How do you justify non-Disney vacations when you've spent so much on DVC?

[crisi]

If you are averaging $10k per year for vacations, you are spending about what we are - and I think we are both families of four. Sometimes its a little more, sometimes its a little less. Hawaii and Germany were both around $12k - but Germany was an ABD trip (we did get a deal - it was 2009) and Hawaii had some expensive tours and island hopping in it - we could have kept it under $10k if we'd just stayed put on Maui. Mexico was less than $4k. We took the kids to California one year, that was less than $4k. Our Disney trips are less than $10k - if we don't bring anyone and end up paying for more people.

 

[bakenatj]

Because life is short, and you can't take it with you.

Exactly! I don't see the point of saving all my money so I can retire when I'm old (no offense to any of our elders). I want to experience things with my kids and wife and make memories of Disney and many other places. I do invest for my retirement, hope to when I'm 55 or there about.

We go on 3 to 4 vacations a year. I have to so I don't lose my mind. It keeps me going and motivated. I guess if buying into DVC meant that the only vacation we could do was Disney we would have never done it. We have to many other things we enjoy doing, like scuba diving, sitting on the beach, going to the mountains, camping and on and on.

 

[cseca]

I think it depends on how much you normally spend on a disney vacation and how you can offset it.

As another PP said, you can always rent your points. Or there's always the option to bank your points for future use. You never know when you'll get an opportunity to bring a family/friend (you can charge them if you want to of course) or go on an extra trip. Or better yet, splurge on a bigger accommodation the next year.


I have to add this too, DH has some points available with those hotel chains we can use on any stay for a good week or so. We've been talking about going somewhere else for the past 3 years and seriously we've never figured out where we would want to go with a toddler...

So it's not for lack of trying, every time we talked about going somewhere else we think about if DD would enjoy the trip. Being so young there aren't many places we can take her that's not "theme parky". And we are SO not beach people, that's why it's so difficult to find other interesting places to enjoy. I'm glad that I bought into DVC now, because I think things would've been a lot different if we already have teenagers or something.

 

[JimC]

Each family will have different circumstances and priorities. We first bought points when we lived in PA. After moving to Orlando in 2006 we expected that we would sell. However, since moving we have doubled our membership.

Our use has changed over time and will probably again in the future.

 

[eliza61]

This is a question that people who spend $$$ buying a vacation home or boat answer every day. Is spending $$$ on a boat or home going to preclude you from taking other vacations? The determining factor could be financial or just a desire not to waste the $$$ you spent on the vacation home or boat.

DVC owners have the option of renting points. It's probably a lot easier selling your DVC points then selling an expensive boat or vacation home.

LOL I had to giggle on this one Lewis, mainly because we have a "boat" horror story. It's almost like post traumatic stress for me. Let's just leave it at all those wonderul boating vacations my dh swore we were going to have didn't pan out quite that way.

Op, we never purchased disney thinking it would be our only destination. No way, we simply love to travel to much. that being said Disney has afforded us the opportunity to have some wonderful vacations that we would have otherwise never had.

Like others I don't really regret my purchase but I'm extremely happy that I did not add on. As others have mentioned the downhill slide at the world has made it not as attractive as previous.

we're not ready to sell but we're not annual visitors anymore.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for keeping up the discussion - I am taking it all in!

Hubby just emailed and said we are taking a break from the parks next summer. We'll talk more about it tonight.

RE: Yearly vacation budget. We don't spend anywhere near $10,000 on vacations, and I have no interest in doing so. We have cut out all weekend trips, as we didn't find much value in those either, and now, hubby has to work at his office on Saturdays. So, we go to Disney, and that is it, so our dues, and all associated vacation costs. If 1 trip in March approx. $2600.00 and 2 week summer trip $2900.00 for a total of $5500.00. This does not count our buy-in, as I'm just giving cash out of pocket figures for each trip. It is only about 4% of our income, which is not a huge amount. If we only go on 1, 2 week summer trip a year it's $3750.00.

