Don't see the point of DVC anymore

[silmarg]

Ya know... I have mulled this same issues for the past couple of years.

I have taken advantage of free dining 3 times, and buy 4 get 7 once. We have stayed (of late) in Pop and Coronado.

Disney is starting to craft free dining and buy 4 get 7 to be a little more costly - values dont get the same deal as mods - tips not included. And I am sure that the free dining availability window will shrink back to Aug-Oct as things right themselves in the economy.

While I have been a value and mod person, and I am a sucker for a deal, there is a great value in DVC - esp if you can snag a resale at 30% off the regular cost. The accomodations are so much better at DVC, and with my 2 DDs getting older, having extra room will become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. And when they become teens or parents themselves we will have a way to continue vacationing as an extended family (god willing).

For now I am only getting enough points to cover every other trip - that way I will have the flexibilty to snag a cash deal if I have a good one or use the DVC for better accomodations. If add-onitis strikes in the mean time... then DVC was meant to be.

One thing that may be of interest (for those that try to compare a value to the cost of DVC). I found my room receipt from a trip I took in Feb 1996 at ASMu. We paid $74 for the room. Same room today would cost $82. Not that much of a difference (10.8% over 13 years).

 

[dmoore22]

We have asked ourselves the same question in recent years. When we bought into DVC our six children were still at home. A stay at a value resort required at least two rooms plus other hidden costs. When we bought into DVC we found we that we could stay twice as long, in nicer accomodations for what we paid, at that time, to stay in a value resort. Things have changed. Most of our kids have left the nest. We can now get away with staying in a studio for multiple trips a year. We did have our moments of Dining Plan envy. We kept track of our expenses, compared the costs of the DP with our Tables in Wonderland, AP, and DVC discounts. For us, we found the DP a little underwhelming. In fact the costs ended up being about the same. Except the DP didn't cover the cost of libations/multiple appetizers/deserts at our meals. Tables in Wonderland did provide a discount for our drinks. With that factored into the equation plus appetizers/deserts, the DP would have actually cost us more.

Each family's situation is unique. One size does not fit all. For us the DVC continues to work well.

 

[saintstickets]

I agree with most of the previous posts in that you must look at this for the long term. "Specials" come and go but with DVC, you have multiple trips for the life of your contract with no price increase except for the fluctuation in the MF's. There are negative-nellies on the DISboard that will always find something to complain about (changes in perks, declining dining quality, crowds, the size of the button on Mickey's costume, etc.) but if you love going to WDW and would go frequently, then the decision is a no-brainer!

 

[edk35]

With Disney, there is no 'free.'

I AGREE!!!!

 

[nunzia]

We have asked ourselves the same question in recent years. When we bought into DVC our six children were still at home. A stay at a value resort required at least two rooms plus other hidden costs. When we bought into DVC we found we that we could stay twice as long, in nicer accomodations for what we paid, at that time, to stay in a value resort. Things have changed. Most of our kids have left the nest. We can now get away with staying in a studio for multiple trips a year. We did have our moments of Dining Plan envy. We kept track of our expenses, compared the costs of the DP with our Tables in Wonderland, AP, and DVC discounts. For us, we found the DP a little underwhelming. In fact the costs ended up being about the same. Except the DP didn't cover the cost of libations/multiple appetizers/deserts at our meals. Tables in Wonderland did provide a discount for our drinks. With that factored into the equation plus appetizers/deserts, the DP would have actually cost us more.

Each family's situation is unique. One size does not fit all. For us the DVC continues to work well.

..and just wait until all those grandkids come along . We are late to the DVC game, our kids are already grown and gone. I don't know if we would have bought if we were in our kids gone, no grandkids stage (although, come to think of it, we were never actually in that stage). Now, with 8 grandkids perfect Disney age, DVC makes sense. Still debating getting one more chunk so each kid can inherit a contract.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Please see this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2137102

This thread does a detailed cost comparison of the disney "offers" to DVC.

Free dining, buy 4- get 3, or even just straight up discounts all typically work out to be pretty close to the "40% off" discount.

All told, even if you take DVC's worst case scenario (Financing at Disney's worst rate, Paying full price for points without any incentives, and all the maintenance fees) to Disney's best cash rate case (40% off for every single stay), you still come out WAY ahead with DVC.

 

[tgropp]

I dont understand how people say that the free dining, 7 for 4 are not good deals and that Disney is just using creative marketing. When we went in the 90's and early 2000 we never got deals other than the 10-15% off rooms from the old Magic Kingdom Club membership. Now that the economy is bad, naturally Disney needs to give great deals to fill the rooms/parks etc but they seem to nickel and dime the DVC membership.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I dont understand how people say that the free dining, 7 for 4 are not good deals and that Disney is just using creative marketing. When we went in the 90's and early 2000 we never got deals other than the 10-15% off rooms from the old Magic Kingdom Club membership. Now that the economy is bad, naturally Disney needs to give great deals to fill the rooms/parks etc but they seem to nickel and dime the DVC membership.

