Dvc Confussion!!!!!!!!

[Ivette1980]

Please forgive me as I am so new at this and am getting so much info that its jumbled in my head.

I keep reading that I should calculate and/or figure out how often I would visit disney and when more or less.

I am planning or trying to plan on going in Feb of 2009. Before I do this I need to undertsand how membership for DVC really works. Lets say more or less for Saratogoa Springs they say that it would be a totla of 236 points.

Im not always going to go in Feb. but I will be going to Saratoga. So how many points am I buying, how much would the total and monthly cost be and is the point system used as though I am paying for the rooms? Am I using my points instead of actual money and then there would be a small balance as oppose to paying 2-3,000 for a week stay?

This is what I am trying to understand. And if I purchase interest into Saratoga, how long does it take before I can actual utilize the benefits and points.

sorry to have made this to lenghty but I need to understand this 100% before anyone get my money. I read the forums and seems so easy for everyone meanwhile I am totally lost with the whole thing. It seems like I am buying a house.

Oh one more thing, I have alreayd visited Saratogo and I feel in love with it, do I have to sign up there, online, via phone, where?

 

[Donald is #1]

Please forgive me as I am so new at this and am getting so much info that its jumbled in my head.

I keep reading that I should calculate and/or figure out how often I would visit disney and when more or less.

I am planning or trying to plan on going in Feb of 2009. Before I do this I need to undertsand how membership for DVC really works. Lets say more or less for Saratogoa Springs they say that it would be a totla of 236 points.

Im not always going to go in Feb. but I will be going to Saratoga. So how many points am I buying, how much would the total and monthly cost be and is the point system used as though I am paying for the rooms? Am I using my points instead of actual money and then there would be a small balance as oppose to paying 2-3,000 for a week stay?

This is what I am trying to understand. And if I purchase interest into Saratoga, how long does it take before I can actual utilize the benefits and points.

sorry to have made this to lenghty but I need to understand this 100% before anyone get my money. I read the forums and seems so easy for everyone meanwhile I am totally lost with the whole thing. It seems like I am buying a house.

Oh one more thing, I have alreayd visited Saratogo and I feel in love with it, do I have to sign up there, online, via phone, where?

OK, let's see where to start. Since your target resort is SSR, you would use those point tables (Like you did). OK, since you say that you would not always travel in Feb., what other months would you travel in? Look at those times too. Personnally, I would then look at the highest point cost of the times when you would like to travel and use that for your estimate. In your example, February is in Magic season which is the second highest point category. So know you have answer #1 which is how many points you need.

Question #2 - Will you go once a year, once every 2 years, twice a year, etc?

With the answers to questions # 1 & 2 you know how many points that you will need.


With SSR, you have 2 choices: direct through Disney or via resale. Direct through Disney is the quickest path but is a bit more expensive.

So what are the costs? Well you have a buy in cost that will be $104 x 236 = $24,544 for direct through Disney, ignoring any incentives. Through resale, you may be able to get it as low as $80-85 per point.

In addition, there will be an annual maintenance fee that is based upon the number of points that you have. The current maintenance fees at SSR are $4.21 per point. These fees will most likely go up a bit each year.

I am sure that I have forgotten something, so please ask away!

 

[chalee94]

Im not always going to go in Feb. but I will be going to Saratoga. So how many points am I buying, how much would the total and monthly cost be...

assuming you buy 240 pts to take trips every year, the total upfront cost might range from a little less than $20,000 (if you bought a resale) to around $23,000 if you purchase direct. in addition, you would owe annual dues of slightly higher than $1000 per year ($85 per month.)

...and is the point system used as though I am paying for the rooms? Am I using my points instead of actual money and then there would be a small balance as oppose to paying 2-3,000 for a week stay?

yes, the only cash involved is what is stated above to buy the contract. after that, your stays are paid for with "points." (unless you decide to trade into the grand floridian or other wdw hotel rather than a DVC resort, in which case there is a $95 fee for making the reservation. there is no cash fee for booking SSR or AKV or a DVC resort, though.)

This is what I am trying to understand. And if I purchase interest into Saratoga, how long does it take before I can actual utilize the benefits and points.

buying a resale contract is cheaper but it takes a couple of months before you are in the system and able to make reservations. buying direct enables you to make reservations almost immediately (depending on availability, of course.)

depending on when you are planning to go to wdw, it may be difficult to make reservations on short notice. in general, DVC works better for those who can plan at least 8-10 months in advance.

sorry to have made this to lenghty but I need to understand this 100% before anyone get my money. I read the forums and seems so easy for everyone meanwhile I am totally lost with the whole thing. It seems like I am buying a house.

you are purchasing a long-term real estate interest for thousands of dollars. it is a little like buying a house... definitely take your time to learn what is involved.

Oh one more thing, I have alreayd visited Saratogo and I feel in love with it, do I have to sign up there, online, via phone, where?

you can buy resale by contacting the board sponsor or else you can contact DVC directly. if you prefer to make the deal in person, you can also wait and talk to a guide face-to face at SSR.

 

[rinkwide]

...I need to understand this 100% before anyone get my money...

Spread that gospel, sister.