Anyone been out of Disney with their DVC points?

[bonniebanc]

Hi, New to the boards, looking for a bit of advice...

We are about to buy DVC. Moving to the US from the UK for the next few years through work relocation. Plans are to use our points from this year (Dec-Nov is allocation year) to stay in AKL for a few days, then to SSR (already confrmed availability with DVC). Then use points over the next few years whilst in US, for a few days in Disney/DVC resorts plus going on various collection getaways. Can anyone give me any feedback on the getaways? Then when we get back to the UK, banking and borrowing for visits.

Have been told that using points to stay in AKL is 'more expensive' than staying in a DVC resort - but we were in AKL last year with our 10 and 6 year olds and we had a FANTASTIC time. A lot of that was getting up in the morning/returning to our room, and looking out to see which animals were there, we were sooo busy getting to the parks though we feel we missed a lot of what AKL has to offer. Whilst the room was a bit small it didn't really bother us - with a girl and a boy the bunk beds were a help, having 2 doubles is just not an option for us.

Also was told that using DVC points for 'getaways' is not the way to use DVC - too expensive and there are better 'timeshare' deals out there....

My feeling is that DVC is so flexible surely its what suits your family that makes it a good deal or not...with young kids, we'll be using points for the next few years and to be honest, when the kids are up and away, we'll still use them whether in Disney or the Getaways. We'll break-even whenever and still have points the following year....

Am I being too niave?
Look forward to your input...

 

[Dean]

My feeling is that DVC is so flexible surely its what suits your family that makes it a good deal or not...with young kids, we'll be using points for the next few years and to be honest, when the kids are up and away, we'll still use them whether in Disney or the Getaways. We'll break-even whenever and still have points the following year....

Am I being too niave?
Look forward to your input...

I think you are making too many assumptions. And given your direction, one might never come close to breaking even with DVC as compared to other options. Of course it's your decision to do with what you will.

 

[Boas]

recommend you do the math on a the next few vacations (try 7 years).... your outline above will probably have a very long breakeven based on the number of points you will need to purchase.

good luck w/ the decision.

 

[pacificnorthwester]

I am very interested in hearing some replies to this. I am brand new to the DVC, and I certainly intend on using points for things other than WDW!!! I'm not in a position to fly to Florida every other month, so we joined to have a large variety of experiences, not just Disney. There simply aren't as many destinations on my side of the country. I'm not sure that the only measure of satisfaction is the "bottom line". Whereas I value experienced members opinions, I can't believe that the only "cost effective" experiences are DVC resorts. How can one really define cost effectiveness anyway?

 

[MAO]

I agree that it's as valuable as you think it is and, for me, the ability to get into other hotels is a plus. Perhaps spending cash at another place is "cheaper" than DVC, but I've already paid for the DVC points. And there's definitely a certain feeling (smugness, maybe?) that comes from staying at another hotel and knowing that you'll be walking out at the end of your stay owing nothing. I generally use my points at Disney, but live in Arizona and it's often cheaper to go to California than Florida. So I stay in the Grand Californian, on the concierge level, which is something I would never have been able to convince myself to pay for if it weren't for the "already paid for" DVC points. I've also stayed at the Biltmore in Phoenix, and have a few days scheduled next month for the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.

 

[bonniebanc]

Thanks for your replies...

'recommend you do the math on a the next few vacations (try 7 years).... your outline above will probably have a very long breakeven based on the number of points you will need to purchase.'

I haven't really sat down and worked out EVERY MINUTE £ or $.

I suppose if you take into consideration the yearly maintainance fees and booking fees for going out of WDW, staying in a hotel rather than 'at home' then yes we will be looking at a long, say 7-10 year breakeven - yep, that's a long time...
We will need to use more and more points if we want to stay at Hotels / do some of the adventures etc as those points aren't locked in as our 'home' resort will be.
But if we stay in DVC resorts then we'd break even quicker...

To be honest whether we breakeven in 4, 7 or 10 years, whilst it is in the back of my mind, it's only one aspect for us....it's for 4 times that!...it's DISNEY...points are paid for (except yearly dues). Yep - maybe I am being a bit niave, surely the financial bottom line isn't why you bought DVC?

We love going to WDW as a family, - and with DVC we have the flexibility to do that, or try Getaways. Then, when the kids no longer want to go - we would go as a couple or put points together with other family members to take a break.

Anyway, straying off a bit - was hoping for some feedback about the getaways[/B], quality, convenience, service etc......

