DVC vs Moderate (AKV vs Caribbean)

[Jonnnyap]

I've been researching DVC, looking at all the wonderful posts here and on the ROFR thread trying to get a sense of cost, space, etc. (thanks, everyone!), and it seems to me that cost of DVC "works out" to about what moderate stays costs. Understandably, you get the "value" of the deluxe resorts in trade off for the commitment to DVC, whereas going the moderate route allows for flexibility at the "cost" of a "lesser" resort. As background, we've recently stayed at Caribbean Beach (moderate) and Kidani (renting DVC points). We love the dining and animals at AKV but the skyliner and "vibe" of Caribbean Beach was also quite nice, though certainly the rooms were not as posh.

Am I comparing apples to oranges here, or are there people on this board that have had the same thought/dilemma? Which way did you choose to go? I could see buying AKV resale and enjoying it immensely for years, and I can also see not committing and staying in Caribbean Beach on and off for years (with the flexibility of skipping a year or two depending upon life/etc).

What are your thoughts for a family who's been consistently going to WDW for 20+ years and are in the kids-are-about-to-be-out but still wanting to do adult trips for ourselves (which we've done for a few years now) phase of life?

Thanks!

 

[sethschroeder]

I mean AKV is in the bottom half of DVC at WDW for many people. You are comparing a spread out moderate resort with Skyliner access to Epcot/HS to a spread out, no direct park access, but amazing resort.

Walking to park
BWV/BCV/BLT
Prime Location
VGF/POLY
Nice Resort
CCV/RIV/BRV
Staycation level
AKV
Just DVC
OKW/SSR

 

[Sandisw]

So many pros and cons of DVC vs, staying a cash guest, IMO, I think it’s really important to think about the resorts you enjoy and then decide if the DVC one makes you just as happy as the other one...like CBR,

I personally am not a fan of AKV for several reasons, but the biggest one is the isolation of it in terms of options not only to the parks, but even being able to enjoy other resorts.

Even SSR, is close to DS that you have lots of food options and entertainment, shopping, etc.

No question there are ways to make DVC come out ahead financially and getting the deluxe resorts for the price of the moderates, but you have to be happy with it,

The Skyliner is a great way to get to two of the parks so you would want to stay at BWV, BCV or RIV...which RIV is out when buying resale. But depending on when you travel, BWV might be a good place to book at 7 months if you bought AKV.

If you did enjoy Kidani and can see being happy if you can’t trade out to other resorts, then it might be worth it. If you would find yourself missing a place like CBR, and want the flexibility to not commit, then it may not be!

 

[TonyCnLV]

Also i guess you should consider, or maybe you already have, that depending on the amount of points you think your family may need, the maintenance fees for those points per year could be MORE than your every other year or so stay at CBR. for the years you're maybe not going to go to WDW, you still have to pay those unlike the flexibility of CBR where if you don't go you just dont go and you lose out on nothing and you can save for the next one. I bought in recently and I've never stayed in a deluxe resort before, but i didn't select base on moderate vs DVC. I bought in for the opportunity to stay in villas in say hawaii in the future, or even disneyland since its closer to me, if I'm ever lucky enough to score a reservation there. And if all I can get into is Saratoga or OKW or AKL for my reservations for WDW that's ok with me because DVC fits into our type of vacations we've been taking in the past and the future. We tend to plan lot of our vacations ahead and map out where we want to go and how DVC would potentially fit into that. I dont think you're comparing apples to oranges, but maybe if you like CBR so much, you should compare that to OKW which to me is very similar to CBR. I actually love CBR and support it as a great moderate choice btw. Just my thoughts on what you posted but you could find a good resale contract for OKW and you'd get that similar vibe you seem to like.

 

[Jonnnyap]

So many pros and cons of DVC vs, staying a cash guest, IMO, I think it’s really important to think about the resorts you enjoy and then decide if the DVC one makes you just as happy as the other one...like CBR,

I personally am not a fan of AKV for several reasons, but the biggest one is the isolation of it in terms of options not only to the parks, but even being able to enjoy other resorts.

