Do you feel short changed by buying DVC?

[hitthebids]

First let me say we love DVC and enjoy almost every year, but i do feel sometimes that I may have done better if we just booked a regular Disney vacation when we wanted to go. It seems that every time we go, Disney is offering some discount or freebie that DVCers can never take advantage of. Last year it was free dining plans, this year seems to be 3 nights free when booking 4 or more nights. I know that the orig. DVC members got a 10% discount on park tickets for 10 years or something like that but other then store purchases we have to pay the full ride for everything else. I know it is a good value that we got but we still have annual dues and when all is said and done a week at WDW is costing me a lot more then $1599 a week for a family of 4. Just want to know if anyone else feels the same.

 

[kapeman]

Nope. Not one bit.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2137102&highlight=spreadsheet+fun

 

[Deb & Bill]

Even as a DVC member, you can take advantage of all the Disney deals. But in good times, you won't see these as frequently or as cheap as you see them now. I'd bet free dining in Aug/Sept may be around for a long time because the resorts just aren't that full during that time - hurricane season is in full swing and kids have gone back to school. But they haven't done "Buy four, get three" for a long time.

The nice thing about DVC is getting that bill on your door the morning you leave and having zero cost for the lodging.

 

[nunzia]

I can understand that feeling in the short term, but I find DVC gives me a secure feeling that I know what I'm paying for accomodations forever. It doesn't matter what comes or goes, I know what my initial cost is and my basic MF, and know that they will certainly rise, but not as much as rack rates. I also like the fact that I am not stuck to going certain times when a promotion is offered or constantly waiting for a better deal to come along, and then when I book to wonder if I could have done better. Rates will rebound and then they'll go up. Then we'll all feel pretty good about having our points in our pocket. Although it would be certainly be nice if Disney gave us some sort of deal, like 10% off tickets (and yes, I think the 100 off AP's is a great deal but it doesn't work for me), I understand why we are not really their target for deals since they pretty much already have us.
I know some people who are going to WDW and they are loving the deal they got. They are also not really knowledgeable about Disney (when asked where they were staying at WDW they said..onsite at the Disney hotel..turns out it is Music All Stars..well, we'll see how they like it..hope they do).
I also like the idea that I get deluxe lodgings that I've pre paid. Being a cheapie at heart, this means alot to me. I'm staying concierge at DLR in September for my birthday. If I hadn't had DPs for that, there is no way I'd shell out cash for that, but I'm sure looking forward to doing it for 'free'.
I do understand your feelings, but looking forward I think you'll feel better about it all when deals disappear and rack rates soar.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Nope, not short changed at all! We have owned for 12 years, and every trip we reiterate how it was the best investment in our vacations we ever made! We are spending less all around and going more often and staying in better accommodations than before DVC. We figure it has saved us a LOT over those little "deals" that come around occationally. Remember that the "deals" are there to encourage people to spend. I don't really spend anymore now on a Disney vacation than I did 10 years ago! That's the beauty of DVC. If you think it's a better "deal" to go this year in a value resort room and get free dining...have at it, but I like things just the way they are.

Oh, and that $100 off an AP is a much better deal for us than anything else they could come up with to entice us to pay for a lesser room.

 

[Cliffside]

I don't feel that way. I am a fairly new DVC owner and prior to purchasing points at BCV we stayed at the FQ. We liked the FQ very much but now love the BCV. Being walking distance to Epcot has been great. If we did not purchase points I don't think I would have wanted to spend the money to stay there. Also it allowed us to bring my parents down with us and we stayed in a 2 bedroom and they had a great time. Finally it lets us go more often because we feel we have paid money towards it already. We were also able to use our points for the GC at DL. Again I don't think I would have spulged to stay there without the points.

 

[logan115]

If you're happy staying at a value or moderate resort, than buying DVC may not make sense, but if you enjoy staying at the deluxes DVC will save you tons of cash vs booking whatever deal Disney offers. Paying full price for a room and tickets but getting "free dining" will still cost more than renting points for a trip, and paying for tickets and the DDP out of pocket. Also, given the option of getting 2 BRs (or even the 1BRs at AKV and BLT that hold 5 people) DVC is cheaper than renting 2 rooms at moderate.

For us it made sense as we plan on taking my parents next year, and my in-laws the year after that. If we booked a moderate, we'd be paying something like $200/night per room (think this is about what it costs but not sure), so about $2800 for a week (plus tax) since we wouldn't be able to fit in 1 room (me, DW, DS (5), DD (6 months) + my parents). In two years we would've spent over $5600 for lodging. We just bought 160 points (resale at SSR) for just about double that. In addition, we'll get a 2BR with a full kitchen (can save quite a bit of money eating in), washer dryer (less clothes to pack), and more room to spread out.

So although I'm not even in "the system" yet I am alread loving the fact that we own and looking forward to years of great vacations. Not to mention that we have the flexibility to vacation when we want, not stuck to when the "deals" are offered.

Chris

 

[DeeCee735]

We don't feel this way at all. We bought in 2000. The hotel rooms are really nice, but the deluxe's are really expensive, and they are the closest comparison to a DVC resort (IMHO). Even buy 3/get 4 would still cost as much as our annual dues in a deluxe and that's only 7 nights. In the last 12 months we got 17 nights between studio's, one AND two bedrooms.

Not only that, but we never really did look at this from a financial standpoint (perhaps we should have, but we didn't).

We looked at it as having our favorite vacation destination's accommodations whenever we want them for the rest of our lives, and our kids will be into their 50's when this expires, giving our grandchildren (should we ever have grandchildren) years of growing up (on average) with visits to the kingdom too! THAT, in our book, CAN'T be beat.

