Clarification from those with experience please!

[bbmassey]

Hello to all. We are booked for Disney in December after a great trip last August and are excited for our upcoming getaway. Since I have found this board, I have learned about the DVC membership and have a few questions to make sure I am understanding things correctly. Any help with clarification would be helpful and greatly appreciated!

1) If I am a DVC member, am I limited to the villas or can I still stay in the main hotel?

2) If #1 is yes, can I still book in the 12 month window as opposed to the later window?

3) No free dining is connected but there is a card that gets me discounts on food and drinks, what rate of savings is that? Does it vary by location?

4) There seems to be little benefit of buying from Disney aside from being able to stay at places other than Disney World. Is that a fair assessment?

5) How much have prices increased over the years? I have seen many people mention this but not how much they have increased.

6) How hard is it to sell your membership if you don't like it?

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it!

 

[chalee94]

1) If I am a DVC member, am I limited to the villas or can I still stay in the main hotel?

as of a few months ago, you can also stay in the main hotel if you purchase direct. (resales are excluded.)

but it costs a lot more.

2) If #1 is yes, can I still book in the 12 month window as opposed to the later window?

the booking window for DVC starts at 11 months out. but more importantly, the rates to stay at the beach club villas start at 15 pts per night. rates to stay at the beach club hotel start at 41 pts per night.

that's just one example, but it's true across the board. if you are buying DVC to stay in the main hotel, you may need to do some more homework.

3) No free dining is connected but there is a card that gets me discounts on food and drinks, what rate of savings is that? Does it vary by location?

your member card gets you discounts on whatever restaurants disney is having trouble filling. discount varies - sometimes 10-20%, sometimes only for lunch.

you can also get a good deal on the tables in wonderland card but you have to front $100 or so before you can get the savings.

http://www.mousesavers.com/tables-in-wonderland-formerly-disney-dining-experience/

4) There seems to be little benefit of buying from Disney aside from being able to stay at places other than Disney World. Is that a fair assessment?

buying directly is faster. that is the only real benefit.

edited to add: resale purchasers can trade out through RCI for other timeshares outside of disney world. not a great value typically, but it's an option. (disney salespeople are not always completely honest about this.)

resale purchasers can also trade into DVC villas at hilton head, SC, vero beach, FL and hawaii (subject to availability at 7 months out for non-home-resort DVC owners.)

5) How much have prices increased over the years? I have seen many people mention this but not how much they have increased.

this thread has a ton of information:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2823609

6) How hard is it to sell your membership if you don't like it?

at this point, easy. but due to commissions and such, you will almost certainly take a hit if you have to sell in the short term.

 

[com_op_2000]

5) How much have prices increased over the years? I have seen many people mention this but not how much they have increased.

Direct prices at OKW started @50 and now at VGF @165.