Any negatives to DVC ownership?

[rthutchens]

I have noticed everyone that has bought into DVC just loves it and seems to be continually buying extra points. There has to be a downside to ownership. Was there anything that made you hesitate about purchasing? Did you have a hard time paying for the initial cost and yearly maintenance fees? Would you do anything different, such as, amount of points or home resort? Also, if you purchased through a resale company, who did you use and how much did it cost you besides paying for the points? Any guidance would be appreciated, I don't want to purchase and have buyers remorse. I want to know all of the good and the bad up front.

Thanks

 

[PSC]

One of the big negatives of DVC ownership is a disease most of us get called addonitis. There are only two known cures - buying more points(temporary) and seeing your annual dues statement (scary).

 

[Dean]

DVC is great for the right family but it is not for everyone. Realize that those that aren't interested in DVC likely are found elsewhere. IMO, DVC is great for those that have a track record of staying on property at WDW, can afford to pay for it easily, will go light or neutral on weekends and will use most or all of the points at DVC resorts. The best values are S-F for a studio or 2 BR but YMMV.

As for doing things differently, I doubt it. But my case is not typical. I've owned for 13 years as many as 885 points with 3 home resorts and 3 use years and on my way to 100 AKV points only come next year. I would have preferred to have more smaller contracts but I would not have paid the extra to do so.

 

[crisi]

Its expensive - there are cheaper ways to do Disney and cheaper timeshares.

I think most people buy it to "save" money - few people use it in a manner that saves them money - most of us don't care, but you should know that.

The rooms aren't kept up to par as well as Disney Deluxe hotels (which aren't kept up as nice as some offsite high end hotels).

There is less availability at your "non-home" resort than DVC sales people would have you believe. However, there is more availability than some DVC members here would have you believe. But do realize that "slow season" for Disney and "slow season" for DVC are not the same.

You are making a committment to WDW vacations. While WDW is a nice vacation place, this is a "lifestyle choice."

Trading out isn't a very good value - if you are looking to trade, buy a different timeshare.

Cruising and non-DVC options (but particularly cruising) often goes up year after year in terms of the amount of points it takes.

I believe you lose some "negotiation strength" as a DVC member staying on points. There seems to be less incentive to make vacations "magical" or fix complaints as there is for cash guests.

 

[ransom]

The upfront cost is a pretty decent deterrent. Even a basic contract costs the price of a small car.

On the other hand, that small car will be worth nothing in 8 years, while a DVC contract will keep my cost of WDW visits low for the rest of my life.

On the third hand, that small car can be used to go back and forth to work (to make money), while WDW just sucks up all the money we make!

But seriously....as Dean said, it's not for everyone. If you run the numbers for your particular situation and it comes out positive for you, then maybe it's the right choice for your family. But even so, it is a big up-front commitment, so is well worth thinking long and hard about, even if the long-term financial side looks good, IMO.

As for seeing how many points some folks buy, I keep in mind that everyone's situation is different. The #1 thing I figured out in looking at DVC for us, was that buying even one more point than I truly needed didn't make any sense at all. But that's just me.

 

[El&Asmom]

We aren't DVC members yet, but to me one of the negatives is having to book up to 11 months out for vacations in prime times if you want to stay where you want to stay. Right now, for us, it won't be a huge deal, but as our kids get older, and busier, it will get more difficult to plan. Last minute, or even 2-3 month out trips will be harder to come by. At least that's how it seems.

 

[njmeisje]

EI&Asmom,
Something to think about as your kids get older. I find it easier to plan vacations ahead because you become a slave to the school vacation schedule. Our school publishes this year and the next years school schedule,so you know way in advance what next years school holidays will be. Maybe your schools do somehting similar. Just a thought.

Best to you
Diane

 

[Cruelladeville]

Planning 11 months ahead is not something you have to do with DVC, except at certain times of the year. Off-site timeshares, which are cheaper thru resales than DVC, routinely expect you to plan a year ahead, even for your home resort. I waited until two months ahead to plan for one of my timeshares, and the timeshare was put in the "naughty chair". It's in II, and I can only plan 59 days ahead to use that week. DVC is far more flexible, and it also maintains its value, while off-site timeshares usually do not.

The only thing I would do differently is to buy all my points under one use year. I have three use years, Feb, March, and Aug. because I used to travel at Spring Break, summer, and Christmas, but then I retired, so I can travel whenever I want, and it's not necessary to have separate use years any more.

 

[LOLA2]

Do the maintenence fees generally go up every year? My husband is really worried about this.

