DVC thickie

[wilma-bride]

DH and I have been looking at DVC (we took the tour of Saratoga Springs (?) last September but decided against it at the time as we were not sure if it was for us). However, having done some reading and thought about it (a great deal), I am reconsidering. Before I try to talk DH round, I have some questions though:

1) Does it actually work out much cheaper in the long run (once you have paid for flights/car etc) than a package deal

2) On average, how often do DVC points owners have to pay extra towards their trip (to make up the points - if I'm understanding the system correctly) - ie do you actually have enough points for a decent trip without buying/trading extra.

3) Can you look round any of DVC locations other than Saratoga Springs?

4) Can points be used for Disney Cruises?

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

Hi, I'll see if I can answer some of your questions, but I'm sure the others will chip in ~

1. It does work out cheaper if you are used to staying in the end high accomodations in WDW. All you pay apart from your flights and carhire are the yearly dues which are around $4.50 ish per point.

The problem we have found is that with the money saved on the accomodation, we end up upgrading our flights so we find that the costs are slightly less or the same but the overall package goes up a star or two.

2. We don't usually need to add to our points but on the last two occassions have used the Hilton for the friday and saturday nights - only because they were in 1 and 2 bedroom villas which tend to gobble up the points. Usually we use a studio ... although once you have been in a one bedroom with all the goodies....

3. We normally visit most of the DVC accomodations in WDW, if only to look for the DVC merchandise , you will struggle to get a look round the rooms tho.

4. You can use for points for the cruise line, among many other things.

regards

David

 

[Pootle]

Here's my 2cents' worth:

1. DVC can work out much cheaper than a package but it really does depend on what you want from a holiday. When I used to go during the Easter holidays, I could often find a package for around the same price as paying for flights only. However, the accommodation was basic and so I was not comparing like with like. To compare, take a look at package prices for the deluxe hotels. We would never have paid those prices!

2. Many DVC owners end up doing an add-on to buy more points. I started with 150 and stayed in studios and now I've more than 300 and stay in 1 bedroom usually. Like David, if I arrive on a Saturday, we stay off-site that night to save points and we always fly home on a Friday too (saves on points but more importantly, gives DH some recovery time before work on Monday).

3. I always go for a look around other resorts - a nice thing to do on a non-park day. If you are asking about seeing rooms in other resorts, well I've never tried, but my guess is that if you pre-arranged and they had empty rooms they would let you.

In short, because I travel out of peak times, I can't believe what great value my Florida holidays are, thanks to DVC. I'm well past the 'I only need somewhere to sleep' stage of my life and now value very nice accommodation in lovely surroundings. Hope this helps.

 

[gilld]

I don't think you should buy to save money. We think of it as prepaying accommodation. We don't go every year and will probably only exchange now and again, but we give other family members the points to use and we are able to take a cheap extra holiday whenever we want to.

We bought 270 points and probably shan't buy any more as we have enough to do what we want, given the times we choose to go. Lots stay elsewhere at weekends but we couldn't be bothered with the moving, though we are moving to the GF for 3 nights next trip.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi there!

The others have already answered your questions but I thought I'd chip in with a few thoughts.

1.

I could often find a package for around the same price as paying for flights only.

Absolutely true. If you are happy to stay in relatively basic (and let's face it, in Orlando usually basic is still pretty nice!) then I would not say DVC is for you. We like to spend quality time at the resort as well as rush around doing the parks but if we went at it commando wise with just the odd dip in the pool at our hotel I would save my money and not buy DVC!

2. I am staying at CBR for one night this trip as we arrive on a Saturday when points are high and we are spending 2 nights at AKL (also to preserve points at the last weekend. I paid $115 for 1 night at CBR and $250 for 2 nights at AKL in total. This is absolute peanuts though compared to what I've had to shall out for flights in August

4. Yes! But you need to use so many points to pay for this I would never be able to afford to (seriously). Another option is to "rent" your points out for aprox $10 - $11 per point and use the money you make from renting to pay for the cruise. We are just paying cash for our cruise next year as we've used all our points up for 2005 and most of 2006 already. Would I like more points? Sure I would. But I need to balance that against the cost of flights and also the increase in annual dues.

HTH

Karen

 

[mark&sue]

I have tried to find a package cheaper than a fly drive for next October 2006 and can not. However the fly drive price for school holidays is very high!

But for 49 years we will not need to come during peak times in the future.

We bought into DVC after staying for two weeks at the Grand Floridian so for us we will break even fairly soon!

