Considering DVC.... but...

[Cindaddy]

I don't really understand the best way to figure all this out (as we are getting ready to purchase ourselves). If you can't use current dues to determine the cost per point, then you really can't use the current cost of Disney's Rack rate as their rooms will go up just as the dues go up right? Wouldn't you have to figure that in to compare the difference between the same resort stay (lets say AKL with a standard room compared to a 1 bedroom). Also you forgot to add in the 12.5% tax on that standard room so that is almost an additional $300 she would have added to the cost of the standard room.

By my calculations rack rates are not increasing as quickly as DVC dues, but your logic is correct. In my spreadsheet that I'm using for my decision, I have rack rates increasing over 50 years as well as dues, just at different rates based on history. The only way that I'm aware of comparing points to dollars is to find out what a point is worth. You can do that one of two ways, you can calculate what that point cost you or you can calculate based on what the point is worth on the market. Either way, it's around $10 a point (slightly higher for my BLT calculations). But, in any given year, you should calculate using what that point cost to acquire, if your comparing to dollars. If you calculate using your DVC costs in a given year, you'll be all over the place depending on the year. The real wild card is discounts. Some Disney discounts are impressive. Free dining is one of them. I'm not disputing that DVC saves you money on greater accommodations. It's all about what you prefer and joining/not joining is based on individual preference, not dollars and cents.

 

[Cmbar]

By my calculations rack rates are not increasing as quickly as DVC dues, but your logic is correct. In my spreadsheet that I'm using for my decision, I have rack rates increasing over 50 years as well as dues, just at different rates based on history. The only way that I'm aware of comparing points to dollars is to find out what a point is worth. You can do that one of two ways, you can calculate what that point cost you or you can calculate based on what the point is worth on the market. Either way, it's around $10 a point (slightly higher for my BLT calculations). But, in any given year, you should calculate using what that point cost to acquire, if your comparing to dollars. If you calculate using your DVC costs in a given year, you'll be all over the place depending on the year. The real wild card is discounts. Some Disney discounts are impressive. Free dining is one of them. I'm not disputing that DVC saves you money on greater accommodations. It's all about what you prefer and joining/not joining is based on individual preference, not dollars and cents.

And with the way things are changing in DVC it is less of a for sure thing as to what you can expect to get out of it in 10,15, or 30 years too. I really wanted BLT, but now I am seriously thinking of spending less and buying resale. I sure don't want to have buyers remorse after spending 18 grand!

 

[Cindaddy]

And with the way things are changing in DVC it is less of a for sure thing as to what you can expect to get out of it in 10,15, or 30 years too. I really wanted BLT, but now I am seriously thinking of spending less and buying resale. I sure don't want to have buyers remorse after spending 18 grand!

I hear you. I'm in the same boat. My wife won't talk to me about it anymore!

 

[Cmbar]

I hear you. I'm in the same boat. My wife won't talk to me about it anymore!

Same here! My Husband comes home each day and says "ok where are we buying today??" I have wanted DVC for about 5 years now and he FINALLY says "yes" and we get the money together and now...... this!

I keep saying "we can get you a new car instead" and he keeps saying "but then you will still keep wanting DVC!" UGH! I really have to come to a decision on this!

 

[Liljam]

I totally agree with the poster who said it's not a dollar and cents issue. I replied on another thread about true cost, and I think my answer ended up being more about feeling than truth in cost.

I don't regret my DVC purchase, but I have recently thought of selling it. I have been bummed by the negative direction it has taken (or at least the way it seems to be painted as heading by some people on the boards.) I've also been a bit shocked by figuring out that I could have gotten my tix, DDP and mod resort on the 4/3 deal for a little less than $2500. Now, I know those deals come and go, and I rarely take advantage of what I consider to be sort of lame deals DVC members are given. I don't get the AP because it doesn't suit our needs, and the discounts of dining just seems sort of "blah" compared to what non DVC members get offered. I wouldn't stay in the DVC or Deluxe resorts if I didn't own, and I wouldn't care to either. Space doesn't bother me. I am keeping DVC because, for us, we decided it works best for us. We have enough points to take family members, but not so much that we're able to Jones about it. As our son gets older, we might find that he'll want to take more than one friend and we WILL want/need more room, we don't have to worry about looking for deals. Now, if things keep going down hill or if tickets go upwards 1200 a pop, we might rethink what we're doing !

