DVC Info requested

[mfa65]

I have visited the Disney Resorts and Cruise’s many times over the years and was wondering if a DVC membership would be right for me. The problem is that I do not understand how the program works. I have no experience with Time Shares. Does anyone know of any publication out there that explains the basics? I would rather not talk to a DVC sales person at this point. For example, if I purchase the DVC do I own it for life? I see on this forum people speaking about buying contracts????

 

[DVC Dude]

The DVC sales reps are pretty low key...try calling and use a "friends name" as your contact name.

The best would be to visit and take a tour.

DVC sales reps are nothing like other timeshare reps.

Also, Disney is not a "own for life" like some timeshares, it is a Right To Use.

Most questions/answers can be found online here and other Disney websites and forums....

 

[chalee94]

Does anyone know of any publication out there that explains the basics?

this DVC FAQ is still pretty accurate although its getting a little dated. you could also google "DVC FAQ" or something similar to find more pages of information...

I would rather not talk to a DVC sales person at this point. For example, if I purchase the DVC do I own it for life? I see on this forum people speaking about buying contracts????

you would be purchasing a real estate interest in a property in FL (or SC if you buy a contract at disney's hilton head resort). the contracts expire at different dates depending on the contract. most of the older resorts expire in jan 2042, while the newest resort at the contemporary ("BLT") expires in 2060. you also get a booking advantage at your home resort (the specific resort you buy into) - you can book there at 7-11 months out, while other DVC resort owners are not able to book there - which can be very important at certain times of the year and at certain smaller DVC resorts.

it is expensive (as if staying onsite at wdw would ever be cheap ), but it can be a good deal if you travel to wdw on a regular (ideally annual) basis. it can especially save money if you need more room than a single hotel room will provide.

you have to pay upfront for the contract (like buying a house) and also annually for "maintenance fees" or "annual dues" (like furnishing/heating/repainting the house or other regular utilities that you might pay related to your house besides the mortgage payment).

also, DVC is very scalable - if you'd like a small hotel-type room at wdw for 5 weeknights a year, it can cost less than $4000 up front for a small resale contract...or you can spend many tens of thousands for multiple story villas for multiple weeks each year...

DVC is one of the easiest timeshares to understand, but that still doesn't make it "easy." it will take some time and research to feel comfortable with what you are purchasing. don't feel rushed. read the primer linked above and then scan through some other threads in this forum to learn what issues others are dealing with. then come back with specific questions later when you start getting a sense of the basics...

 

[vandy]

At the top of this web page is a link to The Timeshare Store. When we first inquired about DVC, they had a nice packet of information that they sent to us. Their website also gives some good information. You may want to check their site.

 

[mfa65]

Thanks everyone. You are all very helpful. Beth, I can not respond to your private message yet. I guess I need 10 post or something. I will let you know.

Mike