Canadian DVC owners

[lisaviolet]

Hi,

I'd love to hear from Canadian DVC owners about your decision to purchase DVC. I am on the fence about it. Especially about affording the maintenance fee every year (with exchange rate...I know you always have to pay it for WDW but I am thinking maintenance can get hefty).

Can you tell me about your experiences/decision making process? I would love to hear from all Canadian DVC owners. But I would especially love to hear from those of you who went from mostly Value resorts to DVC. Any and all insights appreciated. Thank you.

Are there any Canadians out there who decided to rent points instead of joining DVC?

 

[pjpoohbear]

We were Moderate and Value people, and we love our DVC! The maintance is something we put on the M/C each January. We plan for it and put money away each month. Being DVC owners now, we fly out of BUF and use the money saved to pay for our maintance fees. The increase this year was very small this year, I think less than 15 dollars. We are getting three trips this year (Oct-Oct), borrowing just 22 points from the 2006 year, and using the discounted DVC PAP's. We also sold back our 2004 year's points for $10 off /point, but will be in the current year by June 2006.

The decision process started when we took our frist trip in 2000, we saw the DVC booth and signed up for information about WLV's. But due to the exchange rate at the time, we decided against it, and never brought it up again. But on our Jan 2004 cruise, friends from the DIS, that we really liked and miss now, Had bought at SSR in September 2003, so we checked it out. Showed up late to the presentation, and signed a contract for a 150 points at SSR by the time we left the ship! Fresh air and ocean waves, green gills, and DVC, oh the memories! Headed over to the BWV and the DVC show villas after the cruise and did a tour of what we had purchased, lol.

Money was not our main issue, althought the favourable exchange rate was a big positive. It was more about the fact that we were happy at WDW and on the ships, and knew that we would be coming back again and again. We had spent more on our last three vacations to WDW then the contract price would be, so we committed to what we would already be doing anyways.

This next and last trip, a solo for 6.5 days, on the current DVC discounted PAP's is costing me 220.00 C$ in airfare (Jet Blue), 350.00 US$ in food and about 60.00 C$ for travel to and parking at BUF.

Yeah DVC has been good for us, my mother and me, will it be in 5 years, or 10, we will have to see then. And DVC resale market has been good, so a little less fear going in, then if we were to buy from another company.

Penny

 

[mbb]

Hi,

I'd love to hear from Canadian DVC owners about your decision to purchase DVC. I am on the fence about it. Especially about affording the maintenance fee every year (with exchange rate...I know you always have to pay it for WDW but I am thinking maintenance can get hefty).

Can you tell me about your experiences/decision making process? I would love to hear from all Canadian DVC owners. But I would especially love to hear from those of you who went from mostly Value resorts to DVC. Any and all insights appreciated. Thank you.

Are there any Canadians out there who decided to rent points instead of joining DVC?

We went from AllStars...to the Polynesian...and then we discovered DVC

...and never went back!! LOL!

Vacation time is important, for our family, and space and amenities are - for us- what can make or break it. I like having a w/d, and full kitchen right in our room, and room to spread out is key

We own at BCV, bought 160 points, and are renting them to a lovely family this year..(we're holidaying with several other families this year, and we're all renting houses..DVC renting is paying for the house)

Maintenace isn't too bad...we just throw a little bit in every month, and then do the cc payment in December...the thing is, for the cost of maintenance - right now- you could do a week at ASM or POP, or a mod with a great code...butwho knows where room reservation costs will go in the next years..

We bought a pre-paid vacation, with lots of flexibility, and are happy

Life's good

HTH! Any other questions...feel free

 

[madonna31]

We first looked into DVC on our honeymoon (2002) when the exchange rate was over 1.50

We said 'no' because of the exchange rate and for no other reason. We went back TWICE before purchasing DVC in 2003 because after calculating the resort cost for those two visits - we decided we HAD to purchase it. We simply visit FAR WDW too often not to.

Naturally, the decrease in the dollar helped - a LOT.

I can tell you this - only buy DVC if you intend to spend 90% of your vacations at WDW. DVD works best for it's own resorts. Period.

Hope that helps!

