Is a DVC membership as amazing as it seems

[KatiMouse]

DVC Membership has literally changed my life! I have been a DVC member over 15 YEARS. It has been the best investment, and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything! My membership has allowed me to travel the world without paying the huge costs all at one time for a short vacation. I still have over 40 years of vacations ahead of me, and I have already exceeded in value the amount I paid for membership.

My travels include: 12-night Safari to Tanzania, Africa; 11-night Disney Cruise on the Mediterranean; 12-night Disney Cruise to the Baltic; 2 DVC Member Cruises; various non-Disney resort stays; and numerous stays to WDW, Vero Beach and DL for varying days and room sizes. I would not and could not have paid for these trips all at once.

For example, when I did the 12-night Baltic Cruise I compared the cost to pay for the cruise vs. buying more DVC points. I could have a one-time 12-night cruise for $18,000 or pay $18,000 for 50 year's worth of DVC points! The decision was easy for me. I'll take 50 years of vacations over just 12-nights for the same price! Some people may disagree, but the numbers are clear for me.

The friendships made through my membership are also amazing! The friendships I've made have also taken me as far as Japan to visit DVC members I met on the Mediterranean Cruise.

You do not need to stay on property every year. You can use your points around the world and for a huge variety of adventures! The flexibility of membership is amazing, so don't make your decision on whether you come to WDW every year because it doesn't matter!

There are also the little things that make DVC special -- Special Member Only events (I just went to the Typhoon Lagoon night and am looking forward to the Animal Kingdom at night); shopping and dining discounts; Member Lounge; etc.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about the wonders of DVC Membership! I could go on and on, but I'll stop here.

Summary - Fabulous flexibility. Endless vacation possibilities. Great value. Amazing new friends. Fantastic DVC perks!

 

[DougEMG]

Ok just got back from a 10 day Disney marathon and I finally got the DVC information. I want to hear from you guys about what you like and don't like. . . . discuss

The reason we bought was because it was the most cost effective way to stay on site at a deluxe resort, but we bought at a much lower price than current prices.

What I don't like is how hard it is getting to book resorts at popular times under 7 months.

 

[disneynutz]

One thought to keep in mind is that Disney offers DVC for a reason, to make more money compared to not offering it. They make money on the initial sale and even more money on guest vacations and as I posted, some DVC owners will vacation more than once per year. Your savings or cost will depend on you and what you do now and what you do if you buy. My last study that I did on our BCV contract was if we keep it until term, add the cost of travel, food, admission, dues, and extras, we will spend about $300,000 on our Disney vacations. If we didn't own DVC we would not vacation at Disney as much and we would vacation less and not spend as much money.

In the end it's all about you, how you vacation now, how you want to vacation in the future, your expectations, your love of Disney vacations, your ability to plan vacations 11 months ahead and your budget.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I disagree that those are the only ways it makes sense. To you perhaps, jut others have different ways of looking at things.

I'm not sure where you're disagreeing, this is not an all inclusive list. But I believe it is the minimum qualifications. Let's look at the points in question. If one doesn't value staying on property, why buy and if you do, why not since DVC isn't enough of a savings to make that workable when it isn't otherwise. Clearly buying not being able to plan at least 7 months is setting oneself up for likely failure. Being able to afford it is a no brainer. And being OK with the compromises of the timeshare is a 100% lock because that's what one is saying if they buy, whether they know it or not. I'd love to hear where you think one would be outside these qualifications and it'd be reasonable to buy in.

 

[holden]

We bought in 2014 and have been happy with our purchase. We go 2x a year...once for a week to 10 days and once for a long weekend for FWF. I have been visiting WDW since 1979.

After staying in a GV at BLT with family, many trips with just the 4 of us (most recently a 2BR at VGF for 9 nights), and short trips with friends...I'd say DVC has been worth it for us.

If we sold now we would have enjoyed all those vacations for the cost of our yearly maintenance fees plus APs, food, etc. I know we'd get back what we paid per point based on resale prices I've seen lately.

We are happy!

 

[mousehockey37]

This thread is going exactly how I thought it would.

Listen, everyone has their reasons for buying or not buying DVC.

Some like it for the perks, others for knowing they'll be going back, etc etc etc...

OP, you have to look at your situation and see the pros and cons for yourself and see how they apply to you and potentially make a decision from that. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, has different financial situations, vacation wants and needs.

So I see why you started the thread, but more than likely this is going to end up a big shouting match.

