Basic questions that I'm sure are answered somewhere...

[Dodie]

Could someone direct me toward a thread or area that answers these questions? (I hate to ask things that I'm sure have been asked before, but I can't find this information.)

1. Annual fees - how much are they per point for the different resorts?
2. Annual fees - do they go up? Historically, how much have they gone up?
3. Points required for various seasons and types of rooms - Historically, have these increased for the resorts? A bunch? A little?
4. Points for stays at other non-DVC Disney resorts - It seems from what I've read that this is kind of cost-prohibitive (like DCL) and you save money by just paying cash, but I would imagine that DH and I would occasionally like to splurge at big anniversaries with a stay somewhere like the Poly or GF. I also have read about the $95 charge to use your points for this. Right? Can someone give me a ballpark for point costs for these types of resort stays?

Thanks so much.

 

[RobDoc]

Here is the history of DVC annual fees at all of the resorts:

Year OKW BWV VB VB(sub) HH VWL BCV SSR AKV

2007 4.40 4.85 5.63 4.39 4.98 4.73 4.63 4.12 4.62
2006 4.24 4.69 5.27 4.12 4.34 4.61 4.48 3.98
2005 3.86 4.41 4.87 3.84 3.86 4.35 4.27 3.83
2004 3.68 4.25 4.67 3.67 3.70 4.22 4.18 3.80
2003 3.49 4.11 4.37 4.37 3.69 4.05 3.97
2002 3.22 3.92 4.17 3.33 3.49 3.80 3.77
2001 3.13 3.83 3.98 2.70 3.32 3.63
2000 3.16 3.94 4.07 2.87 3.25 3.62
1999 3.16 4.02 3.99 2.82 3.18
1998 3.17 3.94 ---- 2.76 3.20
1997 3.14 3.84 ---- 2.90 3.16
1996 2.99 3.70 ---- 2.82 3.16
1995 2.84
1994 2.70
1993 2.63
1992 2.56
1991 2.51

While DVC can change the points needed to stay at DVC resorts, if some nights are raised others must be lowered to maintain balance for the total points owned at each resort. This has happened only once - 1996 for OKW when some nites were raised a few points, some were lowered a few points and some saw no change at all.

The point charts for the non-DVC options have not yet been published for 2008, but here is a link to a post by CarolMN with information about the non-DVC point charts for 2007.

 

[CarolMN]

Here are the links to the threads with links to 2007 point charts for the choices outside of the DVC resorts:

Disney Collection

Conceirge, Adventurer's & World Passport Collections

Disney Cruise Line


The 2008 charts for the Cruises are on the DVC members' Website, but we're still waiting for the 2008 charts for the Disney, Conceirge & Adventure's Collections. (My guess is that most requirments will increase for 2008). The 2008 World Passport chart is the same as the 2007 chart.

 

[roselark]

Wow! Great info! Thanks for posting it!

 

[Dodie]

Thank you very much for the exact information I needed.

After 14 years of WDW trips, DH and I could have obviously paid for this already and it would have paid for itself. Earlier on though, we just weren't financially in a place to make the commitment. Plus, we both continue to have questions about the realities and limitations of the program. We're closer to jumping in and these answers are very helpful.

 

[micksterlee]

My wife was interested in DVC so I ran it past are finacial advisor and he basically laughed at me.He said to stay away from timeshares period not just Disney (so don't get excited I am not knocking Disney).He said if I wanted to spend money on a vacation condo I would be better off to buy one in the Orlando area and rent it out when I wasn't going to stay there.He said with the money I would make on the rent I could visit WDW resorts of my choice.

 

[CarolAnnC]

My wife was interested in DVC so I ran it past are finacial advisor and he basically laughed at me.He said to stay away from timeshares period not just Disney (so don't get excited I am not knocking Disney).He said if I wanted to spend money on a vacation condo I would be better off to buy one in the Orlando area and rent it out when I wasn't going to stay there.He said with the money I would make on the rent I could visit WDW resorts of my choice.

