honest truth for a possible DVC buyer

[altogethernow]

Need your collective wisdom and experience please.

Stayed at OKW with my cousin two weeks ago. Facilities were great. Cast Members extremely friendly. First class, without a doubt. Then became interested in joining DVC. Asked my cousin tons of questions. Went to the Open House, asked tons of questions there too. Still on the fence.

Bottomline question to you: Is it worth it?

Facts about my family. We like taking vacations. Usually one to two times of year. Children are preschool age. My wife and I have a home. Saving up for retirement and children’s education. Financing a DVC membership is do-able.

Why, however, should I play $10-20,000 and then about $900 a year in maintenance fees for 50 years, when I can, using the internet, get great deals at hotels and spend about $6-700 per trip at most to DW???

Also, if I am convinced that it is worth it, Why buy directly from DVC when I can buy resale???

I really apologize if this topic (no doubt) has been discussed before, but I have the contract from DVC sitting in front of me and I have 5 days to send it in. HELP!

 

[dianeschlicht]

DVC makes sense only if you plan to vacation at WDW on a regular basis, plan to stay in deluxe accommodations on-site, and like the resort you buy into.

If you think this describes your family (and with little ones, I am quite sure it fits), then you need to decided if the 50 year contract of SSR is more important, or if a specific resort is more important to you. If the answer is a specific resort that is NOT SSR, then, a resale is the only way to go. As to staying at WDW hotels on great deals, those are getting less great as time goes on. The deals we saw of the past couple years seem to be melting away. Now the best deals are on the value resorts, and there is no way to compare those to the deluxe accommodations of the DVC resorts. We purchased 8 years ago, and feel we have more than recouped out purchase price, so now we get those deluxe resorts with in-room kitchens, laundrys, decks king master suites, whirlpool tubs etc. etc. for our maintanence fees each year. A pretty good deal, I think.

 

[spiceycat]

first of all if you want OKW then you have to go reseller.

DVC sales is only currently selling SSR.

www.atimeshare.com
www.dvc-resales.com
www.timesharesbyresale.com --- shontell crawford
www.thetimesharewarehouse.com
www.reid4florida.com
http://tra-resales.com/

Shontell is the only one I have personally worked with - she tries her best to get you what you want.

if you are happy staying off-site or at a value resort - then continue - but I don't think you would have started this post if that was the situation.

WDW resorts have (until this year) increase in price between 4% and 8% every year.

maintence fees have increased in price between 3% and 8% each year - some years they went down....

I still remember when the Poly was $49 a night.

I am still cheap - I can stay in a studio at OKW for the maintence fee (got my originally purchase price out long ago) for under $200 for 5 nights. I generally go in the off season - Sept or early Dec.

however most DVC members want the 2-bedroom - you probably won't save any money with a 2-bedroom. just depends upon what you want to save money or to go first class.

my DVC ownership has more than paid for itself - if I sell now I would make money not lose it - plus I have had 10 years of GREAT vacation.

my brother recently when through a bad time - I did sell my VB to help him out - but when I asked about selling OKW - it was a non issue - even when he needed the money badly - his family really enjoys OKW for their vacation.

 

[MiaSRN62]

As to staying at WDW hotels on great deals, those are getting less great as time goes on. The deals we saw of the past couple years seem to be melting away. Now the best deals are on the value resorts, and there is no way to compare those to the deluxe accommodations of the DVC resorts. We purchased 8 years ago, and feel we have more than recouped out purchase price, so now we get those deluxe resorts with in-room kitchens, laundrys, decks king master suites, whirlpool tubs etc. etc. for our maintanence fees each year. A pretty good deal, I think.

I think Diane stated it very well and I couldn't agree more. Once you stay at a DVC resort for the first time, regular hotel rooms just won't feel the same (no matter how much you save)---especially as your family grows. I have kids ages 10-17 and can particularily appreciate the extra space those 1 and 2 bedroom villas give you with the teens expecially. You won't want to stay in anything less than the deluxe, on-site accomodations that DVC serves up ! Also, there's just something to be said for owning a tiny part of the "magic". Good luck with your decision.