They are good deals compared to regular WDW Resort stays, but they are nowhere near as good a value as a DVC membership. That's all anyone is saying. Even with the "Free" dining or "Free" nights you'll still come out ahead with DVC membership and purchased dining plan or TIW card, and once these deals are no longer offered the value of the DVC membership will be even greater.

 

[DebbieB]

I dont understand how people say that the free dining, 7 for 4 are not good deals and that Disney is just using creative marketing. When we went in the 90's and early 2000 we never got deals other than the 10-15% off rooms from the old Magic Kingdom Club membership. Now that the economy is bad, naturally Disney needs to give great deals to fill the rooms/parks etc but they seem to nickel and dime the DVC membership.

The "trick" with the 7 for 4 is it forces people into longer vacations in order to get the maximum value. More days there the more you will spend. Pre-DVC, I rarely stayed more than 5 nights. Even with 7 for 4, 7 nights in a DVC 1 bedroom is going to run you close to $2,000 (about $500 per night with tax). The "deal" comes if you are willing to give up the larger accomodations and stay at a value or moderate. I'm not willing to do that (unless it's an "extra" vacation).

 

[heaven2dc]

I don't own DVC and am hoping to one day but I've always rented points and after having done the math, even if I stayed at a value or moderate and got free dining and a 4/3 deal, I still come out better using DVC membership. Plus I agree with everyone on here that over the long run, esp after 10 years of ownership, you save lots of money using your DVC membership vs hoping to land a good deal when Disney decides to promote one.

 

[perfectparanoia]

My husband and I went on a quick free dining trip in September. We stayed at the All Star Music since it was the best deal.

It completely confirmed that we made the right choice in buying DVC. Though the rest of the vacation was wonderful, I have been too spoiled by all the space and amenties at the DVC resorts to ever go back.

(In fact, we moved up our next trip and are staying in a BWV 1-br just the two of us to make up for it.)

That said people ask me about my membership all the time and I have only once said that they might want to look into it.

The reality is that there are only a small number of people (like me) who want to go to disney world and stay on property in a nice room at least once every two years. If that's not you, I am sorry that you were convinced to buy into something that will probably not be for you.

 

[edk35]

My husband and I went on a quick free dining trip in September. We stayed at the All Star Music since it was the best deal.

It completely confirmed that we made the right choice in buying DVC. Though the rest of the vacation was wonderful, I have been too spoiled by all the space and amenties at the DVC resorts to ever go back.

(In fact, we moved up our next trip and are staying in a BWV 1-br just the two of us to make up for it.)

That said people ask me about my membership all the time and I have only once said that they might want to look into it.

The reality is that there are only a small number of people (like me) who want to go to disney world and stay on property in a nice room at least once every two years. If that's not you, I am sorry that you were convinced to buy into something that will probably not be for you.

We love our membership too and we too confirmed this recently. Last Nov. we went to WDW and stayed 7 nights at SSR but could not get Thanksgiving night there which was our last night. We were on the waiting list and it never came through. SO.....I booked the "family suite" at ASMU for that night for backup. It was the biggest waste of money, huge let down and disappointment and confirmed for us that we are DVC'ers for life.

 

[daisygirl902]

I debated for a long time over these same issues - as we are huge POP Century fans and regularly travel in September....so we were all about the free dining...however the last few trips I have asked for a king sized bed and been declined each time, and am starting to really look for a bit more luxury in our vacations. After doing the room tours I realized thtat for us DVC is well worth giving up the promos like "Free" dining...but it is NOT for everyone!

That being said I didn't buy DVC for the extra perks - I bought it for the pre-paid accomodations at todays rates for the next 50 years of my life. Knowing that as times/economy changes there is a good chance that Disney may become a less easy and affordable option for us than it is now...so at least I can rest assured that I have the delight of knowing that I never have to go without my yearly Dis Trip!! Perks will always come and go - our guide told me that up front...so that really didn't factor into my decision at all.

 

[CarolAnnC]

If someone needs to be "convinced" not to sell their DVC ownership, then they probably should sell.

DVC never promised to be the cheapest nor the "best deal", but if you want deluxe or "home away from home" accommodations right on property, then it may be the way to go. We love the prepaid aspect of our vacations, whether it is WDW, DL trips or DCL cruises. Again, perhaps not the most cost effective, but the best way for us to travel in a manner to which we have become accustomed. Going back to the moderates would be difficult at this point. Better than not going at all, but not the first choice for us.