This sounds good in theory, but don't forget income from renting your condo would be subject to federal income taxes. Also, Florida homeowner insurance has become cost prohibitive in recent years due to the hurricane claims, etc. Not to mention the housing/condo market in Florida has also taken somewhat of a nosedive in recent years. Then if you decide to sell, there would be capital gains taxes possibly involved. I will stick with my DVC which was a decision I made with my financial advisor ten years ago now. Not bad considering I could sell my points for twice the price and have enjoyed upwards of 30 WDW vacations and cruises these last ten years...not that I would EVER sell though LOL!

 

[harleyquinn]

Is this information avaible collectively on any of the boards' sticky's? Cuz it totally should be!

 

[harleyquinn]

This sounds good in theory, but don't forget income from renting your condo would be subject to federal income taxes. Also, Florida homeowner insurance has become cost prohibitive in recent years due to the hurricane claims, etc. Not to mention the housing/condo market in Florida has also taken somewhat of a nosedive in recent years. Then if you decide to sell, there would be capital gains taxes possibly involved. I will stick with my DVC which was a decision I made with my financial advisor ten years ago now. Not bad considering I could sell my points for twice the price and have enjoyed upwards of 30 WDW vacations and cruises these last ten years...not that I would EVER sell though LOL!

That's great info. DH keeps saying he'd rather buy property in FL instead of DVC, but I keep telling him he's nuts. Now I have a little ammo! lol

 

[micksterlee]

I think my advisor was thinking about the failing real estate market because he was saying there are quite a few foreclosures and people dropping prices to get out of the market.I don't really think the DVC is right for us anyway there is no way we would ever go to WDW 30 times.We might go once every 2 or 3 years now that we have been there 4 times and the infatuation has worn off.

 

[rsinj]

.

 

[micksterlee]

First of all I didn't post here to argue with some know it all about time shares I just chimed in with a comment ,I personally think I can make more money by buying rental property in a vacation destination than I can selling timeshare points.As far as failing real estate Carol posted that housing had taken a nose dive.

As far as me making flippant comments trying to steer other people clear of DVC just plain isn' t happening. I could care less if others buy timeshares or not . I just made a comment on what I thought was a free and open forum .

 

[rsinj]

.

 

[micksterlee]

We have done pretty good with vacation properties at the Outer Banks,Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach. I have found that the best way to make money on them fast is pay cash which usually gets them for less than list price.Then the crew moves in does any repairs and then the rental group takes over. We don't usually sell unless we get an offer we can't refuse the rent is to good.

Like I said I didn't post to argue but as of late it seems like on these boards if you say it s a good day 6 people will tell you it is not. So have a goodin' that's all I got to say about that.

 

[littlestar]

I don't think anyone here is/was discussing "selling timeshare points" and making money doing so - but, clearly you were. I think Carol's reply regarding the value of her points doubling over time was an example that as it turned out, her DVC ownership has done extremely well - again, in contrast to most other timeshares and contrary to your advisor's statement regarding "all" timeshares.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law own a vacation condo over on Indian Rocks Beach near Tampa Bay. Their property taxes and Homeowners insurance rates have skyrocketed in the last few years. If they were year round Florida residents, the property taxes would not be near as high, but unfortunately, they are not. Ownership is definitely not what it used to be as far as costs. It's outrageous. They also have a Myrtle Beach property and they can't sell it (no luck). They spend most of their vacations working on their properties. We gave them a DVC stay and they loved it. They put their hammers/tools down for a few days and had a real vacation.

I'd be very leary of "so-called" experts that lump every vacation ownership into the same vein. You need to keep an open mind and put the figures down on paper and figure it out for your situation and what you normally spend. We've got 34 family members coming to Orlando for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration during New Years. Without timeshare ownerships, our cash costs for the high-end places we are staying would have been well over $20,000 for just this one trip. Vacation ownership has worked out quite nicely for our family as far as controlling vacation costs.

And best of all, DVC has never asked me to pick up a hammer while on vacation or make an emergency trip to Florida because of a maintenence problem.