DVC's worth: Am I missing something?

[rayelias]

I look at it as an investment in our mental health!

Isn't that the truth!

I wonder if there are any IRS agents on the DIS (and DVC members). Because, I think there should be some sort of deduction for this.

If not for my WDW vacations, I'd surely be spending thousands of (deductable) dollars to a psychiatrist. Not to mention the drugs.

 

[fishermouse]

DH and I were just talking the other day about how it's an investment in our family, whether or not it's a sound financial investment (which we think it is, since resort prices will only continue to go up, and if need be we could likely sell our contract for as much as we paid, and still have had lots of nice vacations out of it).

Vacations do not make finacial sense but who cares, the idea is to relax and enjoy. If this happens and you walk away satisfied thats really all that matters. DVC is not for people who do not have a need to go to WDW at least every couple years. It works for us because we do, I'm sur the money could have been invested and made much better finacial sense. But I would not be as happy with the results as I am going to WDW a couple times a year.

 

[rinkwide]

Things I value:

1) Having the kids sleep in a different room...

Careful, that could lead to the need for larger accommodations.

 

[shantay1008]

Everything is becoming clear to me now as I read this thread. The big difference between the people asking "can I afford this?" and me seems to be sheer volume of children. Once we added that fourth little one, we forever closed the door on studios or even one-bedrooms. Well, that and the fact that we made the mistake of staying in a Deluxe years ago and have now been ruined for anything else at WDW.

I can see that if you have one or two kids and are staying at an All-Star or a moderate, DVC can be very tempting, but not seem like such a bargain. I just kept reading those DVC-doubting threads and starting to think maybe I wasn't as clever as I thought. I don't regret the DVC purchase for a second, but part of the fun for me has been thinking that we will break even after three or four visits and then be vacationing with our brood on points. Boston seems to be in the same boat.

Do you think the quote of $1400 for a night at BCV for a two-bedroom in Feb. was unusually high?
Shannon

 

[shantay1008]

Careful, that could lead to the need for larger accommodations.

Which is why we will place the smallest of our progeny firmly between us every night on our next vacation. Just as a reminder of what can happen if one isn't careful.

 

[pouncingpluto]

The way I look at it is *sweet* accomodations (one-bedroom villas) for SO much cheaper than staying in suites would be!

 

[MonkeyPants]

I look at it as an investment in our mental health!

couldnt say it better...break even??? I didnt even think about it. Does it make sense for me, in terms of money?? I have no clue.

I am single, with what is in my opinion an insanely stressful job. I try to take time off when I can to recharge, but I dont (or didnt) really get away. With the DVC I have a guaranteed place I can go that I know I love (been a huge disney fan all my life)

For the forseeable feature I will be staying in ......studios (THE HORROR!!!!) Many of the trips will likely be solo trips so studios will be (1) more than fine with mein terms of space (2) I rarely cook so lack of a kitchen in the studio doesnt bother me) (3) given the times I am likely to vacation the point price of studios will let me go and spend 20-25 days a year with only 150 points buy in.

For now most trips, as I said will be solo, tho I will take friends and family along at times...or take them at similar times as my brother and one of my sisters are also DVC members and then should I be lucky enough to find a princess of my own then its continued vacations with her and hopefully someday with children.

How many years will it take to break even?? no clue, it will happen eventually, but more importantly I think in terms of keeping my sanity I will break even much sooner

 

[crisi]

Careful, that could lead to the need for larger accommodations.

snip snip and a bag of frozen peas took care of that concern.

 

[rinkwide]

snip snip and a bag of frozen peas took care of that concern.

Ah yes, I too have had a brief physical encounter with an item from the frozen foods aisle. Carry on then.

 

[simzac]

DVC's worth to me is that I now have the opportunity to take magical vacations every year until I turn 83. I think that says it all.

 

[BuckRodgers1999]

With the current point prices as high as they are, I don't know if I would make the investment now, and would see the value. I was pleased with the point cost when we did invest, and glad we purchased. Once you've purchased, its probably time to skip the return on investment threads unless one is helping out a prospective buyer. It's a done deal. The cost and value of selling is a different calculation that first purchasing.

 

[dvc at last !]

We should have bought a long time ago, too !
It was important to do the orthodontist, college etc. for children first -
dvc at last - and we can have a few trips each year.

 

[kimberh]

Disney has raised the rates for 2007. Mousesavers has them listed and they are much higher for the Deluxes, this makes our investment a much better deal. I just bought my DVC this year and I wish I had purchased it years ago, but I did not understand it and really did not think that we would really get that much use out of it. Well, after my children started getting married and I wanted us all to travel together, fell in love with Deluxes the bill was outrages, even with the Annual Pass discount. I am listening to you on the one bedrooms but after staying in a standard room at WL and AKL the Studio's are a nice change. Now that the Dining Plan has been added, I think we have a nice package.

 

[Esteri]

We bought in in 1999. Then we added more points in 2002, I think. We're completely happy with the purchase. For us it came down to - it's a guaranteed, non-dog (we show dogs), family vacation - and with the exchange possibilities, we don't even have to go to Disney if we don't want to.

In fact, we've used our points at Disney only twice, well, three times if you count the 10 days we gave good friends for their wedding present. We've exchanged once for a week in Las Vegas. And this year we're going on DCL - mostly on points.

Honestly, we like the flexibility.

We did do a financial analysis before buying in and figured it would pay for itself in about 6-7 years.

I'm glad we're not the only ones who find themselves taking friends along. We've never gone "alone" since we bought in. Huh, maybe we need to change that... Mmmm. Maybe not.