DVC help

[Dean]

Although I respect your decision to buy into DVC. It's never a "great deal". During the sales process, they refer to the discounts over the rack rate. But in reality, you don't have to pay the rack rate as Disney offers discounts (free dining for example).

My basis for saying DVC is not a great deal is the availability of rental points. You can rent points from an owner who is unable to use them or wants to recoup part of their initial investment. This is the true "great deal" in DVC.

I agree with other posters that it's not the rich and famous buying into DVC. It's the average to above average income family. It's not uncommon for a $15,000 buy in that can be financed over a few years.

I don't fault people for buying DVC. There is a lot of pride in ownership. Plus, you have a lot of control in booking reservations. This has value for sure.

If you are going to buy DVC, be sure to check the resale market. Buying directly from DVC will cost you more but might be the only way to get into the new resorts like Grand Floridian.

I hope everyone is having a magical day!

With a good and informed decision DVC can be MUCH cheaper than routine Disney on site trips otherwise. As a generalization it's about the same cost or slightly less than a moderate for the same number of trips and days comparing a studio to a single hotel room or 2 hotel rooms to a 2 BR and that accounts for at least some amount of discounts. That assumes one can afford it without financing, that on site is important enough for one to pay for and that there will be Disney/DVC trips at least around EOY. There are cheaper ways for Orlando that are a big compromise for some and not so much for others and these including off property timeshares/Vacation Clubs. DVC is only reasonable to buy for DVC stays so if one wants one option to cover Disney and non Disney, DVC is a poor choice for that as a single item.

Often I see people who have heard how bad timeshares are and have a mental road block they can't get over to consider one, often to their loss. Plus there are compromises to timesharing. There is a member of DVC who routinely stayed in Disney suites prior to owning, DVC is a major savings for that person, whether the compromises are worth it, they'd have to answer, but they are for us. Other than a night her or there where timeshares aren't an option, we routinely travel and stay in timeshares. In 2014 alone we've stayed at SSR on an exchange (even though we also own), several stays at the Fountains in orlando in a 3 BR presidential 2500 sq ft option for $79 a night received because of timeshares, had seven 2 BR Marriott beachfront unit's on HHI during the summer (37 people) followed by a week in Savannah in a 2 BR presidential and just finished a week on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. In addition we've had several long weekends in PCB at the Marriott and Wyndham Timeshares.

As for the resale debate.
first issue with buying resale is if disney doesn't think your paying enough they have the first right of refusal so if your offering $5000 for points disney says should be worth $8000 they can buy them from the owner when you put your offer in and the owner accepts it

Second issue is disney is won't let you use resale for the Adventurer Collection, Concierge Collection, or The Disney Collection.

The first issue certainly eliminates the fire sale opportunity but not the potential for savings for those where DVC makes sense otherwise. The second is a blessing rather than a curse IMO as none of those most options give a reasonable return enough to pay extra for.

 

[Pootle]

OP - DVC membership is a big commitment, in terms of buy-in costs and annual dues - even if you buy resale. But the biggest factors I would suggest you consider are the 'deals' that Disney offer only to the UK market (which is why there are so many Brits at SSR and OKW most of the time!) and the cost of flights.

Finance may not be a factor at all for you in which case ignore this whole paragraph, but if it is, consider the high cost of flights during school holidays (since you are expecting to start a family). Also consider the effect of the exchange rate. Paying dues, and vacation costs at £1 = $1.38 (2001) was different to the exchange rates we have seen in the last 10 years or so.

I did lots of research before buying and bought most of my points direct when they were in the $60-$70 range and it was a good decision for me, but it is definitely not something to enter into lightly.