DVC value for annual trippers

[Mulan_]

Hi!
I'm new, so I hope I'm asking my question in the correct forum.
Hubs and I go to WDW every Christmas for two weeks. We usually stay in the French quarter.
Would we be able to save money if we joined DVC?

 

[zavandor]

At current prices, probably not. But for about the same amount of money you'd be able to upgrade your accommodation and stay in "Deluxes" rather than moderates.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It would be critical to buy where you would want to stay and to expect to stay there each year, as well.

 

[tachyonbb]

We stayed at POFQ as our preferred Disney hotel for a number of years. We then made the plunge and bought at the Grand Floridian. It was one of the best decisions we have made. We bought resale and paid less than what GF is going for right now on the resale market. So at this time we would make money if we sold our points. The annual dues are less than the room cost at POFQ. While POFQ is a beautiful resort the GF is the GF.
We are planners so making reservations 11 months out is not a problem. The GF at Christmas time is amazing. We have done a couple of quick trips and had to be flexible in where we stayed. A couple of years ago we added on points at Bay Lake. We have stayed at Beach Club and Board Walk for food and wine. Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom when we went on a whim.
For us it was a great decision.

 

[sleepydog25]

Hi!
I'm new, so I hope I'm asking my question in the correct forum.
Hubs and I go to WDW every Christmas for two weeks. We usually stay in the French quarter.
Would we be able to save money if we joined DVC?

Welcome! The answer is complicated and the other comments are all valid. Here's what I would add to the thought process:
1. Are you dedicated to going to WDW every year (or at least every other year) for the next 20-30 years?
2. Are you aware of the maintenance fees? They are collected annually. For a contract of 200 points and assuming dues of around $8, then you're looking at $1600 initially then going up 4-5% a year each year after. You must figure that cost into your savings.
3. If you buy direct, the cost per point may not save you money in the long run, though if you stuck with it long enough, I'm sure it would eventually.
4. If you buy resale, then the overall cost could likely be reduced by a few to several thousand dollars. You could recoup your cost more quickly. However, by doing so, you miss out on perks like DVC discounts, member parties, etc. Personally, these discounts and perks are not worth the extra thousands of dollars you'd spend to buy direct from Disney.
5. Buy where you want to stay. To do that, you'd need to visit a few DVC resorts to get a feel for them. This notion is important because it's getting increasingly difficult to book out of your resort at the 7-month point. If you buy into a resort you love, then if that's where you have to stay because you can't get in somewhere at 7 months, you'll still be happy.
6. What are your likely travel and family plans, say, in 10 years? 20 years? The value of a DVC resort is that you plan to continue going to the World when you're older.
7. Since you say "for two weeks," then you need to look at the point costs associated with whatever resort(s) toward which you're leaning. Two weeks takes a lot of points, more in certain seasons such as the week of Christmas into New Year's. For example, just one week from 24 Dec - 31 Dec at the Grand Floridian would run you 227 points in a standard view studio; the week before would run you 125 points for that same room. Total: 352 points. Disney is selling them direct for somewhere in the range of $190 a point. $66,880 for that many points. Other resorts will be cheaper (as will resale for any of them). Still, it's a sizable investment. For example, one of the cheaper resorts up for resale currently is Boulder Ridge. It's a gorgeous resort, especially during the holidays. You would need 283 points to stay in a studio from the week before Christmas through NY's Day. There are a few resale contracts out there at $98-$99 per point. You would still need about $28K for that contract. . .and that contract will run out in 2042. That's fine for us but perhaps not for you.
8. If none of that deters you, then perhaps DVC would work. Only you can answer that. Best wishes in thinking through the process. Keep asking questions and do your research.

Edited to add: The newest resort, Riviera, has the longest contract of any resort (until the next one is built) and, of course, it is brand, spanking new. However, be aware DVC potentially has handcuffed buyers there should you or anyone else need/want to sell down the road. Things happen: family changes, financial matters, sickness, or simply growing tired of Disney. Before Riviera, anyone buying a resort resale could still "trade" out to any other DVC resort at the 7-month point. DVC changed the game with Riviera. Anyone who buys Riviera resale will ONLY be able to book at Riviera, period. Many on this forum board believe that will hurt resale prices should one have to sell. Just another facet to consider.

