DVC versus dad's military time share

[luna99]

My father is retired from the military and he can get some sweet deals on condos throughout the US. We are actually planning on staying in one this December in Kissimmee with my mom, dad, sister, me, and my husband. Now that our family is getting bigger (and once DH and I have kids) .. it's really nice to stay all together in one big condo/villa.

So I was all excited and telling my dad about DVC and how I someday want to be a member and what does he tell me? "why do that and sign up to have to pay for the rest of your life when you can just tell me when you want to go and I can get you a condo in orlando through my military discount? Don't do it! "

Now, I will say financially speaking his is a better deal.. he gets a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom condo for around $300 a week! Also he doesn't have to pay maintenance fees.. he just decides when he's going and books a condo.

... but, the condos we were looking at today are all at least a 15-20 minute drive to the parks (some are 45 minutes!) they have small pools.. no theming... no buses to the parks... the condos themselves are sometimes older looking and worn in... no theming again, and there's just no..... well.... DISNEY MAGIC.

I hate to say it.. and my dad might think I'm making a mistake.. but I'm still planning on saving up and joining DVC eventually... even if it's 10 years from now.. I am joining. I want to be able to take my future kids to disney.. to stay on property.. to be close to the magic .. and I personally just LOVE the disney resorts and feel relaxed, pampered, special, and just GOOD when I'm staying there.

What do you all think? Should I continue to think about and save for my future DVC membership? (LOL. Of course this is a DVC message board so evereyone will say yes I'm quite sure!). I just needed to vent my frustration ..thanks everyone!

 

[LSchrow]

wow! those really are great deals

does your dad have to be there to get the rate tho?
if yes, so what happens if just your & your DH want to go away? or when you have kids, & want a quick trip just with all of you?

there are a gazillion places (yes, i counted ) to stay that cost less than DVC or most WDW reorts for that matter (of course, not all as deeply discounted as your dad gets tho). and, every single DVC owner had the option of paying significantly less by choosing different accomendations on or off-site, but bought into DVC.

personally, i say save for DVC. when you feel you have enough saved to comfortably afford DVC, reevaluate your want & needs. you might decide to use the money elsewhere.

 

[Terpy]

I'm guessing your dad is talking about AFVC. It's a great deal and, as best as I can tell, uses excess RCI inventory. There's no fee to join, no maintenance fees, and no commitment. On the downside you get what's leftover after the owners and RCI exchangers have booked months earlier than you. Some times the top properties may trickle down to AFVC.

With DVC you get the theming and on-site location that you mentioned. You also get to pick where you stay and can do so several months in advance.

If you're a planner, e.g., able to plan at least 7 months in advance, and like being on-site with theming, I think DVC is the way to go.

If you like to travel on short notice, and are willing to take what's available, you can't beat the cost of AFVC.

You may wish to consider a small resale contract with DVC and use your dad's AFVC. No need to make a huge investment in DVC right away.

Terpy

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'm a big advocate of purchasing a small DVC contract to get your feet in the door. Of course, its a lower buy-in, lower maintenance fees, and gives you more flexibility to go other places like Dad's timeshare deal.


There are so many posters that only have the regret that they wish they had bought sooner. You know your situation. Just make sure you can handle the buy-in and maintenance fees and still afford to go to WDW.

I feel your pain about your Dad's advice. Even at 39, I'm reluctant to go against Dad's direct order... um...suggestion. Remember with men, its always about the money. He's seen a few more of life's little curves. He's trying to look out for you.

 

[theoarn]

After I get out the US Military I am going to join the one your dad is part of.
I have never heard of Military Time share.
Although I have a friend in the Air Force and what he describes as a day of work sounds sort of like a vacation to me. Is that what you are talking about?

 

[Granny]

This is pretty much the age old on-site vs off-site discussion that all WDW visitors go through.

There is no doubt that it is less expensive to stay off-site in Orlando, even without a military timeshare discount. You can get some really nice accommodations in the area for a fraction of what it costs to stay on-site.

But for many, staying on-site at WDW is an important part of the vacation experience. Access to the transportation and 24/7 immersement in Disney atmosphere convinces many that the increase in cost to stay on-site is well worth it.

Obviously, those who buy DVC to visit WDW are sold on the value of staying on-site.

There is no right or wrong. It's all about preference and what's important.


If we had access to a deal like this, we probably would consider staying in the off-site condo for non-WDW portion of the trip (Universal, Sea World, etc) and then at a DVC resort for the WDW portion of the trip.

At the end of the day, it's your decision. Thank your generous father for his kind offer, and then do what you think is best for your family.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I purchased DVC because I'm a huge Disney fan and knew that I would continue to come year after year after year. In the long run the DVC purchase realizes itself so I didnt mind making the investment. If you're a huge Disney fan and really care about "the magic" then I say go for the DVC. If not, you can't beat $300 a week for a condo!!

