DVC - Why DIDN'T you buy into it??

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi!

I am seriously considering buying into BLT through the DVC, and I am trying to weigh up the pros and cons in my head. (I know there is a DVC section, but obviously most people on that board are DVC members - so I was wanting to hear from those who aren't)

For those of you, like me, who have previously considered DVC and ruled it out - Why did you decide NOT to take the plunge???

I think I am swaying towards going ahead, but I have mentioned it to my mum today and she isn't so convinced (although in fairness she doesn't really know a lot about it and is just concerned about the cost) - but her opinion is making me doubt myself!!

Any advice would be much appreicated!!

 

[oceanscape]

Four main reasons for me:

1. The exchange rate (no way would I pay with the current rubbish rate when I could have got $2:£1 this time last year).

2. We usually travel during the summer holidays, and Disney have had some truly excellent deals the past couple years (free dining/42% off at SSR and OKW/14 day tickets for price of 7) - if you travel when these deals are on DVC just isn't worth it when you consider you don't only have the huge initial outlay but also the annual dues on top. We like the 2 bedroom (and bigger) units too, and these are highly point-expensive.

3. Renting points can be very economical. At just $10/point there are big savings to be made.

4. We like many of the deluxe MK resorts and for these using points is not economical at all. Although now BLT has been built this might be less of a problem

I think the most significant point is #1 - if the exchange rate went back up to $2 then we'd probably buy. Also, if you only travel outside of the "deal season" then DVC might be a better option, but our kids are getting older and there's no way I will take them out of school. This year we're going at New Year, but it's a one-off just to experience WDW during the Christmas season. I know I'd be annoyed if I was a DVC member visiting over August when other people are staying in the same resorts and getting HUGE discounts and free dining. It's a shame Disney don't extend free dining to DVC members.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Amy,

Not sure if I can give any direct advice, but it is a good question and as we did contemplate buying DVC one that I can respond to.

We had a full tour around Saratoga Springs Resort and did lots of research on costs etc but ultimately a few reasons why we didn't buy.

1. Having been so many times to Florida we feel if buying DVC was an option we should have done so a long time ago.
2. With Joshua's autism we weren't sure , and to a degree still aren't, of how many more times we could go.
3. Linked to 2, when me and Julie decide (or if we decide) that we no longer want to go back or are too old to!....it's impossible to see Joshua enjoying holiday's over there without us. There is no chance of him every getting married I am afraid or even having a girlfriend. So long-term ownership is a problem.
4. We have only ever stayed at DVC once before, Boardwalk in 2006, and to be honest we weren't that impressed with the quality of the decor in the room - it kind of put us off.
5. Didn't really see DVC as necessarily a cost saving, what with the annual dues (you could link this to 4. too I suppose, as we assumed maintainence costs paid = upkeep of the rooms).
6. Joshua is so much happier in a rented off-site villa and always will be.
7. I suppose because of 6. we haven't really considered on site stays as often as many would do.
8. Limited to visiting in the holiday periods when points rates are higher.

Not sure if this helps, but these are our main reasons.

Would definitely consider renting points for future holidays , or staying at a Deluxe hotel - just for a few days though.

 

[Goofyish]

We wish we had bought into DVC around the time of our first trip in 1997 because we had a some free capital then (left in my Dad's will), but unfortunately we didn't even know DVC existed then

I think if you can afford to go back to WDW either every year or every 2 years then investing in DVC makes good sense expecially if you can go outside school holidays to take advantage of cheaper flights.

For us at the moment it wouldn't really help as even with DVC taking care of the accommodation costs, we would still struggle to cover the airfares (have to go during school holidays), spending money, food (if not on free DDP), park tickets and the annual DVC dues to go often enough.

 

[jen_uk]

If we hadn't bought into DVC there would be no way we could go every year like we do as prices have risen so much.

