i still don't understand how it is cost effective for most people?
i just got a DVC flier with special discount in the mail yesterday
the cost is $19,200 and up for 160 points
even if i go every other yr - it takes close to 20 yrs to break even without member fees/dues based on the $1728 i am paying this yr to stay at CR
(sure i am "locking in" todays rates but the amount it goes up each yr is minimal compared to the money i can make by putting that into a cd or other interest account - from 2011 to 2012 the same room went up $19 for July 4th week)
in my case taking into account that the 160 points would no where near cover whats needed to stay that week it doesn't add up for me
ps - when looking at what you spend on a disney trip compared to buying you have to watch what you compare, the dvc cm even try and make it seem higher then it is
ie - this trip cost me $3000 - but the room only cost me $1728, people get drawn into the total cost and say wow i could own this after 5 trips, not really
Looking at the DVC
point chart for BLT (
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/BLT-Points.htm), it would cost to stay a week in July:
- 153 points (studio with a Lake View)
- 139 points (studio with a standard view, equal to a garden wing view?)
At $10/point (the general rate), this equates to a rental cost of:
- $1,530 (Lake View)
- $1,390 (standard view)
In addition, I just ran some very quick numbers.
- Current BLT dues are $3.8943/point (up 3.14% from 2010 of $3.7756/point)
- $ 58,159.03 = Total annual dues over the life of a 160 point contract
(assuming a 3.14% annual increase in dues for 45 years)
- $ 77,359.03 = $19,200 buy in + $58,159.03 total dues
- $ 1,719.09 = Annual cost of ownership ($77k/45 yrs)
Conclusion: If a CR room is currently at $1,728 for 1 week (July 4th weekend), you'll save $9 as a DVC member staying in a Lake View studio for the same week this year. Since this CR room was likely at a discount and prices will likely rise for a CR room over the next 45 years, the discount amount will likely become greater.
This was really quick, so please let me know if I missed something.
If you buy resale, ...the "lost perks" have very little value anyway.
I would challenge this statement.
My family made two trips to DLR since 2005, and we used our points to stay at DLR hotels (DLH and PP), since no rooms were available at VGC for our last minute trip.
While it is not as cost effective (from a point use/cost point of view), we have used the Disney Collection effectively when we wanted. In fact this last DLR trip (in May) was due to our points expiring at the end of July. Being able to use the 104 points for a weekend in the Disney Collection was better than having them expire.
Thus, having the capability does have some intrinsic value. The question is whether the value is worth the cost; would the extra cost of buying through Disney equal or exceed the cost of expiring points over the life of the contract? Hopefully, planning and point use is solid each year and the potential of point expiration does not come up. However, it may a few times in the next 3-4 decades
Luckily, we don't need to face this question as we bought from Disney and before the Mar 20th deadline.
- Chris