I want to be a DVC member too!

[QJ411]

Hi everyone,

I've been discussing w/ DH about how WONDERFUL and WORTH IT for us to buy at least the minimal points w/ DVC. PLEASE, help me encourage DH!


What's the pros and cons? We've been deciding for quite some time now but DH is still iffy...I want to be a DVC member!!!!!!!!


Anyone can help me with more info? THANKS a bunch!

Also, DH's friend said during their honeymoon on the DCL, they got the rate of 14%...does that sound right? Should we wait until our cruise to get it or is it that rate anywhere? Thanks.

 

[Rajah]

Me too, me too!! I'm in the same boat. I just came back from a trip with some friends where we stayed in a 1br at BWV and I *loved* it! Now I want in on DVC even more than ever before. DH, on the other hand, is no-go.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

These two threads might help:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=435888&highlight=+convince++husband

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=284031&highlight=+convince++husband

Very good general DVC info:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/dvc.htm

This one has a lot about pros and cons:

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

Good luck!

 

[Beca]

Originally posted by QJ411
Hi everyone,

Also, DH's friend said during their honeymoon on the DCL, they got the rate of 14%...does that sound right? Should we wait until our cruise to get it or is it that rate anywhere? Thanks.

I'm not sure what "rate" you are speaking of? Do you mean the interest rate? DVC's rate is actually much cheaper....9.95% if you put 20% down, and 10.95% if you put 10% down.



Beca

 

[Granny]

To me, DVC becomes "worth it" if....

1. You plan on visiting WDW at least every other year for the next 38-50 years.

2. You think staying on-site is well worth the premium you pay at WDW resorts.

3. You typically stay in a moderate or above.

4. Your visits are not mostly long weekends...DVC works best for full week or Sunday - Friday visits since the weekend points are higher.

5. You are interested in upgrading your vacation more than saving money. This one is just my opinion, since we would never have gone to WDW so often, or stayed in anywhere near as nice of accommodations, without DVC.


Yes, you can trade out to other locations, but if that's your primary interest, DVC may not be the best investment for you.

If you meet the criteria for 1-4 above, you should delve more deeply into DVC. If not, it might not be the best fit for you.

Good luck with your decision process!

 

[QJ411]

Thanks for the links!!! I just got off the phone w/ them and they connected me to one of the DVC guides and she was so sweet. She's gonna send me all the info and I'll have to call her back with any questions.

Thanks Granny for the thoughts...some good points to consider!


WOW, I didn't know the interest rate wasn't 14%! Where did I get that rate from?!

10.95 or 9.95 isn't too bad actually...now they told me there's a $1,500 credit if we don't want the complimentary points, will they add that $1,500 towards my down payment so I'll just have to come up w/ the other half to make it a 20% down payment?

Thanks for all the info so far, it's SOOOO helpful! Also, is this interest rate for everyone? Because I heard Disney doesn't use an outside lender, so is this a fixed rate and available to everyone? THANKS again!!!

 

[dmoore22]

I'm a DH that was apprehensive but resistance was futile. We have 6 kids hence a stay at the value resorts was pricey. What I did was look at the cost of staying at a value resort vs. the purchase price for points. To make a long story longer we purchased our points resale and an additional 100 add-on points. We found a good deal that included banked points plus the seller covered the first year maintenance fees. We now stay twice as long in a two bedroom as we did with two rooms at the value resorts spending less money with maintenance fees and annual passes factored into the equation. Plus I itemize so I can deduct the property tax part of the maintenance fees on my income tax.

For our family it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our only regret is that we didn't get involved when DVC first opened instead of analyzing every detail and nuance.

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by QJ411
now they told me there's a $1,500 credit if we don't want the complimentary points, will they add that $1,500 towards my down payment so I'll just have to come up w/ the other half to make it a 20% down payment?

Yes, that's exactly how it works!

 

[princess&tig]

With 6 kids a washer and dryer are huge. A 2 bedroom is a prefect fit for when they are small and a grand villa is great when they grow up. I cant imagine the cost of staying in a regular WDW hotel (maybe 2-3 rooms) with no kitchen, W/D and limited TV's.

DVC is magical because of the joy of spending time together at the what I think is one of the best places on earth. It is a time away from distraction just to enjoy family and friends.

I also love planning the trips as much as going as well. Picking the right resort at the right time and planning all the details.

The downside is becoming spoiled and having to come home.

 

[Rajah]

Okay, the minimum I'm seeing you can get is 150. But I'm finding some resales for 100 points. Can I buy 100 points resale and that's all I have to worry about? Because then I could bank / borrow so that we have 200 points every other year, which is *almost* enough for a 1 bedroom at Boardwalk Villas for one week every other year. And since we *never* go for a full week (can't convince DH to go that long *sigh*), having 200 points will get us the 5 nights I *can* get him to go for.

 

[dairyou]

Hey Queenie,

Exactly one year ago I posted the same question. I researched and researched then came to my husband. He was still very hesitant. I finally told him with the last 4 trips to WDW we almost could have paid the 150 point minimum. That was probably the selling point for him!

You can try staying at a DVC resort on your next vacation and maybe that will hook him in. You can rent points and pay less than you would going through Disney directly. (Wish I would have known this before).