 

[wayneg]

If you want onsite every trip its something you have to cost out and see if its worth it to you.
Personally I won't commit to anything, I like looking year after year for offers, deals and misprices. Like the free DDP this year, £91/night at OKW with DDP for 3 of us, how does that compare to buying DVC? I thought it was a one off year but now its back again next year, how many more years?
As said exchange rate is against you now.
Obviously works for some but its not for us.

 

[tony64]

We did look into it a few years back but it was too expensive for us.
£8500 for 150 points at Saratoga Springs.

We did buy into timeshare; we have a 2 bed sleeps 8 condo at Sheraton Vistana and it was only £3500 which was DW inheritance when her nan died.
DVC is for, I think 50 years, Sheraton Vistana is forever so we can pass it on to the kids to argue over.
We have joined RCI and it works very well for us.

PM me if you want any more details.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks every one for their honest opinions!!

I am still undecided - a few years ago friends bought at Saratoga and I was sorely tempted, but at that time it was my heart talking and thinking about the 'dream' of owning at Disney! - But financially I couldn't see that it made sense for us, so didn't do it.

Now with the arrival of BLT, I am very tempted again. We are planning to go to WDW every other year for the foreseeable future (and having done a variety of hotels onsite/offsite & villas over the years, we now know that realistically we will probably be staying in deluxe onsite hotels from now on). Next year alone our 12 days onsite accomodation alone will cost £4000, and I am wondering whether for us it would make more sense to purchase DVC??

I admit to loving the MK view rooms at the Poly, and the MK view rooms at BLT look fantastic!!! But then I look at the exchange rate and the annual dues and wonder whether it is all too extravagant.

I guess I am going to have to do some real number crunching and see where that leaves me!!

Thanks once again for your replies - as ever you are a great help!!

 

[gemmybear83]

I have looked into it - but would not seriously consider it until the exchange picks up. As much as I love our disney holidays there is so much of the world we want to see we dont want to be tied down (I know you can exchange them for outside wdw but its seems restrictive to me).

 

[Elise79]

We have just bought - but it is the second time we have looked at it.

First time we looked was in 2006 when they were selling Saratoga Springs. We really liked the rooms etc and could see the financial sense in it. However at that time none of the resorts really appealled enough and as a couple we were happy staying at CSR.

Fast forward to March 2009 and we take Chloe for her first trip at 9mths old. We stayed at CSR again as we knew it well and liked it. What we soon discovered was we were spending a larger proportion of our time at MK and she always seemed to fall asleep while we were waiting for a bus This meant that I generally woke her up getting her out of the stroller to get her on the bus. We then decided we wanted to stay on the monorail on future.

We then went over to SSR and redid the tour to see the model rooms and get the latest financial info.

We want to go at least once a year and preferably twice. We wanted to stay at the Contemporary (for the walkway to MK) so buying BLT made perfect sense. The deals aren't always going to be around like this year as when the economy picks up it will be back to the old type package deals of free hopper option on your passes etc. Free dining might be around a bit longer but once DD starts school I am not going to pulling her out in September (October probably but not September )

We also like that as Chloe gets older we can add more points and stay in bigger units.

It makes sense to buy if you will be going at least every other year and want to stay onsite in a deluxe. But beware there are some differences between a normal stay and a DVC the main one being no daily housekeeping but you can pay for it if it is important to you.

Read everything you can on the DVC boards and have a look at the DVC site (they have 360 room tours on there) and see if it is the right fit for your family.

 

[jen_uk]

If you plan on staying onsite every year in a deluxe then I would say defintely go for it. We stayed last year at BCV and this year we are staying at AKV, there is no way we would have afforded that without DVC, as it is this years 17 night stay has cost about £2000 which is for flights, car, tickets etc

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

There are larger more luxurious timeshare units available outside DVC with the ability to exchange both inbto DVC and other places around the world at a much cheaper cost option than DVC, both in terms of intial costs and maintenance fees, plust outright ownership compared to a set time limit.

