DVC for a CA resident?

[squirrelgirl]

Hi all! My husband and I are debating the merits of the DVC. I am reading some of the comments, and am seeing some information that makes me a bit more cautious.

As a So. Cal resident, I often go to DL with the family for a 1-2 night stay a couple times a year. While we are planning a trip to FL this fall, it is not something we would do often (we have a trip planned this fall and a hotel booked, but no plan to visit FL again in the next few years). In the future, DH would like to plan a trip to Hawaii and maybe some international travel as the kids get older. We discussed that DVC is like paying for your vacations in advance. This appeals to DH because I am am somewhat reluctant to go on a vacation (didn't vacation growing up, so I don't have a big drive for it), and would then be more likely to do these things in the future if the points were there to be used.

Bottom line, I would like your expert opinion on this. Does the profile of a family taking 1-2 night trips to DL and using the majority of their points at non-Disney properties make sense for DVC ownership? I am thinking not, but can't figure this out definitively. It seems most of the post I am reading use the points at Disney properties. I know you can use them elsewhere, but is that a poor value? How can I get the answer to this (the Sales folks are very encouraging that this is still a good option).

Thank you!!!

 

[drusba]

First, if you are not already aware, be aware of the following: a DVC is being built in Disneyland as part of the new Grand Californian addition and will likely open late next year, and a DVC is being built in Hawaii (Oahu) and will likely open 2010 or 2011. That may make a difference to your thinking.

Next, the answer to your question is no. It is not a good idea to buy DVC to mainly use it for non-DVC properties. Those other properties are not subject to any point limitations -- the points needed come out on an annual basis and the number of DVC points needed can change (and rise and often do) annually.

 

[biolabetty]

We are socal residents and the majority of our trips are to DL. We found we were spending so much on hotel bills that buying into DVC made sense. We go to WDW about every 5 years or so, and would like to go to Japan, but we are usually just at DL. I'm looking forward to the villas being completed at the GCH so I don't have to keep buying 2 rooms everytime we go.

 

[Dean]

Bottom line, I would like your expert opinion on this. Does the profile of a family taking 1-2 night trips to DL and using the majority of their points at non-Disney properties make sense for DVC ownership? I am thinking not, but can't figure this out definitively. It seems most of the post I am reading use the points at Disney properties. I know you can use them elsewhere, but is that a poor value? How can I get the answer to this (the Sales folks are very encouraging that this is still a good option).

Thank you!!!

It makes no sense to do this for non DVC stays. And it makes no sense for weekend trips either at any DVC option.