educating myself on dvc

[The V Gang]

I think it's time we start seriously considering dvc for our growing family ( 5 kids). I've realized two things while perusing the threads here.
1 - there is A LOT I should know before diving in.
2 - I don't know most of it.

Can anyone recommend a good site to educate a newbie like myself?

Thanks!

 

[bookwormde]

You can find the DVC resorts through the resort link above or here are good links with a basic overview

http://allears.net/acc/dvc.htm

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/buying-dvc

 

[michelleiada]

I think it's time we start seriously considering dvc for our growing family ( 5 kids). I've realized two things while perusing the threads here.
1 - there is A LOT I should know before diving in.
2 - I don't know most of it.

Can anyone recommend a good site to educate a newbie like myself?

Thanks!

Call DVC directly. They will send you a video and a book which will outline the program and how it works and show you all of the DVC resorts. Purchasing directly through Disney is much more expensive. Resale will save you money. Consider renting points to try a DVC resort before you purchase. It will give you a feel for what you want. Take the DVC tour if you are there. This website will help you...

http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go...=KNC-DVCGoldKeywords|G|4134705.MG.AM.01.01K3P

 

[Sandisw]

To add to this, as you start reading and learning, don't hesitate to ask questions!! So many of us learned a lot by reading but also by getting help and opinions/understandings from other members.

I will say that it is good you realize you need to understand DVC before just buying as there are wonderful aspects to being an owner--don't regret it one bit--but its a lot of money and knowing what the product provides you is really important!

Good luck!

 

[chalee94]

i disagree with several other posters here - do your own homework. the DVC "guides" are not on your side - they get paid when you buy direct and can't always be trusted. if you want to do a tour later, suit yourself.

the big thing up front is looking at the point charts and figuring how many you would typically need to vacation the way you'd prefer to vacation.

then look at the direct contract costs at dvcnews.com and the resale prices in the ROFR thread and the timeshare store link to get an idea for how much that will cost upfront.

then look at the DVC resource thread to see how annual dues have gone up over the years so you can allow for those costs.

it's not essential, but DVC is easiest if you own where you want to stay and can book 10-11 months out.

here is a good thread with links to more reading material and podcasts on DVC:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3041038

 

[myxdvz]

i disagree with several other posters here - do your own homework. the DVC "guides" are not on your side - they get paid when you buy direct and can't always be trusted. if you want to do a tour later, suit yourself.

I think this is too much of a generalization. Yes, DVC guides are paid when you buy direct - and if you do contact them for information, they will be helpful because they think you will buy direct. I think it's when people start bringing up resale and asking guides to "defend" buying direct vs resale that it becomes an issue.

Guides are a great resource, and DVC marketing materials are great to get information. However, you do need to do your due diligence as there are things that are not available from the materials and can only be known once you're in the program - this is where inputs/feedback from other owners come in.

You are doing the right thing by learning first. Armed with knowledge, no unscrupulous guides can harm you.

 

[Dean]

I would wait and there's really no need to involve the retail sales process at all. It's certainly OK to do so but it should not be an early part of the learning process to get the most out of it.

 

[Missyrose]

I think this is too much of a generalization. Yes, DVC guides are paid when you buy direct - and if you do contact them for information, they will be helpful because they think you will buy direct. I think it's when people start bringing up resale and asking guides to "defend" buying direct vs resale that it becomes an issue.

Guides are a great resource, and DVC marketing materials are great to get information. However, you do need to do your due diligence as there are things that are not available from the materials and can only be known once you're in the program - this is where inputs/feedback from other owners come in.

You are doing the right thing by learning first. Armed with knowledge, no unscrupulous guides can harm you.

The problem tends to be that guides skew their answers to whatever sounds best to get you to buy. So you might get the correct info or you could potentially gets answers that aren't 100 percent true. It's an obvious bias that makes the salespeople not the best teachers of DVC.

 

[myxdvz]

The problem tends to be that guides skew their answers to whatever sounds best to get you to buy. So you might get the correct info or you could potentially gets answers that aren't 100 percent true. It's an obvious bias that makes the salespeople not the best teachers of DVC.

