For long-time members: Is DVC a good deal?

[barbarachina]

Hello! We went to a DVC presentation today and are trying to decide whether to buy into the club. The sales rep told us about this board, so we googled and found it. Thanks for allowing us to post. Our question: Is DVC worth buying? In your opinion, why or why not? We like WDW and have come here three times in five years. But it's not the only place we travel. We were excited to hear about the other locations via II, but after looking at the list, we realize we would use maybe only a handful of them. (We don't play golf or ski, for example.) So now we're wondering whether it's worth investing in DVC if the only place we can use the points is at WDW or other Disney properties. In other words, it wouldn't cover all of our vacation costs. I thought I'd post on this board since you all are actively involved in planning trips through DVC, so you have recent experience and probably some good feedback for us. Are the II properties good quality? How easy is it to get reservations for DVC properties and for II properties? FYI, we're a family of six (2 adults, 4 kids). Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Barbara

 

[Safari Queen]

We adore DVC and only regret waiting to buy. We stay in much nicer resorts than we could afford otherwise, it forces us to plan and take vacations, and we now do WDW in a relaxed way, really enjoying the whole resort. That said, I don't think it's worth it unless you definitely plan to go every 2-3 years and if the accommodations with extra space and facilities (kitchen, washer/dryer) are worth it to you. You can stay in a value resort for far less -- maybe even a moderate. We love the deluxe accommodations like BWV and AKV and the kitchen makes it far more affordable for us. We have great family vacations every year in a 2 bedroom villa with a full kitchen, laundry, and living room so we're not stuffed into a couple of rooms. Certainly you shouldn't buy with the idea of using it for II or Conceirge Collection. That's not cost effective. On the other hand, maybe you could buy enough points for the vacation you want by going every 2-3 years and banking/borrowing. If you find out you want to go more often, then add on later.

 

[bradisgoofy]

In a word, yes....for us. We have used points for FW stays, and a Disney cruise, plus our regular YEARLY visits. If you truly WDW then you will use the DVC all the time, but if you think you will only visit every 3 years, then I would say no. We made three package trips, Dixie Landings, Caribbean Resort, and Fort Wilderness cabins, which included all our tickets, and those three trips would have paid for our first buy into DVC. We now own 690 BWV points, all but the first 150 from the Timeshare Store. But we come down EVERY year, this year, twice. Don't forget, even if you don't come down every year, you will pay your dues every year.

We have been going to Florida every spring for over 25 years but most of that was staying with my DM and DF. When my DF passed my DM decided to stop going to Florida so we were lost. DVC turned out to be OUR answer. So, ultimately, you must decide whether it is a good value. Keep reading the DISboard, the people here will be of great help.

 

[eliza61]

But it's not the only place we travel. We were excited to hear about the other locations via II, but after looking at the list, we realize we would use maybe only a handful of them. (We don't play golf or ski, for example.) So now we're wondering whether it's worth investing in DVC if the only place we can use the points is at WDW or other Disney properties. In other words, it wouldn't cover all of our vacation costs. I thought I'd post on this board since you all are actively involved in planning trips through DVC, so you have recent experience and probably some good feedback for us. Are the II properties good quality? How easy is it to get reservations for DVC properties and for II properties? FYI, we're a family of six (2 adults, 4 kids). Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Barbara

Hi Barbara
to the Dis. I'll give you some insights to my families experiences with dvc.
We love our DVC. We've owned for 8 years now. When we first purchased our children were 5 and 8. We purchased enough points to go for 1 week every year. Actually when we started out we were going every other year, banking our points or using them else where.
Now using your points at other places is not the best use (dollar wise) of your points. For me & my family that is not a big priority for some people it is. So far it has been a breeze for us to get reservations but I generally don't travel during major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas etc) so If you do I can't tell you how hard/easy that would be. So far I have used my points in NYC, Washington DC, London UK and planning on doing the Wyoming adventure in 2009. Hotels are gorgeous and generally 4 star.
I've never, ever had a problem getting ressies at a dvc resort. It is very easy because generally I can plan 7-11 months ahead of time. Some places are very popular and small (WLV, BCV) so they are harder to get if you don't own there especially during holidays.
We actually use it more now that our kids are approaching college age then we did when they were younger. Dh & I will take short 5 day trips to recharge, I've taken "girls gone wild" trips with my college roommates and long weekend trips with my family.
It still very much works for us.

 

[chalee94]

for wdw nuts like me, it can be a great deal.

if you don't go to wdw at least every other year and are determined to stay onsite, DVC generally isn't worth it.

 

[SB in KY]

We purchased DVC 13 years ago when our children were very young. At that point we needed a place to do extended family vacations and my DSis's children were already teenagers. It was a perfect answer then. For us it has worked out better than I could have imagined at that point. We still enjoy trips with friends and family as opposed to travelling with just our immediate family....although we do love those trips with just the 4 of us.

We use our points almost exclusively at WDW, in various ways and forms. We have never tired of WDW, it is sort of the ultimate resort destination My DM bought DVC the year after we did and uses a lot of her points at Vero, HH and concierge collection places. Now (she is 87) she very generously has provided honeymoon destinations for numerous grandchildren, and lots of family vacations. She still loves to go with all of us on at least an annual basis.

