Has anyone regretted buying into DVC?

[Lisa P.]

...to me, the DVC seems really expensive. ... Looking at Vero Beach for spring break, it takes 447 points. ... To buy that many points, the cost is astronomical.

So you need a 2BR. That can add up. Premier season means a premium on points.

I'm not ruling it out, but I guess I'm failing to see where the value is........

Much about the value will depend upon how you'd choose to use. VB for spring break, HHI in the summer and WDW during Xmas/Easter are all costly. If you don't need to travel during those "most desirable" times, it may work for you. But if you generally need the major holidays/school breaks and if you otherwise plan to use points to vacation at non-DVC resorts, then you may have a hard time finding good value for your money in DVC.

DVC is really best for those who plan to stay at a DVC resort at least every other year, not for long weekends (weekends can add up quickly too) or Premier season. JMHO. HTH.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mary Ellen
There were a couple of reasons I used AKL concierge as an example.
If memory serves me correctly, AKL concierge costs DVC members the most number of points per night of any WDW resort.

Actually AKL is the lowest concierge available on points. GF, YC and Poly are all significantly more. But the difference is likely commensurate with the cash differences for the most part.

I'll second Lisa P's post. DVC is only a good value if you make it so. It can be a very bad value compared to the long term commitment involved. It really only makes sense financially if one uses it for 7 days or less and if less avoids weekends. The best value is 5 days avoiding weekends. Every time you use it for weekends or other options, you erode the value and it doesn't take long until your in the red. Besides, WDW is one of the most expensive places in the US to vacation, even if the room were free. Are the golden handcuffs worth it, everyone has to decide for themselves.

 

[ceejay13]

It is hands down, our best vacation purchase and we have added on 3 times. On 3 occasions we have gotten reservations as close as a month out and just recently 3 months out. I do agree that is best used at WDW and we have no trouble doing just that. It has totally changed the way we vacation. When we tell our friends it is our most relaxing vacation spot, those that haven't joined us can't imagine it. We didn't buy until 2000 and our only regret is that we didn't purchase back in 1993 when we first looked at it.

 

[Lesley]

my only regrets are that we have spent so much outside of DVC....buying annual passes and taking extra trips with AP rates...which probably wasn't the best use of our funds at the time. I don't regret owning DVC at all....but have learned that we have to control our WDW addiction even more, since the more you go the more you spend, etc.... During our first couple years as members we kind of went hog wild on vacation spending.

As far as our points go though...at this point selling really wouldn't be advantageous as we'd probably end up spending more money on less vacation without our points. We only pay dues, as we paid in full for our membership, and I know that for the cost of our dues I couldn't find accomodations with kitchen and laundry facilities for our family of 5 for even a week at the places we'd be likely to go. When our finances need a break from the continuous WDW trips we'll go to HH....and we'll get PH's instead of AP's to quell the "lets go again" monster. And I think we'll relax and enjoy it more.

Actually I guess the real regret is the AP's....though we would not have purchased those had we not been part of DVC....never ending cycle! Still don't regret buying DVC because it was the one good choice, even if it spurred others that weren't.

 

[garydeb]

No regrets!!!!

We go on vacation a couple times a year. DVC allows us to go more often and lets us share the Disney experience with family and close friends. The memories are priceless for us!!!