 

[Cindaddy]

I've also been a bit shocked by figuring out that I could have gotten my tix, DDP and mod resort on the 4/3 deal for a little less than $2500. Now, I know those deals come and go, and I rarely take advantage of what I consider to be sort of lame deals DVC members are given. I don't get the AP because it doesn't suit our needs, and the discounts of dining just seems sort of "blah" compared to what non DVC members get offered. I wouldn't stay in the DVC or Deluxe resorts if I didn't own, and I wouldn't care to either. Space doesn't bother me.

This is what has me leaning away from joining at this point. I'm OK with Values/Mods, if it's a great price. This past September, I got 10 nights with 10 day hoppers for exactly $2K with free dining. I just don't know how I can compete with that. I've been going every year for the last 6 years and I always get a great deal.

 

[Liljam]

The rack rate on the GV we stayed in would have been around $10k back when I checked the WDW site. I had incentive points and borrowed to make a GV possible. We wanted to take my whole family which was totally awesome, and I can't do that as a non member. The crazy thing is that my family can afford to pay for their own trips, but it's not about that. I like giving them back the feeling of magic they gave me by taking me to WDW for so many years. I think that is our key interest in DVC - the potential to share the accommodations with loved ones. Based on the deals alone, I don't see it as a great value right now. I may eat my words (I hope I eat my words) in 10 years! I don't mean to sound anti- DVC because I'm not, but it's not all perfect either. We're planning to get a THV next vacation and we're taking family members again and that is such a great joy. Money wise, I don't even really consider what we're saving or losing. Right now, I'm bummed that I might have to change some plans or figure out some borrowing if I want to bring my sis too (because we had thought about trying another resort before the points chart changed.)

Soooooo, what I mean to say is really weigh out what you want DVC for and if it is something you can do with out, don't worry with it, but if you don't need it, but want it and it won't hurt your pockets, go for it. You may or may not regret it. I know when I get there, I'll be fine again, !

 

[carmie3377]

That's a bit misleading. Your statement is true regarding accommodations. From a strictly dollars and cents point-of-view, you can't really do a direct comparison like that. You have to average it out over the whole contract and see what your average price is per year or per night. The lowest dues are at the beginning, so you can't really use current year dues. Points are valued around $10. One week in a 1 BR SV is 205 points for 2009. At $10 a point, that's $2050 or $292/night( great deal for a 1 BR). That's about what it really cost you (It could vary somewhat). Rack rate on the standard room with Savannah view is $305. That's only $2135 for the same stay with rack rates plus the dining was free (not sure how it could possibly be $2000 more). To be fair, you would need to pull, at least, $700 out of that for free dining for a family of 4. So, a week in the standard room during free dining is much cheaper, but that extra $100/day gets you a 1 BR suite. DVC is a good deal in my eyes, if you want what it offers.

Not knowing what dues will be next year much less in 40 years or not knowing what rack rates are going to be in several years, there is no way I can currently average prices over the whole contract. In the end, I will be able to, but in 47 years, I don't think I'll be interested in that. I know what I paid for each point and I know what I paid last year in dues for each point. I also know what it would have cost to book rack rate w/Disney. To me, I feel I made an accurate comparison. It's not like I compared what it cost to stay in DVC 3 years ago and what it would cost me if I booked rack next year. Same room, same night. If other people would rather say their point is worth $10 and using that as comparison, that's fine, but not for me. Maybe that's what it's worth on the market for renting/transfers, but it's not what I paid for it and that is what I'm comparing, what I paid or would have to pay for something. Now, in several years, sure, my points will be worth $10 taking dues into consideration, but rack rates will be considerably higher as well.