Even SSR, is close to DS that you have lots of food options and entertainment, shopping, etc.

No question there are ways to make DVC come out ahead financially and getting the deluxe resorts for the price of the moderates, but you have to be happy with it,

The Skyliner is a great way to get to two of the parks so you would want to stay at BWV, BCV or RIV...which RIV is out when buying resale. But depending on when you travel, BWV might be a good place to book at 7 months if you bought AKV.

If you did enjoy Kidani and can see being happy if you can’t trade out to other resorts, then it might be worth it. If you would find yourself missing a place like CBR, and want the flexibility to not commit, then it may not be!

Thanks, Sandi. We started visiting AKV for the restaurants, so at first our only experience was the lobby and common spaces as we waited for Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa. On our most recent trip, we added a stay for a few nights in a savannah view studio and loved the relaxation.

I understand that AKV is more isolated, and we actually appreciate that. I've read a lot of the forums discussing bus/transit times to/from AKV and others, but that's not a bother for us. We'll either take our time or Uber/Lyft if needed.

I suppose in the end, we could bank/borrow or rent points if we wanted to switch things up and stay in CBR rather than a DVC resort. What I most question is knowing what the future will bring (regardless of covid). DVC seems like a significant commitment. It's funny that I question this given we've consistently visited WDW for 20+ years and still enjoy it... so why wouldn't we continue to do so in the future.

 

[Jonnnyap]

Also i guess you should consider, or maybe you already have, that depending on the amount of points you think your family may need, the maintenance fees for those points per year could be MORE than your every other year or so stay at CBR. for the years you're maybe not going to go to WDW, you still have to pay those unlike the flexibility of CBR where if you don't go you just dont go and you lose out on nothing and you can save for the next one. I bought in recently and I've never stayed in a deluxe resort before, but i didn't select base on moderate vs DVC. I bought in for the opportunity to stay in villas in say hawaii in the future, or even disneyland since its closer to me, if I'm ever lucky enough to score a reservation there. And if all I can get into is Saratoga or OKW or AKL for my reservations for WDW that's ok with me because DVC fits into our type of vacations we've been taking in the past and the future. We tend to plan lot of our vacations ahead and map out where we want to go and how DVC would potentially fit into that. I dont think you're comparing apples to oranges, but maybe if you like CBR so much, you should compare that to OKW which to me is very similar to CBR. I actually love CBR and support it as a great moderate choice btw. Just my thoughts on what you posted but you could find a good resale contract for OKW and you'd get that similar vibe you seem to like.

Thanks, Tony. I, like you, enjoy the planning/expectation of a vacation. So I don't see the 11 or 7 month window for reservations as a negative. Rather, the 35+ years (assuming resale AKV) commitment seems daunting to me. Perhaps I need to visit and stay in OKW for a week to get better informed. I know everyone has their preference on different DVC resorts, and each are great in their own way. For us, the food and animals at AKV are what attract us so much. But from what I've read, OKW and SSR seem similar and relaxing.

As I mentioned earlier, we're moving towards being empty nesters in the next 4 years or so, and looking into DVC as a "reward" to ourselves as we plan vacations in this next phase. Being able to host our adult children (and possibly grandchildren in the future) seems an added bonus. And psychologically, MFs don't seem so bad when compared to a cash payment (even with a 25%+ discount if Disney is offering) for direct booking. I'd consider the initial points cost as an "investment" in the future and then forget about it so I'm only "remembering" or "feeling" the MFs. I know that the cost/money doesn't really work that way. I'd just decide to "forget" the initial points cost so I can enjoy the trips more by "paying less" (only MFs).

 

[sethschroeder]

DVC seems like a significant commitment.

With a much more predictable price.

Flipside they just tore down like 1/6th of CBR to build RIV, CBR is now on the skyliner so likely in line with a larger price increase than any other moderate, and more of CBR could be flipped over to "modluxe" (like Coronado's new tower) or DVC in the future.

On our most recent trip, we added a stay for a few nights in a savannah view studio and loved the relaxation.

