DVC worthwhile?

[vicki_c]

That is fall free dining. The lastest round of free dining which I think is this December and into 2011 requires a 5 day ticket for everyone on the reservation. I'm sure that will be the new deal. Last year was 1 day, this fall 2, now 5. The discounts are effectively being cut back which makes DVC more attractive.

Respectfully, that is not correct. I even had a prior discussion with this with Mary @ Mousesavers when it first came out and she corrected her page to reflect the correct requirements which are:

October 2010 - September 2011 FREE Dining Package

You can get FREE dining when you book a full price 3-night or longer 2010 or 2011 Magic Your Way vacation package for stays most nights 10/1/10 - 10/7/10, 10/22/10 - 10/28/10, 11/12/10 - 11/18/10, 11/27/10 -12/2/10, 12/10/10 - 12/21/10, 1/1/11 - 1/5/11, 1/9/11 - 1/13/11, 1/21/11 - 2/3/11, 2/11/11 - 2/17/11, 2/25/11 - 3/3/11, 5/27/11 - 6/2/11 and 8/19/11 - 9/29/11.

To qualify, you must purchase a vacation package that includes at least 3 consecutive hotel nights at an official Walt Disney World resort, plus at least a 2-day Base Ticket.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Respectfully, that is not correct. I even had a prior discussion with this with Mary @ Mousesavers when it first came out and she corrected her page to reflect the correct requirements which are:

October 2010 - September 2011 FREE Dining Package

You can get FREE dining when you book a full price 3-night or longer 2010 or 2011 Magic Your Way vacation package for stays most nights 10/1/10 - 10/7/10, 10/22/10 - 10/28/10, 11/12/10 - 11/18/10, 11/27/10 -12/2/10, 12/10/10 - 12/21/10, 1/1/11 - 1/5/11, 1/9/11 - 1/13/11, 1/21/11 - 2/3/11, 2/11/11 - 2/17/11, 2/25/11 - 3/3/11, 5/27/11 - 6/2/11 and 8/19/11 - 9/29/11.

To qualify, you must purchase a vacation package that includes at least 3 consecutive hotel nights at an official Walt Disney World resort, plus at least a 2-day Base Ticket.

This is from the sticky at the top of this page entitled WOW Disney announces free dining:
October 2010 – September 2011

Free Dining Offer!

Valid for stays select nights 10/1/10 – 9/29/11.

Book a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes a 4-night, 5-day stay at a Walt Disney World resort and a 5-day park ticket, and receive the Dining Plan for free!

It is also on the Disney booking site.

 

[vicki_c]

That is an example that Disney uses in their marketing. It is not the minimum required.

I don't want to argue about it anymore. It wasn't relevant to the thread in the first place. Believe mr or not. It just doesn't matter.

This is from the sticky at the top of this page entitled WOW Disney announces free dining:
October 2010 – September 2011

Free Dining Offer!

Valid for stays select nights 10/1/10 – 9/29/11.

Book a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes a 4-night, 5-day stay at a Walt Disney World resort and a 5-day park ticket, and receive the Dining Plan for free!

It is also on the Disney booking site.

 

[mamian16]

It still is the best thing I ever bought. I use it at east twice a year

 

[nolanboys]

We most definitely will sell the rest of our contracts. We still like going to WDW, but we stopped drinking the Koolade and snorting the pixie dust several years ago. DVC was never an investment. It was just a way to vacation at WDW.

If we hadn't gone to WDW at all, we would have a whole bunch more money in the bank. So while we got lovely accomodations for a lesser price, we could have saved a bunch by not going at all.

Several years ago we were going two, three and four times a year. A couple of years ago we saw all the money we were spending and decided once a year was enough. We often will tie a WDW vacation in with a Gulf Coast beach vacation in South FL. But we probably would be satisfied with just going to the beach and hitting the national parks in the NW and not going to WDW at all. It's been fun, but it's been very expensive.

I can't imagine young families with small children buying in at BLT at the prices they are selling it at now. How do they afford it? Plus tickets, food and transportation to WDW are not cheap.

I can see your point and we are new members. We are a family of 6 and only bought 200 pts resale at SSR. As much as I wanted to buy a larger contract, DH was the voice of reason. We also love going to national parks. Our smaller contract for a larger family allows us an every other year trip. Enough to have fun and keep our costs down. DW is expensive, but the memories are priceless. Resale was a way to keep our costs down and maximaize our points. It's easy for me to get caught up in the magic, so I'm happy that DH, who also loves DW, can keep me grounded.

