DVC - Hard Time Deciding

[Tropical Wilds]

Hey there!

We're seriously considering doing the DVC, but we're having such a hard time trying to figure out how to navigate it, or if it's even worth it for us.

Right now, it's just the two adults who do Disney... But we have kids (4, 2, and 15 months) who we want to bring with us at some point, which means it looks like it'll be cheaper to do the DVC when we start including them. I talked to a rep, but he was just very excited to sell it, not really give helpful info.

The long and the short of it is I want to save money for when we travel to Disney, while having a means to go more often then we would otherwise. I don't care about washers and dryers, in room kitchens, and while seeing animals out my window is cool, I don't need it. We have stayed at values and moderates, refuse to do the values again, and are content with the moderates at CBR or POFQ. We refuse to do Disney without a Dining Plan... Period. And we'd be more then happy to use points on big trips that are not directly Disney... Hawaii or Japan, for example, and we wonder if, with such a large family, if doing those kind of trips is only accessable to us via DVC. We travel almost exclusively in Sept-Nov, would never dream of doing Disney before Labor Day or after December 1st, though with this would be open to off-season winter (January-Feb), when the weather is cooler and there are less people.

So, in all honesty, knowing this... Is it worth it? I get it's a big purchase, but nobody can really give us a monthly breakdown of cost, what to put down, etc, until we talk to them and say we are serious about buying. When we're fact-finding, we just hear how awesome and life-changing it is. If we didn't know it was awesome and life-changing, honestly, we wouldn't be looking at doing it... So it's kind of a "well no duh." I see you can also buy not directly from Disney for rates that are much cheaper... I'm not at all opposed to doing this, unless there is some major loss of benefits I'm not aware of.

 

[chalee94]

And we'd be more then happy to use points on big trips that are not directly Disney... Hawaii or Japan, for example, and we wonder if, with such a large family, if doing those kind of trips is only accessable to us via DVC.

plan to use DVC for DVC resorts only. trading out is usually a very poor deal.

We travel almost exclusively in Sept-Nov, would never dream of doing Disney before Labor Day or after December 1st, though with this would be open to off-season winter (January-Feb), when the weather is cooler and there are less people.

if/when you start looking at picking a "use year", go for august or september.

So, in all honesty, knowing this... Is it worth it?

depends.

I'm not at all opposed to doing this, unless there is some major loss of benefits I'm not aware of.

no access to "free dining" on points stays. if disney offers 40% off or 7-for-the-price-of-4 deals for cash customers, the cost for DVC stays with pts will stay the same.

you make your deal up front. DVC knows you are locked-in for the long-term. some even perceive that DVC owners get sub-par customer service. personally, i've only had great experiences but it's something to be aware of...

and other than access to DVC accommodations on points stays, none of the perks are guaranteed. there is an annual pass discount, dining discounts and so on...but all of that could go away at any point.

DVC currently resells for a decent percentage of the direct price...but that could also change and we could be selling points for a dollar on ebay 10 years down the road.

I see you can also buy not directly from Disney for rates that are much cheaper...

yes, resales are a much better deal.

I get it's a big purchase, but nobody can really give us a monthly breakdown of cost, what to put down, etc, until we talk to them and say we are serious about buying.

the first thing to do is figure out how you would intend to use DVC most often. what resort? when would you stay, in what size villa and for how long?

there are point charts to play with in the top right-hand corner. figure out how many pts you would need each year at your favorite resort.

after that, it's easy. there is a link to resales above as well.

if you want a small 50 pt contract for a 7-to-9 night stay in a studio every other year at OKW, a resale would probably run you about $3000 or so + $350-ish in closing costs.

then go to the DVC resource thread at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2532406 and look at annual maintenance fees per pt, currently about $5 per pt ($4.98 to be exact for 2011) for OKW, so you'd be paying about $250 per year (or $21 per month). annual maintenance fees (or "dues") will likely go up around 3% or so per year.

if you need 10 times that many pts (say you want to stay at OKW for 2 weeks each year in a 2BR villa), your costs would be roughly 10 times as much. larger contracts are a little cheaper per pt...a 480 pt contract currently lists for about $27,000 + $600-700 in closing costs. (you may want to buy multiple smaller contracts to make them easier to sell, rather than buy one large contract.) on that 480 pt contract, annual dues would be $5 x 480 pts = $2400 (or $200 per month).

you just have to figure out what you want to do.

if you need to finance a DVC contract, i would recommend against it. lots of other timeshares have declined in value to be nearly worthless...as a result, most banks won't lend money for them. you can take a personal loan to buy a timeshare if you have great credit, but the rates tend to be high. you can use a home equity loan but that puts your house on the line to buy a timeshare...not so good.

