DVC compared to other timeshares

[kbender23]

I have the paperwork at my house as we speak ready to buy at AKL.

But this past weekend my wife and I went on another timeshare tour (Lawrence Welk Resorts) and we did notice a few things that scare me about the Disney timeshare.

1. We are basically spending over $1000 a year for a 1 week hotel. I know its in a deluxe resort, but we use our points and that is it. At many other timeshares they offer getaways. You pay about $50 a night to stay at $350 a night hotels and it does not use up any of your points. Those rooms are based on availability obviously.
Disney offers nothing like this right? Once I use my points (a 2 bedroom at AKL is 185 so over a year of points minimum) then I am done with no further benefit correct?

I guess my question is this. Have any of you ever taken the time to research other timeshares? And if so, how does Disney compare or why did you choose Disney in the end?

Thank you very much!

 

[gonzalj1]

DW and I researched exhaustively when we purchased back in 2001. What we found was:

If you are looking for a flexible timeshare that offers lots of location options through trading DVC is not for you. There are better deals to be found.

If you are looking for a deal that offers lots of perks and extras DVC is NOT for you. The ones we get are focused on Disney and can eb taken away at any time. (See free valet)

If you are looking for the least expensive timeshare accommodations in the Orlando area DVC is not for you.

If you are looking to stay onsite at WDW and enjoy deluxe accommodations every year or every other year for 10-20 years then DVC MAY be for you.

For us, DVC was a way to pre-pay our accommodations for the next 40 years and build in some predictability as to the rate we would pay. We also have become accustomed to the 1BR and 2BR accommodations and are no longer happy in a hotel room. DVC is not for everyone and your priorities are probably different from ours. We are not looking for an investment. We are not looking to pass this down to tour kids. We simply want to enjoy our WDW time in great accommodations at a fair price. We feel we got a great deal .

HTH

 

[chalee94]

I guess my question is this. Have any of you ever taken the time to research other timeshares? And if so, how does Disney compare or why did you choose Disney in the end?

like a couple of other posters here, i chose both.

DVC

-great for onsite stays at wdw
-very scalable: if you are happy with 5 weeknights per year in a studio, you can do that with DVC for less than $5000 upfront...or if you'd prefer 2 months in a 2BR villa, pony up and you can do that as well...
-super easy to research - most all costs, historical and current, are easy to find in minutes, and most risks of ownership can be easily researched with a few weeks on the DIS
-has a definite ending point in 2042 for OKW...a positive these days
-also, AKV has giraffes and zebras. the welk resorts have 0 giraffes. (take that! )

but as you mentioned,

-DVC doesn't allow for getaways or discount time (well...other than a 25% discount for DVC cash stays, if available). for the most part, DVCs at wdw wouldn't really have much of that anyway. but my other timeshare has the option of joining either II or RCI, both of which sometimes offer cheap rentals available at the last minute.

-that also gives me a lot of options for trading out to non-wdw locations with my other timeshare (so far i've stayed in marriott 2BR villas in st kitts in the caribbean, beachfront in hilton head, oceanview in newport coast, CA and near the strip in las vegas.)
-upfront cost was MUCH cheaper ($1) for my other timeshare and annual dues are much lower than for a comparable 2BR at DVC

so yeah, i'd vote for getting enough DVC pts for onsite wdw stays and if you want to travel elsewhere, buy a different timeshare for that (plan to spend several months doing research on TUG as information for non-DVC timeshares can be more difficult to obtain).

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

We own both DVC and Worlmark. We bought Wourldmark a long time ago and are very happy with it. Being from the west coast we have lots of options close to home. We bought DVC for the exact purpose the PP said, deluxe accomidations without the acute out of pocket expense. We use DVC for Disney and Worldmark for everything else. The exception is we are using the Worldmark in Orlando this Oct.

 

[PrincessDadx2]

I have the paperwork at my house as we speak ready to buy at AKL.

But this past weekend my wife and I went on another timeshare tour (Lawrence Welk Resorts) and we did notice a few things that scare me about the Disney timeshare.

1. We are basically spending over $1000 a year for a 1 week hotel. I know its in a deluxe resort, but we use our points and that is it. At many other timeshares they offer getaways. You pay about $50 a night to stay at $350 a night hotels and it does not use up any of your points. Those rooms are based on availability obviously.
Disney offers nothing like this right? Once I use my points (a 2 bedroom at AKL is 185 so over a year of points minimum) then I am done with no further benefit correct?

I guess my question is this. Have any of you ever taken the time to research other timeshares? And if so, how does Disney compare or why did you choose Disney in the end?

Thank you very much!

Not sure what Welk offers, but timeshare exchange companies (Interval International, RCI) offer getaways to their members. These usually come from excess developer inventory and are used to get rid of excess weeks or as marketing weeks. You can get good deals, but most are for shoulder or off season. Prime time goes for $200 per night if available at all, not $50.