One week in a 1 BR SV is 205 points for 2009. At $10 a point, that's $2050 or $292/night( great deal for a 1 BR). That's about what it really cost you (It could vary somewhat). Rack rate on the standard room with Savannah view is $305. That's only $2135 for the same stay with rack rates plus the dining was free (not sure how it could possibly be $2000 more).

My visit through DVC 1 BR Savannah view for Sept 27-Oct 4, 2008
Room - $1445.50 [6.79 ($/pt + current dues/pt * 213 required points]
Dining - $601.79 [DDP for 7 nights for 2A, 1C]
Tickets - $624.00 [7 day tickets for 2A, 1C]
TOTAL - $2,671.29

If booking through Disney 1 BR Savannah view for Sept 27-Oct 4, 2008
Room, 7 day tickets, FREE dining - $4,648.00 (per Disney webiste before trip)

Total savings of $1976.71 (okay, not $2000.00 but close enough). I wasn't comparing a 1 BR at AKV to a room at AKL. I even stated "for the same room". Also, if I use my pt value (6.79) to compare it to a AKL room, I would still come out ahead, but not as much. $2412 (including tax) for free dining & room through Disney. $2047.29 for dining and 1 BR AKV through DVC. Tickets are the same regardless, so didn't add those again. Over a $350 difference in our favor.

Again, I don't use $10/pt to value my points because that is not what I paid for my 2008 points. Each year, I will make a comparison using my current annual dues and current rack rates.

To each their own.

 

[kendzee94]

We bought DVC 2 years ago because we found that we were taking at least one week trip to WDW per year. Here's the history: In 2001 we stayed at the All Star Music, way too small, no values again. 2002 went to POFQ-loved it! After a few more moderates, Upgraded to WL with the free dining. Free dining was nice, but paying rack rates not so nice once you become used to the "deals". We found that we love the theming of the mods/deluxes, but like to have more room to spread out (family of 4). In Oct 07 we stayed 3 nights in a 2BR ar OKW (we had friends with us after our cruise) rack rate almost $2100. In October 2008, we stayed 7 nights at AKV in a 2BR sav view- $7100 (per Kadani village prices for 09 same time) Our 10 night 2 BR THV stay planned for 8/09 (at SSR rack rates) would cost $6100. I have found that once we have had the bigger 1 BR and 2BR rooms, we don't want to go back to the smaller ones. Honestly, DVC has spoiled us in the size of the hotel rooms, because now we always want to stay in suites when we stay elsewhere so we can have the extra room. So three trips in three years (rack rate) would have cost us appx $15,000.

I thought that it would be an issue to not have housekeeping daily, but it's kind of nice not having to worry about them coming and going daily. JMHO! We never use the stove/oven because who wants to cook while you're on vacation! (so I don't have to worry about cleaning up the kitchen!)

If we go for more than a long weekend, we stay in at least a 1BR. Love having the two rooms, so you can separate the naughty kids- but who has naughty kids on vacation!? Also, mom and dad alone time if you know what I mean Also, with the increase in luggage fees, we can take less luggage and do our laundry as we go in the 1BR! Even with the changes that people are upset about, I still love my DVC and will not get rid of it. My only problem is that I just don't think I have enought points (350) or enough vacation time to go as frequently as I would like!!!

 

[RayJay]

Same here! My Husband comes home each day and says "ok where are we buying today??" I have wanted DVC for about 5 years now and he FINALLY says "yes" and we get the money together and now...... this!

I keep saying "we can get you a new car instead" and he keeps saying "but then you will still keep wanting DVC!" UGH! I really have to come to a decision on this!

CMBAR,

I was in the same boat, eventually I didn't like the huge loan (210 points at BCV) and as you can see by my sig I have tried other places, we like it much better. I'd rather not have the dues and payment and save and pay for our trip.
We have had some wonderful trips without DVC. I do see where people love it. And I also feel it does save you money, but that is 7 to 8 years down the road, after that your just staying on dues.

Good luck on your decision.

I haven't regretted selling mine.

RayJay