Considering DVC, but have ?s

[robinsegg]

Hi!
Is this the right place to ask ? before we buy into DVC? If not, please feel free to move, Mods.

1. It looks like it costs *more* points to stay in a regular room than a villa. Is that right?

2. We're a family of 5, but I'm seeing occupancies mostly of 4 & 8. Any help?

3. We went to the tour and asked a *lot* of ? . . . would you say DVC is as good as they suggest?

4. If we plan to go every 3 years or so, but go on vacations elsewhere in between (maybe places we could go using our points?), would you see it as a good value?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[vicki_c]

1. DVC points are not intended to be used to stay at non-DVC resorts on a regular basis. Not only is it much more expensive, you also have to pay a $95 fee to do that. Additionally, not all resorts at WDW are available for points.

2. AKV and BLT 1 BRs (and also newly refurbished ones at OKW) have a sleeper chair so occupancy is 5. Traditionally, DVC has permitted 5 to stay in a 1 BR, but they will not provide bedding. You would have to bring an air mattress & bedding. And that practice is not guaranteed to continue forever - it's just something they have allowed.

3. I think DVC is great, but would take any information from any timeshare salesperson with a grain (or bucket) of salt.

4. That's a plan some people follow - buy a small number of points and use banking and borrowing to visit WDW every 3 years using all 3 years of points.

 

[nolanboys]

The poster above did a nice job answering your question. I will add on to his response on number 4. DVC is not a good value to trade out with RCI. You can use them for HH and Vero, which are DVC properties. We bought enough points to go every other year. We want to go other places, so only bought enough to bank a year and then go. We will have enough extra points every four years to take an extra trip without the kids, or take family with us. We bought a resale contract that saved us a bunch.

 

[katybug34]

I love DVC and it is a great value for our family because we travel to Disney at least twice per year and always have stayed in deluxe accomodations. If you are only going to be traveling to Disney every three years and want to use your points to trade, I wouldn't buy. The value for trading is low in my opinion.

 

[JimMIA]

3. We went to the tour and asked a *lot* of ? . . . would you say DVC is as good as they suggest?

It depends on what they suggested. Generally, I think you can count on DVC timeshare salesmen presenting their product in the most favorable light, including making a big deal out of things that are really of little practical value. The ability to use DVC points for stays at regular Disney hotels, cruises, and exchanges (currently through RCI) are good examples of overblown "advantages."

DVC sales personnel are not as bad as most timeshare salesmen -- but it's a difference of degree, not kind.

If you found any of their sales points especially compelling for your family, I would certainly "truth-test" those here.

And, obviously, it is not their job to give you the downsides...or any other options. They're timeshare salespersons, not Consumer Reports.

One thing they definitely will NOT tell you is that there is a very active resale market in DVC contracts where you can save thousands of dollars. Depending on your choice of resort, you can save 10-50%...or more.

4. If we plan to go every 3 years or so, but go on vacations elsewhere in between (maybe places we could go using our points?), would you see it as a good value?

Banking and borrowing, as suggested by previous posters, works well...at DVC resorts.

The best use of DVC points is AT DVC RESORTS; any other use will yield much less value. I would NOT buy additional points to use for non-DVC vacations...including all of the other things you can use DVC points for.

For those options, there are a host of alternatives that will be much more cost-effective than DVC: paying cash scared1 ... renting vacation homes or timeshares from owners... or purchasing a different timeshare system eek for either their internal options or trading. Some timeshare contracts can be purchased on eBay for $1, plus closing costs...but watch out for the annual maintenance fees.