Does anyone regret buying DVC?

[jenntish]

Do you think it is a reasonable strategy to buy in to SSR, hold for 15 yrs, then sell?

We will have received value by breaking even after 7 yrs and being able to vacation the way we want during a critical time for our kids...but then, we might not want it as much.

With 32 yrs left on the contract, we should still get some value for it in re-sale.

Any thoughts/opinions??

this is exactly what I'm thinking... and I'm not sure why this isn't talked about more often! It seems like the perfect family solution. And if it holds it's value, then all you are really paying is the annual MFs... plus you lose out on the interest of the $$$ you initially laid out to purchase your points. Am I missing something here???

 

[jgreenedc]

this is exactly what I'm thinking... and I'm not sure why this isn't talked about more often! It seems like the perfect family solution. And if it holds it's value, then all you are really paying is the annual MFs... plus you lose out on the interest of the $$$ you initially laid out to purchase your points. Am I missing something here???

I don't think you're missing anything. The ability to resell DVC for a decent price (in contrast with some other timeshares) was a big factor in us deciding to buy in. The fact that Disney exercises ROFR creates a floor, so you can have some security that values aren't going to plummet - unless Disney suddenly falls out of favor with the American people. When I was still thinking about DVC, I asked an agent at the Timeshare Store about the buy, use, resell idea, and he said that the average DVC contract is held 10-12 years.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

My only regret is we didn't do it sooner. We have been vacationing at WDW since the kids were 7 and 9, and they are now in their early 30's with family's of their own. Both are also DVC members. We could have paid for our membership many times over. We purchased our DVC in 2002. DW and I go to WDW every year, the kids go every other year, with trips to Hilton Head on the off years still using their points. We just enjoy our DVC and wanting to purchase additional points in the near future.

 

[jarestel]

I don't. The cost in dollars is inconsequential compared to the wonderful memories I have, thanks to DVC. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but if I had it to do over again today, I'd plunk down my money on DVC every time.

 

[ryley26]

No regrets never bought as a investment. We love going so it was right for us.

 

[toesmom]

my brother's family and parents are booking 1 week all-incl to cancun 5* resort in january - cost for 1 adult is $1800 canadian dollars (side note: too much food, airplanes never on time, no room on airplane seat, foreign country).... if our family of 4 did this once a year the cost is close to $6,000.

So we really actually save money by going DVC, we can drive if we wanted to, save ourselves 6lbs of extra weight every year, and stay in country that speaks english.

We really did the numbers before we bought 2 years ago, worked out to approx $2,000 per year for the entire contract (Canadian dollars). Vacations to Mexico (which we'd otherwise do) are only going to get more expensive.

This way we get 2 weeks holiday per year, pretty good deal I think.

Now if only teleportation would work then we'd save on transportation costs.

 

[LoveMyDVC2]

I think financing DVC is still a good deal. Obviously not as good as paying cash, but for us, we would try and put $150-$200 a month away for a family vacation. At the end of the year we could afford a one week vacation.

Financing DVC is the same for us!! However, we now can go for 10 days in the summer or two smaller vacations in Sept-Dec.

It also makes us take a family vacation. My DH has a crazy work schedule and if we didn't have points to "nail us down" to a vacation we would probably never go. Many times we would spend the money we saved for a vacation for something we "needed". ( a computer, lawnmower... ) If I took out equity from my home and paid cash, I would have less incentive to pay it off early. I hate taking equity out unless I am putting right back into my home with improvements!

My DH and I love knowing we have a 48 years of quality family vacations paid for. (we financed for a year then paid it off) I hate paying interest. For me financing made me want to pay it off as soon as possible. Bonus: The points help us stay focused on making a family vacation a priority!

I guess I am trying to say...even if you have to finance DVC it is still a good deal for many other reasons!

Am I the only one?

