Am I a good candidate for DVC membership?

[nevertez]

Family of 5 seriously contemplating whether to stick to current interline discount (airline disc), Renting points (10-12 bucks a point), or becoming a member. My Daughter is 2, and two Nieces age 7 and 10.

Current Discount:I am a flight attendant with flight perks and I receive a 50% at any Walt disney owned resort plus a $25 fee per guest. We normally stay Sunday - Thurs nights (5 nights total ) but when you add that fee it is like 40% off and availability is very limited even in Value season. 27Aug-1Sep cost us $1237 for a garden wing gardenview at the Contemporary. Draw back is finding availability, not being able to get Magic Kingdom View and not allowed to add on dinning plan.

DVC Membership at SSR:We want to go more often atleast once a year and stay in a larger rooms. Maybe 2 times one year then the next year off. My wife and I hate lines and crowds in the park so I generally would go to disney during the "Dream Season" or less. Are the points less valuable when you stay at the grand floridian/other deluxe hotels and can the point value system change for deluxe hotels? My wife is an accountant so She doesn't beleive it will financially equitable then 40% off. But if you calculate inflation and other items maybe it might be. Can DVC say a "Grand villa" at SSR is unavailable for points and have it available on their website for purchase only? (that would irritate me)

Rent Points: I will rent points this spring just to make sure I enjoy staying at SSR. Generally it is 10-12 bucks a point and probably can't stay there forever. 2 bedrooms are 155pts 15apr-20apr 2007($1980ish) at SSR so this is not something I would want to do forever.

?

 

[Caskbill]

.... We normally stay Sunday - Thurs nights (5 nights total )

For a 5-day weekday stay, DVC is very good. You get a lot more 'value' out of your points

... availability is very limited even in Value season. 27Aug-1Sep cost us $1237 for a garden wing gardenview at the Contemporary.

When you own, and can make plans far in advance, availability is not an issue as you have home-resort booking advantages at 11-months

DVC Membership at SSR:We want to go more often atleast once a year and stay in a larger rooms. Maybe 2 times one year then the next year off. My wife and I hate lines and crowds in the park so I generally would go to disney during the "Dream Season" or less.

Staying during low seasons are a win-win for DVC owners. Crowds are low, and points are less (for DVC resorts). These are popular times for owners, and having capability to book way in advance is a big advantage.

Are the points less valuable when you stay at the grand floridian/other deluxe hotels and can the point value system change for deluxe hotels?

Point requirements do go down during other seasons for the Disney Collection, but, they are re-evaluated every year, and historically have gone up every year. Using points at non-dvc resorts is not the best 'value' of points.

Can DVC say a "Grand villa" at SSR is unavailable for points and have it available on their website for purchase only? (that would irritate me)

Probably never a grand villa. DVC rooms which are not reserved using points are released to CRO for regular cash reservations at 60 days. Grand Villas are very popular and unlikely to be available. BTW, the daily rate for a Grand Villa is probably pushing $1000/night.

There are a number of things that make DVC villas available to CRO for cash reservations. These include breakage units, 60 day unreserved units, and units that are reserved for cash where the cash goes to pay for something else where the member used their points. (EG they use points for the cruise, so the equivalent number of points is used for DVC villas which are released to CRO for cash. That cash then goes to DCL to pay for the member's cruise.

I will rent points this spring just to make sure I enjoy staying at SSR. Generally it is 10-12 bucks a point and probably can't stay there forever. 2 bedrooms are 155pts 15apr-20apr 2007($1980ish) at SSR so this is not something I would want to do forever.

I think DVC is a good fit for you, even with the discounts you can currently get. As an owner you get first choice of reservations, receive a number of DVC member perks (EG you can get discounts on annual passes,), and so on. You want larger accommodations (and with a family of 5, will require a 2-BR once the youngest one grows up a little more) With renting there is always a risk, the cancellation issue being the greatest risk. While it can be good to try before you buy, spending $2k on a rental would go a long way toward a purchase.

During Choice Season, a 2-BR villa at SSR is 145 points. Dues are about $4/point, so that reservation would cost you $580. It doesn't take too many vacations like that to recoup the initial investment. EG, if you rented points at $12/point, those same 145 points are $1740, a difference of $1160. And with renting you don't have nearly the control you have with owning. Apply that difference to your initial purchase, and before your youngest is a teenager, you've come out ahead. The remaining years are all a piece of cake since your only costs would be dues only. Also keep in mind that rental fees will probably go up higher than dues increases. If dues go up at 3% a year, then in 10 years SSR dues are about $5.38/point. If rentals today are at $12, then in 10 years they would be $16, an increase of $4. So in 10 years that 145 point SSR 2-B/R would be about $780 in dues, or $2320 in rental.