DVC will loan you money at over 10% if you buy direct (closer to 14-15% if your credit is iffy) and pay their higher prices. think the downpayment is 10%. here is a link to direct pricing for comparison:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

 

[DVCconvert]

Tropical Wilds wrote:

I don't care about washers and dryers, in room kitchens, and while seeing animals out my window is cool, I don't need it. We have stayed at values and moderates, refuse to do the values again, and are content with the moderates at CBR or POFQ. We refuse to do Disney without a Dining Plan... Period. And we'd be more then happy to use points on big trips that are not directly Disney... Hawaii or Japan, for example..............So, in all honesty, knowing this... Is it worth it?

Honestly, in your situation I don't think DVC is a good fit for you.
The best and highest use of DVC membership is for people who want the DVC amenities, are willing/able to go to a DVC resort every year or two and not trade out. You would never get the opportunity of a 'free' dining plan using DVC.

HTH

 

[gardenia]

You don't sound like someone who would be happy with DVC. DVC is a great deal for folks who want to visit Disney often (not other destinations), who want deluxe resort accommodations, enjoy or need extra space, and don't mind doing their own housekeeping. You won't get "free dining" with DVC - but the dining plan is never really "free" and not even a deal IMO. If you like moderates and dining plan, stick with those.

 

[disneynutz]

Based on your comments, I would say stick with the moderates and save some money.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ditto what the previous posters have said. If you aren't going to Disney at least yearly and the accomodations won't make any difference to you, you are not a good fit. Book through Disney when they offer free stuff. Don't waste your money on DVC.

 

[ldo]

I agree with PPs. Given your time frame, there are usually good deals on the rooms and/or free dining offers. You can do any moderate with 5 if 1 kid is under 3 and you can do Port Orleans with 5 persons even iwth older kids in one of the trundle rooms. DVC is cost-effective when you need more space, utilize the kitchen, and want Deluxe level. DVC is NOT a good deal to trade--there are tons of cheaper timeshares you can buy to trade, if that is what you want--but there are so many greata rental deals, I would not buy a timeshare to trade right now either. Elaine

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The long and the short of it is I want to save money for when we travel to Disney, while having a means to go more often then we would otherwise. I don't care about washers and dryers, in room kitchens, and while seeing animals out my window is cool, I don't need it. We have stayed at values and moderates, refuse to do the values again, and are content with the moderates at CBR or POFQ.

Based on these statements, I'll recommend to you that DVC isn't a good fit to your vacationing habits. If you're content with the moderate resorts and aren't real keen on the deluxe features of the DVC villas, your best value would be to continue paying cash for your Disney stays. Continue to take advantage of the other discounts that are available for staying at the resorts you say you enjoy.

 

[JimMIA]

If you're looking for something life-changing, you already have three of those. DVC isn't it.

With regard to your travel times, keep in mind that as your kids get older, they will have much more restrictive school and extracurricular limitations on their ability to travel in the Fall. So that travel pattern will almost certainly change as the kids get older.

And it's very hard to tell at this age what the pattern will change TO, because you don't know what their interests will be when they're ten. If you'd told me 5 years ago that my daughter would be all about figure-skating at 9, I'd have recommended that you get help!

I'd also encourage you to read some of the other "Should I buy DVC" threads on this forum. There have been a half-dozen or so in the last week, and you should read every word of them because a lot of good information tends to get scattered around.

DVC is a 30-50 year timeshare financial committment to a certain type of vacation, primarily at Walt Disney World in Orlando. DVC works well for a particular type of WDW vacationer, but it is NOT designed for everyone. And as others have said, it does not work well for exchanges to other options.

Many people get pixie dust in their eyes and make a bad decision. I'd really think seriously about that long-term financial committment before you leap.

I'd also RENT a DVC reservation from an owner before you even consider purchasing. Rent a one-bedroom, so you can really see what DVC is like.

I think I'd also rent some nice accommodations offsite to see how you like those before you make a decision. There are so many options, and almost all of them are less expensive than DVC. In fact, renting almost anything will be less expensive than owning DVC, at least for the forseeable future.

Good luck with your exploratory process!