 

[BigBlueMan]

I think financing DVC is still a good deal. Obviously not as good as paying cash, but for us, we would try and put $150-$200 a month away for a family vacation. Am I the only one?

Not at all. When I bought into DVC in '95, I had a part time consulting job that paid a small amount monthly on contract. I was tossing that money to the wind. I bought into DVC using their finance option, and that money paid for my 230 points at OKW. Over and over you see the "paying cash for your yearly vacations" and "financing your DVC purchase isn't a good idea" statements. I disagree only because there are some people in this world for whom it is much easier to spread something like this out.

I know that when we bought, there was no way I could pay cash for the purchase. I had just changed jobs to a company I ended up buying years later. Now, things would be different, but back then financing the purchase as well as the purchase itself, were wonderful things!

Because of being able to finance, I've been able to take my dad to Disney and to Disneyland numerous times over the past few years. He'll be 79 next week and enjoys the heck out of going. (We're going Christmas this year) Without my purchase through the finance option, there would have been no way I could have done this. If for no other reason, THAT one is good enough for me.

Off the topic of financing, I just flat out enjoy the Disney Vacation Club experience. Call it hokey, call it a marketing ploy, call it what you will... when I pull in the gates at Old Key West, I DO feel at home. Plus, we've made friends through DVC that will last a lifetime. We're sailing with some in September, others next June and all three couples are meeting up at Paris Disneyland next July. I look at part of the DVC investment as being that feeling. It's not just a 'hotel room' or a resort. I've had countless hours of enjoyment planning my trips over the years. I've enjoyed the 'DVC meetings' everytime we cruise on DCL. I like being asked about DVC when I'm wearing a hat or shirt. To me, thats all part of the investment as well.

There is no right or wrong answer here, just like most things in life. For every genius who says doing it one way is bad, you'll find another genius who says its the greatest thing since sliced bread. Each person has to figure their own 'magical formula'. If it is 100% positive for them as individuals, they buy into it. The question comes down to what is YOUR positive percentage number that makes it a good deal for you.

 

[DMKEDM]

We're brand-new DVC members, but long-time Disney fans...we've done 15 trips to DWD in the last 18 years...

Not only do I not regret buying, I'm thrilled my son talked me into it.

But I am discovering--almost daily--the "surprises" of ownership. Now, when I say "surprise," I don't mean to suggest that our guide didn't tell us these things--he did. THey just didn't "sink in."

The biggest and most important is the difference in availability between booking online for a non-DVC reservation, and making a DVC reservation. Availability is huge. We're using wait lists on two planned vacations right now (and we've owned for all of 2 weeks...haven't even gotten our m'ship cards or gotten thru closing yet)...I keep thinking it will be like my usual Disney dealings, and it isn't. Each of the resorts we want to stay at is wide open on the regular DisneyWorld website...but unavailable for DVC...I understand, but didn't expect this...it means we'll have to do "window planning" and we're just not used to that...

I'm amazed at how "unavailable" time is, even in low-use time like January. I'm also particularly surprised at the different levels of helpfulness at Member Services. I've made about 10 calls so far in the past 2 weeks...I spend a lot of time apologizing to MS about how much help I need. Everyone is nice. But not everyone is "Disney-nice." And some MS people help more than others. One reason for some of my many calls is finding out "later" something that had MS told me at the time would have changed my decision (and the subsequent need to call again).

And I'm mighty tired of hearing the same "warnings" on each call. I suppose they're needed...particularly for us newbies. But I've now heard 10 times that to avoid losing points I have to cancel (if I'm going to cancel) prior to 31 days before the start of my reservation. I really don't need to hear it again.

And I'm now beginning to feel "weird" about my multiple calls. I find myself wondering if the Disney computers are tracking the frequency of my calls. I don't like feeling this way, and the "regular" Disney reservation folks never made me feel this way.

I'm also very used to doing my Disney dealings via the website. I hope DVC allows us to reserve via website soon. Having to call during business hours is inconvenient (altho I can just imagine the availability problems if MS were more accessible during times most people aren't working!)...

