DVC vs. Moderates

[sjdisneywedding]

I plan on only using studios for the most part. However, I like the option of being able to get larger rooms if we have someone coming with us. The big factor for me is having a Disney room paid for, for the rest of our lives. It's amazing at how high the room rates have gotten already, I can only imagine what the next 20 years will hold. It is, to me, a security thing. When I retire I may not have enough money to justify a yearly vacation..but if the room is paid for, it's just the getting there and in the parks and that's not bad.
It's the long term appeal that got me in.

thats the best part of dvc--the flexibility. we itinially bought just needing and expecting to use studios and going during low point seasons, but in the back of our minds we knew eventually we would need larger accomadations and might be going during higher point times

so with dvc we can then eventually go less frequently(days or consective years) or can add some points to maintain our current use. we dont have to sell the whole thing just to meet our needs

we are not necessarily tied into a certain week, or time of year, or type of room

 

[tomandrobin]

Comparing a moderate room to a studio (or 2 rooms to a 2 BR) should be roughly the same in long term cost with variations depending on specifics. If you can go S-F many time, DVC will actually compare favorably to the values. For weekends mostly, the moderates should be a better cheaper choice. I think most would agree that the DVC resorts are overall nicer than the moderates and that the studios are larger with more amenities than a regular hotel room. So anyone who has a track record of moderate stays, will cont. to go routinely and not do long weekends is a perfect candidate for DVC. A 1 or 2 BR will not fare as well in comparison to a single moderate room but will for a deluxe. There are other benefits to DVC such as no Tax (currently), kitchen amenities, limited discounts, some protection against inflation and the ability to stay at other DVC resorts. As with anything else, the devil is in the details.

Dean,

Since Disney announced that they were going to start pricing room rates similar to how DVC charges for points (IE: higher cost for Friday and Saturday), does that have an impact on cost comparison?

Tom

 

[Coach81]

Well we just bought into DVC earlier this year. We are a family of 4, we have 150 pts. We will be going to OKW in February, and the AKV in May. My family is soo looking forward to heading "home" for the first time. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Dean]

Dean,

Since Disney announced that they were going to start pricing room rates similar to how DVC charges for points (IE: higher cost for Friday and Saturday), does that have an impact on cost comparison?

Tom

It will have a small effect but the info I have suggests they are going to have a small differential, not two to two and a half times the cost weekends to weekdays. If a moderate is $100 per night weekday and $125 per night weekend, that is far different than $100/$250. Ultimately it depends on the specifics. My guess is the occupancy rates will go down somewhat but not dramatically so with this change the the one where you pay the rate for that night no matter what season you start in. Then the question becomes how much extra income vs how many extra non rented rooms tempered by how many personnel they can reduce by in areas like housekeeping. I'm also guessing we'll see some specials where you get the weekday rate on weekends for a minimal stay of say 3 days.

Diane, I almost responded this AM then decided not to since you stated you were playing the devils advocate. The best value in terms of dollars is the studio S-F, second is the 2 BR for those that would be needing 2 hotel rooms. The other variable is how much one will use the kitchen to save eating out.

 

[tomandrobin]

It will have a small effect but the info I have suggests they are going to have a small differential, not two to two and a half times the cost weekends to weekdays. If a moderate is $100 per night weekday and $125 per night weekend, that is far different than $100/$250. Ultimately it depends on the specifics. My guess is the occupancy rates will go down somewhat but not dramatically so with this change the the one where you pay the rate for that night no matter what season you start in. Then the question becomes how much extra income vs how many extra non rented rooms tempered by how many personnel they can reduce by in areas like housekeeping. I'm also guessing we'll see some specials where you get the weekday rate on weekends for a minimal stay of say 3 days.

I would think this would effect the local "weekend" crowds more then anything. But for weekly stays, will this make the "cash" cost more for a weekly stay? When comparing indentical 7 day stays, cash vs points, wouldn't the new price rates for cash reservations help balance out the difference? Or is it too slight to have an effect over 10 years?

 

[Dean]

I would think this would effect the local "weekend" crowds more then anything. But for weekly stays, will this make the "cash" cost more for a weekly stay? When comparing indentical 7 day stays, cash vs points, wouldn't the new price rates for cash reservations help balance out the difference? Or is it too slight to have an effect over 10 years?

As I noted, the specifics will determine the end effects. My feeling is that the difference is too little to have much effect. Unlike DVC owners who already have the points they have to spend, some of those that would otherwise stay on property on cash will choose either not to go or stay elsewhere so Disney has to temper any changes balanced against participation. What I've seen suggests we're talking no more than a 20-25% premium though I really haven't investigated the specifics in detail. Unfortunately we'll have to look at any "evidence" indirectly as we have DVC occupancy. As I somewhat suggested above, I don't think we'll see a lot of people paying that much more as Disney gives packages and specials that bring the price back in line with previous costs.

