Do you track what would have been your 'rack rate' after your book using DVC points?

[WDBRDWLK]

When we first bought into DVC in 1999, we created a spreadsheet to track what would have been out of pocket rack rates for the resorts we have booked using our DVC points. We have been able to use our points and stay at some amazing resorts over the years as well as book Grand Villas and Disney cruises and bring family and friends along with us who would have never been able to afford to stay at such places. For us, it was a win-win, no brainer, that DVC has been a great investment in vacationing.
So how do you feel about your DVC purchase and do you also track what would have been your out of pocket rack rates??

 

[AdamsMum]

When we first bought into DVC in 1999, we created a spreadsheet to track what would have been out of pocket rack rates for the resorts we have booked using our DVC points. We have been able to use our points and stay at some amazing resorts over the years as well as book Grand Villas and Disney cruises and bring family and friends along with us who would have never been able to afford to stay at such places. For us, it was a win-win, no brainer, that DVC has been a great investment in vacationing.
So how do you feel about your DVC purchase and do you also track what would have been your out of pocket rack rates??

Guilty! Have to convince myself that I'm getting a deal! DVC allows me to stay at great resorts where I would have never paid the rack rates. My BW points let me stay walking distance to the parks. I hate waiting in bus lines.

I have a spreadsheet that lists all the years, I fill in the maintenance fees for each year and the room I booked and the rack (or discounted rack) rate for it. I don't have the kind of complicated spreadsheet that some have with the initial opportunity cost and such. I bought 3 small contracts (one direct) for $82, $87 and $98 (direct) per point. With prices the way they are today, I feel even better about that.

Bottom line for me, though, was that I wanted to stay in a better location without paying the rack rates for those resorts.

 

[com_op_2000]

When we first bought in we keep track of our numbers the same as you. We recovered our initial investment and MFs until we were well past the OOP rate. We even keep track as a comparison as if we were staying in our regular DL-AB (now POR-RS) for the same dates. We started coming out ahead after only 3 years 5 months.

 

[CarolMN]

I don't. Started to do that & checked rack rate once or twice. But since I never would have paid Disney's cash price for a DVC villa (even with a 40% discount), I soon lost interest,

I did track BWV resale prices for awhile. That made me feel pretty good about the purchase, but since I wasn't planning on selling anytime soon, that didn't continue for long, either. Now I really don't do anything along those lines beyond keeping an eye on the ROFR thread. Guess I'm just at peace with it.

 

[Geomom]

Yes, I've been keeping track of rack rates for our trips. We would never actually pay those amounts to stay in those rooms, but it is great to say that without our DVC this 2 Bedroom at BLT would have cost $11,000--especially when we're using our $72/pt OKW resale points for the trip. We bought our pts in 2008--we have definitely come out ahead by now--and enjoyed the nicer resorts!

 

[EllieBride]

Yep! It doesn't mean that I would ever actually pay rack rate prices, but I love seeing them! It makes me feel good about our purchase

 

[WDBRDWLK]

We should have kept track of the maintenance and dues each year but we did not.

 

[peabody58]

Yes. I use the Disney Reservation price as the 'value added' in my spreadsheet calculations. It's a quick and simple way to track our relative value of our DVC. We also like to see which resort will equate to the biggest bang per point. Is it 100% accurate of what 'discounted' booking costs are - no. But for a long term commitment, it is a good process. Prior to DVC, I was pretty naive regarding discounts, and probably paid the going rate most of the time. Also we didn't get to stay in deluxes all the time, so DVC has still been a beneficial vacation and lifestyle decision. The only way to truly save money, is to never spend any. So bottom line - yes we use the booking rate for our spreadsheet comparisons.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

We have used our points for 66 trips since 1999 and the rack rate is about $144k.. so we are happy DVC members! For our upcoming week long DL trip in May, we are staying at VGC in a studio and the rack rate alone is $4,132.44.. there is no way on earth I would pay out of pocket !!! Love our DVC!

 

[DenLo]

We have used our points for 66 trips since 1999 and the rack rate is about $144k.. so we are happy DVC members! For our upcoming week long DL trip in May, we are staying at VGC in a studio and the rack rate alone is $4,132.44.. there is no way on earth I would pay out of pocket !!! Love our DVC!

Even if you remove a 30% discount for your stay at VGF it is still unbelievably high. And as an OKW owner you have really benefited from low prices at the beginning.

DH religiously tracked for a few years and then checks off and on. We have definitely gotten the value for the money we have paid for our points and our annual dues.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

We bought in at a relatively low rate, $69/pp and not much more pp for our add-ons. We have 6 contracts which we plan to split between our 2 kids. Just do not want to give them up yet! We are having so much fun! You never get bored with Disney! Besides, we do a family trip each year in a grand villa so they get their Disney fix!

 

[kniquy]

my spreadsheet calculations

If you are able - can you share your spreadsheet? I made a rough one, but i am not very good with creating formulas for my excel spreadsheets. Just PM me and i can send you my email.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

If you are able - can you share your spreadsheet? I made a rough one, but i am not very good with creating formulas for my excel spreadsheets. Just PM me and i can send you my email.