This is always a big thing make sure you stay at AKV and try the transportation for a trip. I would also say you can buy pretty much at any resort and book AKV likely at 7 months so if there is another resort next ot the parks you prefer you could always buy there (although likely the math is worse since AKV is going to be cheaper than resorts next to the parks).

 

[TonyCnLV]

Thanks, Tony. I, like you, enjoy the planning/expectation of a vacation. So I don't see the 11 or 7 month window for reservations as a negative. Rather, the 35+ years (assuming resale AKV) commitment seems daunting to me. Perhaps I need to visit and stay in OKW for a week to get better informed. I know everyone has their preference on different DVC resorts, and each are great in their own way. For us, the food and animals at AKV are what attract us so much. But from what I've read, OKW and SSR seem similar and relaxing.

As I mentioned earlier, we're moving towards being empty nesters in the next 4 years or so, and looking into DVC as a "reward" to ourselves as we plan vacations in this next phase. Being able to host our adult children (and possibly grandchildren in the future) seems an added bonus. And psychologically, MFs don't seem so bad when compared to a cash payment (even with a 25%+ discount if Disney is offering) for direct booking. I'd consider the initial points cost as an "investment" in the future and then forget about it so I'm only "remembering" or "feeling" the MFs. I know that the cost/money doesn't really work that way. I'd just decide to "forget" the initial points cost so I can enjoy the trips more by "paying less" (only MFs).

Actually to be honest with you thats how we saw the initial investment and MF s as well. e bought what we could afford to pay upfront where i wouldn't have to worry in the future that i HAVE to sell DVC if things get rough. Like out of sight out of mind. And in the end when you divide MF over the year in monthly payments, its equal to a few coffees a month so it doesn't seem too bad to me either. I bought a 2042 resort because the cost was right for us and for me, 21 years left is a long time still and see how things go, where we are at later in life and who knows what will happen down the road with those. I get the extended length of time but youre right, 35-50 more years is a looooong time away and anyways, those resorts are currently out of my budget so maybe i would do one of those later in life as an add on or something.

When we decided i tried to separate the financials from my emotional thoughts about disney, and then i also considered where we plan to go in the future. And not like "dreams" that may not happen but realistically where do we plan to go and in the end I know that something Disney will be in the works every year someplace. I dont have kids or anyone I plan on willing it to in the future so I dont want to commit to something too long term lol. If I had my way I prob would have bought into GF but....maybe someday lol

 

[RoseGold]

You definitely can buy a small contract that would work for a trip every two years. You'd save a little money, maybe. Maybe you'd get a nicer location. I'd never pay $700/night for Poly. There's "free" parking, if that matters to you.

But you will lose flexibility, or you'll have to plan far enough ahead to rent. It depends on if you want to commit this much with Disney or have the bandwidth to monkey with this. Because it does take planning. And if 2020 has shown us anything, it does have RISK.

I think even Art of Animation has just as nice beds and fun theming, if you're a park warrior, and I don't go to Disney for food. If your goal is "vibe," then maybe even Margaritaville (a Good Neighbor, which used to have Fast Passes) might work better for an adult trip. It depends on your priorities and how much hassle this is worth to you.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I won't try to sway you one way or the other. The only example I can give you is 25 years of enjoying all things WDW (HHI and VB too). If DVC didn't exist, we'd still go often - probably each year. We've hosted family, friends, empty nester trips and now our son and DIL. We used DVC to stay adjacent to Kensington Palace in London. We've traveled the US in a motorhome in 1998-99 and many other vacations with no Disney connection. Owning doesn't disconnect you from other travel - that is your choice.

The quality of our vacations has been exceptional for the most part and all we pay is MF's (about 3K/yr). Last October's trip would have been 10K for accommodations alone. Gifting our son and DIL at the Poly in March would have been 3.2K (room only) Our contracts have provided a variety of accommodations from Studios to GV's at many DVC's. We love the flexibility to tailor each vacation for a unique experience. I love that we fly free on SWA, so we really only pay for tix and meals which makes budgeting a breeze.

