Has anyone bought into DVC and NOT changed they way they do Disney (besides the obvious DVC change)?

[mustinjourney]

Thank you! Kiddos are 1 and 4, so many more years to love Disney. And we've already started on the 529 covered

I guess "saving money" wasn't really the right way to phrase it. More so, I could never ever justify spending $1,800/night on room accommodations (AKV 2-bedroom savannah view rack rate in June). Even if we can afford it, I couldn't justify it to myself. I think it would be an awesome trip to do with my kids and bring grandpa and grandma along, but not for that price. Going the DVC route makes it a lot less expensive (1/3 to 1/4-ish the cost (depending on how you do the math) if we buy points resale), which is a number I can more easily stomach.

Getting a 2 BR villa to share with the grandparents is the primary reason we purchased. I saw the rack rate for a 2 BR at VGF ($2000 a night) and quickly realized that a week is about 300 points (~$3000 cost amortized) vs paying $14000 to purchase rack rate. Renting would be possible for about $4500 a week, but then it seemed like such a hassle. I like having the points within my control.

We still haven't taken our first DVC trip (coming up in early Nov. for impromptu F&W) -- but since going under contract on the first 150 point VGF contract, we ended up adding on 130 points VGF and then we bought 25 BCV direct.

Bought the second VGF contract b/c I quickly realized we were going to run out of points to do one week in a 2 BR with each set of grandparents. Bought the 25 point direct contract to get the benefits of discount AP passes and access to TIW. The AP discount is worth $200 a ticket, so we'll be saving $600 in year one just on the APs. Plus the BCV contract will allow the wife and I to do an adult's F&W trip with the 11 month priority. Will allow us 4 nights in a studio every other year (or even could do 3 nights studio with a last night in a 1 BR).

 

[ldo]

if you want to be onsite and you wanted upgraded units, then DVC makes sense. Resale DVC vs. moderate is probably a wash. If you will cook a few meals in your unit vs. sit down meal at Disney, then DVC comes out ahead, as you save close to $100 for a family of 4 for dinner. We vacatoined in very nice offsite condos for a fraction of DVC, but no onsite buses, DVC magic, etc. We would not rather pay for for DVC or stay at a moderate and get DDP.

 

[lovin'fl]

After our 2nd trip to WDW (but first trip in on site hotel...POR) we decided we wanted to go every year. We lived 9 hour drive away and didn't mind driving. We, being a family of 5, wanted more of a condo layout with master bedroom and washer/dryer (and kitchen though we don't use the kitchen all that much but we thought we would). So we bought DVC for the 1BR (and eventually 2BR) villas. We then moved farther from WDW (14 hour drive) and figured we would not actually go every year anymore. BUT...we have gone at least once per year and sometimes 2-3 times in a year. We added on more points. We got sucked in a couple years ago when they offered the special AP for like $399 and then about 18 months after that when they offered a special PAP for like $499 (might be $299 and $399...I don't know but they were great deals). We do find it difficult to venture away from DVC trips, since we have the points and look at it as the room is free (though it's not since we pay buy in price and then annual dues). But we've tried Vero and Hilton Head. We also do Carnival cruises every couple years and have been happy with these trips (while the 3 kiddos have been growing up and we can't afford to do any overseas trips). Now that the kiddos will all be in college, next year, DH and I look forward to 2 WDW trips per year with just us (one for F&W and the other in March to watch our 2 DDs play softball with their college team in FL). We will also do Hilton Head trips. We are going to be there this New Year's Eve for 4 nights in a 3BR grand villa with our 3 teens and good friends of ours who our DDs are good friends with their 2 DDs. Should be fun. So, yes, owning DVC has changed how we would have vacationed but it's been a good thing for us.

 

[MamaBear12]

