Decisions to Buy DVC - hesitant spouse

[luvslikepi]

I want to invest in DVC however I have not been able to convince my husband that it would be a good investment for our family, I don't even think I could convince him to go to the presentation that DVC does at any of the parks - he's very suspicious of time shares. What are some of the "facts" of DVC that helped you decide to buy or convince a hesitant spouse that it would be a good investment?

 

[WsPrincess]

I do not look at DVC as an investment really. I look at it as paying up front for our vacations. We like Disney and we stay deluxe when we go. For us the up front cost will be paid for in about 5 trips but we know we have yearly dues whether we travel or not. We are committing to another 30 years of paying into Disney regardless of how we travel. I know that doesn't sound like the positive spin you are looking for but I have to look at our ownership in that way since it is not a one time fee or something that ends anytime soon.

 

[Brian Noble]

I want to invest in DVC however I have not been able to convince my husband that it would be a good investment for our family

You aren't really "investing" in DVC. As the PP puts it, you are pre-paying for your vacation lodging.

Generally speaking, DVC can save money for people who visit at least once every other year, stay in Deluxe resorts, and expect to continue doing so for at least the next decade. Also generally speaking, DVC can give you an upgrade on your lodging (and maybe save a little money as well) if you visit at least once every other year, stay in Moderate resorts, and expect to continue doing so for at least a decade.

DVC is not as great of an idea if you often stay in Value resorts or would consider staying offsite. It's also potentially a bad idea if you are buying "to take the kids to Disney," because kids have a nasty tendency of growing up.

The other problem with DVC: it's easy to really upgrade your lodging and spend more on it in the long run. For example, we just don't consider a hotel room (or a studio) for the four of us vacation. We can squeeze into a 1BR if we have to, but consider even that a sacrifice and really prefer 2BR units. Likewise, even with just the two of us, without the kids, we really prefer a 1BR to a studio. Once you go down that road, you are not "saving" much of anything even compared to regular Deluxe stays.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I want to invest in DVC however I have not been able to convince my husband that it would be a good investment for our family, I don't even think I could convince him to go to the presentation that DVC does at any of the parks - he's very suspicious of time shares. What are some of the "facts" of DVC that helped you decide to buy or convince a hesitant spouse that it would be a good investment?

Key words here that need to be changed..

Most people think of an "investment" in a finanical sense. Under no circumstanes is a timeshare a good "investment"

Now if you can convince DH that it's an investment in your quality of life etc.. it might work but if he's a numbers man.. GOOD LUCK!

I knew I went enough to Disney to make it work for me, but you also have to be willing to do a lot of vacations at Disney. My changing vacation habits are why I have sold off two small contracts and will probably list another one next year.

 

[DizBub]

The facts that helped us decide were that we learned that DVC is not a typical timeshare. You are only limited by the amount of points you own and short notice availability. You are locked into yearly dues but even payment of those is flexible. We resisted for years thinking that there was no way we could afford it. The numbers seemed so mysterious. When I finally got an exact price we bought and have added on twice now. Had I known about resale we could have saved a ton.

My advice would be to look into renting points for a vacation and get a feel for what you would be getting into. Take the tour/presentation, no pressure. You can get fast passes and ice cream for your trouble.

 

[zavandor]

Why don't you try to rent points for one vacation in a DVC resort?
This way maybe you DH will fall in love with the resort and will decide to evaluate DVC.
Renting before buying is a good idea anyway, to help you choose your favorite resort.

 

[disneynutz]

If you already vacation at WDW every year and especially if you stay at deluxe resorts, and you like the DVC accommodations and you expect to vacation at WDW for the next 10 years or so, then the DVC can save you some money.

If the above is true, then start reading because there is more to the program then just buying. There are rules, policies and procedures that you should learn about before you visit with a sales person.

Bill

 

[bwvBound]

We find the room amenities of the 1BR and larger units keep us pleased: the jetted tub, the extra space and privacy of a separate living room, the kitchen and the laundry. If we were only booking studio units -- DVC wouldn't hold much value for us.

 

[ljcastro18]

It may or may not be a great investment money wise, but what made me decide to purchase is the joy and happiness this will bring to my life and my family, the future vacations we are going to enjoy together the excitement on planning where to go next, I think my wife and I have planned our future vacations up to 2014 all thanks to our dvc , there are some things in life that are that are way more important than money and each time I go on vacation with my family I prove it by making all those wonderful memories, I am not saying be irresponsible BUT live since we all are on borrowed time

 

[luvslikepi]

Thanks all. For me it would be an investment because we love to travel and particularly love traveling to Disney parks. Our first child will be born in August and we plan on taking many, many family vacations with her over her childhood to both Disneyland and WDW (among other locations). I love the fact that you don't have to use your points strictly for Disney locations.

