DVC benefits????

[MouseFan71]

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on this subject. I love Disney and have often thought about saving up to buy into the DVC, but the more I look into it the more I think it's not for me. We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3), we travel to WDW every year for about a week to 10 days and always stay in moderates or values. I love the deluxe resorts but we never spend much time at the hotels nor do we use the ammenities other than the food court and pool. So on average we spend about $700 - $1200 on our room and then add park tickets and dining. If we did the DVC we would pay about $13,000 up front for points and then another $600-$700 a year in maintenance fees, the maintenance fees are almost what we spend on our room for the week now. As a DVC member do you get a great discount on tickets or free dining? I'm just having trouble seeing the value for my family who's used to the mod/value accomodations. I'm also confused about the points, do you buy at one home property but can use your points at any property? If so, why wouldn't everyone buy at the cheapest property? Someone help please, if I'm going to make a case to my husband about this I need more knowledge. Thanks!!!

 

[RMulieri]

Not sure, you may want to go over to the DVC forum

 

[MouseFan71]

Thanks, I didn't know there was a forum all about DVC, I've posted there as well!!!

 

[chalee94]

We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3), we travel to WDW every year for about a week to 10 days and always stay in moderates or values. I love the deluxe resorts but we never spend much time at the hotels nor do we use the ammenities other than the food court and pool.

the general recommendation is that if you're ok with values, DVC is probably not worth it.

If we did the DVC we would pay about $13,000 up front for points and then another $600-$700 a year in maintenance fees, the maintenance fees are almost what we spend on our room for the week now.

if you decided to look into DVC, you may decide from looking at the point charts and your vacation habits that you don't need 160 pts each year - resale contracts can be had for 100-120 pts if that works better for you.

As a DVC member do you get a great discount on tickets or free dining?

$100 off APs. never, NEVER free dining...(just to be clear - you do get some 10-20% discounts on dining, though.)

I'm also confused about the points, do you buy at one home property but can use your points at any property? If so, why wouldn't everyone buy at the cheapest property?

you can book with "home resort" points 11 months in advance. if there is still availability at 7 months, you can book at other DVC resorts at 7 months...so there is a bit of risk if you buy at SSR for the cheaper pts and annual dues but would only be happier staying at the more costly BCV.

 

[chalee94]

(i answered on the resort board also...)

We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3), we travel to WDW every year for about a week to 10 days and always stay in moderates or values. I love the deluxe resorts but we never spend much time at the hotels nor do we use the ammenities other than the food court and pool.

the general recommendation is that if you're ok with values, DVC is probably not worth it.

If we did the DVC we would pay about $13,000 up front for points and then another $600-$700 a year in maintenance fees, the maintenance fees are almost what we spend on our room for the week now.

if you decided to look into DVC, you may decide from looking at the point charts and your vacation habits that you don't need 160 pts each year - resale contracts can be had for 100-120 pts if that works better for you.

As a DVC member do you get a great discount on tickets or free dining?

$100 off APs. never, NEVER free dining...(just to be clear - you do get some 10-20% discounts on dining, though.)

I'm also confused about the points, do you buy at one home property but can use your points at any property? If so, why wouldn't everyone buy at the cheapest property?

you can book with "home resort" points 11 months in advance. if there is still availability at 7 months, you can book at other DVC resorts at 7 months...so there is a bit of risk if you buy at SSR for the cheaper pts and annual dues but would only be happier staying at the more costly BCV.

 

[Chuck S]

DVC members get some dining discounts, usually in the 10% to 20% range at select locations. These perks can and do change often, and are not guaranteed.

We currently receive $100 off an annual pass or $125 off a premium annual pass, no other park ticket discounts. There are discounts for behind the scene type tours, water parks and PI. But again, all of those are subject to change.

If you are perfectly happy staying at Value resorts, chances are you'll not save money with DVC...but may break even while staying in nicer rooms. There's nothing wrong with Value resorts, and in fact we often extend our stay for a day or two at POP Century, but for our normal trip of 10 to 12 days twice a year, it is extremely convenient for us to have a one bedroom or larger unit with full kitchen and washer/dryer. WE end to have breakfast in our room, as well as snack and some dinner items, this saves us $, even though we also normally have a large full service lunch in the parks.

Free dining is not available to DVCers staying on points, it is a promotion to fill up full priced hotel rooms during hurricane season, rather than discount the room rates, like they did in the past.
AS far as home resort, each resort has different annual fees, based on the operating costs of that resort, so while Vero Beach is probably the least expensive to purchase, it also has the highest fees because of the Hurricane insurance and taxes.

While you can stay at any DVC resort, you can book your home resort at 11 month prior to travel days, the others at 7 months. Depending upon resort and season, it can be difficult to find accommodations at a desired resort at 7 months, as the folks that own there have already booked it. Hence the mantra "Buy where you want to stay most often."

 

[ranthony]

We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3)

This was the deciding factor for us. We are a family of 5 and took our last stay in a value resort this past December (our twins will be turning 3 in April). Now that all of your kids are over age 2 it is against the law to stay in any value resort with 5 people. Thus, you'll be limited to only moderates and deluxes for accomodating 5 people on site, or booking 2 value rooms. Also, there are a very limited amount of mod rooms that will actually accomodate 5 people.


