Is DVC a savings or a luxury?

[DMRick]

Also, it seems contradictory to say one doesn't want to worry about rules, booking windows and the like but searches out discount codes.

It's not contradictory. I said nothing about worrying about rules (please don't put words in my mouth)..I said I didn't want to plan (be trapped, is what I actually said) my vacation around not going on weekends, just to use less points. I like to vacation when I want, not when points dictate it. So far, for each month I have wanted to go for the past several years, I have had no problem getting a great price..and that includes weekends. We generally go, January, May, August, and last year, during February. I had a code/postcard/AA each time, and great prices. One of the trips was very last minute, but we had no problems getting in where and when we wanted to.

Lets assume an average moderate price of $109 plus tax ($120) and 30 days, that's $3630 and assume you do that every year.

But we have not paid yet, more than $89 plus tax for a moderate...although we came close to paying $94 plus tax.

Your post earlier was more broad reaching and indicated that there was no value in DVC for anyone and I find that absolutely wrong.

I did not say that....I was responding to the OP. ...although I have yet to see a really good argument for it (I'm sorry..I've sat around and had people go one on one with me, trying to make me see why I would save, doing DVC, and I've done all the costs analysis..and I just wouldn't save piddling)..that would make me want to tie up that amount of money for the "deluxe" rooms I've seen at Disney. I've stayed in far better rooms away from Disney that gave us way more luxury, without all the complaints I have heard on these boards abotu the Disney "deluxe" rooms. I have no problem with the mods..I enjoy them..obviously if you don't and you would pay full price for the deluxes anyway, then, hey, go for it LOL! I would use an AP rate to stay in a deluxe myself, if so inclined, and not feel I have to stay in a timeshare the next year, because I'm paying for it.

I agree with you about counting the lost income in your analysis or the interest paid, but you can't do both.

Was I counting both..I don't even remember anymore. If so, I meant you either were paying it off, and losing the principal and the interest you would have made, or you don't pay it off, and you have payments with interest.

However that said..obviously DVC members on this board think it's worth it, since they own it. So, far be it from me to try to convince you, that own it otherwise. However, I still believe based on what the OP wrote, that it's not for her...unless her tastes, spending habits, etc, change. And I just have to say, I really don't believe it's worth it for a lot of other people..even a lot of those who have already bought into it. I truly believe a lot of it is a sales pitch..a way for Disney to make money, and many people who can't afford it get talked into it. Now, please take note..that I made no blanket statement, that it's that way for everyone...but I think it's pretty easy to come on some of the boards, and "catch" the enthusiasm (and comradery), and sign up, when it really may not be for you.

 

[Dean]

DMRick, it's not for you, that's cool. We actually have the same approach to looking at these type of things and come up with different decisions. DVC isn't for everyone but that's OK. Personally I feel the same way you do about people going around looking for codes, postcards and the like. Considering I could sell for far more than I paid and rent for enough to cover all the costs we've talked about including investment return and return of principal, I'm comfortable. Not only that, the free tickets I had for several years already more than paid for 2 of my OKW contracts but that doesn't help a new potential member a bit. Your view that members just need to justify their decisions I find a bit demeaning, not to mention incorrect. I stayed at AKL a year ago Thanksgiving and was miserable. The small rooms and lack of amentities in the rooms was a real problem for me. Same for Port Orleans on a subsequent trip when I didn't have points available. I've discovered the luxury of space on vacation and the ability to eat out when I want to and not because I have to and I like it.

 

[DMRick]

Your view that members just need to justify their decisions I find a bit demeaning, not to mention incorrect.

Not at all meant to be demeaning..sorry you took it that way. I haven't changed how I feel, since I have talked to current members and past members (and past members seem to see it a lot differently form current members), but just wanted to let you know it wasn't meant to be demeaning.

 

[vernon]

DMRick Said

Again..it's not just maintenance fees you pay yearly...even if you did already pay off the first fee..you still have to consider it...and it's real value

Sorry but I disagree with you on that point. While I understand that the asset I have in DVC has a "real value" I don't agree that, for the purposes of calculating the cost of DVC, that real value needs to be taken into account. I'll try to explain my "logic" on that.

I bought DVC in 1992 my cost as off 2000 was say $20,000 (taking interest lost and paid, dues, etc etc )

Had I stayed at the hotel I had planned I would have paid at least that much and probably a lot more but for arguments sake I'll say cost $20,000.

As of 2000 I feel all I pay just my "dues" a year which is about $900 for that, if I'm careful (or the days I want rooms fall that way) I can get 28 days accommodation in a studio.

