DVC members, are you happy???

[cardio75]

I apologize for asking (i'm sure you get asked this all the time).

I'm considering buying into DVC for my family of 4. Are DVC members with small families happy with DVC and do you feel like your getting a good value for your money?

The initial cost seems a little high (~14,000.00 according to the literature i was sent). Does DVC really pay for itself in 4-5 years?

thanks for your help and suggestions

 

[bongo59]

no ..........i need another 1000 points then i would be happy...........of course we're happy

 

[polly p]

I agree!! At least another 1000 points. We could never vacation the way we do without the DVC membership. and it does make you think about and plan your next vacation. It is definitely worth the money.

 

[NCRedding]

We're a family of two adults and one child, and we love our DVC. The range of accomodations, the choices; I feel it is very worth it. We do love WDW and travel there frequently. We love the ability to have extra room to spread out, and not stay in the same room.

In our case, I never bothered to figure a breakeven point. We're content to know what we paid, and feel that we get excellent accomodations at WDW.

 

[officer tigger]

couldn't be happier....

 

[BarbR-Atlanta]

We are only sad that we didn't figure it out sooner (we joined in 97).
This has been one of the best things that our family has ever done!
We own 250 points, at BWV, and at HHI.

 

[WDWLVR]

DH and I don't have kids, but we love our DVC! Like many DVC'ers our only regret is that we didn't buy in sooner!

 

[MLK-RI]

Do you love going to Disney World - or other Disney properties? Points go furthest at the DVC Resorts. My family of 3 have loved being DVC members. We also love being able to take family and friends with us. The accommodations are so much better than we would ever have booked before becoming members.

If you see yourselves going once a year or perhaps for a longer time every two years, you will not be disappointed. Also being members allows us to relax in knowing we will be back next year and not have to "cram everything in" each time. We have a great time each trip and seem to be able to find new and different things to do each time.

As for a break even point, it would really depend on what sort of accommodations you'd normally book. If you look at the rack rate of the villas you'll be staying in and compare it to your cost you will probably find that it indeed pays for itself in 5 years or less. However if you consider the initial payment and maintenance fees over time and you'd normally stay at only the value resorts, it would be a different story.

 

[athenna]

My only regret- And I know it's cliche'-
I wish I did it sooner!
And I am just a single gal, not married yet, no kids yet. It's my special present to myself and, believe me, my travelling companions are very happy that they never have to pay for a hotel room again.
It's so worth it!
I can just picture myself on a bench at SSR watching the fireworks. AHHH

 

[lsutigger2]

Another very happy couple here. All points mentioned above are valid for us also. We really do relax more and enjoy our time more since we purchased. And yes, we do wish we had done it sooner. Just never thought to investigate what it was or how much it would cost. DUH!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

We are a family of 3 -- bought in 2000 (and added on twice) and couldn't be happier! It was definitely a good choice for us -- we really use the kitchen and all the DVC amenities.

 

[dvc rookie]

I could have paid for my contract of 210 points about 3 times if I would have bought during our first stay 10 years ago. Should have stopped at the booth long ago..
Very sad we waiting.. Very glad we have purchased!

Looking forward to our first DVC trip in Sept of 2006. 12 days of fun. The kids said they wouldnt mind missing some school..

 

[dianeschlicht]

Absolutely! For 8 wonderful years we have enjoyed our DVC, and we are empty nesters with no grandchildren. It is the best vacation investment we could have made!

 

[mom23boys]

We also love DVC, no regrets. We are a family of five. The 2 bedroom works great for us. We have just enough points to go every other year. Which was our intention.

If we did not have DVC we would have to get two rooms (twice the price) at a deluxe or even a moderate. The prices for those hotels will always go up.

It is alot of money, but think of it as investing in family time and the memories that you will always have together.

 

[jaysue]

We are quite happy with our puchases - BCV, SSR and VB - I think the payback is more in the area of 10-12 years by the time you take mtce. fees into account and consider that you need to compare DVC costs to not always the rack rate but the discounted rate rooms. Having said that we are very happy with our purchases and would recommend DVC to anyone with the caveats that they want to go at least every other year and really really want to stay on property

Cheers
jaysue

 

[wdw4life]

Like Athenna I am single with no kids. I wanted to buy in '98 but for whatever reason didn't. I finally took the plunge in '03 and I couldn't be happier! I even did an add on last month! Add me to the "wish I had bought sooner" list.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My family??? Happy???? Y-E-S!!!!!!

 

[ceejay13]

It's the best thing we've done. Have added on 3 times since our intitial investment in 2000. Like many of the others our only regret is that we hadn't bought in 1993 when we first looked at it.

 

[TChrist05]

We looked at the vacation club so many times....then changed our minds....did not want to spend the money....so many other things we could do with it...but we continued to vacation at the world....so finally in May 2003 we took the plunge....and have never looked back! What a great investment...and I call it an investment since it is an investment in my health and sanity that there is a place we can go to a couple of times a year and just relax and get away from computers and phones....and just to add....when you are a member of the vacation club...you are family....in July we had a family tragedy where our home burnt down....we lost everything....all of our souviners for over 25 years of Disney vacations....our home...our pets....just everything....and when the folks at DVC heard about it they sent us a duffel bag with every imaginable dvc perk...watches, mugs, coffee mugs, clocks, slippers, robes....everything. They are family as far as I am concerned.....so....go ahead and join.....you will never look back!

Tom & Marilou

 

[rinkwide]

...do you feel like your getting a good value for your money?

No way. DVC is a total rip-off, especially BCV. Never, ever go there.