To wrap this up, a theme I notice with most (not all) potential DVC buyers is the thought that you own for 20 or 30 or more years. Your life changes and so can your DVC choices. We had lots of points in the 1990's-early 2000's and then less through the college/grad school years. We just bought two more resales so are now using more than ever nearing retirement. We know we bought at good prices and can flip a contract when the market is high and buy more or eventually sell them off if necessary (we've made very profitable flips and rentals). We haven't ruled out buying more. I'm all in for DVC, warts and all! Good luck!

 

[davidl81]

A few things here to go through. Cost wise you are for the most part spot on, DVC will be about the same as a moderate resort that has some small discount attached to it (say 20%) which are fairly common. Now here is the rub, you will do the math comparing studios to hotel rooms which is fair. But eventually as others have posted you will end up staying a few times in larger rooms or staying at VGF etc. you may even take family with you and do a two bed room. Most of us add on at some point because we want to do these bigger trips. We have several times now added on, and I have not once regretted it. But we are not “saving money”. Since we would never have taken family with us to Hawaii in a 2 bed room and paid cash rates for it. We never would have paid cash rates for a GV at BLT for a 10 person trip. Now yes I know I have paid for these by buying into DVC, but still it seems to work out great for us.

So in summary since you have been going to WDW for 20 years it would make sense to buy a 125 or so resale contract at AKV or SSR and end up staying at some nice resorts for about the same as a moderate. But just don’t be shocked when you are here in three years looking at adding on again for the 3rd time lol.

 

[VWLforever]

⬆ This. We bought in to save money. Eight years later and after a couple add ons, we now use our 650 points to stay in big rooms wherever we want.

So did we truly "save money" in the long run? Not really- because we never would have paid the cash rates that would be required for the rooms we now stay in. What we did is bought better vacation lodging at a reasonable price. And that was well worth the investment.

 

[CastAStone]

the maintenance fees for those points per year could be MORE than your every other year or so stay at CBR.

CBR is now on the skyliner so likely in line with a larger price increase than any other moderate, and more of CBR could be flipped over to "modluxe" (like Coronado's new tower) or DVC in the future.

CBR has had double digit price increases 2 years in a row and room rates for standard rooms are inching into the $300s and preferred and 5th sleeper rooms can easily run over $400 with tax. The 3 resorts (among those with posted 2021 prices) with the biggest % increases for dates I spot checked in 2021 were AoA, Pop, and CBR. Hmm.

@Jonnnyap I wouldn’t sweat the maintenance fees coming close to a CBR room rate. The Skyliner Tax ended any chance of that. I have taken the last 6 months since I came to these boards with a similar question to learn every last thing I could about DVC and I am able to make better decisions for myself because I did that. I now am 100% sure where I’m buying and how many points, and am confident I am not making an error. I’d suggest to you that in your case it may be worth doing the same.

I promise you’ll be able to find points to buy in 6 months. Possibly at a better price.

 

[Carol_]

So many pros and cons of DVC vs, staying a cash guest, IMO, I think it’s really important to think about the resorts you enjoy and then decide if the DVC one makes you just as happy as the other one...like CBR,

I personally am not a fan of AKV for several reasons, but the biggest one is the isolation of it in terms of options not only to the parks, but even being able to enjoy other resorts.

Even SSR, is close to DS that you have lots of food options and entertainment, shopping, etc.

No question there are ways to make DVC come out ahead financially and getting the deluxe resorts for the price of the moderates, but you have to be happy with it,

The Skyliner is a great way to get to two of the parks so you would want to stay at BWV, BCV or RIV...which RIV is out when buying resale. But depending on when you travel, BWV might be a good place to book at 7 months if you bought AKV.

If you did enjoy Kidani and can see being happy if you can’t trade out to other resorts, then it might be worth it. If you would find yourself missing a place like CBR, and want the flexibility to not commit, then it may not be!

The OP might be the perfect buyer for a RIV resale contract because of their added love for CBR.

 

[OKW Lover]

it seems to me that cost of DVC "works out" to about what moderate stays costs.