 

[Hanshotfirst0830]

We love Port Orleans. Stayed there a few times before switching to the deluxe resorts. As others have said, it really depends on you. For my family, we decided that we would want to continue our week long trips and wanted to lock in the cost of the deluxe accommodations. As others have mentioned, buy where you would like to stay. We purchased at Copper Creek because the Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort on property. If we "get stuck" there every year, we are happy. Be sure to consider the significant investment vs. how much you are currently paying. We found that ours will pay for itself after 7 years. Don't forget to calculate in the annual maintenance fees into your overall calculation of ROI

 

[ldo]

• likely a toss up for moderate vs studio at dvc. However you’re going at premium season which cost more points, so dvc might be more. Also if you can go just prior to Christmas, such as by 12/23, you might be able to get free dining at port Orleans some years.
• The capital outlay will be steep for the amount of points you need, even resale.
• Look at dvc points chart. Add up your room points then multiply by $8, the ave for annual fees. You have to pay this every year in addition to your purchase price.

 

[aoconnor]

Agree with @zavandor, there are several ways to do the math but for studios it often ends up that you're "paying" about the same as you would for a moderate, so consider it a free upgrade. It's unlikely that you'll actually pay less than a moderate.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hi!
I'm new, so I hope I'm asking my question in the correct forum.
Hubs and I go to WDW every Christmas for two weeks. We usually stay in the French quarter.
Would we be able to save money if we joined DVC?

According to some very quick calculations of mine - yes. Is it just the 2 of you so a studio with 1 bed is ok? Or do you need multiple beds? My calculations were very quick but buying resale with the intent to stay at OKW, AKV or SSR looks like they could save you money and other locations possibly could as well. Even renting a DVC reservation could save you money over cash prices at POFQ for that time of the year or at the very least get you a stay at a Deluxe resort for the moderate cash price.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

We love Port Orleans. Stayed there a few times before switching to the deluxe resorts. As others have said, it really depends on you. For my family, we decided that we would want to continue our week long trips and wanted to lock in the cost of the deluxe accommodations. As others have mentioned, buy where you would like to stay. We purchased at Copper Creek because the Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort on property. If we "get stuck" there every year, we are happy. Be sure to consider the significant investment vs. how much you are currently paying. We found that ours will pay for itself after 7 years. Don't forget to calculate in the annual maintenance fees into your overall calculation of ROI

*** Welcome !!! ***

 

[Mulan_]

Welcome! The answer is complicated and the other comments are all valid. Here's what I would add to the thought process:
1. Are you dedicated to going to WDW every year (or at least every other year) for the next 20-30 years?
2. Are you aware of the maintenance fees? They are collected annually. For a contract of 200 points and assuming dues of around $8, then you're looking at $1600 initially then going up 4-5% a year each year after. You must figure that cost into your savings.
3. If you buy direct, the cost per point may not save you money in the long run, though if you stuck with it long enough, I'm sure it would eventually.
4. If you buy resale, then the overall cost could likely be reduced by a few to several thousand dollars. You could recoup your cost more quickly. However, by doing so, you miss out on perks like DVC discounts, member parties, etc. Personally, these discounts and perks are not worth the extra thousands of dollars you'd spend to buy direct from Disney.
5. Buy where you want to stay. To do that, you'd need to visit a few DVC resorts to get a feel for them. This notion is important because it's getting increasingly difficult to book out of your resort at the 7-month point. If you buy into a resort you love, then if that's where you have to stay because you can't get in somewhere at 7 months, you'll still be happy.
6. What are your likely travel and family plans, say, in 10 years? 20 years? The value of a DVC resort is that you plan to continue going to the World when you're older.
7. Since you say "for two weeks," then you need to look at the point costs associated with whatever resort(s) toward which you're leaning. Two weeks takes a lot of points, more in certain seasons such as the week of Christmas into New Year's. For example, just one week from 24 Dec - 31 Dec at the Grand Floridian would run you 227 points in a standard view studio; the week before would run you 125 points for that same room. Total: 352 points. Disney is selling them direct for somewhere in the range of $190 a point. $66,880 for that many points. Other resorts will be cheaper (as will resale for any of them). Still, it's a sizable investment. For example, one of the cheaper resorts up for resale currently is Boulder Ridge. It's a gorgeous resort, especially during the holidays. You would need 283 points to stay in a studio from the week before Christmas through NY's Day. There are a few resale contracts out there at $98-$99 per point. You would still need about $28K for that contract. . .and that contract will run out in 2042. That's fine for us but perhaps not for you.
8. If none of that deters you, then perhaps DVC would work. Only you can answer that. Best wishes in thinking through the process. Keep asking questions and do your research.

You've given us a lot to consider. Thank you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Point requirements are higher during that time of the year unless you go in early Dec or after Dec 31. Higher point requirements mean you have to have more points to book that time of year. More points means higher annual fees. I don't think your time in POFQ would be more expensive than a DVC villa, especially if you book something larger than a studio. And you'd have to be right on top of booking your home resort exactly at 11 months out to make sure you got your stay. Wait a few days or weeks to book and you've lost that reservation for the year.

