Is DVC a good fit for annual DL visitors?

[forevercruising]

Hello!

We are on the verge of purchasing 160 pts. at SSR, but, unlike most DVC'ers, we plan to use our points mostly at Disneyland, not Disney World. We've done some number-crunching, and it does save us money in the grand scheme of things, but, I keep reading posts that say things like, "If you don't plan on going to WDW every year/other year or so, DVC is not a good fit."

We are aware of the "risk" of changing points on the DL points charts, unlike the DVD resorts. We are a bit uneasy about that, but, at this point we are feeling as if we are willing to take the risk that our 160 pts. will provide us with an annual or every other year vacation at the Grand Californian at DL.

Also, one concern is whether we should wait to see if DL ever builds a DVC on site; however, that is apparently not in the near future (yes, there are rumors, but who really knows???) and we have two big DL trips planned already, the cost of which could supplement much of our DVC purchase.

So, are we truly crazy to buy in to DVC if we plan to frequent DL, not WDW?

Any comments? Any advice from others in our situation?

Thanks much, in advance!

 

[dragonflymom]

I also visit DL much more frequently than WDW and like you, believe that using DVC points at the DL resorts seem fair (at least based on current point structure). I decided to go for a smaller contract as I am still hopeful that there will be a DVC property in DL in the near future, in which case I won't be "stuck" with too many SSR points and can add on. Also, I want the flexibility to still use cash at the resorts if they have special promotional rates or attractive AP rates (have paid less than $200 a night at GC one January)!

I chose SSR because of the lower maintenance fees. I went the resale route and picked up a contract with banked points, my equivalent of one set of "developer points" at almost $20 lower per point total compared with buying from Disney.

We hope to travel to WDW at least every other year and it's nice to know that we can always add on when we have firm plans to visit.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The online rumor mill has been speculating about a DLR DVC resort for quite some time. There's been no official Disney announcement, so of course nothing's guaranteed, but there's probably a very good chance that there will be a California DVC resort before too much longer. (The only DVC rumor that seems to get more play is the construction at the Contemporary Resort in WDW.)

If you're happy with the current exchange rates you get for the DLR resorts and want to join now, you'll probably have even more choices in the future. (Your only issue if a DLR DVC opens and you own at SSR or AKV would be that you wouldn't have that DLR DVC resort as your home resort, and wouldn't get the booking priority there.)

In either case, keep in mind that DVC points have consistently retained or increased in value in the resale market. If you purchase something now and find it isn't optimal for you down the road, the chances of being able to sell your contract without a significant financial loss are quite good.

BTW, you post would probably get more response in the DVC forum.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im about to buy and the first place im useing is in dl. i think tis worth it. im gona go to dw off and on too but probley every 2years or something

 

[Amy&Dan]

To me its still worth it. We have stayed on points at both the Grand Californian and Disneyland Hotel. We are going back to the DLH for six nights in January. Given the high cost of the hotels at Disneyland that just seem to be getting more expensive, its a good deal. For our recent stay of nine nights, we paid 240 points. At the member cost of $5.50 per point, we were paying $146 per night. Rack rate for our premium view room was over $100 per night plus tax and daily resort fee. So we would have been paying close to $300 a night. Tome thats a good deal. We also go to WDW on points regularly but have ended up using our points for DL more than I thought we would and I don't see that changing for our family. The Disneyland resort hotels are a better deal than they used to be. They lowered points values awhile back. It used to be you never saw any DVC presence at Disneyland. Not true now, they have kiosks all over the parks, DTD, and the hotels. They also have a permanent office now. To me they are clearly marketing DVC and will be building a DVC there in the future hopefully. I also sort of think that with two new ships being built for the DCL, it would go to reason they will have a ship in California permanently or at least regularly which would make DVC at Disneyland even more important and likely so that members can use points to cruise out of California easily and stay at DL.

There are some nice perks of having DVC and going to DL. When you stay at one of the resorts on points you don't pay tax (very high in CA) or the daily resort fee (around $12 per day) which gives you free interent access which is very handy. There are also discounts on dining in the parks and DTD as well as discounts on annual passes.

