dvc against a package deal

[twinklebug]

In agreement with much that's been said here comparing DVC ownership to a standard Disney package 'deal'.

If I might add though, with DVC:

- You'll be staying at a deluxe home-away-from-home level... and man is it nice to have that microwave & counter space (not that I do a lot of cooking but we've saved SO much on food, just having what we want to eat available to eat in our unit when we want it.)

- Trips are essentially pre-paid (OK, food, tickets and transportation are separate). Don't underestimate the value of this - I did. Just yesterday I booked my first stay on my home points since becoming a member. I felt like something was severely missing from the whole transaction when I got off the phone with MS - I had my reservation dates, points used, points remaining, a clear idea of the cancellation rules... what was it? Oh Yea! There was no credit card involved nor the worry about paying if off I now have two upcoming trips booked & a third fall '09 trip in the works all without any credit cards involved.

- Trips become more relaxed knowing you'll be coming back. Although some kids of mine still want to hit every emh available

- You're not restricted to Disney's "dead" times of the year when the deal packages are released for. I have an upcoming NYE stay using my SSR developer pts that I would have whacked myself upside the head for even considering paying cash for (no deals on holidays )

The one thing Disney's packages offer over DVC is flexibility to say "One time's enough thanks" or "Nah - we can't make it, lets just cancel and get our money back" With DVC you do have to consider banking, borrowing and cancellation rules & you don't get a financial refund if you cancel - you can however rent out your points if need be.

 

[mgilmer]

what is CRO? is it cheaper to do that on weekend and use points for the weekdays? how do you know what the price is?

CRO is the standard WDW reservation system. It is who you call to reserve a room at a Disney resort. If you are a DVC member, you can reserve a DVC unit at at 25% discount off rack rates, depending on availability. You can also sometimes reserve a DVC unit thru CRO with an Annual Pass (or other) discount for even a greater savings. When available, it can be cheaper to do either of these than use points on a weekend. The downside is you may have to change rooms (although if getting a cash discount thru DVC, they can link your cash room to your points room if it is the same type and size). We stay in a DVC unit on Sun-Thurs and use the weekends to stay in a discounted room at a regular WDW Resort on the weekends. Others just pony up the extra weekend points to keep from moving. The key I like about the DVC is the flexibility to do as you like when you like, with a little forethought and planning.

 

[Disney_Villain]

If you're only considering costs involved, and you're also used to staying at Moderate or Deluxe WDW resorts, then buying into DVC is definitely worth it (as it was for us, we only used Moderate or Deluxe resorts before we bought into DVC).

However, if you're comfortable staying at Value resorts or non-Disney hotels for <$100/night the cash savings alone aren't really enough of a reason to buy into DVC. Mind you, you get a nicer resort with a lot more amenities staying at a DVC resort instead - and it probably would be the same financially in the long term.

 

[Anal Annie]

Another vote for wishing we'd have purchased way back when. We finally did it sight unseen over the phone when we went to plan a trip and realized we'd been priced out of the Deluxe Resorts and ALMOST out of the Mods. Once we knew we'd be looking at Values for what we USED to pay for Deluxes we knew we'd have to do something in order to keep going back. This also made us wonder how DS would ever be able to afford to go and take his family. We figured this was also an investment in our future vacations for our Grandkids...at least they will be lucky enough to go...and possibly even Great Grandkids! Seriously...how much will the resorts cost in 40 or 45 years?!

 

[kerickson]

i am back in jan so i will take some time to look at the resorts, i think at the present moment that the package holiday suits my requirements, but also i can see that the purchase of dvc is for many years, and now my youngest has turned 9 we will have to start to pay an adults price for her

the first time we looked at dvc was 10 years ago and i had the same veiws then as i have now so maybe it time to move on and take the plunge

many thanks for all your messages

To get a peek at the cost savings you will get 10 years from now, price out a vacation using the DVC price point from 10 years ago ($62.75/pt) vs the current CRO price (note, you also need to add in this year's annual dues).
Savings of more than half, after only the 10 year mark...

