Clueless on DVC, but trying to learn - HELP

[GabbyJacobsmom]

I received my DVC DVD and my DH & I watched. My DH really likes the Polynesian and he wanted to know - can we stay there if we are a DVC member and use our points or are we restricted to the DVC resorts only?

Thank you in advance for your time!

Stefani

 

[sean-1966]

Yes, you can stay at all the deluxe resorts but it's not a good use of points.

 

[GabbyJacobsmom]

How? Sorry, for probably such a crazy question. Would you not get as many options at the Polynesian as you would at your home resort?

Thanks!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Staying at an non DVC property will take up much more points per night than staying staying at a DVC property. For instance, in September 2007, staying for one weekday night at a Garden View room at the Polynesian did cost 36 points. The same night in a concierge studio at Animal Kingdom Villas would only have cost 13 points. Standard studios and studios at other DVC properties take less points than that. My home resort is Old Key West and the same weekday night would only be 8 points for a studio there.

dolphingirl47

 

[TenThousandVolts]

If you want to stay at the POLY it is more economical to just book through CRO and pay with cash. You can use your points to stay there- but the points per night are VERY high and you pay a $95 fee to use your points outside of the DVC resorts.

The best value in DVC ownership is staying at DVC resorts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Most people buy into DVC to get a villa - meaning a separate bedroom and living room (having said that many studio dwellers will contest that, but anyway). If you stay in a Polynesian hotel room, you aren't getting the free washer and dryer access, microwave and undercounter refrigerator that you would get in a studio. You'll get two queen sized beds instead of one queen sized bed and one double sleeper sofa (unless you stay at OKW where there are two queen sized beds). You will get a cube sized refrigerator at the Polynesian, though not as big as the one in the studio.

Stay in the Polynesian and you also give up pool hopping since you must be staying at a DVC resort on points to be able to pool hop. And you have to pay a $95 transfer fee to use your points outside of DVC.

So, would you rather stay in a two bedroom villa at BCV for a week or a single hotel room (garden view) at the Polynesian for a similar number of points? Or you could get a two bedroom at Christmas time at VWL or a single lagoon view room at the Polynesian.

 

[bookwormde]

There is a tremendous amount to learn about DVC before you can make an informed purchase. The good news is that you have found the best place to get this information.
Just dig back through the threads in the 4 DVC forums and almost any question you have has been answered. If you cannot find an answer then there are a many people with a lot of experience on this board that are always generous with their help.

I just went through this process and it took about 4 months. I settle next week on an OKW resale.

It is a lot of reading but for me it was “lifelong” decision so it was worth it (not that you cannot resell with abut a 15%-30% loss if done in the short term)

Have fun with it, it is a real community.

bookwormde

 

[GabbyJacobsmom]

Thank you all for the extra help! One more question, as I am really trying to convince DH of this.

I have found in the resale store OKW for $70 a point for 230 which gives me a total of $16100 plus closing costs.

Does anyone know what OKW for 230 points through Disney will be? I really want to compare apples to apples that I am getting the best price on the points and closing costs etc.

Thank you again!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think Disney is selling OKW for $104, but that includes the 15 year extension to Jan 31, 2057.

 

[NewmanFam6]

You can use your points at any of the resorts on property if you want to. However, your points will go farther at a DVC resort. They charge quite a bit of pts for the hotels

 

[ctydisneyfan]

Hello,
I wanted to add two corrections... First, OKW is sold direct from Disney but not for $104 per point. Two weeks ago I requested their inventory of the older resorts and OKW was selling direct from Disney at $99, no incentives.

Second, you do not have to pay the $95 fee to stay at the POLY, its part of the disney properties, you only pay the $95 fee when exchanging through II or out to Conceige or Adventure. True the points ratio is high and remember that although the POLY is a deluxe resort, compared to a DVC its a hotel room and in family ratios can be a problem...example, if you are a family of 5 or 6 you would need to have two rooms depending on the kids ages, this equates to more expense as with DVC villa you would have 2BR and sleep 6 for less points and have the ability to eat in with a full kitchen and private sleeping quarters...a seriously big difference! POLY has the convenience of being close to the park, but so do some of the other DVC's!

Check those out too!

 

[Lynne M]

H
Second, you do not have to pay the $95 fee to stay at the POLY, its part of the disney properties, you only pay the $95 fee when exchanging through II or out to Conceige or Adventure.

Sorry, that's not correct. All non-DVC reservations (excepting the DLR resorts) are now subject to the $95 fee.

 

[ctydisneyfan]

Well they haven't charged me and I've made two reservations in the last 10 months! I had a trade show in March and stayed at the Coronado, NO FEE and we have DEC reservations for the POLY in DEC 2008. So, to date no charges, we have been DVC since 2007. I double checked my book and it confirms the fee charge is for non-disney properties.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Hello,
I wanted to add two corrections... First, OKW is sold direct from Disney but not for $104 per point. Two weeks ago I requested their inventory of the older resorts and OKW was selling direct from Disney at $99, no incentives.

Second, you do not have to pay the $95 fee to stay at the POLY, its part of the disney properties, you only pay the $95 fee when exchanging through II or out to Conceige or Adventure.

OKW price was increased to $104 in March. I am not sure if they have lowered their price or you were misquoted- but that is the first I have heard of a $99 price for OKW.

The $95 fee is a fairly new change but you do have to pay it to exchange for Disney Collection properties- with the exception of Disneyland Hotels- at this point- those are still fee-free.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

from the dvc member website

The Disney Collection
Please note:

Rule of Four applies (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California).
All reservations are subject to availability.
A non-refundable $95 transaction fee applies per confirmed reservation (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California).
If payment of fees is not received at the time of confirmation, Disney Vacation Club reserves the right to cancel the reservation.

Based on the last line- if I had ressies and hadn't paid the fee- I would call immediately, I wouldn't want my reservation to be cancelled:

Well they haven't charged me and I've made two reservations in the last 10 months! I had a trade show in March and stayed at the Coronado, NO FEE and we have DEC reservations for the POLY in DEC 2008. So, to date no charges, we have been DVC since 2007. I double checked my book and it confirms the fee charge is for non-disney properties.

 

[just2peachy]

Is it still possible to buy a time share at the Beach Club?

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Is it still possible to buy a time share at the Beach Club?

Yes- you can either buy resale or call DVC directly- if they don't have inventory, you can go on a waitlist. If you are not a current DVC member and want to buy directly from Disney you would have to buy a minimum of 160 points. If you buy resale you can buy a smaller contract.