So I think its a good deal but in the end its something only you can decide! Good luck!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

We own two different contracts (OKW & BCV) and will not use points to stay in CA - we live about one hour from the parks and if we do stay in Anaheim we choose an inexpensive hotel on Harbor.. We are not in our room long enough to justify the pricing and since there are no kitchens I can't cook breakfast or dinner (we do that at WDW all the time). We prefer to bank our points if we can't use them or hopefully to do an excange with II soon!

I think you can find some great deals on hotels in Anaheim walking distance to DL and I think the 3 onsite hotels are overpriced for what you get...
I will probably be the only person who feels this based on the replies above but.......
unless they build a DVC resort onsite I won't use my points locally.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We own two different contracts (OKW & BCV) and will not use points to stay in CA - we live about one hour from the parks and if we do stay in Anaheim we choose an inexpensive hotel on Harbor.. We are not in our room long enough to justify the pricing and since there are no kitchens I can't cook breakfast or dinner (we do that at WDW all the time). We prefer to bank our points if we can't use them or hopefully to do an excange with II soon!

I think you can find some great deals on hotels in Anaheim walking distance to DL and I think the 3 onsite hotels are overpriced for what you get...
I will probably be the only person who feels this based on the replies above but.......
unless they build a DVC resort onsite I won't use my points locally.

Definitely, if I lived an hour away I might not use points for the hotels. But then I wouldn't want to stay offsite either since not one of the hotels near DL (within walking distance) is really worth what you pay. I had to pay $349 for two nights at the BWPPI and that was not really what I thought that motel was worth at all, but it was so close to the parks we bit the bullet. It was basically the same price I paid for the DLH using points and was not even in the same ballpark. Also, when I factor in airfare for four people, sometimes using my points is the only way I can afford to go to DL. In the end, I think anyway that using points makes it possible for a family to vacation, whether its at a WDW DVC resort, a DL resort or out of the Disney collections then DVC is a winner.

 

[Blackunicorn]

Well, you're the only ones who can decide in the long run whether you will get a good value out of it. Do you stay onsite when you're paying cash, or would you like to? If you tend to stay at inexpensive hotels and you're happy with them, then DVC might not be the best value for you. Just like DVC resorts, if you usually stay in the moderate or value hotels, then "upgrading" to the DVC resorts--which are considered luxury, even if you have no maid service--might not make much sense. I find the DLH points very reasonable--you don't have a kitchen or laundry in the room, but you have maid service and the points are comparable to similar rooms at DVC resorts. Unlike WDW, there are offsite hotels as close or closer to the entrance of the park than the resort hotels, and they're usually less expensive, so there isn't a huge push to stay onsite.

As you can see from my signature, I go to DL more often than WDW. I became a DVC member in 2003 in order to ensure more Disney trips, and California is easier to get to and also has the added bonus of allowing us to visit family. We consider it an important part of our trip to stay on property--we had such an INCREDIBLE time at DLH last time, thank you Amy--and points make it possible. The way we see it, our hotel is paid for and all we have to worry about is how to get there and what to eat.

 

["Got Disney"]

we live is SanDiego and use it all the time at GC matter of fact will be staying there again for 3 nights next weekend

planning on more days this year also...will be booking 7 days concierge at the Grandcalifornian next July 2008 before our cruise

WE have 400 pts and find it easier to also go to DL. It is not the best bang for your bucks/pts but isnt the whole idea to use them the way makes you happy

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I really don't know enough about this DVC. I tried looking in to it once, but it seemed VERY expensive (something like $16000?). Or maybe I'm way off, but it seemed way out of our budget. I never know how people are affording it! Unless I'm way off base here, which I would appreciate it if someone could tell me. LOL

 

["Got Disney"]

I really don't know enough about this DVC. I tried looking in to it once, but it seemed VERY expensive (something like $16000?). Or maybe I'm way off, but it seemed way out of our budget. I never know how people are affording it! Unless I'm way off base here, which I would appreciate it if someone could tell me. LOL

Depending on how many pts ypu buy and what DVC is charging for those pts at that times depends on the amount...for example if DVC is selling pts at $100 a pt than you will get 160 pts for 16,000.

The pts vary at each DVC hotel and season. Yes they can get expensive but in the long run it is a good value.

Say you were to purchase 160 pts at Saratoga Springs than you purchase the deed for 48 years. hmmmm might be 49 years cant remember to tiered

Say you stay at the SSR and it is 20 pts for a night than you would get 8 days stay for that per year. Theres more to it than what I have explained but it gives you an idea.