 

[DebbieB]

The #1 thing that attracted me to DVC was the spacious 1 bedrooms. The regular rate is over $400 a night. Even with discounts, there's no way I was going to put that out every trip. I bought enough points to have 5 or 6 nights in a 1 bedroom twice a year (May and early Dec). My original purchase is long paid off, so I'm getting that with about $1300 a year in dues, a little over $100 a month.

 

[disrailfan]

DW and I decided on the DVC plan because we planned on wanting to go to WDW at least 1 time per year. Using this theory and buying into Disney at a 270 Point level actually allowed us to go twice per year while the kids are still in our home.

Next Year we will be empty nesters. We already have plans on going on a cruise, and exchanging our points to do even an Adventures By Disney trip in the next 5 years.

WE approached it with the thought that we would go someplace on vacation at least once per year. Up till now it has been to WDW, but it still allows us to have the option of going other places. We figured we would spend the money anyway, we might had well put it to something we could own for several years and be there for our vacations in the years to come.

 

[Darthdaddy]

Comparing DVC accommodations to discount rooms (on property or off) is false analysis. In very few years the cost factor will favor DVC. Beyond this, the DVC units are just nicer. We have stayed in everything from studio to Grand Villa. Our favorite is 2-bd villa. Value of a full kitchen, a separate living room and LAUNDRY cannot be overstated. It can be done cheaper, but not better.

 

[Dean]

Comparing DVC accommodations to discount rooms (on property or off) is false analysis. In very few years the cost factor will favor DVC. Beyond this, the DVC units are just nicer. We have stayed in everything from studio to Grand Villa. Our favorite is 2-bd villa. Value of a full kitchen, a separate living room and LAUNDRY cannot be overstated. It can be done cheaper, but not better.

It can be done cheaper AND better, just not so on property.

 

[pablackwell]

i can understand the benifits from having dvc but what would you say are the drawbacks
having only stayed in value and mod resorts we have found the cost of package deal far outways the cost if we where dvc
my boss owns several units at bahamabay resort at lake davenport which is offsite but is 5 star accommadation which i can use when ever i want,but when we worked out the costings it was still cheaper to get a package deal to PC than to just get a fly drive and stay in his accommadation

we usally holiday in janurary ( i run the disney marathon) for 2 weeks and stay in a studio, and the passes are included in the price
when i have looked at just a flydrive for the same 2 weeks they have come up with the same price give or take a few £, by the time i add on cost of passes and the fees from dvc the package deal seem the best

this is why we have booked packages over the years and have not brought into dvc

 

[eliza61]

hi all

we normally research our trips to get the very best deal for our money and often find it is cheaper to book a package deal than it is just a fly drive and often we wait until the last minute to book to get a better deal.

so if we don`t go one year we won`t have the annual dues to pay. with dvc the booking systerm worried us(ie booking so far in advance)

i love the concept of dvc so much that i keep checking the deals disney are doing and the costs on timeshare store but the little voice in the back of my head keeps telling me we are better off booking package holidays

my question is . when you purchased your dvc points did you have the same thoughts and if so how did you overcome them, and do you think that knowing what you know now would you have done anythink different (like paying a bit extra for a better home resort)

Sure.
First thing I did was to write down how I realistically travel. While we too look for deals, I some times had to pass up deals because they don't fit how or when we travel and I didn't want to have to depend on them for my trips.

When I purchase my kids were small (they are still school age) since I don't pull my kids out of school for vacations, I pretty much know when I'm going to travel to disney. We do take spontenous trips other places but until my kids graduate from school, I know year to year when I'm going to be travelling.

And lastly for us, the package deals are not that great. I hate the DDP plan and can usually get tickets cheaper on line, so even if I did not do dvc I would probably just purchase a AP to get the room discounts.

