Does anyone regret buying DVC?

[Disney Doll]

We have owned since 1997 at OKW and have never, not for one second, regretted our DVC purchase.

 

[wisbucky]

The only regrets we had was that we did not purchase sooner. We love our DVC membership. Staying at the home away from home accomodations has us spoiled. We have added on 4 times and will probably add on again before the next two years.

Good luck with your decission.

 

[Pluto 2]

i love dvc, i use to stay in all stars 7-9 nights a year. i wanted to stay in the better resorts just couldnt afford it. now im staying 12 nights a year in bwv,bcv,vwl,ssr,okw. this year im going im only going for 5 nights than im going on a 7 night cruise all on points. so does it sound worth it now?

 

[shantay1008]

i love dvc, i use to stay in all stars 7-9 nights a year. i wanted to stay in the better resorts just couldnt afford it. now im staying 12 nights a year in bwv,bcv,vwl,ssr,okw. this year im going im only going for 5 nights than im going on a 7 night cruise all on points. so does it sound worth it now?

This isn't really directed at Pluto, but posts like this always make me wonder how people are making this work. With additional trips to WDW, don't you have increased airfare costs, park costs, dining costs, etc.? Not to mention annual dues. I just am not getting how it's a true moneysaver. Am I just really bad at finding the WDW bargains?

People come on here all the time wondering if they can afford DVC, and I tend to agree with rinkwide, who says, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." But maybe there are clever ways to make it pay for itself without ending up in bankruptcy court, like that one poor fellow who posted on here a while back.

This is going to sound terrible, but sometimes I would love to peek into my fellow DVC owners' bank statements and see if they're either a) totally loaded and have plenty of cash to spare for all these extra WDW/cruise/Concierge Collection trips or b) living way beyond their means. Or maybe somewhere in between?

For the record, I love DVC...I'm just not sure if it loves me back.
Shannon

 

[byoung]

Like some others my only regret is, why I didn't buy sooner.

 

[MonkeyPants]

regret not buying it sooner

 

[rnorwo1]

This isn't really directed at Pluto, but posts like this always make me wonder how people are making this work. With additional trips to WDW, don't you have increased airfare costs, park costs, dining costs, etc.? Not to mention annual dues. I just am not getting how it's a true moneysaver. Am I just really bad at finding the WDW bargains?

I have also been wondering this, especially for the people who are financing... are they considering all of the interest in their "deals"? I can pay for the points outright, so this isn't a concern for me... but the dues are an additional thing to consider. Does anyone have a method for calculating whether or not it makes sense economically.... I can afford it, but I don't want to waste money on the dues unless it will, at the very least, break even while considering the dues. I've estimated the cost of a stay at these resorts and divided the cost of the points by that cost of the stay.... It will take me about 6-7 years just to get the cost of the points back, not including the dues. After that, I'll basically be staying for free, plus the dues... is my reasoning right on that? Lots of people also refer to this being a great deal because of the rising costs of rooms each year.... but do the points required for a room ever change? For example, will a room costing 100 points now still be 100 points 10 years from now? I'd appreciate any feedback, these are all concerns that I have. I don't see any point in becoming a member if I can just pay cash and end up with the same deal. Most people seem to talk as if they're getting to stay for free, so I'm not understanding if that's because they've already recouped their costs or if they're just not considering that it's not free, it's just pre-paid.

 

[shantay1008]

I can pay for the points outright, so this isn't a concern for me... but the dues are an additional thing to consider. Does anyone have a method for calculating whether or not it makes sense economically.... I can afford it, but I don't want to waste money on the dues unless it will, at the very least, break even while considering the dues. I've estimated the cost of a stay at these resorts and divided the cost of the points by that cost of the stay.... It will take me about 6-7 years just to get the cost of the points back, not including the dues. After that, I'll basically be staying for free, plus the dues... is my reasoning right on that?