After our 2nd trip to WDW (but first trip in on site hotel...POR) we decided we wanted to go every year. We lived 9 hour drive away and didn't mind driving. We, being a family of 5, wanted more of a condo layout with master bedroom and washer/dryer (and kitchen though we don't use the kitchen all that much but we thought we would). So we bought DVC for the 1BR (and eventually 2BR) villas. We then moved farther from WDW (14 hour drive) and figured we would not actually go every year anymore. BUT...we have gone at least once per year and sometimes 2-3 times in a year. We added on more points. We got sucked in a couple years ago when they offered the special AP for like $399 and then about 18 months after that when they offered a special PAP for like $499 (might be $299 and $399...I don't know but they were great deals). We do find it difficult to venture away from DVC trips, since we have the points and look at it as the room is free (though it's not since we pay buy in price and then annual dues). But we've tried Vero and Hilton Head. We also do Carnival cruises every couple years and have been happy with these trips (while the 3 kiddos have been growing up and we can't afford to do any overseas trips). Now that the kiddos will all be in college, next year, DH and I look forward to 2 WDW trips per year with just us (one for F&W and the other in March to watch our 2 DDs play softball with their college team in FL). We will also do Hilton Head trips. We are going to be there this New Year's Eve for 4 nights in a 3BR grand villa with our 3 teens and good friends of ours who our DDs are good friends with their 2 DDs. Should be fun. So, yes, owning DVC has changed how we would have vacationed but it's been a good thing for us.

Thanks for sharing! Do you own at HH and Vero, or booked at 7 months?

 

[MamaBear12]

We bought in just a little, so that we can get more booking options -- Instead of being able to book hotels, we can book hotels or DVC. If we're taking a trip with a small party, we'd stay hotel-side somewhere. Quick, nimble, easy to book any time, and full hotel benefits. If we're doing a 10-person family trip, we know this a year in advance and want a big room so DVC is perfect. It's more options, not less. Staying DVC is never your only option -- it's just one option that only some people have access to. Buying in gets you that access, which I think is the best reason to buy. The option to stay DVC. Not the obligation.

Is there something about your stays currently, that is not working? For example for us, we always loved our regular rooms. We did the math, and figuring discounts, payment method benefits, and the interest on money not spent, we stayed in Deluxe rooms for less than we could have stayed DVC. But as our family grows and we're taking trips with more people, we find it is more fun to get 1 big room than 3 small rooms. Thus, DVC is a good solution because of the extra space.

I wouldn't look at it that way. You're not staying Deluxe for the price of a timeshare, you're staying timeshare for the price of a timeshare. You lose some benefits, the most important of which can be location. Like, if you stay at the BLT, you are in the adjacent building. That means for almost every benefit, you're walking over to the Contemporary. At the Beach Club, you are in the back section with a long walk to the pool, a big BC draw. Boardwalk is laid out pretty pro-DVC, but this resort is mostly DVC so that makes sense. And then consider that new features designed to draw hotel guests to the properties will be targeted at the hotel side first, not the DVC. You shouldn't expect much in the way of innovation at DVC. 20 years from now what new tech or features will exist in hotels? Will Disney roll this out to the hotels or the fully sold DVC props first? Think about it... So, it's similar to a Deluxe, but not the same.

You already do these things. You've traveled around so much. We're kind of in the same boat. I'm sure we'll use points for Aulani, but if we didn't have them, it's not like we wouldn't go to Hawaii.

Like you, I want to be more in control of our fate.

This sounds great! By buying small you can use it every 2-3 years, supplement with other room stays, and not have to go more than you want. You can always add on if you love it!

I think this is us. I look at the financial transaction pragmatically... You are buying access to a unique set of rooms that most people do not have access to... and paying for them in advance.

You're on the Dis. Naturally you hear from the most avid fans. Most guests are way less into doing Disney all the time.

Very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to respond to so many of my questions

 

[lovin'fl]

Thanks for sharing! Do you own at HH and Vero, or booked at 7 months?

Own at HHI. Booked Vero at 7 months. Did it right at 7 month mark, first thing in AM and booked for 3rd week in August (right before school started back up).

 

[Popouri DVC]

Getting a 2 BR villa to share with the grandparents is the primary reason we purchased. I saw the rack rate for a 2 BR at VGF ($2000 a night) and quickly realized that a week is about 300 points (~$3000 cost amortized) vs paying $14000 to purchase rack rate. Renting would be possible for about $4500 a week, but then it seemed like such a hassle. I like having the points within my control.

We still haven't taken our first DVC trip (coming up in early Nov. for impromptu F&W) -- but since going under contract on the first 150 point VGF contract, we ended up adding on 130 points VGF and then we bought 25 BCV direct.

Bought the second VGF contract b/c I quickly realized we were going to run out of points to do one week in a 2 BR with each set of grandparents. Bought the 25 point direct contract to get the benefits of discount AP passes and access to TIW. The AP discount is worth $200 a ticket, so we'll be saving $600 in year one just on the APs. Plus the BCV contract will allow the wife and I to do an adult's F&W trip with the 11 month priority. Will allow us 4 nights in a studio every other year (or even could do 3 nights studio with a last night in a 1 BR).

