DVC Worth It?

[smplenfree]

I was ready to go ahead and buy a DVC from Disney. Then I saw the Timeshare Store and how much cheaper it would be. Looking at 250 points, then saw that the maintenance fees would be around $1000. Can someone tell me why they think it is worth it to buy the DVC and then pay that much in maintenance each year? Also, why buy from Disney when it is so much cheaper to buy resale?

Thanks

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by smplenfree
I was ready to go ahead and buy a DVC from Disney. Then I saw the Timeshare Store and how much cheaper it would be. Looking at 250 points, then saw that the maintenance fees would be around $1000. Can someone tell me why they think it is worth it to buy the DVC and then pay that much in maintenance each year? Also, why buy from Disney when it is so much cheaper to buy resale?

Thanks

See this thread I think it'll give you a good range of views.

 

[Disney Doll]

Buying directly from Disney is more expensive, but it gets some people what they want...location. Disney is currently selling the Beach Club Villas and will probably soon start to sell Saratoga Springs. To the best of my knowledge(and I ceratainly am not the expert, so DISers correct me if I'm wrong so I am not giving out erroneous info). If either of those locations (a Boardwalk location in the case of the BCV and a Downtown Disney location in the case of SS) are important to you, then you will have to buy from Disney, or wait until they sell out their whole inventory of these 2 properties and then have folks who bought them start re-selling them.

The best piece of advice our salesman gave us was buy where you want to stay. DH and I bought at OKW the first time, and we bought from Disney. We bought at OKW again recently, and we bought resale. Basically, we like OKW. If I had to go to WDW and never got to stay anywhere else again but OKW, I'd be happy. I don't realistically think that's going to happen, but if it did, it would be OK with me. We had stayed at BCV, and while I love it, love the location, love the themeing etc, I didn't love it enough to spend $84/point as opposed to the approxiamately $63/point we paid for an OKW resale.

As far as justifying the yearly dues. In the past, when we went to WDW, we'd have to come up with a fairly sizable amount of money to stay in a hotel on property for 7-10 days, since that is the normal length of the trips we take there. We stayed at a moderate or above, in terms of level of service. We can't stay at the All-Stars, mainly because of the double bed situation. My DH is 6'3" and I am not "petite", so a double bed is out of the question for us. Plus, on vacation, we like to "live it up" a bit. The way we figured it, a moderate at $99/night (and that's provided you get a $99/night rate, which we all know doesn't always happen) means that we'd have to come up with $990 for our room, for a fairly basic hotel room, nicely themed, but still fairly basic.

With the DVC, $1000 gets us a much nicer room, with at least a kitchenette or better...basically the yearly dues (once your initial loan is paid off) buys you nicer accomodations for the same amount of money you'd pay to rent a hotel room.

It all depends on how you like to travel. Some folks are happy with bare bones travelling, and that's OK. Then the DVC is not right for you, because you can stay elsewhere in the Orlando area for much less money. DH and I like our vacations to be a little more special than our regular life, we like to stay in a nicer room, eat out etc. That's why DVC works for us.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

DVC Worth It? Yep.

 

[jimmytammy]

I have used this particular real scenario with other posts, simply because I can relate to it: its mine. Here goes.

We have 220 pts. which costs us with dues this year $254 a month. 254 x 12 mos. = $3048. Our home resort is VWL.

Our next trip is Dec2-9 03. It will be 280 pts( we are using 140 current pts plus 140 banked pts, although that is irrevalent). We will be staying in a 2 bedroom.

According to Birnbaums, a 2 bedroom at VWL would cost $535 per night that exact same time. 535 x 7 nights = $3745.

That is a difference of $697 back in my pocket, the way I see it.
Bear in mind that even with fluctuating costs in dues( some years lower, some years higher) you will still be able to use the same amount of pts, they cant change those.

Some will argue this way of figuring is not accurate BUT it works for me. Money doesnt know the difference IMO.

