traditional sense.

There is leeway for DVC to make adjustments if some problem arises but that has only happened one time at OKW (when it was the only DVC). A few years ago, they considered reducing the amount of points for weekends and increasing the weekdays but abandoned the idea. But, that's how it needs to work, something goes up and something goes down.

[nisiemouse]

As a new DVC member I am just happy that I don't have to spend time looking for discounts (and looking again for a better one when you find one). I love all the DVC homes. Occasionally we will stay in a hotel room during a high point night (like the night after Thanksgiving 72points yikes!) but it is only one night and I can't wait to have all that room and a refrigerator. This helped convince dh. We have a ds and a dd and space will become even more important as they get older.

[Regina]

Denman, to answer your question, we went during the holidays in 1995, 1999 and, as I mentioned, we're going at the end of this year.

The amount of points used has been about the same for all 3 trips. Considering what hotel rooms were going for during the Millennium celebration, it was a steal to stay on points.

[denman007]

You guys have some good valid points for DVC. Is there a formula for calc'n the maint fees?

That's the only missing piece for me.

Thanks.

[Disney1]

Another way to look at the value of DVC is this - Will I be spending at least $58,960.00 over the next 40 years on room charges to visit Disney (or $1500/year) ? You will also have to ask yourself the question, Do I want to spend some of that money at different resorts at other locations? I think this is the most important question to answer first. You do not want to shut yourself out of the opportunity of doing other things.

In addition, the structure of vacation club does not lend itself to the fun of last minute planning. Most options will not be available to you with last minute planning. Some of the best vacations we had were made on the spur of the moment.

[hellokitty]

I agree we have planned our last two trips pretty quick and have changed resorts like 3 times. I like to flexiblity of doing so, however, it would be nice to know I was going to disney every year and didnt have to think "maybe we should go somewhere different this year?"

[WebmasterDoc]

Maintenance fees vary by resort and typically have increased about 3% per year- and have even gone down some years.

Here is a recent discussion about DVC <a href="http://198.65.131.237/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177227">annual maintenance fees.</a>

Enjoy!

[denman007]

I didn't really mean a formula for increases, I meant a formula for cost per point.

I would go with BCV or WL.

What would the maint fees be for 200pts at BCV, 150pts?

Is there any max % increase? What determines the % inc?

[Dean]

Maint fees for most for BW, BC and WL will all be somewhere in the general range of $750 for 200 points. OKW will be somewhat lower, about $100 less. Max increase is 15% but history is it will be a lot lower. As timeshare go, DVC is already high on maint fees so the hope is that Disney will do a good job anticipating costs and there will be no dramatic jumps in fees or special assessments.

[WebmasterDoc]

Maintenance fees currently range from about $3.23 to about $3.83 for the onsite resorts.

Disney has done a good job, IMO, of properly projecting the expenses needed to maintain the resorts at a high level.

Many timeshares cut corners in this area and then end up with massive increases when repairs can't be put off any longer. Everything has a life expectancy and timeshares have to prepare for the eventual need to recarpet, repaint, re-roof and replace appliances. In some cases some of these costs will affect all units at about the same time (since the age of the units is about the same).

Thus far, Disney has done an effective job of sustaining a high level of maintenance and repair!! :)