A Little Honesty!

[CarolA]

I try not to think of how much my membership costs. Yes, more trips equals more flights and rental cars. Also, I tend to eat out at nicer places since "my room is free".

Oh well, you can't take it with you and I don't really want to leave anything to my heirs!! LOL!

 

[JimC]

I think this is a post where many of us will agree to disagree on the conclusion. But since we are all having more fun with family and friends, both old and new -- who cares!

 

[huey duey & luey]

I just think about the year 2018 when I will be travelling (hopefully) with 3 16 year olds, a regular hotel room with one bath would never work. Can you imagine how much a 2bd will run then. So yes I definatley think in th long run Im saving money. Now If I could pay for their college now at todays prices instead of what it will cost in 17 years then I would be really happy.
Tara

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by CarolA
Oh well, you can't take it with you.........

I agree with CarolA's post above. You can't put a price on memories, that will last a lifetime for several generations.

 

[Lesley]

DeeDeeDis...I totally agree. Maybe we are spoiled, but darned, I just couldn't relax at the All Stars when we stayed there last July. The 4 of us were tripping over each other every time we moved and it was noisy!

I guess we don't get so much of our value in savings....but in how much more we get for what we have spent on DVC. We also would never pay $500 per night for a room...but we've stayed in rooms that rent for that much! Also, with kids (and particularly kids with food additive sensitivities) its often easier to cook in our room than to eat in a restaurant. And without DVC we'd probably be looking at bringing a lot of our own food into a regular hotel room...dealing with changing cooler ice every day, etc.... We get to stay in a location that has better amenities and is walking distance from 2 of the theme parks than the moderate resorts where we'd probably stay without DVC. And because we don't have a hotel bill with our stays, we've taken advantage of what we're not spending there to try out some of the other deluxe resorts (paying cash...AP rates).

So, yes, we spend more on vacations now.....but we get so much more for what we are spending than we would have before joining DVC. My dh gets homesick for DVC!

 

[Merilyn]

You know that credit card commercial.
Lunch for the family- $150
Park tickets for the family $300
Dinner for the family- $200
Family vacations together- PRICELESS

This is the way I see Disney for my family-now and in the future!
I know it is expensive but nothing is more important to me than my family together every year on vacation at a great place that everyone enjoys.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
The point I am trying to make is that anyone who joins DVC with the idea that they will save money and spend less is ... a little bit, shall we say, Goofy!

I think you are looking at the savings on the wrong line of "my budget". My sanity saves me lots in shrink bills and by staying sain enough to keep a job and not be o

 

[pmcpmc]

Enjoy life with your kids when you can .
My oldest DS is now 26,next DS 21 and DD is 12
So we have designed our family to have the longest time with them in disney.
How selfish of us.
As I have read before families that disney together stay together.
Spend it when you have it you can't take it with you!!

 

[DeeP]

I do not save one red cent, matter of fact I spend more! But what was once 1 (10-12 day) trip every 8-12 months is now spending anywhere from 45 to 60 days a year at WDW.
I would have increased my vacation spending over the years in proportion to my income with or without DVC and also with or without taking trips to WDW.
I find having a DVC membership and APs, affords me very reasonably priced vacations compared to taking a similiar vacation at any other tourist/resort location which does not even begin to offer me the level of service, variety of entertainment, restaurants, resorts, etc., etc. that Disney does. Nor do I get the level of happiness and contentment that a trip to the land of Mickey gives me!! DVC certainly works for me!!!

 

[Lisa P.]

...the trip before I brought - I spend around $3,500 for 2 rooms at the POR - I paid for everything - tickets, rooms, meals.

Did this $3,500 include airfare? If it did, that cost probably should not be counted, since you didn't consider it with your DVC example.

Was it possible to get a cooler and eat in more? Did you only have one counter service meal per day? Many folks do that kind of trip out of a hotel room. Just look at the "Budget" forum. But if this was more of a splurge trip, where you enjoyed character meals and sitdown restaurants out of this money, then it's really not a fair comparison, IMHO.

then I brought OKW (when we still had free tickets) - I brought groceries at the grocery store... that trip was $125 to $200 - counting the grocery and my gasoline. remember then the tickets were free.

