A Pause on DVC

[WDWOswald]

160 ...which I believe was the minimum. I think they were going for $82/point, but after a credit it worked out to around $78 or so ...which is pretty close to the going rate on DVC Resale.

$827 a year in maintence fees for 160 points is what gets me. I'm staying a week at the French Quarter for less than that this april.

I'm not sure if you're saying you can apply the 50% discount to Disney stays or not -but assuming you can, that obviously isn't available to most so SURE ...that is better than putting money up front for DVC in most cases. The fact that you can stay in a Deluxe on Disney property for $140/nt including taxes is tough to beat. I might have done the same thing -although the fact that we can rent our points at any time is the trump card for us.

I am going to humble myself and admit that DVC is looking like it isn't such a raw deal after all. Knowing you can always rent out your points for a good price is awesome in case you can't afford a trip or fees for a year. I'm half tempted to get myself a 200 point contract at $80 a point at Saratoga Springs on resale. If I tire of disney I can always resell it or rent out the points. I figure my cost over the life of the contract is $7.22 a point. That's a very fair price when resale is around $14.

 

[chalee94]

$827 a year in maintence fees for 160 points is what gets me. I'm staying a week at the French Quarter for less than that this april.

if you are only staying in a hotel-room-like studio for 7 nights in april (non-easter) at OKW or SSR, you'd only need 110-120 pts, not 160. 160 pts will get you 2 weeks in a studio at OKW during lower seasons. that would be more comparable to your POFQ stay.

but if you want the extra space and amenities of a 1BR (or studios at resorts closer to the parks), 160 or so pts might be a good place to start.

I am going to humble myself and admit that DVC is looking like it isn't such a raw deal after all. Knowing you can always rent out your points for a good price is awesome in case you can't afford a trip or fees for a year. I'm half tempted to get myself a 200 point contract at $80 a point at Saratoga Springs on resale. If I tire of disney I can always resell it or rent out the points. I figure my cost over the life of the contract is $7.22 a point. That's a very fair price when resale is around $14.

while i think DVC is a good deal, i would say that the upfront costs are more "painful" than maintenance fees down the road, so i would concede that your $7.22 number is probably a little low.

but do some research and see whether it's a good fit for you or not. i started with a 40 pt contract for less than $4000 upfront which more-or-less gets me 7 nights in a studio at OKW every other year in non-holiday weeks in nov/dec (i like the cooler weather and holiday decorations). i supplement my DVC stays with offsite trips at nearby marriott/sheraton 2BR villas that are pretty easy to get with my $1 non-DVC timeshare (an AP with a DVC discount would be needed to get free parking BTW). and when i travel outside of orlando, that's the timeshare i use to trade for those trips.

but maybe you could start with a 50 pt contract to use every other year to see how it goes without making a big commitment. a lot depends on what you want to do.

 

[tjkraz]

$827 a year in maintence fees for 160 points is what gets me. I'm staying a week at the French Quarter for less than that this april.

Seven nights at POFQ in April for under $827 with tax? That seems unlikely.

Lowest rack rate for that period is $212 weekday / $245 weekend. With the 12.5% lodging tax, minimum rack would be $1743 for a week. You would have to be getting a discount of 53% off rack to be under $827 for a full week.

As chalee94 pointed out, 160 DVC points can easily fetch more than 7 nights in a Studio. Plus a POFQ Standard View room isn't a very good apples-to-apples comparison with ANY DVC Studio villa. A Studio overlooking the BoardWalk runs 132 points in April. A savanna-view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge is 139 for seven nights, while a value-sized AKV studio with either a pool or savanna view is just 95 points for a week.

 

[GAN]

Seven nights at POFQ in April for under $827 with tax? That seems unlikely.

Lowest rack rate for that period is $212 weekday / $245 weekend. With the 12.5% lodging tax, minimum rack would be $1743 for a week. You would have to be getting a discount of 53% off rack to be under $827 for a full week.

As chalee94 pointed out, 160 DVC points can easily fetch more than 7 nights in a Studio. Plus a POFQ Standard View room isn't a very good apples-to-apples comparison with ANY DVC Studio villa. A Studio overlooking the BoardWalk runs 132 points in April. A savanna-view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge is 139 for seven nights, while a value-sized AKV studio with either a pool or savanna view is just 95 points for a week.

They mentioned earlier that they can get a 50% rack discount as a travel agent -but not sure if that includes Disney hotels.

 

[circhead]

I think Disney will continue to build DVC - it's a money maker. -
DVC guarantees them filled hotel rooms and on-site resort guests in the theme parks, restaurants and shops.

I purchased 350 points at VWL in 2001. My maintenance fees are a little over $2,000 per year now.

I feel that I have more than recouped my initial investment - I continue to travel to Disney multiple times per year - always stay at a Deluxe and the maintenance fees I pay wouldn't allow me the accommodations I get if I were paying for each stay individually each year.

