Bittersweet new owners

[aalupo]

You can rent points to offset your maitenance fees and still have points to use. If you dont use it just rent the points out and you can have some extra cash to use for other vacations you might want to take.

 

[cherylp3]

I have 245 points and use them up. Sometimes end up borrowing. One thing is maybe look at the disney cruise line. I know its not the most bang for your buck.

 

[Merilyn]

I have been really lucky making trades with individuals who want to stay at WDW and can't get a trade with their timeshare. I just got back from Las Vegas and stayed at a Marriott there and it was very nice. The lady I worked with has a Marriott timeshare and I traded her a week at OKW for it. I have also rented quite a few times when I couldn't go to WDW. Everyone I have worked with has been wonderful and it was good for both of us. Can't go this year, too many new babies in our family!

 

[jelliott04]

As others have said, I'm sorry for your loss. What a great gift you have received!

I think the tour is a great idea as is the Disney Cruise Line! You coud bank points and then use the double points to do a cruise every other year!

If your hubby got moved to Orlando there is probably a chance that you guys will eventually get moved again so think about that for future vacations. You could rent them for a couple years or bank them and do the cruise line.

Jen

 

[JimMIA]

With regard to the various deals offered to FL residents, it's important to distinguish between actual benefits of DVC ownership (and FL residency) and perks/discounts. They are not the same thing, because perks and discounts come and go. Perks and discounts are created with the stroke of a pen...and they go away just as easily.

If DVC ownership for the primary purpose of using the points for DVC stays merits paying the +/- $1,600 per year in dues, then by all means keep the DVC membership. If not, I'd consider selling it.

And if I were selling, it would certainly be through The Timeshare Store. Highly recommended, because they know DVC better than anyone and are professional to the bone.

 

[betterbutter]

I wanted to again thank everyone for their advice. My husband and I used some points for a few days at Vero Beach recently and we had a relaxing family vacation. We've rented all of our other points for this year and after paying off the annual dues for next year we put the rest in our childrens college fund.

I think we're going to use the points every other year and rent them on the off years to offset the cost of owning and see how it goes for a few years before making a final decision.

 

[franandaj]

I'm glad you were able to find a good use for them and have decided to see how it goes. Maybe you might even take a vacation to Southern California one year, I just stayed at the resort out here recently and it's FABULOUS! Even if you don't just go to Disneyland and DCA you're in a pretty good location for some day trips to some other great locations. Since you can make the annual fees by renting in off years, you can enjoy Southern California for no additional costs!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

My suggestion, as you live so close anyway: Go for a tour at SSR. Don't lie to them, just tell them you need to get a handle on what it is you're inheriting and I'm sure they'll do what they can to show you how it all works as well as the accommodations and options available to you. It'll be so much easier.

That is simply a WONDERFUL suggestion.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. After a very pleasant conversation with DVC earlier this week, I have a better understanding of what we own and how it all works. We think that we're going to give it a try for a couple years and figure out if we really want it or not. We'll probably rent the points for this year as we already had made non-Disney vacation plans and don't think that we'll be able to use 600 points next year if we bank this years points.

Again, thank you very much for your responses.

Don't forget that you can bank this year's 300 into next year and bank next year's into the following year. We always try to do this as much as possible. You don't really have to use the 600 next year, in other words. You just have to use the 300 from this year that cannot be banked again.

Edit: Ooops. Just saw the post above where they have already rented this year's points.

 

[zalansky]

IMO, DVC is not the same value for Florida residents as it is for those who do not reside in Florida. Disney offers many discounts & perks for Florida residents that are not available to non-residents. That said, there are DVC members who live in the Orlando area. Obviously, they do not share my opinion, LOL.

And I am one of those Florida residents who couldn't DISagree more! I actually feel the complete opposite. I think Florida residents get a much better value because we don't have the added expenses of airfare and we can book shorter trips and go more often. I always tell friends that we'd never have as many points as we do, or might not even be DVC members if we didn't live so close.

OP - I also have a friend who lives in Windermere and is a DVC member, they take trips all the time and enjoy their membership a ton. I would not rush into selling. Wait until the contract transfers, book a stay and go enjoy the resort. Like someone else said, you could rent out some points to help offset the costs of dues.

Sorry about your loss, but what a wonderful gift your Aunt left to you all!

 

[Chuck S]

Another thing you may consider. Most people that live in a popular tourist area have extended family and friends that like to visit, and like to "stay at your place" and use it as a home base for touring the local attractions while enjoying a visit with you.

DVC could make a good alternative "guest house" for those trips, and you can enjoy the visits without the additional hassle of having actual house guests.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

And I am one of those Florida residents who couldn't DISagree more! I actually feel the complete opposite. I think Florida residents get a much better value because we don't have the added expenses of airfare and we can book shorter trips and go more often. I always tell friends that we'd never have as many points as we do, or might not even be DVC members if we didn't live so close.

