Does DVC just not work for some people?

[pilferk]

But, if they are in pre-school, a different 10-year question is: "Will my kids still enjoy WDW when they are tweens/teens?"

Hint: mine would rather go to Universal. Or even non-Orlando destinations. I often agree with them.

My kids might not (though I guess my 10 year old is entering tween-dom (THANKS for making me think about THAT!), and she still does).

But I probably will.

We enjoy spending a day at IOA...we couldn't spend a week at Universal Orlando.

We do plenty of "non-Orlando" in the summer, with weekend trips, etc. Luckily, it's not an "either/or" for us.

 

[Anna114]

But, if they are in pre-school, a different 10-year question is: "Will my kids still enjoy WDW when they are tweens/teens?"

Hint: mine would rather go to Universal. Or even non-Orlando destinations. I often agree with them.

My DVC owning has nothing to do with my kids it's all about us My plan is to take my grandbabies there, wether my sons come or not is of no concern to me

 

[Dean]

The only fallback of a plan like this is the question of "would you actually pay rack rate for a Disney hotel room?" Many, many of us Disboarders would not, there would typically be some sort of discount (unless you typically travel at ONLY the most crowded times: Christmas, New Years, Easter).

IMO, a discounted rack rate is likely the best comparison (20 or 30%) but it depends on when you go and other specifics. Assuming anything less than 10% is unreasonable because there are many options that give you a 10% discount including AAA. Anyone who has a track record could simply use info from 2-4 years or more of travel, whatever that is. Maybe it's Disney suites at full price or off site from priceline, that IS the basis for savings or lack of for a given person. Value is an entirely different matter and is far more difficult to quantify and variable from one family to another.

As for kids, I think DVC has to make sense without assumptions of what the kids will want/do/use but if one takes a short term approach as I've discussed, that should be factored in already because essentially no one should buy with a short term plan expecting to sell again or change usage patterns relying on others within a few years. I realize there are sometimes special circumstances that may generate the exception to any rule.

 

[staceymay00]

If you don't like on site then DVC is not for you - nothing wrong with that. We bought (resale) because we do like staying on site at least some of the time. We have enough points for a week in a 2br every other year. We currently go more frequently and find ways to stretch our points - shorter stays, paying cash somewhere for a night or two. Next year we will probably rent offsite again to replenish our points. I would like to rent a house in WH or somewhere nearby before we add on. I don't at all regret our decision to buy DVC, but I am also not in a hurry to add on when we can rent a nice house offsite for less and without the long term commitment. That works for us since we don't mind offsite some of the time.

 

[disneynutz]

You don't have to "join" to do the above. Are you saying that due to cost savings you were able to take vacations that you normally would not have?

Bill

 

[vicki_c]

Just wanted to point out that this thread is 2 years old. There may be in accurate information contained in it.

 

[North of Mouse]

I always get that sick feeling when my dues bill comes but then again we will have stayed on property for 13 days, this year, and it only cost $1,000 to stay at VWL in a studio.

So it 'only' cost $1,000??? What about those annual dues that 'make you sick'?? What about dividing the 'days' you have used into that initial $$$'s amount you have invested?? It is definitely more than the $1,000 you stated. Some people have a way of using 'blinders' to 'actual' costs of vacations.

Our dd has two weeks of points at BWV that she purchased 15 years ago, uses 1 week now, rents the other as she prefers camping at FW. Has been very lucky to 'break even' on her 'investment' this way 'averaging' out her fees and years. ('She' makes the ressie for the F&W festival, then sells the week).

A lot of people will say that DVC is the best thing for an avid Disney fan, but there are also plenty of people who go to Disney a lot who will say it doesn't make sense. My husband and I fall into that second group...

People might say oh i only pay $800 in dues a year and get a weeks worth of vacation out of it, but how do you forget about the 20 grand you initially paid, or are still paying as a second mortgage? That’s a big sum to just "forget about" lol.

This! I have heard people say they 'pay' for their investment in 3 years or so, and that's what Disney wants you to believe, but don't forget that is 'rack rate' at the deluxe hotels for 10-14 nights (whatever). And most say they could never 'afford' deluxe if not for owning a DVC.

