Covid 19 Pandemic - The Perfect Storm that Destroyed DVC

[CastAStone]

Disney is just another timeshare. The only difference is that it is a timeshare with the closest proximity to the Disney parks. Hopefully DVC prices will normalize a bit to reflect that this is, in fact, just a timeshare.

Proximity, transportation, and a 60 day FastPass booking window.

 

[ELMC]

Proximity, transportation, and a 60 day FastPass booking window.

You can get all of that with any Disney hotel, you don't need a timeshare for that. My point is that when it comes to timeshares, it is not functionally different than any of the other Orlando timeshares that are worth a penny. The extra value comes from what we place on it.

 

[bumbershoot]

It’s always been just a timeshare

The confluence of consequences from Covid 19 (couldnt resist) really create an atmosphere that might just destroy the crazy value us owners of DVC acscribed to the product.

What do YOU worry about? What’s on your mind?

 

[Shamus]

Yes it is just a Timeshare and without the Parks the value goes down.

But what about the flip side ......

Isn't there also the potential for the COVID-19 Pandemic to highlight the value of DVC?

WHAT IF Disney limits future park attendance numbers giving on site-guests priority.
Imagine this limitation then extending for months or (God I Truly Hope Not) Years.
What would the value of DVC be then in comparison to other Orlando area Timeshares?

 

[bwang123]

However, if covid ends up completely tanking Disney World then I think we're all going to have much more to worry about than our DVC interest.

Our DVC guide told us basically the same thing when we purchased 8 years ago. If something happens to Disney, there are probably more things to worry about at that point.

 

[Brianstl]

The biggest problem for DVC resale going forward on the resale market will be the fact that there is a large percentage of DVC owners over the age of 65. Until there is a vaccine that is a large percentage of ownership that it will be advisable for them to not use their points. In addition to it being not advisable for them to use their points, they will be looking at a rental market flooded with points with far less people looking to rent points. What has happened to renters who had reservations canceled will have long term devastating impact on the rental market. That leaves those people looking at points they can’t use themselves and that they can’t rent or if they can it isn’t going to cover maintenance fees.

I think DVC direct sales will slow, but this is going to hit the resale market much harder.

 

[AvidDisReader]

I am in that high risk over 65 years old, and I will be darned if I am going to spend the rest of my life cooped up and and worried about the boogie man. The whole idea of living my life was to enter retirement to enjoy it. That is why I bought DVC. I have had enough of this country being shut down. And please do not lecture me about how I could spread to others- if others are worried they are welcome to stay locked up in their homes and living the rest of their lives as hermits.

 

[Sandisw]

I am in that high risk over 65 years old, and I will be darned if I am going to spend the rest of my life cooped up and and worried about the boogie man. The whole idea of living my life was to enter retirement to enjoy it. That is why I bought DVC. I have had enough of this country being shut down. And please do not lecture me about how I could spread to others- if others are worried they are welcome to stay locked up in their homes and living the rest of their lives as hermits.

Yup! I bought DVC because of it being at the place I want to be. But, I’d WDW isn’t an open, I will still enjoy my time at DVC resorts in good old FL!

 

[AvidDisReader]

Agree Sandi-- To just go to the resort and enjoy the sun and cold drink by a high chemical pool. I live up north and I treasure my time in the Florida sun.

 

[cbyrne1174]

DVC has always been an insanely overpriced vacation club. The "value" of buying off the resale market has always been the worst of the 3 major vacation clubs. (Wyndham, Marriott and DVC). You can join Club Wyndham for a few hundred bucks and stay at Bonnet Creek during food and wine in a 2 bedroom for $600/week or you can use your points to trade into a 1 bedroom SSR for $1000/week during less busy weeks in the year.

Legacy Marriott weeks are a little more expensive, but nothing compared to DVC. The cheapest way to join Marriott is to get a 2 bedroom Grand Chateau lock off with a $1500 buy in cost, split the lockoff into two II deposits and trade back into two 2 bedrooms for around $1100/week in exchange/maintenance fees. Lakeshore Reserve is nicer than any DVC property. IDK why people are obseessed with Beach Club's pool. It pales in comparison to Lakeshore's amenities. You get access to the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton staying at Lakeshore reserve for $1100/week if you know how to trade in II. That only gets you a crappy studio in DVC's system when you factor in buy-in costs (cost per point per year).