What had you paid toward the purchase/interest and maint for the points you used for that trip? Just as you counted the rental costs for the room at POR, this would be counted here. Were these two trips for the same number of nights at WDW?

I agree that timeshares, purchased judiciously and used wisely can mean a wonderful upgrade in comfort and convenience, sometimes at a lower cost than vacationing in hotels. We do this regularly. However, to be honest in making a comparison, reveal any hidden factors. I acknowledge that there can be a greater temptation to spend more money per year on vacationing when the room is prepaid through DVC/timeshare. Same thing with APs - there's this desire to use it more, despite all the costs that tag along.

 

[Montana Minnies]

Hi everyone
I hope you don't mind if a non DVC member makes a comment. I have really enjoyed reading your posts. To me you all give some very logical reasons as to why you bought into DVC, maybe you aren't saving money, but the memories you all make with your family and friends makes it all worthwhile.
In Aug 04 it will be our first trip staying with family members in a "Home Away from Home". My sister had talked with a DVC guide about Saratoga Springs, but we decided we needed to see first before purchasing membership. The guide told my sister that the money she spends to go to WDW next summer would have paid for a DVC membership. And you know what? She is right!
Thanks for this thread and for all the input. It really does help when it comes to making some BIG decisions.

Enid

 

[buzz5985]

I may not be able to save money (I think I will over the long haul), but I have been able to "give back" to my parents the vacations they gave to me as a child.

My parents never brought me to Disney. But I remember weeks at Hampton Beach, NH, Lake George, NY, etc. Like they were yesterday. I'm 44 now LOL. My parents saved every week for that 2 week vacation during the summer.

Now I can gift my parents, for the last couple of Christmas', with a several days at a DVC resort, now that's priceless.

 

[mikesmom]

We actually DO save money.
We were going every year to every 2nd year.
We were staying offsite, but in a "suite" hotel or 2 rooms at a regular hotel. (At a certain age, kids are just too big to share a room with us and be comfortable - it IS my vacation).

We aren't going any more often (well, except for the Food & Wine fest, does that count? )

We have enough frequent flyer that we haven't bought a plane ticket in 4 years (thank you, Southwest)

We eat at least one good meal in the room each day, plus we can salvage leftovers when we do eat in WDW restaurants.

Since we know we're going back, we've learned to enjoy the hotel (DVC hotels give you something to enjoy!), resort hopping, and truly relaxing.

Since we go every year, we don't feel the compulsion to buy "stuff" (t shirts, souvenirs, etc) every time we're there.

.. and once the economy picks up and the hotel room prices start going up again (and you know they will), we will save money as our room costs are fixed.

 

[goofy4tink]

If I compare what I will spend for a moderate at average rates, to what I'm paying for the same number of nights at BWV, I am spending about $250 more per vacation. But, I'm comparing apples to oranges. I wouldn't be preparing any meals at POR. Even though I bring stuff to prepare while I'm there, I never do. So, I'm saving some money by eating most of my breakfasts in my one-bedroom unit. And if that old saying about time being money is correct, then I'm saving again by not having to wait for buses to get me to Epcot or MGM. I know, that's a stretch. I guess it's not all about actually saving money but that DVC makes it easier for some of us to afford a longer vacation in a resort we might not be at otherwise. I figure that it will take me about 6 trips down to get to the break even spot. It probably will be less than that since I would have been going for shorter periods of time at the moderate. Now, I'm planning trips of no shorter than 5 nights and some of 12 nights!!

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
If I compare what I will spend for a moderate at average rates, to what I'm paying for the same number of nights at BWV, I am spending about $250 more per vacation. But, I'm comparing apples to oranges. I wouldn't be preparing any meals at POR. Even though I bring stuff to prepare while I'm there, I never do. So, I'm saving some money by eating most of my breakfasts in my one-bedroom unit. And if that old saying about time being money is correct, then I'm saving again by not having to wait for buses to get me to Epcot or MGM. I know, that's a stretch. I guess it's not all about actually saving money but that DVC makes it easier for some of us to afford a longer vacation in a resort we might not be at otherwise. I figure that it will take me about 6 trips down to get to the break even spot. It probably will be less than that since I would have been going for shorter periods of time at the moderate. Now, I'm planning trips of no shorter than 5 nights and some of 12 nights!!

