buying into DVC

[lomillerin]

After reading about this,
I have a few questions,
If I have it right, you buy a certain amount of points, then you can use those points each year or save a year.
Questions:
1. if we bought enough points for 1 week every summer in a studio would we be able to get that studio for the next 40 years at that many points or would we need more points?

2. Is there other fees? Do you have to pay yearly fees? How much if yes? How does this save money if you still have to pay?
Can these fees go up at anytime for renovations etc?

3. Do you get the same service as regular guests? Disney service?

4. Maid service? if not, can you pay for a fee? How much? I just booked a villa with Disney, would I get maid service?

5. I am trying to be convinced this is for us since we go to Disney so much, but I need more answers.

6. Is renting just as cheap?
Lo

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, lomillerin. I will take a shot here.

1) Yes, that would be enough points. You would not need more points (although many of us choose to buy more), unless by the remote possibility that DVC reallocated the points between seasons in such a fashion that your season requires more points. Although unlikely, DVC can redistribute the total points among seasons, and weekdays/weekends ect... The total number of points must stay the same, so if they added to one category, they must deduct from another. Reallocation has only been done once, so it is very rare. I would not recommend buying the exact number of points needed for your stay.

2) Yes, there are annual fees. This year the fees average a little less than $4/pt. The fees can be paid monthly, with 0% interest. The fees cover maintenance, limited housekeeping, property taxes, administrative fees ect....
There can be special assessments should the need arrise, but Disney is pretty good with their forecast for refurbishment.

3) ABSOLUTELY!!!

4) Housekeeping is limited, but you can pay for daily service. The price is $25, $30, $40, or $60 per day, depending on what size room (studio, 1br, 2br, GV/BC).

5) If you go to WDW a lot, there is a good chance that it is for you. If you stay in mostly deluxe accomodations, and visit every year or two, without question it is in your financial interest to buy into DVC. There is also the lifestyle advantage of being a DVC member. Many members here will give great responses about taking more leisurely trips, as they know they will return. Also, once you stay in a 1br, you will not go back! (you will need more points).

6) DVC members generally rent points for about $10 per point. If you visit often, it is definitely cheaper to own. If you go once in a while, then renting may be for you. The most expensive way would be to book DVC accommodatins through Disney.

Good luck, and please ask more questions.....

 

[Lisa P.]

1.The number of points needed to occupy a studio at a particular resort for a full year cannot change. But the number of points needed for a particular day can go up as long as there is a corresponding adjustment down at another time. So, yes, it could change. But it's not likely to change much if it does at all.

2.There's an annual maint fee, which varies from about $3 - $4 per point per year, depending on your home resort. The max increase per year is 15% by law but it has actually kept pace with inflation, more or less, so far. If you are already paying for deluxe Disney rooms at least every other year and if you do not intend to use the points for mostly weekends or Christmas/Eastertimes, it can be a svaings over the long run. It's not for everyone, but can actually save money for the right families. And yes, there can be an assessment of extra fees in a particular year if the management has not planned properly for major refurbishments or if they insure the property inadequately. Major companies with much resort management experience are probably less likely to need to do this.

3. & 4.The only significant difference in service is the absence of daily housekeeping. Towels are changed and trash is taken away on the 4th day of vacation. If your stay lasts 8 days or more, there is one full housekeeping service. These are common limitations in the timeshare industry. If you wish to pay for extra housekeeping service, it can be arranged for a fee (varies by unit size). If you booked a DVC villa nightly reservation for cash, directly from Disney reservations, then you are supposed to receive daily housekeeping service.

5.Since you want to be convinced to buy, stick around here for a while! There's plenty of enthusiasm - sometimes to a fault. But if your vacation style fits well with what I wrote above, it's a good thing to consider.

6.Renting is not as cheap. And it always includes some measure of trust/risk. However, it does not require a large upfront purchase nor a long term commitment. Renting is a good idea for people who are not sure.

 

[Dean]

Just to add, there has been some measure of rumor about points reallocation in the last few weeks so we'll see. Regardless I'd disagree with the unlikely tag for reallocation. It's ineventable, just a question of when and how. Since you're looking at summer and a FULL week, I doubt that will affect you much. If you were looking at a lower season or less than a full week (avoiding weekends), buying exactly the number of points needed would be a potential problem. Of course the minimum purchase is 150 unless you went for a small resale and 150 points should give you plenty of cushion regardless.

With the last reallocation (96 I think) apparently there were those that had calculater the exact number of points for some extended stays in Adventure season (mostly Jan) and they really go hit hard. In some cases they went from around 4 weeks to barely 3 weeks with the number of points they owned.

Be warned that many people have bought in with the idea of going with a studio and then moved up to the larger units and could never go back so you may be buying more points later if you buy in now at the lower level.

 

[vernon]

Just as a clarification of what Dean said, most of which I agree with.

Dont be frightened off because you worry that if you buy say 150 points ( assuming that 145 is the current cost of how you'd vacation) and Disney changes the distribution of the points so the new cost would be, say 155. With banking and borrowing you would be able to get the unit you wanted by borrowing points from the next year. I would mean that maybe every 5 or 6 years you would have to have a shorter vacation, or pay a couple of nights cash so you account would catch up. The change in distribution would have to be pretty severe to force you to drop a year more often than every 5 years.

The best idea, IMHO , is to do as much research as ou can. Ask Disney to send you the promo video, watch it SEVERAL TIMES LOL, and them come back here with the new questions you're bound to have. Once you're sorted in you mind about what the programs little quirks are, take the tour at WDW to see the properties and units.

IMHO there is a lot of value, or should I say potential value, in DVC but it does require you to look at how the program works and how you can use the system to your best advantage. If, for example, you would never under any circumstances eat in your room ( even just toast and cereal) then there is no value in the kitchen facilities. If your are nailed into vacationing certain dates, then the flexibility of the points system particularly the price difference between Weekend and weekday has no value to you.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just a note about the housekeeping. For me, it really was an issue and one reason why I delayed buying DVC. Finally I bought, even though I still didn't like that I'd no longer have daily housekeeping. That was the only downside, I thought. Well, much to my surprise, I LOVED not having daily housekeeping! NO one in my room, no maid service to interrupt me. So who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised-I was!

 

[fredms]

Howdy and welcome!

I've only been a member since Fall of 99, but wanted to add that despite what everyone says, it is not that horrible to use your points for other vacations outside of Disney as well.

My fiancee and I have taken three trips with our points outside of Disney. We are finally going "home" this May. The Member Services (MS) people are as helpful as possible at maximizing your points. Now admitedly, you do wait on hold for a long time when you call and peak seasons get booked in seconds, but I am not a planner and have always managed to get almost what I wanted.

And best of all I know every year or two I am taking a fabulous vacation!

 

[Rob&Jan]

All I can add to the great advice already posted is that we just bought in Oct with our first trip "Home" 2 weeks ago and were already talking about an add on. We think its wonderful!!

Looking forward to welcoming you home

Rob