glad we didnt fall into the pressuer of signing after our tour at the BCV

[wdw47]

we have been evaluating all the finances and glad we didnt fall for the singing after the excitement of our tour, like we have heard so many others have, lets see maintenance fees on a studio for 10 nights at about 180 points is $600.00 per year for 50 years is $30,000.00 plus after all the yearly incresses and who knows what the total will really be , devided by $250.00 per nights stay at the Beach Club is 120 nights divide by ten night stays but more than likely eight night stays is 12 vacations figure every other year because we have to save for tickets and meals (which we all need to do anyway) is 24 years of memories (we will be 75 by the) at the Beach club with full hotel services and we havent even figuered in the purchase cost we decided to pass on buying just dosent make financial sense except for Disney. now if we were own outright that would be a whole other story

 

[HookdonWDW]

I can't say that I can make hide or tail out of your mathmatical computations. The way we figure it, DVC is a great vacation value for us, but we realize that it's not for everyone. I hope you're as happy with your decision as we are with ours. For us, it's worth every penny we spent!

 

[sgtdisney]

It sounds like you made the right decision for your family. However, some of the math computations you have made seem to be off, for example you wouldn't have 50 years of dues to pay (there are only 38 years left in the membership.) If you have as many doubts (and concerns) as it seems you have, then it sounds like you made the right decision.

 

[wilderness01]

Isn't SSR 50 years? Maybe that's what the OP was thinking?

 

[Rence]

The potentially flawed assumption is that the room rate at the Beach Club will remain at $250 per night for the next 50 years.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I can't believe it, that's kind of how we felt 6 or 7 years ago, when we decided that it was a good deal for Disney but not for us. Well, we changed our minds, and couldn't be happier. We still travel to other places, but we find ourselves coming back to Disney and this is one purchase we don't regret. 6 or 7 years ago, it wasn't for us, and one difference for us is the house in Cape May which we purchased 6 years ago. That's the investment, DVC is wonderful vacations that we enjoy ourselves, and will share with friends and family.

Enjoy your vacations all!

Bobbi

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Yeah there is something off about the math... Why would you need 180 points if you are going for 8 nights every other year? Sounds like a 100 point resale contract would be the logical way for such a person to go...especially if they are almost 50 and presumably can go in the non-high times.

 

[zurgswife]

OK....I'm going to try to rework the math...This is the housewife's financial view....I'm sure your decision is right for you but I'm not sure why you decided on $250 for the cost of the room...???

180 pts orginal purchase($84 per pt from Disney)...$15,120

180pts.... 38yrs (because that's how many that's actually left at BCV) X (3.97x180) = $27,154.80

Now 10 nights at the Magic season rate for a studio is 607.68 plus tax of $66.85 for a total of $674.53 for a 10 night total of $6745.30.I picked magic season because that took almost 180 pts..every year...

So, $27,154.80 plus 15,120.00 =$42,278.80

$42,278.80 divided by $6745.30 = 6.25 years (every year after this would be totally paided for )

But you said you only plan on going every other year so I suggest that you purchase less points (say 100) on the resale market and your costs would be less....

100pts resale purchase ($72 pt from ownerjust a estimate )... $7200

So, $27,154.80 plus $7200=$34,354.80

$34,354.80 divided by $6745.30 =5.1 years....so, if you go every other year it would be about 10.25 years.....

38yrs-10.25years=27.75yrs remaining which would give you about 13years of totally prepaid usage of Beach Club Villas

I included purchase cost

 

[jarestel]

Making financial sense ( assuming you have the money to spend in the first place - hey, not going on vacations at all makes GREAT financial sense ) is at the bottom of the list of things we considered before buying. A compelling reason to return many times to a place we enjoy being at with our friends and family far outweighs the financial cost. If you only see DVC as "just another timeshare in the Orlando area", you have made the correct decision for your particular situation.

 

[wdw47]

lets see if we can clear a few things up, we have tried to buy twice now in the secondary market but both times Disney used there ROFR and we lost out. first the 50 years comes from the SSR like the one person to reply thought. second every one seemed to have missd the $30,000 dollars plus over 50 years in maintenance fees, that can rise to any level disney wishes. third we would not have been able to pay the $16,00.00 dollars a quote from Disney which would bring the cost to about $24,000.00 dollars financed over 10 years now if someone has the means to pay the $16,000.00 or more for larger studios and more points up front then by all means it would make sense. forth if we would have bought in we would have made yearly trips some to do no more than lay by the pool and visit with other vacationers.and lastly we would have like many of you just passed the remaining years on to our children. but when we added up all the numbers and broke them down it just makes more sense to continue with our vacations to the Beach Club Resort as we have done in the past besides we have heard you cannot just sail on a Disney Cruise with points alone or if because you were not flexable with vacation plans you cannot stay in a resort hotel on points alone eather it is nice to hear we are not or were not alone in our thoughts. We will keep trying to buy on the secondary market but know it is probably a lost cause as Disney likes the prices where they are and would hate for us to catch a real deal and not buy from them

 

[MikeScott8]

yes the yearly dues can (and will) go up, but at most is 15% per year.

BUT

The cost for regualr hotel rooms can (and will) go up but with no limit on the number of times per year and no limit on the % increase either. and most of the rooms don't come with kitchens to save money on dinners, like DVC.

another thing to think about.

But don't get me wrong, I know DVC is not right for everybody. So good luck in any future resales you go for.

Mike

 

[PamOKW]

I would not be overly concerned about the dues increases. It is true that the last two years have gone up substantially but it is due to factors pretty much beyond Disney's control. I would expect things to get back to "normal" in the next few years.