The only good "value" that DVC has ever really had compared to other systems is if you want to have a weekend getaway to Orlando. Club Wyndham has housekeeping credits that you will run out of it you only stay 1 or 2 nights, Legacy Marriott weeks require a 7 night stay and Marriott's DC points have a high buy in cost/maintenance fees. Don't get me wrong, I want to own in all 3 systems eventually, but DVC will be the LAST one I buy into because it's the WORST deal of the 3 when buying resale. I don't get why people think of DVC as the superior vacation club. Wyndham and Marriott are! How many properties do you have access to with DVC? Wyndham has 220 if you include Worldmark and Marriott has over 70 with the majority being equal in quality to DVC.

You can compare DVC's "value" to staying on site, but staying on site has never been a good value. I've lived near Olrando most my life and most people I know don't waste their money on staying on site because they know there are better resorts for the money. I hope this recession makes more people aware of this. A lot of DVC owners are completely oblivious to what else is out there.

 

[CastAStone]

DVC has always been an insanely overpriced vacation club. The "value" of buying off the resale market has always been the worst of the 3 major vacation clubs. (Wyndham, Marriott and DVC). You can join Club Wyndham for a few hundred bucks and stay at Bonnet Creek during food and wine in a 2 bedroom for $600/week or you can use your points to trade into a 1 bedroom SSR for $1000/week during less busy weeks in the year.

Legacy Marriott weeks are a little more expensive, but nothing compared to DVC. The cheapest way to join Marriott is to get a 2 bedroom Grand Chateau lock off with a $1500 buy in cost, split the lockoff into two II deposits and trade back into two 2 bedrooms for around $1100/week in exchange/maintenance fees. Lakeshore Reserve is nicer than any DVC property. IDK why people are obseessed with Beach Club's pool. It pales in comparison to Lakeshore's amenities. You get access to the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton staying at Lakeshore reserve for $1100/week if you know how to trade in II. That only gets you a crappy studio in DVC's system when you factor in buy-in costs (cost per point per year).

The only good "value" that DVC has ever really had compared to other systems is if you want to have a weekend getaway to Orlando. Club Wyndham has housekeeping credits that you will run out of it you only stay 1 or 2 nights, Legacy Marriott weeks require a 7 night stay and Marriott's DC points have a high buy in cost/maintenance fees. Don't get me wrong, I want to own in all 3 systems eventually, but DVC will be the LAST one I buy into because it's the WORST deal of the 3 when buying resale. I don't get why people think of DVC as the superior vacation club. Wyndham and Marriott are! How many properties do you have access to with DVC? Wyndham has 220 if you include Worldmark and Marriott has over 70 with the majority being equal in quality to DVC.

You can compare DVC's "value" to staying on site, but staying on site has never been a good value. I've lived near Olrando most my life and most people I know don't waste their money on staying on site because they know there are better resorts for the money. I hope this recession makes more people aware of this. A lot of DVC owners are completely oblivious to what else is out there.

Your points are hard to argue with but I’ll just say:

1. Reliable, expedient park transportation including MK drop off at the park
2. 60 day Fastpass booking
3. Proximity to the parks
4. Ability to easily exit annual Obligation via resale.

 

[DougEMG]

DVC has always been an insanely overpriced vacation club. The "value" of buying off the resale market has always been the worst of the 3 major vacation clubs. (Wyndham, Marriott and DVC). You can join Club Wyndham for a few hundred bucks and stay at Bonnet Creek during food and wine in a 2 bedroom for $600/week or you can use your points to trade into a 1 bedroom SSR for $1000/week during less busy weeks in the year.

Legacy Marriott weeks are a little more expensive, but nothing compared to DVC. The cheapest way to join Marriott is to get a 2 bedroom Grand Chateau lock off with a $1500 buy in cost, split the lockoff into two II deposits and trade back into two 2 bedrooms for around $1100/week in exchange/maintenance fees. Lakeshore Reserve is nicer than any DVC property. IDK why people are obseessed with Beach Club's pool. It pales in comparison to Lakeshore's amenities. You get access to the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton staying at Lakeshore reserve for $1100/week if you know how to trade in II. That only gets you a crappy studio in DVC's system when you factor in buy-in costs (cost per point per year).

