DVC Fever

[Pinkprincessmom]

Hi all,

Our first trip to Disney was the week after Thanksgiving 2004. We only had one child then and took both sets of grandparents. We have been hooked since then and just returned from our 7th trip.

This is our dilemma. We own a non-DVC timeshare. It has served us very well and we've never had a problem getting an Orlando resort. We always drive, so transportation to and from the parks is not a problem. We currently hold annual passes and plan to return in January. DD is in year round school and we schedule our vacations during her track-out.

We thought about renting points for January to see how different a DVC timeshare is compared to our non-Disney one. But DH is an all or nothing kind of guy and doesn't want to rent points when that money could go towards a resale purchase.

The problem is that we could only purchase 60-100 points at this time. We like to take people with us to Disney. Usually grandparents, but last visit there were 9 of us. For a 2 bedroom, we'd need at least 150 points. The January trip will just be the 4 of us.

Any insight from DVC pros?

 

[Chuck S]

Since you have no trouble getting a non-DVC Orlando area resort, and appaently are happy with your off-site accomodations, I think it would be wise to rent points for your first DVC stay and compare the DVC stay to a non-DVC stay. Yes, the $ could have been applied to a DVC purchase, but then again, DVC may not really be your cup of tea. Except of OKW, most DVC Villas will be somewhat smaller in floor space than their offsite equivalents.

Advantages to DVC:

• 
  
  $100 discount on Annual Passes (note that such discounts can change or be discontinued at any time)
  
  Resort delivery of purchase you make in the theme parks.
  
  Disney transortation system.
  
  Free velet parking at the DVC resorts that offer valet parking.
  
  Onsite charging to your room key.
  
  Availability of the Dining Plan (which may or may not work for your family, depending upon normal dining habits)

DVC Cons:

• 
  
  Maintenance fees are higher than most others in the industry.
  
  Trading out to other locations throuh Interval International sin;t as easy as some other timeshare companies because DVC has a corporate membership and does not allow individual II memberships.
  
  Trading to Disney locations that are not DVC (Adventures by Disney, cruises, regular Disney resorts,etc.) takes a LOT of points.

If you plan on spending most of your Vacations at a DVC resort, and can plan early to get your desired accomdations, DVC can save $$ over onsite Deluxe and Moderate resort accomodations.

It really depends upon your family's travel habits.

 

[ccigliano]

I would rent points at the resort you think you'll like best and be sure the check them all out when you are there. As you do want to purchase at your favorite resort and by all means check out the resale pricing as you can save a substantial amount. I purchased from TTS both times as I originally purchased Old Key West and liked it but once they built the Wilderness Lodge Villas, I just had to stay there so I sold OKW to purchase the WLV. Disney is one of the only timeshares you will ever make money on as prices have gone up every year since 1991.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We have 100 points and our first WDW DVC trip was in a 2 bedroom, boardwalk view and a studio - preferred view for 5 days in April. That took up 270 points. We used 2 years points for the 2 bedrrom and had 70 points transferred into our account for the studio. We had 6 adults and 3 kids on the trip.

Even with the big trip, we were still able to go to Hilton Head the prior Thanksgiving, and back to BWV for a 4 night/5 day weekender in a standard studio the following January. We stay in studios alot, and have been known to split points/cash at HH.

Bought 1/06
HH 11/06
BIG Trip 4/07
5 day Weekender 1/08
HH 11/08
40th BDAY trip 3/09

I think that is pretty great mileage on 100 points!

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Thanks everyone. This is something we've really got to think about it. For the last 2 years, we've really gone back and forth. I think right now we're being pretty serious. The maintenance fees are a huge con as our current fees are less than $200/year.

We'll see what happens.

 

[spiceycat]

what exchange company are you with - RCI - not dvc.

but II exchanges with DVC - and if you pick the right month you can trade to DVC.

with $200 a year in maintence fees that is really, really low - Florida generally runs $400 to over a $1,000.

disney is between $4 and $5 per point.

so 200 points would be $800

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

We trade with RCI. Our timeshare has a few resorts in Orlando, so we can use our points or trade.

My in-laws also have a timeshare. They have a different trading company, maybe Interval? I know some Disney resorts have shown up for them, but never when we've planned to go.

I'm thinking it's not something we'll do right now, even though we'd love to. The economy is so iffy. We're okay right now, but you never know. Plus, we do have access to nice resorts for little cost. If we were paying Disney property prices, this would be an easy decision. I just wish we had known about DVC before we bought another one.

 

[DeeCee735]

We had another timeshare, but the home resort wasn't in FLA. we were able to trade out and get a resort near disney. after driving to and from the parks, my husband looked at me and said - finally - "okay let's get DVC!". haven't regretted it since

good luck on your decision.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Diane ~ thanks for the personal testimony. Since our children are so far apart in age, the transportation options are an attractive feature to the DVC.