Disneyland Point Usage

[mskokopelli]

We go to Disneyland instead of WDW. I am interested in joining the DVC. I hear about different yearly dues based on home resort. I see no listing for CA home resorts. Where do you suggest I buy in order to keep dues down if I am not using the home resort anyhow? Suggestions on how to best do this type of deal.

Thanks,

Andrea

 

[rinkwide]

DVC doesn't make financial sense to purchase unless:

• You'll be going to Walt Disney World at least every other year
• You'd normally stay in the nicer, on-property accommodations
• You can stay almost entirely on weeknights
• You can plan your trips 11-7 months in advance
• You won't waste points on exchanges (yes, Disneyland is a type of exchange) or cruises
• You don't have to pay high finance charges

You may be a good candidate once Disney builds an Anaheim DVC resort but I wouldn't suggest gambling $15,000 dollars that it will happen anytime soon.

 

[ACDSNY]

As a west coaster I think you can still make DVC work for you even at DLR as long as you find a good contract on the resale market. The resort won't be as important except when comparing maintenance fees. When we figured our cost per point over the life of the contract and add maintenance fees we're around $6 per point it's still cheaper than the rates you'll get from CRO. I don't want to rent my points so I don't calculate our cost based on the $10 per point most will quote you.

Depending on how many points you need each year a 100 - 150 points may be enough.

We travel to DLR more often the WDW and have always stayed at either the DLH or GC. We've been AP holders and found the AP rates have been getting harder and harder to get.

 

[mskokopelli]

I appreciate the insites. I took our last trip to Paradise Pier and converted it into DVC points. Takes about 350 points for that or any of our "normal" stays. I have AAA and use their site to get discounts on the whole package (air, food, rental car, motel, etc....). Everyone talks about DVC and I see it all over ebay as well.

Sounds tempting but are reservations hard to come by? I know our vacation date hope date about 6 mths in advance. The actual hard set buy tickets date is generally within 2-3 months of travel time. All CA. We go each year. Sounds like DVC, unless on resale, is a resort orientated FL "thing". Yes, we always stay on site at one of the Disney motels but if they are considered exchange that means they are at a higher rate than if I were at my home resort???

So dues are caculated on points? 350 points would cost about $32,550 to buy and about $3000 a year in fees? Is that what you are telling me? Ouch! I can pay outright for the room at a lower rate. WOW!!!! That would not be a good deal. So home resort stays are much lower?

Lots to think about and consider. Been surfing and reading a lot of site but none have provided the answers. The DVC man that called had is own objective and was not direct in answers either.

Thank you!

 

[tomandrobin]

The fees for 350 points at SSR will be slightly less then $1400. The Maintenance fees for the past year at SSR was around $3.95 per point.[/COLOR]

 

[tomandrobin]

The fees for 350 points at SSR will be slightly less then $1400. The Maintenance fees for the past year at SSR was around $3.95 per point.[/COLOR]

 

[ACDSNY]

350 points sounds awfully high to me for DLR. How long do you usually stay and what time of year? I just booked a night in Oct for my daughter at the DH for 23 points. Looking at our trip in 2007 for the DH for 4 nights it will be 76 points, so at $6 per point that's around $455.

We purchased our resale contract for $80 per point last year.

 

[Lynne M]

Another thing to consider is that the point costs for the DVC resorts are somewhat fixed for the life of the contract. The point costs for the DLR resorts are NOT FIXED and may increase dramatically. They've been lowered over the past year or so, but I think that's because of the 50th anniversary celebration. I would never assume that they're going to stay low, since the number of points it takes to stay at the non-DVC resorts at WDW has gone up every year since I joined in 2001.

Even if you can break even or save a bit on your DLR resort stays now, that could change next year. Also, there's absolutely no guarantee in our contracts that says we'll be able to use points at DLR in the future. We bought the right to stay in our home resort. I look at the non-DVC resort stays as a nice perk that could possibly go away someday.

Seriously - hang on to your money until DVC decides to build a vacation club resort at DLR. There is zero benefit to joining the DVC if you're never planning to stay at the DVC resorts, and it could easily become a very costly mistake.

 

[tomandrobin]

I think that they lowered the point requirements at the DLR to help boost the sales out in California. I still believe that the next DVC resort we be in California. The sales force is there, it only makes since to give them something to actually how and sell. It probably be only a small resort, like BCV or VWL, but it would be a win/win for WDW and DL vacation club owners.
Time will tell!