DVC points are worth a lot!

[Nana Sue]

We just returned from 18 nights at OKW - 7 nights in a studio (just hubby and I), 2 nights in a 2B (added DD and 2GK's), and 9 nights in a GV (added rest of GK's, etc, total 10). The seven nights we spent in a studio were divided, before the family came down and after they left. I originally only had reservations for six nights in the studio but the weather was so beautiful, we decided to stay an extra night. The studio was available another nights so we checked our options. My DH was quoted $329 for the additonal night so we used the 11 points. They gave my DH a 2003 tariffs chart which I had never seen before. When we got home I figured out what the entire stay would have cost us and this is it:
7 nights studio @ $329 pn = $2303
2 nights 2B @ $680 pn = $1360
9 nights GV @ $1310 pn = $11,790
The total cost of this stay would have been $15,453! I used a total of 873 points. If I had rented the points at $10 a point it would have cost me $8730, a big savings over paying cash. For those of you who think $10 pp is too much to ask for renting points I think you should think again. You are doing the people you rent to a huge favor at $10 a point! Right now I think my investment in DVC is one of the best investments I have ever made. It's sure a lot better than the stock market, and oh the memories we are making.

 

[joepoe]

Post of the DAY! You should post this over on the rental board!

 

[disneymagicmom]

Don't forget.... you did not have to pay the tax! Another big plus!!

 

[Doctor P]

But also don't forget that using rack rates may overstate things given the current discount environment.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by Doctor P
But also don't forget that using rack rates may overstate things given the current discount environment.

If you assume a 40% discount off of rack, which I believe is the highest discount ever available, this is still a fantastic deal. Go to a more realistic 25% discount, and the savings is even better.


Renting 873 points @ $10pp = $8,730.00


Reservation = $15,453.00
40% Discount - 6,181.20
Sub-total = $ 9,271.80
11% tax = $ 1,019.90

Total = $10,291.70

Total Savings = $1,561.70


Reservation = $15,453.00
25% Discount = $ 3,863.25
Sub-Total= $11,589.75
11% tax = $ 1,274.87

Total = $12,864.62

Total Savings = $4,134.62

 

[Doctor P]

There have been recent reports of studios discounted as low as $149-$159 per night, and two bedrooms (depending on resort) discounted into the low to mid-$200's. I obviously do not like to see this as it devalues my DVC membership at some level. I'm not arguing that renters do not get a good deal--it just may not be as good a deal as it was in the past.

 

[Doctor P]

BTW, I can obviously not attest to the veracity of the reports or to how widespread the discounting might be. These reports might be a bunch of hogwash or very, very isolated.

 

[Nana Sue]

Don't know where you get your information from on discounts but there were no discounts for us. They quoted us and would have charged us $329 for a studio for the additional night. Renting points at $10 it would have cost me $110 for the additional night. Fortunately I still had 11 points of my own to use.

 

[Doctor P]

There have been numerous posts over the past three months detailing great cash rates at the various DVC resorts. There is of course some variance by particular day, etc.

 

[d-r]

DVC points are a really good deal if you need a larger accomodation (2 bedrooms, etc). If you compare the dvc points cost at wlv, especially weekend points, with discounted rates of regular rooms of $119 at the WL, the benefit is not as striking. However, I anticipate that it will be more striking over time as hotel rates continue to climb.
DR

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by Nana Sue
Don't know where you get your information from on discounts but there were no discounts for us. They quoted us and would have charged us $329 for a studio for the additional night. Renting points at $10 it would have cost me $110 for the additional night. Fortunately I still had 11 points of my own to use.

In order to get the discounted rates, you'd need to know the available discount codes when you call. Disney won't offer them without the code, but there have been very good rates available recently (and there are still great deals available thru June with the discounts.)

The $329 is the rack rate- but there have been discounts in excess of 50% available.

Regardless, DVC is still a great deal over paying cash- even with many of the discounts.

Enjoy!

 

[Laurajean1014]

We knew we made a good investment when we went on our first DVC vacation. This just confirms it!!!

 

[InstImpres]

nana Sue -

I like you was sticker shocked with resort pricing. Long story short, we ended up with extras joining us President's week. When I tried to go from a stuidip at OKW to a 1 BR 1 night wasn't avail. on points. The cash was $449 + tax vs. my 22 points. The way I figured my 4 nights on [oints could my almost the same as the 1 cash night.

You probably could have heard me screaming all the way in Disney when I got home to my answering machine of "your waitlist came through and we are canceling your cash ressie"

Aren't the wailists an amazing thing? (Now if only they would tell you what number you are on the list so you could know how hard to pray! )

 

[chris1gill]

I just wanted to point out, that GV's are never discounted... I'm also quite certain that the best price on 2 bedroom's is 300.00 including tax... Studio's haven't gone for less than 170 plus tax...

As for comparing a WLV studio to a standard room at WL, I don't think that's a fair comparison at all... WLV's are better appointed, and in fact, the WLV studio's are rarely discounted more than 20% from what I've seen & I watch the discounts pretty closely....

 

[zulaya]

Just wanted to jump in here and say that while 2001 and 2002 saw dramatic discounts, 2003 hasn't seen those levels yet, even in value season. It seems that 30% is the most that has been offered - and people are still biting their nails that there are no AP rates yet for anytime after Easter. My guess is that Disney doesn't want to raise rack rates much if at all and might be reducing the discount level so they at least attempt to make money.