 

[CharlesTD]

We were a moderate and value family and still are to some extent but DVC just made sence for us since we always go for 2 weeks. We just have our payments come off our CC monthly and our dues comes off it once a year. If the exchange rate and so on are a concern then maybe DVC isn't something you should consider. I mean if it would be a hassle to deal with if the rate gets back to what it was even 3 years ago then I would say DVC is really not an option but if you are ok with paying 60 cents on the dollar then go ahead and buy. For us no matter how bad the rate is it is still a far better option.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay...maybe I should rephrase myself. I shouldn't have used the word "affording". I didn't communicate this properly at all. It really is the maintenance that I am worried about paying. Worried isn't a good word either. Just concentrating on .....to make sure I know all the ins and outs. I mentioned the exchange rate only because that meant even higher maintenance than I have in my head from the promotion material (#'s that I can remember). I am not really worried about the fluctuation in the exhange. I guess I was comparing what I pay for Value/Moderate (hotel only) versus the money for maintenance. But maybe there is no comparison with the feeling of being DVC owners? That's what I am getting from your stories. I just want to make sure I have all the info before we leap...with joy?!??!?!

Anyway....maintenance is based on points...correct? How much is maintenance right now (Cdn $$) for about 150 points? Around $800??? That would give me an idea.

Thanks for all the Canadian perspectives on DVC. I love hearing about your experiences.

 

[Torontogal]

I am from Ont. and we made the decision to purchase in May. We used the Timeshare Store for our purchase (OKW) and they were excellent and cheaper than dealing with Disney directly. We are going on our 1st trip home next week. I should also tell you that when we spoke with Disney and Timeshare there were no hard selling tactics. The Disney name simply speaks for itself.
I think it is a great idea. I have read alot of comments from fellow DVC members and NOT ONE person seems to regret the decision. You are right, the maintenance fees are high but you are staying in an amazing property and never have to worry about it being run down. Since I do not have a lot of experience with this - I really suggest you read the postings and talk to a sales rep. I think it is the best decision you will ever make!
P.S Keep me posted on your decision....

 

[DutchsMommy]

Thanks to lisaviolet for the thread and all the DVCers for the info. I am also interested in DVC, as I definately have the bug and currently have our 2nd trip in 2005 planned for Sept and am planning a Feb WDW trip and a Nov DCL trip for 2006. So - all I have to do now is convince DH that I am not a nut for considering this. What I would love to know from those that purchased - where were your best sources of info regarding the 'ins and outs' of DVC? I am basically going to have to 'pitch' it to DH and need to know all the facts. We are going in Sept for an adults only trip - should I try and get to a DVC counter at the resort (we are staying at POR)?

Any info would be great.

 

[pjpoohbear]

I would say that this year, our dues at SSR on 150 point contract were around the $700.00 - $720.00 mark. But we recieved a rebate on over paid taxes for the 2004 year, so it was just under 700.00 billed to the credit card in late January. Hope this helps.

For sure, hit the DVC counter and plan an afternoon to visit the suites at SSR, they may be the key to getting hubby to agree, the grand villa is very pretty! So are the other rooms. They will give you the info on payments, points etc.


Penny

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Do it now while you're still getting 49 years (maybe even 50 in the new phase) of vacations. Remember it is real estate and if it turns out in 10 or 15 years not to be your cup of tea anymore you can always sell it.

I only wish we'd bought it years earlier than we did!!

Have fun!!

 

[hockey mom]

I am someone who rents points instead. I have ran the numbers many times and for us it just wasn't a great deal. I like to stay at many different resorts including the values. Points are way to high on the weekends. We are both in our forties also so I think if we had done this 10 years ago it would seem like a better deal. We have rented at WLV, OKW and SSR without any problem.

 

[mbb]

What I would love to know from those that purchased - where were your best sources of info regarding the 'ins and outs' of DVC? ............... should I try and get to a DVC counter at the resort (we are staying at POR)?

Any info would be great.

Right here on the Dis Head to the DVC Board, and ask away

You can find DVC info at all the resorts, including POR, and at all the parks, and DTD, too

Do a little bit of research on resale as well...might save you a few $$$ You can contact anyone at the Timeshare Store, they're wonderful about providing info...and like Torontogal said, no pressure

...and feel free to ask here too!

 

[surfer_ed]

Thanks for all of the great information from fellow Canadian DVCers. I have the bug and we are presently on a 4 year plan to save enough UD$ to purchase by the time my daughter is 5 years old. We might do a few small trips between now and then but the value resorts should be fine.

We are going on the cruise in March and I might check out the presentation then.