As with any purchase that is huge, it's normal to have reservations. You're doing the right thing by listening to your inner voice. DVC & time shares are not for every one.

 

[Pootle]

If, as I suspect, you are from the UK, you might consider posting this question on the UK DVC board since some of the issues are different.

It is often true that you can buy a UK package (hotel accommodation and flights) cheaper than you can get them separately. Particularly true if you are tied to school holidays. When I first joined DVC I was teaching and therefore the dates for my Easter vacation were very inflexible. I found that the cheapest option was to buy a package and not use the (budget) hotel accommodation. This worked out cheaper than a flight alone!

Now I travel at times when airfares are reasonable (or have been up to now!) and I love the convenience of my DVC accommodation.

Currently in the UK you can already book free food deals for 2009 (mid August to early October I think). Also you can get these offers for staying at SSR and OKW too, so there is a lot to think about.

So long as you can continue to get packages which satisfy you, I can't see why you should be in any rush to buy into DVC. If things change and the packages become less attractive, you could always jump onto the DVC bus at that point.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Don't buy if not certain. There will always be points for sale and resale and I bet that there will be some good deals over the next year or two.

If you want condo-style rooms with separate BR and LR and washer/dryer then buy DVC. Personally, I would not buy DVC to stay in a studio.

No matter where you stay at Disney, you will have to book in advance to get popular accomodations especially at busy times. I don't think DVC is much worse in that regard -- in fact the wait list software and policy is probably superior.

I don't think you would save much money in the long run buying DVC versus getting a good package with a moderate. (The one moderate I stayed at had tiny rooms and was not as nice as the DVC's I've stayed at, but I've never stayed in a studio.) I think a package with an economy would be cheaper than DVC, but not as nice.

If you're a die hard Poly or Gf person -- evena true Conetmporary tower person -- I don't thin you should buy DVC. You'll pay more, but those are the purest form of Disney -- the hard stuff. As an old timer sentimental Disney file from the early 70's, not even BLT will truly take their place.

 

[MommaX03]

Comparing DVC accommodations to discount rooms (on property or off) is false analysis. In very few years the cost factor will favor DVC. Beyond this, the DVC units are just nicer. We have stayed in everything from studio to Grand Villa. Our favorite is 2-bd villa. Value of a full kitchen, a separate living room and LAUNDRY cannot be overstated. It can be done cheaper, but not better.

I totally agree with this assessment. I cancelled out on a DVC contract in 2005 due to the false analysis that we could always get a package at the values resorts with free dining. That is not the case, as that is dictated by the economy and is not a guaranteed thing.

So, what changed my mind to finally become a very happy DVC owner in 2006? Our family was cramped into a values room for the day during a tropical storm with one TV, three little kids (one in a crib) and mom running across campus to do laundry at the community laundry room! The final last straw was almost falling out of our double beds because we are use to a king-size bed at home. After researching the cost of the deluxe Disney properties in order to have a larger bed, it became very apparent that DVC was the way to go for us. We also have been able to take relatives with us who normally would not have been able to afford it. (For some, that is a negative! )

My advice: make a check list of what is important to you. Then compare it to DVC and the package deals that are subject to change. Include how often you travel, the style you like to travel in, etc. You need to be comfortable with your decision on DVC so that you can truly enjoy yourself! I could not commit to DVC until I was ready. It is a big decision, and it will still be there if you decide to join. For us, we now unfairly compare all non-Disney accommodations to DVC and we are so happy that we added on!

Best of luck with your decision!