We've been told by lots of people that the WLs are terrific and they almost always work out, particularly if you're not insisting on one particular property. Too soon for us to know if that is going to prove true for us. But I'm hoping.

In the meantime, I'm ecstatic about our decision to "buy in" altho I'm reserving the right to change my mind after our first DVC stay (in November)...I know I'm expecting what we get when we pay rack rates and stay at Beach Club or Yacht Club (our favorites)...if that turns out to be as different as the reservation process, I may be in for a shock!

Right now, I'm a bit discombobulated by the reality of only a little bit of housekeeping every four days, and no "extra's" (like towels, bedding, a rollaway cot--we're going in January in a party of four unrelated adults...we do not want to share beds...I just assumed we could get rollaway cots or a room w/2 beds instead of a king size bed...how wrong was that! So we have to bring our own air mattresses for the teenaged guys (19) AND sheets/blankets/pillows for them...not very Disney-like, but it would have been lots worse to discover that once we were on site! And ultimately I don't think it will interfere w/the joy of it at all...as noted, just different from past exerience...

So...no regrets...but be aware that things will be different and an adjustment period will be needed!

 

[rinkwide]

DMKEDM's post above should be required reading for prospective members.

 

[rnorwo1]

[QUOTE=DMKEDM]
The biggest and most important is the difference in availability between booking online for a non-DVC reservation, and making a DVC reservation. Availability is huge. We're using wait lists on two planned vacations right now (and we've owned for all of 2 weeks...haven't even gotten our m'ship cards or gotten thru closing yet)...I keep thinking it will be like my usual Disney dealings, and it isn't. Each of the resorts we want to stay at is wide open on the regular DisneyWorld website...but unavailable for DVC...
I'm also particularly surprised at the different levels of helpfulness at Member Services. Everyone is nice. But not everyone is "Disney-nice."

Thank you so much for your honesty! Will other members please please please tell me their experiences with this sort of thing? I had decided to buy, but now I'm not so sure. I have very young children, so it's not always possible that I can plan very far in advance. Furthermore, my oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall, so we will be limited to the school holidays.... are these wait lists at all of the resorts? And part of what I've always enjoyed from WDW is the hospitality and helpfulness of the employees... are DVC members more on their own? How "limited" is the housekeeping?

 

[burnsoc]

My last two trips have been last minute. We went in April and stayed in a 2 bedroom at SSR which we booked two weeks prior. SSR was the only property available which was fine with us as we like each of the properties. Our next trip will be at the beginning of Sept. and we needed a 1 bedroom and studio which we got at our first choice VWL. If you're not hung up about getting a particular resort, last minute trips can work out just fine with DVC. When we have a trip where the resort is important to us we make sure to plan ahead at the booking windows. I'll take my DVC membership over waiting for AP codes any day. Read as much as you can about the ENTIRE program and make your own decision, don't get swayed by someone elses opinion whether good or bad. I have no regrets because I knew exactly what I was getting when I handed over my money. As far as my dealings with DVC employees, I've never noticed a difference between DVC and CRO. And it's actually a relief to us not to have housekeeping everyday. It always seemed as if mousekeeping was in our room when we would come back for an afternoon break. Good Luck!

 

[DMKEDM]

Morwo1: I'd feel bad if my comments caused you to rethink a decision to buy...I am not at all sorry we bought. We've only been members for about 3 weeks now, so I don't yet really know how well the wait lists work...I do know there are availability issues, tho. We wanted the most time for our points, so we tried for Boardwalk standard view for one of our trips...and could only get 4 of the 5 nights w/std view; had to take preferred view for the other night, and go on the WL for the std view for that one night...as for T-giving, our guide "warned us" before we bought that holidays (which include spring break/Easter) book fast and that we need to be prepared to use the WL and book as early as possible. We'll give it another month to see if the Wed-Thurs nights come thru...if they don't, we'll book for cash at another resort and move to DVC on Friday...it's still a MUCH less expensive T-giving Disney trip than it would be w/out DVC!

