A few ?? for potential owner.

[palaemon]

I'm trying convince my DH that DVC is a good value for us even if we don't go to WDW every year.

We've been to Disney 8 times in the last 9 years.

We aren't "burned out", but he wants to be able to go to other places instead.

Here are the questions:

If we buy DVC (resale probably) can it be willed? It's a question that I have a hard time finding the answer to. If we die, can our investment be willed to a family member?

Also, we go on a business trip EVERY year in January to San Francisco. In your opinion/experience will we be able to book a week-ish at one of the concierge collection hotels? I know that it's impossible for anyone to say for sure, but If it's nearly impossible to get into San Fran in January, that may be a deal breaker.

Thanks for any and all help.

Palaemon

 

[oakmanner]

First, yes you're membership can be willed to anyone you choose. The second would depend on how many points you purchase. Although it is always true that you're points will go further staying at a DVC resort.

Good luck with you're decision!

Dennis-

 

[palaemon]

I am thinking somewhere around 225 pts at SSR.

Also, where would I find out info like:

What is the one time fee for using a CC hotel?
How far in advance would have to/ be able to book a CC hotel?

I find a lot of info on staying at DVC resorts, but not how to book into CC, WP, or AC. I know some of that is ii, but what about the rest?

Palaemon

 

[RCDisneyFan]

What is the one time fee for using a CC hotel?

I know some of that is ii, but what about the rest?

Palaemon

The answers to those two questions are in the membership materials you receive when you sign your contract. I've never done it, but I believe the fee for trading out of DVC or US Disney properties is $95 per transaction. To make the arrangements, you would need to call Member Services.

 

[palaemon]

Thanks for your response, but I can't call member services utill I'm a member, right?

I guess now I'm just wondering about booking San Francisco in January. How soon could I book a CC hotel? Is it probable?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

FYI -- The Fairmont in SF ranges from 35-49 pts per night in January. $95 fee for CC stays. Also, members cannot book and travel in CC during the last four months of their UY -- so make sure you get one that works well with your normal travel dates.

Through II you can also request stays at:
Club Donatello
The Inn At The Opera
San Francisco Suites on Nob Hill
The Suites at Fisherman's Wharf

For a weeklong stay during your travel time in January, it's 124 pts for a 1 bdrm, and 207 for a 2 bdrm. (Shorter stays are also available with various pt requirements depending on day of week, etc)

Booking Window: From 2 years to 24 hours before check-in date. For II there is a $75 fee for short stays, and $95 fee for week-long stays.

This info is from the DVC member website.

 

[palaemon]

Thanks a lot!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for your response, but I can't call member services utill I'm a member, right?

I guess now I'm just wondering about booking San Francisco in January. How soon could I book a CC hotel? Is it probable?

Two issues. One is that while there are a number or SF resorts listed, there is little availability and what's there must be reserved for a full week other than the Shell Vacation Club or similar points systems. The other is that if it's for business, you wouldn't be able to deduct anything for the lodging or get reimbursement UNLESS a given employer is willing to reimburse base on per diem rates for lodging, few will. But even if you could be successful in both ares, it'd still be a poor value. If DVC makes sense for you by itself, just look at points you'll use at DVC and do the other options in other ways. Possibly a timeshare in SF would be a good option if you would go routinely.

 

[palaemon]

Okay, I see what you're saying about using DVC points for SF every year. I just wanted that info to use as a means to an end.

In reality we want to go on a cruise, go to Europe, Mexico, etc.

Also DL.

Thanks again for the info and advice.

 

[Dean]

Okay, I see what you're saying about using DVC points for SF every year. I just wanted that info to use as a means to an end.

In reality we want to go on a cruise, go to Europe, Mexico, etc.

Also DL.

Thanks again for the info and advice.

Likewise using points for a cruise is not a good value going in. Too many points, no guarantees, too many negatives, esp if you have to change or cancel.

 

[palaemon]

Are you saying that in general using points to cruise is not a good value? We probably would want to try a cruise once, are you saying that it's probably better to buy a cruise with cash? Or that using points would mean no more points for anything else that year?

 

[Dean]

Are you saying that in general using points to cruise is not a good value? We probably would want to try a cruise once, are you saying that it's probably better to buy a cruise with cash? Or that using points would mean no more points for anything else that year?