Sure this is a bargain for 2-3 weeks in Disney, but it's more than we thought we'd spend, as we are pretty frugal in our thinking. It's very hard to shift this way of thinking since 2 weeks in Disney each year, is more than most of my family/friends, as not many of them vacation yearly.

I really am taking all of this in, and am excited to speak to my hubby tonight!

Thanks, Tiger

 

[quinnc19]

OP, do you ever do a little detouring and see some other sights in the US as you are coming and going from WDW? It seems as though that may expand your vacation horizons a bit without breaking the bank? Maybe you could rent some of your points and spend fewer nights at WDW? It sounds like you are very into the parks, but you could also buy 10 day no-expiration tickets instead of AP. Maybe working in some days of water parks, etc., or spending more time at resorts like AK (or even HHI - lots of active things to do) could bring some variety and decrease costs a bit?

 

[DougEMG]

So, how do you justify the expense for other vacations, when you've spent so much on DVC?

I've got an annual vacation budget, half of which is allocated to do trips to Disney and the other half is allocated for non-Disney trips.

 

[Tiger926]

OP, do you ever do a little detouring and see some other sights in the US as you are coming and going from WDW? It seems as though that may expand your vacation horizons a bit withoutout breaking the bank? Maybe you could rent some of your points and spend fewer nights at WDW? It sounds like you are very into the parks, but you could also buy 10 day no-expiration tickets instead of AP. Maybe working in some days of water parks, etc., or spending more time at resorts like AK could bring some variety and decrease costs a bit?

We don't do much detouring as kids are still young (3 and 7) and are anxious to get to WDW. LOL!

We have never bought 10 day no expiry tickets as they are more than Annual Passes. Too expensive at this point.

We haven't gone to Water Parks either, as kids are too small. Baby boy just got ear tubes out, so no water stuff for him for awhile, and our older daughter doesn't like high water slides and such.

We have spent lots of time at resorts, as we go for 2 weeks each summer, so we've also done that too.

I think hubby and I are feeling burned out on WDW as we've done so much for the past 7 years, and now, we are itching for some new experiences for ourselves and our babes.

Thanks for the suggestions, Tiger

 

[DougEMG]

If 1 trip in March approx. $2100 and 2 week summer trip $3400.00 for a total of $5500.00.

If you currently spend $5,500 (MF + all other costs), then renting out your points (360 points) for $10/point would give you another $3,600, so you could have $9,100 ($5,500+$3,600) to spend on a different vacation that would still only cost you the out of pocket $5,500.

So is there something you would rather do for $9,100 instead of going to Disney for 3 weeks?

I've rented out my points privately and through some of the other rental companies and have never had problems.

 

[tgropp]

As I've mentioned on these boards before, our 360 points have cost us $40,000 due to high CDN exchange on our first contract. Who knew a few short years later it would be at par, and then actually be worth more than the US dollar?


- if we didn't use all of our points because we cruised and banked them, that means that we would have to take an extra vacation at some point to use those points, or, get larger accommodations (which we don't need) to use the points


So, how do you justify the expense for other vacations, when you've spent so much on DVC?

Tiger

We were in the same boat, purchased when our dollar was a lot lower than it is now. We only have 175 points so we can use them up very easy and still do our other annual island vacation, since our children are grown up and away from home. Since you have lots of points, did you consider renting half your points and use the money to do an all-inclusive or cruise?

 

[Tiger926]

If you currently spend $5,500 (MF + all other costs), then renting out your points (360 points) for $10/point would give you another $3,600, so you could have $9,100 ($5,500+$3,600) to spend on a different vacation that would still only cost you the out of pocket $5,500.

So is there something you would rather do for $9,100 instead of going to Disney for 3 weeks?

I've rented out my points privately and through some of the other rental companies and have never had problems.

We were in the same boat, purchased when our dollar was a lot lower than it is now. We only have 175 points so we can use them up very easy and still do our other annual island vacation, since our children are grown up and away from home. Since you have lots of points, did you consider renting half your points and use the money to do an all-inclusive or cruise?

Thanks, but I've already mentioned that we aren't interested in renting out points at all.

Even if we did though, dues still have to be paid, so dues would then need to come off of the money made from renting, even if we got $10.00/point = $3600.00, our dues are $1700.00.