 

[ToddyLu]

We are thoroughly enjoying our membership. Most here may think we were stupid or had poor financial sense buying direct from Disney and financing. That's OK....no one's business really and it doesn't affect the way others use their membership. It was a viable option for us and we have a long term commitment to WDW. I have a very difficult time talking DH in to going ANYWHERE else. We do not have children so we can use the membership when and how we want without going during school days or holidays.

DVC has allowed a fireman and nurse access to Deluxe accommodations at a world class resort destination. I have been to Europe, NYC, Washington DC, Grand Canyon,etc. We live 2 miles inland from the Gulf Coast--100 miles from Pensacola to the East and 100 miles from New Orleans to the West. DH isn't a fan of the beach. I actually had enough of it growing up here and camping in Florida with my family, which is what my parents could afford. We have access and have had access to a lot locally. While those are wonderful trips and special places to us it just isn't Disney--where we cherish, DH and I, spending our true vacation time together. I think I can convince DH to do a NYC and Vegas trip (he has never been to either)...but even though the experience will be nice, to him it still isn't his Disney trip.

Yep, I have my stand set up and will be selling KoolAid here all day. I have several flavors and it is nice and sugar-y.

 

[jarestel]

is it really financially better to own, or would it be better to just pay as you go. I go every other year. What are thoughts on this?

The main benefit of not owning is the ability to take advantage of Disney specials when they are available and simply not go when the price isn't right. It is really not necessary to be a DVC member in order to save money on Disney trips, but shhh... this is another one of those best-kept secrets.

Of course, the main benefit of being a member, is that it's fun to go to WDW and as a member you have a vested interest in going as much as possible.

I'm still on board the DVC/Disney "love train" but I can certainly understand the reasoning of those who have decided to hop off. Bottom line, only you can decide what's best for you and yours!

Good luck!

 

[stefsko]

i agree

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

IMHO a LOT depends on what you paid for the points.

At over $100 a point, I think it's getting harder to "justify" the expense. Of course the other side of that is that I am fine staying offsite. (I am not paying Disney hotel prices for that quality ) Since I bought the bulk of my points at less then half the "current direct from Disney retail" I think I get a good deal for the quality of the room/location/etc... Would I feel that at $110 A point... probably not! At this point my average cost per night is probably close to a "budget" hotel. At that price point I am getting a deal. Personally I would never say "well I saved x over the cost of a room at the Beach Club" because I didn't... I would NEVER pay that for that hotel. I might be willing to compare the pricing to the Swan/Dolphin or an off site and see how I did, but comparing the "cost" to something I would NEVER pay is just not really good justificaiton IMHO. I mean my car costs over $100,000 less then the Mazzartti, but honestly I didn't save $100,000 did I?

Due to family committments I have to go the Central Florida area at least quarterly anyway so the only real "additional" cost of my trips is an annual pass. For me it's worthwhile, but I will admit I have downsized my "points holding" this year and may drop some additional points next year. More of that is due to a change in jobs which means less vacation. I have never spent "all" of my vacation time at Disney. I have trips to Mexico and Italy planned in the next 12 months for example and am not doing the "Americanized Adventures by Disney" (I think of it as "go to Europe without actually ever having to interact with a European who is not being PAID to talk to you" LOL!) or point exchanges (which are basically impossible IMHO)

 

[TLSnell1981]

I know how ridiculous the rates are for the Poly, THV, BWV and BCV. We book deluxe accommodations at Disney, so I am saving $$$$ with DVC. We've only stayed value (AS) or moderate (CBR) twice..in over 30 years. Both times were with DD's dance team. If only I'd found the DIS earlier, we would have bought sooner.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Does anyone feel their membership in DVC is just not worthwhile any longer? Am I the only person to feel this way? With points not going as far as they used to, member dues up to ridiculous amounts, is it really financially better to own, or would it be better to just pay as you go. I go every other year. What are thoughts on this?

Ridiculous amounts? Mine are still way less than what I was paying with a previous time share and I can get more out of my DVC membership than I could with that one.

I agree that Disneyworld in general is in a bit of decline (but then I keep seeing good signs since Staggs took over as Head of Parks for the company), but that doesn't make mean I think DVC is less valuable than it was.

 

[shalom]

Ridiculous amounts? Mine are still way less than what I was paying with a previous time share and I can get more out of my DVC membership than I could with that one.