I took OKW as an example. From 1997 to 2002, OKW dues went up about 1% or $.07 per point. The last two years they did go up at a higher rate. Overall, from 1997 to 2004, the dues have gone up 17% or $.53 per point. An owner of 180 points is paying $95 per year more in dues.

Now, let's look at the room rate. The rack rate for an OKW studio in 1997 during Regular Season was $229. For 2004, the same studio is $264. That's an increase of 15% or $35 per night. For a 10 night stay, you will be paying $350 more per year in 2004 than you did in 1997 (and that's pre-tax). WDW has been holding down the room rates since 9/11 and not putting in the regular increases. When things get back to "normal" the room rates may once again start rising in the 6%+ per year range while the DVC dues may revert to 0-1% range.

There are lots of reasons why DVC doesn't make sense for individuals but I wouldn't let a concern about the dues be a deciding factor. However, you are right that you have to be sure that you do consider them as part of the financial obligation of ownership.

 

[paults]

DVC-- no rise in pts for villas, ever

Disney resorts--your example BC $250 a nt now, but only for 2 adults and children under 18, any extra adults in same room add $25 a nt each. When your children turn 18 will they stay in same room with you, if not you'll need another room( more money)
BC room rates will not stay the same every year but our villa rooms will still be the same amount for pts for 38 yrs.

BCVillas studio in ( premier season the highest ) 8 nts 200 pts includes a fri/sat = $2000 ( $10 a pt ) pts will not change

YC/BC-( not sure what season) your example $250 a nt x 8 =$2000 plus tax. will go up every year

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Rence
The potentially flawed assumption is that the room rate at the Beach Club will remain at $250 per night for the next 50 years.

That might be a standard room rate but that is certainly not a 2 bedroom villa room rate.

 

[Doug7856]

When we began considering DVC, I created a spreadsheet to calculate the cost of a $150 per night hotel room with 11% tax through 2053 with annual rate increase of 4% (I figured 4% was an approximate average). I was amazed to realize that a $150 room in 2003 would cost $1,137.75 per night (with 11% tax) in 2053!!

For us, DVC is the right choice at this time. We are in our 30's and have a child. As our family grows, DVC will be flexible in meeting our needs. Besides, we love Disney and go at least once per year.

 

[DVC-Don]

Oh lord projecting todays rack rates into the future can mess this up. Our first stay (pre DVC) in a regular BC room was about $160 per night. What is the rack rate now for January? Just looked it up for a standard, $289 per night. No mini kitchen either.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

For my DW, DS and myself it's not really about price, as it is about the size of the rooms. We have been owners at BWV since 2000, and we can not stay in a regular room any more. We need the room of a one bedroom. In our mind DVC is not about saving money, its about taking vacations together, creating memories and going to the best place on earth. I am sure if you wanted to vacation every year at Pop century it would be cheaper then DVC, but who wants to vacation every year at pop century or all stars. But to each their own. Remember DVC does not work for everybody.

 

[Michelemouse]

The price for 180 points at $84 each is $15120.

That breaks down to $1.68 per point per year.

Add the dues to that...I forget SSR's dues rate but let's say $4.00 per point...and you get $5.68 per point per year.

Let's call it $6.00 per point per year. So, for a room that costs 15 points per night (an average studio cost) you are essentially paying $90.00. For the 2BR unit that we had at OKW last October we spent 22 points per night, or $132.00 and we had a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms a living room and a laundry room. That's a big difference from a standard hotel room that runs $250.00 a night.

We look at DVC as a guaranteed vacation every year. Sometimes (more often than not) we get 2 or 3 vacations in a year for the same price as one used to cost us before our DVC purchase. We've used DVC points on the Disney Cruise Line, at other WDW resorts and at Disneyland in California. We are currently trying for a trade to Hawaii.

Oh, I also wanted to address something that you mentioned...you definitly can use just points to sail on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Many members pay points for one or more in their party, but that is not necessary. You can also use points to stay at most of the WDW resorts (values not included). There is a $75 fee to use points on DCL. I do not remember if the fee was charged when we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on points.

I understand that DVC is not for everyone. It just seems like your financial analysis is flawed and that you might not understand all aspects of the membership. It takes a while to become "fluent" in the DVC program...but it's sooooo worth it.

Happy traveling, whatever you decide to do.

 

[PamOKW]

There's no fee to stay at the WDW hotels and you use points to stay there with several different levels offered. The fee for Concierge Collection (hotels outside WDW like The Plaza, etc.) has gone up to $95. I'm not sure about II trades -- I think that's still $75.

 

[jodifla]

Perhaps it looks that way now, but I tell you, once it's paid off, it's just golden. We bought back in '96, when points were about $20 less than now.

DVC buffers you not only from the cost of rapidly rising hotel rooms, but also your own changing financial situation over the course of 50 years, which can be hard to anticipate.

When we bought, we were both working full time. Now we have a son, and we're down to 1 and a half incomes or so, and we also support my father. We would never spend $250 a night on a hotel room now. But since we only have our dues, we're spending 10-12 nights a year in luxury accommodations.


That room at the BC that goes for $250 plus was $99 when it opened (I know, we stayed there for that amount!) And don't forget all the taxes, which will add $20 or so to the room fees. And then there's the kitchen at DVC accommodations, which saves you beaucoup bucks on the trip.

So be our guest, spend all the money you want at BC. We'll be in the jacuzzi tub of our 1-bedroom at BCV!