DVC vs. regular stays?

[DJ Disney Kid]

Just curious, Im a single male in my late 20's. I've gone to Disney almost 10 times now and I always stay on property. As you can see in my sig, I've started going numerous times a year, but I usually end up splitting the costs of the room with whoever else is going, so Im never paying the full cost for the weeks stay. Is DVC something I should consider or is it more of a family oriented purchase? I have an AP and my airfare isn't going to change, so it seems that its the cost of DVC vs. the cost of what I'd spend on rooms in a year. Can someone give me a little info. on how DVC would be effective or ineffective in my situation? Thanks!

 

[chalee94]

if you go to wdw at least every other year and don't mind paying a premium to stay on-site, then you should take a hard look at DVC.

if you have the flexibility to use points mostly during the week, as opposed to weekends, you can definitely save a great deal staying in studios.

also, a current perk allows DVC members to get $100 off an AP, if that's appealing.

 

[SSRFred]

Forget about it being a family oriented purchase. It's a Disney oriented purchase. It is a commitment to paying for a Disney trip on a yearly basis. There is some flexibility regarding when and where but that's not the point. If you are willing and able to make that commitment, DVC is one of the more cost effective ways of staying on property in better rooms.
Lets say you want to stay in a studio, any time of the year (Subject to availability, the system doesn't work well for trips not planned in advance), the initial cost would be around $16,000 for a week or more worth of points.

You can get about 4.5% tax free on you 16K currently. A years worth of interest is around $720. Maintenance Fees on 160pts are about $750. Let's just call it $1500. For that yearly "cost" plus your commitment of $16000, you get to stay in a room with a current rack rate of about $2100 for the week.

If you don't currently spend $1500 a week, DVC will cost you more. If you need to borrow the money, DVC will cost you much more.

In my case, I'm spending less than I did before. The most significant compromise for me has been the loss of daily housekeeping and the reduced availability of rooms. Others will have different experiences, learn from all of them and make the decision that's best for you. Good Luck.

 

[fletch1027]

also, a current perk allows DVC members to get $100 off an AP, if that's appealing.

Where can I find out more info about this?

 

[linzbear]

What you could also do is get DVC, and then charge whomever you stay with $2-3/point to stay with you, or some discount on what they usually pay (like you usually do) - they'll get a deal, and you'll be able to buy food with the extra money.

But definitely don't think it's just for families - we're currently DINKs and have DVC, and my inlaws have it, too (and they're empty nesters).

 

[chalee94]

i should have added that it helps a lot to be able to book the reservation at least 8-9 months in advance.

but don't get hung up on the $16,000 number. research the DVC resorts to decide which you prefer (AKV? VWL?) and then use the point chart link in the top right corner of the screen to figure how many pts you would tend to use a year...and if you need fewer than 160 pts a year, you can still shop for a resale contract that fits your preferences (although if you prefer AKV, resale contracts there may be harder to find in the next year or so, since it is so new.)

Where can I find out more info about this?

basic info about the DVC AP discount