The only good "value" that DVC has ever really had compared to other systems is if you want to have a weekend getaway to Orlando. Club Wyndham has housekeeping credits that you will run out of it you only stay 1 or 2 nights, Legacy Marriott weeks require a 7 night stay and Marriott's DC points have a high buy in cost/maintenance fees. Don't get me wrong, I want to own in all 3 systems eventually, but DVC will be the LAST one I buy into because it's the WORST deal of the 3 when buying resale. I don't get why people think of DVC as the superior vacation club. Wyndham and Marriott are! How many properties do you have access to with DVC? Wyndham has 220 if you include Worldmark and Marriott has over 70 with the majority being equal in quality to DVC.

You can compare DVC's "value" to staying on site, but staying on site has never been a good value. I've lived near Olrando most my life and most people I know don't waste their money on staying on site because they know there are better resorts for the money. I hope this recession makes more people aware of this. A lot of DVC owners are completely oblivious to what else is out there.

What the value of an item isn't the same for everyone. I place a great deal of value on being on-site. That is where I want to be, so DVC is the only place I want to stay. It makes no difference to me how much "better" the room is at Worldmark or Marriott, I don't want to stay at those locations. If all I wanted was a nicer room, I'd just stay at home.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

I will never stay off property unless it’s Golden Oak : D. And I’m certainly not alone. We travel from afar and we want it the easy way with all the benefits. We also go to Aulani annually and love it.
If you don’t get it, you don’t.

 

[DougEMG]

I will never stay off property unless it’s Golden Oak : D. And I’m certainly not alone. We travel from afar and we want it the easy way with all the benefits. We also go to Aulani annually and love it.
If you don’t get it, you don’t.

Golden Oaks, my dream if I ever win the lottery.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DVC has always been an insanely overpriced vacation club. The "value" of buying off the resale market has always been the worst of the 3 major vacation clubs. (Wyndham, Marriott and DVC). You can join Club Wyndham for a few hundred bucks and stay at Bonnet Creek during food and wine in a 2 bedroom for $600/week or you can use your points to trade into a 1 bedroom SSR for $1000/week during less busy weeks in the year.

Legacy Marriott weeks are a little more expensive, but nothing compared to DVC. The cheapest way to join Marriott is to get a 2 bedroom Grand Chateau lock off with a $1500 buy in cost, split the lockoff into two II deposits and trade back into two 2 bedrooms for around $1100/week in exchange/maintenance fees. Lakeshore Reserve is nicer than any DVC property. IDK why people are obseessed with Beach Club's pool. It pales in comparison to Lakeshore's amenities. You get access to the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton staying at Lakeshore reserve for $1100/week if you know how to trade in II. That only gets you a crappy studio in DVC's system when you factor in buy-in costs (cost per point per year).

The only good "value" that DVC has ever really had compared to other systems is if you want to have a weekend getaway to Orlando. Club Wyndham has housekeeping credits that you will run out of it you only stay 1 or 2 nights, Legacy Marriott weeks require a 7 night stay and Marriott's DC points have a high buy in cost/maintenance fees. Don't get me wrong, I want to own in all 3 systems eventually, but DVC will be the LAST one I buy into because it's the WORST deal of the 3 when buying resale. I don't get why people think of DVC as the superior vacation club. Wyndham and Marriott are! How many properties do you have access to with DVC? Wyndham has 220 if you include Worldmark and Marriott has over 70 with the majority being equal in quality to DVC.

You can compare DVC's "value" to staying on site, but staying on site has never been a good value. I've lived near Olrando most my life and most people I know don't waste their money on staying on site because they know there are better resorts for the money. I hope this recession makes more people aware of this. A lot of DVC owners are completely oblivious to what else is out there.

I don't particularly disagree with anything you said but still favor onsite. I've done several offsite over the years and understand but just prefer the greater ease of onsite.

