I Have DVC ???

[palaemon]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. I visited DVC last summer and I have been thinking about membership ever since, but I have concerns.

Is it justifiable, since it expires in Jan. 2042?

Is it difficult to get the accommodations you're wanting with 3-6 months notice?

Trading points for stay abroad...is it basically automatic, or is it a gamble? (i.e. can i stay where i want when i want given enough time without worrying, "will i get the exchange?")

also, is there a discount on WDW Theme park tickets? or DL/CA Tix? what about EuroDisney?

PS I read that Divamomto3 got extra years on SSR contract, how is that?

Anyway, I Love Disney and I've been there (WDW) 3 times in the last 4 years. I'd love to have timeshare and really like the points idea.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Granny]

Dave....first of all, WELCOME to the DIS boards! You've come to the best board on the internet (IMHO) for information about DVC. I'll try to tackle some of your questions:

Is it justifiable, since it expires in Jan. 2042?

If you purchase at Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney's current offering, you will get a contract for 50 years that expires in 2054. All the other resorts that already exist have contracts that expire in 38 more years, 2042.

When you ask justifiable, do you mean financially? Many feel that DVC pays for itself vs staying in a deluxe WDW resort in about 8-9 years. For us, it was justifiable because we:

1. Want to go to WDW every year.
2. Want to stay on-site.
3. Thought the idea of luxury suite accommodations on-site were something we could never afford until we joined DVC.

So yes, 38 years of vacations is very justifiable. Just look at how quickly the resale of contracts go, and you can see that there are hundreds (thousands?) of people that think that 38 years of vacations is a good deal through the DVC program.

Is it difficult to get the accommodations you're wanting with 3-6 months notice?

I have to say the DVC works best if you can plan 11 months ahead, or at least 7 months. These are the two times that reservations can start being made at the resorts (11 months at your home resort and 7 months for any other resort).

Depending on what time you like to travel, it is not difficult to get a DVC reservation at 3-6 months notice...but you might need to be flexible as to which resort you stay at. If you are wanting to stay at DVC peak periods such as Thanksgiving through the end of the year, short notice vacations are much more difficult. If you don't really care which DVC resort you stay at, it would be easier to book. But as was pointed out, I think DVC really works best for those who are able to book at least 7 months in advance.

Trading points for stay abroad...is it basically automatic, or is it a gamble? (i.e. can i stay where i want when i want given enough time without worrying, "will i get the exchange?")

I'm not well versed in exchanges, so I'll leave this question to others. I can tell you that buying DVC makes the most economical sense if you primarily use it to stay at DVC resorts. If you think you only want to go to WDW every few years or so, DVC might not be your best bet.

also, is there a discount on WDW Theme park tickets? or DL/CA Tix? what about EuroDisney?

The only DVC discount is a 10% discount on a length-of-stay pass (UPH). There are no DVC discounts on annual passes or regular PH or PHP passes. EuroDisney is part of the exchange program and I believe a stay there includes park passes.

PS I read that Divamomto3 got extra years on SSR contract, how is that?

I think you didn't understand that SSR ends in 2054. Nobody gets any "extra years" on a contract. As indicated, all SSR contracts expire 2054. Everything else expires 2042. So yes, by buying SSR you get 12 more years.

Anyway, I Love Disney and I've been there (WDW) 3 times in the last 4 years. I'd love to have timeshare and really like the points idea.

Yes, the points are a great system to provide flexibility for changing vacation habits or needs. Right now you might need just a studio. Later on, with friends or family, you might want a 1BR or larger.

If you've been going that often, you seem to be a good candidate for DVC. Where have you been staying? If a moderate WDW resort or above, then DVC can be a good vacation purchase for you financially.

I will say that DVC, for us, is not a money saver. We go more often and stay longer than we ever would without DVC. And of course, the room is just part of the expense. For us, it was a way to vacation in luxurious surroundings and still stay on site at WDW.

