Interesting thread in the resort section,...

[Sammie]

The greatest disadvantage in my opinion to DVC is having to book in advance. You truly can get rooms on short notice at nonDVC resorts and as our lifestyle becomes less structured and more spur of the moment, then yes there is a chance DVC will soon not fit us. It is getting harder and harder to get anything under 4 months.

The best thing about DVC in my opinion is the 2 bedroom or one bedroom unit, I would never buy DVC to stay in a studio. For that price I will gladly take a Disney resort.

I like having our DVC but Disney resorts do a better job of service and maintenance and that is important to me. I don't want to check into a room not clean or in bad condition and feel like I have to contact maintenance to get things repaired for the next guest. I love when there is a problem at a Disney resort they make you feel like an honored guest, lately at DVC, you are doing good to get someone to even listen to you explain what needs fixing.

Housekeeping I can do without as long as I have my own W/D, again in a studio, nope, am not going to the laundry to do towels on vacation.

Kitchen, the stove does not scare me as we only use the microwave and refrigerator, so I could do without it completely.

Views are important to us, as we use our resort to rest and have wine or tea on the balcony. So if I am going to be at the Yacht and Beach resort I want the view from a lagoon view room at the Yacht Club.

The BW Villas and AKV and now BLT far and away have the best situation in the combo DVC/non DVC resort. If I am the WL, I want the views the lodge offers.

My point is DVC is not for everyone, and truly there are advantages to doing the deluxe resorts. In fact now that our family size is deminishing, I am going to use some of my points there, and truly I could care less if it is not the best bang for the buck, it is my buck and I can bang it any way I choose. I just wish I did not have to pay that $95 fee.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

You know, if you think a DVC vs. Resorts feud is bad, get involved in one of the onsite vs. offsite "discussions". That'll curl your hair!

That is followed up by pool hopping and smoking....

 

[hakepb]

That is followed up by pool hopping and smoking....

while driving an unneeded ECV, carrying an old refillable resort mug

 

[starbox]

Well -

If people don't have 16,000 cash laying around, unused, to purchase a timeshare, they are going to have to finance (and through Disney, monthly payment and dues on 160 points is going to be around 300-325$ - that's close to 4,000 a year - no park tickets, no dining plan.

You can do 7 nights in a mod (or deluxe with a promotion) with tickets and dining for that price.

I'd bet there are lots of people that love Disney, and spend 3,000-4,000 a year on trips that are living paycheck to paycheck and just don't have the additional money that DVC would cost for the 10 years until it is paid off.

We did not buy initially because the downpayment and monthly payments were our entire vacation budget for the year. I'd have had zero $$ for tickets or meals. We have friends that are Disney fans - they save up and budget for their annual trips - there's not an extra couple of thousand dollars laying around.

Annual passes for my family of four were over 1400.00 this year with the DVC discount and renewal discount. The CS dining plan will be close to 1000.00. That's an annual expense ABOVE the cost of DVC.

The math is only simple if you have 16,000 cash to flat out buy DVC or more than 6,000.00 a year to spend on Disney.

I love my DVC, but it was an indulgent purchase and I spend way more than I would without it.

 

[edk35]

I just spent way too much of my time that I will never get back reading that thread./QUOTE]



THAT MADE ME LAUGH. I am still reading this thread and have not ventured over to the "other thread".

 

[daisyduck123]

I just spent way too much of my time that I will never get back reading that thread./QUOTE]



THAT MADE ME LAUGH. I am still reading this thread and have not ventured over to the "other thread".

ME too....still reading!

 

[edk35]

I just feel so bad for people who give the lack of daily housekeeping as the reason for not joining. That was our main stumbling block for a long time, just couldn't get past that, and when we did finally join, we saw giving up daily housekeeping as the one downside. But after one trip, I came to really enjoy not having a stranger in "my" home while I was out.

We too LOVE not having daily service. I used to PICK UP the room and all before leaving each morning when we stayed in a regular room. I love not having someone in there.

 

[edk35]

My husband still doesn't understand it and we have been members for a few years now. I just remember when I was telling him about DVC and told him the up front cost he just about had a heart attach - he thought that was each YEAR. So I control our DVC and all is well.

Does he know you own at three resorts?? LOL

 

[Deb & Bill]

If I were looking at buying DVC now, I wouldn't. Back when we bought our first points, we paid about $50 a point. I can't imagine paying $112 a point now. That's just plain ridiculous.

If I were looking at DVC, I'd find a good renter to rent from and that would be it. The AP discount is nice, but I wouldn't need it if I only went from time to time. And the other DVC discounts aren't that great.

I don't mind the lack of housekeeping; yeah, we prefer them not coming in all the time. I like the king sized bed and the washer and dryer.

