Annual Dues

[harleyquinn]

Okay so I was all excited about joining DVC in the future, but then I saw that you have to pay dues.

According to wdwig.com its b/w $3.49-4.37 per point so if I have 150pts thats like $550.

When I worked out the math for the upfront cost of $89/point I figured for 50 years I'd spend about $200 a year, which was awesome!

But how can I justify $750/year?
I know that $750 is still a great deal less than I would pay if I stayed onsite every year for a week, but it still seems too steep to me.

How do you all justify the cost when you know you can stay offsite for much cheaper?

Is there something I'm missing? I really want to join, but I have to talk myself and my fiance into it.

Thanks for your time! Please help!

 

[DebbieB]

My dues for 250 points is about $1,060 or $88 a month. I get 11 or 12 nights a year in a 1 bedroom with a total rack rate of about $4,500 to $5,000. I figure I can get my initial investment back in a resale (I paid $65/pt). Why stay offsite? Never have, probably never will.

 

[Gigashadow]

harleyquinn

How do you all justify the cost when you know you can stay offsite for much cheaper?

That question answers itself, if your not a Disney vacationer at heart (one who wants the full Disney experience in and out of the parks), there are lots of other timeshares that offer bigger rooms and dues for cheaper and are VERY nice and I do mean that. You have to have that "need".

 

[CRobin]

You need to keep a couple of things in mind....

DVC resorts are not hotel rooms. They are villas: kitchens, washing machines, stoves, etc. I am sure you can find offsite villas, but I suspect you'd pay more for them than for an offsite hotel room, just as you pay more for DVC rooms versus All Stars (for a cash ressie)

You have amenities with onsite lodging - Disney transportation, closer access to the parks, free parking if you drive, etc.

If you compare an offsite hotel room with DVC price-wise, and assume they are the same thing, then you may want to think through it some more.

On your next trip, visit the DVC models.

Good Luck!

 

[PamOKW]

It's a personal choice. There are some savings involved but DVC is not a "cheap" way to do Disney. It is a reasonably priced way to enjoy luxurious on-site Disney vacations.

I sometimes compare DVC to an auto. You can buy a Ferrari or you can buy a Hyundai. They will both get you around. It's a personal and financial choice if you want the Ferrari. You can sleep at Motel 6 or you can vacation in a SSR Grand Villa -- you'll see WDW either way.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thank you for your opinions, I think you saw what my concerns were.

I really do understand that DVC is much nicer than most of the other hotels around Disney. I truely value the onsite amenities and would love the option of having the kitchen, etc.

I guess I need to try staying offsite (ick!) and see if the difference is enough for me to seriously think about DVC. (and try to talk my fiance into, which is really why I need to hear your reasons so I can borrow them for that little discussion.)

BTW I'm totally jumping the gun, I just graduated from college and am getting married, I just wanted to look at DVC the future, because it sounds like an awesome thing to buy into.

I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking you all for investing in DVC, I just like to see how you decided it was worth it. (Which I do believe it is!!)

 

[Donny55]

You are looking at this the right way..

If you are going to buy, buy when you are young, and before you 'waste' vacation $$$ that could have helped to offset your costs.

I agree with much of the above posts. You HAVE to want to keep coming back. We have 595 points, and have stayed over 350 nights since 1992.

Having said all that, this is not an inexpensive or "bargain" choice. We now pay over $100/nightly just for dues for a studio accomodation. $100/night after over a $30,000 initial investment.

Yes, there are many nice offsite places. It is special to stay on property, but it doesn't come inexpensively.

An important footnote, Old Key West dues went up 9% this year OUCH!!!

 

[pumpkinboy]

You might want to try renting points from a DVC member, and trying out the amenities. That is how a number of folks here became convinced that it was for them; plus it is much cheaper than comparable accomodations. You two lovebirds being newly graduated and newly wedded (soon), I expect you will want to keep pretty liquid, financially (pay down some student loans and save for a house and all).

But then again, you also may want to estimate how many of your future vacations you expect to spend at WDW (or VB or HHI for that matter); if it seems to be anything more than once every 3 yrs, you might want to consider it anyway, since you can bank and borrow points. And in those years when you are going to need some extra liquidity, rent out your points. Admittedly, the maintenence fees and financing are probably too much of a stretch at this point in your lives.

Good luck!

 

[chips]

You should own your primary residence before considering dvc. There are a lot of discounted timeshares availabale in the orlando area and for trade to orlando. Don't use the home deposit to buy dvc. I have seen some people have rented points for as little as 8.5 dollars per point. Also, don't finance more than half. If you finance for a long period it will eat up the difference between rental minus maintenance.

I own and am pleased. I like being assured luxury accommodations on site. I wouldn't pay bust out rack rate for a villa but I do look at the cost to appreciate the value of dvc to me.

Also, if you really stretch to buy dvc, you will be dissappointed if things aren't perfect. This is a high hurdle to cross.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks So much everyone!!

I guess I was trying too hard at looking at DVC as a "deal." I'm at the point right now where I look for bargins everywhere

I just kinda wanted to get a feel for if this is a viable option for our future.

I'm definitely going to try renting points!

BTW we might have a really great deal on a small starter home, which would get us to our finantial goals (paying off those loans and starting a real nest egg for our dream home) much faster than renting or buying a typical new home

So I guess I'll reexamine DVC a few years from now to see if I want to shell out the $$ for it or maybe something else.

I really appreciate all your thoughts! You made me put it into perspective!.

 

[Gigashadow]

I guess I was trying too hard at looking at DVC as a "deal." I'm at the point right now where I look for bargins everywhere

It is a great deal if you were going to stay on Disney property for many trips year after year or buy a "small" amount of points and go every other year by banking. Look at the amount of Polynesian trips we made at roughly $3500 - $4500 a stay for room only. If we bought right off the bat ( ) we would have been ahead of the game a lot sooner.

Again, the value is there only if your gonna make the trip regularly.

Just like chips said, home first, toys later.

 

[jodifla]

My husband I bought into DVC in 96. We bought in at the minimum points. We paid it off in five years, just like an auto loan. (We've since added on a small amount at BCV for Stormalong Bay access.)

And now, does it ever feel like a DEAL! Look over on the resorts board and see the people scrambling for AP rates or complaining that they're paying $300 for a deluxe room for a night. We stay between 10 and 12 nights a year at DVC resorts for our dues of about $700 a year. You can't stay at a Days Inn in Florida anymore for 12 nights by the time they add on the taxes and other fees.

We particularly like DVC since now we have a DS, and we're down to one and a half incomes. We'd be at All-Stars for sure these days, but instead, we're staying in 1-bedroom resorts with Jacuzzis and kitchen facilities. And Disney is the perfect getaway when you have a child.

We can also take friends and family with us, and the look on their faces when they walk into a 2-bedroom at OKW is just priceless.

Smartest thing we ever did. We leave in two weeks for five nights at OKW. Can't wait!

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks for giving me a different perspective.
I think my real challange will be to stay off site and see how I feel about it.

I'm looking into renting a villa for a week so I can bring my whole family, and I'll rent points to stay DVC, and I'll get my house first!!

Thanks again everyone.