As for nice DVC CMs...the only ones I've dealt with so far are the folks at Member Services (making reservations) and our guide. We adore our guide--we've even invited him to dinner w/us during our first DVC trip (November/T-giving)...he's terrific and absolutely "Disney Nice"...but the folks at MS are less friendly. They're perfectly pleasant, but don't give you that feeling that nothing is too much trouble for a Disney guest that I've gotten used to getting when we go to WDW...we haven't yet taken our first DVC vacation...we have one planned for Nov and another for Jan...and are now thinking about booking one for May (whoever said usages change was SO right!)...but haven't yet experienced it first-hand.

The literature says that mousekeeping is every 4th day, to empty trash and replace towels. Nothing in between (unless you request and pay for it)...not an issue for me/us...but worth noting...and they don't provide "extra's" (like extra bedding or towels or roll-away cots...something I'd have taken for granted at any hotel, anywhere...the point being, DVC is not really "hotel"...)

One last thought: one year, when my son was in third grade, I was thinking about pulling him out of school to go to WDW...I mentioned this to his teacher, who told me it would be more important for S's education, at that level, to go to Disney...he'd give me the work S would miss, and ask S to report to the class on the trip, but that I absolutely should take him out of school and go...so I did...of course, as he got older and school got more challenging, missing school was less and less of an option...my S is "good at school" ... and rarely will even consider missing class to "do Disney"...but up until high school, missing a couple of days in order to go during non-peak times worked just fine for us...I should think that would be true for kindergarten no matter what...and could last for 5-8 years of primary/middle school, depending on well your child "takes" to school!

Good luck and lots of pixie dust on your decision...hope we get to see you at DVC/WDW some time...

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I started out making some calculations about whether or not it made financial sense to buy into DVC, but it boils down to: we can afford it and we really enjoy it. Maybe we're going to come out ahead in the long run, or maybe we're not, but I'd rather buy DVC points and keep a car longer than some people because we get more pleasure from Disney vacations than new cars, and our Disney points wouldn't pay for more than 3/4 of one extra Camry in our lifetime. I believe that the dues will always more than pay for the equivalent cost of Disney property accomodations. And we just plain enjoy knowing that we can always go "home."

I'm going to watch the resale market, and if the dues become astronomical and the resale price begins to fall dramatically, we may bail out. Or our family may get sick of going (about the time the earth stops spinning, probably.) I don't think I'll ever regret buying into the DVC, though, because we are making such great memories now and if we ever have to sell our points, we'll keep those.

 

[rnorwo1]

Morwo1: I'd feel bad if my comments caused you to rethink a decision to buy...

Please do not feel bad.... I am MOST appreciative of honest feedback. This is a fairly large purchase and I want to make the decision well informed. No one's opinion will necessarily sway me, but I would like balanced feedback as I make the decision. I wish I could find a forum of DVC haters so I could be assured that I was getting both sides. This may be heresey on this forum, but surely ALL that is DVC is not good!

 

[crisi]

[QUOTE=DMKEDM]
The biggest and most important is the difference in availability between booking online for a non-DVC reservation, and making a DVC reservation. Availability is huge. We're using wait lists on two planned vacations right now (and we've owned for all of 2 weeks...haven't even gotten our m'ship cards or gotten thru closing yet)...I keep thinking it will be like my usual Disney dealings, and it isn't. Each of the resorts we want to stay at is wide open on the regular DisneyWorld website...but unavailable for DVC...
I'm also particularly surprised at the different levels of helpfulness at Member Services. Everyone is nice. But not everyone is "Disney-nice."

