doubting DVC purchase

[disneynutz]

As pointed out, Disney doesn't have an allegiance to it's DVC Members and can and/or will change the rules and policies of ownership as they see fit. Financially, you should buy only if you intend to stay at a WDW deluxe resort yearly for the next 10 years with or without the DVC.

Bill

 

[DVCMikey]

the economy will be fine.

the only advice i can give you is to buy. if you can afford it, and you like disney and traveling so much, than go for it.

Its truly probably the best investment we have made besides our home

any questions, feel free to ask

 

[mousenyc]

I just went through this recently. I had the paperwork at home and could not swallow the $140pp at BLT. I didn't sign anything and got my deposit back. I went resale via the Timeshare store and was able to get more pts and still save a ton of money!! We are so much happier with our decision.

Now we have our eyes set on F&W 2012

 

[DVCMikey]

I just went through this recently. I had the paperwork at home and could not swallow the $140pp at BLT. I didn't sign anything and got my deposit back. I went resale via the Timeshare store and was able to get more pts and still save a ton of money!! We are so much happier with our decision.

Now we have our eyes set on F&W 2012

Do you still get a DVC member card and all the perks if you buy a re-sale?

 

[ValpoCory]

Financially, you should buy only if you intend to stay at a WDW deluxe resort yearly for the next 10 years with or without the DVC.

Bill

Exactly right. And there are very few people out there who fit that description.

When I see all the DVC informercials and the way they market the DVC, it's almost unethical the way they use Disney sappy emotion to try to get people to buy the timeshare, complete with an actor who says "I ran the numbers", implying that you don't have to.

I've seen folks who go to a Value resort for their first WDW visit as a family come home with a DVC contract. Disney is laughing all the way to the bank.

To those of us who fit Bill's description above, the DVC is a good financial decision. To 99+% of Disney's customers, it is not. I'm not declaratively saying those 99+% should not buy it. I just don't like it when they market the DVC as a money saving proposition.

 

[DVCMikey]

Exactly right. And there are very few people out there who fit that description.

When I see all the DVC informercials and the way they market the DVC, it's almost unethical the way they use Disney sappy emotion to try to get people to buy the timeshare, complete with an actor who says "I ran the numbers", implying that you don't have to.

I've seen folks who go to a Value resort for their first WDW visit as a family come home with a DVC contract. Disney is laughing all the way to the bank.

To those who fit Bill's description above, the DVC is a good financial decision. To 99+% of Disney's customers, it is not. I'm not saying those 99+% should not buy it. I just don't like it when they market the DVC as a money saving proposition.

How is it not a money saving proposition? lets say you go to a value once a year, for a week, your spending at least $1000 on just the room.

I bought points and financed for about $1800/yr. If I pay for 10 years, that leaves me with something like 34 years more vacations to really anywhere I want to go.

We used our points to book DCL, which would have costed us over $4000. And we don't have alot of points by any means.

We have gone just the two of us, we have brought family friends on some years. It has paid for itself probably within 5 years.

 

[ValpoCory]

How is it not a money saving proposition? lets say you go to a value once a year, for a week, your spending at least $1000 on just the room.

If you are going to be paying rack rate with no promotions (and come on, it's so easy to find deals out there, but that's another topic) for a week long Disney vacation yearly for the next 10 years with or without the DVC, then the DVC is something you can look into.

As Bill said above, it saves you money if you intend to stay at a WDW deluxe resort yearly with or without the DVC. With value resort stays, your breakeven point would be farther away, once again assuming a yearly week long Disney vacation even if you are not a DVC member. And that obligation thing (I understand it doesn't emotionally feel like an obligation, but by definition, it is) is of course the reason why finding a financial adviser who would recommend a timeshare is so difficult.

 

[DVCMikey]

If you are going to be paying rack rate with no promotions for a week long Disney vacation yearly for the next 10 years with or without the DVC, then the DVC is something you can look into and probably convince yourself that you wouldn't be able to make money with your money if you decided not to buy.

As Bill said above, it saves you money if you intend to stay at a WDW deluxe resort yearly with or without the DVC.

The thing is though you don't have to go to WDW every trip. There are thousands of places you can go....

 

[JimMIA]

The thing is though you don't have to go to WDW every trip. There are thousands of places you can go....

Actually...no, there aren't. But that's a topic for another thread...like this one 500 Kingdoms

 

[disneynutz]

The thing is though you don't have to go to WDW every trip. There are thousands of places you can go....

This is my biggest disappointment with Disney, the way that they let you assume that this is 100% fact. The disclaimer print on their advertising is so small most people don't read "based on availability".

Most people also don't consider the added cost of a yearly vacation. In addition to your DVC purchase price you have the increasing cost of dues, travel, admission tickets, food, and other extras.

There has to be a reason why so many contracts are listed for resale.

Bill

 

[DVCMikey]

Actually...no, there aren't. But that's a topic for another thread...like this one 500 Kingdoms

whatever man, DVC is a goodtime. Don't knock it till you try it.

 

[DVCMikey]

This is my biggest disappointment with Disney, the way that they let you assume that this is 100% fact. The disclaimer print on their advertising is so small most people don't read "based on availability".

Most people also don't consider the added cost of a yearly vacation. In addition to your DVC purchase price you have the increasing cost of dues, travel, admission tickets, food, and other extras.

There has to be a reason why so many contracts are listed for resale.

Bill

The thing is, its a timeshare, however its a hell of alot better than any timeshare out there.

There are tons of resales on all types of timeshares.

we have never had a problem booking anything through DVC.

 

[JimMIA]

whatever man, DVC is a goodtime. Don't knock it till you try it.

Not knocking DVC -- we've enjoyed every one of our 30+ DVC stays.