I know a lot of people who own DVC as well as other Timeshares, and so far they all say that DVC yearly fees are in line with the average and pretty reasonable for what you get. Timeshare fees go up every year; that's just how it works.

OTOH, I would never argue that DVC is the cheapest route, because it isn't. I can get into DVC with my non-DVC Timeshare for less than a DVC member is paying in yearly dues, even including the RCI transfer fee and the $100 extra Disney demands. Plus I didn't pay anything but transfer fees to purchase my Timeshare (i.e., less than $500 up front).

Then again, I'm in a points system where you have to know what to trade to get DVC, I vacation off-season so I always have multiple DVC choices but I have yet to see BLT available, I'm "at the mercy" of whatever DVC owners choose to deposit, etc. etc. The cheapest way is never the easiest, and it isn't the best for everyone, either.

Still, every unhappy DVC owner I've run across, finances are the major issue. If someone's considering DVC primarily because they think it's the best deal for staying on-site, I'd say don't do it. Unless you're going every year in prime time, there are other, cheaper, options. People who buy DVC knowing it isn't the cheapest route, but also knowing they'll make good use of it and it gives them more options and less risk than the cheaper routes, are usually happy with the purchase or at least don't regret it in the long run. As with any timeshare, the unhappy owners are those not getting good use of it.

 

[awilliams4]

One thing that I don't believe was mentioned was how some people (like us) change their lifestyles after becoming members so they can afford it.

We never go out to eat during the year. Pack our lunch for work daily, do coupons, watch our gas usage, our A/C & Heat setting. We stay home and watch Samantha Brown on our DVR instead of going to the movies and we do all this happily knowing that we are going to have another wonderful trip every 6 months.

Each time Disney gets more expensive, we just do something different in our lifestyles during the year to accommodate it if necessary.

490 DVC points spreadout between BLT and BCV and the $175 per month MF doesn't bother me at all.

We utilize the DVC discount on Annual Passes each year and then try to finegal 3 trips out of those APs. We do mostly table service meals but we usually only order water (and get the water look a lot of times but we have gotten use to it) and then take every last scrap of leftovers with us to eat later.

Our trip in October for a family of 4 will cost $150 in gas (round trip), and about $200 per day in food and other things. We are staying 6 nights so $1,200 in spending all together. I am guessing we are not spending at least $300 if we were back home (food for the week, water, electricity, etc) so our October Trip is going to cost us $1,050 to stay in a 1 Bedroom BCV for 6 nights. Of course we had to pay for our APs in June and our $175 per month in MF but when we go and it only costs $1k out of pocket at that time, it is a great vacation.

 

[Coach81]

We love our DVC.. and we are planning on adding on within the next year or so...

 

[daryle330]

I don't know my self if it is. The points don't go as far. They keep changing them around. Give everyday the same point value. Seems like their making you have to add on points. Also they keep having deals with free meal plans and free gift cards. They need to do more for DVC Members. They offer no real discounts to members. They should give discounts on all park tickets not just annuals. Also a deal on the meal plan.

I love it when i first got it 6 years ago and i still like it, but would like it more if they started offering more deals to Member's.

 

[NancyDVC]

I love my DVC. I have gotten more than my money's worth since I bought.
It is true that I bought very early for what in comparison to today a very good price that included 8 years worth of free park tickets. (But look at what other things cost today versus 5 or 10 years ago.) Even with all the discounts and deals I don't know if I could afford to stay on property today. I have traded to DL (before DVC there), to many of the other hotels at WDW, other DVC resorts, DCL and the Plaza in NYC. I have taken family and friends with me, stayed for longer and shorter stays and enjoyed myself to no end.

Money is always an issue but how you value your membership is not always in a dollar amount. To me DVC has been worth every penny I spent initially, at add on and for dues.
Just one long time member's opinion.

 

[gabrieltorres]

after being members for 10 years, we have certainly seen the value in it, even as our kids have grown

 

[Sammie]

I feel we have gotten our money's worth but we bought when prices were below $60 and have used it for enough years to recoup our investment.

Would I buy at today's prices and dues, no I would not. I definitely would not buy from Disney. I would buy a small resale that would allow me to go every other year.

 

[penguinmomma]

As someone still in the recision period from Disney, I appreciated reading some of the points posted here. Still working on whether it made/makes sense for us but just wanted to chime in quickly.

 

[WolfpackFan]

We are as happy now with our membership as we were 8 years ago when we bought our first contract. We are retired and without our DVC membership there is no way we could afford to take the trips we are taking now.