Advantages of DVC???

[We heart Dis]

We just returned from another awesome WDW trip. We stayed at AKL, and loved it. This is just our second WDW vacation, but we are considering membership in the DVC. But as we look at the initial expense, plus annual fees, plus transportation, plus tickets, plus, plus, plus, we are left thinking, "What is the advantage?" We are gone to the parks almost the whole time we are there, so.......why do you love your membership in DCV over booking for and paying for a room at one of the resorts?

Thanks!

 

[bookwormde]

I figure the amortized cost of the points are $7-9/pt depending on what and how you buy your points. Look at the “DVC Point Chart” link at the top of the page and do the multiplication. If you like deluxes and use your points on weekdays then it is simple to see the advantage. You do have to have the discipline to plan 11 months out. If you are happy in a moderate and stay a lot of weekends then it probably does not make much sense. There are lots of other advantages and disadvantages to DVC so it pays to do your research before you consider purchasing. Tickets are going to cost you the same unless you do annual passes. If you book a 1br, 2br or 3br grand villa they all have full kitchens so if you do not mind cooking on vacation then that can be a big money saver.

I have a GV for next June for 5 nights if I was going to pay cash that would be $6500, I booked it for 255 points or about $2000 by my point cost. My whole contract only cost me 11k so for the way I travel it is great, for others it makes no sense at all.

bookwormde

 

[Tozzie]

I went on the tour when I was at WDW in June and purchased the DVC. I stayed at AKL and that is my home resort, I paid almost $2000 for the Savannah view room in june and that was one vacation, I figured out that I can take three vacations a year with my points. I only need a studio and I sually travel during off season so I can maxamize my points. Room rates are only going to increase as time goes on and if I take 3 vacations a year and stay at AKL each time, in three years the DVC membership will pay for itself. An added plus was I received 2008 points and developer points so it really paid off for me.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I figure the amortized cost of the points are $7-9/pt depending on what and how you buy your points. Look at the “DVC Point Chart” link at the top of the page and do the multiplication. If you like deluxes and use your points on weekdays then it is simple to see the advantage. You do have to have the discipline to plan 11 months out. If you are happy in a moderate and stay a lot of weekends then it probably does not make much sense. There are lots of other advantages and disadvantages to DVC so it pays to do your research before you consider purchasing. Tickets are going to cost you the same unless you do annual passes. If you book a 1br, 2br or 3br grand villa they all have full kitchens so if you do not mind cooking on vacation then that can be a big money saver.

I have a GV for next June for 5 nights if I was going to pay cash that would be $6500, I booked it for 255 points or about $2000 by my point cost. My whole contract only cost me 11k so for the way I travel it is great, for others it makes no sense at all.

bookwormde

Nice explanation... All true.

 

[We heart Dis]

An added plus was I received 2008 points and developer points so it really paid off for me.

What does this mean?

 

[Tozzie]

What does this mean?

When I was purchasing, they had reopened sales for the remaining points at Jambo House, since the computer couldn't distiguish between Jambo and Kidani (to the computer it was AKV) and it would have cost disney more to have a IT tech reprogram the computer than give the developer points, I received my AKV points immediately and developer points.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

What's great about DVC is that the number of points you have now will still get you approx the same accomodations throughout the length of your contract since the overall point requirements won't increase. I don't think you'll be able to say the same about booking rooms thru central reservations @ Disney.

 

[jimmytammy]

For us, we began to realize that we would return once a year. At that point, we started looking into DVC. We were staying at the values. So our only comparison was to run numbers on how much increase would happen theoretically over the years. This made sense to us, may not to others. If you weigh out what you would pay cash vs. using your pts, it makes sense as well.

But we also considered having a DD and DS who would soon be teens. So the bigger accomodations would be handy. You mentioned not staying at your resort, but rather being in parks all day. That changed for us also. DVC provides a nice alternative to feeling like you have to go go go all the time.

