I was told that DVC was the worst timeshare.

[crisi]

When people say things like this to me, I shrug my shoulders and say "there are pros and cons to anything, and what is important to one person isn't important to another. DVC probably is the worst choice for you, it was a good choice for me."

 

[ssawka]

That's true. But, some boats are a lot cheaper than others. So, the question isn't "is it a good investment" but rather "given my expected vacation habits, how can I secure the lodging for those vacations most affordably?"

I think you actually have a chicken and egg scenario here... Does owning DVC save you money on the way you would be vacationing, or are you vacationing in deluxe resorts because owning DVC allows you to?

 

[dmoore22]

I think you actually have a chicken and egg scenario here...

I now have an urge to crow like Peter Pan, "****-a-doodle-doo!" about my DVC!

I can't believe I've just been censored over a Disney movie quote!

 

[lugnut33]

All I wan't DVC for is nice lodging at a reasonable price in a place I enjoy visiting with the kids and without. I have no expectations of it financially.

According to Dean this is terrible, but I do like to see what the rack rates are during the time we are there (and I know people actually do pay that much).

I'm probably the dumbest person on the planet though. Or maybe the smartest since I'm not over-thinking it.

 

[BeesKnees]

I think you actually have a chicken and egg scenario here... Does owning DVC save you money on the way you would be vacationing, or are you vacationing in deluxe resorts because owning DVC allows you to?

I am all the former and none the latter. Staying in a hotel room is what you do when you travel for business not for vacations. One of the reasons we didn't go to Disney that much pre-DVC was because of the accomodations.

Even the studio is not an option for us.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think you actually have a chicken and egg scenario here... Does owning DVC save you money on the way you would be vacationing, or are you vacationing in deluxe resorts because owning DVC allows you to?

There are three cases for DVC.

1: People who would ordinarily stay in Disney Deluxe hotel rooms. They can stay in DVC studios for less money, or DVC 1BRs for about the same cost.

2: People who would ordinarily stay in Disney Moderate hotel rooms. They can stay in DVC studios for about the same cost.

3: Everyone else. They spend more money if they buy DVC.

That's not to say that Group 3 is "bad". But, they need to be honest with themselves that they are not in any way "saving money".

 

[saturndb]

I look at it like buying a car. some people like car "A", some do not. If we all liked and agreed the same way, everyone would have the same stuff.

to each his own...

We like and see the value in DVC

 

[P-elmo]

There are three cases for DVC.

1: People who would ordinarily stay in Disney Deluxe hotel rooms. They can stay in DVC studios for less money, or DVC 1BRs for about the same cost.

2: People who would ordinarily stay in Disney Moderate hotel rooms. They can stay in DVC studios for about the same cost.

3: Everyone else. They spend more money if they buy DVC.

That's not to say that Group 3 is "bad". But, they need to be honest with themselves that they are not in any way "saving money".

4. Family of 5 - would stay value but need two rooms. Dvc gives us similar cost with much better accommodations

 

[Dean]

I will have to disagree with this statement as guides need to have some kind of explanation when asked this question. The fact that multiple guides have used this same statement tells me this was the explanation they were told to give.

It doesn't give any credence to the accuracy of the information. Sales staff often propagate myth's and half truths, it's the very nature of the setup. Even if they were told this was the reason, it still doesn't mean it is. It may be but that timeshare salespeople say it doesn't make it true, if anything, it calls the info into question automatically. Sales staff are not in the loop for such decisions, they only know what they're told which is often not completely accurate and at time, not at all accurate. I don't doubt that the upkeep was a consideration but suspect that the control was even more so.

All I wan't DVC for is nice lodging at a reasonable price in a place I enjoy visiting with the kids and without. I have no expectations of it financially.

According to Dean this is terrible, but I do like to see what the rack rates are during the time we are there (and I know people actually do pay that much).

I'm probably the dumbest person on the planet though. Or maybe the smartest since I'm not over-thinking it.

Your choice of course. However, unless you personally would pay those prices, it does not represent a savings nor dollar value to you. It may represent added value depending on what your choices would have been anyway. Since I stay at DVC regularly for about $400 a week in 1 & 2 BR units, it's hard for me to put much value on the usage but I realize not everyone is in the same position that some timeshare owners are.

4. Family of 5 - would stay value but need two rooms. Dvc gives us similar cost with much better accommodations

There are value and moderate options that would accommodate 5. With DVC, one would have to compare to points for a 1 BR or larger or 2 studios for 5 people as well.

 

[rentayenta]

Vacation styles vary and owning a Disney timeshare isn't for everyone. Loving Disney is a must.

Stay off property?

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think it is more important for Disney to own the land that the DVC resorts sit on. Think about it. If you are a corporation building a timeshare on Panama City Beach...you own a couple of acres of beach front land, and another corporation owns the adjoining piece of land. Over time, you can choose to stay in PCB, sell your interest, file for bankruptcy, whatever. Your corporation is not particularly tied to that small parcel of land.