I don't own DVC, I rent. This is probably a good first step for you after reading all the info. You can go, stay in DVC units and see how it is. I'm not in a position to buy DVC right now, maybe in the future, but not yet. I like the minimal mousekeeping, we just call for extra towels if needed. We like the kitchenette. It's no sweat off our backs if we want to make sandwiches for lunch or a snack after a long day in the parks. It's nice being able to have some groceries in the room to help save us some money when in the parks.

Again, everyone has their reasons.

My suggestion, read up on the info. Rent some points and take a trip.... do a split stay, see some resorts. See how you like that experience. Who knows, you may be trying to get into it for all the wrong reasons and you may see buying in isn't for you. Best to find out now before several thousands of dollars later!

 

[ScubaCat]

DVC Membership has literally changed my life!

I can't tell if you really like it or just tolerate it having spent the money. I'll have to reread your post more carefully.

 

[Brian Noble]

Is a DVC membership as amazing as it seems

DVC is very simple. In exchange for a making a long-term commitment to vacationing regularly in DVC lodging (and front-loading some of your costs), Disney discounts that lodging. That's it. There is nothing else to it.

Exactly what that discount is depends a bit on your assumptions about opportunity cost, inflation, etc. But, under most realistic assumptions: If you typically stay in a Deluxe resort, DVC studios will be cheaper in the long run, or you can upgrade your lodging experience with a 1BR at a reasonable cost. If you typically stay in a Moderate resort, DVC studios will generally provide an upgrade in your lodging for about the same cost in the long run.

If you typically stay in a Value or offsite, DVC will not save you money. But, it might be an economical way to upgrade that lodging in various ways.

Finally, DVC can be a reasonable way to vacation with a larger family with the larger villas, providing some comforts of home that you can't get any other way.

However, DVC does not necessarily save you money on: park tickets, food, or transportation costs. Yes, there are some discounts on some ticket media and in some restaurants, but they come and go and are in the noise. They should never be the reasons you buy, but instead could be nice extras. And, those costs go up every year, typically faster than inflation.

Finally, Disney has created a Reality Distortion Field around DVC. You don't buy a timeshare, you become a Member. That's all smoke and mirrors. Granted, some people enjoy smoke and mirrors, so who am I to judge? But, sooner or later, most people see through the illusion, and if you buy based on that illusion, that day of reckoning can be jarring indeed.

----

Now, the editorial component: In general, owning a timeshare will not save you money. That's because, in general, you will vacation more often than you would have if left to your own devices. I know that's absolutely true in my case. However, that's been a blessing for me. We've had 2-3 week-long vacations every year for the past decade, and created tons of amazing memories along the way. Now that my kids are heading off to college (one just finished her first year, the other is a HS senior) I don't regret a single penny spent.

 

[ScubaCat]

In general, owning a timeshare will not save you money. That's because, in general, you will vacation more often than you would have if left to your own devices. I know that's absolutely true in my case. However, that's been a blessing for me. We've had 2-3 week-long vacations every year for the past decade, and created tons of amazing memories along the way. Now that my kids are heading off to college (one just finished her first year, the other is a HS senior) I don't regret a single penny spent.

Well said. That's exactly how I see it. You don't "save money" by taking Disney vacations. You simply have to decide if it's worth it to you.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Is a DVC membership as amazing as it seems

DVC is very simple. In exchange for a making a long-term commitment to vacationing regularly in DVC lodging (and front-loading some of your costs), Disney discounts that lodging. That's it. There is nothing else to it.

Exactly what that discount is depends a bit on your assumptions about opportunity cost, inflation, etc. But, under most realistic assumptions: If you typically stay in a Deluxe resort, DVC studios will be cheaper in the long run, or you can upgrade your lodging experience with a 1BR at a reasonable cost. If you typically stay in a Moderate resort, DVC studios will generally provide an upgrade in your lodging for about the same cost in the long run.

If you typically stay in a Value or offsite, DVC will not save you money. But, it might be an economical way to upgrade that lodging in various ways.

Finally, DVC can be a reasonable way to vacation with a larger family with the larger villas, providing some comforts of home that you can't get any other way.

However, DVC does not necessarily save you money on: park tickets, food, or transportation costs. Yes, there are some discounts on some ticket media and in some restaurants, but they come and go and are in the noise. They should never be the reasons you buy, but instead could be nice extras. And, those costs go up every year, typically faster than inflation.

Finally, Disney has created a Reality Distortion Field around DVC. You don't buy a timeshare, you become a Member. That's all smoke and mirrors. Granted, some people enjoy smoke and mirrors, so who am I to judge? But, sooner or later, most people see through the illusion, and if you buy based on that illusion, that day of reckoning can be jarring indeed.