We love it, and I wish I was there RIGHT NOW!

You made a great decision, enjoy every minute of it!

 

[disdad09]

I am so happy to be a new membet at BLT.
I cant wait to go to our first dvc trip with our developer points at SSR.
We see those deals and wonder to but we know that over time we will be able to stay at our favorite vacation spot longer and in better accomidations for a cheaper more stable price. We as a family are going to be able to save a ton of money over the long term.

 

[lah3hh]

Nope not short changed at all. We always have the option to use our points and follow the guidelines of the DVC membership.....or....pay cash and take advantage of what is being offered to the general public.

As for me and my family, we love our DVC option and have not paid cash for our room for the past 11 years.

 

[eliza61]

First let me say we love DVC and enjoy almost every year, but i do feel sometimes that I may have done better if we just booked a regular Disney vacation when we wanted to go. It seems that every time we go, Disney is offering some discount or freebie that DVCers can never take advantage of. Last year it was free dining plans, this year seems to be 3 nights free when booking 4 or more nights. I know that the orig. DVC members got a 10% discount on park tickets for 10 years or something like that but other then store purchases we have to pay the full ride for everything else. I know it is a good value that we got but we still have annual dues and when all is said and done a week at WDW is costing me a lot more then $1599 a week for a family of 4. Just want to know if anyone else feels the same.

No, not really.
I'm a pretty simple gal. I want a great Disney vacation, at a great rate in the Deluxe catergory year in and year out. My dvc gives me that. I always get the 1 bedroom so even with 3 free nights it would probably still be out of my budget especially now when the economy is brutal and I've been cutting back every where.

Like Dee, the financial aspect was probably 3rd in my consideration. I knew we would be vacationing at the world for a long time so I wanted some thing that gave us that ability.

 

[Lynne M]

Shortchanged? Not for a minute. I save far more by staying on points than I would with any of their so-called deals.

Now, if you're comparing staying DVC to getting free dining at a value, then of course free dining is a better deal. But I bought DVC because I don't want to stay at a value. Or a moderate. It's all about the upgraded accommodations, and if you compare staying at DVC and paying for dining to staying at a deluxe and getting free dining, you'll see just how much better you're doing.

 

[Chuck S]

By comparing apples to apples, in other words a DVC resort stay on points vs a DVC resort on cash using the "buy 4 get 3" special or free dining, the DVC point stay wins hands down price wise.

If you are comfortable staying in a Value resort for every visit, DVC likely isn't of any value to you. And there's NOTHING wrong with the value resorts, we spend a night at POP occasionally, but for an extended vacation, I want my DVC.

 

[SSRFred]

......Disney is offering some discount or freebie that DVCers can never take advantage of. Last year it was free dining plans, this year seems to be 3 nights free when booking 4 or more nights. ...

Not true at all. The deals are there for everyone.

I love deals. It just gives me an excuse to go to Disney even more. But as others have said, you still pay less with DVC and those deals won't be there forever.

 

[kmaach]

Shortchanged? Not for a minute. I save far more by staying on points than I would with any of their so-called deals.

Now, if you're comparing staying DVC to getting free dining at a value, then of course free dining is a better deal. But I bought DVC because I don't want to stay at a value. Or a moderate. It's all about the upgraded accommodations, and if you compare staying at DVC and paying for dining to staying at a deluxe and getting free dining, you'll see just how much better you're doing.

This is exactly why I just submitted my membership paperwork. I cannot wait to start vacationing through DVC!

 

[jodifla]

First let me say we love DVC and enjoy almost every year, but i do feel sometimes that I may have done better if we just booked a regular Disney vacation when we wanted to go. It seems that every time we go, Disney is offering some discount or freebie that DVCers can never take advantage of. Last year it was free dining plans, this year seems to be 3 nights free when booking 4 or more nights. I know that the orig. DVC members got a 10% discount on park tickets for 10 years or something like that but other then store purchases we have to pay the full ride for everything else. I know it is a good value that we got but we still have annual dues and when all is said and done a week at WDW is costing me a lot more then $1599 a week for a family of 4. Just want to know if anyone else feels the same.

Nope. I love my 2 bedroom villas!!!!!!!!!!! No way I'd pay cash for that, so DVC is always the best deal for me.

It kills me to have to pay for a hotel room anywhere these days. We spent two nights at La Quinta and it was $167 by the time you added in the taxes. Ugh!!

 

[Coach81]

No, I do not.. I love my DVC!!!

 

[RDP]

I think Disney could show more concessions on the park tickets, but having said that I could not afford to buy the type of accomodation (2 bed villa) if I wasn't staying in vacation club; as that type of accomodation would come at the price of a large suite.

 

[ricesk]

I definitely understand want "hitthebids" is saying.

I have been trying and trying to justify purchasing DVC....and just can't....We have been to WDW 6 times in the last 4 years.....just came back in April and booked another trip in October. Problem for me is, assuming we are going twice each year, I would have to purchase about 300 points....or do the banking/borrowing....or stay only Sun-Thu. Plus, there frequently seems to be issues with availability in a DVC room/suite. And, you are still paying the ~$1000+ MFs each year.

I can really justify this emotionally, but not practically.

We love the deluxe resorts, especially Beach Club, but seems more practical for us to wait for the discounts.

On the other hand, my impractical side, is dreaming of becoming a DVC member someday.

 

[dgaston]

And sometimes when you're out of points, it's fun to take advantage of the offers. I did that last December with the Disney Visa Free dining and I and two of my adult children had a great visit and really made the most of the meals, including Candlelight Processional at Le Cellier.