Is there a thread where I can find information on renting DVC points?

 

[princessaloha]

I want to invest in DVC however I have not been able to convince my husband that it would be a good investment for our family, I don't even think I could convince him to go to the presentation that DVC does at any of the parks - he's very suspicious of time shares. What are some of the "facts" of DVC that helped you decide to buy or convince a hesitant spouse that it would be a good investment?

Aloha , We are in the process of our first DVC purchase and we were in the same boat as you and your husband. Here is what I did to convince my DH that DVC was for us.

First I read everything I could about DVC so that 1. I convinced myself beyond a shadow of doubt that this is what I wanted and 2. I would be able to answer any/most questions my DH would ask.

Then I asked myself what is the most important thing TO MY DH in regards to vacations/DVC. In my DH's case, the top three priorities for him were 1. consistent vacations on the mainland in deluxe accommodations 2. something everyone in the family would enjoy (especially him ) 3. the ability to have some flexibility in where and when we would travel. I then took what I knew about the DVC program and presented the information to him with emphasis on what I knew was his important points. Then I sat back and let him ask random questions for almost a week and answered him as best as possible.

When I had a question I wasn't sure about, I posted it here on the DISboard and the wonderful posters either answered them or directed/focused me in the right direction.

Then I started showing him the videos. First of the rooms, then the pools, and then the boats and para-sailing....well, I finally got the thumbs up from him and hopefully by the end of summer will be proud members of DVC. FYI: every day he asks if I've done it yet and if not, why am I taking so long, .

The keys (to me) are: 1. research everything DVC 2. gear your presentation to him around what he would consider important points (and not necessarily what is important to you, because you're already sold on it).

Good luck, oh yeah, also a wonderful dinner, a glass of wine and a kiss or two before your presentation wouldn't hurt...lol j/k!

 

[k3chantal]

I don't think of this as an investment either but rather as a prepayment for my vacations too.

The reasons we purchased:
We would never pay cash to stay at a deluxe resort but love the amenities and everything else about them. Having our membership paid off means that we get to go to these wonderful resorts without paying for them year after year the going rate.

The resorts are only going to become more expensive and we are 'locked in' at our 'price'.

But the top reason was that we could exchange our points with RCI and go other places. We have already been to Kauai, Hawaii for 7 days in a two bedroom condo. It was wonderful.

I love our membership and I love how versatile it is. We only have 280 points a year and I thought that we were really limited with what we could do. But, we have been on a Disney 7 day cruise on the Wonder too with our points. We never thought we could 'afford' to do that. We had two port window connecting rooms so we were even 'upgraded' from what we thought we could do.

The membership keeps your vacations 'deluxe' while keeping your pocket book under control.
We have been members for five years and have had five fantastic, incredible, over the top vacations. Our next one is in May and I love knowing that I am going to a deluxe resort where I will be acknowledge as a member and treated well.

It took a full year for us to 'pull the trigger' and make the purchase. We don't do things like this lightly. And depending on where you live, there is a cost to travel to DW and where ever you end up going with your points. So it is a purchase that you need to do carefully.
Good luck!

 

[Missyrose]

Thanks all. For me it would be an investment because we love to travel and particularly love traveling to Disney parks. Our first child will be born in August and we plan on taking many, many family vacations with her over her childhood to both Disneyland and WDW (among other locations). I love the fact that you don't have to use your points strictly for Disney locations.

Is there a thread where I can find information on renting DVC points?

Please do a great deal of research about using your DVC points outside of the DVC resorts. The RCI exchanges aren't a particularly good value for your points and it can be very difficult to find anything that resembles the quality of DVC.

Base your decision to buy DVC on using the points ON DVC.

 

[WsPrincess]

Please do a great deal of research about using your DVC points outside of the DVC resorts. The RCI exchanges aren't a particularly good value for your points and it can be very difficult to find anything that resembles the quality of DVC.

Base your decision to buy DVC on using the points ON DVC.

To add to this, if you purchase resale (like we did) you cannot use your points everywhere that direct buyers can. This is 100% fine for us since we bought to go to Disney. If we want to travel elsewhere we will rent the points for the year and book our vacation with the money.

 

[DizBub]

Is there a thread where I can find information on renting DVC points?