This.

There is no way I could justify always paying rack rate for the Grand Floridian. Heck even with Passholder discounts it's expensive. But I find that I always want to stay there. So DVC was definitely a valuable purchase for us. Now we've only owned for two years. We have enough VGF points for a week in a one bedroom during October (our anniversary) and Christmas time. The week is split between the two: ex: three days in Oct. and four in Dec. and vise-versa. We also have been going to Disney for our birthdays in February and end of March because we have AP's. We pay cash for those stays. Last year we took a long weekend in the summer, also because of AP's and paid cash for that too. All that Disney made me want to start looking for more points... I haven't yet, because I want to see what our travel patterns will be in the years to come. The wise people on this DIS board advised not to overbuy. We do like to travel elsewhere and also take cruises.

All that being said: I'm pretty sure we will use the points we have for the foreseeable future. And my we have gotten spoiled with the space of a one bedroom vs. a regular hotel room.

Hope all this helps!

 

[crisi]

Thank you! Kiddos are 1 and 4, so many more years to love Disney. And we've already started on the 529 covered

I guess "saving money" wasn't really the right way to phrase it. More so, I could never ever justify spending $1,800/night on room accommodations (AKV 2-bedroom savannah view rack rate in June). Even if we can afford it, I couldn't justify it to myself. I think it would be an awesome trip to do with my kids and bring grandpa and grandma along, but not for that price. Going the DVC route makes it a lot less expensive (1/3 to 1/4-ish the cost (depending on how you do the math) if we buy points resale), which is a number I can more easily stomach.

If you look at it as added value, rather than saving money, it becomes easier to justify. I don't save any money, I spend more. But I feel like I get good value for the additional dollars.

Don't forget though to factor in the increasing costs of Disney - you have one Disney child and a freebie, but in six years you'll have one Disney child and a Disney adult. Tickets will get way more expensive (they increase in price MUCH faster than inflation or most people's wages), and feeding them will get more expensive. DVC will help keep the inflation in onsite room costs under control, but its one part of the puzzle.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

The key to not returning to Disney multiple times a year is to avoid buying annual passes. The years we had annual passes we went three to four times. It was just so hard to justify spending a ton of money on a different vacation when going back to Disney seemed like just the cost of plane tickets. Hotels and entertainment having already been paid for. Our years without annual passes we have travelled like we did before dvc, but man it's so hard to avoid maxing out those annual passes. So just don't buy them and you will be fine.

 

[pace0123]

We bought DVC to stay in an two bedroom for 8 nights once a year. It has not changed since we bought over 16 years ago and we have not added on since our initial purpose. I think many go too often and burn out and become unhappy with DVC and Disney. One week is plenty for us.

We use our other vacation time to do non Disney vacations and stay-cations.

We have stayed at all the DVC properties over the years except Aulani and California.

This is exactly what we would like to do. How many points do you own in your single contract?

 

[msp2mco]

I can't quite say that we've changed the way we do Disney because we purchased DVC on our first trip in 2004. We have added on resale twice since then. We still vacation other places and enjoy that, but we always know we will be back at WDW within a year or so. We use the resorts and hang out in our room, which I don't do as much if I am at a value resort.

We have used our points to host other family and friends on our vacation, and we've rented out points that we didn't need.

 

[ajksmom]

We considered purchasing in 2004 and again in 2006. We weren't quite comfortable enough to put out that kind of cash at that time.

Before our 2008 trip we looked into it again and purchased 160 points at SSR and 50 points at VWL. Our intention was to continue to visit every other year, sometime during the last two weeks of August in a two bedroom. And....

We have done just that. Have stayed anywhere from 10 nights up to 13 nights per trip.

Until this past trip we have been completely satisfied using our points in this fashion.

This past August our 2 grandchildren (ages 7 & 8) discovered that there are Halloween and Christmas parties they haven't yet attended. AND we stayed 3 nights at VGF which was much more to our liking than we thought.

Now we are considering a small resale contract....

 

[MamaBear12]

The key to not returning to Disney multiple times a year is to avoid buying annual passes. The years we had annual passes we went three to four times. It was just so hard to justify spending a ton of money on a different vacation when going back to Disney seemed like just the cost of plane tickets. Hotels and entertainment having already been paid for. Our years without annual passes we have travelled like we did before dvc, but man it's so hard to avoid maxing out those annual passes. So just don't buy them and you will be fine.

Great advice! Thanks!