 

[Rpsemont]

altogethernow, my DH and I went through the same thought process a few years ago and DID NOT buy. Since that time, we have gone from visiting WDW once per year, to two times per year, and still wish we could squeeze in another trip somehow. We still do not own, and don't want to borrow to buy, so for now its out of reach. We rent points sometimes, stay at All Stars sometimes, and stay offsite. IMO your decision should be more about whether you feel you really want to visit WDW every year. When the children get into regular school the timing of the vacations could become an issue (We try limit days off school for WDW to 5 - but this year we're already at 7 - LOL!) Nevermind if they get involved in sports and other activities that possibly restrict your availability to travel. Not sure where you're from, but would usually have to fly? That's another cost that will always be there - as well as park tickets. We really love it, but since we started vacationing at WDW, now we don't plan trips to other places. Do you want your children "see the world"? Or maybe I should ask, which world do you want them to see? LOL!.
Of course the problem with asking this question here is that we all love WDW. Maybe ask the question, what to DVC's feel they've missed by buying into DVC?

 

[Doug Wolfe]

It will be a personal choice for you of course, but for me it is the best thing I ever did.

Yep, you can get cheap rates at many hotels, and you get what you pay for. I am so spoiled by two bedroom villas at DVC, I absolutely hate staying in a regular hotel anymore. I am selfish, because I work hard and earn my week or two of big-time comfort each year. My wife now feels the same way. I have three little ones and they love it!

I used DVC directly for financing because I got a nice reduced fee that they were using at the time. Sometimes they offer to buy back points, but I asked for and got a cash reduction. Also, by using DVC for my financing, I pay monthly. Right now, many folks are writing big checks for their annual fee's & taxes(really nice at Christmas)....but, because I financed directly, and pay monthly, my bill says "amount owed: $0."

Also, check with your tax advisor, I am able to deduct part of DVC. Are you deducting anything for a $700 stay at the no-tell-motel? No. Also, if you get tired of it, you can resell DVC. Try reselling that vacation at the Holiday Inn you took back in 1999.

My humble opinion is sign on the dotted line, and I'll meet you by the pool. Good luck.

 

[Stitch 03]

Here are a few of issues that you may want to consider:

1) Your travel pattern. Not only now, but in the future. If you still see yourselves travelling to WDW reguarly in 10 - 15 years then DVC is probably a good move.

2) If cost is a concern, then buy only the number of points that you would use on an average year. Then rent extra points in those years when you may need more (or borrow from another year).

3) A big issue for me was where do I want to stay. If you want to spend entire vacations at resorts such as AKL, Poly, GF, CS, or AS, then DVC may not be the best choice. That being said, there are some great DVC resorts available on property.

Is it worth it? That is a very personal question. I had a tough time answering it as I faced the issues I mentioned above. After some careful thinking I fianlly made the plunge. Only time will tell if I was correct.

 

[DisneyBill]

Altogethernow,
Welcome to DIS boards!
I think the answer to this question is not about the math. You can't really compare the occassional "great deal" at either a hotel or even Disney resort to the ability to travel "home" on a regular basis to accomidations that are always predictable and upscale. We too spent far too long deciding to join, just wish I had applied all those other stays to the DVC purchase, I'd have more points at this time. All predicated on the assumption that you will be a long-time WDW visitor.

 

[littlestar]

It's worth it for us because we like deluxe Disney accomodations. Yacht and Beach Club rooms (standard view) rent for over $300 a night if you book it on cash (not to mention you have to add that 11% room tax onto that amount). We usually get 3 (1 week) trips a year out of our points by staying in a studio. I figure if I take $300 times 21 nights a year = $6,300. Now, I might be able to get a small discount on that amount with AAA or a code, but usually when I wanted to go it wasn't available (not for Disney on site). WE definitely get our money's worth out of the membership.

If you don't care about deluxe and the Hampton Inn down the road is just fine, I wouldn't join. I'd save the money. But if a nice resort vacation in deluxe accomodations on Disney property is important to you, then DVC is great in my honest opinion. Every family is different. Some families would rather camp. Only you know your vacation habits and what's important to your family.