Hubby and I are going to discuss it more tonight. I just looked through RCI exchanges, and nothing really caught my eye at all. We aren't sit on a beach people, and there are certain destinations that we aren't interested in taking the kids. I am also a teacher, so I am restrict by when I can travel.

All of these reasons made DVC the best fit for us. I think we need a little break as it's been years since we've not gone to Disney, and it's also been years since our last cruise.

Thanks, Tiger

 

[DenLo]

Instead of taking an extra trip you could just do a longer trip or reserve a bigger villa next year by banking this year points. Or if you really don't want to absorb the points you could rent them to someone or contact David (Daddio) there's an ad here on the Disboards, about using his service. He's from Canada too so maybe the lack of an exchange rate would help.

Personally I like other vacations, especially cruises in addition to Disney. It makes me appreciate WDW even more when we come back after a nonDisney vacation.

 

[Brian Noble]

Personally I like other vacations, especially cruises in addition to Disney. It makes me appreciate WDW even more when we come back after a nonDisney vacation.

Interesting. I like non-disney vacations because they are enjoyable in and of themselves.

 

[Sammie]

I just looked through RCI exchanges, and nothing really caught my eye at all

I am totally not impressed that we don't get a single exhange in France

Am I looking in the wrong place? anyone??

 

[DizGirl20]

This is such an interesting thread. And good timing. We were having the exact same conversation last weekend - about how much money we have spent on Disney and how we can afford other vacations. I think in future years we may:

1. Give Vero, HH and Aulani a try (if we can get in at the 7 month mark)
2. Take shorter trips and rent out the leftover points
3. Use our points to stay at non-DVC locations. I realize the general consensus is that it's not the best use of points, but hey it's already paid for, right?

We do have a vacation planned to visit Canada this summer. We will drive instead of fly and we are renting a house through VRBO - much cheaper than a hotel room.

 

[dsneygirl]

This is a question that people who spend $$$ buying a vacation home or boat answer every day. Is spending $$$ on a boat or home going to preclude you from taking other vacations? The determining factor could be financial or just a desire not to waste the $$$ you spent on the vacation home or boat.

My co worker bought a $10k camper and an F-150 to tow it last summer. He just complained he has no money to do anything other than camp all summer.


We have 300 points but bought all resale and the last contract last year when the dollar was over 90cents. We are already all borrowed our 2011 points. We are also a bit burnt out at this point so we are doing Aulani this year and DCL next year. We also are going to be doing more 1 bedrooms even though there are just 3 of us. And we travel with family so we have no problem spending points.

 

[Pakey]

We have 500 DVC points and are pretty tired of WDW vacations. We got our first contract 14 years ago.

My husband will only spend one week a year at WDW because he really doesn't like it. Our adult children go if we pay for it but otherwise, they are not interested either; they'd all rather go to Hawaii.

So we go to WDW one week a year and I give away points to friends and family to use them all. I'm not interested in renting and my husband and I didn't enjoy the Disney cruise we took. I'm sure I will sell but I keep waiting to see if the 2 grandkids love it enough that their parents will want our contracts, lol. I keep saying that we will look into RCI but we prefer to stay in hotels when we travel and like many others here, the locations just don't "WOW" me.

In the meantime, we travel. We take 3 vacations a year, only one to WDW. I paid cash for the DVC and I justify the dues with the one week a year that I'm there so I don't care that we are giving points away at this point.

I would give back the DVC before I would quit taking my other vacations.

 

[Starr W.]

I am totally not impressed that we don't get a single exhange in France

Am I looking in the wrong place? anyone??

It wouldn't surprise me, the DVC "approved" aka quality filtered resorts is rather small if you ever looked at the real RCI directory.

To be honest, I haven't looked at the list since DVC did the switch.

I have a fixed week and Wyndham points that trade in RCI. Here's what I've done with RCI:

3 trades back into the resort I own the fixed week(2 President's Day/NYE for skiing).

1 trade into Wyndham Kona Hawaiian mid July 2010.

 

[lisaviolet]

Interesting read.