Buy DVC??

[kipster81]

So I am a little on the fence about buying DVC. I am considering buying about 100 points thru resale for Boardwalk.

My only apprehension is this - I am not really stuck on the type of room that I stay in. We are 2 adults with no kids - and a Value Resort room is fine with us. We are always on the go so much that we don't spend enough time in the room to really care.

With that in mind, it would take quite a few years before I would even "break even" with DVC. I understand that I am comparing apples to oranges as far as rooms go - but I don't mind a standard room.

Should I be looking at this differently?? Any opinions would be appreciated!

 

[Mike2023]

If you stay at Value resorts when you travel and have no interest in deluxe accommodations then I would say dvc is not for you.

Over the life of the contract you may just break even when compared to value accommodations.

 

[robertdangelo]

IMHO... A DVC Studio is far nicer than the value resorts. There better amenities, such as restaurant choices, location(proximity to parks) & transportation to parks. Depending on the time of year you usually go & for how long. You could get away with a smaller contract. If you don't plan on going every year, through banking and borrowing you can get away with as little as a 50 point contract.
Once you stay in a Deluxe resort... you'll be spoiled!

 

[jade1]

Also keep in mind paying cash for any is room is gone forever-you can always sell DVC and recover quit a bit of your investment. In the meantime your studio "standard room" is in a far nicer location and resort than Allstars.

 

[hakepb]

Threre's a few things a Value can offer that DVC does not (besides the obvious cash flow)
No DVC can match the quick service selection of the Value food courts - although no Value can match the quality of more expensive, slower sit down dining at the DVC's

Values have daily mousekeeping (new towels, made beds), yes you can buy that service with DVC, but that lowers the DVC value proposition even more

That said, as a value "convert" I love my DVC stays more than I thought I would. The DVC resorts are different, and when you take advantage of those differences vacations are even better with DVC!

 

[disneynutz]

Because we own through the DVC, we visit WDW so much, our vacation habits have changed. No more "on the go" for us.

Now we spend more time in the resorts and less time in the parks. We pick and choose activities based upon Guest attendance. Why spend a hour in que for an attraction when proper planning can reduce your que time to 10 minutes.

Bill

 

[kdepot]

I would suggest staying in a DVC resort 1 trip and see what happens. If not resort hop to AKV WL BW or SSR and walk around. You can't have access to BCV or BLT but still visit the CR and BC/YC THEN take the tour.

 

[ToddyLu]

We were in Values until our purchase this past year...WOW...what a difference the resort makes. We love going back to the studio at AKV now for a rest in the afternoon.

However...we did have to make a trip to Pop for DH to get a Reuben flatbread this past trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are happy in a value resort, don't even tempt yourself with DVC. DVC is expensive and the dues continue to go up each year.

Also, as some owners are finding out now, they may have to sell their points at less than they originally paid to get free and clear of it. We sold two contracts about three years ago and made a little profit on our sale. But now the resale price of most contracts are much lower. So if you bought recently and need to sell, you are not going to recover your investment and may even lose some after you pay all the costs to sell.

 

[crisi]

So I am a little on the fence about buying DVC. I am considering buying about 100 points thru resale for Boardwalk.

My only apprehension is this - I am not really stuck on the type of room that I stay in. We are 2 adults with no kids - and a Value Resort room is fine with us. We are always on the go so much that we don't spend enough time in the room to really care.

With that in mind, it would take quite a few years before I would even "break even" with DVC. I understand that I am comparing apples to oranges as far as rooms go - but I don't mind a standard room.

Should I be looking at this differently?? Any opinions would be appreciated!

If you are happy with Values, why are you considering DVC at all? I doubt you'd ever break even, particularly if you can take advantage of specials like AP rates or Free dining.

Most of us - even those of us who used to stay Deluxe - find that DVC changes our habits in such a way that we spend more. We go more. We aren't in the parks, but we are in the restaurants. We take friends. We don't skip trips. This isn't universal, some people do save money. Some people have made out well selling their contracts when they are done. But since the contracts have an end date, if you hang on long enough, they will be worth less than they are today - and with Boardwalk that peak may not be that far in the future (and may have already happened).

 

[Crystal_27]

As others have said, if you are content with a Value, then DVC probably isn't for you. Financially, the dues alone will probably equal what you are paying to stay at at Value, and that's if you are paying full rack rate for the rooms and aren't taking advantage of the deals that Disney is offering for travel. Still, there is something to be said about staying at a Dexlue resort instead of a Value - - there are pros and cons to each. BUT, if you are happy with a Value, I'd say save yourself the money of DVC and continue to enjoy your Value stays.

 

[ToddyLu]

But there was no way in heck we would have been able to afford to stay at AKV without DVC...I mean 3500$ for 10 days in a studio last Nov....for us DVC is a value. We consider it a luxury and knew we were going to "do " Disney every year all long as possible. As the PP said it completely changes your approach to the parks, dinning, everything. I just love not having to walk so far to get to the darn bus for the value resorts.....ahhh the perks of ownership.

 

[Greysword]

I would like to echo Kdepot's sentiment. You should definately try it before you buy. You can likely rent points for a stay at around a Value (depending on the time of year).

Another option would be to begin saving for DVC now, and purchase when the next on property resort is built. This way you can participate in DVC (sort of), save a little each month/year for your pending purchase, and pay cash when you do decide to jump in. Since there are no current construction plans for a new onsite DVC resort, you won't feel guilty about waiting and saving. Then you can get points at the much rumored Poly DVC Resort!

- Chris

 

[Sandisw]

If you are really happy right now with the values, I don't think going full strong in to DVC makes a lot of sense.

One thing to consider is to buy a small contract via the resale market. The investment will be small and allow you a chance to add to your current trips with DVC.

And, as a member, you would be elgibilge for any of the perks that are available. Right now, there is a $100 discount on AP's. Depending on how much you travel to WDW, this could be a good reason to starting small.

Obviously, something about DVC has caused you to consider it and trying out the resorts might be a great way to know.

We bought DVC at BLT, not so much because we wanted to save money, but rather to increase the type of rooms we could book for about the same money we were now spending. Instead of just being in a hotel room, we can now be in a 1 bedroom.

Good luck!

 

[AirGoofy]

You should be able to get a $100 resale at a fairly cheap price right now. First, don't finance it. IMO, if you can't purchase it outright, then it's not worth it. Second, consider DVC as an experience as opposed to saving money. We went to WDW for several years before we could afford a resale contract and then purchased DVC. We still have young children (8,5) so we do not stay in the rooms often and still do theme parks and character dining. DW and I looked at DVC as we plan to vacation there for years, with and without children, and will take any extra perks as they come. For example, the way the points worked out, we were able to take 2 extra Disney vacations (one this year and one last) that we normally would not have done.

 

[rock_doctor]

... Then you can get points at the much rumored Poly DVC Resort!

YES! That was what i wanted to hear. Have the rumors given a time frame? Year, two years???

 

[crisi]

YES! That was what i wanted to hear. Have the rumors given a time frame? Year, two years???

Well, I first heard those rumors ten years ago......so I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Greysword]

YES! That was what i wanted to hear. Have the rumors given a time frame? Year, two years???

I'm not sure, I'll ask a bus driver when we go in February...they'll know.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm not sure, I'll ask a bus driver when we go in February...they'll know.

Now that is funny.

 

[dizfan]

I'm not sure, I'll ask a bus driver when we go in February...they'll know.