DVC tour AT the Polynesian - experiences?

[slashfemme]

PVB:
Direct Pricing: $235
Average Resale: $130-$145
Annual Dues: $6.76
Historical Increase of Dues: 3.00%

CCV:
Direct Pricing: $210
Average Resale: $135-155
Annual Dues: $7.43
Historical Increase of Dues: 2.30%
*These are still pretty rare on the resale market
**Copper Creek just got their property values reassessed at full value resulting in a 150% increase in taxes, which may affect the dues.

Riviera:
Direct Pricing: $188/pt ($175 after incentives)
Average Resale: N/A
Annual Dues: $8.31
Historical Increase of Dues: N/A
*Riviera has restrictions on resale. A resale buyer would not be able to use the contract anywhere but Riviera.

Mathwise, it's hard to beat SSR. For us, we knew we'd never stay at SSR so we paid the little bit extra for AKV since we do like it quite a bit. If you buy the whole thing direct, it will be tens of thousands more - my PVB would've been $30,000 more.. But if you buy only the minimum direct, the upgrade cost is much less and can be had for as little as $3,000 more. But I do agree as a FL resident the perks aren't as great for you.

Based on your travel habits, I don't think 100 points will be enough for you. I travel in August and it's 153 points for a standard studio for the week at PVB. PVB is 16-36 points a night for an average of 104 for a 4 night stay. It'd be fine if I went every other year, but it may not be enough for every year at PVB (buy you can stay elsewhere) and definitely not enough for 6-7 nights total. You could also add on later though.

One thing to be concerned about aside from point pricing is annual dues and contract expiration dates. The cheapest points you can buy on resale is probably Hilton Head and Vero Beach. You can find those from at about $50/point, but Vero beach carries $9.48/point in dues compared to a resale PVB at $130/point but $6.76/point in dues. Which means on 100 points, it's an extra $272/year in maintenance fees. But at that price point, it's $5000 for Vero Beach vs $13,000 for PVB to buy; it would take 29 years for you to break even on those costs. So it seem like Vero Beach is a good buy, BUT. Vero Beach expires in 2042 vs 2066 for Poly. Which means there's only 22 years left on Vero Beach anyway. In 23 years Vero beach will be worth $0. In 23 years, Poly may be worth an unknown amount; but most likely more than $0 as it will have 24 years remaining. We can also get into opportunity cost, inflation, etc. In the end, the numbers support what you actually want to do. It's still fresh for me as I'm still in the process, but feel free to ask away!

This is great! Thank you. I love this board!

I do have a list of the expiration dates for the resorts, and we are still fairly young and hoping to use these into retirement age or to use with possible future grandkids. I keep waffling on the Riviera. It looks GORGEOUS and it's near my favorite park, but the resale restrictions make me nervous. I don't want to think about having to sell DVC if something bad happens down the road, but the strong resale value of DVC is what makes it attractive risk-wise.

 

[slashfemme]

FWIW, if you are a Florida resident, there is basically no economic benefit of "full membership" that is worth $10,000. You already qualify for the Gold Pass. Moonlight Magic, which may not exist long term, is not worth $10k.

You're right about the AP discount being moot for us. I was hoping there might be a discount even deeper for the platinum level, but it doesn't look like it.

Disney's marketing is working to make me (and moreso my husband) want to be part of the "real" Disney club and not miss out on any future resorts or perks they might throw DVC's way. But if looking just at the numbers, buying resale, for Poly especially, would have us breaking even MUCH sooner and freeing up cash to add on to another resort in the future... Ugh. I hate FOMO. (But I also like having money...)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You're right about the AP discount being moot for us. I was hoping there might be a discount even deeper for the platinum level, but it doesn't look like it.

Disney's marketing is working to make me (and moreso my husband) want to be part of the "real" Disney club and not miss out on any future resorts or perks they might throw DVC's way. But if looking just at the numbers, buying resale, for Poly especially, would have us breaking even MUCH sooner and freeing up cash to add on to another resort in the future... Ugh. I hate FOMO. (But I also like having money...)

It's a timeshare, not a real club. Honest.

I would never advise Poly direct right now. The numbers are bananas even for those who would see economic benefit from direct membership. The reality is that you can buy Poly resale, and with the money you save, you are 2/3 of the way to buying 100 OKW points direct.

But I'd not recommend buying OKW direct with hopes of booking Poly, particularly for fall travel, and the 1BR rule obviously doesn't apply there. But if you're okay staying at Not Poly, buying 100 resale at Poly to get your feet wet, and then doing something direct if you really find the FOMO to overwhelm, the economics work out pretty well. (Just be sure to remember: More points, more dues. Yah.)