One other factor to consider is that the future cost of your stays at a moderate resort will increase while your DVC cost will remain the same.

 

[Jonnnyap]

@CastAStone I noticed the CBR price increase as well. When we stayed there earlier this year (pre covid), I was surprised by the access to the skyliner and how quickly one can go from the hotel room and be at the park gate at Epcot and HS. I agree with you that this convenience is going to continue to drive the interest (and this cost) of CBR.

I’ve seen some of your posts elsewhere here and agree that doing homework to really know the ins and outs is important.

@davidl81 and @MICKIMINI Your points are well made. If I’ve learned anything from these boards in the past 5 months of reading, it’s that the idea of “saving money” might help some folks enter the DVC life, but in the end everyone ends up spending more because they take more trips, add on points, and plus their vacations and travel. It seems to me (and you all confirm) that once you get the DVC “bug” it’s more of a lifestyle that many enjoy. So to your points (pun intended!), the decision really comes down to whether someone wants to commit to this style of vacations. And even if you do and it doesn’t “take” (or life changes in the future), one can sell with little chance of loss.

I love this community because there are so many different ways to enjoy the parks and resorts and everyone has great thoughts.

Many thanks!

 

[Miffy]

@Jonnnyap: Because you posted on the DVC forum, you're getting responses from people who do own DVC, so I thought you might like the perspective of someone who doesn't own DVC. (I found the post by searching new posts, btw.)

I've been going to WDW and staying onsite for many years, often once and sometimes twice a year. A few years ago I had an amazing, unexpected 3-times-in-a-year WDW experience. I've thought of buying DVC myself but have always decided against it for several reasons. They are:

(1) Owning DVC means paying the maintenance fees every year, whether or not I want to go. Sure, I could rent my points but frankly I don't want to be bothered with something like that. And, yes, I could bank my points, but then I have to think about when they're expiring, etc., etc., and that wouldn't solve the problem of paying the MF.

(2) Owning DVC means paying the MF every year whether or not my financial circumstances have changed. This might not apply to you but I've had good years and not-as-good years and during the not-as-good years I tone down my WDW experiences or don't go.

(3) I always stay onsite at WDW and have never ever ever paid rack rate. Not even close. So I can't compare the cost of DVC with rack rate, which I've never paid. I've always found a bargain at WDW, whether it was the now-defunct Magic Kingdom Club (in the '90s) or an AP discount or a Disney Visa discount or a general public discount. Or a bounceback offer--always appealing.

(4) Do I really want to shell out $15K or $20K or $25K all at once for vacations in the future I may or may not take? As much as I love WDW and as often as I go, the answer to this has always been no. But $15K or $20K or $25K is a lot of money to me. Maybe it's not as significant a sum to you.

(5) If I don't want to or can't go for some reason, if I don't own DVC, it's no problem. I either don't reserve anything at all or I cancel my existing reservation. If I have DVC then I either have to juggle my points or even possibly lose them if they were expiring and I can't otherwise do anything with them.

(6) Finally, all the banking, borrowing, booking in advance, walking, etc., etc., etc., seems like a lot of work to me. I realize that to DVC owners it's just part of the game. But it's a game I have little interest in playing, even as much as I know about it by reading these forums.

(7) And extra-finally, I was never so glad I didn't own DVC points as I was this spring with the pandemic. Just sayin'. I had a booked-through-WDW resort reservation for May and I canceled it and got my deposit refunded. End of problem.

(8) Oh! One more thing. I can be kinda picky about my hotel room. Not entitled-picky, just "really, you gave me this room?" picky, like getting the worst possible savannah-view room at AKL or a room significantly smaller than the average room in that category at resort X. Or a room right across from the elevator. If you have booked your room through WDW, then you can asked to be moved. Of course, they might not be able to move you--I realize that--but most of the time they can accommodate you (or me, as the case may be). But with DVC, the room you get assigned is pretty much the room you're stuck with since DVC operates at near-100% occupancy. That part always bothered me.

Just some views from a non-DVC person. Although of course I wish I'd bought when they first offered OKW. Those people have had an incredible run of things at a super reasonable buy-in price.

