DVC worth or not?

[tinksgilrs251520]

I was just wondering what is the cost to join the DVC? and is it worth it

 

[delmar411]

There is a DVC forum at the bottom of the main boards listings where you'll get better answers to your question. As to price, it varies to which resort, how many points, incentives, if you have cash on hand or have to finance and so on.

 

[Minnie824]

Definitely go look at the DVC boards! But I would have to say for us, yes, definitely worth it! There are so many resorts you can choose as your 'home' resort. If you buy new, its around $112 per point. If you buy a resale, the range of cost per point varies but it is normally less. The number of points you need, will depend on how often you go and what size room you'd like. There are lists of point charts at the DVC boards as well.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are comparing DVC with a typical time share condo, keep in mind that DVC is not "forever". After so many years (something like 30) it "all ends".

Not sure whether you can extend it for a fee over and above the normal annual fee.

So when sizing up the cost of "buying it new" versus "buying a resale", you need to take into account how many years remain.

The technical term is "right to use" as opposed to "fee simple" (you own it).

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[aidtrismommy]

Maybe try renting points first to get a feel for how it all works and then go from there. We will just rent points, we do every year and love it. We don't find that owning a DVC will change things too much.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If you currently stay in Deluxes, maybe. If you prefer moderates or values - not even close unless you have a very large family. Just the annual fees cost more than a week stay in a value resort, to say nothing of the huge cost of the "purchase". And Disney props up the prices, so you can't even take advantage of the current economy to buy points inexpensively.

As a family of four that can afford DVC - we found it to be a very poor "investment" and chose to continue booking different resorts each trip. But, as others have suggested, check out the DVC board...

 

[El&Asmom]

You will find a lot of info on the DVC boards. The answer to your question is "maybe". DVC is right for a lot of people who like deluxe resorts and travel at least every 2-3 years to Disney. If you are a value or off site person it probably won't save you money at least not for a very long time.
Mousesavers has a good bit of info on DVC and whether or not it is right for you.
http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html#dvc

We love our DVC. It definitely isn't much of a money saver, as now we go more frequently than we would have without DVC and we're only saving on our resort stays. We still have to buy passes, transportation, food, and extras.
In the end it is still definitely worth it for us. Especially with three kids. Separate bedrooms are wonderful on vacation.

 

[shellybaxter]

Whether DVC is "worth it" or not is completly up to the individual. We didn't even do a comparison with money when we bought our points. We love the DVC rooms. We love that we know Disney will be a regular part of our lives for years and years to come (I believe our was either 47 or 54?? - certainly more than 30). When we bought in we thought we would tack extra days onto our DVC stays at regular disney hotels. We like the DVC rooms so well we just bought "add on" point so we don't have to stay at a regular Disney hotel. We love having a King bed without requesting. We LOVE the ability to do laundry in our room. (I was not sold on doing laundry while on vacation until I realized how much easier it is to pack) We LOVE having a spa soaking tub - a must at disney with all the walking.

There are lots of financial reasons to consider when buying DVC but they weren't the reasons we decided to buy. However, having DVC does save us money because we always stayed in deluxe hotels. I also LOVE not having to hunt for discount codes - I hate that whole process

 

[MK032197]

We have been in DVC since 1998 and absolutley love it. Without question it was a great decision for our family. We love the DVC resorts, our favorites being BW, BC and WL and will be chekcing out the BLT in September. DVC allows us to stay at these wonderful resorts which we most likely would not be able to afford otherwise and also has allowed us great flexibilty in planning trips. We are using DVC points for a Disney crusie in January 2010--can't wait!!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I believe that you don't buy a DVC for an investment of financial but an investment in your family. I bought because our DS is SN and makes great progress when we come back from Disney. I also love Disney and I feel like an escape from the real world at times and Disney offers that escape.

DVC rooms are huge! I love the full kitchens, laundry room and wonderful bathrooms. The porch area at OKW is big enough for a large family.

We use to go all the time and used up a lot of points but after 4 years we are doing longer trips and only going 2 times a year. I am banking points now.

I still book rooms for FD but combine the trip with ending at a DVC. Best of both worlds.