 

[bangzoom6877]

For us there were a few key deciding factors. We went into this knowing our own vacation habits, knowing how often and "how" we want to vacation at WDW. So, we knew we wanted to go back to WDW every other year, stay deluxe (we stayed value in July and while it was nice, we need something larger), stay for 10 nights each trip, and do this at least until our children are in college. Our sons are 3 and 1 right now! So we were looking at years of WDW vacations! Here were the things that ultimately made our decision:

-in today's money a deluxe for 10 nights would run us between $3000 and $4000 (but the BWV resale we bought was just a bit over $12,000 and we have 7 or 8 vacations minmum as a family...we did the math), and hotel prices will keep going up through the years
-we could now stay in an even larger accommodation (we have 150 points, enough to stay in a one-bedroom for 10 nights every other year)
-we have the option to go every year if we ever decide to do that, in a studio
-we can walk to 2 of the theme parks from BWV
-of all the places we can vacation, Orlando is the one place we know we will never grow tired of going...so much to do down there
-our children's tastes will change as they grow older, but there is something for all ages in WDW and the Orlando area, allowing us to do different things on each trip as the kids get bigger
-we knew that if we didn't purchase now, we would go back to WDW in 2010 and regret not buying, or years of going there continuously would pass, and we would grow to regret it
-we will have this until 10 years after we retire, allowing DH and I to go off-season (we are teachers so now we travel in July)
-we are planners and I prefer planning our vacations far in advance. 11 months before is perfect

So those were the key things for us. It just fit what we are going to be doing. We asked ourselves if we would definitely go to Disney every other year and the answer was yes. So we invested now in the accommodations. We did not buy based on selling it in the future, exchanging out to another location, or the perks offered to DVC members, as those change greatly over time.

 

[ILuvMulan]

i am back in jan so i will take some time to look at the resorts, i think at the present moment that the package holiday suits my requirements, but also i can see that the purchase of dvc is for many years, and now my youngest has turned 9 we will have to start to pay an adults price for her

the first time we looked at dvc was 10 years ago and i had the same veiws then as i have now so maybe it time to move on and take the plunge

many thanks for all your messages

We are a family of 5 and our younger twins turned 9 right after our visit last spring. This means that we would have to purchase two rooms when we visit even with a package deal. If we go to a DVC resort every other year (our intent is to go every year) we will still be saving tons of money over the next 49 years despite the purchase price and the annual dues.

This site IS a wonderful place to get info and good advice... good luck with your decision.

 

[OneMoreTry]

For us there was only one factor: 5 kids needing a 2BR and I wanted on property.
We'd either have to pay enormous prices or buy in.

 

[zalansky]

We toured DVC Sept 2004 and bought 200 points. On the way home, I had incredible buyers remorse and we cancelled when we got home. We also used to watch for codes and discounted rates. But DVC was always in the back of my mind. My husband got a bonus early 2006 and at the same time DVC offered a 15% discount, so we decided to buy again. Our first trip home was to Boardwalk in a one bedroom and from the minute we walked in I knew we made the right decision. Since we live close we have taken many vacations - also in part due to the fact we have added on TWICE in 2 years! But every time we go we both say its the best decision we have ever made. When we're there I often hear members telling other people about DVC saying its the best thing they've ever done and they love being members. Its a very personal choice and obviously preference - I know my sister who hates theme parks thinks we're nuts! I think of it as pre-paying for vacations, I never try to chart if and when we're going to break even because thats not what its about for me. I think if I were worried about the bottom line I could never enjoy my membership.

 

[DisFlan]

pablackwell - I may have missed someone mentioning it, but it depends on how you vacation and where you usually stay. If you've been getting bargain deals at a value or moderate resort and you're happy with that, DVC may not work out as the best choice for you. We'd stayed at deluxe resorts prior to joining DVC, and DVC works out as a much better deal for us - and we're sorry we didn't join sooner.

As someone else mentioned, DVC isn't necessarily meant to be the least expensive option - it's pre-paid accommodations for X number of years in nice villas. You'll have to run the numbers for yourself, including the yearly fees (every year), to see what's best for you and what you're comfortable spending. If you are uncomfortable with what DVC might cost you, I think you made a wise choice in holding off.

DisFlan