Thank you so much for your honesty! Will other members please please please tell me their experiences with this sort of thing? I had decided to buy, but now I'm not so sure. I have very young children, so it's not always possible that I can plan very far in advance. Furthermore, my oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall, so we will be limited to the school holidays.... are these wait lists at all of the resorts? And part of what I've always enjoyed from WDW is the hospitality and helpfulness of the employees... are DVC members more on their own? How "limited" is the housekeeping?

If you can plan seven or more months in advance, you won't have a problem - except with certain types of rooms (BWV standard view, Grand Villas at any resort - sometimes they book up right at eleven months). Between six months and two months - generally not a problem if you aren't picky about the resort - with certain exceptions - holidays, early December. The short notice (hey, lets go to WDW next month) availability is mixed. Some people have good luck, some bad luck. The advice around here seems to be that this is best for people who can plan several months out.

DVC offers "trash and towel" on day four of your stay (take out the trash and leave you clean towels) and a full cleaning only if you stay eight or more nights. You can pay for more cleaning. Lots of DVCers like not having Mousekeeping in their rooms all the time - I like maidservice, but not enough to pay for it.

We've found the CMs to be the same (they are the same, we stay at BWV and the CMs are shared with the Inn) and my few calls to Member Services I've only had one grump. I've had grumps calling Disney Dining and CRO as well - I don't think that is unique to DVC.

Rooms at DVC are very specifically configured and rollaways aren't available (on occation, at BWVs, people have been able to get them from the Inn side, but officially, they aren't available and I wouldn't count on it happening). Nor will you find a studio with a king, or a one bedroom with two queens in the Master. There is some variation in what is in a studio (OKW has two queen beds, everywhere else has a queen and a full pullout), and what is in the second bedroom of a two bedroom unit (sometimes two queens, sometimes configured as a studio with the full pullout). No bunkbeds. No additional bedding will be provided.

The thing to remember - this is a timeshare, not a hotel. If you have timeshare expectations, you will probably be pleased. If you think you are buying the opportunity to stay in a Disney Deluxe hotel, you will probably have some adjusting to do (you may still end up pleased).

 

[crisi]

Morwo1: I'd feel bad if my comments caused you to rethink a decision to buy...

Please do not feel bad.... I am MOST appreciative of honest feedback. This is a fairly large purchase and I want to make the decision well informed. No one's opinion will necessarily sway me, but I would like balanced feedback as I make the decision. I wish I could find a forum of DVC haters so I could be assured that I was getting both sides. This may be heresey on this forum, but surely ALL that is DVC is not good!

To continue, the major complaints we hear around here:

Non smoking is not guarenteed. And DVC won't refund your points if you get stuck in a non-smoking room. This can be a real problem if you or your kid has asthma.

Also, you may get "stuck" in a handicapped accessible room. DVC operates at pretty much full capacity, which means that able bodied people will end up in HA rooms if they are not needed by someone in a wheelchair.

The room cleanliness or overall upkeep of the hotel gets complaints from time to time. Occationally, rooms haven't been properly cleaned. We've had broken drawers on dressers and cracked tile in bathroms, other people have had lights burned out. Occationally worse. Generally, we are content and think Disney does a good job of balancing dues with upkeep. Not everyone has been as content.

Members have less leverage than cash guests. Face it, they have our money up front. Its rare to find yourself compensated at DVC with a free meal or something else.

Views - with the exception of the Boardwalk View (which is a guarenteed room type you book), and SSRs DTD view (which is luck of the draw when you show up), DVC Views don't tend to be as great or as flexible as the Deluxe resorts. There is no booking of a "lagoon view" - you get what you get when you show up. The BWV Standard View is another exception - but generally, don't expect great views.

If you don't like the room you got, and you can move (you can't always due to high occupancy) DVC charges you a fee to switch.

Perks come and go - they are pretty good right now, but they could all get yanked tomorrow.

We can't take advantage of specials and use our points. There is no "free dining" for staying on points. DVC members are free to book a cash trip with free dining, but then you have these points.....

