DVC Timeshare- Is it worth it?

[waltdisney427]

Hi there,

So I have a family of 5 and when we stay at deluxe resorts we usually get two rooms for bathroom needs. And we go almost every year. So considering that, would the DVC timeshare be worth it? In other words, would we be gaining or losing on the timeshare deal? Thanks

 

[zavandor]

DVC is a good option for people who often stay in a deluxe resort and go to Disney every year. So you seem a good candidate for DVC, I would suggest you to take all the time you need to understand all the pros and cons (yes, there are also cons) of the program reading this board.
For example, the first question that comes to my mind is: are you able to plan your vacation many months (7 or even 11) before your travel dates? If not, you will be limited a lot in your choices of even not able to use it at all.
Before considering to buy, I would suggest you to be sure to understand:
- what is the Use Year (you must choose the one who fits better your travel habits)
- banking and borrowing
- differences between resale and direct purchase

 

[bobbiwoz]

The one bedrooms at Kidani and BLT have 2 full baths, so it would be possible to sleep 5 in the one villa and have 2 full baths, and a kitchen to boot! The beds are a king, a queen sleeper sofa and a single sleeper chair. The master bathroom is huge and has a very nice shower stall and jacuzzi!

 

[chalee94]

here's a good thread to check out:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2740145

 

[Mtnman44]

There are a lot of details that can vary from person to person based on their spending habits and how they will use their DVC membership. However, the short answer to you question is:

-What you will gain is that in exchange for your upfront purchase price, in approx 7 to 10 trips you will have "saved" enough money compared to your two deluxe room costs, to recoup your initial investment. After that, your accomodation expenses will be much less than you are currently spending (at that point you will only pay annual dues).

-Additionally, you will be gaining a villa accomodation compared to two deluxe hotel rooms. Most find this a benefit as say with a 2 BR unit, you'll have separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, and laundry. Plus, a King sized bed in the master plus a large jetted tub plus a shower. A definite plus for longer term stays (more than a few nights).

What you give up:

-The upfront money. You are locked in. and you lose whatever you could have used that money on, or earned with it. There is some Risk associated with this, including the Risk that your travel habits and desires may change over time. This is a depreciating asset for the most part. Its value gets used up over time, it is not an investment, but a pre paid vacation accomodation program.

-flexibility. DVC remains one of the most flexible timeshare systems, but it isn't nearly as flexible as if you were simply a cash customer. You need to manage your points ever year (use them or bank them). They can only be banked once, so you will be using them in some fashion very often. You compete with all other members each year based on availablity. Booking early gives you more options and is often necessary for certain rooms / resorts. If you can't book at least 7 months out, DVC may be very dissapointing for you.

It does sound like you would make a good candidate but keep in mind you won't save anything for about a decade so make sure WDW vacations are a for sure part of your future for at least that amount of time.

And Finally, the resale market is a relative bargain right now. Buying your contract that way makes a lot of sense and your upfront costs and risks are all reduced without really giving up anything that matters.

Hi there,

So I have a family of 5 and when we stay at deluxe resorts we usually get two rooms for bathroom needs. And we go almost every year. So considering that, would the DVC timeshare be worth it? In other words, would we be gaining or losing on the timeshare deal? Thanks

 

[Brian Noble]

So I have a family of 5 and when we stay at deluxe resorts we usually get two rooms for bathroom needs. And we go almost every year. So considering that, would the DVC timeshare be worth it?

I would plan on buying enough points for a 2BR for your annual trip, and as long as you imagine continuing those trips for the foreseeable future (i.e. at least 10 years) I think you would be very happy in the end with a purchase.

That said, I would also encourage you to put your points holdings together with two or more separate contracts. As your kids leave the nest, you may find that you no longer need the 2BR for all of your visits, and might wish to divest yourself of some of your points.

 

[ToddyLu]

Well at least you are trying to find out info before your purchase. You need to stay on these forums and read, read, read. Other good sites for info are DVCNews.com and Passporter has a DVC guide that you can download and read on your computer.

I was very hard for me to find out how much DVC actually cost when I was first really interested. DVCNews will give you direct purchase prices and there are four main resale vendors. Timeshare store and Fidelty ar ethe two that I can mention here. Timeshare Store is a DIS sponsor and Fidelity actually has the contract with Disney.

Look into resale, by smaller contracts and make sure they are titled the same. You can also buy the "sold out" resorts direct from Disney although right now there is a heavy push on AKV. BLT and SSR are "sold out" but you can still get them from the points that Disney takes back. You can also purchase any of the other resorts. You may have to wait on a certain amount of points with a certain UY but they are available contrary to what guides may say.

Read all the forum stickies for the DVC Forums here.

You will still be responsible for food, tickets and getting there.

DH and I love it and are very happy with our purchase--we will enjoy it twice this year.

 

[BrerNashville]

I think one of the things that pushed me over the edge to purchase DVC was an observation someone made that back in the 70s, the Contemporary hotel was $65/night, and that was expensive! While annual dues will undoubtedly rise, the thought of paying 2011 "rates" 25 years from now was very appealing. The other financial advantage that sometimes gets lost is the tax savings. Orlando sales/occupancy taxes that you would pay for a cash room run 13% or more. You don't pay those taxes when you stay on points.

However, the big financial drain that is often overlooked is that you are committed, for all intents and purposes, to a Disney vacation every year, or at least every three years, depending on how many points you buy (and how many people, when they first buy in, buy only enough points to stay on borrowed, current year and banked points every three years?). While lodging is a major component of any disney vacation, you also have to figure in park tickets, dining and souvenirs. That's a pretty expensive vacation to be taking every year. Also, are there other places you want to go once your kids reach a certain age, if not currently?

I suppose the best way to combat these uncertainties is to buy a series of smaller contracts rather than one large one. If you buy direct through Disney, they will let you break up your total purchase into smaller contracts, that you could sell individually if your needs/habits change. If you buy resale, those contracts are still to be had, but it will require a little more searching to coordinate such a purchase.