Just can't wrap my analytical mind around this. We love Disney and go 1-3 times every year or so, don't scrimp, 'do' get discounts, and between yearly fees and initial 'buy in' don't come close to spending that kind of $$$'s. (And don't get me started on people who 'finance' a DVC. Just add up how much 'that' would cost??

Sorry, off my rant, but I get tired of people (we know) that try to give us the sale - when even 'they' can not tell us how much it 'really' costs them. Disney is in it for the money ( why else are they taking up every available piece of 'grass' for it). 'Very' ticked at what they have done at the Poly.

 

[McCrae]

So it 'only' cost $1,000??? What about those annual dues that 'make you sick'?? What about dividing the 'days' you have used into that initial $$$'s amount you have invested?? It is definitely more than the $1,000 you stated. Some people have a way of using 'blinders' to 'actual' costs of vacations.

Our dd has two weeks of points at BWV that she purchased 15 years ago, uses 1 week now, rents the other as she prefers camping at FW. Has been very lucky to 'break even' on her 'investment' this way 'averaging' out her fees and years. ('She' makes the ressie for the F&W festival, then sells the week).



This! I have heard people say they 'pay' for their investment in 3 years or so, and that's what Disney wants you to believe, but don't forget that is 'rack rate' at the deluxe hotels for 10-14 nights (whatever). And most say they could never 'afford' deluxe if not for owning a DVC.

Just can't wrap my analytical mind around this. We love Disney and go 1-3 times every year or so, don't scrimp, 'do' get discounts, and between yearly fees and initial 'buy in' don't come close to spending that kind of $$$'s. (And don't get me started on people who 'finance' a DVC. Just add up how much 'that' would cost??

Sorry, off my rant, but I get tired of people (we know) that try to give us the sale - when even 'they' can not tell us how much it 'really' costs them. Disney is in it for the money ( why else are they taking up every available piece of 'grass' for it). 'Very' ticked at what they have done at the Poly.

You are not comparing like with like. Disney of course is not cheap and if you regularly stay in value resorts for your trips you won't save money. This was made very clear to us when we bought DVC and is often mentioned on these boards. DVC does though save you money if you regularly stay at Deluxe resorts. Recently we stayed 20 nights in Orlando at DVC in a 2br. To book this through Disney would have cost us more than $20,000. Taking into account the annual dues on the points we used, the capital cost of each point and how much interest we would have earned on the cash we spent on DVC had we left it on deposit our total costs would have been around $10,000. We travel to Disney the same as we did before we bought DVC. By all measures we have saved a lot of money on DVC and since becoming members in 2009 the savings we have made have been more than the costs of our initial investment. Looking at dues alone we are now saving around 70% on each visit.

 

[chalee94]

Sorry, off my rant, but I get tired of people (we know) that try to give us the sale - when even 'they' can not tell us how much it 'really' costs them.

i can stay at OKW for less than $90 per night, tax included.

that includes the cost of annual dues for the points as well as an allocation of the buy-in amount (which cost me less than $4000 total buying a small contract resale), adjusted for my time-value of money.

that's a workable number to make it worth it for me to stay onsite.

Disney is in it for the money ( why else are they taking up every available piece of 'grass' for it).

sure. but that's kind of a pointless statement.

the question is: do they make more off of you when you stay at the poly in a hotel room or in a DVC studio?

 

[Sur]

It makes staying in more comfortable surroundings, at Disney, easier....this works for us.

 

[North of Mouse]

You are not comparing like with like. Disney of course is not cheap and if you regularly stay in value resorts for your trips you won't save money. This was made very clear to us when we bought DVC and is often mentioned on these boards. DVC does though save you money if you regularly stay at Deluxe resorts. Recently we stayed 20 nights in Orlando at DVC in a 2br. To book this through Disney would have cost us more than $20,000. Taking into account the annual dues on the points we used, the capital cost of each point and how much interest we would have earned on the cash we spent on DVC had we left it on deposit our total costs would have been around $10,000. We travel to Disney the same as we did before we bought DVC. By all measures we have saved a lot of money on DVC and since becoming members in 2009 the savings we have made have been more than the costs of our initial investment. Looking at dues alone we are now saving around 70% on each visit.