Thanks again for your feedback

 

[pampat]

We've swapped multiple times to Concierge Collection hotels. The advantage of booking this, is that you get confirmation within hours of putting in your request. For us in the UK this is a distinct advantage, so we can go ahead and book flights and cars. We stayed at the Boston Harbour Hotel (I think our favourite hotel in the world!), the Arizona Biltmore (our favourite hotel in all the world) and the Charleston Place hotel in Charleston (our favourite hotel in the world). We've stayed in others, but these ones multiple times. We get incredible value out of them. We stay at concierge level, rooms costing up to $600 a night, which we could never afford without our DVC points. We've never tried the Adventurers Collection, we are too old, but we say that DVC is the best investment we have ever made.

Just my opinion.

Pam

 

[Dean]

I suppose if you take into consideration the yearly maintainance fees and booking fees for going out of WDW, staying in a hotel rather than 'at home' then yes we will be looking at a long, say 7-10 year breakeven - yep, that's a long time...
We will need to use more and more points if we want to stay at Hotels / do some of the adventures etc as those points aren't locked in as our 'home' resort will be.

7-10 years is a general break-even for those that only use their points at DVC resorts. IF one were to break even with a combination of DVC resort use and other options, it may be 20-30 years or longer depending on specific choices. If one bought DVC and only traded for DCL, DC or CC; you'd actually be losing money over time (basically every time), quite a lot of it. For II, it is more variable. But you'd have to compare to buying a non DVC option for trading in addition to cash options.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We have taken several Disney Cruises on points, and also have visited Disneyland on points. In fact I will be spending a night there next week at the Grand Californian. Downtown Disney view, so I am very excited.

I believe you cannot put a value on the enjoyment you receive from visiting a particular place. If you have the points, and want to travel somewhere, then go for it!

 

[BroganMc]

I believe you cannot put a value on the enjoyment you receive from visiting a particular place. If you have the points, and want to travel somewhere, then go for it!

We just bought DVC not with the idea that it would break even or be some kind of financial investment but that it would give us more flexibility and opportunity to enjoy our vacations. It's a life investment like teaching your kids to drive. (Compare how much driving costs + the risk to the longterm benefit of independence and opportunity.)

We own several weeks at Marriott and have something like 1 million Marriott points to use at hotels of all categories. Consequently, we're not planning on going outside the DVC system much. We'll use it sparingly at the Disney hotels, but mostly it gives us the option of extending a week's Orlando stay with several days on Disney property with pretty much the same accommodations as we get at Marriott. If we stick to studios, we could even get an extra 4-5 night trip to Disney a year (for flying in vs. driving down) or use the "mad money" to stay at the pricier hotels, larger units, or take more family with us.

I think if I were going to use DVC as my sole or primary vacation fund, I'd get more points. Right now we have 200, but 300-500 seems much more flexible for all the OP wants to do. (If I do the math, with Marriott weeks invested as DVC instead we'd have 1000 points.)

 

[rocketriter]

We use our points primarily at WDW. However, we've traded out more than once and do not regret it. The simplicity of getting a villa with a couple of phone calls has its own value to us, while juggling multiple timeshares or researching and contracting with strangers for condos would cost us more in $/hour than we would save. There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether trading out is a good value. These are your points. Enjoy them in whatever way suits you best.

 

[Cinderella]

I've traded a few times - one trade was to Spain, and it would have been cheaper to do it on cash. But, I also had a trade to Portugal, which would have cost me more had I paid cash and rented out the points. And I don't know if I dare say this on here, but the one in Portugal was actually of better quality than DVC - it even had it's own pool.

I think it depends where you exchange to. Some exchanges are excellent value, and some aren't.

If I were you, and moving to America for a while, I would also want to trade to other places, and explore the country a bit.

 

[GrammieMame]

I've stayed at Disneyland, the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, and 2 weeks in Hawaii, plus giving my son a week in Aruba. Now thinking of a cruise next year. I don't think in terms of cheaper to pay cash, I think in terms of having points that I have already paid for. I'm not sure I would have done any of those things if I had to dish out the cash. They are your points to do with as you wish. Enjoy them any way and any place you want to.

 

[Kell]

We have been to Vero Beach, Hilton Head,Cruise,many Disney trips at all of the DVC resorts,and recently (March) we went to New York City. We stayed at the Loews Regency. I would not stay there without points. (At $500 a night it was a little pricey) We have owned since 1999 so we have used it alot. Next year we are going to trade out to the passport collection for a week.(hopefully)

 

[bonniebanc]

Thanks very much again for your input

We've a few things to mull over before we buy - but we will buy. Whether we always stay DVC resorts or WDW or swap, this purchase is a 'treat' to our family after a few hard 'thirty-something' years and I feel something positive to enjoy with our children now and into the future.

To all those heading off soon - have a great time - we hope to be heading to WDW in July.....fingers crossed!