Beginning to consider DVC..

[dansamy]

and of course I have questions!

Let me preface all this by saying a few things: DH and I loooove theme parks, roller coasters, fairs, etc. There are several events at WDW and the surrounding area that we would enjoy attending if we had the opportunity. Second, we are a family of 5. This will be our first trip to Disney this coming April. We are staying in POR since our youngest is able to fit on the trundle. After this trip, we'll be able to gauge more accurately if we'd like to go to WDW once every 1-2 years. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that neither DH nor I will be able to tolerate being crowded into a standard double occupancy with rollaway/trundle with all three kids much longer. Sharing a bathroom with three teenagers is not my idea of a vacation. So, if we decide we like WDW enough to vacation there frequently, we'll rapidly move to being limited to places like the cabins, 2 connecting rooms or Deluxe resorts. Given that basic background info, here's some questions, ponderings, concerns, musings, etc.

1. We've considered an RV for a while. I'm an RN and would really like to do travel assignments in the summertime, taking the kids (as they get older) with me. An RV would afford us the ability to pack the whole family up and put us all on the road. This would be an "alternative" to the DVC, as if we decided to do an RV, we would simply rent a pad at the Campground.

2. I've started looking at DVC and the various resorts. I realize the "older" resorts would need to be purchased as resales or by waiting on a list with DVC for a RoFR contract to be purchased by DVC and resold to me. What I'd like to know is what point value contract would be sufficient. I've seen some refer to 50 point contracts as being too small to be flexible enough to allow you all the options you might enjoy.

3. Regarding the resorts, with our kids' ages (currently 6, 7, and 8) we'll likely be re-visiting the MK a few more times into their early-teen era. Which resorts are suitable and close to the MK? Which resorts have a good "family" atmosphere and plenty of outlets for energetic youngsters?

4. With DVC contracts, am I right in assuming that the point value contract you purchase is the amount of points you receive every year during your UY month and they need to be used by the last day of the month preceding your UY the following calendar year? Otherwise they need to be banked or rented out?

5. I saw something that DVC points can now be used on the DCL, but what about other Disney vacations, like the Disney Adventures?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice, etc. Some of this is just my rambling about whether DVC looks like a good value for us. (Which I guess we won't really know until after our vacation in April and we see how we like WDW and the surrounding area.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Currently, only VWL is close to MK. But there is talk that DVC will be selling Contemporary Resort Villas in the near future. Nothing definite on that, though. However, with Disney transportation, it is easy to get from one park to another without any problems.

DVC is also currently allowing five in a one bedroom villa (only AKV has one bedroom villas that officially sleep 5 - one king bed, one queen sleeper and one twin sleeper chair), that might not last. And you are required to provide your own bedding and linens for the fifth person. So you might be looking at two bedroom villas if you don't stay at AKV.

60 points might be enough for a one night stay in a two bedroom villa. So you see, that more points are required. If you purchase through Disney, you'll have to purchase at least 160 to start. You can always check the points charts (located at the top of these boards) to see how many points you would need for the time of year you would usually go.

Your points are good for one year, unless you borrow them during the prior year or bank them into the next year. You can only bank or borrow one year's worth of points (that would give you up to three years' worth of points to use at one time).

You can use points for DCL and Disney Adventures, but you will have to pay a $95 transfer fee to use your points for these. Only DVC reservations don't require the transfer fee. And you will use a whole lot of points for these non-DVC vacations. With a family of five, you would need a higher level lodging on the DCL and could really do it for less if you pay cash.

Good luck on your decision.