 

[We heart Dis]

Thanks for all the good info. DW and I are both teachers, so the 9 weeks in the summer give us plenty of opportunity to travel, and we live in GA, only an 8 hour drive to WDW. We have two boys, 10 and 11. The extra space will be nice as time goes on.

Does anybody use their points to go anywhere but WDW?

If points is all that matters, what difference does it make if you buy AKV or OKW or any of the others? On the sponsors webpage, they have Vero Beach much cheaper than a new DVC membership.....

 

[CarolAnnC]

Thanks for all the good info. DW and I are both teachers, so the 9 weeks in the summer give us plenty of opportunity to travel, and we live in GA, only an 8 hour drive to WDW. We have two boys, 10 and 11. The extra space will be nice as time goes on.

Does anybody use their points to go anywhere but WDW?

If points is all that matters, what difference does it make if you buy AKV or OKW or any of the others? On the sponsors webpage, they have Vero Beach much cheaper than a new DVC membership.....

I have used my points to stay at the Grand Californian several times at Disneyland and also for many Disney cruises. Last summer we cruised the Mediterranean for 10 nights using points for our family of 4.

Vero Beach may appear to be lower priced, but overall since they have very high dues you will pay more $$ in the long run if you purchase there.

Also, you want to keep in mind to buy where you want to stay. Your 11 month booking window will give you more opportunity to stay at your desired resort when planning vacations.

 

[lah3hh]

I have used by points for WDW (that probably goes without saying!), DL, traded out a couple times with II and went to Las Vegas and Mexico and many Disney cruises. Someday I am hoping to take an Adventure's by Disney trip jump over the pond somewhere.

Now what are the advantages to DVC...wow, let me count the ways!!!

1.) I am vacationing today (from a room price perspective) for the same price as when I bought back in 1998.

2.) It 'forces' me to take vacation and let me say that is a force I like feeling!!!

3.) IMHO I have stayed in extremely nice accommodations while feeling like home...they have kitchens, washer and dryers and just a nice oveall comfy environment.

4.) I have had the opportunity to take 9 Disney cruise vacations anywhere from a 4 day trip up to a 15 night Panama Canal crossing cruise.

5.) Family time, family time and more family time which for me is priceless!!

6.) DH and I have a plan to use our points for retirement. Rather than buying a house somewhere down South we plan on having enough points that we can travel the world and our 'vacation home' will be anywhere we want it to be that year. I am hoping to have a stockpile of points allowing me to get out of the cold and snow of the north and travel 3-4 months of the year.

I could keep going on and on but I think that is enough for now....in other words DVC is the best thing ever!!! Have never regretted it for a moment and I hope if you decide to buy in you won't either.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks for all the good info. DW and I are both teachers, so the 9 weeks in the summer give us plenty of opportunity to travel, and we live in GA, only an 8 hour drive to WDW. We have two boys, 10 and 11. The extra space will be nice as time goes on.

Does anybody use their points to go anywhere but WDW?

If points is all that matters, what difference does it make if you buy AKV or OKW or any of the others? On the sponsors webpage, they have Vero Beach much cheaper than a new DVC membership.....

I would not really consider using DVC pts for stays at other places, unless you buy a ton of them. And it is important to buy where you feel like you would really enjoy the most. You will begin to appreciate the advantage of the 11 mos booking window at your home resort.

 

[MagikMom]

For us, we began to realize that we would return once a year. At that point, we started looking into DVC. We were staying at the values. So our only comparison was to run numbers on how much increase would happen theoretically over the years. This made sense to us, may not to others. If you weigh out what you would pay cash vs. using your pts, it makes sense as well.

But we also considered having a DD and DS who would soon be teens. So the bigger accomodations would be handy. You mentioned not staying at your resort, but rather being in parks all day. That changed for us also. DVC provides a nice alternative to feeling like you have to go go go all the time.

I totally agree. I think that half of the fun of DVC is that you don't have to rush around. You can just relax and really enjoy the resorts as well.