There are boards regaurding DVC on the DIS. hope this helps some

 

[Amy&Dan]

I really don't know enough about this DVC. I tried looking in to it once, but it seemed VERY expensive (something like $16000?). Or maybe I'm way off, but it seemed way out of our budget. I never know how people are affording it! Unless I'm way off base here, which I would appreciate it if someone could tell me. LOL

Its a big investment up front, however it insures you vacations for as long as 50 years. And your points go up in value. Our points were around $96 a point I believe and they are now going for around $108 I think. Not bad in two and half years. The bottom line is that if vacationing at Disney in particular is something your family enjoys then its nice to have that taken care of. You can finance your contract (you have to put 10% down) through Disney (interest rates are around 10% or a little under I think) to spread out the payments for up to 10 years. And the interest is tax deductible sine its a real estate interest. I have never heard of anyone (I am sure they exist just haven't read any complaints on the dis) who regretted buying DVC. Universally however, most people regret not buying sooner since point costs go up every year!

And again, as an example, I want to say that my cost using points (if converted that points cost to cash) for a premium view room at the DLH last month was around $146 a night. And I was not charged tax, or the daily resort fee. That is a very good deal and a few dollars less than I paid for the Best Western, which was nice and very clean (and closer to the parks) but was a basic motel with zero to offer in amenities.

I also want to add that for me, using points at the Disneyland resort hotels is nice because I get that daily maid service. If I use points at a WDW DVC resort I do not get that. I get trash and towel service on my fourth day and full maid service on my 8th day. If I want daily maid service at a WDW DVC I can pay $25 a day for it (which I never do). For me, I would prefer to skip the kitchen and have the daily cleaning! I love being able to use my points for either Disney resorts here in the U.S. and like that I have the flexibility to use my points wherever and whenever I want. With the option to bank or borrow points as I need to. DVC is way more flexible than any other timeshare and in fact is really not a timeshare in the true sense of the word.

If DVC is something you are at all interested in, go over to the DVC board. There is a wealth of information from disboards/DVC members who know quite a bit more than I do.


And this also makes travelling to WDW more affordable for people who live far away from Florida and will have expensive airfare. They have DVC resorts in Vero Beach Florida and Hilton Head SC too. So there's a lot of choices with DVC but it is definitely not for everyone!

 

[Amy&Dan]

. We consider it an important part of our trip to stay on property--we had such an INCREDIBLE time at DLH last time, thank you Amy--and points make it possible. The way we see it, our hotel is paid for and all we have to worry about is how to get there and what to eat.

I am so glad you liked the DLH! I haven't "seen" you around much lately and wondered how that trip went. We just stayed there for the first time in two and half years and it was just as magical as always. We actually prefer it to the GCH (did that on points too and I know we are in the minority on liking the DLH better). Glad you had a great trip, when's the next one?

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Oh okay, I think I get it now. So when you buy points does it have to be for a certain place, since your using them at DL, how does that work? If that makes sense! LOL

 

[Amy&Dan]

Oh okay, I think I get it now. So when you buy points does it have to be for a certain place, since your using them at DL, how does that work? If that makes sense! LOL

You buy at your home resort. Right now Disney is selling new contracts for Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas. You can then book reservations for your home resort at 11 months out. However, you can book at all the other resorts (DVC resorts that is which includes: Beach Club Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas, Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Vero Beach and Hilton Head) at seven months out. You can also book at the three Disneyland hotels in California at 11 months out, however, they don't always release rooms that far out. For example I am trying to book points for the DLH for January but can't yet since they haven't released rooms yet for anybody past December 31, 2007.

The differing resorts have different point costs, for example Old Key West (the oldest and first DVC resort) is the cheapest on points, whereas Beach Club Villas are more expensive. Also, point values vary througout the year. For example a studio or one/two bedroom unit will cost you more points during Christmas Week than in the middle of January, off season. However, off season its sometimes harder to find availablity since most DVC members try very hard to maximize their points by going off season. Thats why its nice to have the option to book 11 months out. You can also waitlist if the unit you want isn't available.