There are Timeshare units close to Disney, Orange Lake, Sheraton Vistana, HGV, etc etc with more facilities and still great access to Disney world.

 

[wideeyes]

£4000 is a good chunk towards DVC, which is what made me buy as the cost to stay at the deluxes I wanted to stay at was coming out at £3000 for just on accommodation.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

£4000 is a good chunk towards DVC, which is what made me buy as the cost to stay at the deluxes I wanted to stay at was coming out at £3000 for just on accommodation.

That would get you two weeks resale at another timeshare.
Never buy from the developer, always use a reseller (reputable one!)

 

[Pootle]

I know you only wanted the views of those who didn't buy in, so I hope you'll forgive my twopence worth

The current cost of points (unless bought resale) and the exchange rate would make me reluctant to recommend it to anyone who was unsure at the moment.

I've loved my 13 years of membership and if my points were worth nothing tomorrow, I would feel that I've had my money's worth. It's also part of my retirement planning so I hope to keep using them for many years to come .

It's a big financial commitment - we paid cash and were financially secure by 1996 and knew that we would always enjoy visiting Florida with or without visiting the parks (and we visit other parts of the world too). I just happen to like staying on Disney property in the larger accommodations (but would not have paid their prices before joining DVC wayneg ) and regarded it as a bit like buying from M&S at a time when the reputation of timeshares here in the UK was in the gutter.

My advice would be to wait until you are totally sure; I know there are always those who say you won't regret it, but some people do.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

once again - thank you to everyone's comments, you are ALL really helping me to make an informed decision (rather than me going with just my heart!!)

Does anyone know where I can see a chart of how many points it takes to stay at each resort at different times of the year and in different accomodation?? (I saw a chart in my friends BLT brochure, but that was just for one resort and I want a get a feel for what I could get for the points I could afford)

thanks again!!

 

[wickesy]

You can see all the points charts here Amy.

 

[jackieleanne]

Hi Amy if you go over to the DVC website you can request information from a guide and they will send out a pack via fed ex mine came in about a week. Me and Jonathan have been considering this since before we went last year didn't buy at time as I am still currently studying finish my exams in two weeks and also Jonathan hadn't been before so wasn't sure how he liked it.

We have started doing our sums now and worked out a cost chart ill see if I can fish something out and send it to you, the main reason we are thinking of buying is we will be looking to go at least every other year and as we are still in our 20's (I'm only 21) that should add up to lots of holidays including our honeymoon which looking at where I wanted to stay without DVC would cost £4000-£5000 With me it makes sense that we should buy as well because not only do we plan to go every other year but also my parents love Disney to and usually go themselves every other year.

Really look into it seriously and I recommend the DVC boards and the DVC website you can even do the tours online now.

 

[tracipierce]

hmmm got me thinking about this now!!! Am i right in thinking that I could buy resale points for somewhere like Hilton Head whose points are cheaper to buy, but then stay at any other DVC resort I wanted to?

 

[amystevekai&bump]

You can see all the points charts here Amy.

thanks ever so much - i'll check that out!!

Hi Amy if you go over to the DVC website you can request information from a guide and they will send out a pack via fed ex mine came in about a week. Me and Jonathan have been considering this since before we went last year didn't buy at time as I am still currently studying finish my exams in two weeks and also Jonathan hadn't been before so wasn't sure how he liked it.

We have started doing our sums now and worked out a cost chart ill see if I can fish something out and send it to you, the main reason we are thinking of buying is we will be looking to go at least every other year and as we are still in our 20's (I'm only 21) that should add up to lots of holidays including our honeymoon which looking at where I wanted to stay without DVC would cost £4000-£5000 With me it makes sense that we should buy as well because not only do we plan to go every other year but also my parents love Disney to and usually go themselves every other year.

Really look into it seriously and I recommend the DVC boards and the DVC website you can even do the tours online now.

Thanks for this!! I'll see if I can get a pack requested, and if you are able to send me any info - that would be fantastic too!!