Matter of fact, (I believe) that a lot of land development in the U.S. goes through a life cycle where things start in a desirable location, and over time things change and the location is no longer desirable. That may not be the case on beaches and such, but here in Montgomery its pretty common knowledge that you better buy as nice of a house in as new of an area as possible in your 60s so that your kids still have something to sell when you go to the nursing home or ummm....elsewhere 20+ years later.

Disney has invested BILLIONS of dollars on over 20,000 acres of land in Central Florida. They cannot allow their acreage to go through this lifecycle. It is necessary for them to have complete control over all of their property. Plus, part of the success of Disney is the fact that they are control freaks over the land.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Over the years I've read here about how using points out of the DVC system is a poor use of points. I've read how DVC's maintenance fees are so high. I've read that the trading opportunities when they do exist are poor compared to this that or the other timeshare. I think in the wide world of Timeshares, DVC must be a poor choice for people who want to do the usual timeshare things. How many times have you read here about Disboarders discouraging people from buying, actually promoting the Bonnet Creek resort for instance or different timeshares in Hawaii? Many times people who own other timeshares are thrilled to get a DVC stay without the high costs associated with DVC.

People come here wanting to go on a cruise and they preface their remarks by saying "I know this is not a good use of points, but....we really want....a Disney Cruise, or to go to Aruba." If the person had approached me instead of the OP, I probably would have said, "I can understand how you would say that. However, Disney vacations work for me and my family, so it's where I bought."

Bobbi

 

[Goofy DVC]

I am all the former and none the latter. Staying in a hotel room is what you do when you travel for business not for vacations. One of the reasons we didn't go to Disney that much pre-DVC was because of the accomodations.

Even the studio is not an option for us.

Bingo! You just nailed us. To hear all those folks that talk about studios being where the "best" value is makes no sense to us.But I understand, everyone looks at "value" and "best" through their own eyes. Therefore, I just try to enjoy DVC and not overthink it. It can drive me crazy to disect DVC too much. But, once again I know others enjoy it and I can say that at times I am very impressed with their analysis.

 

[Brian Noble]

4. Family of 5 - would stay value but need two rooms. Dvc gives us similar cost with much better accommodations

Based on back-of-the-envelope, I'm guessing that a 1BR is more expensive than two value rooms, all told, because two value room are generally less expensive than one deluxe. I know a 2BR is more.

 

[nickspace]

Location! Location!! Location!!! That is what makes DVC the best for some and the worst for others.

For my family being surrounded by the Disney experience makes it all worth while. From the time we step off the airplane from the time we leave, Disney magic surrounds us. We have the world's greatest resort at Walt Disney Worlds surrounding us. There is so much to choose from and we can do as much or little as we like. And if we want to hit the beach we can do that too at HH or VB.

So buy whatever "timeshare" allows you to stay where you want to stay and do what you want to do.

 

[Dean]

Based on back-of-the-envelope, I'm guessing that a 1BR is more expensive than two value rooms, all told, because two value room are generally less expensive than one deluxe. I know a 2BR is more.

Comparing to value and moderates, a studio is roughly minimally more than a moderate on average and significantly more than a value. A 1 BR is double a studio. Obviously it can vary a lot based on the price, inflation and discount assumptions one makes (on both sides) though.

 

[P-elmo]

Based on back-of-the-envelope, I'm guessing that a 1BR is more expensive than two value rooms, all told, because two value room are generally less expensive than one deluxe. I know a 2BR is more.

Depends - OKW, bwv, akv (through dvc) came out just slightly cheaper (using an estimate of $11 per point) than 2 values (after promotion discounts for values) for when we have travelled. I did not run numbers for the other resorts - but suspect they would be slightly more expensive.

Accommodations much, much, much better, of course.

(our calculations to buy found it profitable to buy ssr instead of renting at $10/pt.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Comparing to value and moderates, a studio is roughly minimally more than a moderate on average and significantly more than a value. A 1 BR is double a studio. Obviously it can vary a lot based on the price, inflation and discount assumptions one makes (on both sides) though.

But many of the moderate resorts are moving towards queen sized beds and away from doubles. The double sized sleeper sofa moves it towards a value resort at that point.

 

[Dean]

But many of the moderate resorts are moving towards queen sized beds and away from doubles. The double sized sleeper sofa moves it towards a value resort at that point.

That's why I said there are many variables, to me this doesn't alter the landscape at all. I look at studios and 1 BR units as being intended to sleep 2-3 and 2 BR to sleep 4-6. I routinely plan larger trips for family, up to 13 two BR units. This Dec I have seven 2 BR units for Nashville and there are 2 different configurations. When anticipating number of units needed, I assume a couple to each BR. For kids, teens, singles, etc; I generally assume no more than 1 to a pull out and try to avoid the pull outs in common areas if possible

If the bed numbers are the difference for you, that will alter your evaluation. For me it's the resort itself, qualify, size, kitchen, etc. I believe some of the moderate have both 1 queen beds and a trundle, this would not alter my view but might for someone who has a family of 5.

 

[Mert]

Pull up on the net, an recent article in the wallstreet journal stating disneys timeshare along with marriott where the only ones holding their values ! Timeshares are what you make them.