Yes for the joy it is a great investment. Financially nothing could be worse other than a car.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We Love our DVC. We have enough points to stay for 3 weeks and 1 weekend (for a two week and a one week stay). We figure that, over the life of our contract (ours runs until 2052), and, if we continue to use it like we do, we will end up paying about $70 a night for staying at a very nice hotel. It comes out cheaper than the value resorts, without all the waiting around to crowd on a bus. We also have access to the resort on Hilton Head (its about 30 miles from home and a great quick get away for us), Vero Beach, and other vacations.

It's a great deal if you use it like we do. Otherwise, not. I think it comes down to a love it or hate it thing.

 

[jworkkul]

I just love my DVC. I live about 20 minutes away from the parks and everyone I know asked me why I spent the money in buying a "time share" with Disney when I live only 20 minutes away. My answer was that when I go to Disney, I want to feel like I'm on vacation and owning a bit of property there allows me to go anytime I like. Sometimes I take a long weekend and just spend it there without any intention at all in going to the parks. I am an annual pass holder and if I want to partake in the parks, I can also. When I bought my shares it will expire in 52 years. I will probably be long gone by then but my daughter (who is 26) is on the deed and she will have it for her family.

 

[december14disney]

Depends on the person. I love ours so much! We have 160 points. We are staying in a studio for 5 nights in April and 7 nights in Sept/Oct this year on developer points. We banked our AKV points into next year. Next year for our honeymoon we are staying for about a week in a concierge studio and going on a 6 day "double dip cruise" through the banked and borrowing some. Thats almost a 2 week honeymoon for just what we pay in dues. 2011 we might only go for a long weekend as for our 1 year anniversary we are going to Europe and we are borrowing most of the 2011 points. But then our points are back to "normal" in 2012 and we start the planning all over again. Its incredibly flexible and fun. And as our vacation changes from a few times in a studio to maybe one long trip in a 1 bedroom a year when we have kids...we can work with that. I love our DVC...I wish we bought earlier.

 

[december14disney]

I forgot to mention we are also staying for 3 nights for marathon weekend 2010 on points and running the half marathon! Thats a lot of vacations.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the DVC-Mousecellaneous board.

 

[andrews_dad]

No doubt that a bargin hunter could do things CHEAPER than DVC ... but it might be BETTER via DVC with the rooms size and amentities. As a rule, the timeshare industry has hit the bricks in this economy. Check sites like Ebay and Redweek and you'll find folks trying to dump their timeshare for a penny just to avoid the annual maintanence fees. The exception to that rule seems to be the DVC, though. Those rooms are still in demand across the board.

 

[OurDogCisco]

In my opinion... timesharing isn't an investment. I wouldn't expect it to save you money because you can always find cheaper deals out there. Timesharing is a lifestyle for us. We haven't step foot in a hotel for week long vacations in over 10 years. We enjoy timesharing with all the amenties it has to offer. Recently, we spent 3 nights in hotel to extend out WDW vacation and it was hard dealing with one bathroom & one TV and no washer/dryer. We are definitely spoiled now. I look at timesharing as prepaying for your vacations. When our 1st born came along, we would dream or talk about planning a trip and then, by time we finally sat down to organize the trip either the airfare would be too expensive, or the rooms would all be booked, etc.. It just never worked out. So, now, 10 years later we go on at least 4 week long trips together. We are always going to new and exciting places. As a family it is great to reconnect on vacation without all the other things going on in life like work, school, activities, afterschool sports, PTA meetings, volunteer meetings, etc... We just enjoy our lives so much more because of timesharing.

It is not an investment like owning a cabin in the mountains or beach house, etc...

 

[kmaach]

Your investment won't appreciate but your kids will "appreaciate" it we you turn this over to them in your will. Just paying maintenance fees will be great for them. I just signed up for 270 points and was nervous.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2137102

This thread has a full break down of the costs and savings that DVC will provide.

In short: You will save money with DVC if you go to Disney every year or every other year.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2137102

This thread has a full break down of the costs and savings that DVC will provide.

In short: You will save money with DVC if you go to Disney every year or every other year.

Hi YourEveryDayAdam, I have read your posts and sorry if I am a whole dumb, but I don´t really understand how you compare rack rates (wich include park tickets) with just the stay (DVC).

I guess you must add the cost of the tickets (yearly) to the DVC cost + the dues..... or just subtract it from the total of savings...... or, .............. well I really am a dumb...