DVC “Confessions”

[Novatrix]

My crazy DVC confessions:
I would rather stay at OKW than Riv, Poly, VGF and BLT. I like visiting the Poly and the Grand, but all of these resorts have awful overcrowded pools and just too many people milling about at all times to be relaxing.

Also, the only 2 DVC resorts I haven't stayed at are Riviera and the new Ft Wilderness cabins. (Yes, I've stayed at all the offsite resorts.) Every time I book Riviera, eventually another resort pops up which is just more interesting to me, especially considering the ridiculously high point cost.

 

[Swaggerwagon]

My confession is that I don’t want to stay at Boardwalk because of the old clown pool. I know it’s gone now, but I’m still scared of it.

 

[Tatebeck]

My confession is that I don’t want to stay at Boardwalk because of the old clown pool. I know it’s gone now, but I’m still scared of it.

Shhh, it's okay. They old clown pool can't hurt you anymore

 

[AdamsMum]

Shhh, it's okay. They old clown pool can't hurt you anymore

I miss the old clown pool!

 

[zavandor]

We plan to stay at SSR (our home resort) for the first time for 5 days before we head out to a 4-day cruise. I am interested to see how it goes.

For me, any place within 15 minutes walking distance to a Ghirardelli and Polite Pig is extraordinary. Enjoy your stay!

 

[SorcerersJourney]

For me, any place within 15 minutes walking distance to a Ghirardelli and Polite Pig is extraordinary. Enjoy your stay!

Agreed. We love SS, and availability is almost never a problem

 

[Emily921]

Wow, why not??
Where are you staying that is keeping you from trying it?

I love Old Key West and that is my go to. The one BR is so spacious. BW, SS and Beach Club are much smaller.

 

[LoveToDisney]

We were used to staying at BWV and BCV in 1 BRs when we stayed at OKW the first time. I felt like I walked forever to get to the MBR there…just didn’t care for the “spaciousness.” So glad we all have different options to stay where we like.

 

[Leight19]

The math works out very well for me at DVC, having bought in pretty early and going as often as I do. My Boardwalk DVC buy-in in 1996 was $27,610 for 440 points. The dues back then were around $1700 yr - now they're up to around $3800. I stay almost exclusively in 1-bedroom villas, mostly at Boardwalk, Wilderness, and some Saratoga or OKW mixed in, 4-5 trips a year and about 22-25 nights per year total. If I divide my buy-in by 28 years so far, it's around $986 a year - plus dues at $3800. - so that's 4,786 a year, divided by 22 days would be around $217 a night. Of course, my buy-in would be really divided over the life of the contract (46 years would be $600 yr), but even cutting it short, it still works out favorably. It's more amazing to think when I first bought in, I was averaging around $100 a night to stay in 1-bedroom villas!

What would a 1-bedroom cost at Boardwalk Garden view or Boulder Ridge in January, June, September, and December each year? Rack rates seem to be in the $900 range in Jan and Jun when I typically go, $1000 September, and $1200-1300 December...Boulder and Boardwalk are fairly close in cost each season. Even with sales and incentives, I don't think I could come close to $200ish a night for a 1-bedroom. And when dues were even lower over the past 28 years, the math was even better. I haven't regretted the purchase at all, and figure honestly I've already got my money's worth out of it over these decades that even if I stopped going, or the dues pile up even higher over the next 18 or so years in the contract. But I intend to continue going about the same number of days, maybe even a little more as I get closer to retirement.

I understand this but just to put in perspective if you put that $27,610 into s&p 500 in 96 and held to today it would be $412,524 (based on average of ~10% per year). Obviously using this cost basis completely inverts the math.

 

[bmtta2003]

I understand this but just to put in perspective if you put that $27,610 into s&p 500 in 96 and held to today it would be $412,524 (based on average of ~10% per year). Obviously using this cost basis completely inverts the math.

Wow, If I invested in the S&P in 96, I might be able to afford Genie+ today. Compound interest is amazing!

 

[Skywalker3]

Not sure if this is a confession or truth, but either way, I've always thought the 'perks' they advertised for DVC were silly, and just about useless for us.
Back when pool hopping was going on, it seemed like it was only a few resorts that offered it, it was like 2 hours on the third Tuesday, in the 7th moon, of the 2nd month....I'm exaggerating, but it was way too limited to really be a good perk.
Then there's moonlight magic....rarely ever when we travel, nothing we likely use, as we're just never there when it's offered. I know it's an incentive for lower crowd times ,and advertising, but the one and only trip there was actually going to be one, I got in the queue of like 9000 people, and of course never got through, whereas I read about same people going all the time.
Discounts on events are nearly useless too - just offer a DVC discount for all of an event. We never go to Disney in Sept, so for MNSSHP, just having a 10percent and only in Sept, mostly useless again.
I know, I know, I just bought into the resort, perks are not guaranteed, all of that, I just think if they're going to advertise and offer them, they could be more broad and accommodating, not so specific and limited.
and of course it would be nice for more food/shopping/ticket discounts, I can dream....