I hope this helps in some small way. Know this: Disney will continue to raise its prices each year, but DVC will Remain The Same. As for purchasing direct or from timeshare, if you can get a good deal from aftermarket and dont need financing, go for it. You still have maint. fees each year. At any rate Good Luck and hope to be welcoming you home soon!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

As someone who has purchased direct from Disney 4 times, I can tell you that it came down to financing for us. On each contract we wanted to spread the required payment out for 10 years, so that if things got tight at Christmas, I would not have to make my usual double payments. Resales typically require you to find your own financing. A second, and possibly just as important feature, is that you always get a current year's points, and all my contracts were purchased close to my use year (I bought in Oct. when I was purchasing a Feb. use year). This gave me double the points that first year. Last, you can usually make reservations within days of when they receive your papers. I now own 700 points, and I am so glad I joined! It is probably about the only timeshare where your original investment increases in value. My first contract cost me $54 a point, I could sell at $70 easily, so that my investment increased in value, and all my hotel stays were just the cost of maintenance fees. In other words, if I stayed Sunday-Thursday in a studio, I would be paying $48 per night. You can't even get a junky sparten hotel room off-property for that, let alone a luxurious one on-property. On top of that my investment has made a profit of $2400! Can you name one investment that delivers the same?

 

[crisi]

Resales are often cheaper - but by the time you pay closing costs and figure in the costs of borrowed points, the value may be more of a wash.

Disney is faster and more predictable. Your sales guide will help you get reservations before closing. With a resale, you could close in a few weeks, or it could take three months - and you won't be able to make a reservation until about 2-5 business days after closing.

Disney is selling BCV and will soon be selling Saratoga Springs. There are few BCV resales availalble and if that is your resort of choice, Disney is your best bet. However, if you want a different onsite resort, you will need to be resale.

Disney will arrange financing. Resales are generally finance yourself - which is often a better deal anyway.

As to maintenence fees, figure what $1000 a year is getting you in terms of accomodations, and then decide for yourself if its a bargain. Our next trip will be about $280 points at $4 a point in maintenance fees -- $1120. For a little over $1000, we will stay in a two bedroom villa for a week. Last year, we booked two rooms at Wilderness Lodge for a week, the total was over $3000.

 

[DVCPAT]

After our first vacation to a Disney deluxe resort, we stopped by the DVC model at the Boardwalk. It was a Sunday and after looking at the rooms, there was no turning back. We bought in that day and on the drive home, my wife and I questioned If we made the right decision .

We have been 110% satisfied with our decision. The only thing I would do differently is buy a resale (I did not know it was possible at that time) and buy smaller 150 point contracts. On the resale market, They seem to sell quicker and at a higher price.

Although DVC is considered an investment for future vacations, it's great to see it appreciate in value. We have past our investment break even point so dues is our only resort expense. It's great to check out of a deluxe resort and not be handed a bill !

 

[kayshusband]

I have been a member since 1996. I now have 520 points. The first 300 points were bought from Disney. The last 210 from the Timeshare store.When I first purchased, it cost $60 a point. When i purchased the last 210 , the going rate was $75 a point. I bought at $65 a point. That should answer your question. I would go with the Timeshare Store.Also, in order to keep maintenance costs down, I would try for the OKW resort. It was the first Vacation Club and I personally think that it is the best.It is the only one where yo can drive right up to your unit. and it has 3 pools and is spread out.

The maintenence costs at OKW is $3.15 a point vs almost $4.00 a point at the Beach Club. The reason is that Disney cannot raise their maintence cost once it has been established.(although my friend told me that the most thatbthey could raise the cost is 15%) but that has never happened in the 7 yrs since I am a member.Also, the points that you use are less.For ex. a studio in Sept or Jan is 8pts a night vs 12 pts a night at Wilderness.You get more bang for you points....Finally is it worth it? I have been to Disney 8 times and am going on my 2nd cruise and it has not cost me anything.(PS. one night at the Polynesian costs close to $300 for a HOTEL room.)

 

[dmoore22]

For us it was the math. I'm a good Irish Catholic with a tribe of kids so, when I calculated the cost of traveling to WDW for the next three years with my family of eight, even with the DC discount, I realized that I could have purchased a DVC membership for a little less (resale) than the cost of accomdations. After three years the maintenance becomes a bargain plus an additional deduction (property taxes) on my income tax. Wow! I can deduct part of my vacation. After the kids are gone look out Europe!