I was told that DVC was the worst timeshare.

[nickspace]

I told someone about owning DVC and the told me that DVC was the worst timeshare to own. I think they were basing this statement on the fact that DVC contracts expire. They owned their own timeshare in Orlando which is in close proximity to Disney. I didn't respond because they have always been passionate about their timeshare and didn't want to get into it but I was really shocked that they would have the nerve to make such a statement in front of me.

 

[DizBub]

Another one that "just doesn't get it".
Or they are just jealous.

 

[JWG]

Well... That's true if you want a timeshare for anything but Disney. If you aren't interested in Disney, want something you can easily and effectively exchange, dont want to spend your time in Orlando and on propety and want the biggest bang for your buck they're right.

Now, if you take frequent vacations to Disney then they may be wrong.

But on average for what the average vacationer does, they're right.

 

[LoveToDisney]

When we were first looking at DVC (way back when they first offered OKW as the Disney Vacation Club), my DH thought it was a bad deal BECAUSE it had an expiration. He couldn't get over that for years. Well, years later we have bought multiple contracts with DVC and NOW as we are getting older, we are thrilled the Disney contracts expire so our son doesn't have to deal with the traditional unending annual dues one would have on another type of timeshare that does not expire.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Ask them to sell theirs on eBay and get back to me.

 

[Dean]

I told someone about owning DVC and the told me that DVC was the worst timeshare to own. I think they were basing this statement on the fact that DVC contracts expire. They owned their own timeshare in Orlando which is in close proximity to Disney. I didn't respond because they have always been passionate about their timeshare and didn't want to get into it but I was really shocked that they would have the nerve to make such a statement in front of me.

It is for many. DVC ONLY makes sense for those that value staying on property and will use most or all of their points at DVC resorts. In past times, that held true for those looking to do mostly weekends as well but not currently. If you look at it in terms of dollars only for general locations, exchanging and yearly dues; DVC is dramatically more expensive than most other timeshares even if you take into account the potentially higher resale value (an over rated issue IMO). For the most part Timeshare oriented people don't buy DVC or do so in very limited situations. Those who buy in DVC are generally Disney people first and DVC simply happens to be a timeshare that feeds that habit. Likely the most negative person I know toward DVC is a former owner and now experienced timeshare person.

Also, believe it or not, there are many people that actually prefer staying off property. There are also people that simply don't like Disney as a company and others who don't like the DVC resorts. Another group that are not DVC fans are exchangers who feel that the extra $95 fee is extortion and that exchangers should be treated the same as members and I would agree with them on that point.

As for the RTU, it is a big deal to some though not to me. I think the deeded vs RTU thing is not really an issue until you get under 30 years remaining at time of buy in. However, it is a consideration, esp once you get under about 30 years.

 

[Dean]

Ask them to sell theirs on eBay and get back to me.

I can sell my non DVC timeshares on ebay and do far better than I could do selling my DVC points. I realize that's not universally true for those that bought any timeshare retail. The idea that DVC gives a better return is not correct. It does better than most overall but in part it depends on how you look at it, there are other timeshares that have done well over the years, this is why one needs to research what you're buying. If you look at it as a % of the retail purchase price, DVC will usually come out ahead though there are many non DVC exceptions. If you look at it in terms of sheer dollars paid in and dollars lost, DVC usually falls behind simply due to the fact that DVC often costs far more than those timeshares and the yearly fees are significantly more on a per unit basis. If you pay $20K and sell for 50%, you still lost $10K, far more than if you bought for $500 on ebay. Even if you paid the same and the fees on one are double the other, the numbers may not work out.

I know some will start quoting the dollars saved but most will use the erroneous calculation of DVC rack rates. Remember everyone that uses a given timeshare will have garnered value from that usage and in terms of dollars, that value will often be fairly close to that of DVC though it depends greatly on the method of comparison. At present it makes no sense to buy in to any timeshare retail as a single purchase option and that includes DVC, IMO.

 

[CMOORE185]

When we were first looking at DVC (way back when they first offered OKW as the Disney Vacation Club), my DH thought it was a bad deal BECAUSE it had an expiration. He couldn't get over that for years. Well, years later we have bought multiple contracts with DVC and NOW as we are getting older, we are thrilled the Disney contracts expire so our son doesn't have to deal with the traditional unending annual dues one would have on another type of timeshare that does not expire.

I too thought the fact it expired was a negative, but now like you I am glad it expires. I am not a timeshare person per se, but got sold on the whole Disney being different than a regular timeshare thing. I am happy for the most part with DVC though, and we still love everything Disney.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I always thought the expiration part was a good thing. Who wants to pass on an aging timeshare and it's expenses to another generation? I figure 50 years is about right for the productive life of a timeshare.

 

[Doug7856]

...I know some will start quoting the dollars saved but most will use the erroneous calculation of DVC rack rates.

I tend to agree with you on this. I think a more fair value calculation would be what you would have paid for typical booking choices. This summer when I attempted to book a one night, weekend, non discounted stay at Pop - standard view - and was quoted $160 including tax, I see value in the real dollars I've paid for my DVC. The rack rate for DVC units is highly inflated, in my opinion, to help members feel like they are getting a great deal.

For my one night stay, I used Priceline for a 3 star Holiday Inn and got a rate of $45.

 

[Starr W.]

To the OP, the person that probably told you that spends a lot of time on RCI using his non-DVC timeshares to trade into DVC.

I know quite a few of those who say negative things about DVC, but spend multiple weeks a year at Disney in DVC units.