 

[Dean Marino]

.

 

[holden]

To me the advantage of DVC is being able to book more “deluxe” accommodations without really paying for them (yes, I realize we “paid” for them, but we don’t receive a bill at check out for our stay).

We have stayed in every size DVC room and have visited several times a year. Now we mostly book 2 BR units for our family of 4.

We love being able to spread out and have space. We do laundry, so we pack less. We eat breakfast at the kitchen table - waffles, cereal, whatever we want. It makes for a more relaxing vacation for us.

 

[CarolynFH]

To me the advantage of DVC is being able to book more “deluxe” accommodations without really paying for them (yes, I realize we “paid” for them, but we don’t receive a bill at check out for our stay).

We have stayed in every size DVC room and have visited several times a year. Now we mostly book 2 BR units for our family of 4.

We love being able to spread out and have space. We do laundry, so we pack less. We eat breakfast at the kitchen table - waffles, cereal, whatever we want. It makes for a more relaxing vacation for us.

That’s us exactly. We bought DVC to have more space, not to simply prepay to continue to cram all four of us into one hotel room.

 

[Happy2BMommy0812]

I have to agree with the previous posters that it would not be a savings, but an upgrade. We were tempted for years but only bought when Polynesian opened because it was our favorite resort and when we did the math for us, we figured we could get 8 nights at poly for the same as 8 nights at a moderate, and we took the plunge. Even if annual dues raise on our DVC, so will rates at the moderate resorts, so we are not too worried about that. We paid just under $25000 to buy our 150 points back in 2016 (I think it was 2016) for 50 years of points. So $500 per year. Currently our dues are between $900-$1000 per year. So for under $1,500 per year, we get 8 nights at poly. We also were able to pay the buy in off in 6 months by moving around some investments that were not doing well. If we had to finance, we probably would not have done this.

That being said, we don’t mind staying in studios. A lot of people like the 1 and 2 bedrooms. We were upgraded during a one night stay to a one bedroom at wilderness and loved it, and we’ve combined points with family to do a 3 bedroom at old key west. The kitchen and laundry was great, but for us, is not worth the extra points and not worth giving up Polynesian (only studios or bungalows there). So, I think you have to decide what you want and then run the numbers

 

[TXTink75]

Hi!
I'm new, so I hope I'm asking my question in the correct forum.
Hubs and I go to WDW every Christmas for two weeks. We usually stay in the French quarter.
Would we be able to save money if we joined DVC?

We have stayed a week during Christmas every year for the last 4 years and finally decided to buy DVC. 200 points on a resell at SSR. Looks like we will pay about the same as we do now, but have deluxe accommodations instead of moderate. We have CRS booked now, but hoping to book a split stay when points are available. Fingers crossed!!

 

[TXTink75]

I have to agree with the previous posters that it would not be a savings, but an upgrade. We were tempted for years but only bought when Polynesian opened because it was our favorite resort and when we did the math for us, we figured we could get 8 nights at poly for the same as 8 nights at a moderate, and we took the plunge. Even if annual dues raise on our DVC, so will rates at the moderate resorts, so we are not too worried about that. We paid just under $25000 to buy our 150 points back in 2016 (I think it was 2016) for 50 years of points. So $500 per year. Currently our dues are between $900-$1000 per year. So for under $1,500 per year, we get 8 nights at poly. We also were able to pay the buy in off in 6 months by moving around some investments that were not doing well. If we had to finance, we probably would not have done this.

That being said, we don’t mind staying in studios. A lot of people like the 1 and 2 bedrooms. We were upgraded during a one night stay to a one bedroom at wilderness and loved it, and we’ve combined points with family to do a 3 bedroom at old key west. The kitchen and laundry was great, but for us, is not worth the extra points and not worth giving up Polynesian (only studios or bungalows there). So, I think you have to decide what you want and then run the numbers

This is what we decided, too. I can't wait to stay at a monorail resort someday!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have stayed a week during Christmas every year for the last 4 years and finally decided to buy DVC. 200 points on a resell at SSR. Looks like we will pay about the same as we do now, but have deluxe accommodations instead of moderate. We have CRS booked now, but hoping to book a split stay when points are available. Fingers crossed!!

I hope you will be happy staying at SSR for every trip at Christmas time because it will be very difficult to book anything else at seven months out for that week. Make sure you really like SSR before you buy there. You probably will not be able to book a monorail resort at Christmas time at seven months out.