I've seen many people suggest purchasing a resale for 50 points. Bank and borrow and you'll have enough for a stay. Though you probably will be addicted with DVC and purchase an add on. That's what I'm hoping for!

We're going for our first trip home in 37 days! We can't wait!

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Deb

 

[Beca]

Originally posted by Rajah
Okay, the minimum I'm seeing you can get is 150. But I'm finding some resales for 100 points. Can I buy 100 points resale and that's all I have to worry about? Because then I could bank / borrow so that we have 200 points every other year, which is *almost* enough for a 1 bedroom at Boardwalk Villas for one week every other year. And since we *never* go for a full week (can't convince DH to go that long *sigh*), having 200 points will get us the 5 nights I *can* get him to go for.

Yes, that works exactly as you think. We own a smaller contracts at two different resorts, and plan to bank and borrow to give us the home advantage along with enough points to stay every other/every third year. It seems like a really good plan.



Beca

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by Rajah
Okay, the minimum I'm seeing you can get is 150. But I'm finding some resales for 100 points. Can I buy 100 points resale and that's all I have to worry about? Because then I could bank / borrow so that we have 200 points every other year, which is *almost* enough for a 1 bedroom at Boardwalk Villas for one week every other year. And since we *never* go for a full week (can't convince DH to go that long *sigh*), having 200 points will get us the 5 nights I *can* get him to go for.

You've got it right. If you purchase from Disney then the minimum is 150 points, but you can purchase anything available resale. There is no minimum.

A 100 point contract resale simply means someone originally purchased from Disney the minimum (or higher) number of points and then later purchased a 100 point add-on. They are now selling the add-on portion. That's how the market eventually gets resale contracta available that are less than Disney's minimum.

As mentioned, keep in mind that by both banking and borrowing, a 100 point contract will give you 300 points available every 3rd year.

 

[QJ411]

Originally posted by dairyou
Hey Queenie,

Exactly one year ago I posted the same question. I researched and researched then came to my husband. He was still very hesitant. I finally told him with the last 4 trips to WDW we almost could have paid the 150 point minimum. That was probably the selling point for him!

You can try staying at a DVC resort on your next vacation and maybe that will hook him in. You can rent points and pay less than you would going through Disney directly. (Wish I would have known this before).

I've seen many people suggest purchasing a resale for 50 points. Bank and borrow and you'll have enough for a stay. Though you probably will be addicted with DVC and purchase an add on. That's what I'm hoping for!

We're going for our first trip home in 37 days! We can't wait!

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Deb

Last night I brought up the subject again...this time I was much better prepared. I gathered the info here and the info the DVC guide gave me, and I tried to come up with reasonable answers for DH's questions.

To me, at least, it seems like a good thing, like Deb said, for the amount of money we've spent going to WDW, we could have well paid off the DVC already.

I told him Linda (DVC Guide) said, for 150 points, using our Dec. 5, 2004 trip dates, we could have stayed at SSR for TWELVE days!

His final question was: SOoooo, after we pay off the $12,000+ (minus the down payment), each year we stay after that is basically what the annual maintenance fee is...sooo, we can stay at SSR for TWELVE DAYS for approximately $570.00 ($3.80 per point on maintenance)....

I just said "yea, uh huh...something like that"....and left it alone. I wasn't 100% sure.

Can't wait to get the package and really figure it out. THANKS for all the info so far, it's SO much help!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by QJ411
His final question was: SOoooo, after we pay off the $12,000+ (minus the down payment), each year we stay after that is basically what the annual maintenance fee is...sooo, we can stay at SSR for TWELVE DAYS for approximately $570.00 ($3.80 per point on maintenance)....

I just said "yea, uh huh...something like that"....and left it alone. I wasn't 100% sure.

That is exactly correct.

Realize that the dues can and do go up, but in recent years the increases have trailed the increase in room rates at cash Disney resorts. Member dues are going up about 2-4%, while published room rates are running over 5% for the same period. Increases are capped at 15% by contract, but there's no reason to believe it will ever approach that level.

Also, make a point to explain that the dues are tied right into the operating budgets for the resorts. DVC does have some latitude to set a level of reserve funds as they see fit, but member dues are NOT a profit center for Disney. They make their money off of the initial point purchase. The resorts are then operated as non-profit entities.

 

[dairyou]

Queenie,

It sounds like you are getting very close to becoming a DVC member!

When my husband finally said yes, this was his thoughts: We want a resale contract of 100 points. OKW for sure. This is what we ended up with after of October visit with the DVC Guide: 175 points (we needed more in case we wanted to trade out) and our resort is SSR for the extra 12 years. He was really sold once we were there! But, I have to say the credit goes to the Dis Boards. Without everyone's help here, he would not have had an open mind when we saw the Guide. He thought he had his ducks in a row before we went in for our appointment

Good luck and let us know when it happens so we can give you a "Welcome Home".

Maybe we'll see you there in December. We're going November 30th to December 9th. (On points of course!)

Deb

 

[QJ411]

Hi Deb...

THANKS, I can't wait to post and say we're offically in! But until then, we have to keep our fingers crossed...hee hee.

We'll be down there on Dec 5th, but we'll be on the cruise and won't be at GF until the 9th (Thrs.) Hopefully we can meet up on Thrs. if you'll be there during the day!

Then, we can ALL gang up on him to convince him to sign up for DVC!!! hee hee....

I'll keep everyone posted!