 

[Crystal_27]

Unless you plan on spending most of your vacations at Disney or Disney related-properties, it probably could be classified as one of the worst because the trades are so difficult. But, for someone who drinks the Disney Kool-Aid, DVC is a dream come true.

 

[rahrah]

I think of it this way. A normal timeshare is like a car, and a DVC is like a large boat.

With the car you can pretty much go anywhere you want and is cheaper to own.

You can get the boat from lake to lake, but it is not really worth the effort.

But for sailing around in Lake Disney, the car just cannot do it.

 

[jakenjess]

I tend to agree with you on this. I think a more fair value calculation would be what you would have paid for typical booking choices. This summer when I attempted to book a one night, weekend, non discounted stay at Pop - standard view - and was quoted $160 including tax, I see value in the real dollars I've paid for my DVC. The rack rate for DVC units is highly inflated, in my opinion, to help members feel like they are getting a great deal.

For my one night stay, I used Priceline for a 3 star Holiday Inn and got a rate of $45.

This is something that drives me crazy. The vast majority of DVC owners never would have booked 1 or 2 BR villas at rack rate. I find the benefit more intangible in that we get to stay in 1 BR villas instead of the four of us cramming into a hotel room. We love our DVC and it's been well worth it for us, but it's not for everyone.

 

[WolfpackFan]

When I read threads like this - I wonder how many of us, say "yea, it expires and it doesn't bother me" but deep down really wishes it was like other timeshares and it didn't expire. I know I would sure like it if it didn't expire. I would love to pass it on down to my children (and hopefully grandchildren some day).

What I'd like to know from some real experts is - is there any real reason why DVC expires (other than financial on the DVC side). Why do other timeshares not expire and DVC does? Does this result in lower purchase costs? Lower maintenance or what? Or is it just DVC trying to increase their profits when they resell the contracts.

 

[Dean]

I tend to agree with you on this. I think a more fair value calculation would be what you would have paid for typical booking choices. This summer when I attempted to book a one night, weekend, non discounted stay at Pop - standard view - and was quoted $160 including tax, I see value in the real dollars I've paid for my DVC. The rack rate for DVC units is highly inflated, in my opinion, to help members feel like they are getting a great deal.

For my one night stay, I used Priceline for a 3 star Holiday Inn and got a rate of $45.

To me the best comparison is what that person could have gotten the choices they considered for actual costs. Even though we're a member, our usual costs for DVC stays are around $400 for a week in a 1 or 2 BR.

This is something that drives me crazy. The vast majority of DVC owners never would have booked 1 or 2 BR villas at rack rate. I find the benefit more intangible in that we get to stay in 1 BR villas instead of the four of us cramming into a hotel room. We love our DVC and it's been well worth it for us, but it's not for everyone.

Exactly, assuming of course you would have opted for a hotel room on property over a larger unit off property.

To the OP, the person that probably told you that spends a lot of time on RCI using his non-DVC timeshares to trade into DVC.

I know quite a few of those who say negative things about DVC, but spend multiple weeks a year at Disney in DVC units.

If they own in Orlando with RCI, they can't trade into DVC.

 

[Dean]

When I read threads like this - I wonder how many of us, say "yea, it expires and it doesn't bother me" but deep down really wishes it was like other timeshares and it didn't expire. I know I would sure like it if it didn't expire. I would love to pass it on down to my children (and hopefully grandchildren some day).

What I'd like to know from some real experts is - is there any real reason why DVC expires (other than financial on the DVC side). Why do other timeshares not expire and DVC does? Does this result in lower purchase costs? Lower maintenance or what? Just curious, why other than just DVC wanted it this way so they can make more money in the future when they resell the contracts.

I can't speak for DVC but can guess. Other US timeshares either expire or don't depending on the ground underlying it. For non US options, it's usually based on the laws of the country as well (Aruba, MX). I'm not aware of any other US timeshare that made a conscious decision to have something expire that they had a choice in but there may be exceptions. My guess is that Disney did it this way strictly for control and possibly to avoid extending FL resident benefits to a large group of owners. There aren't many buildings I want to own at 50 years out but there are exceptions where location is a premium, I'm not sure that Disney qualifies in that regard because there are too many variables. It's like the beach will still be there at HH, whether Disney is the same draw in 50 years is an unknown.

Either way it's not a big deal to me owning already but I think for someone buying in now, it is more of a consideration. Realize that some of the historically better RTU timeshares in MX started out with only 30 years of RTU though I think 50 years is more the standard now.

 

[ssawka]

When I read threads like this - I wonder how many of us, say "yea, it expires and it doesn't bother me" but deep down really wishes it was like other timeshares and it didn't expire. I know I would sure like it if it didn't expire. I would love to pass it on down to my children (and hopefully grandchildren some day).

What I'd like to know from some real experts is - is there any real reason why DVC expires (other than financial on the DVC side). Why do other timeshares not expire and DVC does? Does this result in lower purchase costs? Lower maintenance or what? Or is it just DVC trying to increase their profits when they resell the contracts.

I tell ya, I don't think we would have bought if it did not expire. Our only child (dd9) has special needs, which is why we bought it the first place. So she could continue to go even if we were not around. Anyway, the current contract takes her to about age 57. After that, I would not want to burden her trust fund with paying MFs.

 

[Brian Noble]

Ask them to sell theirs on eBay and get back to me.

It's possible that that is where they bought it...

Dean's right. If you can imagine staying in a "not-Disney" resort and still having a good time, DVC is probably not worthwhile.

As for expiration: I think that's a feature, not a liability.

 

[DVCconvert]

it IS the worse....untill you realize you're chucking out $7-$10K + for a hotel rooms at WDW every year