----

Now, the editorial component: In general, owning a timeshare will not save you money. That's because, in general, you will vacation more often than you would have if left to your own devices. I know that's absolutely true in my case. However, that's been a blessing for me. We've had 2-3 week-long vacations every year for the past decade, and created tons of amazing memories along the way. Now that my kids are heading off to college (one just finished her first year, the other is a HS senior) I don't regret a single penny spent.

Reality Distortion Field is a a great way to put it.All timeshare salesmen do that to some extent, though. I looked into it, and I know it's not for me. But honestly it's just that I'm not into timeshares in general, and I'd feel restricted by the points and dues. I have friends who really like their timeshares, but they inherited them rather than buying them outright. I don't know if buying them at full price would have changed their outlook or not. But they're a large family and having extra space and a kitchen is important to them.

Like the others said, I'd take a good long look at what owning a timeshare means and what you'd get out of it. The specific reason I wouldn't do DVC is that I don't see my family willingly vacationing at WDW annually, or even every other year. But I can see why some families would love it.

 

[imaginiff]

I can't tell if you really like it or just tolerate it having spent the money. I'll have to reread your post more carefully.

Am I missing something here? That reply was just mean-spirited. Why cut someone down because they truly enjoy their DVC investment? I feel the same way about my DVC....although I have not taken as many trips. But we would NEVER have visited Hawaii without our DVC....TWICE. And we could probably take many more adventures if we did not insist upon one bedrooms when at Disney or a cabin with a verandah when cruising. If we would downsize to studios and interior cabins on cruises....zoweee.....we could be gone for 6 months!!!

 

[chalee94]

Am I missing something here? That reply was just mean-spirited. Why cut someone down because they truly enjoy their DVC investment?

I like it when people truly enjoy their membership. I enjoy mine.

But a recent 10 night adventures by Disney Africa trip I saw cost over 1000 pts per adult, so 2000 pts for 2 adults for a DVC points trade...and color me skeptical that it was done for an $18000 buy-in... and prices are a lot higher now than they were in 2002...

So for a poster with limited activity who jumps in talking about how great it is to pay more to buy direct so that you can trade for cruises and ABD trips...?

I'll at least raise an eyebrow and suggest that the OP take a close look at the actual numbers required for cruises and other trades out of the DVC resort system before putting much stock in KatiMouse's suggestions...

 

[ScubaCat]

I was just stunned as I've never heard anyone refer to DVC as life changing in that manner! But kudos to her. I wish that same fortune for everyone!

It's difficult to see that same value at current prices, especially given the horrible exchange rates (from DVC to ABD for instance), but everyone sees things differently. As I've said before, the most important thing is to really understand what you're buying and decide if it's worth it to YOU. The sales presentation is not part of that calculation. (even chef boyardee looks good in a commercial, but the actual experience of eating it is a whole different experience.)

 

[ELMC]

Ok just got back from a 10 day Disney marathon and I finally got the DVC information. I want to hear from you guys about what you like and don't like. . . . discuss

I think DVC ownership is most successful when people identify the need first, and then decide whether or not DVC is the appropriate tool to address the need. If you can articulate what you are looking for in your vacation experiences, the next logical step is to lay out what DVC has to offer and then determine if it is a match. Once you've done that I would recommend giving yourself options by buying in the most cost efficient way possible.

For example, when I did the 12-night Baltic Cruise I compared the cost to pay for the cruise vs. buying more DVC points. I could have a one-time 12-night cruise for $18,000 or pay $18,000 for 50 year's worth of DVC points! The decision was easy for me. I'll take 50 years of vacations over just 12-nights for the same price! Some people may disagree, but the numbers are clear for me.

I am happy for you that you are getting so much enjoyment out of your DVC membership. But I'm sorry, these numbers don't come anywhere close to adding up. I would caution anyone reading this expecting to have similar results, it's not going to happen.

 

[Dean]

I like it when people truly enjoy their membership. I enjoy mine.

But a recent 10 night adventures by Disney Africa trip I saw cost over 1000 pts per adult, so 2000 pts for 2 adults for a DVC points trade...and color me skeptical that it was done for an $18000 buy-in... and prices are a lot higher now than they were in 2002...

So for a poster with limited activity who jumps in talking about how great it is to pay more to buy direct so that you can trade for cruises and ABD trips...?

I'll at least raise an eyebrow and suggest that the OP take a close look at the actual numbers required for cruises and other trades out of the DVC resort system before putting much stock in KatiMouse's suggestions...