Just my .02

 

[Honeymooner04]

My husband is a pilot so we are eligible for the same airline discount but we went ahead and bought DVC due to the lack of availability. I think it's a better value myself and it definitely gives us more flexibility. And the other perk is that since we fly for practically nothing, it's super easy to get to WDW multiple times a year. I've really enjoyed being members!

 

[bom_noite]

I think the following post provides a good decision. Everyone weighed in Pro and Con.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1237793

I am usually the one who says "Own vs. Rent"! Obviously the 50% off thing makes a difference. Ok, Ok, Ok, I will put on my: "You Need to Own Hat" and say:

1) That 50% perk may go away! But, if you buy DVC you are locked in - and DVC rates keep going up! Now, will WDW take that away? Maybe not - but - who thought that the Airlines would stop paying Travel Agents the huge commissions they used to pay?

2) If you know you want the bigger/nicer rooms, then, DVC is the only way to go! And, if that is the way you are going to go, then, owning makes more sense (as you get no 50% reduction on point rentals).

3) You may strongly consider: Buying a smallish point contract from one of the resale companies. Then, you can try DVC one trip and regular rooms the second trip. If you prefer DVC, then, you can buy additional contracts (Via DVC or Resales).

4) Look at the Annual Pass and other discounts you get as a DVC member. If you are going more then once a year - this may swing the decision towards ownership!

By the way, I am a pilot and I do not get the 50% discount! I flew 300 flights on Microsoft Flight Simulator for DVC Airlines last year and never even heard of the discount! I will take this up with WDW and DVC management!

 

[nevertez]

Sounds like it is a very good deal when I look at the numbers. My wife isn't excited about tying up so much money with a luxury like this. We stayed at Disney 5 nights and she went into the parks twice for a grand total of 5 hours... She is more of the lounge around the hotel type and I figure she would enjoy the disney stays more with nicer accomodations.

Neal

 

[lisaviolet]

Sounds like it is a very good deal when I look at the numbers. My wife isn't excited about tying up so much money with a luxury like this. We stayed at Disney 5 nights and she went into the parks twice for a grand total of 5 hours... She is more of the lounge around the hotel type and I figure she would enjoy the disney stays more with nicer accomodations.

Neal

This is where DVC is a dream. I often hear friends say, "I don't need DVC...I'm never in the room". I love hanging out. DVC is a dream hang out.

Plus the fact that I live in a 440 sq. foot condo so with a one bedroom we double our space on vacation!!!!

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[the who #3]

there were some very good replys to the original question. i would not be surprised if anyone reading them jumped for the dvc sale.

i have to say, i agree with them all.

 

[bom_noite]

This is where DVC is a dream. I often hear friends say, "I don't need DVC...I'm never in the room". I love hanging out. DVC is a dream hang out.

Plus the fact that I live in a 440 sq. foot condo so with a one bedroom we double our space on vacation!!!!

I am right with you Lisa! This year in 5 days we did 2 parks and a water park! In past years we did 1 park and 1 water park! This year felt too hectic too me! We all enjoyed the vacation - but - I think we all felt the same way: It was just too much activity packed in to what is supposed to be a relaxing week!

There is nothing better to me then just taking a day pool-hopping, renting a boat or just hanging out on the deck reading!

I have always felt guilty when I read these boards as so many DVC members also have AP's! I keep thinking: Man, we are doing this wrong! We are BAD DVC'rs!

But, I have also come to learn, many may spend up to 3 or 4 weeks a year at WDW! So, they have the AP and do not feel pressured to go to the park all day! Rather, they hang out during the day and then may stroll in to Epcot for Dinner or Ice Cream.

In 10 years that may be the way I attack it - but - it is a luxury now with kids that need cars and will be needing college tuition soon.

Ok, I went off topic! I agree, if you want a nice relaxing place to chill for a week (with some side diversions if you feel up to it) - WDW is the place!

 

[Pa@okw95]

Your decision to buy appears to be based on money. It should not be based on that factor, but if you really enjoy WDW enough to buy into it. Buying into DVC rarely saves a person money and should not be a consideration, if it is necessary for you to consider the money factor then perhaps DVC is not for you. If you have enough spare money to buy then do so, if you have to nickel and dime everything then I would not buy.