Now you would have me calculate the asset I have (worth about $12,500) into future "costs" as a "potential earnings loss", but IMHO in order to do that I would have to "back value" that asset into previous calculations, ie instead of assuming that Y2K I was "square" on my DVC purchase I was in fact $12,500 in profit. It makes the running "time/value/money" calculations massively more complicated. If I were to do the actual calculation on what my return is on DVC. I paid $53 per point, I could sell for probably $70 I actually have a profit on the asset. Therefore you're looking at potential profit vs actual profit. (DVC made me about 32% return over the 8 years not massice but I think a few pension funds would be happy with 4% a year return).

It seems to me it would be equally correct to say it looks like you're trying to justify your choice not to buy in as it is to say DVC owners justifying their choice to buy in.

Each case is different, it didn't work for you, fine , if you're happy with that I'm happy for you. I know it has saved me a fortune, and I still have a valuable asset. I'm very content with my choice. Each person needs to look at their own situation and run through what they think is likely to be their needs and make some guesses on likely situations. The more views they get to consider the more informed their choice will be. But there is a lot of guess work that goes into it.

 

[Debbie]

I've been following this thread for the past few days, and I want to thank everyone for their opinions. I think that it is great to be able to "listen" to so many people explaining why/why not DVC is/is not for them.

As a teacher, I am only able to visit WDW in "prime time", and the cost for my large family is somewhat prohibitive. When I go to WDW, I don't mind doing a bit of laundry, or even whipping up some microwave popcorn, but I don't think that I'd want to cook on a regular basis. As I prepare to send the first 3 off to university, I can't envision spending the cash (ie. the initial outlay) for a 2 week summer vacation-even if it is a perpetual one. While we enjoyed our stay at the Beach Club in '99, we're quite content with the value/moderate resorts and don't need deluxe to have a great time. In fact, we had a blast at the Courtyard last summer. Added to that, since we live in Canada, the cost is more than 1.5 times for my dollar.

So, we are not in the DVC category right now. If I won the lottery, maybe. Or maybe not. Now.....if there were a few more perks, now that Disney Club is no longer (well at the end of the year), and (again, since I'm in Canada ) I can't be a member of the Disney Visa, my whole thinking might become confused again.

Love the conversations! Keep it up!

Oh, and when we took the tour... we didn't get anything for it.

 

[crisi]

Disney Vacations are a luxury.

Then you decide how much luxury you are going for in your Disney vacation. All Stars or GF Conceirge.

If you can commit to Disney as a regular vacation for more than a dozen years - and have decided that the level of luxury you are looking for on these trips is a Deluxe hotel - but are not interested in the luxury of conceirge, and are willing to give up some things like daily housekeeping, DVC will save you some money.

If you are at the Moderate Hotel level of luxury, DVC may save you some money.

If you are willing to do things like cook in your room - DVC can save you even more money.

DVC makes particular sense for large families - but even then is not a "bargain" compared to some off site timeshares or family hotels.

Our two WL rooms last year for seven nights ran over $3k. I'm not the type to go looking for codes - it isn't my style. Our two bedroom at BWV for seven nights this year will cost $1200 in dues. Our initial investment, resale last year, was less than $10k. I figure we break even (ignoring the time value of money) in about six trips - faster if we stay in studios - slower if we travel at more expensive point times. Since the last three years have not been good regarding the time value of money, I don't feel too bad ignoring it.

Of course, we could all do better financially by skipping Disney vacations completely and investing the money in U.S. Savings bonds.

And DVC is not for people who already have consumer debt, who don't know how they are going to pay for their retirement, who have college expenses coming, or have no savings.

 

[WDWMom]

" While a membership today doesn't have the same upside the economics are still sound. What will the resale be in 10 years? I don't know. "

Lisa P - I think I made it clear that the upside is not to be considered the same as what history has shown us. However, it should be considered. Even if the price doesn't keep going up, The past 10 years should tell us that an investment in DVC should at least hold it's value when weighed against the use that you will get out of it. I didn't buy in for three years because I thought the price should be going down. Five years after that the price is still going up and the assumption is that it will continue to go up in the forseeable future. All this inspite of the fact that we have gone through a period of economic uncertainty in which luxury assets took some serious hits. Right now Disney attendance and occupancy rates are down. Room rates are low and discounts are available. All these things have helped make the economics of DVC look less attractive to some. My point was to consider the direction in which room rates could go. Then take that into consideration of a DVC buy in being locked with only modest increases, or none, in maintenance fees.