Good luck on your decision, and feel free to post your questions here on the DIS Boards!

 

[WDWLVR]

Welcome to the DIS. I think Granny did a good job of covering things.

DVC is right for us because we love Disney and want to stay onsite about once a year. We love the accomodations we can get with DVC. The kitchen and washer/dryer are a big benefit to us (we save some money by eating in at least for breakfast).

I can't answer the trade out question because we've never traded out and don't know if we would ever want to

I'm definately a plan ahead person and will make reservations at the 11 month window. 3-6 months is doable if you are flexible and don't want to go at the busiest times. BTW - busiest times might not always be the typical busy times for other hotels. For example early December is a very busy time for DVC as the points are low and many (like us) like to visit for the holiday festivities WDW puts on.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Dean]

If your thinking about doing much exchanging and can only book at 6 months or less, I think DVC is not a good choice for you. The exchanges are by no menas automatic. They may not come through at all or if they do, it mights but at only a month or two before travel. While it's possible to be successful getting DVC reservations at only a few months out, I think it works far better for anyone who can't plan at least 7 months out. And really anything less than 11 months out can be a problem that is likely to get worse and worse over time and as DVC grows.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Granny did a great job! I'll give you a "little" insight into trades. We did it once to Hawaii. Hawaii is one of the most difficult trades to get, but as long as you are flexible about when and exactly which resort, it is possible. With trades, you have to have someone at your desired destination who also happens to be trading out at the same time. Being flexible as to when you can go is one way to get your exchange. Some exchanges are very easy, others are more difficult. Bear in mind, that trading into DVC is highly desireable, so you have a good product to trade. You just call MS and tell them what you want, and they start a search. When they find a match, there will be a service charge (can't remember what it is, but it is less than $100), and then they subtract the appropriate number of points from your account.

BTW, DVC is the best purchase we have ever made! We have only one regret, and that is that we didn't do it in 1992 when we first heard about it.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Like was said... DVC has good "trade power"... but that does not guarantee you a room at your choice location, choice resort, or choice time. There is no availability at the trade resorts unless someone who owns there trades their week during the period that you want to visit... and then only if you are the person who gets the trade rather than someone else who is requesting the same week.

If you think that you may want to trade often, you might consider buying a different timeshare other than DVC just for trading. There are good traders out there for 1/10th the cost of DVC... which is why so many people recommend to use your membership for DVC properties only. The folks over on TUG (www.tug2.net) are the experts at learning to trade if you are so inclined.

I do know that DVC is very difficult to trade into... but I intend to try to trade in using my non-DVC timeshares from time to time. I do not expect a very high success rate... but every trade that I get into DVC is a plus. Since II only trades weeks... if I was to obtain a trade into a DVC property... it would only be available for 7 days with a fixed check-in date. I think they are usually Friday or Saturday check-in.

Another thing that you may consider is a direct trade with someone... You can find someone who owns a timeshare at a desirable location where you want to visit... and they can make a reservation for you far enough in advance to secure your room. In return, you can do the same for them at DVC.... or if they are a DVC member... you might transfer some DVC points to them. If it is the later... you might strike a deal where you transfer fewer points than would normally be required for an exchange... but more in line with the costs the other person would incur to book a reservation for you (which might be 1/2 the cost of a comparable DVC week).

I guess the bottom line is that even though you can exchange with DVC... there are more economical ways to do it than by using your DVC membership. You own one of the most valuable timeshares available anywhere... so almost by definition... if you trade it away for a different property... you are trading away "more" and receiving "less".

/Jim

 

[Pa@okw95]

The first thing I would do is read the frequently asked questions at the top of this board by Doc, it has some 29000 hits with good reason. You should get plenty of answers to your questions there. Since you go often to WDW you sound like a good candidate for DVC. SSr has longer term 12 more years because it is new. The rest of the resorts go into 2042. "Doc" is WebmasterDoc his question and answers are right on the top of the page.