Disney Vacation Club Info

[DizneyNutz]

My DH and I are thinking of joining the DVC and would like to ask some questions if someone out there would be so kind as to help....we haven't gotten our package from the DVC folks yet, but we're anxious about the entire process. We are wondering if once you're a member, you are limited to a certain time period to take your vacations---for example, our points will be "good" in August, but we generally like going around the first week of Dec. and whether or not there are a lot of hidden costs involved?? Our travels will mainly be in Florida, but we haven't ruled out a Disney Cruise. If anyone has any info on the cruises, I'd like to hear it as well---I've heard that there are LOTS of children on board these cruises, has anyone else heard that?? PLEASE don't think I am child bashing here...I am a proud Mother of one adult daughter and another who is a HS Jr....I am just not as young as I used to be and lots of kids make me tired....

Thanks!

 

[fsubigdogs]

There is no particular time of year you have to use your points however there are times when it may take less points for a stay. As far as hidden cost i have not found them yet. Everything is spelled out and other that your annual dues everything else is optional. I have not been on the cruises yet but from everything I have read on this board you are much better off renting your points and paying cash for the trip. We have been members for a year and have to say we love it. The biggest problem I have run into is where to go next and wanting more points then we have. I hoped this helps.

 

[DizneyNutz]

Thanks, this helps a lot! You mentioned "renting points" can you exlpain that? Also, as DVC can anyone use your points or go with you at no additional costs---example, if my husband and I used our points to get a villa at the WL and took my parents, would there be an additional cost for two extra adults?

 

[gjw007]

DVC can anyone use your points or go with you at no additional costs---example, if my husband and I used our points to get a villa at the WL and took my parents, would there be an additional cost for two extra adults?

No, there is a limit to the number of people that can stay in a room. Studios use less points than do one-bedrooms which require less points than a two-bedroom. A studio and one-bedroom units allow 1 to 4 people to stay (I also think one child under 3). The rate is points per room type, not points per person. So 4 people can stay in studio or one-bedroom but if you have more than that, you need to reserve a two-bedroom or larger unit. Does this help?

 

[tjkraz]

...whether or not there are a lot of hidden costs involved??

The only "hidden" costs may be the other costs you naturally incur with increased visits to WDW. Each trip you make includes dollars for transportation, theme park tickets, food, recreation, souvenirs, and so on.

With DVC, you pay the one-time purchase price plus annual dues. The DVC points will get you a room, but that's about it.

Our travels will mainly be in Florida, but we haven't ruled out a Disney Cruise. If anyone has any info on the cruises, I'd like to hear it as well...

DVC does allow us to redeem points toward cruises, non-DVC resort stays and even non-Disney hotels. But the best VALUE will always be stays at the DVC resorts.

For example, a Savannah View room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge will run you 32 points per weekday night during the cheapest season. You can get a comparable room at the DVC Beach Club Villas for as little as 12 points per night. Even the Moderate resorts cost more on a per-night basis than staying in a DVC room.

In short, buy DVC only if you intend to stay DVC the vast majority of the time.

 

[KennyK]

Dizneynutz and others,

Welcome to the DIS boards.

Anyway the FAQ's at the beginning of this site has some great info on it for new members.

There are some great point charts available for down load from users that help plan your vacation and use of points. As far as answering some of your questions, I'll try even though I'm a newbie (since 2001) compared to alot of other DIS'ers on the boards and DVC members.

Anyway, as previously posted, The only extra costs for which you will experience is your yearly dues which were spelled out in your contract paper work. This is a per/point fee which changes each year. There are many ways to pay this, lump sum at beginning of year, monthly through auto debit from a checking account. I do not believe they allow you to pay this in cash installments but I can be wrong as I do the auto debit function.

Of course your park media tickets, food and tips to cleaning and other guest service CM's are extra just like at any other resort.

The thing that I like best is the flexibility in booking different resorts and the type of accommodations you get to stay in. In my eyes, even a studio at a DVC resort makes a standard room in a delux look small.

You will also find that once you start using your pts, you'll probably find out that what you bought won't be enough and you'll want to add on.

We've added on twice already, once at WL only after a few months of being owners and again late last year at SSR.

The other thing you will find out is when you can make reservations as the booking window depends on your home resort. Since we have pts at both Wilderness and Saratoga we can book 11 months out for vacations at those two resorts using pts assigned to those resorts only and at 7 months at all the other resorts.
You will also read that using pts for DCL is a bad move to use your pts for. Many DVC'ers will rent the pts to other DVC;ers or other persons ( approximately $10/pt) and use that money for a cruise. We have taken a DCL cruise four times and find them very relaxing, We do not have any small children (youngest is 12yr old DGS) who usually travels with us. The ship has extensive adult only areas and the CM's make sure these areas stay pretty much kid free.

Hope this helps alittle, sorry for the rambling. You'll always get someone to answer most of your questions here.


kennyk

 

[DVCLiz]

Lots of kids make me tired, too - would you like mine? Just kidding - I do think a Disney cruise is likely to be crowded with small fry , but when we've toured the parks, we've managed to evade or avoid most out of control children. It gives us a chance to look at each other (me and DDs 11 and 16) and recite the family motto - "Hey, kid, there's no crying in Disney World!"