On a lighter note, I laugh when I hear people complain about cooking when on vacation. Like DVC ers are preparing five course dinners while on vacation. The occasional frozen pizza, or a sandwich is about as fancy as it gets in our room. Just having a fridge to get a coke ( about $2.50 in the parks) saves us alot of money. And every time I go I see families in the parks munching on homemade, or store bought treats happy to not be paying disney prices on all their food. I figure our 250 Disney pins were purchased with what we saved on food and drink.

 

[littlestar]

We bought into DVC last year because we wanted Disney's deluxe accommodations. Our girls are now over 18, so even when I found a code on the Wilderness Lodge (least expensive deluxe) I still had to add that $25.00 extra adult fee onto the room rate. If I found a code for $144.00 a night the extra adult charges bumped it up to $194.00 a night! Then the tax bumped it up even more.

Our older kids HATE the All Stars. When they were little, it was okay. But now they say "get us out of here." We stayed at a moderate last summer and we all kept saying, we won't go again if we can't stay deluxe. That's just us. Everybody is different.

It made sense for us because we LOVE Disney's deluxe hotels. That's the reason we come to Orlando. I have a brother that could care less about staying on Disney property. He books a "getaway" on my mom and dad's Interval membership (they own a timeshare on Maui) and Interval offers their members getaways at great prices. My brother usually stays at Liki Tiki (sometimes for $200 a week) or one of the Marriott timeshares for $300 to $400 a week and is thrilled with those. But, our family would not be. I can stay at a nice hotel anywhere in the country, but I can't get the Disney "magic" anywhere but on Disney property. The only reason I book the plane tickets to Orlando is because I want to stay on Disney property in a deluxe hotel.

If you're happy with Disney's value or moderates or staying at a cheap offsite hotel, I wouldn't join. But, who knows what the price of a moderate will go to after the economy pulls out of this recession! If you want Disney's deluxe hotels, I consider DVC a bargain!

 

[frannn]

I was completely in the dark about DVC before I asked the question. I did not realize there was a "window of opportunity" to plan your DVC vacation. I find it very difficult to get DH to commit to going to WDW until the plane fare, etc is not so much of a bargain. That, coupled with the fact that he is NYPD and vacation time is inflexible once you have "picked" your original dates at the beginning of every year, cause the 7 month window to be a little difficult to meet. I also like to utilize as many weekend days on a WDW vacation as possible, because then I could stay longer and not have to take the extra time off work. I did get an interesting suggestion from a CM at the DS yesterday, though. Rather than financing through Disney, she put the original investment on a credit card that allows for 2% interest for the life of the balance. Are those types of cards still offered? That would be ideal. I have never stayed in a room bigger than an AS, and I have been going since 1999. I'm not a "deluxe room" type person. I'd rather spend my time and $ in the parks and a longer stay. I was just trying to figure out if over the long run, the cost would work out to be less than whatever the discounted AS would be every year. I have no problem committing to a WDW vacation every year! I also hope to move to GA or FL once my DH retires (dare to dream), but that will be at least 10 years from now. I guess I am just making things more complicated with my new info. I am confused about the maintenance fees as well. How can you be sure they won't increase close to or at the same rate as the rack rates of AS, moderate, and deluxe rooms? Does the amount of points needed daily ever go up permenantly(not due to holiday's, etc)?
What other discounts do DVC members get? Thanks again for the education. Sorry if this thread has taken on a life of its own!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by frannn
I was completely in the dark about DVC before I asked the question. I did not realize there was a "window of opportunity" to plan your DVC vacation. I find it very difficult to get DH to commit to going to WDW until the plane fare, etc is not so much of a bargain. That, coupled with the fact that he is NYPD and vacation time is inflexible once you have "picked" your original dates at the beginning of every year, cause the 7 month window to be a little difficult to meet. I also like to utilize as many weekend days on a WDW vacation as possible, because then I could stay longer and not have to take the extra time off work. I did get an interesting suggestion from a CM at the DS yesterday, though. Rather than financing through Disney, she put the original investment on a credit card that allows for 2% interest for the life of the balance. Are those types of cards still offered? That would be ideal. I have never stayed in a room bigger than an AS, and I have been going since 1999. I'm not a "deluxe room" type person. I'd rather spend my time and $ in the parks and a longer stay. I was just trying to figure out if over the long run, the cost would work out to be less than whatever the discounted AS would be every year. I have no problem committing to a WDW vacation every year! I also hope to move to GA or FL once my DH retires (dare to dream), but that will be at least 10 years from now. I guess I am just making things more complicated with my new info. I am confused about the maintenance fees as well. How can you be sure they won't increase close to or at the same rate as the rack rates of AS, moderate, and deluxe rooms? Does the amount of points needed daily ever go up permenantly(not due to holiday's, etc)?
What other discounts do DVC members get? Thanks again for the education. Sorry if this thread has taken on a life of its own!

