Advice For Someone Considering DVC Now

[kilik64]

Unless they plan to go multiple times within a calendar year or for longer stays, the sorcerer pass perk will not really save them over tickets. Plus no guarantee they are sold like a year or two ago when they “sold out”

Unless they happen to plan to go when a moonlight magic is, that perk will not mean much.

The dvc lounge perk is decent for a place to sit in ac and get a “free” coke and a bag of chips but not really a game changer for most.

The dvc discounts for merch can be used half the time by resale (mobile checkout gives the discount for instance at merch stores that have it) so that’s not a huge deal either.

The only direct “perk” that matters is access to future new association resorts. If that really matters, gotta go direct. If not resale for o14 is still great and gives access to a lot of resorts, even new builds like PIT, for a fraction of the cost.

 

[tx911]

Unless they plan to go multiple times within a calendar year or for longer stays, the sorcerer pass perk will not really save them over tickets. Plus no guarantee they are sold like a year or two ago when they “sold out”

Yes, but in for me, DVC=multiple times per year, so worth it.

Unless they happen to plan to go when a moonlight magic is, that perk will not mean much.

I have been to 2 Moonlight Magic events, soon a third. These are a great perk IMO.

The dvc lounge perk is decent for a place to sit in ac and get a “free” coke and a bag of chips but not really a game changer for most.

I love to go to the lounge and chillax at Epcot when it's hot. Looking forward to the MK one

The dvc discounts for merch can be used half the time by resale (mobile checkout gives the discount for instance at merch stores that have it) so that’s not a huge deal either.

The only direct “perk” that matters is access to future new association resorts. If that really matters, gotta go direct. If not resale for o14 is still great and gives access to a lot of resorts, even new builds like PIT, for a fraction of the cost.

Agree about the discounts.

And, don't forget about the ability to use the points at ALL current and future resorts. This will matter more and more over the years.

In a nutshell, to each their own. But given that the overall cost of dues far outweighs the initial buy-in price, direct makes sense for me, unless you plan on selling in the short term.

 

[Miffy]

OP, Since your friends are going once a year and staying at a Value resort, I cannot see any advantage to them for buying DVC, either direct or resale, unless they absolutely want to stay somewhere "nicer" and also have the spare cash for this purchase, which, even resale, is not chump change.

I visit more than once a year and have never purchased DVC and have zero regrets about it. Just something to consider, since I'm sure most of the people on this thread will be DVC owners.

 

[atthebeachclub]

OP, Since your friends are going once a year and staying at a Value resort, I cannot see any advantage to them for buying DVC, either direct or resale, unless they absolutely want to stay somewhere "nicer" and also have the spare cash for this purchase, which, even resale, is not chump change.

I visit more than once a year and have never purchased DVC and have zero regrets about it. Just something to consider, since I'm sure most of the people on this thread will be DVC owners.

Yes. People who are happy with value resorts already aren’t going to be targets to save money with DVC. You have to already be set on moderates or above for it to make much monetary sense, unless they require 2 rooms at values.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Yes. People who are happy with value resorts already aren’t going to be targets to save money with DVC. You have to already be set on moderates or above for it to make much monetary sense, unless they require 2 rooms at values.

For me I was fine at POP with 3 of us or at AOA with 5+. But I was not okay off property at DL.

 

[atthebeachclub]

For me I was fine at POP with 3 of us or at AOA with 5+. But I was not okay off property at DL.

In the family suites at AOA?

My problem is we are way too picky as a family. My kids won’t share beds, and I am a snob and require my own food options. A week is a long time for me to eat restaurant food! Even when it’s good! I like what I like.

 

[VGCgroupie]

In the family suites at AOA?

My problem is we are way too picky as a family. My kids won’t share beds, and I am a snob and require my own food options. A week is a long time for me to eat restaurant food! Even when it’s good! I like what I like.

Yeah. But as kids grow quickly things change so quickly with the type of rooms you need. We have always ate in the parks but that was prior to DVC when we spent every last second in the parks since we didn’t know when we would be back.

 

[StarCruzer]

People have made a lot of good points here! Some of what I add will likely retread what others have said already, so feel to skip over any parts you feel you've already heard.

A huge part of the decision leans on 1. Your budget and 2. How you like to vacation.

For budget, one thing to keep in mind is that DVC, at it's heart, is a luxury purchase. It doesn't save you money on a Disney vacation if you'd feel perfectly happy in a Value or Moderate resort. You also will likely not even save money on the Deluxe rooms over time if you choose a loan option to finance your purchase. Smarter people than me have done the math, and your interest rate could erase any potentially savings. We went for an 85 point resale contract cash purchase which gives us a solid week (September February is when we travel) every 2-3 years. Between my husband's military service and the Chase Visa, we saw no need for the additional discounts of direct.

There is the argument that DVC helps you lock in a price that resists inflation; however I believe Disney artificially inflates their Deluxe rack rates to make DVC more appealing. They also offer many hotel discounts during the year so only a VERY poor planner would ever be paying the astronomical room rates at Deluxes.

2. How you like to vacation. Again, very personal decision. I have numerous health issues and spend a LOT of time in the resort as a result. I want a resort that is comfortable, has multiple transportion options, is a little closer to the parks, and has good food options.

Call me snobby, but if I'm feeling unwell I'd like to have the option to make soup in my room or eat something that isn't from a food court. Chronic pain means having the soaking tub is a game changer for me personally.

So before getting DVC, to me those are the two areas to think about deeply before making a decision: Does it make sense for you budget, and for the way you like to vacation?

 

[mickeymom629]

We bought into DVC in 1999 because we had 4 kids and needed two adjoining rooms if staying onsite. If we were a family of 4, there is no way I would have committed myself to DVC. We have enjoyed the deluxe accommodations but we would have been happy with the value resorts and still enjoy a night or two there before using our points. Plus, there are usually deals that would have been great for a family of 4. We live in MD, so not close, and now that we have grandkids, there are a lot of people that we want to accommodate when we go... Luckily, I was a cast member when we bought our points, so I got a discount and we didn't need to finance. It is a financial commitment every year, whether we go or not.

I do love our DVC but would not recommend to a family of 4 unless they know they always want to go to Disney and have the $ to do so.