How Many disers are DVC members?

[iwannbindisnee]

I joined the Dis before we were members for about 3 years, I think. Then this past May we became DVC members! ( My husband wondered why I never brought it up to him before that--I was totally surprised!) We just stayed for the first time at BWV & AKV--they were both great! Deb

 

[marvali]

Currently have ressies to stay at HH, VB, OKW this year, and just got confirmed for next January at AKV for our first trip "home."

 

[TMB1203]

VWL since 2001.

 

[athenna]

I am!
I am a DVC member at SSR since 12/04.

 

[_queenie_]

Sorrry, but I voted for never. It's just not our thing.

 

[OlderMan]

Care to elaborate, queenie?

 

[stitchlover]

You should have added an "I Wish" selection.

That would be us!

 

[shmedly123]

I have considered it a couple of times in the past but have hit a few stumbling blocks in my decision:
#1 the rep said the break even point is at about 7.5 vacation point years. Judging by my calculations it is closer to 9 (i guess they are taking into consideration that the hotel rates will continue to increase but I also believe that the maintenance fee will continue to increase so that is probably a wash).
#2 this number seems to be assuming that you will be paying rack rates for your room over the next 7.5 years. I am staying at the BC in March which happens to be one of the most expensive point months and I was still able to get 40% off of the rack rate (through an AP disc.). In fact I can't remember the last time I stayed at the rack rate. So if i add 40% to the price to off set the discounts you can routinely get now we are talking about 13yrs. That is where it gets tricky for me. It is hard to make monthly payments for vacations I will be taking in 13yrs from now in order to "break even" Again I don't think it is wrong I just have a hard time justifying the cost as even the resales are pretty steep. Which brings me to...
#3 I feel like I missed the boat on this one, If i could have gotten in 7-10 years ago when the DVC price was much cheaper then I would be really enjoying the savings as some of you long time owners now enjoy.
#4 With the housing market really starting to fall and the timeshare resale market as terrible as it is (with the notable exception of Disney) I can't see how prices can hold up...Maybe in two years from now if I can snag a DVC for around $50 per point then I can do it (I can only dream).

anyone else struggling with the same decisions??

 

[bradisgoofy]

Count me in. April 2000 at Boardwalk.

 

[danielle782001]

I have considered it a couple of times in the past but have hit a few stumbling blocks in my decision:
#1 the rep said the break even point is at about 7.5 vacation point years. Judging by my calculations it is closer to 9 (i guess they are taking into consideration that the hotel rates will continue to increase but I also believe that the maintenance fee will continue to increase so that is probably a wash).
#2 this number seems to be assuming that you will be paying rack rates for your room over the next 7.5 years. I am staying at the BC in March which happens to be one of the most expensive point months and I was still able to get 40% off of the rack rate (through an AP disc.). In fact I can't remember the last time I stayed at the rack rate. So if i add 40% to the price to off set the discounts you can routinely get now we are talking about 13yrs. That is where it gets tricky for me. It is hard to make monthly payments for vacations I will be taking in 13yrs from now in order to "break even" Again I don't think it is wrong I just have a hard time justifying the cost as even the resales are pretty steep. Which brings me to...
#3 I feel like I missed the boat on this one, If i could have gotten in 7-10 years ago when the DVC price was much cheaper then I would be really enjoying the savings as some of you long time owners now enjoy.
#4 With the housing market really starting to fall and the timeshare resale market as terrible as it is (with the notable exception of Disney) I can't see how prices can hold up...Maybe in two years from now if I can snag a DVC for around $50 per point then I can do it (I can only dream).

anyone else struggling with the same decisions??

We considered every thing you listed before becoming members... However, we feel you can never bank on the prices dropping... History indicated prices only go up. I also wish we would have purchased 7 years ago when we discovered our true love for the place. But we didn't.

We still love the rooms. They are truly unlike anything else you can stay in on property. We figured out the buy in would pay for itself in 6 trips because we like bigger rooms with more upgrades. We have already gone on 4 since we purchased. We could have never stayed in these types of rooms and resorts 4 times in 2 years without the club.

The dues are what kills us. They are high. Didn't figured them into the cost over the long term. I still think there is a savings in the long term. But you just have to be sure Disney vacations are something you would want in the future.

Keep in mind, unlike a traditional time share, you can go any week of the year and stay in dozens of different resorts across the country and the world. There is flexibility in this membership. Don't compare it to others. Others can't hold up to what Disney offers. We like the idea that we can go to others places as our interests change. More importantly our schedules change every year and we could never do one that locks us into the same week every year.