Now that both of my children are in college (can you hear my bank account being sucked dry at a rapid rate??)...DVC gives us the opportunity for great vacations that we probably otherwise would not budget for at this stage in life. For us it has been a great investment...although we bought in at a time when it was far less of an investment than it is now!

You might want to think about buying in at a minimum level (150 to 200 points) if you think you will only want to go every 2 years or so. Just play with the numbers....looking at your annual vacation costs and whether it would work for you.

 

[WDWLVR]

Welcome to the DIS!

For my DH and I (we have no kids) DVC was a very good deal. We had gotten to the point where we did WDW every year and usually in the Deluxe resorts. We bought into DVC in early 2000 and don't regret it for a moment. We have stayed at just about all the DVC resorts. We've stayed in studios, one bedrooms and even a two bedroom once (we brought my in-laws). We love the room we have in the villas and we love the location of our DVC home at Boardwalk. We've also taken cruises on some of our points and did one trade through II (that we won didn't use our points) to Hawaii.

If you main focus is going to be WDW than DVC is a good value in my opinion. If you are looking to always trade out and to use it for all your vacation needs it might not be. Only you can determine that.

 

[crisi]

We own a smaller contract with enough points to stay in a two bedroom every other year for a week. Then, on our "off" years, we spend cash to do other things. Having a two bedroom we really don't NEED (two kids who will share the hideabed currently, though perhaps for the last time now), we've taken friends or family for most trips.

 

[MonkeyPants]

I only bought in a few years ago, but let me tell you....its costing me a fortune!! just because I find I am taking way more trips then I normally would. Have taken a couple trips a year for the last 3 or so, a couple of the trips were 12 dayers I definitely have 'saved' a ton of cash on what it would have cost to actually stay at disney but disney has more then made up for that on what I have spent on others things while down there.

I was actually the 4th person in my family to buy into the DVC. My Aunt was the first, she bought in the first year it was offered way back and she has definitely gotten serious use out of it. She went to Disney countless times while her kids were younger, no she and my mom take trips every year, mexico, aruba ext ext. So while she doesnt hit Disney now that he kids are older she is still getting plenty of use out of.

I think if you like to consistently travel every year or so (or more frequently) it can definitely be a good deal.

 

[james'mommy]

For us it makes sense because we live close enough to drive. I'm also a points miser so I will squeeze every last Sun-Thur I can out of my points. This trip we are staying a Friday night and it is killing me to spend 29 points for 1 night.

 

[Disney_Villain]

for wdw nuts like me, it can be a great deal. if you don't go to wdw at least every other year and are determined to stay onsite, DVC generally isn't worth it.

Ditto for us. If you go to WDW frequently, then DVC is right for you.

DVC resorts are easier to book - and a better value - on DVC points than Interval International exchanges (some of which can be very difficult to book, even on the 2-year window).

 

[WDBRDWLK]

I can't say enough good things about DVC. We feel in love with Disney when our kids were young and when we moved to NC it was an easy drive once a year. That once a year turned to twice a year then three times a year..you get the picture! We started out with 210 pts at our home resort, Boardwalk. We now own at BW, BCV, HH, and two at SS. We began inviting family and friends to join us in a Grand Villa every other year. It has been fantastic. For some of our friends they could never afford to stay onsite. So this works out great...we have even used our points for several cruises. As for tracking points, well lets just saw my DH is an analyst and he uses his skills like I have never known a person to do. He has spreadsheets up the yingyang! I have shared some of those to other Dis'sers. As for making reservations, last year my DH had some time off in July and called DVC to use his points, and within 48 hrs he was unpacking at WDW. We have never had a problem booking a reservation. Yes you do pay annual fees/taxes...but if you take into consideration that cost and what it could 'buy' you for a vacation, Disney tops it! Always! We are now grandparents and love the idea of using our points to take our granddaughter to everywhere Disney! She was 3 months old when we went to WDW in May! Just sign me, Maya's Nana!

 

[KirstenB]

We've been members since '93. Back then members and their guests got into the 3 parks for free for teh length of stay. We paid $57 per point, and have 200 points. This allows us to get a 2 br Sun-Thurs in the summer, and stay a few days in a studio in Hilton Head in March.

I'm pretty frugal, and I consider DVC to be wonderful, but it's not the cheapest way to stay. With the internet, there's so much info out there now there wasn't back in teh early 90's. I would urge you to look at DVC resales. Also, if staying on-site is optional, I've never priced out the Marriott and other "nice" timeshares, but I'd compare them too.

What I love the best about DVC is it allows our family to go on vacation no matter what. When dh and I bought, we didn't have children yet. We always told ourselves even if we were flat broke, we could drive to Hilton Head, cook in our room, and stay at the resort with fabulous accomodations. You never know what life will bring, and we loved it that we could always go on vacation, no matter what.

Another thing to consider is: where do you live? Can you drive to the DVC resorts? Or would you always fly? Airline prices will probably keep going up, given teh fuel situation. Will your family always want to visit FLorida, or Hilton Head? Good luck with your decision.