What sealed it for our family before we bought DVC was a stay in Orlando off site. We stayed at a Marriott off site and the front desk clerk got in an argument with me at check-out. She tried to charge me for an extra room and I wouldn't let her put it on my credit card. It was a horrible experience (I won't go into how bad it was) and my husband said that's it, we'll never stay off Disney property again. When we drove from that Marriott to Disney's Beach Club it was like heaven when we got to the Beach Club. "Art" at the Beach Club met us at the door with a great big smile and welcome and it only got better the whole stay. I could have kissed every Disney cast member that day for their kindness. They don't know how much their great attitudes meant that day after our ordeal. So, yes DVC is worth it to us!

 

[msdis]

**************************************************** ************ DON'T DO IT **********************

It will be the most expensive thing you ever do(add-ons are addictive )
But then again life is short, you have young children who will go thru their childhood once. We still debate the "deals" issue but that is so stressful by itself. After a while you really do look forward to "going home". It really does become home. And even a studio will blow away a regular room at any resort on or off property. If you can afford it, go for it. It will give you more in return than you will ever spend.

 

[Laurabearz]

We bought into DVC when we were planning on being a family of 4... now that we are a family of 5, we are even happier with our DVC purchase. There is nothing like having a full kitchen, laundry and (in our case) 2 bedrooms, with small children.

Come to think of it, all those things are great to have with big kids too!

For us, it is not only the location (onsite at WDW) but the villa sizes, pools, and all the other entertainment WDW holds....

Last September we took a week long 'no parks' trip, just enjoyed the pools, the sun, Monorail rides, petting zoo, etc AND we did it in comfort.... a lovely 2 bedroom at VWL. It was a perfect vacation for us and the kids... (esp since we did a couple of Character meals here and there)

SSR does have a full 50 years. I gotta say, if we were lookng for more points, I would jump on it. But there is something to be said for owning where you want to stay most.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[jcodespoti]

We have no kids and we love DVC. Each resort is a vacation in itself, this allows you to either go to the parks or not.
We view it as home base. You can go to Universal or Seaworld, hit Bucsh Gardens or even visit the Launch pad in cape Carnaveral (sp). Its up to you.

As far as financialy, all vacations are at least in a strictly money sense, a bad idea. Even if you find a place such as all-stars and get it for $75.00 per nite it would still be cheaper to stay at home. Vacations are to...well whatever you want them to be.

Run some numbers (i did), see what comes up, and do whats best for you


Joe in CT

 

[mwstar]

It is a very personal decision. Good Luck to you!

 

[Poorman]

We are all Mousebitten here.

Here is a link to a well thought out analisis of the DVC, pros and cons. It is a couple of years old but it still holds true.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/

Read it ,run your own numbers, and see if it is for you.

Rent some points if you still can't make up your mind. But be warned, the money you spent on the rental could have gone towards the purchase.

The accomadations are great and those commando days at the parks are over. If you don't get to see something, theres always the next trip, and you know there will be one.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[Lisa P.]

Why, however, should I play $10-20,000 and then about $900 a year in maintenance fees for 50 years, when I can, using the internet, get great deals at hotels and spend about $6-700 per trip at most to DW???

Are you happy with the deals you find online? Would you feel as if you are missing something by staying in those accommodations, now that you have tried OKW? If you would be happy staying at the All Stars or at a nice offsite property, then it's probably not worth paying DVC prices, IMHO.

The most significant question for you to consider?

Do you plan to visit WDW at least every other year for many years to come and pay to stay onsite in a Deluxe hotel or suite on most of those stays???

If yes, then consider DVC. That's the best reason to join. Otherwise, there are alternative ways to enjoy great Disney vacations... rent points, look for discounts, consider the wide range of accommodations options, etc.

 

[tjkraz]

A lot of it depends upon what you want from a hotel room.

We rented points at OKW mostly because it made financial sense. Traveling with 4 adults and a child, we were able to get a 2B at OKW for $220 per night. We'd have been lucky to get two moderate rooms for that price. And the amenities aside, we saved HUNDREDS during the trip on food alone. We ate every breakfast in our room and almost every lunch. Some people hate to cook on a vacation, but since we had to be in the room from about 12-3pm daily for "nap time", it didn't bother us at all to whip up a few ham sandwiches or a box of Mac and Cheese.

We also bought a week's supply of soda, bottled water and adult beverages at grocery store prices rather than WDW prices.

Anyway, six months after staying at OKW we were back for a second stay on rented points. Eight months after that we bought into SSR ourselves.