The fact that you can pay for your membership outright is a huge plus in your favor. But I think you mentioned on another thread that you wanted to travel to other places, not just WDW. Which is what caught my attention because we're in the same boat. We've made the purchase but are trying to justify keeping it since the vacations we have planned over the next few years are not at WDW (sheer blasphemy on here, I know ).

Like you said, you'll break even on your initial purchase after 6 or 7 years (or a little longer when you factor in the dues from those years) and then just be vacationing on your dues. If you only have time for one vacation a year or other places to visit, you could go to WDW Year One and then rent out your points in Year Two to cover the cost of your dues and go to the Grand Canyon, or wherever.

My understanding is that the total number of points are locked in, but they might get redistributed over the years. In other words, DCV can't increase the number of points needed to stay at BCV unless they lower the number required at another resort. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong!
Shannon

You might want to check out this link: http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html

 

[cristbaby]

I think you make a VERY good point. I keep reading about how "you can't pass on DVC" With any timeshare you aren't really giving your family a "Freebie" ALL of them have costs so the heirs just inherited an asset that will cost them money and that they MAY not be able to sell at any price. While right now DVC has a great resale value as it nears the end of it's contract it might not hold that value. Same goes for Marriott and to a much greater extent things like Westgate. (I mean Westgate resales for next to nothing NOW what do you think it will be like as the properties age?)

I think I will just ask my 2 children if they would like to have it knowing that they would have to pay dues each year. If they are not interested, I would probably sell it. Even if I couldn't sell it for the going price today I feel I would have still had a good investment because of all the vacations we have had.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

My understanding is that the total number of points are locked in, but they might get redistributed over the years. In other words, DCV can't increase the number of points needed to stay at BCV unless they lower the number required at another resort. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Just a little bit wrong. MY understanding is if the points for a studio at the BCV go up 3 points during a certain season, the points must come down three points in some other season at the BCV (or 1 point in 3 separate seasons). This is the same with all of the resorts.

HBC

 

[rnorwo1]

Thanks for the tips.... but can you explain the Concierge Collection?

I think what I've decided to do though is buy half the points and save them with the intention of going every 2-3 years. Has anyone else done this and had it work well, or not-so-well? Is it more expensive to add points later?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks for the tips.... but can you explain the Concierge Collection?

I think what I've decided to do though is buy half the points and save them with the intention of going every 2-3 years. Has anyone else done this and had it work well, or not-so-well? Is it more expensive to add points later?

The concierge collection is a group of up-scale hotels that are available on points. Top of the line hotels in New York, London and most other major cities are part of the collection. There are also many resort area hotels as well. Unlike DVC rooms, the points for these can increase yearly.

When I first purchased points they were $65.00 each. So over time, it gets more expensive to add on points, especially as DVC prices go up.

But I could also sell my DVC for more than I paid for it. How often do you hear that in the timeshare industry?

HBC

 

[Merilyn]

We joined in 1993 when my daugter turned 21. At that time you had to be 21 to own part of the most wonderful thing we ever did! My son was 17. You don't have to be young to enjoy all things Disney! We go every year and have never regreted our purchase. We take the whole family most years and I have added a son-n-law and will add a daugher-in-law next month. AND THE MOST IMPORTENT THING IS I NOW HAVE A GRANDSON TO TAKE!!!! We will have our first trip with him in Oct. Nothing compares to family trips that make many memories to have for life. We took our Mother for several years before she passed away and I can tell you those memories are priceless.
I don't think there are many vacation places where everyone can find something to do everyday and night. Good luck with you decision and maybe one day we can WELCOME YOU HOME!

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Just a little bit wrong. MY understanding is if the points for a studio at the BCV go up 3 points during a certain season, the points must come down three points in some other season at the BCV (or 1 point in 3 separate seasons). This is the same with all of the resorts.

HBC

This is my understanding also.

 

[westjones]

We are very happy with it, but we have only been members since 2002--so I guess it is possible we will get tired of going to WDW, but right now I don't see that happening.