 

[Leight19]

Not sure if this is a confession or truth, but either way, I've always thought the 'perks' they advertised for DVC were silly, and just about useless for us.
Back when pool hopping was going on, it seemed like it was only a few resorts that offered it, it was like 2 hours on the third Tuesday, in the 7th moon, of the 2nd month....I'm exaggerating, but it was way too limited to really be a good perk.
Then there's moonlight magic....rarely ever when we travel, nothing we likely use, as we're just never there when it's offered. I know it's an incentive for lower crowd times ,and advertising, but the one and only trip there was actually going to be one, I got in the queue of like 9000 people, and of course never got through, whereas I read about same people going all the time.
Discounts on events are nearly useless too - just offer a DVC discount for all of an event. We never go to Disney in Sept, so for MNSSHP, just having a 10percent and only in Sept, mostly useless again.
I know, I know, I just bought into the resort, perks are guaranteed, all of that, I just think if they're going to advertise and offer them, they could be more broad and accommodating, not so specific and limited.
and of course it would be nice for more food/shopping/ticket discounts, I can dream....

I bought direct for one of my contracts and would say my only dvc regret is not buying resale and saving the money. I will say we never had a chance to use the pool hopping but that is the one perk we miss today. Not to access a fancy pool or anything just often we travel with family and end up staying different resorts. Being allowed to pool hop and have pool day together has added value for us in that scenario,

 

[zackiedawg]

I understand this but just to put in perspective if you put that $27,610 into s&p 500 in 96 and held to today it would be $412,524 (based on average of ~10% per year). Obviously using this cost basis completely inverts the math.

I considered the money to purchase DVC to be disposable income or savings - like buying anything expensive - a car, house, major renovation, big trip - you have to know you can afford to carve that money out of your savings and let the enjoyment it brings you be the reward. I've been working in finance for 30 years, so I have that other side covered.

 

[Leight19]

I considered the money to purchase DVC to be disposable income or savings - like buying anything expensive - a car, house, major renovation, big trip - you have to know you can afford to carve that money out of your savings and let the enjoyment it brings you be the reward. I've been working in finance for 30 years, so I have that other side covered.

Yeah I understand that the cost is for something fun so not really about the mathematics of whether or not to buy. But when people use the math to justify the purchase as something that truly saves money over time compared to dvc rentals or even staying in same rooms in cash with discounts I think it’s important to capture the time value of money. Compared to dues or depreciation this usually is the largest contribution to cost of ownership. My personal opinion after doing the math is I probably do save money staying in studios with dvc but it’s harder to justify the math on 1br. I enjoy dvc though so not about the cost really but I wouldnt recommend it to anyone as a way to save money.

 

[bakerworld]

• Our first DVC Home was the AK and we didn't use it for 3 years because we thought we wouldn't like the darkness. We booked a fairly last minute December vacation at AK (put in a speculative WL which came thru) and found we loved it, although - at that time - it was very dark.
• We didn't try GF until 2023 (pre-cruise night) because we thought it was a bit Hoity-Toity and met the nicest people at the pool bar, which the bartender kept open because we were having such a good time.
• Booked RIV for a pre-cruise day and DH has been bugging me ever since to stay there again. Thought it would be small.
• Tried OKW and BWV 3 times but we've given up on them - maintenance issues and negative CM experiences.
• I constantly am lost in BCV (thank goodness the rooms are numbered). When staying at BC we never make it out of the WS.
• We enjoy BLT for the Contemporary bars and monorail and rarely go to MK cause it's too busy. Ditto WL - River Grille & Territory Lounge.
• Love to stay at PVB - hate the boat announcements from the Transportation Center. We are finally staying a pre-cruise night after 5 years so we'll see if we get any sleep.
• Originally didn't care for Saratoga and since DTD turned into DS we love it there.
• Hilton Head and Vero are very relaxing... snore.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

We have stayed at every DVC resort...except Aulani.

Aulani is too long of a flight from the east coast with a kid!

At least you didn't say kiddo or little when referring to your child!

 

[bmtta2003]

I consider the monorail, skyway, and friendship boats as "E-tkt" rides

 

[tx911]

I consider the monorail, skyway, and friendship boats as "E-tkt" rides

I'd say you should probably NOT spring for the Premier Pass

 

[bmtta2003]

I could easily spend a week at Disney without entering a park

 

[Sophie Weaver]

I really dislike RIV. There was so much potential for doing a highly immersive French Rivera theme and it just fell flat.

I love Vero and we love visiting at Christmas with family. I'm going to probably cry when it expires. I don't think Disney will be keeping the property and my heart aches knowing my daughter will only get to experience it through her childhood but won't get the same opportunity I did to enjoy it in my 20s.