Disney Vacation Club

[Kaz65]

Hi there, Ive just started researching the DVC option for our future trip(s). Has anyone form the uK taken this plunge. It looks like a fantastic venture for the Americans but considering my family would probably only be able to afford a trip every 2-3yrs Im not so sure.

 

[Claire L]

Yes we bought in at Animal Kingdom Villas in August and ahve already been once, staying at Saratoga Springs resort, but we are staying at AKV in May You can bank and borrow points so relalistically only need to go once every three years if you bought enough points to combine for one big trip.

You would be best to work out how many points you would need for the type of accomodation and date you would typically vivist in and then split that by 3 and see how few points you could work off initially. DO remember thought there are annual dues ie maintainence fees each year, for our 200 points at AKV it is just under £500 this year.

Claire

 

[Kaz65]

thanks - that looks like really great value. Ive always been wary of 'time shares' but our optiosn are so restricted as we are a small party (2 adults and 1 child) but require a one bedroomed apartment as my Dh is a very loud snorer adn I am a very light sleeper. All package deals consist of double bedded rooms so no good for us unless we upgrade to a family suite which is ideal value for 6 but not so good for 3! The DVC appears to have much more availability in 1 bedroomed options though I appreciate will be more points than the average

 

[Pootle]

Have you seen that we have a UK DVC board?

I thought this thread from last year was very good for anyone from the UK considering DVC http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1587482

I'm very happy with DVC - it's been a great purchase for us but I'd suggest lots of research before taking the plunge. Good luck

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

You'll see in the DVC section quite a few of us have taken the plunge.

Whether its worth it is down to the individual. You'll need to take into account how much your "normally" spend on a holiday, what type of accomodation you usually stay in; whether you want to put the "upfront" amount of money etc. etc.

If I hadn't have been part of a "downsizing" programme at my previous company and got a jolly good unfair dismissal package (never thought I would think highly of a solicitor - but she did a damn good job), I would never have bought into DVC, but I bought last March, have been to SSR once already and have another trip booked for this year.

 

[mikki.young]

I joined way back in 1992. I can totally identify with your snoring issue - the sofa bed is perfectly good enough for the culprit and you will at least have a door between you!

 

[Claire L]

You could get 2 weeks at a 1 bed in SSR during October for 388 points or during late August it could be 450 points. So if you got a contract of about 225 points that would do a trip every other year in August Other resorts having simiar points but SSR is generally one of the lower for a 1 bed as there is only one view type (at the moment).

Claire

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

Wished I had done it years before I did in 2000/1, my wife was the problem. She thought there had to be a catch, but there's not. We love it, I don't want to belittle others vacations, but nothing is better than staying on site in my opinion and in your own little "home". It's the best.

We spoke with friends, they hated hearing about DVC then they bought too, then other friends bought also. We 13 friends are really happy with DVC.

Remember to buy the resort you want to stay at, either buying direct from DVC or resale, you are treated just the same. Finance is also available although when we returned we found a loan for a lot cheaper APR then changed to a new loan. It's finished in a couple of months, fantastic.

WE LOVE OUR DVC !!!! DO IT

 

[Kaz65]

Thanks so much for all your replies - and yes Micki it is usually the sofa for Dh and I share the bed with our 6yr old son. Honestly there would be a 'murder' on site if we had to share a room for 2 whole weeks!!

 

[Kaz65]

Checked out a bit further and thanks for the pointer to the DIS site dedicated to DVC's and TUG's. It is looking like I need to budget for approx a current minimum of 160 points costing $16,640 plus closing costs, and substantial annual dues (current minimum of around $640). Phew even with the great exchange rate thats a hefty amount. No wonder you are just about finished paying off your loan Stevie. Must admit I misinterpreted your calcs Claire when you said a 200pt stay at AKV was coming in at just under £500 - you probably meant flights! and not 1 weeks rental accomodation - duh to me!!!

 

[Claire L]

Checked out a bit further and thanks for the pointer to the DIS site dedicated to DVC's and TUG's. It is looking like I need to budget for approx a current minimum of 160 points costing $16,640 plus closing costs, and substantial annual dues (current minimum of around $640). Phew even with the great exchange rate thats a hefty amount. No wonder you are just about finished paying off your loan Stevie. Must admit I misinterpreted your calcs Claire when you said a 200pt stay at AKV was coming in at just under £500 - you probably meant flights! and not 1 weeks rental accomodation - duh to me!!!

Ah! I should of made it clearer that after your intial payment there are annual dues and that is what the £500 is for. Luckily with the good excahnge rate at the moment it is a good deal and the annual increase shouldn't raise it too much over several years.

Claire

 

[Dizneemad]

Hi
Vaction club is out of this world and is value for the money for the accomadation you are in.
We are paying roughly the same each year but are staying in far better accomadation for the money.
Clare was refering to here annual dues being £500 which is payable each year something else you need to take into consideration.

 

[Leanne1977]

Its great to hear so many of you are happy with your DVC purchase. Myself and DH have been talking this over constantly the past few weeks and have decided that for us it will be perfect.
We have decided to go down the resale route.

Can i ask a couple of things of my own if the OP doesn't mind.

We already have a WDW holiday booked for December 2008 staying off-site in a villa. So we wouldn't need to use our DVC until August 2009 which is when we are intending on returning.
I see that the different contracts have different months in which your points become available. Would a particular month be better to go for when purchasing DVC? We wouldn't constantly be going in August but will be for our first visit.

We are hoping to buy at SSR and are currently looking for between 130 and 200 points. With the hope that we will get a good deal with points already available to bank and carry over with a view to adding on before our 2010 trip.

Hope that makes sense.

My brain is swimming with DVC info at the moment!!!

 

[Shooby doo]

Leanne we are also thinking of buying into DVC ,probably at AKV,we had the chance to buy at BWV a few years back -even had the cash but changed our mind at the last minute! We have always been off -site & have had no problems but are staying at CBR this trip & we just know that if we do the "visit" we will end up buying!
We've worked out that we need @ 175 points which would allow us to stay at AKV in a Savannah room for 3 weeks every 2 years,which is roughly £8000-for a 1 bed villa this jumps up considerably.What we are trying to decide is this can we afford to pay off a loan,pay dues,flights,passes & spending money every 2 years & go a "normal" holiday on our non-disney year? I just know that once we get there,take our brains out & smile for 3 weeks that we will end up doing it!!
SD