DVC worthwhile?

[CMOORE185]

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?

Rugman, I have been a member 10+ years and found out early on that it was not as good of a deal as the guide proposed it to be. Unfortunately this economy has made it less of a deal because Disney has had to discount its pricing. That being said I never would buy a timeshare other than DVC, in fact I have added on twice since my blinders have come off. Some of the Disney magic has worn off and I do worry the longer Walt is gone the less special Disney becomes, but for now it is still worth it.

 

[daddey]

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?

We sold once before, bought back in. It was easy to sell and it only took us 3 hours to get an offer the first time.

We will sell again when it doesn't make sense for us. If you aren't happy with it I say sell. There is always deals out there if you go every other year it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[cseca]

I love my membership and DH has grown to love it too. But I agree that the value is dimished a bit, STRICTLY because I've seen a decline in room and service quality.

We bought in 2000 and at 2009 I vowed never to add on at the current ridiculous prices. But then they built GCV and we couldn't say no. And then DD came... making BLT a really great location to stay...

Basically what I'm trying to say is even if I have stopped being an unpaid DVC salesperson (trust me, I was before... I talked DVC to anyone who'd listen), I still think there's a good value to the ownership. Not the same as when we first bought in, but still a good value.

Once we think the value is not there anymore, I'd be the first one to sell them and invest my $ in the market somewhere.

 

[tecodis]

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?

Everyone's vacationing habits are different so it just depends on you as an individual member.

Personally, I'm far better off on annual vacation dollars spent then I was before becoming a member. Even with AP rates, I was spending alot of money on rooms! Now it's cut about 70% annually (based on dues only). Obviously there was an initial cash outlay but I exclude that in my thinking. In reality, it was about 5 years of non-DVC vacationing expenses that I paid upfront. So, I consider my payback to begin at year 5 in my case.

I only wish I would have joined it 10 years earlier!! Going 5-6 times a year makes DVC a very smart purchase. Once every other year would put a whole different perspective on it's value, for sure.

 

[dbs1228]

We too have paid out a lot of money on Disney accomadations, I would say at least 30,000.00 over 15 years because we always went for the "home away from home". Should have bought earlier but at the time we really thought we would outgrow Disney as the kids got older, which did not happen!

 

[daddey]

We also have spent a lot over the years on Disney vacations probably more than I'm willing to add up. Off site offers a great deal and we have a great place that we can go back to if needed but staying on site offers perks you just can't get. Even if we sell our DVC we will still stay on site. The Disney experience hasn't worn off and probably won't for some time. DVC offers a great room that we wouldn't be able to get without being a member. With 6 people we would have to have 2 rooms @ most resorts so the 2 bedroom options work out very well for us.

 

[3happydancers]

I know what my options are, and yes, when you consider the deals and specials WDW run, I would say that is a better value than a DVC membership. You can go when you want, dining plan thrown in for free, park tickets included, and you can up your options from there if you want. With DVC, you have dues that have increased for me by more than double in ten years, and I can't stay at the same resorts I used to stay at with one years worth of points, therefore, being forced to buy more to stay current from ten years ago. How is this a better deal? And I am concerned, because my sister goes twice a year on these deals, and she overall spend less than I do going every other year. She gets whatever perks are offered at that time, which mostly includes free dining, and the package comes with tickets. She can do this for about 2000.00. For DVC member, dining and park tickets are 2000.00 out the gate, and that doesn't include a room. Add the 990.00 a year for dues, and that's 3000.00. She can go twice a year for 4000.00. I can go once spending 3 grand and using all of my points and having to borrow some from the following use year. How is this a better value by being a DVC member? I'm at 6 grand for 2 years in a row, not including room, she's at 8 grand with room. Do the math. I put this up because I am debating whether or not to keep my DVC membership. I only still have it because of my wife. If it was up to me, it would have been gone about 3 years ago. After paying so much money for the membership, why should I be forced to buy more points to stay in the same hotels? That's a whole other expense. I don't think you're looking at the big picture here.

I am curious, which resorts does your sister stay at and how long does she go for each time and what type of tickets does she purchase and for how many days?

It sounds like she may be lodging at the values or possibly a moderate, not that there is anything wrong with them, for your typical weekly vacation. But don't forget that when you get the free meal plan, you pay rack rate for your room and now you are also required to purchase at least a 2 day MYW base ticket. You can add more park days but again, those you pay for, they are not thrown in with the free meal plan and they are the same price that everyone else pays through Disney.

I know I can stay at let's say AKL studio for more than 2 weeks with my points, paying about 770.00 for dues. I think this is where the difference may be. Yes, we do pop for our meals, this year it cost us 1679.00 for the meal plan for 4 adult rates. I didn't factor in the tickets because no matter what, you pay for those. (We usually purchase them through UT/10 day non-expiration fun and more and get at least 2 years out of them so we do not purchase tickets every year. Also, the water park portion of the ticket lasts us at least 3 years).

This year our cost for lodging and food was $2449.00 (770.00 for dues and 1679.00 for meals) to stay at a deluxe resort at AKL Kidani Villas for 11 days and had a 1 bedroom. Tickets cost $0.00. So for about $450.00 more than what your sister paid, my family relaxed at a deluxe for 11 days with use of a full kitchen and washer/dryer. (We only use the kitchen for breakfast but it was nice non the less. Other members do choose to cook meals during their vacation and forgo the dining plan, thus probably saving quite a bit on food).

Unfortunately, maybe the DVC no longer works for your family and maybe someday we will feel the same. But as you can see, the figures work for us at least for now.

Sorry to hear you are so unhappy with your membership. The good thing is that you can sell it. Good luck in what ever you decide.

 

[kendzee94]

I think the bottom line that everyone is saying is: You have to do what is best for you and your family.

My family has become resort/room snobs and think that a studio is "too small" for the four of us. We love staying at the THV's and just added on (resale) so we can guarantee our stay there because we love them so much. Yes, just four of us are staying there in January.

On the other hand, my mother is happy staying at the values with free dining.

At this point, we couldn't "downgrade" to a standard room because for us, we enjoy the larger accomodations. We love 1BR and larger for our family of four. I love not having to bring home dirty laundry and having more work when I return from vacation. But that is what works for us. We buy annual passes and try to make sure we get at least two if not three trips on each. We do time our vacations to get the most use out of them.

I am drinking the Kool-aid and it tastes great. We leave on Wednesday for our next trip.