As a rule one can pay cash for a cruise, pay for the DVC points you'd use other than the cruise and have cash left over. On top of that, the option of using points is not guaranteed, could be abolished tomorrow and could (almost always has previously) go up over time more than other options. In addition, if one cancels a cruise the points are not recoverable in the same way and are very much restricted. If you do points and cash, you have to pay the cash amount of in full up front for DVC where it's only a deposit with a cash cruise.

Buying to use points to cruise (or any other exchange option) is an extremely poor choice and you have the advantage of knowing that going in. If you are a member and decide to use points for a cruise (or other options) it's entirely your choice. I'd recommend you take the time of the year you would likely cruise and compare the early booking discounts to the points costs currently. Unless the comparison is dramatically in favor or using points, one would be a fool to give up the flexibility and guarantee of cash for that type of trip. Personally I'd want a savings of 20% over just cash to even consider it. DVC is great if you buy points for DVC resorts and don't go heavy on weekends, it's a poor choice for everything else though it's always good to have choices just in case.

 

[palaemon]

As a rule one can pay cash for a cruise, pay for the DVC points you'd use other than the cruise and have cash left over. On top of that, the option of using points is not guaranteed, could be abolished tomorrow and could (almost always has previously) go up over time more than other options. In addition, if one cancels a cruise the points are not recoverable in the same way and are very much restricted. If you do points and cash, you have to pay the cash amount of in full up front for DVC where it's only a deposit with a cash cruise.

Buying to use points to cruise (or any other exchange option) is an extremely poor choice and you have the advantage of knowing that going in. If you are a member and decide to use points for a cruise (or other options) it's entirely your choice. I'd recommend you take the time of the year you would likely cruise and compare the early booking discounts to the points costs currently. Unless the comparison is dramatically in favor or using points, one would be a fool to give up the flexibility and guarantee of cash for that type of trip. Personally I'd want a savings of 20% over just cash to even consider it. DVC is great if you buy points for DVC resorts and don't go heavy on weekends, it's a poor choice for everything else though it's always good to have choices just in case.

First,
Thank you ALL for the advice. The more advice/insight, the better, more informed decision we can make.

Second,
It's really sounding like if you want to stay at WDW, then DVC is great. Otherwise, it's not. If that's the case, I'm glad I found out now. However, I'm still interested because we can make bigger WDW trips less often. (Like the In-laws, Siblings, etc) Every-other-year or Every-third-year.

I was just trying to make this big purchase more appealing if we could use it to travel to places other than WDW.

I really do understand the comparison between how much points are worth with using them for something that has no guarantee like a cruise and possibly wasting them.

Also, we always travel off-peak. No kids. No summer vacations.

Thanks as always...and keep the advice coming.

Palaemon

 

[Tozzie]

FYI -- . Also, members cannot book and travel in CC during the last four months of their UY -- so make sure you get one that works well with your normal travel dates.

I know you can't book within the last four months of your use year but I was told that you can stay at non dvc properties as long as you book it prior to the four month mark.

 

[Dean]

It's really sounding like if you want to stay at WDW, then DVC is great. Otherwise, it's not. If that's the case, I'm glad I found out now. However, I'm still interested because we can make bigger WDW trips less often. (Like the In-laws, Siblings, etc) Every-other-year or Every-third-year.

I was just trying to make this big purchase more appealing if we could use it to travel to places other than WDW.

There are (or soon to be) 4 other DVC resorts besides those at WDW, hopefully there will be even more in the future. IMO, buying DVC for the other options is even less appealing but that may be my analytical approach to looking at these type of issues. IMO, if it doesn't make $$$ sense, the rest doesn't matter.

 

[palaemon]

There are (or soon to be) 4 other DVC resorts besides those at WDW, hopefully there will be even more in the future. IMO, buying DVC for the other options is even less appealing but that may be my analytical approach to looking at these type of issues. IMO, if it doesn't make $$$ sense, the rest doesn't matter.

What resorts are those? (I heard the rumor about BLT, but no others)

I guess what I was saying is this:
We are going to be going to WDW for the rest of our lives. We *love* it there. But, if we pay $15k-$20k for DVC, it would be worth it to us to be able to use a years worth of points to stay off-peak in places we've never been some years. Like a ski resort, beach-front somewhere (HH or VB would be okay).

I know the consensus is use DVC for WDW or you waste it. I'd even rent my points and use cash to stay at those other non-DVC places, but my original question was *could* we get into a SF resort in Jan. I guess that renting points and paying cash for SF could also be an options.

