DVC Value...Beyond Cost..Whats your value

[Greysword]

Personally, I think the actual "best kept secret" about DVC is the full kitchen and washer/dryer. I believe these amenities truly set the villas apart from a standard hotel room, even more than the living room (since regular hotels offer suites, as well).

These two save money and sanity in many ways. Eating in the kitchen for half (or more) of our meals means less cash outlay for restaurants (thus more stuff ). The kitchen also provides a solid reason to break away from the parks (to eat), allows for better food, and permits gatherings of family/friends who may have dispersed through the day.

The washer/dryer simply saves money on airline baggage fees (and sometimes time waiting at the check bag carousel). However in reality, it actually saves on shipping costs, as we bring a partial empty suitcase for the stuff we buy (as mentioned above), since we bring fewer clothing. The appliances also help with emergencies (if DD spills on her cloths or should DD and DW wander onto Kali/Grizzly River Rapids).

Of course, we lobe many of the other amenities mentioned previously (benefits of staying on site, sharing with family/friends, knowing a reserved vacation is always on the horizon, etc).

Of course, the look on DD's face every time she realizes "we own part of that hotel". You know, she doesn't know a world without a Disney park, and that means I've accomplished one of my life goals

I guess the intangibles truly provide the greatest value of DVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think the actual "best kept secret" about DVC is the full kitchen and washer/dryer.

I agree with you, and would really go a step further. It's that they have most if not all of the comforts of home. We don't really use these things to save much money, to be honest. But it is nice to have a home base where we can stretch out. Where the kids can watch something without bothering the adults. Where we can toss stuff in the dryer if we get caught in a downpour. Where we can have breakfast without getting out of our PJs and/or freaking out the other guests.

Almost all of our "land" vacations are either in a timeshare (with an absolute minimum of a 2BR for the four of us---these days, we prefer a 3BR if we can get it) or a privately-owned home that we rent out. I understand people stay in hotels, but even a two-room suite would last us a day or two before it just wasn't fun anymore.

But, again---those things can be had either by owning or by renting. The right choice depends on how often you go, and how far into the future you will continue to return.

 

[DisneyDudet]

I pay monthly for my BLT for about half of what it might cost to stay nightly at the Contemporary, garden wing room. This year, I have stayed 5 nights in a studio at AKL and I stay 4 nights at BLT next week, in a 1 bedroom. Regardless of the downpayment (which, after a year, do you really miss?) and the annual dues, it is, by far, a better value than staying at a deluxe resort without DVC, especially if you go to WDW or DLR at least once a year, and if you go in larger groups.

As far as non-monetary value, it can't be beat. To be able to have the room size fit your family and to have more room space is important. Separate spaces for larger families, I think, is important. More amenities available, such as movies for times when you just need to relax in the room and activities around the resort for when you have just had 'too much' of everyone is nice to have.

But the fact that you can guarantee family trips to the best place on the planet is just worth it for me. I want to go more than once a year, and I can now, and not spend a ton of money.

Plus... I feel pretty special when I get on a bus for my DVC resort... I was always in awe of 'those people' when I was younger... so I bought in!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Much like an earlier poster, the ability to "force" a getaway as well as being a familiar escape. Last week we realized we needed to get away as a family - Christmas is coming at the midpoint of a stressful year. With some pixie dust I snagged a good flight, a 1 BR at home, and some great ADRs. With our APs we can park at no additional cost - as little or as much as we want to.

That's it's value to me.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

My value of owning DVC is less monetary vs knowing that my hard-working DH will actually commit to several vacations a year & relax instead of working like a dog all the time. It's instilled the travel bug in him.

When DH said we should buy 150 points instead of a smaller contract I was all . It hit me about a week ago that he did this so that I would commit to taking a real vacation with him every year.

What can I say? I knew going into this marriage that I wasn't marrying a dummy.

 

[Caren90]

Personally, I think the actual "best kept secret" about DVC is the full kitchen and washer/dryer. I believe these amenities truly set the villas apart from a standard hotel room, even more than the living room (since regular hotels offer suites, as well).

These two save money and sanity in many ways. Eating in the kitchen for half (or more) of our meals means less cash outlay for restaurants (thus more stuff ). The kitchen also provides a solid reason to break away from the parks (to eat), allows for better food, and permits gatherings of family/friends who may have dispersed through the day.