 

[bradisgoofy]

One of the big negatives of DVC ownership is a disease most of us get called addonitis. There are only two known cures - buying more points(temporary) and seeing your annual dues statement (scary).

Do the maintenence fees generally go up every year? My husband is really worried about this.

Yes they do but usually no more then the inflation rate, 2 - 3%. One year they even went down.

 

[jerry557]

Do the maintenence fees generally go up every year? My husband is really worried about this.

They say about 4% increase every year. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Not much different than maint fees on your own home. Taxes, utilities, and insurance seem to always go up every year. Same idea here.

But keep in mind that rack rates for hotel rooms also will rise every year. But as a member, you pay the same amount of points for the rooms through the length of the contract.

Today you can pay $300 a night for a room. 10 years from now it could likely be $500 a night.

 

[rthutchens]

Do you know anyone that has sold their points through resale or back to disney? I would feel better if I bought in and changed my mind that there would be a easy way out without losing too much money. I understand that isn't why you buy in but I'm just overly cautious. It is a big investment for us and I just want to make sure that we could at least get some of our money back.

 

[jarestel]

Do you know anyone that has sold their points through resale or back to disney? I would feel better if I bought in and changed my mind that there would be a easy way out without losing too much money. I understand that isn't why you buy in but I'm just overly cautious. It is a big investment for us and I just want to make sure that we could at least get some of our money back.

Many of us here on these boards have sold excess points at one time or another. It's pretty painless and relatively simple. There are a few major resale companies (The Timeshare Store sponsors these boards, for one) that specialize in DVC resales. So if you decide to sell, there won't be a problem.

You wouldn't normally want to sell your points directly back to Disney since even if they agree to a buyback, they don't offer anywhere near what the points are actually worth.

 

[crisi]

Prices have gone up, but you should expect to hold your points for about three years in order to break even on a "changing your mind" scenario because of commissions, closing costs, etc.

 

[jimh13432]

Another "negative" is we constantly are planning our next trip to Disney, it seems like an obsession.

I'm not sure that's really a negative though.

 

[beccasmom]

Our two biggest issues-

- Extended family and friends who love our DVC (and us, of course! ) so much that they want to tag along (which is usually okay with us), but don't let us know until the last minute (not okay). Sometimes we have to scramble to get a bigger place....but it's nice to be so popular!

- We can't live there all the time.

 

[Tigger031266]

We aren't DVC members yet, but to me one of the negatives is having to book up to 11 months out for vacations in prime times if you want to stay where you want to stay. Right now, for us, it won't be a huge deal, but as our kids get older, and busier, it will get more difficult to plan. Last minute, or even 2-3 month out trips will be harder to come by. At least that's how it seems.

I have never booked at 11 mo and I always get what I need. Even the most popular times, if I waitlist, I get in. If you are really pick and what a specific hotel, with a specific view at a popular time, you may have minor issues.

I often book less than 2 mo in advance and if you don't mind SSR or OKW (which I think are quite nice), it is easy.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

It works great for us, but someone in the family needs plan how to use the points, call member services, work out banking (or borrowing !!!) and keep track of things. Some may find this feeling like work...

I enjoy it. I love looking forward to vacation. I love having my next vacation booked before I even leave for the current one... It takes some organization (unless you do the same thing every year..) but that is due to the flexibility available.

 

[Dean]

Prices have gone up, but you should expect to hold your points for about three years in order to break even on a "changing your mind" scenario because of commissions, closing costs, etc.

Plus it's unlikely one will even make up the difference down the line on the 2042 resorts.

 

[El&Asmom]

It works great for us, but someone in the family needs plan how to use the points, call member services, work out banking (or borrowing !!!) and keep track of things. Some may find this feeling like work...

I enjoy it. I love looking forward to vacation. I love having my next vacation booked before I even leave for the current one... It takes some organization (unless you do the same thing every year..) but that is due to the flexibility available.

To me, this is actually a bonus. I love to plan, so this is right up my alley. I love that DVC is a point system, with basically infinite choices as to where and when to stay. With enough points that is.

And thanks to all of you who have commented on not necessarily needing to plan at 11 months. We will be buying a resale in the next 6 months, so I'm reading these boards daily to get any info I can. With so many people talking about calling day by day, or having to waitlist, it just seems like it's hard to get into anywhere. I think I'd be pretty happy to 'settle' for SSR or OKW. We love to go when the parks are relatively empty which we can do now without school schedules to work around. We'll see how that changes as the kids get to grade school.