What is the going rate for point rentals? easy/hard to get rentals?

 

[Dean]

What resorts are those? (I heard the rumor about BLT, but no others)

I guess what I was saying is this:
We are going to be going to WDW for the rest of our lives. We *love* it there. But, if we pay $15k-$20k for DVC, it would be worth it to us to be able to use a years worth of points to stay off-peak in places we've never been some years. Like a ski resort, beach-front somewhere (HH or VB would be okay).

I know the consensus is use DVC for WDW or you waste it. I'd even rent my points and use cash to stay at those other non-DVC places, but my original question was *could* we get into a SF resort in Jan. I guess that renting points and paying cash for SF could also be an options.

What is the going rate for point rentals? easy/hard to get rentals?

There is Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Grand Calif and a resort in HI (Oahu) has been announced. No guarantees on SF and the odds are against you, and this is part of the problem with your situation. Of course you can buy as many points as you want and use them however you wish. Lets look at specifics. Assume you were planning to buy enough points for a week in a 1 BR yearly for SF. This is likely MID season using DVC points so 144 points per exchange plus a $95 exchange fee per. Further assume you bought OKW points at $75 a point for this purpose. So roughly an extra $11K going in and $725 a year in fees simply for this exchange. Then there are no guarantees that you'll ever get an exchange, that those resorts will stay on the exchange list or that even DVC will remain a member of II. Then if you had to cancel even once, you'd lost a significant amount of points with little options available overall.

Lets explore other options to accomplish the same goal. You could buy into a system that gave you priority exchanging to one or more resorts there, you could buy a week there that might work for you most years or you could buy another timeshare for exchange. One can buy a studio for under $1000 and a 1 Br for $2K or less at Nob Hill. The Donatella, Inn at the Opera and Suites at Fisherman's Wharf will all be a little more but not that much. You'd pay around the same amount in fees but have more options and guarantees. Shell Vacation Club points would also be far less and give you many more options. Bluegreen points as well as Hilton could possibly get you in directly as well but there are too many variables to make this the main reason to buy either system.

As for rentals, not that difficult to arrange and not very risky if you position yourself correctly. Going rate in the $12 a point range, more or less depending on how you approach it.

 

[mikesmom]

Also, we always travel off-peak. No kids. No summer vacations.

Again, not a plus on the DVC side. Summer vacation is actually one of theasier times to grab a DVC ressie. Owners who can choose (any without kids) do NOT want to go to WDW in the heat. The actual peak times for DVC are those you would not expect. They include, but are not limited to: October & November (the Food & Wine Fest is going on), early December (arguably THE busiest DVC time because of low point costs per rooms, cool temps, great decorations up; and of course any holidays. Include in those the odd type holidays when you wouldn't expect a crowd like Martin Luther Kings birthday, Presidents Week, etc

Not meaning to rain on your parade AT ALL, but more information is always better - sometimes surprises are not good.

 

[palaemon]

Again, not a plus on the DVC side. Summer vacation is actually one of theasier times to grab a DVC ressie. Owners who can choose (any without kids) do NOT want to go to WDW in the heat. The actual peak times for DVC are those you would not expect. They include, but are not limited to: October & November (the Food & Wine Fest is going on), early December (arguably THE busiest DVC time because of low point costs per rooms, cool temps, great decorations up; and of course any holidays. Include in those the odd type holidays when you wouldn't expect a crowd like Martin Luther Kings birthday, Presidents Week, etc

Not meaning to rain on your parade AT ALL, but more information is always better - sometimes surprises are not good.

We like May and September, and since we'd plan to stay at our home resort of course, we would plan 11 months ahead.

Doesn't everyone have the same chance at getting a ressie as anyone else?

Also, what are the more popular/ least popular accomodations? (ie studio, GV, 1BR, 2BR, etc) We'd really only ever want a 1br (unless we brought the whole family)

 

[Dean]

We like May and September, and since we'd plan to stay at our home resort of course, we would plan 11 months ahead.

Doesn't everyone have the same chance at getting a ressie as anyone else?

Also, what are the more popular/ least popular accomodations? (ie studio, GV, 1BR, 2BR, etc) We'd really only ever want a 1br (unless we brought the whole family)

1 BR units in general and May and Sept are the easiest to get for WDW. Those are also times and unit types that are fairly easy to exchange in to through II without being a DVC member.