I'm just saying the greatly-hyped RCI option is mostly a mirage, and most of the non-DVC resort options are very poor uses of your points. But if you're happy with what you get, that's fine.

 

[JimMIA]

The thing is, its a timeshare, however its a hell of alot better than any timeshare out there.

I would agree with you with regard to stays at WDW DVC resorts, simply because the resorts are great and there are no other timeshares onsite.

But once you get away from WDW, there are a number of better, much less expensive options.

 

[nunzia]

The 'never buy direct' thing has a different twist for those who go to DLR. Since VGC is very small, it is nice to still have the option of staying at the DLH and PP on points if needed. Disney does not charge the $95 fee or the rule of four at those properties. Just something to consider.

 

[DVCMikey]

I would agree with you with regard to stays at WDW DVC resorts, simply because the resorts are great and there are no other timeshares onsite.

But once you get away from WDW, there are a number of better, much less expensive options.

Yes, maybe less expensive, however once its paid off, you can't get much more less expensive than that.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, maybe less expensive, however once its paid off, you can't get much more less expensive than that.

First of all, "It's paid off, so therefore it costs me nothing" is a fairy tale. If you're going to use that argument, then you have to accept the fact that the vacations you take prior to paying off your loan are costing you an absolute fortune!

I think you would be far better off buying only the DVC points you need for WDW-only stays, and pick up another national-brand timeshare on eBay for $1 for non-WDW vacations. If you did that, your initial outlay would be far less and the annual dues would probably be less as well.

And you'd have many, many more choices.

For example, we bought a large Wyndham contract on eBay. That gives us about 70 Wyndham resorts, including 16 in Florida (8 for DVC, all but one of them at WDW), 5 in California (1 DVC), 2 in the Caribbean (0), several ski resorts including Steamboat Springs (0), 11 in Hawaii, all better locations than Aulani, 11 in North & South Carolina (1), and many others where DVC offers nothing.

In addition, we get FULL RCI membership, which gives us direct online access to thousands of RCI resorts. The RCI site claims 6,500+ resorts, but I understand there is a LOT of duplication in that number, and the real number is about 4,000.

DVC gives you no direct access, and only slightly less than 600 through DVC MS.

We also have the availability of RCI's Extra Vacations and Last Calls (greatly discounted cash deals). One of our frequent posters (and a DVC owner) recently booked an Extra Vacation in a 2 bedroom deluxe at Wyndham's Bonnet Creek resort for less than $500 for an entire week.

Again, I'm not knocking DVC -- it's a great product for a very narrow usage. But it's not the answer for everything.

 

[DVCMikey]

First of all, "It's paid off, so therefore it costs me nothing" is a fairy tale. If you're going to use that argument, then you have to accept the fact that the vacations you take prior to paying off your loan are costing you an absolute fortune!

I think you would be far better off buying only the DVC points you need for WDW-only stays, and pick up another national-brand timeshare on eBay for $1 for non-WDW vacations. If you did that, your initial outlay would be far less and the annual dues would probably be less as well.

And you'd have many, many more choices.

For example, we bought a large Wyndham contract on eBay. That gives us about 70 Wyndham resorts, including 16 in Florida (8 for DVC, all but one of them at WDW), 5 in California (1 DVC), 2 in the Caribbean (0), several ski resorts including Steamboat Springs (0), 11 in Hawaii, all better locations than Aulani, 11 in North & South Carolina (1), and many others where DVC offers nothing.

In addition, we get FULL RCI membership, which gives us direct online access to thousands of RCI resorts. The RCI site claims 6,500+ resorts, but I understand there is a LOT of duplication in that number, and the real number is about 4,000.

DVC gives you no direct access, and only slightly less than 600 through DVC MS.

We also have the availability of RCI's Extra Vacations and Last Calls (greatly discounted cash deals). One of our frequent posters (and a DVC owner) recently booked an Extra Vacation in a 2 bedroom deluxe at Wyndham's Bonnet Creek resort for less than $500 for an entire week.

Again, I'm not knocking DVC -- it's a great product for a very narrow usage. But it's not the answer for everything.

No, its really not a fairy tale.

If its going to cost you lets just say $1000/yr for vacation

$1,000 x 45 years= 45,000. dvc is only going to cost you around $18,000 if you finance. yea its alot cheaper.

IDK where people are getting this idea that its hard to use RCI. It has not been a problem to us. nor has traveling to WDW, or using DCL.

Tell me, how many cruises can you go on with Wyndam?

 

[JimMIA]

If its going to cost you lets just say $1000/yr for vacation

Let's just say we stop making up numbers and use a real example. Specify the number of points you're talking about, how much you paid for them, how much you paid down, how long the loan contract is for, what the monthly payment is, and which resort you own. Then we'll be able to come up with some real numbers.

Until you look at actual numbers, it's just talk.

 

[newyorkmike]

No, its really not a fairy tale.

If its going to cost you lets just say $1000/yr for vacation

$1,000 x 45 years= 45,000. dvc is only going to cost you around $18,000 if you finance. yea its alot cheaper.

IDK where people are getting this idea that its hard to use RCI. It has not been a problem to us. nor has traveling to WDW, or using DCL.

Tell me, how many cruises can you go on with Wyndam?

I agree with your overall premise that even if you buy direct and finance, you still make out better over the 40-50 year life of the timeshare than paying rack rate at a Disney resort on property. However, the gap is not as significant as you suggest, because your $18,000 figure ignores annual dues which, on average, incease 2-3% a year.

We consistently stayed in Moderate resorts before we bought in to DVC, and based on our travel patterns (2 visits a year for approximately 10-14 days each trip), I think our breakeven year will be year 9, and after that it saves us a few hundred every year.