 

[eporter66]

From what you are saying, it sounds like you are very happy staying at the moderates. DVC does tie you to Disney somewhat, so the way you do things now allows you the flexibility of not going to Disney for a few years. With DVC you can roll points, but you are tied to going every other year. I am not sure about the other options (points at non-disney resorts), but in reviewing them quickly, you dont get as much value as using them at Disney.

We really like the 1 bedroom, and we usually do breakfast and lunch in our room which saves us money. Ultimately, if you like the moderates (I do too), I am not sure DVC will do that much for you. Take a tour next time you are at WDW. I know the 1 Bedroom certainly makes for a more relaxing and enjoyable vacation. With a young daughter, we are usually back to the room by 9 at night. Having the one bedroom allows us to put her to sleep and stay up without disturbing her. A minor point, but I also really enjoy the space, having a kitchen, jacuzzi etc... These are extra's, and not necessary, but make our vacations a little more special.

 

[JenSop]

Hubby and I just bought in this summer. No kids yet, but we really love Disney and wanted to go regularly. We don't plan to have more than one child, but kids are only one aspect of the equation.

We'll be taking our first trip home next summer - but not just the two of us - we'll be taking my parents and my grandmother. I am just so excited to be able to do this for them. My grandparents used to take my sister and I to WDW all the time when we were kids. Those are some of my fondest memories. I only wish my grandfather were still alive - he would've loved going back after all these years! We booked a 2BR for the trip.

In a few years, my dad wants to do a big trip with the kids (I have two nieces.) And maybe by then we will have one of our own. My sister and BIL might also come. Our home is AKV, so we could get a 2BR there to sleep all nine of us. How great is that!?!

Disney has so many fabulous memories for me and now I can help make some of those kinds of memories for the ones I care about and love. Yay DVC!

 

[JonJ]

I would echo what the others have said. But another cost consideration may be a third adult in the room (I believe +$10 for Value, +$15 for Moderate, +$25 for Deluxe per night). Our adult special needs daughter loves WDW and comes with us. There is no "adult" charge for a DVC room on points. So, if you may be traveling with a third adult (e.g. "girls only trip" with two other friends), then DVC does not have that additional $15 cost per night at the moderates.

 

[dgaston]

While this might be a minor point for many I really appreciate the queen bed in the studios. I know you can request kings in values, and pay more for them at moderates, but I really like being able to sleep with DH in a queen. We end up in separate beds if they're doubles.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Let me just say your experience would be RICHER in a DVC unit!!!



Once you get over the cost, DVC is priceless!!

Good Luck !

 

[sjdisneywedding]

From what you are saying, it sounds like you are very happy staying at the moderates. DVC does tie you to Disney somewhat, so the way you do things now allows you the flexibility of not going to Disney for a few years. With DVC you can roll points, but you are tied to going every other year. I am not sure about the other options (points at non-disney resorts), but in reviewing them quickly, you dont get as much value as using them at Disney.

We really like the 1 bedroom, and we usually do breakfast and lunch in our room which saves us money. Ultimately, if you like the moderates (I do too), I am not sure DVC will do that much for you. Take a tour next time you are at WDW. I know the 1 Bedroom certainly makes for a more relaxing and enjoyable vacation. With a young daughter, we are usually back to the room by 9 at night. Having the one bedroom allows us to put her to sleep and stay up without disturbing her. A minor point, but I also really enjoy the space, having a kitchen, jacuzzi etc... These are extra's, and not necessary, but make our vacations a little more special.

keep in mind you realistically could limit WDW trips to once every 3 years, not just every other year

AND there are 2 offsite resorts already built, a 3rd already announced in Hawaii, one under constrcution at DL, as well as several other rumors of others in the future.

as stated throughout the thread there are alot of personal considerations to evaluate, but most certainly some current moderate resort stayers can absolutely benefit from buying into dvc

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Hmmm....I'm having a hard time seeing the advantage of a studio over a moderate...other than the microwave oven. Seems to me the biggest advantages are in the resorts themselves rather than the accomodation. Proximity to a park or DTD...however POR has similar proximity to DTD as OKW and SSR just not quite as close. Park proximity can't be beat.

I just sold my DVC after having it for about 6 years. What I found (for myself) is that VWL and BCV had specific advantages but the others weren't significantly better than the moderates...and in fact had some disadvantages. The moderates have better casual dining (obviously a personal opinion). Now this is comparing studios to motel rooms.

If you have four to a room then DVC definitely comes out ahead. There is some place to go to get away from each other altho' that's a little harder to achieve at OKW and SSR.

If the time comes and I can consider buying DVC again I'll considerate but odds are I'll choose to go with hotel/motel (disclosure: I have an offsite timeshare so the kitchen facilities don't excite me with DVC).