 

[Sandisw]

@Jonnnyap: Because you posted on the DVC forum, you're getting responses from people who do own DVC, so I thought you might like the perspective of someone who doesn't own DVC. (I found the post by searching new posts, btw.)

I've been going to WDW and staying onsite for many years, often once and sometimes twice a year. A few years ago I had an amazing, unexpected 3-times-in-a-year WDW experience. I've thought of buying DVC myself but have always decided against it for several reasons. They are:

(1) Owning DVC means paying the maintenance fees every year, whether or not I want to go. Sure, I could rent my points but frankly I don't want to be bothered with something like that. And, yes, I could bank my points, but then I have to think about when they're expiring, etc., etc., and that wouldn't solve the problem of paying the MF.

(2) Owning DVC means paying the MF every year whether or not my financial circumstances have changed. This might not apply to you but I've had good years and not-as-good years and during the not-as-good years I tone down my WDW experiences or don't go.

(3) I always stay onsite at WDW and have never ever ever paid rack rate. Not even close. So I can't compare the cost of DVC with rack rate, which I've never paid. I've always found a bargain at WDW, whether it was the now-defunct Magic Kingdom Club (in the '90s) or an AP discount or a Disney Visa discount or a general public discount. Or a bounceback offer--always appealing.

(4) Do I really want to shell out $15K or $20K or $25K all at once for vacations in the future I may or may not take? As much as I love WDW and as often as I go, the answer to this has always been no. But $15K or $20K or $25K is a lot of money to me. Maybe it's not as significant a sum to you.

(5) If I don't want to or can't go for some reason, if I don't own DVC, it's no problem. I either don't reserve anything at all or I cancel my existing reservation. If I have DVC then I either have to juggle my points or even possibly lose them if they were expiring and I can't otherwise do anything with them.

(6) Finally, all the banking, borrowing, booking in advance, walking, etc., etc., etc., seems like a lot of work to me. I realize that to DVC owners it's just part of the game. But it's a game I have little interest in playing, even as much as I know about it by reading these forums.

(7) And extra-finally, I was never so glad I didn't own DVC points as I was this spring with the pandemic. Just sayin'. I had a booked-through-WDW resort reservation for May and I canceled it and got my deposit refunded. End of problem.

(8) Oh! One more thing. I can be kinda picky about my hotel room. Not entitled-picky, just "really, you gave me this room?" picky, like getting the worst possible savannah-view room at AKL or a room significantly smaller than the average room in that category at resort X. Or a room right across from the elevator. If you have booked your room through WDW, then you can asked to be moved. Of course, they might not be able to move you--I realize that--but most of the time they can accommodate you (or me, as the case may be). But with DVC, the room you get assigned is pretty much the room you're stuck with since DVC operates at near-100% occupancy. That part always bothered me.

Just some views from a non-DVC person. Although of course I wish I'd bought when they first offered OKW. Those people have had an incredible run of things at a super reasonable buy-in price.

Just so you are aware, DVC owners can have requests granted and can indeed request a different room of the same type if there is an issue.

Upgrades are rare, but as with cash guests, we are allowed to request and I myself have been moved when there was an issue.

However, you have brought up so many important aspects that any potential owner should think about!

 

[davidl81]

@Jonnnyap: Because you posted on the DVC forum, you're getting responses from people who do own DVC, so I thought you might like the perspective of someone who doesn't own DVC. (I found the post by searching new posts, btw.)

I've been going to WDW and staying onsite for many years, often once and sometimes twice a year. A few years ago I had an amazing, unexpected 3-times-in-a-year WDW experience. I've thought of buying DVC myself but have always decided against it for several reasons. They are:

(1) Owning DVC means paying the maintenance fees every year, whether or not I want to go. Sure, I could rent my points but frankly I don't want to be bothered with something like that. And, yes, I could bank my points, but then I have to think about when they're expiring, etc., etc., and that wouldn't solve the problem of paying the MF.