When you stay at a DVC resort in WDW you can enjoy free valet parking at other resorts, discounts on AP's and admission to the waterparks, you can pool hop to most of the other WDW resorts (DVC and otherwise with a couple of exceptions) and you can book cash rooms at a DVC resort for 25% off rack rate. So if you stay at a resort on points but don't have enough for the whole stay, you can add as many room nights as you want, and pay cash at a substantial savings.

There are rumors that DVC will add resorts at both the GCH in California and the Contemporary at WDW. It would be nice if both of those happened, and I can imagine that since both of those would be smaller add ons (vs. the huge Saratoga Springs which is still selling a few years after it opened) to very popular existing resorts, they would sell out quickly.

They also have other collections around the world, non Disney owned resorts in Europe, Hawaii and every place else you can think of. I have never done that, can't offer much insight into that except that most people feel you should not buy into DVC excluslively to use outside of Disney's hotels/resorts.

You can also buy a reslae contract from all the existing resorts from places like the Timeshare Store. Those contracts will be cheaper but will have less years on them since you are buying somebody else's contract they already used.

Next time you are at Disneyland, ask one of those kiosk DVC reps to give you a tour, they have an office at DL. And do check out the DVC Board. People over there are way more knowledgeable than me about the fine points of DVC.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Thanks Amy! As usual you are very helpful! Something I will look in to, sounds like it might be worthwhile to us, with as often as we go.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Jennifer, glad I could help! Dh was snooping over my shoulder and told me that he thinks you can buy any DVC resort from Disney, but the older ones might be waitlisted since they are sold out. So I guess you can buy interests in those others (Beach Club, Boardwalk etc) from Disney or the Timeshare Store. Again, some way smarter person on the DVC board could answer that one for sure. Dh and I always wanted to buy new at SSR (the new one when we bought) because we wanted our contract to be for 50 years, so we never checked into any of the others. Although now I wouldn't mind adding on a smaller contract at one of the others so I would have 11 month booking windows at two resorts.

Definitely give it some thought, its a big decision and one I thought long and hard about. The good news is that I have never regretted it!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Yeah it looks like something you really want to research and think about. Gonna bring it up to my DH and do LOTS of reading, I'll check out the board on it too. Thanks again!

 

[Blackunicorn]

I am so glad you liked the DLH! I haven't "seen" you around much lately and wondered how that trip went. We just stayed there for the first time in two and half years and it was just as magical as always. We actually prefer it to the GCH (did that on points too and I know we are in the minority on liking the DLH better). Glad you had a great trip, when's the next one?

We loved it! We would have had a much different experience, I think, if we hadn't had the extreme good luck to be placed in the Sierra Tower facing DTD. When we checked in, they said that no one wanted the room because it was too noisy--but we had no problem with noise when the windows were closed, and when we opened the windows we loved being able to hear the bands playing in DTD--we could see them from our room! My DH loved it so much that this year he forked out extra points to make sure we got a premium view. We'll be heading back in September! Someday we'll try the GCH, but for right now, we're going with the idea that if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[Amy&Dan]

We loved it! We would have had a much different experience, I think, if we hadn't had the extreme good luck to be placed in the Sierra Tower facing DTD. When we checked in, they said that no one wanted the room because it was too noisy--but we had no problem with noise when the windows were closed, and when we opened the windows we loved being able to hear the bands playing in DTD--we could see them from our room! My DH loved it so much that this year he forked out extra points to make sure we got a premium view. We'll be heading back in September! Someday we'll try the GCH, but for right now, we're going with the idea that if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

That is us exactly. The GCH was great (used points for that last year) and we loved having the balcony. But we also got Sierra Tower (by paying for Premium view) and it was nice. Although I love the other towers too. In any case, I timed it, from the Sierra Tower exit door to the DTD/Club Libby Lu entrance of the GCH it took me four minutes to walk that. And then once I was in that entrance I had to navigate through the hotel and down a very long hallway to our room. So in essence when going to DL our room at the GCH vs. our room at the DLH didn't save me much time if any. It was nice however after getting soaked on GRR to run up and change clothes so quickly!

But my husband and I agreed, we just have soft spot for the DLH, its pools, grounds, dining options and rooms and there's no need to go anyplace else anymore. We've had six perfect stays there now. And I love being able to use points for DL, even though I thought I never would! You tried to tell me and now I know you were right!