Dvc - Can A Member (not A Salesperson) Talk Me Into It?

[Ballybunion3]

We've been considering joining DVC. Seems like a pretty good deal,
but we have some hesitation. Because of my job, we move a lot.
Not sure we will be able to get to WDW that often (though I know
there are other resorts around the country that can be used).

I guess my question is, can you see a real monetary value to the
DVC? Just so you know, we have stayed at SOG and ASSP, and both
fine for us.

We took the tour on our last trip, and were very impressed by the rooms.

I appreciate any advice/comments on DVC!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Try posting this on the DVC board. You will get many responses there.

 

[MeanLaureen]

Hi Bally! I'm going to copy this thread over to DVC so our resident DVC experts can help you out!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

This sounds like you will be in violation of the buy where you want to stay rule. You don't want to buy on the assumption you will be able to stay elsewhere. That's true of any timeshare not just Disney. Not and pay full price anyway.

You need to sit down and decide if you can get to Disney twice a year, once a year, or once every other year. By Disney I mean Orlando, Vero Beach or Hilton Head. If you can't go at least once every other...don't buy. You would be better off stuffing your money in a Disney trip account and rent points or make a cash reservation to a DVC resort.

The way DVC is set up you have to be able to plan to use it optimally.

 

[Richyams]

But if you can use it optimumly, it offers stays in great units at some of the finest WDW resorts there is.

As far as offering cost savings vs stays at All Stars, you are going to have a VERY long breakeven period. I don't think the true value of DVC can be experienced without using one bedroom and larger units.

A stay in an OKW Grand VIlla for the cost of a low priced moderate, $1500 annual dues/10-12 nights, since I broke even a LONG time ago, is a pretty convincing argument to me.

Doesn't really compare to a room at an All Star, or even SOG.

 

[Lisa F]

I would love to convince you to buy dvc but I have found that either people don't really need convincing, they just want justification for a decision they already know is right in the heart (at least 90%) or DVC is just not right for them. You sure sound like you are in the latter category.

DVC is the best thing for people who go to WDW regularly (at least every other year) and would be staying in a deluxe hotel room anyway. The flexibility that DVC offers is great if you want to try something different once in a while, but if you are buying with the expectation to trade then there are MUCH cheaper ways to go (resales on other timeshares, people do that all the time just to trade).

If you don't plan to go to WDW regularly and you are perfectly happy with all star type resorts when you DO go then DVC is not a program for you.

And they say we are all DVC fanatics over here

Lisa

 

[chris1gill]

I just wanted to agree with what others have said. You will never realize a monetary gain with DVC if you would normally stay at & be happy with the value resorts or SOG... DVC isn't really in the market to compete with value resorts...

If, lets say, you've seen the DVC units now & from now on you've decided you want the luxury of the studio... Well, now you've already decided you want to upgrade the accomodations from now on... well, a case can now be made for you to go ahead with a purchase... But, if you've seen the studio's or above & you still say that you will be happy at SOG & AS resorts, then purchasing is not right for you....

As for not having a consistent schedule of Disney trips, a case can still be made for purchasing if you can make it down every other year... and in fact, if you can make it only every other year, you could in fact look for resale packages of 100 points if you think that is all you would need every two years....

Just throwing out some ideas, but if you purchase with the idea of exchanging out more than using DVC's properties, it's not a good idea....

 

[Ballybunion3]

You all kind of confirmed what I was thinking. Although
it is very tempting (and the rooms we saw at the
Boardwalk were gorgeous), we probably aren't right for the DVC because of my job situation, kid situation, etc.

I can certainly understand why someone would buy into this program - if your whole family is totally into the Disney experience (like I am ), then it makes a lot of sense. I think it needs to be a lifestyle type decision.... and we don't quite fit - yet!

Thanks for all your advice!

Ballybunion is heaven on earth........

Disney Village Resorts -1995
Shades of Green - 2001
All Star Sports - 2002
Next one - ????????

 

[Lisa F]

For a lot less than the cost of buying into DVC you can rent rooms either directly from disney or by renting points in the DVC resorts. So if you just love the rooms but only go once every few years, you can still stay in the rooms!

Lisa

 

[DisneyKidds]

As always, the people on this board have dispensed some wonderful advice. They were instrumental in helping us make our DVC purchases.

As has been said, if you won't go to WDW at least every other year than DVC doesn't make sense. Likewise, if you would ALWAYS be able to stay in a SINGLE room at the All Stars or SOG and be happy then DVC may not be a fit. I would caution you to look long term, though - DVC is a long term program after all.

For us, we go at least once a year and for the next five years we could have made due with a single room at a moderate WDW resort. 2 adults and 3 kids (one under 3) will fit, although a bit tight. However, we know that after that we would either need a deluxe resort that sleeps 5, two rooms at All Stars or a moderate, or a 1 Br or larger at a Home Away From Home (Cash ressie at DVC ). If you price out a single room at the All Stars or SOG it would be a loooong time until you hit breakeven, if ever. However, in the long term, DVC will be cheaper than 2 rooms at either of those places, even if you get away with one room for a while. Again, this all assumes you go AT LEAST every other year to a DVC resort.

So we bought DVC. Now we stay in nicer accomodations than we would have otherwise, we will go twice a year until we need a 1 or 2 Br (at which time we'll go once a year), and the LONG TERM cost will be cheaper than if we had spent a week a year in a moderate/deluxe WDW resort. It made sense for us, but it took a lot of thought.

Sounds like you are smart and will make the right decision, if you haven't made it already. Good luck .

 

[Dean]

Unless you're going to stay at a DVC resort, your resort, at least every other year minimum, I don't think it would be a good idea to buy. The exception would be those that buy less points with the idea of banking/borrowing to stay every other year or so. So if you'll go every other year roughly, I wouldn't buy. I'd recommend you rent once, try to stay at one of the actively selling resorts and then make a final decision.

 

[Mouse Ears]

From what you've heard so far, I think you can see what the decision boils down to: how often will you go and what kind of accomodations will you need?

Like DisneyKidds, I have 3 kids, the youngest a newborn. I am considering buying DVC for exactly the same reasons. I could plan the next couple trips in a moderate or All-Stars, but I see that long-term I will be required to have a deluxe, home-away-from-home, or two rooms.

It makes sense to me to go ahead and commit to DVC now so that I can start benefitting from the ownership now and enjoy a 1BR with a split bedroom and living area. Then, when my youngest gets to be 3, I will either have to slow the pace to one trip every other year or possibly 2 of 3 years using banking/borrowing to secure the 2BR. And, of course, if we get really addicted like so many apparently have, then we'll have to look at add-on possibilities.

As everyone has stated, if you don't fully expect to visit Disney regularly or you don't require more than All-Stars or Moderate, then your break even point gets to be very far out there if at all.

Good luck on your decision,

M. E.