Anyone change thee tune on DVC long term?

[granmanh603]

I think he was referring to a flight to Aruba (or Hawaii, I'm not sure), not FL.

Oh that makes much more sense. I couldn't figure out what airline charged that much to fly to Orlando!!!!!!

 

[NMW]

Oh that makes much more sense. I couldn't figure out what airline charged that much to fly to Orlando!!!!!!

Yes, he was refering to a flight to Aruba, not Orlando.

 

[NMW]

I can't see us getting tired of going to Disney, but our kids are young. Frankly, even if we did not have kids, DH and I would love going to Disney. For the people who live far from major airports-that stinks. I had no idea that flights were that much more money. We usually fly out of Newark or JFK. Our last flight to Orlando (in Dec) was about $800 for the 5 of us.

To the OP, I would look into Marriot, our friends love it. They flew out of JFK when they went to Aruba in Nov and I don't think they payed $2100 for all 5 of them! Hopefully when you move, you'll get cheaper flights!

 

[shellbelle1971]

This is off topic a little but I've seen a number of people here concerned with the cost of airfare. I've taken heat about similiar things on other posts but I feel if airfare is a big issue then maybe DVC isn't for you. Timeshare ownership isn't a right of passage. Cost of vacationing there isn't cheap with food, airfare, spending money, park tickets, etc. Timeshares should be for people with plenty of disposable income, not those pinching pennies for airfare.

DAVE

For us, timesharing is a good way of pinching pennies, which we do to teach our kids to examine their purchases carefully. As I've posted elsewhere, anytime I need to buy plane tix for self, DH & 6 kids, that's expensive. So we look closely at expenses like that. Now, we aren't in debt, we save for the future, and we don't spend buckets of cash on any little thing we desire. But careful planning allows us to maximize the value we obtain from the dollars we spend. Not overspend...not sure what's wrong with that

 

[videoguy75]

DVC has been an amazing tradition. We vacationed at DW regularly even before all the kids were born. Fixed weeks were never an option for us, but points in '94 were perfect so we finally bought. Have the kids out-grown it (18-32 yrs)? No way. They love it and now our little grand daughters even more. With banking and borrowing, the 15 of us are spending Thanksgiving week with points on a cruise and BW. These points are not just for little kids!

 

[Disney Doll]

I would agree that points are not just for little kids, since DH & I bought when we didn't have kids, now know we can't have kids, and still love our WDW trips!!!!!!

However, kids do add something to the equation. There are expenses associated with children that are not necessarily associated with the "child-free"...college is the biggest one that comes to my mind.

I do think though, that before I sold my DVC due to a lack of interest in going there anymore, that I would probably hang onto it and rent points out for a few years, if hanging on to it wasn't a huge financial burden. Life goes through changes from newlywed, to young family, to children, to college to grandchildren. What works for the young family may not work the college years but may work again very well for the grandchildren years.

Of course, as always, any decision depends on the impact on the family...financial, emotional etc.

 

[Jen D]

We bought with the assumption that we'd be taking regular trips for the next 10-15 years at least and would come out ahead. Do I see myself doing this in 48 years? I can't see much of anything ay 48 years to tell you the truth. but I do expect to be using it well beyond the break even point and that was really all that mattered to me.

We want to travel other places too. 200 points is a nice number (and starting with a surplus.) We will be able to to a one bedroom every year or skip some some years and stay longer on the off years or get bigger accomodations. Off years we can go elsewhere. While my youngest is still a little one we will probably be doing Disney every year, because it is a great place to travel with little kids. When he gets older we'll mix it up more.

But like other we didn't buy just for the kids. We really enjoy it ourselves and are looking forward to that elusive adult's only vacation-- maybe in about 15 years.

 

[Daitcher]

I don't understand this. Our best friends own 1 week at the newer Marriot ( I think it's Surf) in Aruba, her in-laws own 2 weeks at the older one. Our friends also own 2 weeks at the Marriot in Myrtle Beach, but one is a bonus week, so it has less trade value. They have easily traded both Myrtle Beach and Aruba to go all different places. They do a winter vacation that they fly to get to and a summer one they drive to. They traded one of their weeks for some place in Maine this July (they like outdoorsy stuff ) and then this coming winter they plan to go either to Aruba or someplace in Mexico. They have 3 kids and have no problem traveling with them. They love Marriot and they own theirs, including Aruba, forever they do not end in 40 or 50 years

Aruba is not deeded. It is a 50 year term. They better check the facts on that one.

DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

Am I confused didn't you just post in #53 that you paid $2100 for 3 people in January? Carol

You must have read that one wrong. That was for airfare for three to ARUBA not Orlando. I have money but I'm not willing to throw it away like that. I'd never pay that to Orlando. Sorry for the mix up, maybe I didn't post it correctly.

DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

For us, timesharing is a good way of pinching pennies, which we do to teach our kids to examine their purchases carefully. As I've posted elsewhere, anytime I need to buy plane tix for self, DH & 6 kids, that's expensive. So we look closely at expenses like that. Now, we aren't in debt, we save for the future, and we don't spend buckets of cash on any little thing we desire. But careful planning allows us to maximize the value we obtain from the dollars we spend. Not overspend...not sure what's wrong with that

Nothing wrong with that and it sounds like your future will be very bright.

DAVE

 

[Dean]

Aruba is not deeded. It is a 50 year term. They better check the facts on that one.

DAVE

As I understand it, all but one Aruba timeshare is RTU (Right to Use). The leases are actually 60 years and automatically renewable. The way I'm told Aruban law is structured, the government would have to buy the buildings and all for fair market value to take them away, that's why many look at them as if they're deeded. The one that is is not on the beach.