But concierge is nice from time to time. And the when Disney offers those great deals? Well, we could take advantage of them, too.

 

[wulfekamp]

I wouldn't stay value again. Once you taste the good stuff you can't go back. When we started. DVC studio's were fine until we tried a 1 Br. I think DVC could be addictive. DVC isn't for everyone. And I know this sounds bad BUT with some of the comments I read over there today I would rather they stay were they are. I really like the people on this board. With some of the act's of kindness I have seen on this board I feel honored to be DVC with you.

 

[sgtdisney]

Different people vacation differently. Most of the reasons for not joining DVC that were mentioned, no maid service, full kitchen in the room, stuck going to Disney every year, not being in a hotel room, are the very reasons we bought in so many years back. Come to think of it we've been going to a DVC property just about every year since 1992 and we've never cooked a dinner in the villa. Hmm, something new to try!

DVC works for some, but not for all, it's just the way it is. It is the misinformation that is concerning to me as people read here and consider the words are gospel.

Anyway, I wonder how many times GF or Poly fans have stayed in a room with a DVC member on points just down the hall?

 

[edk35]

I can't bring myself to read past page 3 on that resort thread. WHEW I am done. I love my DVC.........

 

[WilsonFlyer]

If I were looking at buying DVC now, I wouldn't. Back when we bought our first points, we paid about $50 a point. I can't imagine paying $112 a point now. That's just plain ridiculous.

I'm really surprised at this post from you of all people. $50 certainly isn't what it was in 1992. I haven't done the math but I'd be willing that the value is pretty much preserved in the value of today's (at least 2008's) dollar.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm really surprised at this post from you of all people. $50 certainly isn't what it was in 1992. I haven't done the math but I'd be willing that the value is pretty much preserved in the value of today's (at least 2008's) dollar.

We bought in late 1997.

 

[Snookies]

I'm really surprised at this post from you of all people. $50 certainly isn't what it was in 1992. I haven't done the math but I'd be willing that the value is pretty much preserved in the value of today's (at least 2008's) dollar.

Your post made me curious so I checked out the numbers on the online inflation calculator at the Bureau of Labor Statistics site. The results suggest that $50 in 1992 has the same purchasing power as $75.62 in 2009 dollars. The BLS calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for the inflation adjustment. If you're interested, here's the link:

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

I read all the way through the resort board thread as of early this morning. I agree with those that have posted that the amount of erroneous information is troubling. I sure hope that people will take the time and make the effort to do better homework before making a decision either way on DVC (or any other timeshare purchase for that matter).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Your post made me curious so I checked out the numbers on the online inflation calculator at the Bureau of Labor Statistics site. The results suggest that $50 in 1992 has the same purchasing power as $75.62 in 2009 dollars. The BLS calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for the inflation adjustment. If you're interested, here's the link:

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

I read all the way through the resort board thread as of early this morning. I agree with those that have posted that the amount of erroneous information is troubling. I sure hope that people will take the time and make the effort to do better homework before making a decision either way on DVC (or any other timeshare purchase for that matter).

Excellent. My $50 a point in 1997 is equal to $66.10 in 2009. A bit less than $112.

 

[Snookies]

Excellent. My $50 a point in 1997 is equal to $66.10 in 2009. A bit less than $112.

The 50 / 66.10 numbers imply an inflation rate of 2.4%, compounded annually, for the consumer price index. The 112 price point DVC is using imply an inflation rate of 7%, compounded annually, for DVC points purchased retail. Holy Cow, that is almost triple the rate of inflation. No wonder Disney has expanded DVC significantly - if growth remains strong when you're raising the price three times faster than the rate of inflation, the profit margin must be high & increasing. I know this is just simple supply and demand, but the numbers are interesting. Thank you for providing your buy-in price to start.

I wonder if DVC will have to give the price increases a rest for awhile given current economic and financial market conditions. The conventional answer would seem to be yes, but, on the other hand, DVC is a high-end niche purchase. It will be interesting to watch if nothing else.

 

[Judy WI]

Does he know you own at three resorts?? LOL

NO

 

[Teachckg]

I still have not finished reading the other thread, not sure if I will.

I just find it interesting how wrong some of their information is. Someone earlier in this thread had mentioned "This is not private," people are reading this, etc. I hope they do, not to prove that they are wrong but just to get some accurate info.

I truly agree as some have already stated, it is not for everyone but some really do not understand the basics of it.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

You're all seriously naughty, my fellow DVC-ers. I quote from the other thread: "In fact, I found the thread that was started over there about this one to be incredibly insulting and rude."

For those "thin skinned" visitors from that other thread (which DVC-ers might also find incredibly insulting and rude) I offer the following "olive branch":