Side note, if you are interested in the Welk resorts I am sure you can buy one resale for less than $1,000, maybe as cheap as $1 so don't buy from the tour

 

[Caren90]

Where is Dean when you need him?

 

[bwvBound]

We own both DVC and Worlmark. We bought Wourldmark a long time ago and are very happy with it. Being from the west coast we have lots of options close to home. We bought DVC for the exact purpose the PP said, deluxe accomidations without the acute out of pocket expense. We use DVC for Disney and Worldmark for everything else.

This quote mirrors our choices, too! We live on the West Coast and use Worldmark several times each year for long weekend getaways. We take frequent advantage of their discounted cash options such as Bonus Time, Inventory Specials and Monday Madness programs. Worldmark also gives me direct membership access to RCI/II for trading or rentals weeks.

We use DVC exclusively for DVC resort stays.

We also own another nearby property on the SoCal Coast for trading with RCI, day-use, Bonus Time, discounted rental network, etc. In this last case, we own the smallest possible contract (1BR, every-other-year) in order to maintain all the benefits. Works very well and isn't a huge hit on the wallet when annual maintenance fees come due.

 

[Mtnman44]

To the OP:

-One, note that DVC is not a way to spend less. That $1,000, as you allude, would go a long way to a hotel each year, or perhaps even a WDW value or moderate resort. DVC does however, make a one or two bedroom WDW villa much more affordable, if that is what you want.

-Two, buy resale, no matter what. Don't buy from the developer, including DVC.

- Three, see item #2 above.

 

[kbender23]

But if you buy resale you lose most of the benefits that come with the DVC program. I understand if you are going to use the points at Disney every year then buy resale, but if you want to use RCI or the cruise or anything then resale is not the way to go.

 

[ELMC]

I have the paperwork at my house as we speak ready to buy at AKL.

But this past weekend my wife and I went on another timeshare tour (Lawrence Welk Resorts) and we did notice a few things that scare me about the Disney timeshare.

1. We are basically spending over $1000 a year for a 1 week hotel. I know its in a deluxe resort, but we use our points and that is it. At many other timeshares they offer getaways. You pay about $50 a night to stay at $350 a night hotels and it does not use up any of your points. Those rooms are based on availability obviously.
Disney offers nothing like this right? Once I use my points (a 2 bedroom at AKL is 185 so over a year of points minimum) then I am done with no further benefit correct?

I guess my question is this. Have any of you ever taken the time to research other timeshares? And if so, how does Disney compare or why did you choose Disney in the end?

Thank you very much!

There have been some very good replies, so I'll try not to echo what they have said. But I do have two points that may be helpful...

1) You can easily compare DVC with a non Disney timeshare in a very easy way. One one side of the chart list all the various options (such as getaways, trades to 1,000s of resorts, savings, etc.). Then on the other side, write the word Disney. That's basically the difference in perks. Disney doesn't have to give you all of those things because they give you the one thing you can't get with any other timeshare company...onsite stays at Disney. (unless you do an RCI trade, but that is tricky).

2) I'm guessing by your statement that you are looking at buying AKL direct from Disney. You may want to consider looking at buying a DVC contract via resale. The numbers in that case come way down and I'm predicting that things will start to come more into line for you. Check out the other threads here on the DIS for more info about that.

You were wise to stop and ask this question. I would recommend that you take all the time you need to do the research and make an informed decision that you feel comfortable with. Good luck!

 

[Deb & Bill]

But if you buy resale you lose most of the benefits that come with the DVC program. I understand if you are going to use the points at Disney every year then buy resale, but if you want to use RCI or the cruise or anything then resale is not the way to go.

DCL cruises and Disney resorts (non-DVC) are very expensive points-wise. Not worth the points ultimately. You could rent out your points and use the cash to book these non-DVC stays.

You can use resale points for RCI, but they are also somewhat difficult to get and may require a long lead time to get something close to what you want.

 

[fflmaster]

We are not looking to pass this down to tour kids.

HTH

This is a question I have not thought of since Disney changed the rules on resales last march.

What happens in a death to the contract?

I would love to believe my wife and I will live till 1960, but since that would make us 90 we may not make it.

What would happen to my BLT contract upon our death? If we were to pass before 1960.

Would it be given to my kids with all the rewards I currently have or will it be considered a new sale and thus change to the new rules?

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is a question I have not thought of since Disney changed the rules on resales last march.

What happens in a death to the contract?

I would love to believe my wife and I will live till 1960, but since that would make us 90 we may not make it.

What would happen to my BLT contract upon our death? If we were to pass before 1960.

Would it be given to my kids with all the rewards I currently have or will it be considered a new sale and thus change to the new rules?

It goes to your estate to be sold just like the rest of the stuff you didn't specify in a will. So make a will and leave it to a family member and they can sell it or use it and pay the dues.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

But if you buy resale you lose most of the benefits that come with the DVC program. I understand if you are going to use the points at Disney every year then buy resale, but if you want to use RCI or the cruise or anything then resale is not the way to go.

