A benefit I've not heard mentioned much...?

[a Really Bad Egg]

All,

First of all, thanks to everyone for being so kind on the DVC boards. There are a lot of (repetitive) questions from us who are looking into DVC and the responses from those in the know is much appreciated.

Hopefully, I have not missed this point in the other posts, FAQs, etc. In my way of thinking, I am convinced that DVC is a luxury compared with an economic decision. However, it seems that DVC has a big advantage over the other WDW resorts and I don't hear anyone much tout it.

For DVC you use points for the size of accomodation you want whereas with WDW resorts you pay for the number of guests staying. In other words, with DVC you pay the same amount of points for a 1 bedroom accomdation whether there is one, two, three or four guests staying. With WDW resorts, you are paying for each guest.

Am I correct or has my over-analyzing of this issue sent me in a wrong direction.

TIA.

 

[DisneyBill]

I think you're mostly on the right path. Other WDW resorts charge an additional fee beginning with the 3rd adult. You're correct in the point value doesn't change if you happen to have 8 adults in a 2 bedroom.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That is definitely a perk if you are looking at accommodating 4 or more. Of course, it probably isn't as big a perk for those of us who stay with just 2 in a 1 bedroom.

 

[crisi]

That is definitely a perk if you are looking at accommodating 4 or more. Of course, it probably isn't as big a perk for those of us who stay with just 2 in a 1 bedroom.

Or people with kids, since minors don't have an additional charge.

If you are regularly putting four adults in a hotel room, and move to putting four adults in a DVC studio, its a factor.

However, since only OKW will give you two queen beds in that studio (the other resorts give you one queen bed and one full pullout), four adults in a DVC studio may be less comfortable than four adults in a hotel room.

 

[Merilyn]

I see your point but I believe you will find that DVC is a bargain anyway you look at it. I haven't got the exact prices for rooms at WDW but they are very high. You can figure cost many ways but it should always come out better if you own DVC. It does seem to cost a lot of money to own DVC but all in all, it has really saved us money. We usually go to OKW and stay in a GV. With the total cost of the points, dues, etc. we break even after 3-4 nights. We have enough points to go in May for 10 days. That is a great savings since a GV is over 1000 dollars a night. It is a luxury since you get to stay at the nicer properties on site but I really do think is an economical choice also.
Merilyn

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Thanks for pointing that out!!!

another benefit is that you don't have to pay room tax either. That saves a bundle year after year.

 

[MissD]

Thanks for pointing that out!!!

another benefit is that you don't have to pay room tax either. That saves a bundle year after year.

There's something about that 'no room tax' that always makes me

 

[drakethib]

I think you're mostly on the right path. Other WDW resorts charge an additional fee beginning with the 3rd adult. .

I never knew this.

 

[Cruelladeville]

For those of us with adult children, that is definitely a benefit. I love having 6 adults in a room, and it doesn't cost a cent extra, aside from getting a 2 bedroom villa instead of a smaller unit. This fall we are staying at POR, and when I found that it was extra for the kids, I made them pay for their own rooms! That will give them a clear idea of the benefits of DVC.

 

[littlestar]

There's something about that 'no room tax' that always makes me

Actually, DVC members pay property taxes in our annual dues. So the county is getting their tax money. We paid almost $300 in property tax last year on our points, so I figure we are paying plenty of tax to the county. There was an article about a month ago where a reporter for a local Orlando paper was trying to say timeshare owners were hurting the tax base - he definitely hasn't seen my breakdown on taxes in my dues is all I've got to say.

I just hope they don't start double taxing us. Some timeshare owners in certain states pay property tax and "occupancy tax." Double taxes. That would make me rethink owning a timeshare if that ever happened.

 

[MissD]

Actually, DVC members pay property taxes in our annual dues. So the county is getting their tax money. We paid almost $300 in property tax last year on our points, so I figure we are paying plenty of tax to the county. There was an article about a month ago where a reporter for a local Orlando paper was trying to say timeshare owners were hurting the tax base - he definitely hasn't seen my breakdown on taxes in my dues is all I've got to say.

I just hope they don't start double taxing us. Some timeshare owners in certain states pay property tax and "occupancy tax." Double taxes. That would make me rethink owning a timeshare if that ever happened.

I know that our annual dues pay property taxes, so I know I'm paying tax in one form, but it's the NOT having to actually pay it in cash at checkout that still makes me smile.

Since the tax is an occupancy tax, if we physically lived in the county but decided to stay at WDW with a cash ressie, we'd end up paying that occupancy tax just the same. I posted on another thread about my recent situation where a large tree was struck by lightning and fell through my roof during a 'typical' FL storm. Our home was flooded and we ended up in a hotel for 5 days until the emergency repairs were done. It was an extra ouch to have to pay a significant occupancy/bed tax when we're already paying property taxes to the same county.

For now, I enjoy the fact that I'm not paying $30 plus a night for room taxes when I'm 'home' at WDW. Hopefully, it will stay that way--I'm with you 1000% on that.

 

[CarolMN]

Actually, DVC members pay property taxes in our annual dues. So the county is getting their tax money. We paid almost $300 in property tax last year on our points, so I figure we are paying plenty of tax to the county. There was an article about a month ago where a reporter for a local Orlando paper was trying to say timeshare owners were hurting the tax base - he definitely hasn't seen my breakdown on taxes in my dues is all I've got to say.

I just hope they don't start double taxing us. Some timeshare owners in certain states pay property tax and "occupancy tax." Double taxes. That would make me rethink owning a timeshare if that ever happened.

My take on that article was that the author (and others) believed that the occupancy tax should be collected on timeshare rentals - Disney actually does collect the tax on the units it rents out, but most (probably none of the) individual owners do not - even those who rent out the majority of their points each year.

IMHO, it's the owners who rent their points that need to be worried about this, not those who use their points for their own vacations. It wouldn't surprise me if the local/state governments eventually force Disney to monitor and collect the tax on owner rentals.

Best wishes -

 

[littlestar]

My take on that article was that the author (and others) believed that the occupancy tax should be collected on timeshare rentals - Disney actually does collect the tax on the units it rents out, but most (probably none of the) individual owners do not - even those who rent out the majority of their points each year.

IMHO, it's the owners who rent their points that need to be worried about this, not those who use their points for their own vacations. It wouldn't surprise me if the local/state governments eventually force Disney to monitor and collect the tax on owner rentals.

Best wishes -

Carol, I also wonder how much tax money the county loses on pool home rentals? In that article, it sounded like they were trying to point the finger at timeshares, but those pool home rentals are very popular. I don't know how the county would monitor that.

 

[CarolMN]

Carol, I also wonder how much tax money the county loses on pool home rentals? In that article, it sounded like they were trying to point the finger at timeshares, but those pool home rentals are very popular. I don't know how the county would monitor that.

It would be very difficult to monitor owners who rent their vacation home out themselves. However, I believe most of the pool homes are "investment properties" and the owners hire some type of managment company to handle the rentals. IIRC, they do charge taxes.

Best wishes -