We started off with 400 points and now have 520 points as we would like to take friends and family with us!

We are using points for Disneyland Paris and an exchange as well so I am sure in the future we will be quids in but maybe not for a few years.

I hope tagrel wont mind but the photos are amazing at www.tagrel.com
You can see all the photos of the DVC properties on this site.

Well worth a look if you are thinking of buying.



Susan

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks all for your replies. I must admit, one of the reasons we are thinking of it is because we do normally go for a cheap package deal and stay in basic accommodation but have said that, once we have been back this time, we would like to go still but more for a relaxing (sort-of) holiday rather than a up-and-at-the-parks every day holiday.

The only thing holding us back is whether or not we will still want to be going to Florida when we're in our 80s (ie 50 years time), but then I like the idea of being able to pass the points on to family members as well.

Susan, you were right - those pictures are fab

 

[jjpenguin]

I know I would never stay in the type of accomodation I stay in if it wasn't for DVC. And now I'm totally used to such luxury ; )

Also last year DH couldn't get away, thanks to DVC I could book a cheap flight, call DVC and go for a week for just the cost of the flight, which I would have never done otherwise.

I don't know if we'll still be going when we're older, but there's all the exchanges still to do, nephews & nieces to treat, and we can always rent out the points and buy ourselves luxury zimmer frames from the cash ; )

As far as we're concerned it's paid for itself with the last 5 holidays!

 

[Bexx]

more for a relaxing (sort-of) holiday rather than a up-and-at-the-parks every day holiday.

We took our first visit to OKW in February and took our two DDs, ages 4 and 15 months!! We had a wonderfully laid back holiday, which we could never have done if we had only had a hotel room to stay in. Parks in the morning, and then back to sit out on our balcony and have lunch. Lazy afternoon and then maybe a quick trip back to the parks later on. Okay so we didn't see as much as we could have done, but we weren't expecting to this time anyway and we'll probably crank up the pace slightly next time. Up until now I have never come home from a holiday (particularly a Disney holiday) and not felt shattered (excluding jetlag!!) But this time we were all absolutely fine!!

Don't know how I'll feel in 35 years time, but as we only visit every couple of years, if that, I doubt I'll be getting fed up with the place anytime soon!

 

[paulh]

if you price 2 weeks (212points may/june stuidio)dvc against staying 2 weeks value (pop all stars)it will take 11 trips to recover price of dvc against 2 weeks modderate (CRS CBR POR ect) 5 trips against 2 weeks dellux 2-3 trips .we used to stay in moderats now we after 7 trips we get delux for our dues about £500 a year on 200 points and stay in dellux hotels
Paulh

 

[allie5]

We were considering DVC this year - DH actually said I could buy it (shock horror!) but it didnt work for our family.

We are used to staying in a villa, and although DVC puts you "onsite" the accomodations are tiny in comparison. I rent a 4 bed luxury house for £400 week (peak season). I can be at Disney in 10 mins (MK in 20). For us to buy the DVC points we need to rent a 2 bed unit for 2 weeks every year will cost a fair whack, but that I was prepared for. What killed it stone dead for me was the maintenance fee. I wanted 400 points, this would cost be approx £1000 per year in maintenance - MORE than I would pay for the villa (and thats without taking into account the £20,000 initial outlay for the points!

So, the math didnt work for us. It can work very well for others, but we usually travel in a group that needs at least 2 or 3 bedrooms and DVC is not a good way of doing this.

DVC works well if...you can get away with a smaller unit.... If you dont go every year.... If you usually pay out for 2 weeks at a Disney Deluxe resort every year or if you simply wish to pay for 40 odd years of hotel rooms in advance!

Im not knocking DVC, it is a great scheme but its not for everyone, and its worth spending sometime number crunching to see if it is right for you or not.

For us, it isnt, but for others its a terrific scheme!

Good luck!

 

[carolfoy]

I'm in much the same train of thought as Allie5, after considering DVC very carefully I worked out that I'd be spending about £500 per year on maintainance fees, with the initial thought being we'd bank/borrow to use DVC for 3 weeks every 3 years I'd be spending £1500 every 3 years on 'dead' money, as someone who HAS to go on holiday 3 or 4 times a year, it'd be a lot of waste as that would be at least 1 extra trip paid for, I do agree that DVC isw exceptional quality but I'm just as happy to grab a trip last minute and stay in any moderately rated hotel, I'm not sure I'd want to be on site every time.