DVC questions

[jennabcassell]

I have just started my research into DVC membership and had a few questions I was hoping someone could answer. I feel that resale will be the way to go for me since I LOVE LOVE the Wilderness Lodge and from what I gather there aren't any new sales there.
So say I purchase resale points for VWL , can I only stay at Disney resorts that are in the DVC program or if I wanted to use my point sparingly can I use them for a value resort?? We live a few hours away from Orlando and come every other month or sooner. I love to stay at the deluxe resorts but can't always afford it. On that note, I also love to stay at the concierge level as well. Can points be used for the CL? And what about the dining plan? As a fla resident pass holder, I usually always book the dining plan with our room. I'm trying to decided if it would be better to purchase a DVC membership?? Thanks!

 

[erionm]

If you purchase resale, you will be limited to reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest.

 

[jennabcassell]

So if I purchase from Disney directly than I can stay anywhere? What if I add resale points later on?

 

[disneynutz]

You are going to have so many questions, many that you won't even think of. Taking a few hours to read the various post will really help you get a good understanding of the DVC.

We took 2 years before we bought but we stayed in a couple of DVC resorts to get a first hand experience of the DVC. Renting a reservation from an experienced DVC owner is an excellent way to do this and I highly recommend it.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

Since you are a Florida resident, be sure to do the math before you buy. The Florida resident and AP room discounts often make it harder to justify the cost of DVC.

DVC can be very frustrating for those who prefer to book short notice vacations - less than 5or 6 months in advance. Availability gets limited and it can even be tough to get consecutive nights in the same resort / room type. DVC tends to be more difficult to book during the times that are less busy for the parks. Be sure to investigate that, especially if you tend to buy the seasonal annual pass.

Keep in mind that Friday and Saturday nights are more expensive than are the weeknights. Again, this makes the cost of DVC harder to justify if you tend to regularly visit over long weekends.

While you can use points to stay at most non-DVC WDW resorts, members cannot use points for any of the value resorts or any of the deluxe resorts that have an associated DVC resort (Contemporary, BWI, BC, WL, AKL).

When you use points to stay at a non-DVC WDW resort, you pay a non-refundable $95 reservation fee. If you cancel the reservation, the points come back to you with restrictions. They can't be used to reserve a DVC resort/

You can add a dining plan to a DVC reservation for the same cost as you can add it to a cash reservation. But free dining is not available for DVC reservations.

IMO, DVC can certainly make $$ sense for Florida residents, but it depends on how they use it and it will almost certainly take a longer time to break even if you have to compare to the FL resident discounts.

Consider trying to rent points for a while just to see how availablility would be for the times you like to book.

Good luck with your research.

 

[DenLo]

You cannot use DVC points to stay at value resorts. You can stay at Moderate or Deluxe Disney Resorts that do not have a DVC resort attached to them.

To stay at moderate like Caribbean Beach in Value season it's 17 points, in Premier Season, it's 25 points, both for Sun - Thurs.

To stay at OKW it is 10 points for Value season and 20 during Premier, both for Sun - Thurs. stays. Even at BLT the points are 14 and 25 per night for the same seasons and days.

As you can see you can't really save points trying to stay at a non DVC resort. Using your DVC points for anything other than staying at a DVC resort costs more.

 

[vicki_c]

So if I purchase from Disney directly than I can stay anywhere? What if I add resale points later on?

On the direct from Disney purchase, you can use your points for the Disney Collection - not value resorts though, and not at any resort that has a DVC component (the collection includes Ft. Wilderness, Grand Floridian, Poly, Yacht Club, and the moderates at WDW + resorts at Disneyland, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disney, and cruises). Many members agree that using your points for these options is not wise from a value standpoint.

Resale points later will have the same restrictions as now (if not more added in the future - who knows?).

 

[Deb & Bill]

A studio at SSR or OKW will probably use fewer points than a room at a moderate resort. You won't save anything using points for non-DVC resorts.

Weekend points are a bit higher than weekday points, but not that much.

 

[jennabcassell]

Thank you everybody for your responses! I think that as of right now, the way I go so frequently and book last minute, that DVC is not for me. Maybe I'll try again in the future when my son is in grade school and we can't take off at moments notice!! Renting DVC points sounds like a great idea for the future! Thanks again!

 

[com_op_2000]

I also love to stay at the concierge level as well. Can points be used for the CL?

Let me answer another of your questions:
The only CL that is available with DVC is at AKL. There are five two bedroom lock-offs, that means they can be split into 5 one bedrooms and 5 studios, 3 have savanna views and two have pool views. You can not request a view and most people feel the views are not that great cause of the roof over-hang.

As for FL residents and DVC, DW and I live one hour from the mouse house, and we became a members back in '93. Within three years we considered ourselves even and have been taking free vacations (except maintenance fees) ever since. We choose to use the points however we want to each year including taking cruises, going out of state on points, or staying at our favorite place of all. We usually make 3 or 4 trips per year but have made as many as six trips.