Is Disney Vacation Account worth it for DVC members?

[MichelleB]

What are the benefits to using the DVA for DVC members? We don't typically have paid reservations so can the money be used for dining, etc. when there? It says you can add money and then get a gift card but only 1 $500 card per account for it's lifetime. How do you use the money you put in for a trip then?

 

[alldiz]

What are the benefits to using the DVA for DVC members? We don't typically have paid reservations so can the money be used for dining, etc. when there? It says you can add money and then get a gift card but only 1 $500 card per account for it's lifetime. How do you use the money you put in for a trip then?

I was just reading a thread about buying discount target cards.(raise. Com).. (And pay with target red card for additional 5 percent off)
Then using target cards to buy Disney cards.... Then one can use that for annual dues, disney cruise payments, annual passes, park tickets...
And I think every $1000 u put in to pay for those things you get a $20 gift card... Just reading about this in a thread tonight
Kerri

 

[erionm]

What are the benefits to using the DVA for DVC members? We don't typically have paid reservations so can the money be used for dining, etc. when there? It says you can add money and then get a gift card but only 1 $500 card per account for it's lifetime. How do you use the money you put in for a trip then?

You can't pay for meals at a restaurant using the DVA, if that's what your asking.

Funds from a DVA could be used for park admission or to purchase a Disney Dining Plan. Unofficially, you can pay your dues from the DVA (may not continue to be an option).

 

[eliza61]

What are the benefits to using the DVA for DVC members? We don't typically have paid reservations so can the money be used for dining, etc. when there? It says you can add money and then get a gift card but only 1 $500 card per account for it's lifetime. How do you use the money you put in for a trip then?

I looked into in last month after reading about it on the budget board. truthfully I couldn't understand why it was so special?

Opening up a capital one 360 account, get a little interest on the money and have control over the money. set up automatic payments just like the dva.

It maybe me but I just hate saving for some thing where I have to understand all the "rules". waaay to much work.

LOL, my attention span is not that great. I use my credit card, get the points currently I'm getting 5% on all grocery purchases. then I get gift cards.

 

[nalajms]

I looked into in last month after reading about it on the budget board. truthfully I couldn't understand why it was so special?

It works best for people who buy the $50 Disney cards at Target and buy DDP or lots of tickets.

In 2014 I've used it for several PAPs, a few 3day tickets for extended family, 4 dining plans.
So for in 2015 I used it for more APs, DVC dues (big time saver over calling in all those gcs), 1 dining plan. Will also be using it for MNSSHP tickets and more dining plan later this year.

 

[MichelleB]

We don't use the dining plan because we've found we save more money by not doing it & buy our tickets through undercover tourist (don't use APs) so I don't think I'll open one. If they said they'd let us continue with paying the DVC dues from it, I'd consider it in order to input all the gift cards I accumulate to pay those in order to make that easier, but for now I think I'll skip it.

 

[Tigger1]

I was just looking at options to pay for DDP on my DVC reservations travel plans, the Disney account was not a method for paying online. How do DVC members pay for Dining plan with this account?

 

[erionm]

I was just looking at options to pay for DDP on my DVC reservations travel plans, the Disney account was not a method for paying online. How do DVC members pay for Dining plan with this account?

You have to call. Same applies when using Disney Gift Cards as payment for the Dining Plans.

 

[eliza61]

is it a time saver or a money saver?

 

[erionm]

is it a time saver or a money saver?

Money saver, no. Although you can get a $20 Disney Gift Card for each $1,000 spent from the DVA.

Time saver, possibly. If you are paying for something that's eligible to be paid for with a DVA and you have a stack of Disney Gift Cards, loading all of those cards into a DVA would save the time it would take reading each and every Disney Gift Card number to the CM.

 

[nalajms]

Both, ignoring the time I spend doing the Target gc to Disney gc deals. DH still thinks I'm crazy, but I've saved a lot over the past year.

Example - 2 years ago it took over an hour to buy 4 Christmas Party tickets with the DVC discount using $50 dollar gc. MS argued with me about using multiple GC, then relented and did it in 4 separate transactions using 2 gcs each. Last year buying 2 PAPs took all of 5 mins using the DVA (funded with $50 gcs).

Saves money - for now, I'm still eligible for the $20 bonus per $1000 spent.

 

[alldiz]

Money saver, no. Although you can get a $20 Disney Gift Card for each $1,000 spent from the DVA.

Time saver, possibly. If you are paying for something that's eligible to be paid for with a DVA and you have a stack of Disney Gift Cards, loading all of those cards into a DVA would save the time it would take reading each and every Disney Gift Card number to the CM.

Savings of 5 percent buying at target with redcard.
3rd party ie.... Raise.com could save more

 

[nalajms]

I think Michael was referring to just the DVA, not gift cards.

 

[erionm]

Savings of 5 percent buying at target with redcard.
3rd party ie.... Raise.com could save more

You get that savings even if you don't use a DVA. The DVA itself won't save you any money.

 

[tup1830]

You can also use it to pay for Disney Cruise vacations, ABD vacations, etc. You can also use it to pay the $95 for non dvc property reservations.

If you have a redcard account and buy the disney cards online, you can actually pay with another credit card and still get the 5% off...why do this?...credit card points!!!

 

[nalajms]

If you have a redcard account and buy the disney cards online, you can actually pay with another credit card and still get the 5% off

WOW! I didn't know that.

 

[eliza61]

You get that savings even if you don't use a DVA. The DVA itself won't save you any money.

thanks,
I was definitely referring to the DVA account. I use my chase, get the points and buy target gift cards and then the Disney gf. I mainly use them for in parks dinners. I was just wondering if there was additional savings through the DVA.
I don't use the ddp and rather just get the points on my cc so I use htat to purchase my park tickets. just gives me more flexibility as I can get hundreds of various gc as oppose to just Disney.

But I would have been opened to try it if t here were additional savings

 

[nalajms]

I don't use the ddp and rather just get the points on my cc so I use htat to purchase my park tickets. just gives me more flexibility as I can get hundreds of various gc as oppose to just Disney.

DVA doesn't prevent you from getting cc points. I buy gc on my cc, turn them into Disney gc, load it into my DVA to buy tickets.

 

[alldiz]

You get that savings even if you don't use a DVA. The DVA itself won't save you any money.

Gotcha ok

 

[alldiz]

You can also use it to pay for Disney Cruise vacations, ABD vacations, etc. You can also use it to pay the $95 for non dvc property reservations.

If you have a redcard account and buy the disney cards online, you can actually pay with another credit card and still get the 5% off...why do this?...credit card points!!!

Wow so just having a redcard u buy the cards online and u can use chase??
But understanding why I would still get 5 percent off not using target card?