When dues are released, someone always complains about the amount of the increase or how fairly the dues are distributed (I still think there is a good point on the burden of BWVs for transportation).

When point charts are released for non-DVC options (and specifically cruising) someone always complains that the number of points required for these options has increased.

CRO will often have rooms available when DVC itself doesn't. This is due to how DVC "pays" for member trades. It makes sense from DVCs point of view, but can be quite frustrating when you are on the waitlist for a room at BCV and CRO has availability for cash guests.

I think those are the common ones. Someone can probably add.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

My only regret is that I did not buy earlier when the cost was less.

 

[Lisa P.]

I wish I could find a forum of DVC haters so I could be assured that I was getting both sides. This may be heresey on this forum, but surely ALL that is DVC is not good!

LOL! You're a wise person - good for you! No program is right for everyone so there will ALWAYS be people who buy, then resell. We did. You might try TUG (see my sig below) to find a more balanced view of DVC - both pro and con, IMHO.

DVC was our first of several timeshare purchases - the rest were resale (a Marriott week, Fairfield points and 2 others). Timesharing suits us since we are usually able to plan a year ahead and we really appreciate condo-style vacations for the space, amenities & activities. The things that bother some folks about timeshares (availability issues, minimal housekeeping, no room service, running the dishwasher as you leave, etc.) have not been an issue for us at all. It's different for everyone so consider your personal style.

Within a year or two, we saw how we actually used our timeshares as opposed to how we had thought we would. Of all we owned, DVC cost the most and provided the fewest nights in 2BRs. When we needed to sell excess time, DVC was naturally the first to go. We do enjoy the flexibility of a points-based system so we kept our Fairfield points even when we sold our other 3 weeks too. We'll probably buy more FF eventually since we've really enjoyed the FF resorts themselves and their locations.

We did not regret buying DVC at all and we have not regretted selling it either. The DVC resorts are all really nice. IMHO, preferences between them are splitting hairs since none are "bad" by any stretch, just not personal favorites among people. We are just so glad to be on vacation together - maybe we're just easy to please DVC HHI was always our favorite DVC so we did exchange in via II after we sold our DVC points.

Here's my 2.5¢ for new buyers :

• Make sure you can plan ahead early enough to find availability when you want it.
• Consider the home resort where you think you'd like to visit the most often in the next 5-10 years.
• See how many points you'd use in every 2 years at DVC resorts only - divide the total by 2 for your annual points need.
• Make sure you're NOT buying to use it frequently just for long weekends or Premier season (paying cash may make more sense than buying points).
• Don't consider ANY other benefits or uses in your decision since they are subject to change and could disappear a month after you buy.
• Lastly - make sure you can reasonably AFFORD the purchase AND the annual commitment to dues. Don't tie yourself down to a costly annual maintenance fee (and DVC's are among the highest out there) if it means going into debt to do it.

It's a very nice program for folks who know they are likely to pay to stay onsite at WDW in deluxe or HAFH properties (or maybe moderates) at least every other year for many years to come. If this is you, you'll probably join many other happy DVCers here. If not, you may resell a while later and disappear from this forum. Do look at TUG for more opinions. HTH.

 

[eliza61]

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

Nope, we're not either. My Husband and I decided to purchase a membership after we realized that we were returning to disney about every 16-18 months. Whether or not we purchased we would still go to Disney. Airfare cost, raising gas cost, food etc will be incurred no matter where you go. The only alternative is to not go on vacation. Not even an option to me. We always stay deluxe and we usually stay about 10 days on average. We're middle class folks. We financed our membership, which was perfect for us but when we decided to make this purchase we also realized that we would not be buying Big screen TV's, big cars etc etc until the note was paid for. When we plan for a vacation, we do what most folks do, we save for it. That might mean I eat out less or maybe forgo a few new pairs of shoes but DVC has been one of the best purchases I've ever made. We are totally happy