We just purchased 160 points at AKV this week because when you run the numbers vs. a moderate (or 2 value rooms) we felt you definately will save in the long run. Not to mention your accomodations will be far superior than in a value room. You'll have a kitchen with all the necessary supplies. Even if you plan on using the DDP it would still be nice to have drinks and light breakfast items easily on hand...especially with kids.

BTW--DVCs policy is to accomodate 5 in a 1 br. even though their literature all states 4 (except for AKV which sleeps 5). This was something that we stressed as an issue with our guide and he assured us that it will not be a problem booking 5 in any DVC 1 br.

We can't wait to take our first trip!

 

[safetymom]

Moved to DVC planning

 

[WendyinNC]

We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3), we travel to WDW every year for about a week to 10 days and always stay in moderates or values.

As a family of five you will need to book two rooms at a value or moderate (except POR). Your kids are young now so staying in one room is not bad. But, just wait until DD6 and DD5 are DD12 and DD11.

 

[photobob]

If you stay regularly in deluxe accomodations it doesn't take very long for DVC to pay for itself. In addition one and two bedroom villas have full kitchens as well as a washer and dryer. We stayed in a one bedroom last year for the first time and having a den area with a couch and chair made for much more relaxing down time in the room instead of just having two beds. We are staying this summer in a two-bedroom and I believe if I were paying cash for the villa it would cost around $800 per night. If you look at it in that light in makes more financial sense, but it's not for everyone.

 

[thepops]

If you stay regularly in deluxe accomodations it doesn't take very long for DVC to pay for itself. In addition one and two bedroom villas have full kitchens as well as a washer and dryer. We stayed in a one bedroom last year for the first time and having a den area with a couch and chair made for much more relaxing down time in the room instead of just having two beds. We are staying this summer in a two-bedroom and I believe if I were paying cash for the villa it would cost around $800 per night. If you look at it in that light in makes more financial sense, but it's not for everyone.

I ran my numbers for our 4 night Oct/Nov stay in AKL (I never noticed you could choose those off the Disney reservation site) and that would run us about $2600 if we did it with cash rather than points. So even if I had noticed we could book there, I wouldn't have picked it. So after about 7 years (figuring purchase and maint.), I'm ahead of the game, paying only the maint. fees for accomodations that today would cost over $3000 (and who knows what that cost will be in 7 years).

 

[Chuck S]

NOTE: This thread has been merged with a duplicate thread from another board. That is why some possts may seem out of sequence.

 

[MouseFan71]

It's all making sense now. I like the post about my children being little now but just wait until their 11 or 12, your right, we wouldn't be to comfy in 2 value rooms or a trundle room at POR. Right now we're fine in 2 value rooms but 6 years from now it will be a very different story. I guess I wasn't seeing the initial value but it certainly makes sense over the long haul. Thanks everyone.

 

[pilferk]

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on this subject. I love Disney and have often thought about saving up to buy into the DVC, but the more I look into it the more I think it's not for me. We are a family of 5 (myself36, DH35, DD6 DD5 and DS3), we travel to WDW every year for about a week to 10 days and always stay in moderates or values. I love the deluxe resorts but we never spend much time at the hotels nor do we use the ammenities other than the food court and pool. So on average we spend about $700 - $1200 on our room and then add park tickets and dining. If we did the DVC we would pay about $13,000 up front for points and then another $600-$700 a year in maintenance fees, the maintenance fees are almost what we spend on our room for the week now. As a DVC member do you get a great discount on tickets or free dining? I'm just having trouble seeing the value for my family who's used to the mod/value accomodations. I'm also confused about the points, do you buy at one home property but can use your points at any property? If so, why wouldn't everyone buy at the cheapest property? Someone help please, if I'm going to make a case to my husband about this I need more knowledge. Thanks!!!

With 5, how do you do values? They sleep 4, max. Unless you're doing an AS Music family suite? Or unless you have a wee one under 3 (which will change).

We're a family of 5, and that's basically how we were able to justify DVC. We can't do values...or won't be able to do them much longer...in one room. We can do mods, but...for us that kind of "family closeness" is a bit too close. So we'd be pricing out 2 rooms at the values or Mods.

2 rooms at the values was close, in the cost analysis, but DVC won out. 2 rooms at the mods or a deluxe room...it was no contest.

You buy points at a home resort, and can use those points at any resort, with some caveats.

You can book up to 11 months in advance at your HOME resort.

You can only book 7 months in advance at any other resort.

Unless you're looking to buy resale, there's not much difference in price. SSR and AKV are the same starting price, though SSR's incentive tends to knock an additional couple bucks off per point.

 

[MouseFan71]

Yes, we have been doing 2 rooms at POP and I do like the extra space and bathroom it affords us. The fun theming of the values works great for now that my kids are still pretty young but I'm so ready to move up to a little more elegance and comfort. I've been looking at the Timeshare Store, does anyone have any experince with them? I'm sure there's another whole thread out there about them. I think we would definately do a resale just for the savings and hopefully Disney won't refuse it. Thanks again for all the great info.

 

[WendyinNC]

We purchased our BWV resale through The Timeshare Store. They were good to work with. The whole process did take longer than I would have thought. We are a family of 6 and took the advice of buy where you want to stay. This is excellent advice and puchasing through TTS did save some money. However, if I were a family of 5 I would seriously consider purchasing AKV directly through Disney. The 1BR at AKV sleeps 5. So far this is the only resort that sleeps 5 in a 1BR. Good luck with your decision.