The washer/dryer simply saves money on airline baggage fees (and sometimes time waiting at the check bag carousel). However in reality, it actually saves on shipping costs, as we bring a partial empty suitcase for the stuff we buy (as mentioned above), since we bring fewer clothing. The appliances also help with emergencies (if DD spills on her cloths or should DD and DW wander onto Kali/Grizzly River Rapids).

BINGO!!

Stephen

 

[traceyg]

I could LIVE in a two bedroom villa for the rest of my life perfectly happily.

I have said this too! If I win the lottery I may just buy enough points to cover 365 days worth of heaven! and I'd have maid service every four days to boot!
Can you just imagine.... "no, sorry sir, room ### grand villa (or two bedroom) cannot be booked, so and so family currently occupies it year round".

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

The value for me is staying at a deluxe hotel without the deluxe price.

Also having a prepaid vacation to enjoy anytime of the year. Its great to go and not have to pay for the hotel at the time of the vacation so you can spend your money on other things.

We just went this weekend,stayed at BW in BWview 1bedrm for 2 nights. We got free pArking at Epcot (had to pickup DD there at the front gate), used the monorail to go to the BLT TO watch the MVMCP fireworks from the TOWL, toured the GF and enjoyed the christmas music in the lobby and then took the bus back to BW. Since its prepaid, I didn't have to come up with the money this weekend.

Also having the washer and dryer, the extra space,king size bed (a good night sleep is the best value) and the kitchen is great too.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We rented points for our first stay, and bought DVC before we left. The space to spread out, the full kitchen, and laundry were big sells for us. We travelled with 8 of us in a 2 bedroom, and the money (and sanity) we saved by cooking for ourselves, drying clothes, and such was unbelievable.

I love the rooms, and the resorts, as well, but the convenience was what sold us.

 

[moredisneyplease]

My value is the time spent/memories made with my kids. I visited WDW many times prior to having kids or purchasing DVC. when my first kid was born I purchased my first contract. Now I have 2 boys (7 & 5) and DVC allows us to play there every summer for 10-14 days! sometimes DH joins but most of the time not (he doesnt like Disney). Either way, its become a family tradition for my kids and me! we spend all year planning it (I let them pick resort, parks, special meals,etc) and then have a blast each time we go!!!!!

Honestly, if I didnt have DVC I would have probably only taken them once or twice during their childhood but investing in the time in advanced (buy purchasing DVC) guarantees the trip/memories!

OH and the amount of money we save by eating breakfast in, packing lunches, packing snacks, bringing own water bottles, and eating a few dinners in pays for the DVC!!!!!

 

[DisneyMama21]

I agree...the space, the forced vacation, the planning, the washer/dryer, the "Welcome Home!" All reasons we totally value our DVC!!

 

[cseca]

Having a vacation while keeping our sanity... that's the value to this mom...

With an infant and a toddler, we stayed at AoA for 1 night before moving to our 1br. I have to say we were tripping all over ourselves and our stuffs. Hubby ended up saying "I can't wait to move to our 1br."

You could hear our collective huge sighs when we walked into our 1br the next day.
Both kids could roam around the room, they could nap in the bedroom while we're doing laundry, checking the internet, watching tv, etc.
We could have snacks in the room after nap ...

I can pack for a 3-4day trip instead of a 8-9 day trip because of the washer/dryer.

All of those kept my sanity. Then one day we got rained on, I threw everyone stuffs in the laundry and no worries about having enough dry clothes/sweatshirt for the next day.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I bought DVC because we like staying at the deluxe resorts and having the additional space so that I can bring extended family along with us.

We did a last minute trip to WDW this past July and stayed at the Beach Club on cash because I didn't have enough points. We enjoyed our stay but missed being in a villa with washer/dryer and full sized fridge.

 

[MomofStitchandLewis]

For me, the value is in going to our happy place with our two boys and feeling like we are literally a world away with no worries and knowing that in the future our DVC can always be the thing that brings our family all together again even though the boys may be older & maybe even married.

 

[com_op_2000]

Taking vacations that we never would have been able too, if not for DVC:
RCI exchanges to:
Ft Myers
Ft Lauderdale

Exchanges to:
Doral in Miami - played the Blue Monster
Ashville, NC

Seven DCLs - six on points including 15th, 20th, & 25th anniversaries

20 years of DVC X minimum of 5 trips per year = 100+ trips to DVCs including all the East Coast Resorts

Giving family and friends vacations (free of charge) that they never would of taken.