I agree with you.

DVC is a personal thing, and I find being a Floridian to be an advantage regarding travel expense etc. For me it's not all about the parks, parks, parks, we actually enjoy the resorts and the amenities of the Orlando area.

Try a few resorts or bank your points, try a cruise, who know, you may grow to love it and find that it works for you. If not, youc an always sell!

 

[marynvince]

Trading out DVC is not a good deal, to give you an idea you could sell your week+ at BWV and buy 10 to 50 weeks reasale at other timeshares.

bookwormde

as you would still have maintainance fees for all of the weeks

 

[franandaj]

And I am one of those Florida residents who couldn't DISagree more! I actually feel the complete opposite. I think Florida residents get a much better value because we don't have the added expenses of airfare and we can book shorter trips and go more often. I always tell friends that we'd never have as many points as we do, or might not even be DVC members if we didn't live so close.

I agree too, but as a Southern Californian. Since the VGC openened last year I have been burning through my SSR points with last minute weekends (well OK a few months out and have to waitlist to get them) just to avoid the 25 minute drive home and stay over after a nice evening out or long days at the parks. I wish we had more units here so there was last minute availability like at SSR and OKW.

 

[Dean]

And I am one of those Florida residents who couldn't DISagree more! I actually feel the complete opposite. I think Florida residents get a much better value because we don't have the added expenses of airfare and we can book shorter trips and go more often. I always tell friends that we'd never have as many points as we do, or might not even be DVC members if we didn't live so close.

OP - I also have a friend who lives in Windermere and is a DVC member, they take trips all the time and enjoy their membership a ton. I would not rush into selling. Wait until the contract transfers, book a stay and go enjoy the resort. Like someone else said, you could rent out some points to help offset the costs of dues.

Sorry about your loss, but what a wonderful gift your Aunt left to you all!

DVC is a different value for FL residents than it is for others. Some issues offer a better value and some are less given that you have other discount options. Overall the benefits of DVC are likely less for FL residents than they are for those outside the state, esp for those that don't live close enough for very short trips. With the loss of the free valet parking there has been somewhat of a shift for some that lived close enough for short trips.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

With the loss of the free valet parking there has been somewhat of a shift for some that lived close enough for short trips.

Dean, You've totally lost me here! I sincerely doubt that most Floridians and/or nearby DVC'rs bought into DVC for the free valet parking perk! Nor that the losing of said perk devalued their DVC membership. Regarding the "somewhat of a shift" , many DVCr's did express anger at the loss of the valet parking perk, but I think it's a stretch to think it's only the people that live close by! Not all DVC families can afford to fly in , many drive to Florida from as far as NY, NJ, etc. to save on the cost of air fare, especially if they have bigger families etc.

 

[lilpooh108]

I agree too, but as a Southern Californian. Since the VGC openened last year I have been burning through my SSR points with last minute weekends (well OK a few months out and have to waitlist to get them) just to avoid the 25 minute drive home and stay over after a nice evening out or long days at the parks. I wish we had more units here so there was last minute availability like at SSR and OKW.

Wow that's pretty gung ho I live in OC (CA) and have never thought about staying at VGC...maybe that is a good idea! We do go to DTD for snacks/gumbo though...

 

[Dean]

Dean, You've totally lost me here! I sincerely doubt that most Floridians and/or nearby DVC'rs bought into DVC for the free valet parking perk! Nor that the losing of said perk devalued their DVC membership. Regarding the "somewhat of a shift" , many DVCr's did express anger at the loss of the valet parking perk, but I think it's a stretch to think it's only the people that live close by! Not all DVC families can afford to fly in , many drive to Florida from as far as NY, NJ, etc. to save on the cost of air fare, especially if they have bigger families etc.

My point was that DVC offers a different type of value for FL residents, some more and some less but definitely differnt. Within the FL residents there is a subset that live close enough to visit for the day or a night or 2. While I would agree that the loss of valet overall is a minor issue (and it really doesn't matter how much it affects a given member as to the reasonable of the decision), there are those who bought with the valet being a substantial component of their perceived value. Heck we've got posters here that aren't within close proximity acting like the loss of valet totally wiped out their membership. Overall though I do feel that the actual value of DVC is less to many FL residents simply because they have other value in the FL resident perks that narrows the gap for many situation. It doesn't mean there isn't value or that there isn't great value for some, just less overall and different.

 

[franandaj]

Wow that's pretty gung ho I live in OC (CA) and have never thought about staying at VGC...maybe that is a good idea! We do go to DTD for snacks/gumbo though...

We've stayed three times in the last five weeks and have two more stays coming up. It's so much fun (and safer) after major Food & Wine events not to have to drive home!

 

[sarah4770]

to the OP, don't forget that youcan also use these points in vero beach, hilton head and california, and soon in hawaii