This year alone my vacations will be:
5 nights president's week 2 bdrm std view AKV
6 nights split stay holy week 4 nights AKV 2 nights Poly
4 nights - 2 studios 1 1 bedroom late September AKV for my hubby's 60th bday - bringing friends
6 nights VWL studio 12/27 - 1/3/16.

Yes this has required a few more points than my annual allotment but I had them - so why not.

If we don't use them we can always bank them and then do a year where we go all out.

My only regret is that I didn't purchase more points when I brought.

 

[Kimly]

We bought 200 SSR points at $66 a point last summer. We live two hours away so we go often. Last year we went for a weekend in Aug At AKL, Sep at BWV, Oct at GFV, Nov at BLT and SSR and 10 days in December, at AKL and BWV in 1 and 2 bedrooms. We are going this weekend in a studio, six days in May/June at BWV and Poly in studios, Aug for five days in a 1 bedroom at BCV and Planning on six days in December. Now we have borrowed from our 2016 since my husband will be deployed and we won't use them. But the $13,200 we spent on the points has been and will be well spent.

I hope they do something by extending the year or adding on at the Epcot resorts because we will jump on buying more points then.

 

[WDWOswald]

They mentioned earlier that they can get a 50% rack discount as a travel agent -but not sure if that includes Disney hotels.

Yes that includes disney hotels - that rate was for the French quarter with the discount. However I could have book riverside through orbitz for about $1,080 a week including tax. Bay Lake tower lake view about $2,180 for the week.

 

[WDWOswald]

We bought 200 SSR points at $66 a point last summer. We live two hours away so we go often. Last year we went for a weekend in Aug At AKL, Sep at BWV, Oct at GFV, Nov at BLT and SSR and 10 days in December, at AKL and BWV in 1 and 2 bedrooms. We are going this weekend in a studio, six days in May/June at BWV and Poly in studios, Aug for five days in a 1 bedroom at BCV and Planning on six days in December. Now we have borrowed from our 2016 since my husband will be deployed and we won't use them. But the $13,200 we spent on the points has been and will be well spent.

I hope they do something by extending the year or adding on at the Epcot resorts because we will jump on buying more points then.

How are your staying 18 nights in one year with 200 points with some of those nights at 1 bedroom units? Just one week in a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs is 241 points!

 

[WDWOswald]

How are your staying 18 nights in one year with 200 points with some of those nights at 1 bedroom units? Just one week in a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs is 241 points!

I could stay at wyndham bonnet creek for two weeks for the cost of maintence fees at Saratoga springs in a 1 bedroom staying only one week. Sure saratoga springs is a bit nicer in some regards but not really all that much.

 

[WDWOswald]

I think Disney will continue to build DVC - it's a money maker. -
DVC guarantees them filled hotel rooms and on-site resort guests in the theme parks, restaurants and shops.

I purchased 350 points at VWL in 2001. My maintenance fees are a little over $2,000 per year now.

I feel that I have more than recouped my initial investment - I continue to travel to Disney multiple times per year - always stay at a Deluxe and the maintenance fees I pay wouldn't allow me the accommodations I get if I were paying for each stay individually each year.

This year alone my vacations will be:
5 nights president's week 2 bdrm std view AKV
6 nights split stay holy week 4 nights AKV 2 nights Poly
4 nights - 2 studios 1 1 bedroom late September AKV for my hubby's 60th bday - bringing friends
6 nights VWL studio 12/27 - 1/3/16.

Yes this has required a few more points than my annual allotment but I had them - so why not.

If we don't use them we can always bank them and then do a year where we go all out.

My only regret is that I didn't purchase more points when I brought.

Your stay at AKL was around 200 points. Your stay at AKV and poly is at least 130 points probably more.

That's 330 of your 350 points. Then you are telling me you are renting two studios and a one bedroom for four nights each at AKL? That's like another 200 points. 6 nights at WL lodge is another 136 points. That's 666 points or more... Yeah a "few more" points than your annual allotment! Lol

 

[supersnoop]

Your stay at AKL was around 200 points. Your stay at AKV and poly is at least 130 points probably more.

That's 330 of your 350 points. Then you are telling me you are renting two studios and a one bedroom for four nights each at AKL? That's like another 200 points. 6 nights at WL lodge is another 136 points. That's 666 points or more... Yeah a "few more" points than your annual allotment! Lol

The point-cost varies by season.

 

[Dean]

I agree I think there would be a bit of a mutiny if Disney added moderate resorts to DVC club.

Unlikely, members didn't blink with the loss of valet parking, loss of priority for room assignments, the price increases or the availability of a lessor resort as the only option. I have no doubt that DVC can build an appealing option at moderate and even value locations without compromising the integrity or desirability of the system. There are already 3 or 4 that some might say were more moderate than not. OKW and SSR from both location and resort angles as well as AKV and possibly VWL as well in some eyes.