 

[Sandisw]

Once your youngest is over 3, your going to be limited in terms of the places you can stay on cash.

However, I do agree with others that if your goal is to use the points elsewhere on a regular basis, you may find DVC a disappointment.

At the end of the day, when you buy DVC, the only thing you are guaranteed is the right to book at your home resort or other DVC resorts providing your home resort remains part of the "club"--Disney has the right to remove it.

So, DVC works well for those that want to go to WDW on a regular basis, for those who can book at least 7 months in advance, and those that are in it for the long haul.

As far as the dining plan, right now, DVC members are allowed to add it to their reservations and pay for it, but since that is a deal between DVC and Disney, it could be changed at any time.

Now, you can pick up some points via the resale market for a pretty good price and since right now, studios would work out for you, you may find buying in with a small contract would be beneficial to cover only the stays at WDW.

Good luck!

 

[vicki_c]

I didn't read any one else's responses, but your post doesn't make you sound like a good DVC candidate to me and you'd be happier just staying in the regular resorts.

 

[amypetecar]

I agree with the poster the recommended renting points first. If you find $10 a point to rent, you can get old key west studios for around $100 or so a night.

I didn't care about ammenities either.... until I stayed in a 2 bedroom villa. now im spoiled and am very happy with my dvc purchase....

 

[dizzneebabe]

In my opinion, you've already talked yourself OUT of DVC, which is fine--it is not for everyone!

We purchased to stay at WDW. To trade elsewhere isn't the best use of points and requires more planning and flexibility.

I am surprised you say you are not interested in having a washer/dryer or kitchen with 3 small children. I think having the conveniences of home, traveling with children, can make a huge difference--at least it does for us.

If you're happy with the moderate resorts, then you should stick with that and maybe revisit the idea if your vacation needs change.

 

[allshookup]

Speaking from my own experience, I had no idea we needed a washer/dryer till we had one. After being stuck in rain storm & having the ability to just throw all our stuff in the dryer before we went to bed & having it nice & dry for us the next day made us realize it would be difficult to live without now. Also thought I wouldn't like doing laundry on vacation, but having it right there makes it so easy to just throw a load in & allows us to go home with mostly clean clothes.

Didn't think I needed a full kitchen either but LOVE having a big fridge to put all our "drinks". Plus DH & I are not big breakfast eaters so we just get pastries & fruit for the teens & they are happy & sometimes we'll have fixings for sandwiches if we are hanging around the resort all day. We really only eat a big dinner out when we go so no need for DDP for us anymore. Once we owned DVC & started going sometimes twice per year, eating out all day long started to get old for us.

The time of year we go is also starting to change for us. We use to always go in the dog days of summer simply because traveling while the kids were on school vacations, the airfare was just prohibitive for us. Now the kids are going off to college soon so DH & I are starting to think that right after the holidays might be a better time to go as a family. DH & I are also getting ready to "sneak" off for our first only adults only weekend at the World & planning on having many more in the future!

Not saying this is true for the OP, maybe you really have planned out what the want/need for the future, and if you are sure that if you really don't need a washer/dryer, kitchen, private balcony, etc. stick with the moderates, but we found that once we owned DVC, our visits to WDW unexpectly changed....for the better!

 

[com_op_2000]

We travel almost exclusively in Sept-Nov, would never dream of doing Disney before Labor Day or after December 1st, though with this would be open to off-season winter (January-Feb), when the weather is cooler and there are less people.

I wanted to address this part of your statement:
Slow times at the regular resorts/parks are not always a slow time for DVC.
Labor Day till December is a very busy time at Disney with EPCOT F&W, MNSSHP, Thanksgiving Holidays, and prep-work for Christmas starting @ mid-Nov. If you can book at the day of your 11 month window at your home resort, you will most lilkely get what your looking for otherwise you might get locked out.
Off-season winter (Jan - Feb) January has marathon weekend and MLK holiday weekend. Feburary has Presidents Week in some nothern states off school.
I have never had a problem booking my home resort during these time frames but have had issues changing resorts at 7 months. If you purchase ensure you select a resort that you would not be unhappy staying at all the time. I agree with PP that you do not seem to be a good canadate for DVC at this time.

