I have a different prospective, I brought all 3 of my timeshares, sight un-seen, and waiting on ROFR on my DVC contract (will be fourth contract sight unseen). Meaning, I never stayed at the resorts I am buying before. But I already spent hours, days, and even many months reading all the available information on the ins and outs of each of my timeshare before deciding it's right for me. I agreed with rent first that many people recommends before spending the money, I can see how it works for others to help them decide. But for me, I see renting as wasting money I could be using towards the purchase of my timeshare. I know ahead of time if the timeshare is right for me after doing full research.
Once thing I learn about timeshare in regards to saving money. It does not. You see, I am a priceline / hotwire kinda of person, in the respect that I like to take chances on getting nicer resorts / amenities than a regular 2-3 stars hotels would offer, but don't want to pay rack rates for them (even if you can afford them, to me a hotel room is just a place to sleep and shower, I just don't spend much time in it, and it's not worth spending a lot of money for something that isn't yours). So, I get into timeshares with the thought of it needs to cost about the same or just slightly above than what I would be paying normally for acceptable accommodations. In this regards, I find most timeshares fail to match savings on accommodations.
What I learned from the many postings / threads on this forum, is you will be spending more on timeshares than hotels type of stay, just you get a nicer place to stay, which I am learning I love over a hotel rooms a lot better (getting a full kitchen and washer/dryer in the unit). For my soon to be DVC unit (hoping it pass ROFR), the contact amounts will only amount to studio stays, not even 1-bedrooms unit. However, I purchase with comparison in savings on what I could get otherwise, you can read about why in my other thread I just created.
I definitely won't recommend timeshares to anyone, unless they are a planner, and can plan in this case for DVC, at the 11 months / 7 months mark. But I don't recommend timeshares unless you know you will be going every year, and be able to afford it ever year. Of course, there will be times you want to take a break, but for the most part, you should plan on using your timeshare, this is where the value of a timeshare it, in using them, and creating memories. Since you don't mind planning ahead to get the most and full value out of the
Disney Dining Plan, I feel you will be a good enough planner in this regards to get the reservations you want with DVC.
And it sounds like you don't mind going to Disney ever year, and if you really do that, than yes, I would say DVC is right for you, it will save you money over the long run compare to Disney Deluxe resorts, and possibly some compare in Disney Moderate resorts. It will probably cost you more than Disney Value resorts. So if you mainly plan on staying in Value resorts in the future, and it's acceptable, than I say DVC isn't right for you. If you plan on staying on Moderates resorts, than I will say DVC probably will be right for you.
So, than it comes down to affordability, you have to be able to financially swing it. This is where my concern is for you. You mention a tight budget. Nothing about timeshare is on a budget, it's EXPENSIVE, especially Disney. While I don't recommend financing a timeshare purchase (that's just my rules for myself that I live by before purchasing), I will say DVC is the only timeshare that I can see that someone can finance if they don't have the cash outlay at ahead of it, that might make sense, since the value of the memories created usually will far outweigh the money spent in interest and other opportunity costs). But you have to be able to afford it, and swing it!!!
Only if you can answer the 3 questions comfortably, being able to plan ahead of time each year, being able go every year (with some breaks in between due to strong enough
DVC rental market) and being able to afford it, would I say go ahead and buy. Otherwise, I would never touch any timeshare. Please make an informed decision, don't let anybody sway your opinions until you yourself know its right for you using criteria you establish yourself. Those are the criteria I establish for myself.
Don't rush things. It took me about 5 years before I decided DVC is for me. You can read about my reasoning on my other thread I just created if you want to know why it took me so long. While new to DVC, I am not new to timeshares. Good Luck on you decisions.
Great3
Bill