That's why I said you have to arm yourself with knowledge to differentiate the "truth" between the "sales pitch". And there's nothing wrong with getting you to buy, heck people here who loves DVC also makes a great sales pitch. The big difference IMO, is that they want you to buy direct, while knowledgable owners/people advocate buying resale.

To the OP, the first question you are asking right now is "What is DVC"? I maintain that you should use whatever resource you have access to, to get answers to this.

The next two questions are questions you don't ask a guide:
- Whether or not DVC is right for you (it's not for everyone).
- Where to buy (direct vs resale) : overwhelmingly, the recommendation is resale.

 

[Disneyepcot]

Next time you are at Disney sign up for a fact finding meeting at a DVC sales booth. At the meeting they give out many fast passes to help you make up for the time that you've given up for the meeting. (They did to us) They chauffeur you back and forth to the park or hotel. You may even get some snacks or ice cream and drinks at the interview.

You already know in your gut where you'd like to stay the most. Follow your gut and purchase where you want to stay since that is where you will have the 11 month window.

My representative never asked me which resort to fill in as my home resort. Luckily, I read the wrong resort on the contract before I signed. He had to redo the contract with BLT as my home resort although he was obviously pushing a different resort.

Now-- as a 1 year old DVC member, I have gotten most of my info right here as a lurker until I decided to register today. Thanks!

 

[Dasha Hermosilla]

Home resort can be important. As someone said, either rent points or pay cash and stay at the property you think will most likely be your home resort. We have stayed at BLT twice on cash and thus bought there. We bought direct on a cruise and they were encouraging people to buy AKL with better incentives, but in the end, it came down to would we be disappointed if we could not stay at BLT and the answer was yes (for us). Yes, we paid more than AKL, but I wanted to be able to book at the 11 month mark at BLT. So far I think we'll be happy with our decision. Maybe if we add points one day we'll buy resale as it seems cheaper.

 

[JimMIA]

I think it's time we start seriously considering dvc for our growing family ( 5 kids). I've realized two things while perusing the threads here.
1 - there is A LOT I should know before diving in.
2 - I don't know most of it.

This is the BEST starting point I've seen expressed here in years!

I wish more prospective buyers began the process with this mindset.

Others have given you some great starting points for your research. The thing I would emphasize is that DVC is a timeshare, and it involves a 30-50 year financial commitment to annual maintenance fees depending on which resort you purchase.

With any timeshare, it is critical to understand exactly what you can use it for, and how that fits your family's anticipated future vacation needs.

Any timeshare works best within its own internal system (in the case of DVC, using points at DVC resorts only). Any outside use of the timeshare (exchanging, etc) is likely to return less value -- often greatly reduced value -- and will usually be unreliable and unpredictable at best. External uses are usually not guaranteed, and can and do change from time to time.

IMHO, for most families, DVC works best for stays at the WDW DVC resorts only. In the other locations (Vero, HHI, Anaheim, and Hawaii), I think there are less-expensive and better options available. Others will strenuously disagree with me on this, but that's what discussion boards are all about.

I think it is also good to remember that DVC is only one of a group of quality timeshare systems -- certainly not the only one, and not necessarily the best timeshare for everyone's needs. Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, Wyndham, Bluegreen, and others are very good systems and most of those can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of DVC in the resale market.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One more thing. DVC is only your lodging. It does not include park admission, food, transportation. So you still have to buy all that for your family of seven. You will always need a two bedroom villa or more. Those require a lot more points than a studio. So a basic starting contract of 170 points isn't going to get you many nights at all unless you bank and borrow. And then you are paying annual member fees for two years when you are not even using the points because you banked and borrowed them.

DVC is expensive. WDW is expensive. And using DVC points outside of DVC is expensive.

 

[MD1989]

Step 1: Order the DVD from online. Unfortunately online and the dvd really only gives you the basic info and gives you a good idea of HOW you can use DVC to your advantage.