One thing I am SO glad about is that my DH limited us to 150 points. I was so thrilled during our first DVC visit that I wanted more and more and more points! Well he didn't, and he was SO right. We have no problem using our 150 points, but I know if we had more points it would be more than we could use. Now we can skip a year and easily use the points up the next year.

We used the points for the cruise once, but I didn't like the way it worked with points and prefer paying cashing (we book the day they open the dates to get the room we want). If we ever ended up with excessive points, I would use them to splurge on something like the cruise or to stay at GF or even try another place like the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island.

We did not finance out points AND when we bought it was only $70 a point. To be honest, I don't think I would buy at the current price and I know we wouldn't do it if we had to finance (you have to consider that extra cost of paying interest). I think the point price is too high now. But we bought into Beach Club at $70 a point without paying any interest, and right now that seems like we made a good deal.

DJ

 

[cavecricket]

At first I wanted to sell back due to a bad experiance with the initial purchase...I am so glad I gave it a chance...It is saving me money not just in the long run...thats a bonus....normally I would spend close to 4000.00 for AKL every year ( 18000.00 for our DVC for 50 years! ) .....this is cheaper and you can stay at a deluxe resort with more room!...Best purchase ever...cheaper then my car....dream come true...I want more points!!!!! buy big while the price is good!!!!!!!

 

[NMW]

What cavecricket said is so true. DVC is cheaper than my car (2005 Toyota Sienna minivan ) and I only plan to have it for 4 years. My DVC membership is over 35 years! How can that not be a deal. Even when we add another 85 points, it will STILL be less than my car! Yes, yes I know we pay annual dues, but most women I know spend more per month getting their hair cut and colored than my annual dues cost me a month (me included).

I think it's just a matter of what is important to you. Going to Disney every year is BIG to us. We have 3 kids so we'd always be paying for a deluxe resort. So, DVC will be a money saver for us. If a family only has 2 kids and is happy staying at POP, maybe it's not a good deal to them. Every family is different. Only you can decide what's right for yours.

 

[lovinthemouse]

For us it is a fit. We love it. We did our homework and priced ours out. It is more expensive than someother timeshares, but we do Disney so much that it pays for itself for us. We have done the Value resorts and while they are OK. They are small and crowded. We like being able to get larger accomodations if we want. Our family is getting older and the privacy factor will start to play especially if our kids bring friends. We love being able to stay in the more deluxe resorts too. It is really going to come down to how often you go. We go frequently. Now that we own we are planning to go more. The best advice I can give is do your homework. Make sure it is a fit for your family. And will be a fit for years to come. The only regret I have is not buying sooner. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[KelNottAt]

I regret buying one large contract (305 points). In hindsight, I wish I had two 150 or three 100 point contracts. Then I'd be able to bequeath more easily and/or sell a portion in case of emergency.

Other than that, we are very very very glad to have the membership.

 

[drinkdrankdrunk]

Yes. Unfortnately, I have not been satisfy with the membership.

If you do not plan to go every year you may be better paying cash for each visit. At least that way you have a chance that Disney will respond to your concerns when you raise them. With the DVC I get the impression they view members as "stuck" and could care less about you.

I am not saying not to buy, just really think about if it fits your lifestyle and what your expecations are. No matter what they say, this is not a "private club" and you are not "family", the DVC is a mass market time share and you will be treated that way.

I agree with this for the most part. The onset of SSR has also made me regret my purchase. SSR owners have really de-classed the entire organization. The mass marketing has brought..... how do we say.... less than desirables into the "Club". Now all SSR certainly aren't trashy but our stay there was less than desirable and a lot of that had to do with the low class of guests. In all fairness there are tons of "trade in guest" staying at SSR as well and this doesn't help. Add the difficulty booking at 7 months thanks to SSR and YES I regret my buy in. Couldn't have imagined saying that 10 years ago.