Another "Is DVC for us" situation

[Snurk71]

We've looked at DVC in the past, but determined it wasn't for us based on our WDW preferences (we've never done an official tour). But we're in DL right now staying at the GCH and are going to do a "tour" Wednesday.

So here's our story...

We've been going to WDW every year (usually 1st week of December for 6-7 nights) for the past 8 years or so. We have always stayed at GF. We realize staying at GF is very costly with DVC points, and that is why we decided DVC wasn't for us in the past. If we buy DVC we'd probably either pay cash for GF in the future, or switch to a DVC hotel - points at GF still looks far too costly.

We've also been going to DL about every other year, staying at either GCH or DLH. The DLR properties don't appear to be near as costly for DVC as GF at WDW.

The up front cash to purchase isn't an issue for us (fortunately).

We understand the home resort thing (11 months vs. 7 months) and doubt we'd ever stay at SSR. So we'd probably be looking at GCH. The kiosk woman talked about GCH having 50 charter members only. I read a little here on the boards suggesting that non-DVC people may never get the chance to buy GCH because of pre-sale (and no one really knows when GCH is going on sale). I don't know what to believe - we'll be pressing our guide on this Wednesday.

I'm initially guessing we'd need 200 - 250 points to cover 1 week in WDW at a DVC resort and DL for a week every other year (hoping that's conservative). Now comes the analyst/accountant in me.

If I use 250 points as my example and conservatively assume I can get an average of 10 nights lodging covered each year with the 250 points. The up front cost at $104/pt would be $26,000, or about $65/night (amortized over 40 years for 400 total use nights). If the maintenance fees are $5/point, that's $1,250/year, or $125/night (assuming the 10 nights). So total cost would be $190/night.

Am I looking at the math above correctly? If so, I know we're paying $360/nt for GCH this week (no discount) and GF cost us around the same last December (again, no discount). So $190/nt would be significantly less.


That's a lot of information and numbers above. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Dean]

If and only if you'd use the DVC points to stay at DVC resorts, DVC could be a good choice for you. All you'd be left with is the gambles that comes with life and timeshares including whether you will cont your past preferences, illnesses, last minute cancellations and the like. If you have 4 or less, a 1 BR or studio would be workable and your points contract size sounds reasonable. If I were in your situation I'd buy the minimum you could at DL and wait for the new resort at WDW by the contemporary to go on sale and do an add on. Actually the reverse might be even better but DL might be sold out by then.

 

[marynvince]

Should be a discount off of 104/pt plus $500 disney Gift Card and if you tour in Cal and buy SSR or AK you get two annual passes as an incentive, at least we did last Sept.

 

[GranddadTom]

Snurk71 -

Your situation looks a little like what I was faced with - just replace GF with CR and drop the DL part. You're just a little more analytical than I am. We bought 300 points with cash and just assumed the money was spend - no worry about how good of an investment it was - just a crazy $24k purchase. Now our family of 21 - four children and eleven grandchildren spent 5 nights at WDW once every 18 months. We always stay at a DVC resort (BWV being our home resort) and the cost for each visit (annual fees) is about $2,000. That's hard to beat!

 

[crisi]

If you like the Deluxe hotel experience, I'd rent points and make sure you'd be happy with the timeshare experience. I like our DVC - its worth it to me to have the kids sleep in a seperate room. But I miss daily housekeeping (not enough to pay for it). I don't think DVC rooms are as well maintained or as well appointed as their Deluxe counterparts. I miss the attitude CMs have when you are paying $400 a night for a room - because while we've always had pleasant CMs on our DVC trips, we haven't had the bend over backwards to create magic we would get with our Deluxe trips.

We love the Epcot resort area and really don't miss the monorail nearly as much as I thought we would, but that may also factor in to your decision.

 

[FLYNZ4]

We have stayed at most of the WDW resorts over the years. Our absolute favorite was always the Y&BC (Lagoon View/Concierge)... and even when we could get the GF for the same price... we always chose Y&BC instead. We just love the epcot resort area.

There are a lot of people who use DVC as an affordable way to visit WDW every year or two. DVC can (and does) work well in this situation. This is NOT the way that DW and I primarily use DVC. We could afford to stay in the hotels if we want... and we do not stay in DVC studios as an innexpensive alternative.

There are also a lot of people (we are in this group)... that want the extra space that is only available in a condo. We really do not want to be crammed in one room... even if it just the two of us. So... DW and I usually get a 1BR... and if we have our kids, we get a 2BR. We do not like anyone sleeping in the living room. For us... DVC allows us to have MUCH better accomodations inside the park.

So for us... if we could stay in an Epcot area condo... it would be a hands down winner over any possible hotel at WDW (except maybe sleeping in the castle for one night).

/Jim

 

[rinkwide]

...I read a little here on the boards suggesting that non-DVC people may never get the chance to buy GCH because of pre-sale (and no one really knows when GCH is going on sale). I don't know what to believe...

You can believe that Disney Vacation Development wouldn't take on the expense of building a full scale Grand Californian Villas preview center if the property was expected to sell-out during a members-only presale.

Considering your apparently discriminating taste in accommodations, Dean's suggestion of the DL/CR combo sounds spot-on. Be patient and I expect you'll be rewarded.

 

[PSWGal]

I'm still pretty new to all of this, but tell me this. If a person bought a tiny account, say 25 points resale, then they would be DVC members. Could they then be eligible to buy GCV once it passes from those who are "founding members" and bought from DL? I'm sure it won't sell out before it goes to the greater DVC membership.

(We bought at AKV from the DL site so we get first crack at GCV.)

 

[iloveokw]

Another thing that might be a factor is after DVC built at Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, etc. you no longer could use your points for a regular room in the hotel section. That might be the case at the DLR hotels. Also after they build you will probably have to pay the $95 booking fee.

 

[CarolA]

If you like the Deluxe hotel experience, I'd rent points and make sure you'd be happy with the timeshare experience. I like our DVC - its worth it to me to have the kids sleep in a seperate room. But I miss daily housekeeping (not enough to pay for it). I don't think DVC rooms are as well maintained or as well appointed as their Deluxe counterparts. I miss the attitude CMs have when you are paying $400 a night for a room - because while we've always had pleasant CMs on our DVC trips, we haven't had the bend over backwards to create magic we would get with our Deluxe trips.

We love the Epcot resort area and really don't miss the monorail nearly as much as I thought we would, but that may also factor in to your decision.

I am sorry, but my big complaint with Disney "deluxe" is that this attitude is NOT there. I have never felt the service at a Disney "deluxe" was "bend over backwards" and sadly have felt it was often better at Disney Value!

 

[Grandbuddy]

The only thing I would add to all the above is that if you want to stay on points at a WDW DVC location during the first week of December, as you note in your original post, you are going to need to own at that location. You need the 11-month booking window to get in. Of course, if you plan to use your points at the GF, and pay $95 additional for a booking fee, this won't be an issue for you. Note however, that the point cost for staying at the GF will likely rise each year. Points for non-DVC properties are not fixed.

 

[crisi]

I am sorry, but my big complaint with Disney "deluxe" is that this attitude is NOT there. I have never felt the service at a Disney "deluxe" was "bend over backwards" and sadly have felt it was often better at Disney Value!

When we stayed Deluxe it WAS uneven. Since DVC its been non-existent.

For all Disney's reputation as having great customer service, I get way better hotel customer service from Hilton.