Step 2: If you're planning a trip to Disney, visit a DVC Kiosk in the parks or resorts and set up a time to attend an open house. They are 1:1 presentations and that is where the information is customized to how you vacation. No two families travel the same so your DVC membership will differ from others.

If you're not planning a trip to Disney in the near future call the 1800 number listed on the website or on the DVD. The sales guides are there to help you and educate you.

Step 3: YOU Decide if it's right for YOU.

Best of luck!

 

[zavandor]

I would add:

2.5) Don't buy after the tour. Whatever offer they show you, it will not go anywhere. Go back home and take the decision with cold blood. And evaluate resale

 

[ToddyLu]

Another good resource is the DVC Guide book from Passporter.com. It is about 10$ and you can download it and take your time reading it. I actually got most of my info here but I did read the guide and it was helpful.

Read the stickies and then just lurk around. There are no stupid questions and you should be proud that you are taking the initiative.

My DB and DSIL have five children and I tell him to stay on property a 2 bedroom would be the way to go--full kitchen, w/d, they would love it.

So I started here, then called the 1-800# and my guide called me back just a few minutes later. He was surprised I knew so much

 

[The V Gang]

Another good resource is the DVC Guide book from Passporter.com. It is about 10$ and you can download it and take your time reading it. I actually got most of my info here but I did read the guide and it was helpful.

Read the stickies and then just lurk around. There are no stupid questions and you should be proud that you are taking the initiative.

My DB and DSIL have five children and I tell him to stay on property a 2 bedroom would be the way to go--full kitchen, w/d, they would love it.

So I started here, then called the 1-800# and my guide called me back just a few minutes later. He was surprised I knew so much

Thanks everyone. Your advice is priceless. I know we can only fit in a two bedroom villa. Reserving two deluxe rooms is insane. I think ill try renting points for a two bedroom at akl. My family loves it there and we dont mind the extended ride.

Thanks again!

 

[JimMIA]

I would also encourage you to get your information from additional sources besides DVC.

If you rely exclusively on DVC, you are going to get the most wonderful rose colored-glasses picture you can imagine. The info you receive from DVC will be factual, but it is timeshare sales info designed to present the product and the uses of the product in the most favorable light.

You will find the vast majority of DVC sales people to be generally honest and professional. But keep in mind that, although they are friendly, they are NOT your friend.

They are timeshare salesmen and women. For the most part, they will not LIE to you (some will), but it is not their job to give you the full picture.

Their job is to sell you a timeshare, not to "guide" you objectively through the entire universe of vacation options for the good of your family. They sell for the good of their family!

 

[ToddyLu]

and please remember: DONT DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!!

However it is cherry flavored and quite delicious.

 

[ELMC]

I would also encourage you to get your information from additional sources besides DVC.

If you rely exclusively on DVC, you are going to get the most wonderful rose colored-glasses picture you can imagine. The info you receive from DVC will be factual, but it is timeshare sales info designed to present the product and the uses of the product in the most favorable light.

You will find the vast majority of DVC sales people to be generally honest and professional. But keep in mind that, although they are friendly, they are NOT your friend.

They are timeshare salesmen and women. For the most part, they will not LIE to you (some will), but it is not their job to give you the full picture.

Their job is to sell you a timeshare, not to "guide" you objectively through the entire universe of vacation options for the good of your family. They sell for the good of their family!

A specific example of this has to deal with the "break even" point where your initial DVC purchase will in essence pay for itself. Most salespeople will tell you that DVC "pays for itself" in 7-8 years. However, this is compared to the alternative of paying full rack rate at Deluxe resorts. Have you seen those prices? Most people don't pay those rates, they use discounts or special offers or whatever may be. When I calculated the "break even" point vs. booking with a discount, PIN code or renting DVC points, I found it to occur somewhere around year 15. I couldn't justify losing money at something for 15 years only to come out ahead in year 16, so I passed. After much research on here I found a few great resale contracts that had a break even point somewhere between years 4-5. That made a lot more sense so I went resale.