DVCmembership for nonUS-citizens?

[Fromeurope]

Hi everyone,

We really fell in love with WDW
Now we're thinking about becoming DVCmembers, but we're from Europe, not from the US. Will there be a problem?
And about how much will it cost to buy about 200 points at Saratoga Springs? And is it really true we can stay there every year till 2054 with those points?
That sounds amazing and probably really worth the costs!
Next time we're at WDW we 're going to get some more information, but can someone please answer these questions for now?

 

[Caskbill]

There's no problems owning Disney for non-US residents. There are many people who own who live all over the world. The UK probably has the largest number of members outside of the US.

200 points will run you about $19,000 U.S. There are some incentives that could reduce that amount. When you get a guide, they can tell you all the different things.

If you purchase at SSR your contract is good to Jan 31, 2054 which will give you almost 50 years of usage. Every year you will receive a new allocation of points. So if you purchase 200 points today, you would have a 200 point contract and would receive a new allocation of 200 points every year, to use for that year.

You can also bank points into a following year, or borrow points from a later year into the current year. This allows you to use points from multiple years for the same trip. This is helpful if you only want to go to WDW once every 2 or 3 years.

The original purchase will include all closing costs paid by Disney if you buy from them. If you purchase a resale, you will most likely have to pay closing costs yourself. You would purchase resale if you want one of the other resorts other than SSR. Remember the other resorts' contracts all expire earlier, on Jan 31, 2042.

Remember you also have an annual maintenance fee of approximately $4.00/point. So on a 200 point contract your maintenance fees would be about $800 per year.

When using points to stay at a DVC resort, there is no sales tax. Compare this to getting a regular hotel room which would have an additional 11% sales/room tax added. So this is an additional savings.

You might check the FAQ's on this board, and definitely contact Disney. They can send you an information packet. Feel free to post back if you have any further questions.

 

[Fromeurope]

Thank you soo much for all this information!
I have two last questions for you. Do the pointprices (how do you call those ?) of the resorts change? Or are these guaranteed untill 2054? And can you change resorts or do you allways have to stay at the one you chose for?
Thanks again, I will definately read this whole board soon, but now the weather is so nice around here, so I'll go outside

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by Fromeurope
Thank you soo much for all this information!
I have two last questions for you. Do the pointprices (how do you call those ?) of the resorts change? Or are these guaranteed untill 2054? And can you change resorts or do you allways have to stay at the one you chose for?
Thanks again, I will definately read this whole board soon, but now the weather is so nice around here, so I'll go outside

The total points for a resort cannot change, but they can reallocate the point structure to balance demand. For example they might raise points in one season, but they would have to lower points somewhere else, so that the 'total' is not changed. Disney has only reallocated points, one time, and that was in 1996 at the OKW resort.

You may stay at any DVC resort you'd like. The only difference between your 'home' resort and your non-home resort is that for your home resort you can start making reservations 11-months ahead of your stay, while at a non-home resort you can only start making reservations 7-months ahead. This gives owners at a home resort a 4-month window of advantage in making reservations. That said, the 7-month window is probably OK for 90% of the time. The real difference in home resort advantage is for difficult times to get such as Christmas, New Years, Spring Break, and so on.

Hope this helps.

 

[CarolMN]

You might want to take a look at this DIS FORUM:

UK DVC Discussion

Bet the posters there know all the "ins and outs" of owning DVC as a non-U S resident!

Best wishes -

 

[pumpkinboy]

With the Euro so strong against the USDollar recently, I expect this would be an excellent time to investigate DVC purchase for you. My guide (Disney lanuage for a sales representative) informs me that there are DVC members in some 60 countries worldwide, though they are only allowed to contact people in certain countries directly (UK is allowed, Germany is not); I am not sure if Nederland is included in that, but if not, you can always buy when in Florida.

We are of course assuming that the $/€ exchange rate remains somewhat stable and that moderate airfares from Schiphol to Orlando continue to be available, but if you enjoy visiting WDW every few years, then DVC might be a very good deal for you.

Good luck with your research.

(and if you happen to come some time when we are there, maybe you could bring us some Stroopwaffeltje with you to share with those of us who can;t get them so easily)

 

[bartty]

We live in Germany and Disney will not sell to us over the phone. Just have to make another trip to WDW and join the club!

Good luck

 

[vernon]

There are a huge amount of UK DVC members, I agree that with the $ very weak at the moment it could be an excellent time to buy into the DVC.

It's worth considering a resale (depending on your age and how important the extra 12 years is) Points at the original DVC resorts bought on a resale are likely to work out cheaper than bought direct from Disney, but these resorts have an expiration date of 2042 not 2054. It's probably more of an issue of resort than length of time. As you probably know you can book your home resort at 11 months out, any other DVC resorts at 7 months out. As you come from Holland it's likely you will plan a fair way ahead and if your preference would be one of the older DVC resorts ( OKW,BWV,BCV or VWL) then you may be better off buying a resale at one of those resoprts instead of the longer contract at SSR.

There is a lot of info on the DVC on this site and people will be glad to answer any other questions you have. Enjoy the sunshine

 

[Fromeurope]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the nice reactions.
We are getting more excited about DVC every minute
Next month we are leaving for WDW anyway, so than we will go on the hunt for information.
Are you at WDW in September PumpkinBoy? I will be glad to bring you some stroopwafeltjes if you want to
Ofcourse we can change the SSR into another resort, but we actually like it very much and it would be nice to visit it even when I am 85 years old
Our stay in September is our second one this year, so the DVC must be a great deal for us.
I'll be visiting this board real soon again, looking for lots of info of you nice people.
Bye bye

 

[jjpenguin]

I am one of the few DVC members in the Netherlands, I have sent you a PM.

 

[Fromeurope]

Sorry JJpenguin I haven't seen your message earlier.I was working hard, earning some money for this DVCplan