Anyone ever break down costs of DVC vacation vs. Disney vacation package?

[debbiebones]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever broken down the costs of the DVC vacation versus buying a prepaid pre-assembled vacation package at WDW. I've never done it but we were at a get together with friends last night and friends of ours had purchased a package for next November at the Western Lodge resort. They said it was called "Home away from home", meaning their lodgings included kitchen facilities, etc. The entire package for four which included two restaurant meals a day, babysitting services, several shows (I'm not sure if park tickets were included) came out to $4700.

I know you really can't compare since we'll have our accomodations for the next 30-some odd years but are these Disney packages on par with the DVC as far as being a good deal?

Thanks for any input,

Deb

 

[msdis]

Western Lodge resort??? Do you mean Wilderness lodge resort? I will assume yes. Most of us have repeatedly broken down the costs of pkgs and other compotents that is why we have bought DVC. You did not say what size unit they are in or how many nights their stay is but based on a very well educated guess DVC far outweighs any pkg. Most of us have a different angle we look at too. Most of us buy annual passes(AP's) and the more you use them the less per day they cost, as DVC'ers frequent WDW usually several times a year. Also, since you cannot predict future value of DVC I base my costs per night strickly on dues cost. DVC for past history has held it's own VERY well as far as resale, and if you plan on the 38+- years left it is still a bargain in pre-paid expenses. It sounds like they got an upgraded plan to include all those features. And those features generally cost more than you might otherwise spend. But some people like the "one stop shopping" so they don't have to plan and budget.

 

[Dean]

Every time I've broken down the costs of any of their packages, they were more than buying the components separately. When I asked, I was told I was paying for the convenience of one stop stopping. If you want to stay on property most every year and will not do mostly weekends, DVC is a good deal. It's a great deal if you can take advantage of the lower week day points by staying 5 days avoiding weekends or something like 12 days with only one weekend. If you are in the situation where you'd need two rooms anyway and/or eat in the room most meals, the value is magnified further. Good luck.

 

[WDWguruDH]

I will crunch some math on their package, I will assume that they are staying a week, at Wilderness Lodge, in a two bedroom and it includes passes:
1) Lodging - 2 bdrm, 1 week is 282 points, using $7 a point (cost of DVC including interest) is $1974

2) Passes - LOS for 2 adults and 2 childern is $1116.30

3) Restuarants - not sure which restuarants are included, but a family of 4 can eat in a decent restuarant for $85, for two meals it would be $170

4) Shows - once again, not sure what they have included, but let's guess and say $25 a ticket, two shows, family of 4 is $200

5) Babysitting services are $5 an hour per child - let's assume two evenings for 4 hours each that would be $80

The grand total (mostly guessing on their package) would be $3540.30 or about $1200 cheaper.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by debbiebones
I'm wondering if anyone has ever broken down the costs of the DVC vacation versus buying a prepaid pre-assembled vacation package at WDW. I've never done it but we were at a get together with friends last night and friends of ours had purchased a package for next November at the Western Lodge resort. They said it was called "Home away from home", meaning their lodgings included kitchen facilities, etc. The entire package for four which included two restaurant meals a day, babysitting services, several shows (I'm not sure if park tickets were included) came out to $4700.

I know you really can't compare since we'll have our accomodations for the next 30-some odd years but are these Disney packages on par with the DVC as far as being a good deal?

Thanks for any input,

Deb

The other problem with these type of deals is that it may not include the things you'd do/use if you paid cash. Even if it's cheaper compared to the componets, would you pay for those items anyway.

We did the Food n Fun card in one of it's many incarnations. While we saves a fair amount of money compared to retail cost, we would not have eaten that way or did many of the things out of pocket. No way I'd get an appetizer, desert, entree and eat out 2 full means a day. Even for 3 days, even my kids were refusing desert by the end.

 

[bethsg]

Ok I am all for my dues going for updates... by I want to know what happens to all the VCR's that are removed. After all we all paid for those. Are they sold and then the cash credited back to a reduction in our dues accounts? If they are functioning they have some value to them.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I swore I would do this - but havent, glad you reminded me!!

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Prior to purchasing DVC I never purchased a vacation package but rather purchased a la carte because it was always less expensive for us.

When we purchased DVC I decided to keep track of the costs had we booked our DVC stay through Disney rather than purchasing.

1-BR for 7 nights at BCV first week in June was 264 points but would've cost $3,045.00 plus tax of $350.28 for a total of $3,395.28. Our next stay was in a studio at VWL at the end of July for 4 nights was 56 points but would've cost $1,516.00 plus tax of $174.34 for a total of $1,690.34. We will be going back next May and staying in a 2-BR for 5 nights at BCV for 170 points and this would cost $3,525.00 plus tax of $405.30 for a total of $3,930.30. Three trips in three different types of rooms for a total of 490 points would've cost me $9,015.92 just for the room! I definitely think this was a worthwhile investment for us.

Annmarie

 

[debbiebones]

Thanks for your input everyone (and yes I did mean Wilderness Lodge, not Western lodge...don't know why I said Western!)

I'm glad to hear the consensus from those that answered is that, yes, DVC is indeed a good investment.

We'll be heading down to BCV for our first trip home in November and I guess the thing I keep thinking is....I've got plenty of years to see and do everything there is to see and do at WDW and I don't have to try and cram everything in, in just one trip!

I'm sure we'll be "totally sold" once we've been to BCV. Just wanted to see how everyone else felt in regards to what you pay for those packages.

Thanks again!

Deb

 

[jcodespoti]

JUst be careful of the term investment. I "invest" in time and relaxation and thats why I like DVC. A lot of people think that DVC is a good financial investment, and it maybe but it may also not be. (very vague I know)
What I am trying to say is if you like staying at the All-stars and hitting the parks from sun-up to late in the evenings than DVC would be a bad investment.


Joe in CT