BC pool? Because it's the best thing Disney has to offer for a pool. I don't think anyone who has stayed elsewhere is comparing outside of Disney just like comparing the resorts to outside doesn't hold up so well. Disney does not do pools. They did better at Aulani because they had to in order to compete. There still are better but it's quite decent. However I'd guess that at WDW they feel the parks proximity compensates enough for so-so pools. It is one thing I've commented on in the past that I wish they'd do better but honestly - their cheap on that investment.

 

[macman123]

Of course, this all comes down to the product, supply and demand. Clearly there are people who love the product otherwise the market price it sells out would be far less.

Is it expensive - yes. But clearly there is a demand and market for the produce with its pricing, otherwise resale contracts wouldn't be sold.

 

[Frederic Civish]

WHAT IF Disney limits future park attendance numbers giving on site-guests priority.
Imagine this limitation then extending for months or (God I Truly Hope Not) Years.

What would the value of DVC be then in comparison to other Orlando area Timeshares?

I actually think this scenario is going to happen, at least through the beginning of 2021.

I expect that when Disney reopens in mid-July, that they will limit park admittance to about half capacity. Since full capacity is supposedly around 320,000 people for the 4 parks, this would mean they have room for about 160,000 people. There are about 30,000 Disney Hotel rooms on property, which would hold about 120,000 people. There are (I believe) around 4,250 DVC units, which would hold maybe around another 25,000 people. I will be shocked if Disney doesn't give first priority in reserving a Park Entry slot to everyone who is staying on property. This means that of the 160,000 people who will be able to go in, 150,000 or so of them will come from the Disney Hotels and DVC rooms. DVC will become even more popular than ever.

 

[Brianstl]

I actually think this scenario is going to happen, at least through the beginning of 2021.

I expect that when Disney reopens in mid-July, that they will limit park admittance to about half capacity. Since full capacity is supposedly around 320,000 people for the 4 parks, this would mean they have room for about 160,000 people. There are about 30,000 Disney Hotel rooms on property, which would hold about 120,000 people. There are (I believe) around 4,250 DVC units, which would hold maybe around another 25,000 people. I will be shocked if Disney doesn't give first priority in reserving a Park Entry slot to everyone who is staying on property. This means that of the 160,000 people who will be able to go in, 150,000 or so of them will come from the Disney Hotels and DVC rooms. DVC will become even more popular than ever.

You are assuming the demand will be there in a world ravaged not only by a pandemic and economic downturn. The demand just isn’t going to be there for a long time after the first few weeks.

 

[CastAStone]

I actually think this scenario is going to happen, at least through the beginning of 2021.

I expect that when Disney reopens in mid-July, that they will limit park admittance to about half capacity. Since full capacity is supposedly around 320,000 people for the 4 parks, this would mean they have room for about 160,000 people. There are about 30,000 Disney Hotel rooms on property, which would hold about 120,000 people. There are (I believe) around 4,250 DVC units, which would hold maybe around another 25,000 people. I will be shocked if Disney doesn't give first priority in reserving a Park Entry slot to everyone who is staying on property. This means that of the 160,000 people who will be able to go in, 150,000 or so of them will come from the Disney Hotels and DVC rooms. DVC will become even more popular than ever.

It’s a good question and to make matters worse they aren’t going to open with anywhere hear 50% capacity. It was reported on the record by a Universal official in the Orange County Register today that Universal Orlando is opening at 35% capacity; Chapek has said that Disney will open with a lower capacity rate than Universal.

 

[Frederic Civish]

. . . . to make matters worse they aren’t going to open with anywhere hear 50% capacity. It was reported on the record by a Universal official in the Orange County Register today that Universal Orlando is opening at 35% capacity; Chapek has said that Disney will open with a lower capacity rate than Universal.

Yikes !!!

Then the only solution I see to that is that Disney is only going to rent out as many hotel rooms as they have Park Entry. So, if they open with 30% capacity, that will be room for about 110,000 people. If the get 20,000 of those people from DVC, then that leaves room for about 90,000 more people. Which would be enough to fill about 2/3rds of their hotel rooms. AND NOBODY ELSE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN. As for the 'Good Neighbor' hotels, I am guessing that Disney might say, "So sorry. It's every man for himself!!"