Best DVC Bang For Your Buck?

[RoseGold]

I can make a few arguments for the cheapest rooms, I mean 9 points with free parking. I can also make an argument for the most high-end of rooms, because their rack rate is so crazy.

But DVC has significant upfront costs and transactional costs, closing and such. And then there's financing... That math can even flip the 9 point room. That's why you have to do the math for how YOUR family travels.

 

[Brian Noble]

I guess my main concern would just be could you get out from under those other timeshares if you really wanted to?

If you are sticking with the hotel branded mini-systems and are even partially careful about what you are buying, you'll have an exit strategy, as they all have some sort of market. In the limit, most of the reputable companies will let you just give it back. If you only paid pennies on the dollar, that's fine. You want to avoid some of the less savory characters (e.g. the Westgates of the world), but someone considering DVC is not going to look at a Westgate resort and think "Yeah, that's a good alternative."

 

[peabody58]

Reflections!! My 'new' math now has our stays at this wonderful resort at $0 a night.

 

[RoseGold]

You can get a 2BR at the Wyndham for 1-200$/night between Redweek and TUGS right now. That's using someone else's points. DVC can't compete with that.

They aren't the same product, so depends on what "bang" means to you. Because that's an awfully nice room, just isn't a Disney property.

Reflections!! My 'new' math now has our stays at this wonderful resort at $0 a night.

You're going to need like $20 in bug spray.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I can make a few arguments for the cheapest rooms, I mean 9 points with free parking. I can also make an argument for the most high-end of rooms, because their rack rate is so crazy.

But DVC has significant upfront costs and transactional costs, closing and such. And then there's financing... That math can even flip the 9 point room. That's why you have to do the math for how YOUR family travels.

I do understand this point of view, really. The one problem with doing simple math equations is they never account for undefined "value" variables, such as location, theming, transportation, restaurants/amenities, etc. Those variables all have value for the individual, yet are difficult to translate into a number in an algebra exercise.

If you start with the premise that nobody needs to buy DVC, ever, and that owning DVC is a luxury purchase and expensive, then the assessment of "value" comes down to the individual family's needs, wants, and resort preferences.

 

[DVCsloth]

I don't necessarily want to stay at Disney for the least expensive room that I can get. I like being in the Disney Bubble and totally get the appeal of BCV/BWV for Epcot/HS. I won't buy any points there, mostly because of the ending date being so soon. But another advantage of DVC is the ability to stay at different resorts if you want too.

 

[Jlo85]

If you start with the premise that nobody needs to buy DVC, ever, and that owning DVC is a luxury purchase and expensive, then the assessment of "value" comes down to the individual family's needs, wants, and resort preferences.

My one caveat to this is that Disney World is a luxury purchase as well. And if you feel obligated to go to WDW a few times because you have little kids (like me), DVC may be a better value than cash. At least, that's where I came from as a buyer, and I tend to think that's where a lot of new buyers start. For me, I'm buying it for the family. And in that context, it's less of a personal luxury purchase, it's an investment in the family. Still not saying it's a good buy, but some people compare it to buying a luxury car or something, and I don't think that's quite analogous.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Almost every owner says "buy where you want to stay."

Almost every owner says "I like several of the resorts and want to stay at different places."

These two statements are mutually exclusive.

I don't say "buy where you want to stay," I say "buy wherever is cheapest, as long as you don't hate it, and stay away from 2042 expirations."

 

[BeachClub2014]

My one caveat to this is that Disney World is a luxury purchase as well. And if you feel obligated to go to WDW a few times because you have little kids (like me), DVC may be a better value than cash. At least, that's where I came from as a buyer, and I tend to think that's where a lot of new buyers start. For me, I'm buying it for the family. And in that context, it's less of a personal luxury purchase, it's an investment in the family. Still not saying it's a good buy, but some people compare it to buying a luxury car or something, and I don't think that's quite analogous.

Oh, I agree with you here. We own a smidge over 500 points at three different resorts and we chose those three specifically to meet our wants, wishes, and desires in a resort. The overall cost was certainly a factor, but not the deciding one.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Almost every owner says "buy where you want to stay."

Almost every owner says "I like several of the resorts and want to stay at different places."

These two statements are mutually exclusive.

I don't say "buy where you want to stay," I say "buy wherever is cheapest, as long as you don't hate it, and stay away from 2042 expirations."

Of course, you could also buy points at each of the resorts that you want to stay in, right?

 

[Jlo85]

Oh, I agree with you here. We own a smidge over 500 points at three different resorts and we chose those three specifically to meet our wants, wishes, and desires in a resort. The overall cost was certainly a factor, but not the deciding one.

Because part of the calculation is does my family really want to stay in a Marriott? At that point, what is even the point? Not a knock on Marriott, but I think a lot of people traveling to WDW think along those lines.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Oh, I agree with you here. We own a smidge over 500 points at three different resorts and we chose those three specifically to meet our wants, wishes, and desires in a resort. The overall cost was certainly a factor, but not the deciding one.

I think Copper Creek is the only resort I eliminated for cost reasons.