(2) Owning DVC means paying the MF every year whether or not my financial circumstances have changed. This might not apply to you but I've had good years and not-as-good years and during the not-as-good years I tone down my WDW experiences or don't go.

(3) I always stay onsite at WDW and have never ever ever paid rack rate. Not even close. So I can't compare the cost of DVC with rack rate, which I've never paid. I've always found a bargain at WDW, whether it was the now-defunct Magic Kingdom Club (in the '90s) or an AP discount or a Disney Visa discount or a general public discount. Or a bounceback offer--always appealing.

(4) Do I really want to shell out $15K or $20K or $25K all at once for vacations in the future I may or may not take? As much as I love WDW and as often as I go, the answer to this has always been no. But $15K or $20K or $25K is a lot of money to me. Maybe it's not as significant a sum to you.

(5) If I don't want to or can't go for some reason, if I don't own DVC, it's no problem. I either don't reserve anything at all or I cancel my existing reservation. If I have DVC then I either have to juggle my points or even possibly lose them if they were expiring and I can't otherwise do anything with them.

(6) Finally, all the banking, borrowing, booking in advance, walking, etc., etc., etc., seems like a lot of work to me. I realize that to DVC owners it's just part of the game. But it's a game I have little interest in playing, even as much as I know about it by reading these forums.

(7) And extra-finally, I was never so glad I didn't own DVC points as I was this spring with the pandemic. Just sayin'. I had a booked-through-WDW resort reservation for May and I canceled it and got my deposit refunded. End of problem.

(8) Oh! One more thing. I can be kinda picky about my hotel room. Not entitled-picky, just "really, you gave me this room?" picky, like getting the worst possible savannah-view room at AKL or a room significantly smaller than the average room in that category at resort X. Or a room right across from the elevator. If you have booked your room through WDW, then you can asked to be moved. Of course, they might not be able to move you--I realize that--but most of the time they can accommodate you (or me, as the case may be). But with DVC, the room you get assigned is pretty much the room you're stuck with since DVC operates at near-100% occupancy. That part always bothered me.

Just some views from a non-DVC person. Although of course I wish I'd bought when they first offered OKW. Those people have had an incredible run of things at a super reasonable buy-in price.

I think overall those are very fair counter points. It's why earlier I said it's not fair to compare DVC to rack rates, but you need to compare them to some type of discount on the room. Of course OP would know how often they get discounts and use that as a general guide. DVC is somewhat of a commitment although since historically DVC resale has held up very well you should be able to "get out of it" in a few years with very little if any money lost, there is always a risk that the economy turns down the resale values could also drop.

 

[raider97]

I've been researching DVC, looking at all the wonderful posts here and on the ROFR thread trying to get a sense of cost, space, etc. (thanks, everyone!), and it seems to me that cost of DVC "works out" to about what moderate stays costs. Understandably, you get the "value" of the deluxe resorts in trade off for the commitment to DVC, whereas going the moderate route allows for flexibility at the "cost" of a "lesser" resort. As background, we've recently stayed at Caribbean Beach (moderate) and Kidani (renting DVC points). We love the dining and animals at AKV but the skyliner and "vibe" of Caribbean Beach was also quite nice, though certainly the rooms were not as posh.

Am I comparing apples to oranges here, or are there people on this board that have had the same thought/dilemma? Which way did you choose to go? I could see buying AKV resale and enjoying it immensely for years, and I can also see not committing and staying in Caribbean Beach on and off for years (with the flexibility of skipping a year or two depending upon life/etc).

What are your thoughts for a family who's been consistently going to WDW for 20+ years and are in the kids-are-about-to-be-out but still wanting to do adult trips for ourselves (which we've done for a few years now) phase of life?

Thanks!

We are in a similar boat. Been going to Disney every other year since our kids were little and mainly staying at moderates. I feel like you do that a DVC puts these resorts pretty close to moderate prices. Our youngest just hit high school and my oldest just started college. We are a few years away from buying, but are leaning towards it because of the nicer resorts, better location/transportation. And we see ourselves taking solo trips, but buying enough points so that we could bank & borrow and take the kids and their families.