Disney Vacation Club Membership

[disneymom8589]

My husband and I are seriously considering becoming members of the Disney Vacation Club. For those of you who belong to DVC, is it a worthwhile investment?

 

[buck4568]

My husband and I are seriously considering becoming members of the Disney Vacation Club. For those of you who belong to DVC, is it a worthwhile investment?

I would not call it an investment. You are buying points for future vacations over the next 44+ years at todays prices which if used regularly should pay for it self in savings if you were to pay cash to stay at any of the DVC resorts over the next 6 to 7 years.

Plus, your getting great accomodations that will spoil you forever. You will never want to stay in a regular hotel room again!

If you had to sell your points 10 years from now could you make a profit? Sure, that might be the case but it should not be the main reason to join DVC.

 

[Caskbill]

If you want to consider it an investment in yourselves, do it that way. Don't think of it as a financial investment.

Historically most members have found that within 6 or 7 years of purchasing DVC, they have broken even with what it would have cost them to stay at regular WDW resorts. So there can be a definite financial advantage you'll realize over time.

The caveat though is that you start to get spoiled with DVC, start going to WDW more often than you use to, start staying in 1-B/R or larger villas instead of just regular hotel rooms, and eventually have raised your standards to a point where you're spending more than you were in the past. But that's the investment in yourself.

If you're satisfied staying at All-Stars, or Pop, then DVC probably isn't for you. Most here probably agree that if you stay in Moderates or higher, go to WDW at least once every two years (3-years max), then DVC is a good way to go.

 

[Dean]

It is a good value only for one who would routinely use the points at DVC resorts and not for long weekends. Even those that do, I think 6-7 years to "break even" is very optimistic for new members unless you did NO weekends and only get studios. It is a VERY poor deal for most of the exchange options and for long weekends. The exchange options that are not a good deal are too uncertain to count on.

 

[disneymom8589]

I realilzed I probably used the wrong term when I said "investment" as I would not use it for any financial reason. Probably a better way to phrase it would be "Is it worth the money over the long haul?" Thank you to all who replied!

 

[prez65]

I realilzed I probably used the wrong term when I said "investment" as I would not use it for any financial reason. Probably a better way to phrase it would be "Is it worth the money over the long haul?" Thank you to all who replied!

If I add up what I spent on rooms at WDW prior to purchasing DVC...and considering the type of rooms you get....
I think it was well worth it...and I am a new member but have used it 3 times already.

I also think it has giving me the incentive to plan more Vacations..(3 in a year)..where in the past I would have been a little hesitant to do so....

They are prepaid Vacations which eventually will pay for themselves..considering the cost increase everytime I went to WDW over the past years...Now all I have to do is say it is only costing me airfare..

I also like hearing my 9 year old telling her friends that we own homes in Disney!!!!!!!

 

[rinkwide]

One of the definitions of "investment" from answers.com is:

Property or other possession acquired for future financial return or benefit.

With that in mind, I think DVC could be considered a worthwhile investment provided you learn the nuances of the program and adjust your vacationing habits to maximize it's value.

Or you could just rent out your points on eBay and then it would qualify by anyone's definition.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're spending way more money on vacations now. DVC got us into planning vacations now instead of whenever. We take at least two to three vacations a year, with at least two at WDW.

This year we will or have done:
WDW - OKW in Jan
SW USA including DL in June
DL in Sept
VWL at Thanksgiving

We're taking a 7 night cruise in Mar-Apr and then back to WDW in Jul.

We're making memories with our son before he grows up too much to want to vacation with us. Then, we'll take the time for ourselves.

 

[dvc at last !]

DVC is an investment in vacation. It forces you to take a vacation instead of not making the time to take a vacation. It offers better accomodations. And there are some perks.
You also get to meet others who share your love of Disney.

 

[tomandrobin]

We have been members less then a year. We have gone four times this year already and have three more trips planned by New Years (see tickers). We love it so far and are looking forward to many more years of using our DVC membership. But keep in mind, DVC is a luxury.

If you visit WDW once a year for a week, stay in moderate or deluxe resorts.....then DVC may be for you. You will save money over time, with your cost of accomendations already paid. Do not buy DVC with the intention of trading frequently to stay at other non-disney destinations. There are plenty of better option timeshares for that purpose.

 

[dianeschlicht]

While it is not an "investment" in financial terms I feel it IS an investment in our personal vacation time. We did not finance our purchase, so perhaps it made a bit more sense, but the 380 points we own are and "investment" in future vacations, most of which we knew and know will be to WDW. We purchased in '97 when we were already empty nesters. Planning our DVC vacations brings great pleasure to us. This is especially true when we can treat our family and friends to "free" accommodations, and they can come help us have a good time!