I will be happy to. Will PM you..

 

[MrInfinity]

We would not pay rack rate so I couldn't compare to that without grossly overstating the savings. If we were to do this, we would compare to the best deal I can possibly get. Problem is when I'm actually looking for those deals, I will be more persistent and find better deals than if I just look now and put down the best current sale. In the end, a hotel which I get thru discounted means is pretty close to a DVC studio, tho the studio is a bit cheaper. So I look at that as mostly a wash when we stay in a Studio, but not having to pay with anything but a few points. 2 regular rooms vs 1 DVC suite, 2 regular rooms is considerably cheaper -- but you aren't staying together so it's not the same experience. But 1 DVC suite vs 1 hotel-side suite, the DVC is half the price. That's where the real value is to us-- when we want to stay together in bigger rooms, it's a massive savings. And when we want a small room, it's about a wash but still makes sense to use points.

 

[rocketriter]

...So how do you feel about your DVC purchase and do you also track what would have been your out of pocket rack rates??

I've tracked rack rate only once, when we booked a 2-bedroom lock-off at BCV in order to bring along two relatives (who had a great time) and I wanted to show off the value of the accommodations we provided for them. It was a guilty pleasure, even though I know there are often better cash deals than rack rate. For us, by the way, owning at BCV for years really has been a good deal. That's because we probably would have stayed at the Beach Club anyway, every year or two, and we would have wound up spending more than DVC ownership has cost us.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It's not an exact science. First, there's a good chance you would not pay rack rate on the room. There are too many ways to get a cheaper price.
Second, for those that always get a 1br for two people (like we did) or a two bedroom for four (again, like we did), would you really have booked those rooms if paying cash? I would have likely stuck with a regular hotel room.
On the flip side, for those who cook how much did you save by not eating out?

Too many variables to be accurate IMO.

MG

 

[kniquy]

There are too many ways to get a cheaper price.

How much cheaper? -- I doubt you are going to find a room for 50-60% off rack rate so if just for calculation purposes you used a discount of 25% off rack -- it probably is pretty comparable to what someone would typically pay. Heck even if you compared DVC to what the rental companies are charging for the same exact DVC rooms it would still end up as some sort of savings (just your break even point would be a little longer).

I would have likely stuck with a regular hotel room.

If one was happy with just a hotel room they probably wouldn't buy into DVC. It is a means of affording a deluxe room because one wants nicer accommodations and space for their family. To make a comparison it needs to be the same room category. Yes, everyone here could save money by staying in value resorts or just staying off site, but those are far from the same experience as staying in a deluxe on property.

It is not going to be an exact science when doing these sort of calculations, but people can get a good rough estimate of the value they are getting out of their time share.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

It's not an exact science. First, there's a good chance you would not pay rack rate on the room. There are too many ways to get a cheaper price.
Second, for those that always get a 1br for two people (like we did) or a two bedroom for four (again, like we did), would you really have booked those rooms if paying cash? I would have likely stuck with a regular hotel room.
On the flip side, for those who cook how much did you save by not eating out?

Too many variables to be accurate IMO.

MG

We like the one bedroom for the convenience of the in room laundry and full kitchen. When we bring family and friends we do use the kitchen especially for breakfast. Not everyone goes to the parks each day so having a nice kitchen works out well. When we take our grandkids, having the laundry in the room is a huge advantage. Oh the spills!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

How much cheaper? -- I doubt you are going to find a room for 50-60% off rack rate so if just for calculation purposes you used a discount of 25% off rack -- it probably is pretty comparable to what someone would typically pay. Heck even if you compared DVC to what the rental companies are charging for the same exact DVC rooms it would still end up as some sort of savings (just your break even point would be a little longer).

If one was happy with just a hotel room they probably wouldn't buy into DVC. It is a means of affording a deluxe room because one wants nicer accommodations and space for their family. To make a comparison it needs to be the same room category. Yes, everyone here could save money by staying in value resorts or just staying off site, but those are far from the same experience as staying in a deluxe on property.

It is not going to be an exact science when doing these sort of calculations, but people can get a good rough estimate of the value they are getting out of their time share.

I mean a cheaper price as compared to rack rate. So, if you track rack rate that's not a good comparison.

We stayed in Disney hotel rooms for many years prior to DVC. Once we became Members we got hooked on a 1br. Not exactly sure why, as we never used the kitchen. Not once. We did use the microwave and fridge from time to time, but those are common in regular hotel rooms these days.
When we brought guests we always got a 2br or GV/BC. Those are the only times we even used the living room area.

I also always thought the hotel side of the resorts were a bit more deluxe. Specifically VWL and BC. I've never been in a BWV room.

MG

 

[WDBRDWLK]

If you are able - can you share your spreadsheet? I made a rough one, but i am not very good with creating formulas for my excel spreadsheets. Just PM me and i can send you my email.

Ugh .. forgot how to PM from the DIS.. help!