Where did you pull 12% from? The average is more like 6% for mutual funds. That 40 year return comes out closer to $150,000, rather than $1.7MM.

I just pulled up a calculator at http://www.moneychimp.com/features/market_cagr.htm and looked at 40 yrs ending the end of 2014. 12.65% average yearly return, 11.08% annualized return and $14500 would have grown to almost $1.1million per the calculator. For well chosen funds it would have been even higher. Obviously that makes some assumptions that it was actually invested and left alone. Certainly here we're talking more about the costs of vacation than anything else but it is reasonable to look at a significant portion as true long term investments since one is prepaying money they wouldn't have to pay for 10 to 20 yrs late AND taking on considerable long term risk. If one can throw the money away and not miss it that's one thing, but most of us aren't in that situation.

 

[zavandor]

I could stay at wyndham bonnet creek for two weeks for the cost of maintence fees at Saratoga springs in a 1 bedroom staying only one week. Sure saratoga springs is a bit nicer in some regards but not really all that much.

Over the duration of my (still short) membership I've rented enough extra points to cover all the mainenance fees I paid and I could resell the contract for more than I paid it. The net result is that I've stayed a total of 36 nights in Deluxe resorts for free.

 

[GAN]

Over the duration of my (still short) membership I've rented enough extra points to cover all the mainenance fees I paid and I could resell the contract for more than I paid it. The net result is that I've stayed a total of 36 nights in Deluxe resorts for free.

Word.....

 

[ncurley]

I have read rumors of a non-deluxe DVC. Our family would not stay at one of these if it has rooms the same size as existing value or moderate resorts, unless they are placed in a location that has a "premium" transportation option to walk or take the monorail to at least one park. I think a feature pool similar to Stormalong Bay would also be a great selling point, and/or a theme park view. We bought at BLT because of the monorail access and ability to walk to MK.

 

[Kimly]

We had/have 200-2014 points, 200-2015 points and 200-2016 points. Since my husband is going to be gone next year, we will be using the points this year.

 

[WDWOswald]

We had/have 200-2014 points, 200-2015 points and 200-2016 points. Since my husband is going to be gone next year, we will be using the points this year.

Good luck with no WDW until 2017! That is awesome that you guys will be at the happiest place on earth so much this year though!

 

[Brian Noble]

it's pretty tough to convince people to buy direct for $165+ when they can get the exact same product for less than half the price resale.

It's not that hard at all. Remember: timeshare is a product that is sold, not bought. The vast majority of DVC sales are going to people who, one month prior to signing, had no plans to buy a timeshare. Those folks have no idea that a resale market even exists, and are unlikely to find out before the 10 day rescission period ends. The DISboards/MO people are much better informed, but also only a tiny fraction of total ownership.

If Wyndham can sell new timeshares at a 10x markup (and they do), surely Disney can manage at only 2-3x.

I could stay at wyndham bonnet creek for two weeks for the cost of maintence fees at Saratoga springs in a 1 bedroom staying only one week. Sure saratoga springs is a bit nicer in some regards but not really all that much.

I haven't stayed at SSR yet, but have stayed at both OKW and WBC several times. Overall, we thought the two vacations were very comparable.

 

[tjkraz]

It's not that hard at all. Remember: timeshare is a product that is sold, not bought. The vast majority of DVC sales are going to people who, one month prior to signing, had no plans to buy a timeshare. Those folks have no idea that a resale market even exists, and are unlikely to find out before the 10 day rescission period ends. The DISboards/MO people are much better informed, but also only a tiny fraction of total ownership.

If Wyndham can sell new timeshares at a 10x markup (and they do), surely Disney can manage at only 2-3x.

You're right, of course. However, I suspect differences in the sales approach play a big role in the success of Wyndham and others. Luring guests in with free or low-cost stays and then applying intense sales pressure is not a tactic DVC typically employs. Their more laid-back approach leaves prospects less likely to purchase immediately. All it takes is a Google search to find resellers and websites like the DIS.

Specific to AKV, that resort sold at a slower pace than BLT with lower prices, often during a better economy. Those factors combined with widespread resale availability leave me doubting that Disney would ever revisit that property. I hope we can agree that DVC will be more successful selling a resort when there is little-to-no resale competition. The degree of impact is open to debate, though.

 

[circhead]

Your stay at AKL was around 200 points. Your stay at AKV and poly is at least 130 points probably more.

That's 330 of your 350 points. Then you are telling me you are renting two studios and a one bedroom for four nights each at AKL? That's like another 200 points. 6 nights at WL lodge is another 136 points. That's 666 points or more... Yeah a "few more" points than your annual allotment! Lol

LOL You're right of course.
I have used almost 2 years worth of points this year. 619 to be exact..
but what are points for? Trying to be creative with the 81 remaining - looking at 6 nights next february in a studio somewhere. Then I get points next August and all is good.