Based on this post and your original post, you will not be happy with DVC. Here's why I think so:

* You will not save money over staying at the All Star Resorts (in fact, I think it will cost you more), especially since you prefer to utilize weekends to the fullest on your WDW trips. Since you say you are not a "deluxe room" type of person, the non-financial reasons to buy DVC will have less value to you than some others.

* Because of your DH's job (God bless him and keep him safe), you cannot take advantage of the 11 month home resort advantage. This means that you will be competing will all other DVC members for your vacation dates and preferred room size. You may not find availability at the times you want to go, if you cannot book more than 7 months ahead of arrival. Reservations are first come, first served. This is a common reason why some are unhappy after purchase.

To answer your question about mainteneance fees, they can (and do) go up. Florida law caps the annual increase at 15%. That said, increases have been reasonable so far (an average of 3%-5%. Some years the fees have actually gone down. Disney is prohibited from making a profit on maintenance so members only pay the actual operating costs.

As far as the points required to reserve a room, the answer is "sort of". Disney cannot increase the total number of points required to reserve the rooms for a year. So if points go up for some days or some room types, they must decrease by the same amount for other days or other room types. Actually, there has only been one "reallocation" since DVC began and that was at OKW. Before BWV sold out, the points were reallocated to allow for standard and preferred views (due to member complaints about the view of the driveway). IMHO, there is very little to worry about in this area.

The "other" DVC discounts are subject to change and IMHO, should not even be considered as part of the buying decision.

Thanks for starting such an interesting thread. IMHO, many DVC members are so pleased with DVC (count me in as a happy DVC member) that they forget that it isn't a good value for everyone.

 

[Lisa P.]

Excellent response, CarolMN!

Rather than financing through Disney, she put the original investment on a credit card that allows for 2% interest for the life of the balance. Are those types of cards still offered?

I don't know of a credit card with a high enough credit limit to purchase DVC on it, with a 2% interest rate for the life of the balance. Usually, credit cards that offer such low rates will increase the rate after an introductory period (6 months?)

I am confused about the maintenance fees as well. How can you be sure they won't increase close to or at the same rate as the rack rates of AS, moderate, and deluxe rooms?

You cannot be sure. The maint fees include actual costs of running & maintaining the resort, in addition to management fees (some modest ongoing profit) that are paid to the management company - in this case, Disney. OTOH, hotel room rates will rise to make profit a high priority, at whatever the market will bear. IMHO, discount deals are cyclical. But as long as Disney continues to build more new resort hotels, there will continue to be some discounts at most times of the year. As a family who enjoy vacations at the All Stars with relatively short term planning, and with the good possibility of Disney adding more rooms to the Value & Moderate categories, I suspect that you are likely to continue to see discounts in the future.

The rest of your questions were answered very thoroughly by CarolMN. Do what's best for you. Obviously, it's different for different families.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DMRick
Not at all meant to be demeaning..sorry you took it that way. I haven't changed how I feel, since I have talked to current members and past members (and past members seem to see it a lot differently form current members), but just wanted to let you know it wasn't meant to be demeaning.

I'm sure you didn't but your post basically said it wasn't a deal for anyone and that those that bought were just trying to justify their purchase. I'm sure that's true at times but the minority of DVC owners, at least those on this board. We have made out like bandits using DVC with the free passes and reduced weekday stays. We usually go Sunday and leave Friday which is about right for us. Frankly, I'm usually the one telling people when DCV is not right for them, as the DVC board regulars can attest. Still, I doubt DVC has saved me money but it has sure given me a lot of great vacations at far greater luxury than I could have afforded otherwise for about the same money as I was paying for off site vacations prior.

You also mentioned about being forced into taking vacations. I must say that's one of the best things about owning timeshares as my family can attest. It makes me take time off work which I wouldn't do regularly otherwise. I see that as a good thing. The other thing timeshares have done for us is allow us to include family we wouldn't get to spend time with and pass our good fortune on to them at times.

Lets see, 1997 with a large family group for 6 days at Vero Beach. 1999 with an even larger group at OKW (2 BR plus two studios) with free tickets for all. 2000 with a week at HH and a week in Cancun (20th anniversary, no kids). 2001 with two 2 BR units at HH (Monarch on the beach) with family and a second week at Grande Ocean (also on the beach). 2002 with 2 weeks in HI with two 1 BR units at the Embassy Maui and a 2 BR at the Embassy Kauai. Total HI cost including all expenses, fees, memberships, eats etc around $2500 including tickets for 4. This summer I have a 3 BR, 1800 sqare foot ocean front unit reserved with a jacuzzi on the balcony for 9 nights in Puerto Vallarta and then two 2 BR units at Grande Ocean with family invited for a week total cost excluding food including all fees and the like around $2500 including air. Of course this is with many timeshares and not just DVC.