I tossed the numbers around for hours before committing. We even considered the price of continuing to rent points whenever we wanted to visit WDW. For us, it made sense just to buy in.

Does the cost of DVC compare favorably to staying at an all-star resort? No way. But look at the difference in accommodations.

 

[SnowWitch]

I'm the Disney freak in our family. Several years ago the kids and I went to Disney 4 times for 5-9 day trips stayed at the Cont Tower Club, Poly, YC, and WL. My DH went on 2 of these trips and inquired about DVC,after our 4th trip in 12 months, my DH asked "how much have we spent just on rooms in the past 12 months". J told him and he mentioned we could have purchased about 100 pts. That sent us on the road to DVC ownership. By the way, I had a discount on every trip towards the room but as others have mentioned the great deals on deluxes just aren't that great anymore.

This happened 4.5 years ago and we haven't regretted it yet. Especially, with the boys getting older and space becoming an issue.

Good Luck with your decision!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I've posted this before, We don't have any real regrets, but do have some disappointment with the overall program. While we knew when we purchased that staying at DVC resorts is the best use of points, we did want to sample some other options by using points.

In a few short years, Disney has really raised the "point" charges for these non-DVC options to a ridiculous level from when we initially joined in 2001. In some cases they have doubled in less than two years. And, the trend continues. This has diminished the vacation value of the overall program. We have in the past and will in the future rent our points and pay cash for other vacation options with the proceeds. The lack of a DVC discount on annual passes is also a dissapointment, but that was never a perk for members. Don't expect any real perks of the program beyond the great resorts. Most of the recent DVC events come at a cost that exceeds comparable Disney activities and services. However, they do give you the opportunity to interact with other DVCers...you just pay a premium price for the opportunity.

We have enjoyed some absolutely wonderful vacations with family. I know we never would have done them without owning. We also recently added on more points at HH as I feel the offsites are really the best and most affordable vacation options within the DVC program.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I could go on for eons about the cost of DVC as compared to other accommodations, but I'll spare you that...

I will say that even though we spent a fortune, we love our DVC and could never stay in an off site hotel (no matter how inexpensive).
For us, it's more about lifestyle than it is about cost.

Good luck...

PS- Welcome to the DIS boards!!!

MG

 

[John.Disney]

Viewpoint from a non-member:

Nothing compares to on-site DVC accomodations, nothing even close. You get what you pay for and if money is no object DVC is a no-brainer for big WDW fans...

But you must be honest with yourself in the economic analysis. It may be the best timeshare in the world, but it is also the most expensive timeshare in the world.

I try to split my stays at WDW. 3-7 days on a postcard or AP discount and finish it off with Sunday-Thursday on rented points at a DVC resort. I can go as often or as infrequently as I desire without concern or effort. I pay no upfront costs, no maintenance costs, I am locked into nothing long term, and rental points haven't gone up 1 cent since I've started doing it (with thousands more coming onto the market every day I am not worried at all all about being priced out). I never worry about using/banking/losing points or being crowded out of my home resort because I can't book 10 months in advance.

The very bottom line is that DVC and all it requires is very expensive and your personal situation (budget, family size, vacation habits, WDW loyalty, longterm lifestyle visability, home location, schedule situation, school/work situation, etc...) is unique. Only you can decide.

I will add though that I think it is not wise to buy directly from Disney, although apparently it is the easiest way to go. Firstly, as the years pass there will be more and more of a premium on the prime location resorts as more and more non-prime-location members squat on the 7 month window. Secondly, DVC membership is a commodity, you don't get more when you pay more. You just pay more. The exception would be if you had your heart set on SSR in which case I still implore you to buy a prime-location-resort as you will not likely ever have a problem getting into SSR at the 7 month window (worst case scenario you swap points with an SSR member and book each other at the 11 month window, should never be a problem if you are a prime-location-member).

Sorry to blather on but I have given this a lot of thought over the years, good luck in your decision, there really isn't a wrong one as DVC has the best resale value on the market as well if you change your mind down the road (another reason to buy a prime location resort).

John

Sorry if I offended anyone with the talk of non-prime-locations. I'm sure many folks prefer these resorts (I happen to prefer OKW myself). But the 'average' person does not as evidenced by Disney's determination that rooms costs more points at certain locations.