And looking at the present value of those points, the real cost in terms of the value of the points used would be in the range of $25-30K and close to that in real cost at todays dollars retail plus dues.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Right. Even buying with incentives, a direct purchase today has a cost per point per year of over $10 per point.

Someone who bought Saratoga direct at inception has a far lower cost per point per year than a new buyer today. It is very hard to math a direct purchase to have good value in most trades with today's pricing and dues.

 

[RAD]

Was it amazing back in 1999 when we purchased. YES, since we always stayed at deluxe resorts, which were getting to be too expensive, it was saving us money. It allowed us to bring other family members and friends down for a WDW vacation that they probably wouldn't have done with out it.

That was until a few years ago. Maybe it was the ticket price increases with the extra charge for park hopping and the uncharge for non-expiring tickets and then the elimination. Maybe it was the cutbacks in the little things that when added together made the expense worth it. Maybe it was the lack of adding new attractions that made you want to go back. Maybe it was the need to plan out all your dining needs so you weren't standing in a quick service line all the time, or which FastPass you want that will keep everyone in your group happy. So now we will go back maybe every three years now vs two or three times a year and we rent out our points and go on a Disney cruise since they haven't forgotten how to provide that Disney service and magic that you used to get at WDW.

 

[kniquy]

We like to know that we will be back in a shorter time because our room is already paid for. It is still a very expensive trip when you still have to add on park tickets and food - but really what vacation is cheap? We bought in because for our family of 5 a studio is too small so a 1 BR that can accommodate 5 would give us more space, laundry and a full kitchen - the cost to get this room type going the hotel route was far too expensive, so buying in is making it affordable for us. Despite the yearly dues and initial buy in it is a less expensive route. We love staying on site and are excited to try other resorts as they are available. We bought with the intention of going every other year mainly because we don't want to lose the Disney magic and we enjoy taking other trips.

Is the timeshare itself amazing -- There is a slight thrill knowing we own a very small percentage at WDW, the membership itself is not magical, the resorts are very nice, they offer some perks - parties, membership extras that most can't participate in because they are limited in frequency - the only real benefit might be if you buy partially direct for the AP discount and some of the shopping and dining discounts. other than those few things -- it isn't anything magical. The only magical thing is knowing that we will be back again soon, so like others have mentioned -- you don't have to kill yourself trying to see and do everything.

What it boils down to is - how often you plan on visiting and what type of accommodations do you require? If you visit once every 3 years and/or are just as happy at the value resorts -- then DVC is not a worthwhile purchase. If you plan to visit at least every other year and you need/want room accommodations/resort amenities which have more to offer than the value resorts then it is a strong contender.

 

[disneynutz]

There is a slight thrill knowing we own a very small percentage at WDW, the membership itself is not magical

While technically we own a piece of WDW, it's more like a pre-paid lease that expires 50 years from when the DVC resort was first offered.

Bill

 

[kboo]

Lots of good information here - at least it's reaffirming our choice. We realized that we've been coming to WDW at least annually since 2013, and it's unlikely to change in the near future with 2 young kids (almost 6 and 2). I've been going to WDW since I was a kid in the 70s, and back then we always stayed offsite. We're big on the midday break, so once we stayed onsite in a deluxe (actually, a short stay at the Dolphin in 2013 and then Contemporary in 2014), there was no going back. Being able to walk to a park really changed how we vacation at Disney.

In the intervening years we always managed to find great discounts or (more recently) rented points that put the cost per night just below $300/nt, being super flexible with dates, but now that the older kid is in a pretty rigorous school, we were looking at going during peak-ish times and the deluxes we liked we always over $400/nt. We'd then stayed at BWV on a cash reservation and rented points a few times and realized that this made sense for us, at least for the next 10+ years. Financially, it made sense because we were able to pay cash for the contract without having to stretch, we found one that was pretty much ideal for what we needed, and we knew we were headed to WDW at least once a year. Our upcoming trip is actually on rented points, because it was supposed to be us trying 2 resorts that we thought we'd like, but we sort of jumped the gun on buying. Oh well.

We already have 2 trips planned for 2018, since we had to bank our 2017 points. So most likely, we are going to end up being one of those families that goes to WDW more often than before buying DVC, and probably getting 1-br or 2-br which will in turn cause us not to "save" any money. But, as a previous poster said, taking more vacations isn't necessarily a bad thing - as DH and I get older and have to care for our older parents, we are realizing that we're not going to regret spending *more* time making magical family memories. We both work FT at pretty stressful jobs, so knowing we "have" to spend our DVC points makes both of us take at least 1 true vacation a year.