We too were spending $3-5000 a trip to stay in deluxes, and this allows us better and larger accommodations for the price of maintenance fees annually in a market where the cost of those "deluxe" rooms just keeps going up and up and up. I'd say that's a pretty GOOD investment!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I agree that it's an investment in our future, but I don't see it as a financial investment. My husband sees it as more financial; he loves the fact that we don't have to pay for rooms at WDW anymore.

As Diane said, we're now able to treat friends and family. In October we're treating my husband's adult daughter and her best friend to a stay at BWV. It's their Christmas present and they're really looking forward to it (they wouldn't be able to afford a trip to WDW otherwise). It's something we wouldn't have done without DVC.

 

[hollyberry16]

It sounds to me though, all you get is accomodations. (I like the idea of Disney approved destinations - with all the other places they have). But with the flight being the most expensive parts of trips, I don't know about this anymore....

Out of curiosity, if you buy 150-300 points (that seems average - with 3-5$/point for annual charges = 450-1500$yr) what does that get you? A weeks worth of accomodation?

 

[1000th happy haunt]

At the top of the page there's a link to points charts.

How much you have to pay in points depends on a number of factors such as room size, when you go, and where you stay. A studio costs less points per night than a grand villa. Going in early December costs less points per night than going in May. OKW costs less points per night than BCV.

 

[Caskbill]

It sounds to me though, all you get is accomodations. (I like the idea of Disney approved destinations - with all the other places they have). But with the flight being the most expensive parts of trips, I don't know about this anymore....

Out of curiosity, if you buy 150-300 points (that seems average - with 3-5$/point for annual charges = 450-1500$yr) what does that get you? A weeks worth of accomodation?

Just so you're comparing apples to apples as close as possible, you need to compare a Studio to a WDW hotel room. Obviously getting 1-B/R units or higher is a huge upgrade.

Compare to CRO rates, for September for example.

At SSR, Adventure season, 150 points will get you 12-straight nights.

The annual maintenance fees would be about $600, or an average of $50/night.

If you were to rent the same villa from CRO, the rack rate for September is $269/night, plus the new 12.5% tax, or a total of $3631 for the 12 days, compared to the $600 you paid in dues. The difference of over $3000 would already pay for 1/5th of the purchase price.

SSR Rack Rates

Do the math for another 38 years, paying maintenance fees instead of CRO rates, and see what happens.

Don't try to compare how many days you can get in a 1-B/R villa compared to a room at the All Stars. It's not even Apples to Oranges.

 

[jdg345]

Just so you're comparing apples to apples as close as possible, you need to compare a Studio to a WDW hotel room. Obviously getting 1-B/R units or higher is a huge upgrade.

Compare to CRO rates, for September for example.

At SSR, Adventure season, 150 points will get you 12-straight nights.

The annual maintenance fees would be about $600, or an average of $50/night.

If you were to rent the same villa from CRO, the rack rate for September is $269/night, plus the new 12.5% tax, or a total of $3631 for the 12 days, compared to the $600 you paid in dues. The difference of over $3000 would already pay for 1/5th of the purchase price.

SSR Rack Rates

Do the math for another 38 years, paying maintenance fees instead of CRO rates, and see what happens.

Don't try to compare how many days you can get in a 1-B/R villa compared to a room at the All Stars. It's not even Apples to Oranges.

Not only that, but even the Value Resorts are seldom available for less than $80/night + 12.5% Tax ... and even a Studio at DVC is an upgrade over a typical Value Resort Room (imo).

Plus, the rates at rooms seem to have significantly increased in comparison to the point increases over the last 5-10 years.

 

[hollyberry16]

thanks! I had a look at those.

I'm wondering where I can find a chart that says how many points you need for cruises, and staying at the DisneyResort in Paris, Tokyo, HK, LA, or the adventures. ...

 

[hollyberry16]

The only place i've stayed is "All Star Sports" ...wondering what makes the DVC VIllas better ... obviously they're bigger, but i'm just not sure. Why do you think they are so much better?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Studios have either two queen sized beds (OKW) or one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. Each studio has a kitchenette - undercounter refrigerator (larger than the dorm cubes in the other resorts), microwave ovens, toaster, coffee pots. We seldom stay in a studio.

One bedroom villas have king sized bed and double sleeper sofa in the living room. Full kitchen, washer and dryer, jacuzzi tub in the master bath.

Two bedroom is a combo of a studio and one bedroom. Grand villas are three bedroom villas and are like nothing you have ever stayed in.

If you like the All Stars and have no desires to upgrade to a larger, more luxurious resort, then DVC probably is not your cup of tea. DVC members like it a little more like home and less like the Holiday Inn.

You can use points to stay in other resorts, trade out to other timeshares, do the cruise, but it's not always the best use of the points. You get your best use out of the DVC resorts.

 

[Disney Doll]

It is a financial investment insofar as it costs you money. I don't kow that it would make you money. I don't think you'd lose money if you ever had to sell it.

The type of investment it is is an investment in you, vacations and family/friends time.

For us, the $$ spent was well worth the return we have received.