Go to the DVC/Rent-Trade board here http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

There is a reputable point broker Daddio/David with a web site with lots of information if you don't feel comfortable renting from members directly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Please do a great deal of research about using your DVC points outside of the DVC resorts. The RCI exchanges aren't a particularly good value for your points and it can be very difficult to find anything that resembles the quality of DVC.

Base your decision to buy DVC on using the points ON DVC.

You beat me to this response, Missyrose. Trading DVC isn't all that DVC tries to make it out to be. Many of the trades just aren't the same quality as DVC. And many of them are difficult to get. Most of the time you need to plan at least a year or two out to get a trade. Even then, you might not get what you really want.

Purchase DVC to stay DVC.

 

[chalee94]

Please do a great deal of research about using your DVC points outside of the DVC resorts. The RCI exchanges aren't a particularly good value for your points and it can be very difficult to find anything that resembles the quality of DVC.

Base your decision to buy DVC on using the points ON DVC.

this is great advice. if you are interested in using pts outside of the DVC resorts at wdw and HHI (and maybe the one at DL if you are feeling lucky) on a regular basis, then your husband is 100% right that DVC is a bad use of your money.

rules for renting a DVC reservation:

1. See the [thread=1669863]Considering Renting from a DVC Member?[/thread] thread. getting a little dated but still some important information.

2. here's a link to DVC point charts to figure out how many points your reservation will require.

3. here's a link to learn more about the DVC resorts. (BCV is a short walk from epcot and a longer walk or boat ride from DHS...BLT is across the street from the MK. AKV is farther from the parks, but awfully nifty if you like zebras and giraffes.)

4. go to the rent/trade board and read the sticky threads there

5. and then start looking for a DVC owner to rent a reservation from.

(BTW, most DVC members make reservations more than 6 months in advance...many at 10-11 months out...so working with shorter notice may seriously limit your options.)

as previously mentioned, david's rental service is also a good option:

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

 

[fmer55]

You aren't really "investing" in DVC. As the PP puts it, you are pre-paying for your vacation lodging.

Generally speaking, DVC can save money for people who visit at least once every other year, stay in Deluxe resorts, and expect to continue doing so for at least the next decade. Also generally speaking, DVC can give you an upgrade on your lodging (and maybe save a little money as well) if you visit at least once every other year, stay in Moderate resorts, and expect to continue doing so for at least a decade.

DVC is not as great of an idea if you often stay in Value resorts or would consider staying offsite. It's also potentially a bad idea if you are buying "to take the kids to Disney," because kids have a nasty tendency of growing up.

The other problem with DVC: it's easy to really upgrade your lodging and spend more on it in the long run. For example, we just don't consider a hotel room (or a studio) for the four of us vacation. We can squeeze into a 1BR if we have to, but consider even that a sacrifice and really prefer 2BR units. Likewise, even with just the two of us, without the kids, we really prefer a 1BR to a studio. Once you go down that road, you are not "saving" much of anything even compared to regular Deluxe stays.

i agree with your assessment wholeheartedly, but the one point i disagree with is upgraading to a 2 bedroom vs. cost savings. I still think you save and the fact that you have the points i think let your treat yourself more than hyou would if paying rack rates. Anytime i travel i stay in a least a deluxe and that is only if they don't have a one bedroom. I am always shocked that people think four people in a studio for a week i a vacation. My family would never survive.

Also a lot of 1 and 2 bedrooms are hard to come by even paying rack rates.

We are spoiled but with dvc and 2 stays a year, we figure we break even in 5 to 7 yrs with all the extra savins on AP and TIW

 

[JimMIA]

My first suggestion -- as others have said -- is to lose the concept of "investment."

A timeshare is NOT an investment -- and that's not a knock on DVC. NObody's timeshare is an investment. Depending on what you buy and how much you pay (both acquisition cost and annually), a timeshare may be a reasonable vacation option. Or not.

The second suggestion I have is to make first decisions first.

FIRST...decide if you want to get involved in ANY timeshare. Most timeshares involve a never-ending financial committment to significant annual payments (usually called maintenance fees, called "dues" by DVC). DVC's "dues" are a committment for 30-50 years, depending on what resort you buy. That's longer than the mortgage on your house, and although the numbers are smaller, it is still a very significant longterm committment.

No, you don't have to keep any timeshare forever and ever, Amen. But...if you're not going to keep it forever, you need to have a realistic exit strategy. If you pay THOUSANDS of dollars to buy in, a rational exit strategy becomes very problematic. If you pay those kinds of bucks and get out later, you're going to take a financial beating.