 

[mule714]

With DVC you certainly have flexibility. My wife and I have stayed in Studios, Grand Floridian, etc. while we always get a 1br or 2br with the kids. It gives them much more space (as well as the parents) which is greatly needed during the stays. Getting two hotel rooms just wouldn't seem fun, in fact more of a hassle.

You can always rent your points and take a vacation elsewhere. One year we rented half our points which paid for a luxurious beach house on the Southern Outer Banks and were still able to squeeze in a 5 nite vacation at WDW.

If you think you might want to visit Disney every year or 18 months I can't imagine NOT having DVC. It truly does have a home away from home feeling. Even the 7 yr old tells us she wants to go "home" when she's had too much of the parks.

 

[Chester's Mum]

Can you imagine trying to take 7 kids to restaurants for every meal?? Seriously, the kitchen makes DVC great for us.

Did you say 7? I'm just trying to figure out the cost of park tickets alone! Imagine the holidays when they all grow up and marry and have kids of their own! I assume you have a big house...filled with lots of

 

[shellbelle1971]

Did you say 7? I'm just trying to figure out the cost of park tickets alone! Imagine the holidays when they all grow up and marry and have kids of their own! I assume you have a big house...filled with lots of

Yep, 7. DH and I keep APs because we go 5-7x per year; we usually only take 2 trips with the kids, so we usually buy them 10-day waterpark fun & more, never expire park hoppers from undercover tourist. On a typical "everybody here" trip we'll use 2 theme park admission days, 1 waterpark or disneyquest day, and one separate "party" ticket (MNSSHP, MVMCP, Pirate & Princess), so those passes last 5 trips. Our 2 youngest are only 1 year and 2 years, so we don't have to buy them passes yet either.

Our next trip Naomi will be 3, so we'll have to buy her a pass...if only they could stay little forever

DH always says having so many kids is an expensive hobby, but really fun!

P.S. DH also has told all the kids that when they turn 18 they have to buy their own DVC points (as well as move out of the house, get a job, pay for their own college, etc.) DD12 has two savings funds. One for college and the other for DVC. She told me the other day that she's saved enough for one semester tuition at BYU AND 10 DVC points. I checked her math, and she was right!

 

[Pennyguy23]

Just to play a little bit of the devil's advocate here...If you are only looking at studio stays, I'm not so sure DVC is the best deal. DVC works best when utilizing the WHOLE program, and that can only be done with a the typical timeshare amenities and enough points to use ALL the options. If my goal was to stay in a hotel type room for less, I'd probably do the values. That, however, is NOT my goal. I like the full kitchen, jacuzzi, in room laundry and extra space too much. If I didn't want those things, there would be no real reason to own DVC. It's kind of like why we own most of our points at OKW. We LOVE the extra space there, and feel the smaller accommodations at BWV, BCV, VWL, and SSR cramp our style. Now we did buy a small add on at AKV to use every 3 years with banking and borrowing, but the unit size was not the dominant factor there....the animals were.

I couldn't disagree more. (This is what I would write to the Devils advocate here) This really doesn't make alot of sense for everyone. We stay in studio because that is all the two of us need. We don't cook on vacation. We have a king bed, jacuzzi at home. We don't have kids yet. We are still young, so when the time comes we will get a 1 br. Why would someone stay in a 1br if they liked studios and that way they could go twice as long or twice as many times. We stayed at a value once and that will be the only time. Really can't compare a studio dvc to a value room. DVC is still a GREAT deal if you only stay in studio, Its actually a better deal. You get more out of it.

 

[dmoore22]

So far we have been quite happy with our DVC. If only we had known about it sooner! Alas, we purchased resale and got quite a deal that included banked points and an overseas seller that covered our first years fees. We have six kids and found DVC works better for the larger family. It's not just Disney World but the ability to use points for Adventures by Disney or the World Passport Collection just to name a few. Discounted AP, tickets, and dining (in conjunction with AP discounts and the Disney Dining Experience) also goes a long way to help "rationalize" the expense.

 

[HGD24]

We've stayed at mods, values and deluxes. My fav resort of all is POR, both FQ & Riverside. We choose to purchase into DVC because we know we will have children soon and we've already become accustomed to staying in hotels that offer suites so the extra room that DVC rooms provides is something that we will really enjoy. Plus, we have plenty of family and friends who enjoy Disney and it's nice to be able to allow them to experience DVC and stay at a deluxe resort without paying deluxe prices. This year, we didn't use our DVC points to stay, we opted instead to stay at AKL on cash. Family and friends who are using our points instead and we're still getting to experience the different resorts that Disney has to offer.

We did not sit down and try to figure out the costs of a cash ressie 20 years from now, instead, we looked at our vacation style, likes, dislikes and whether or not we would get use out of it. It's been great and we have no regrets!