DVC vs. Annual Pass Discounts

[BriarRose24]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the boards and excited to be here.

I have a question that I hope someone will be able to answer. My DH and I have just taken a DVC tour and we're very interested, but I wonder if it is better to do DVC or get an annual pass and use the discounts?

Has any math whiz done the comparison on this? I would love to know what you guys think.

Thanks ~bR

 

[vicki_c]

There really is no comparison at all for what you are asking.

One is paying for an annual pass every year and waiting to see what kind of discounts are released, how much are they, are they for dates that work for you, etc.

The other (DVC) is purchasing a real estate interest in a time share, plus annual maintenance payments for the next 40-50 years.

I'm not sure how anyone could make a reasonable comparison between those two things.

 

[sweetdana]

DVC is for long term. Depending on your budget, amount of VK you take, and which type of room you stay in. If you stay in mostly values, AP is often better..... but you cannot count on them always.

Here is an ideal middle ground.
Start with a 50 point resale contract. You will have to go resale! (Disney min is 160 points) You can then buy an annual pass at 100 + $ off per pass. 2 ad and 1 child is about $300 off. .. and you get a couple of nights and do both. If you love the hotels; you can always add more points. Even if you decide you don't go enough, or cannot justify the upgrade rooms. The 250$ you spend annually on the annual fees with 3 passes (2 adults and 1 child) it is free. Assuming you would buy APs anyway... AND you get AP discounts, and a few extra nights "included".
If you want a Ress. and AP discounts around bank your points for next trip. If no APs around and no pin codes to be found.. borrow from next year and hope an AP shows up later.. .

For the record, just like any perk it can go as quick as it comes. but ... you can always sell the contract on resale the small contracts go like hot cakes!

 

[dmoore22]

I agree with the previous posts. We belong to DVC and we purchase APs. For us they actually compliment each other. As DVC members we get the DVC perks which include getting our APs at a discount that rivals the Florida resident discount. Then we get the best of both worlds -- DVC discounts and AP discounts. Obviously we can't use both simultaneously but we take advantage of whichever one is best at that moment. Our DVC membership is paid for so we don't have the luxury of an interest deduction on our income taxes but we do have a small deduction as a result of the property tax portion of the maintenance fees. We have stayed in the non-DVC resorts when there has been an extraordinary AP room discount which allows us to save points for another time or to lengthen a visit. DVC + AP discounts = a win/win situation.