All things considered, we are so glad we made the choice to join. Yes, there is a great out of pocket expence up front and the dues are high. But it really is worth it. I am sure of that.

 

[marvali]

I wonder how incentives work into the equation as far as payoff for joining? I'm not even going to try and figure that one out because right now I think we made a great choice regardless and DVC will be well worth it in the long run also. 50 years at AKV isn't going to help DW and I tremendously at our age, but the ability to one day take the grandkids, and eventually give this gift to our kids and their families to enjoy helps make the sale too.

 

[antree]

Count Me in. We Love DVC

 

[DanceRC28]

DH and I looked into it a few years back, but found it was just too expensive for us. We are looking at relocating to the Orlando area, however, so WDW would be in our backyard

 

[magsnden]

I have considered it a couple of times in the past but have hit a few stumbling blocks in my decision:
#1 the rep said the break even point is at about 7.5 vacation point years. Judging by my calculations it is closer to 9 (i guess they are taking into consideration that the hotel rates will continue to increase but I also believe that the maintenance fee will continue to increase so that is probably a wash).
#2 this number seems to be assuming that you will be paying rack rates for your room over the next 7.5 years. I am staying at the BC in March which happens to be one of the most expensive point months and I was still able to get 40% off of the rack rate (through an AP disc.). In fact I can't remember the last time I stayed at the rack rate. So if i add 40% to the price to off set the discounts you can routinely get now we are talking about 13yrs. That is where it gets tricky for me. It is hard to make monthly payments for vacations I will be taking in 13yrs from now in order to "break even" Again I don't think it is wrong I just have a hard time justifying the cost as even the resales are pretty steep. Which brings me to...
#3 I feel like I missed the boat on this one, If i could have gotten in 7-10 years ago when the DVC price was much cheaper then I would be really enjoying the savings as some of you long time owners now enjoy.
#4 With the housing market really starting to fall and the timeshare resale market as terrible as it is (with the notable exception of Disney) I can't see how prices can hold up...Maybe in two years from now if I can snag a DVC for around $50 per point then I can do it (I can only dream).

anyone else struggling with the same decisions??

i'm with you. i LOVE the idea of "owning" dvc, and have stayed (luckily) at SSR. you can't compare the rooms, that's certainly true but there is some discrepancy about when it pays for itself.


i have to add, for us, the fact that it expires and goes back to disney is a big downfall. we spoke to a rep on the boardwalk who said "well after 50yrs the property will need work, and renovations and you wouldn't want to do this yourself. so disney takes it back and does those improvements for you."

but then they don't give it back to us!


truly, i'm not bashing at all! i really love the idea of it. i would love to go back twice a year for ever, my kids love it so much. but there are some shortcomings for us. i think if we had a surplus of money, like winning the lottery(!) then we wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[eliza61]

Just wondering how many of us disboard junkies are also DVC members or at least thinking of becoming members. It stands to reason that there would be many because DVC members travel to the world so frequently and are looking for the most up-to-date information.

Thanks for taking the poll

BCV's owners from NJ

 

[shmedly123]

i have to add, for us, the fact that it expires and goes back to disney is a big downfall. we spoke to a rep on the boardwalk who said "well after 50yrs the property will need work, and renovations and you wouldn't want to do this yourself. so disney takes it back and does those improvements for you."

but then they don't give it back to us!

that was the other thing for us too...the fact that they are the only timeshare that you don't keep seems a bit strange

 

[disney54us]

me, OKW, VB & SSR. I guess you can say we got hooked. Don't sweat the 50 year thing, I know we are different ages but, 50 is a very long time. So think of all the years of 'magic' you get out of it. We started w/ one contract and added and added and well you get the picture. I know, we would not have been able to go as many times as we have if we were not DVC members.
hi, magsden.

 

[katdocnorf]

Wow.... I figured it was great amount but almost 70%...

I have been DVC since 1997 and a DISer for almost as long... since 2000 I think.. This is my second ID...

I am also shocked but the never's......

 

[llmurphy17]

count me too- proud AKV owner
now I'm guaranteed to go to WDW at least once a year.

 

[southtexasmom]

Count me in too!! SSR since 8/07. It was a no brainer for us, we stayed at SSR once in a 2 bedroom and fell in love with the kitchen and washer/dryer. We couldn't afford to stay there every year without being DVC members.