I strongly disagree with your use of *most*. Buying resale, you have the same options within DVC resorts as any other buyer. And you can trade your points within the RCI system.

Yes, you cannot use your points to do the Disney Collection or Cruise, etc. But there is no sound economic reason to do those things: it is much better to rent your points and buy whatever you were going to buy with cash. Using points for these options is like buying something for $100 on credit instead of paying $50 cash for the same thing.

 

[chalee94]

What would happen to my BLT contract upon our death? If we were to pass before [2060].

Would it be given to my kids with all the rewards I currently have or will it be considered a new sale and thus change to the new rules?

DVC is an asset that can be willed to whomever you choose.

i believe it will maintain direct purchase rights when transferring to an heir but not sure if that has been tested or verified yet.

 

[kbender23]

I was told by my sales guy that if you buy resale you can only use it at the DVC resorts. No RCI, cruise, adventure. Is this incorrect? I believe you could still use your points at Hawaii, Vero, or Hilton Head but I am not sure. I think I would like to use my points at sometime to use RCI for traveling out of the country. Thisis why I think for me buying direct makes the most sense, but I am new at this so if you think I am wrong please let me know.

 

[chalee94]

But if you buy resale you lose most of the benefits that come with the DVC program. I understand if you are going to use the points at Disney every year then buy resale, but if you want to use RCI or the cruise or anything then resale is not the way to go.

most of the benefit (95%+) of owning DVC comes with using the pts at disney at DVC resorts.

you can also use DVC pts at the DVC resorts at HHI, hawaii and vero beach (subject to the 7 month window). the downside is that there are better and cheaper resorts than the DVC options for staying at HHI or hawaii if that is your primary goal.

resale purchasers can still trade out through RCI. that does not change from a direct purchase. only a small handful of those trading options comes close to being equal in value to DVC, though.

have you looked at the cruise point charts, much less the adventures by disney charts? it's nice to have as an option if you don't care about the value (or feel like you have already gotten your money's worth from DVC) but frankly, it's crazy to go into a DVC purchase thinking that trading for cruises is a good value...

edited to add: never forget that the sales guy isn't giving you unbiased information.

 

[Missyrose]

Your sales guy will use every trick in the book to try and get you to buy points from him instead of through the resale market, including giving you misleading information (like telling you that people who buy resale contracts can't use RCI, which is completely false).

PPs gave you good advice. If you want to visit Disney World every year or every other year, buy enough points to be able to do that. If you want to travel to Europe or the Caribbean, other timeshares will work much better for that. The best use of DVC points will ALWAYS be at the DVC resorts, options beyond that are rarely a good value for your points.

 

[Mtnman44]

Don't buy DVC for those trading options. They make for good marketing, but in use they are a poor value and often are not available. Your DVC points are more valuable than what you get out of them when you trade them. Why pay DVC nearly double the market rate for your DVC purchase for the "Privilege" of being able to spend them on a cruise or a Disney Collection trade, which trades, by the way, are only worth half of what they are charging you in points for. Oh, and these outside trades also cost $95 everytime. Bling! did you feel that? It was tinkerbell grabbing your wallet!

If you want a timeshare to trade, there are other better ones for much less than DVC. Get one of those, and then get a smaller DVC contract just for your disney trips.

Note: other timeshare developers can be much worse. They sell to un-informed vacationers at prices that are near ridiculous compared to what the same thing sells for in the open market. Often they go for pennies on the dollar or even less!

Example: just to show you an idea of pricing, here is 180K lawrence welk resort points, annual deeded, going for $99. How does that compare to the prices they gave you on the "tour"?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180K-LAWRENCE-WELK-RESORT-VILLAS-ESCONDIDO-CALIFORNIA-TIMESHARE-/230779442662?pt=Timeshares&hash=item35bb86d5e6

I was told by my sales guy that if you buy resale you can only use it at the DVC resorts. No RCI, cruise, adventure. Is this incorrect? I believe you could still use your points at Hawaii, Vero, or Hilton Head but I am not sure. I think I would like to use my points at sometime to use RCI for traveling out of the country. Thisis why I think for me buying direct makes the most sense, but I am new at this so if you think I am wrong please let me know.

 

[kbender23]

Ok, I see what you are all saying and I appreciate.

My DVC would cost me about $8 a pt for the 46 years I would have it.

To stay at RCI for 160 for the week = $183 a night. I can get a very nice hotel room at any of those places for $183 a night. Maybe not the 5 star hotel but still, $183 would get me a great room.

Now if I do resale can I still use my points at Hawaii or Hilton Head or do I lose those privlages?

But yes, I see that paying $189 a night for a 1 bedroom villa at AKL is worth it when it usually goes for well over $350 a night.

I guess it makes sense to do resale but I know I will be going to Hilton Head and using points. Do I lose that privlage by resale?