Eliminated because I wouldn't use them: Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Grand Californian
Eliminated because 2042: Beach Club, Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Old Key West 2042
Eliminated because I don't like the resort: Bay Lake Tower, Grand Flo, Riviera
Eliminated because only Studios: Polynesian
Eliminated on price: Copper Creek

That leaves Animal Kingdom, Aulani, Old Key West 2057, and Saratoga Springs for me.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

The best bang for your buck if you are buying where you want to stay would be at AKV. Those value rooms can be 55pts for a week, if you paid about $12pp (eg 100pts for 35yr is 3.5pts per year + dues of $8.5 is $12pp), thats $660 for a week!! You definitely need to own to get a full week and you may have to pick up days behind walkers but 100% success for me so far.
The rooms are slightly smaller so best with 2 adults and 2 non teenage children.

I totally agree with this. We love AKV and the point costs per night are really cheap compared to the newer resorts like RIV and VGF. AKV really makes me feel like I've been transported somewhere else.

 

[DVCsloth]

Almost every owner says "buy where you want to stay."

Almost every owner says "I like several of the resorts and want to stay at different places."

These two statements are mutually exclusive.

I don't say "buy where you want to stay," I say "buy wherever is cheapest, as long as you don't hate it, and stay away from 2042 expirations."

I don't know if almost every owner says "buy where you want to stay" I think people are trying to give advice so new owners are not disappointed with their purchase.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I totally agree with this. We love AKV and the point costs per night are really cheap compared to the newer resorts like RIV and VGF. AKV really makes me feel like I've been transported somewhere else.

Just to be clear, because I'm on a crusade against the "points chart inflation" myth, AKV is not cheaper per night because newer resorts are more expensive, AKV is cheaper per night because monorail and Skyliner resorts cost more than bus-only resorts do. This is true of cash, and it's true of points. On a dollar-of-rack-rate-per-point basis, Animal Kingdom Loge is comparable to the other two resorts you mentioned.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I think Copper Creek is the only resort I eliminated for cost reasons.

Eliminated because I wouldn't use them: Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Grand Californian
Eliminated because 2042: Beach Club, Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Old Key West 2042
Eliminated because I don't like the resort: Bay Lake Tower, Grand Flo, Riviera
Eliminated because only Studios: Polynesian
Eliminated on price: Copper Creek

That leaves Animal Kingdom, Aulani, Old Key West 2057, and Saratoga Springs for me.

We took a similar approach but more from the angle of what we were looking for in a resort.

Bought BCV because it's awesome, has a great location, has the best resort pool on the property, and we love the theme.

Bought RIV because it's awesome, has fabulous rooms, is connected easily to two parks, we love the theme, and is a great "replacement" for BCV when it expires in 2042.

Bought OKW(E) because it's awesome, has fabulous rooms, a great value points-wise, has a great vibe, and we love the theme.

Other families may not make the same decisions, but it works for us!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Just to be clear, because I'm on a crusade against the "points chart inflation" myth, AKV is not cheaper per night because newer resorts are more expensive, AKV is cheaper per night because monorail and Skyliner resorts cost more than bus-only resorts do. This is true of cash, and it's true of points. On a dollar-of-rack-rate-per-point basis, Animal Kingdom Loge is comparable to the other two resorts you mentioned.

I don't mean expensive as far as $ per point cost of buying the points. I mean I don't need to buy as many points at AKV to stay in a 2BR. If I want to buy at RIV and VGF, I have to buy more points to stay in a 2BR.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don't mean expensive as far as $ per point cost of buying the points. I mean I don't need to buy as many points at AKV to stay in a 2BR. If I want to buy at RIV and VGF, I have to buy more points to stay in a 2BR.

I understand what you meant. I'm not talking about the cash you paid to buy the contract, I'm talking about the cash you "saved" by staying on points rather than booking a cash reservation. Yes, Animal Kingdom Villas are fewer points than the Villas at Grand Floridian, but that's because Animal Kingdom Lodge (cash) is cheaper than Grand Floridian Resort (cash).

I know you didn't say this, but a lot of people think that Disney is up to some nefarious scheme where they intentionally make the points charts at newer resorts higher than the older resorts. But that's just a coincidence based on the fact that the newer resorts have tended to be monorail/Skyliner resorts.

 

[RoseGold]

Because part of the calculation is does my family really want to stay in a Marriott? At that point, what is even the point? Not a knock on Marriott, but I think a lot of people traveling to WDW think along those lines.

Some of my worst hotel experiences in recent memory have been DVC, in rooms I paid a lot for. It's not like Disney as a hotel brand inspires a lot of confidence. They're close to parks, well, some of them are and they may or may not have some perks. I wouldn't expect a "deluxe" experience or anything like that from DVC. I know the limitations of the product, and I've accepted that.

Swolphin has a lot of upside. I'd take it as a hotel any day. It's pretty stark compared to sad BW.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It's pretty stark compared to sad BW.

Compare that to the Saratoga refurbed rooms, which IMO are excellent. I've started just staying at wherever has been refurbed most recently.