 

[DisneyMotherOf2]

Good luck with your decision. We stayed in value and moderate prior to buying in. We LOVE Disney and knew we'd want to go annually or every other year. Our kids were 2 and 3 on their first trip to Disney and they've been 3 times now in the last couple years. Having a larger room makes things so much nicer. Having experienced a one bedroom with a living room, kitchen and washer/dryer made the "hotel room life" much nicer and less cramped as well. We bought into DVC on a 150 point resale contract at Beach Club Villas. At the time we figured we'd be fine with Studios. Having now "upgraded" to a one bedroom that's what I want now so we're in the process of adding on an additional 150point contract at BWV at $50/point. 62 2011 points remaining and all of 2012. We didn't have to add on that much, but wanted to. We'd like to use it to travel to Hilton Head, Vero Beach and Aluni someday. Maybe we'll try using it for the cruise line or RCI someday if we have a bunch of points hanging around. It's worked out well for us. Our use year in Feb which works well for us since the bulk of our travel time will be around school vacations and summer probably. I'm not sure I want to take them out of school for a week, even though my oldest is only in Kindergarten. From one New Englander to another. Good luck!

 

[Mtnman44]

I would say that it doesn't sound like DVC is a good fit for what you are looking for. For most people, DVC isn't really a money saver. It is more like a way to get a discount on upgraded accomodations. You still spend more, but you do get a discount from Disney in exchange for your upfront purchase price.

I've found that the real value comes with the 1BR and 2BR type units. In terms of vacation experience, this is a huge upgrade from even a nice hotel room. When you travel with your three kids, I think you'll find it nearly mandatory once you've tried it. With DVC, you can stay in those types of units but still be "on property" at a Disney Resort.

Will you save money over whatever you are used to doing right now? This is difficult to answer, but in the short term No, in the long term, probably. But really, the comparison is only valid if your travel habits are exactly the same even if you had never bought DVC.

For a quick ballpark comparison, currently you could get 250 points (enough points for a 1BR or 2BR unit for a week every year, depending on the season) on the resale market for around $60 per point, a $15,000 purchase. In addition, those points will cost you approx $1,200 per year in Taxes and maintanence fees. Plus, your stays will never come with free dining, so if you have that factored into your current Hotel spending, then dining is an additional cost on the DVC side.

So, DVC will cost you $1,200 per year in this simple scenario. How many trips before you have "saved" enough to break even on your $15k purchase? Keep in mind we are comparing up to a 2BR villa to probably a Moderate Disney Hotel room, so there is also some built in extra value on the DVC side of the comparison.

Hey there!

We're seriously considering doing the DVC, but we're having such a hard time trying to figure out how to navigate it, or if it's even worth it for us.

Right now, it's just the two adults who do Disney... But we have kids (4, 2, and 15 months) who we want to bring with us at some point, which means it looks like it'll be cheaper to do the DVC when we start including them. I talked to a rep, but he was just very excited to sell it, not really give helpful info.

The long and the short of it is I want to save money for when we travel to Disney, while having a means to go more often then we would otherwise. I don't care about washers and dryers, in room kitchens, and while seeing animals out my window is cool, I don't need it. We have stayed at values and moderates, refuse to do the values again, and are content with the moderates at CBR or POFQ. We refuse to do Disney without a Dining Plan... Period. And we'd be more then happy to use points on big trips that are not directly Disney... Hawaii or Japan, for example, and we wonder if, with such a large family, if doing those kind of trips is only accessable to us via DVC. We travel almost exclusively in Sept-Nov, would never dream of doing Disney before Labor Day or after December 1st, though with this would be open to off-season winter (January-Feb), when the weather is cooler and there are less people.

So, in all honesty, knowing this... Is it worth it? I get it's a big purchase, but nobody can really give us a monthly breakdown of cost, what to put down, etc, until we talk to them and say we are serious about buying. When we're fact-finding, we just hear how awesome and life-changing it is. If we didn't know it was awesome and life-changing, honestly, we wouldn't be looking at doing it... So it's kind of a "well no duh." I see you can also buy not directly from Disney for rates that are much cheaper... I'm not at all opposed to doing this, unless there is some major loss of benefits I'm not aware of.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Honestly, I was more sold towards doing the DVC program via resale, especially since I ran into somebody who did nothing but sings its praises, but you guys have given me a lot to think about. Maybe it isn't the right fit for us... If we'd bought in, we'd have made the trip at least once a year, maybe more if it was just the two of us. But as was said earlier, I'm happy in my moderates and would miss the dining. Not that I'd be opposed to staying somewhere better if it came up and I could afford it... I was just thinking maybe this would be kind of a sneaky way for a family as big as ours could make a trip we love more often and save some money on lodging.

Thanks guys!