 

[tomandrobin]

I agree with Granny. It comes down to cost vs location. Personally we rather stay on-site in our DVC, then stay off-site in our starwood timeshare property.

 

[ccigliano]

I own two other timeshares besides my DVC. While the others don't expire, I still like my DVC best. With the other two - I am a member of Interval International and pay dues. As a II member I can book getaway weeks and when I trade my Hawaii timeshare it trades two for one with a bonus week. I have used the bonus week at the Marriott Grand Vista - about 10 minutes from Disney and as a promo deal paid $79 for the week in a 1 bedroom at the Blue Tree which is right outside of downtown Disney. While the Marriott was a very nice resort - it wasn't Disney. If it hadn't been free I would have been dissappointed. I opted for DVC knowing that I could get deals to stay off-site for much less than what I would pay in dues and upfront cost and did it because you can't compare the magic of staying on-site with any other resorts. You don't go to the Grand Canyon and stay in Tusayan unless you can't get a room on the rim at the El Tovar. So why chintz out on Disney - staying on-site is definitely part of the vacation. I agree with the OPs that recommended you purchase a small contract, maybe a contract that could get you a studio every other year and then add on. Why miss out now when you don't have kids yet and can enjoy Disney footloose and fancyfree.

 

[toocherie]

I hate to sound morbid . . . . but what would happen after your Father passes away? Would you still have access to the military timeshare? If not, to me this would mitigate in favor of buying into DVC at some point . . . . historically the price of points has gotten up so you would be hedging your bets against the time when you might no longer have access to the military timeshare . . . .

 

[JimMIA]

The older I get, the smarter my Dad gets!

 

[milmom6]

I too am in the military and your dad is talking about the AFVC as someone else mentioned. It is a wonderful deal and a military member can purchase it for friends or family. It cost $329 for one week in beautiful places both US and abroad.

I am also a DVC owner and I considered it for a long time because of all of the vacation perks a military person can get. Most military members do not know about these as theoarn so dramatically points out. We've stayed in 2 bedroom cabins with full kitchens on the ocean in Hawaii for $99 a night, on the ocean in San Diego with a playground right outside our door for less than that and other great places and deals.

What I love about DVC is that I can plan a vacation based on when we want to travel and determine how big a room, where it is located, etc. Many of the military places are booked when you might want to go. AFVC normally requires a Sat-Sat rental, but they do have nightly get aways as well. Having just joined DVC last January of '07 we are still "trying" things out, but we love it. I do not go into any financial decision lightly and we are glad we bought.

Make sure you use the military perks to your advantage, check out SOG, AFVC, USAA for insurance, etc. Because yur father served, there are many perks available to you as his child.

Good luck to you, and thank your dad for his service for me.

 

[BroganMc]

Yet another voice defining this as an offsite vs. onsite debate with a twist. My dad owns several offsite Marriott timeshares and we own DVC together. It was my choice to go with DVC, even though we had full access to large 2-3 bedroom condos with Marriott. We still debate the differences between the programs, but both of us recognize the merits of each.

For instance, I know I can hop a quick flight to Orlando any time of the year and Disney will take care of all my transportation needs. With Marriott, I need to plan a long 900 mile driving trip down in my specially-adapted minivan (being disabled I need extra equipment to drive and/or transport my personal wheels). But also with Marriott, I know I can convert vacation weeks to hotel points and afford luxury trips to London or even a getaway closer to home.

Your dad does have a great deal (which he fully deserves serving us all BTW). You can use it to augment your vacations like we do. We stay a week offsite then use DVC to stay a week onsite. Maybe in future, when those kiddies come along, you can have a vacation offsite with "Grandpa" and then some alone time onsite for your family. Best of both worlds, IMHO.

BTW, because of the merits of each program we only use DVC for DisneyWorld stays. Marriott is our everywhere else timeshare. You may find AFVC works better for non-Orlando vacations too. There is a big world out there to explore.

 

[littlestar]

Your dad is probably talking about AFVC (excess timeshare inventory for military/government workers). From what I've heard, you won't see Marriott or Disney timeshares offered on that site.

As we own other timeshares and are II (Interval International) members, we do stay at other Orlando timeshare properties. But, since we're basically resort snobs, it's usually Marriott or Sheraton for off site if not staying onsite with Disney. We still keep/own DVC points to guarantee nights onsite at the DVC properties.

Perhaps if you buy a small DVC package you could take advantage of a week using your dad's timeshare deal and then spend 5 nights onsite using DVC points. Before you book one of those off property resorts, though, you need to do your homework. I'd check trip advisor.

 

[tomandrobin]

BTW, because of the merits of each program we only use DVC for DisneyWorld stays. Marriott is our everywhere else timeshare. You may find AFVC works better for non-Orlando vacations too. There is a big world out there to explore.

Like Disneyland Californina, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Adventures by Disney.

 

[BroganMc]

Like Disneyland Californina, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Adventures by Disney.

Has anyone suggested an Intervention to you sir? I believe you might have a Disney addiction.