Well, first off, I was mentioning the person (and many more that I've known like that) that said their whole 10 days 'only' cost $1,000 (assuming from their post they meant 'everything) but that's not near the total picture.

Also, for you, if you 'never' look for any discounts, always pay rack rate, then your DVC will probably work out, but 'why' not want discounts??

Also, I wasn't talking about staying in values (never have), but getting discounts instead of 'ever' paying rack rates.

i can stay at OKW for less than $90 per night, tax included.

that includes the cost of annual dues for the points as well as an allocation of the buy-in amount (which cost me less than $4000 total buying a small contract resale), adjusted for my time-value of money.

that's a workable number to make it worth it for me to stay onsite.
?

Not many people are 'working' with the initial 'start up' that you have - can very well see how you are doing great with it.

 

[supersnoop]

You are not comparing like with like. Disney of course is not cheap and if you regularly stay in value resorts for your trips you won't save money. This was made very clear to us when we bought DVC and is often mentioned on these boards. DVC does though save you money if you regularly stay at Deluxe resorts. Recently we stayed 20 nights in Orlando at DVC in a 2br. To book this through Disney would have cost us more than $20,000. Taking into account the annual dues on the points we used, the capital cost of each point and how much interest we would have earned on the cash we spent on DVC had we left it on deposit our total costs would have been around $10,000. We travel to Disney the same as we did before we bought DVC. By all measures we have saved a lot of money on DVC and since becoming members in 2009 the savings we have made have been more than the costs of our initial investment. Looking at dues alone we are now saving around 70% on each visit.

I think it compares to a car salesman who says you can get the same car for much smaller payments by leasing. And, without taking a breath, tells you how you can now afford a much nicer car.

It's one or the other. You're either getting the same accommodations for much less than you were paying in the past, or you're getting much nicer accommodations for the same as you were previously paying. If you're trying to get something nicer for less money, you'll be disappointed.

 

[Msmithmd]

the question is: do they make more off of you when you stay at the poly in a hotel room or in a DVC studio?

Disney believes they make more off of you in the DVC studio- but that includes tickets, food, and incidentals over the cost of your contract. On the lodging alone, you come out ahead with DVC, so long as you use your DVC to save lodging costs rather than use it as a vehicle to more frequent or larger rooms.

Also, zombie thread alert. Other than the last half dozen posts, this thread is two years old. Some decent information herein, nonetheless.

 

[chalee94]

Disney believes they make more off of you in the DVC studio- but that includes tickets, food, and incidentals over the cost of your contract. On the lodging alone, you come out ahead with DVC, so long as you use your DVC to save lodging costs rather than use it as a vehicle to more frequent or larger rooms.

yep. i was coming to disney anyway. i'm not interested in the value resorts and i'm not willing to pay $150+ plus tax for a moderate hotel room onsite but at DVC's prices, i'm happy to compromise.

but not everyone wants to make regular trips to wdw, and it's fair to point out that DVC is not a great fit for those people.

Also, zombie thread alert. Other than the last half dozen posts, this thread is two years old. Some decent information herein, nonetheless.

yeah, i noticed that but figured: why not...

 

[Dean]

I think it compares to a car salesman who says you can get the same car for much smaller payments by leasing. And, without taking a breath, tells you how you can now afford a much nicer car.

It's one or the other. You're either getting the same accommodations for much less than you were paying in the past, or you're getting much nicer accommodations for the same as you were previously paying. If you're trying to get something nicer for less money, you'll be disappointed.

Generally agreed, unfortunately far too many people believe that leasing a car is a great option but the reality is it's the most costly method to get cars eve compared to buying a new one outright on the same schedule. My opinion is that the psychology of timeshares (and debt) are the overwhelming factors far more so than the math itself about 80/20. For example, if one does the comparison of a moderate or deluxe to a DVC studio, the numbers look very favorable. However, many don't stay with the accommodation used in their math and/or spend the money they would have spent there on other things without real return, man frequently do both negatives. That's not necessarily bad in every case but it is from a numbers/savings standpoint. On top of that almost everyone who buys in makes assumption that even on the best day are close to best case scenario. Case in point, how does this work out if the park closes or Disney sells off the timeshare management contract or someone embezzle's a LOT of funds or simply a tornado comes through and wipes out a couple of resorts.