I agree wholeheartedly. We have 502 points. Our family of six stayed a total of 16 nights in 2BRs at OKW and BWV the past two years. A six day and a 10 day. We would NEVER be able to stand it in two hotel rooms for that period of time. Even at All Stars that would have been $3,200 (incl. tax) for two rooms for 16 nights! We can relax, we can actually MOVE IN and enjoy our home. And we spend a lot of time with the kids.

 

[tvwalsh]

This thread is helpful to people deciding whether or not to join. Anyone who can just barely afford to buy, or who is thinking that it is a substitute for a 401K, may be helped by the number of people who happily admit that they have spent more money, not less since they became DVC members.

This does not in any way mean that it is not worth the money. I have added on 6 or 7 times! I am glad I joined.

The investment is in more family fun for the money. It's best to think of it that way.

 

[spiceycat]

we went on spring break (really Easter break) that year - so no plane cost (I hardly ever fly - it is not a bad trip to drive from Ala or Ga where my brother lives) - everything was very expensive....

My brother flat our refused to eat any meals in the rooms - this was his children's first trip - besides it is my BABY brother and sometimes that is definitely true. I have a hard enough time with my mother (she likes to eat out too). Now we had a considered amount of meals in the food court at DL. I learned to love that place.

the year before we stayed in the Cont in Sept and the Polyn is Dec - before then we stayed in the BC and the POR (it had just open). So we were going twice a year and spending a whole lot. Now since I own at OKW - the annual fee is not that bad.

I pay the first loan off quickly - so I just counted the annual fee - for a studio $118 - and no I did not include it and yes I definitely should.

know my downfall has been added-ons......

besides without DVC I would have never let co-workers, friends and family members got to WDW - at least I would have included myself - with DVC I can go or I can share it with others. I have other timeshare and right now I am trying out the other timeshare in Orlando and I am sorry but they don't come close to my OKW.

I like to be able to prepare my meals to my needs - not having to wait for my reservation - then I have to wait while the the Chef comes out and tells me which he can leave out the stuff I am allergic too - then you wait while the meal is prepared. DVC makes this very easy. You could do some of it in a hotel room - but most hotel rooms at WDW don't have a mircowave or refrigerator - now it those days the refrigerator was free and I did get one - but my hopes of using it for meals never came about. DVC just suits us better!


oh yes more of my trips are for 5 days - that is what the $118 is as well as my early figures are based on. that gives me Saturday to drive down going - Friday to drive back - Satuarday and Sunday to rest before returning to work on Monday - I do the same type of travel when I use my other weekly timeshares - I generally drive and need to be well rested to return to work.

but everyone is different!!

 

[carone0318]

We are a fairly young (at least I think so) family of 4. We are in our early 30's and have 2 kids, dd (7) and ds (2). We bought BWV back in 1999 and have added on twice since then at HH. We haven't increased our vacation habits, we go once a year. I would say though that we have increased the length of time that we are there for. Without DVC, we wouldn't be able to vacation nearly as much as we do, nor could we afford as nice of accomodations. Being a DVC member has also allowed us the ability to go on a DCL cruise and then go to BWV for 5 nights after. We just couldn't afford to do that, but with DVC it cost us $75. You know how little ones drain your wallet. We have day care cost, parochial school costs, 2 car pmts, car ins, mortgage, shall we dig deeper! I think that right now maybe we are spending the same amt as if we just went to Disney without DVC, because we are still making the mortgage pmt on it, but we do get to write off the interest each yr. We will be saving money once we are just down to the association fees. As for spending money, a 7 and 2 yr old want what they want regardless of budget. DVC is also an investment, because we are training our children to be Disney-aholics. They love it as much as us and I just love the family togetherness that we have. I really don't focus on if we spend more money or not. I just don't focus on it. I go, have a great time and then plan my next trip. Disney is a drug to us, the first time we saw our dd there and her smile, we were hooked and we keep going back to get that same rush. Now we are fortunate enough to have 2 to give us our high!!!