In making this critical first decision, you need to consider ALL options to timeshares. That includes traditional cash hotel reservations (often with good discounts), renting reservations from timeshare owners (including DVC owners), staying offsite at WDW with really significant savings, and buying other timeshares instead of/in addition to DVC.

My third suggestion is -- before you buy DVC -- REALLY consider how you plan to use it.

IMHO, DVC is a fine timeshare...IF you use it exclusively for DVC resorts at WDW, and if you just wouldn't be satisfied staying anywhere but onsite in "deluxe" accommodations (and some would dispute that description of DVC).

I would argue that there are better options everywhere else where DVC has resorts. Better in Hilton Head, better on both Florida coasts, better in California, and WAY better in Hawaii.

Using DVC points outside DVC is a sucker bet, with a few exceptions in RCI trades.

Fourth suggestion -- speaking of RCI: If you want to do any exchanges other than when you've screwed up and have expiring points you HAVE to deposit in RCI...buy something else.

With regard to RCI, you have to understand what DVC is...and isn't. With many timeshares, you receive a full personal membership in one (or more) of the major timeshare exchange programs -- RCI and/or II.

That's not true with DVC. With DVC, you are not a member of any exchange program. You can exchange through RCI currently, but only a very limited number of choices (<600 of the more than 4,000 RCI resorts) and only through DVC MS.

IF you wanted to buy a timeshare for the purpose of exchanging (not recommended), you could buy a fine timeshare on eBay for $1 and get access to all 4000+ RCI resorts, plus all of their other significant benefits.
*****

So take your time. Take a deep breath, and do your homework. Don't try to force a fit. You'll be sorry if you do.

And...as a Dad to three beautiful daughters (2 adults and a 10 y/o) I can tell you that there are SO many things that are so much more important than trips to Disney...or anywhere else.

 

[robinbutterfly]

My first suggestion -- as others have said -- is to lose the concept of "investment."

A timeshare is NOT an investment -- and that's not a knock on DVC. NObody's timeshare is an investment. Depending on what you buy and how much you pay (both acquisition cost and annually), a timeshare may be a reasonable vacation option. Or not.

The second suggestion I have is to make first decisions first.

FIRST...decide if you want to get involved in ANY timeshare. Most timeshares involve a never-ending financial committment to significant annual payments (usually called maintenance fees, called "dues" by DVC). DVC's "dues" are a committment for 30-50 years, depending on what resort you buy. That's longer than the mortgage on your house, and although the numbers are smaller, it is still a very significant longterm committment.

No, you don't have to keep any timeshare forever and ever, Amen. But...if you're not going to keep it forever, you need to have a realistic exit strategy. If you pay THOUSANDS of dollars to buy in, a rational exit strategy becomes very problematic. If you pay those kinds of bucks and get out later, you're going to take a financial beating.

In making this critical first decision, you need to consider ALL options to timeshares. That includes traditional cash hotel reservations (often with good discounts), renting reservations from timeshare owners (including DVC owners), staying offsite at WDW with really significant savings, and buying other timeshares instead of/in addition to DVC.

My third suggestion is -- before you buy DVC -- REALLY consider how you plan to use it.

IMHO, DVC is a fine timeshare...IF you use it exclusively for DVC resorts at WDW, and if you just wouldn't be satisfied staying anywhere but onsite in "deluxe" accommodations (and some would dispute that description of DVC).

I would argue that there are better options everywhere else where DVC has resorts. Better in Hilton Head, better on both Florida coasts, better in California, and WAY better in Hawaii.

Using DVC points outside DVC is a sucker bet, with a few exceptions in RCI trades.

Fourth suggestion -- speaking of RCI: If you want to do any exchanges other than when you've screwed up and have expiring points you HAVE to deposit in RCI...buy something else.

With regard to RCI, you have to understand what DVC is...and isn't. With many timeshares, you receive a full personal membership in one (or more) of the major timeshare exchange programs -- RCI and/or II.

That's not true with DVC. With DVC, you are not a member of any exchange program. You can exchange through RCI currently, but only a very limited number of choices (<600 of the more than 4,000 RCI resorts) and only through DVC MS.

IF you wanted to buy a timeshare for the purpose of exchanging (not recommended), you could buy a fine timeshare on eBay for $1 and get access to all 4000+ RCI resorts, plus all of their other significant benefits.
*****

So take your time. Take a deep breath, and do your homework. Don't try to force a fit. You'll be sorry if you do.

And...as a Dad to three beautiful daughters (2 adults and a 10 y/o) I can tell you that there are SO many things that are so much more important than trips to Disney...or anywhere else.

But are you glad you bought yours? We want to use ours for DIsney and Hilton Head every year or every other year.