I own some 9 timeshare weeks or the equivilent in points and am able to rent the ones I don's use or trade paying my fees, return of principle over 10 years and a return usually around 12-14% per year. In addition I get some great vacations along the way. I do well without figuring the fun, enjoyment and usage but it's the vacations that make it worthwhile.

If wish I had a nickle for every time I've heard a member say they didn't think it would work for them and now they're glad they bought in and wish they had bought initially.

 

[vernon]

I am confused about the maintenance fees as well. How can you be sure they won't increase close to or at the same rate as the rack rates of AS, moderate, and deluxe rooms?

Even if dues increase at the same % PA as room rates it's worth remembering that the "cost", if only using dues, is a significanly smaller amount than the room rate. for example a studio at OKW costs 10 points a night for the majority of the year ( Sun-Thursday) with dues about $4 per point you can calculate a "dues cost" of $40 per night. If we say the room rate for the All star is currently $80 per night if BOTH increase at 5% per year in 10 years time the dues cost will be $6.20 per point or $62.00 per night. A room will cost $124.10 the gap between the two ( a difference of $62 per night ) , so in actual $ terms will increase.
If you do the same using 10 % inflation for both you get a dues cost of $94.32 vs a room rate cost of $194.60 a difference of $94 per night.

Because you are starting with a "smaller cost" dues would have to rise at a significanly high rate than the "rack rate" for the difference between the two to close significantly.

 

[Mic]

WOW! I never cease to be amazed at the mathematical skills involved in figuring room costs. I sat down once or twice(after being inspired by threads similar to this one on the DVC board)and tried to figure the ACTUAL cost of DVC versus a moderate room (or roomS in our case, as we have 4 children) and ended up with a headache. In response to frann's original question...both. DVC is a luxury for those of us that would still be sleeping on those itty-bitty All Star beds(nothing wrong with that...done it myself) and eating at least one meal a day at the food court. The accomodations are nicer with DVC, and even the addition of just a fridge and microwave in the room saves us that trip to the food court each day, and affords us a better choice of breakfast foods. So it really does save us money, but I am sure that is not the case for everyone. If you want to get technical and mathematical, the general consensus of most members is "if you already do or wish to visit WDW at least every other year, then DVC makes sense." If that is not the case, then maybe DVC is not for you. For me, the decision was not just based on cost(I never would have purchased had it been). But it should definitely NOT be based on your SIL getting a bonus, either!

 

[TedO]

Originally posted by InstImpres
I can't believe I am being sucked into this thread. I am a DVC owner and it took 3 years to convince me.

Just 1 point to anyone considering (which I don't personally understand).
ALL DVC OWNERSHIPS REGARDLESS OF PURCHASE DATE REVERT BACK TO DISNEY 2042. (Even on resorts just being built)

Lol Sandy - I feel the same way about getting sucked into this thread after sitting back and reading for the past few days. Oh well, what the heck, I'll throw my 2 cents in too. This thread has mostly been about DVC vs. a budget or moderate Disney resort, but there is actually another alternative - a (gasp!) non-Disney timeshare.

I looked into DVC back in 1994 when they were still relatively new and points were around $52 and they still included the park hopper passes. My family of 4 are all WDW lovers and I really wanted to buy into DVC, but I just couldn't justify it when I compared it to other Orlando area timeshares on the resale market. We had stayed in a few different ones through friends (Vistana, Westgate and Polynesian Isles) and fell in love with the idea of a condo vs. a hotel room. We really enjoyed all of them, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the parks and being able to spread out in a 2 BR/ 2 Bath unit with a full kitchen and a living room, all within 5-10 minutes of WDW.

We decided we liked Vistana the best and after comparing the pros and cons of DVC vs. Vistana, it was really a no-brainer for us. We ended up buying a Vistana resale for a floating week in the Fountains section for $5K. We like to go in February or March to break up the winter here in NH and to buy enough points (300) for a 2 BR at OKW through DVC would have cost us about $16K. The maintenance fees were about the same ($500 at DVC to $400 at Vistana) but there was just no way I could justify the extra $11,000 outlay, as much as we love Disney.

The major pros for DVC were the Disney name and quality, the point system (which Vistana didn't have and I really like, though we usually go for a week at a time so not that big of a deal for us) and the park passes (but only until 1999). The 2 biggest cons were the outrageous price and the one that bugged me the most - the fact that ownership reverts to Disney in 2042. I may not be around in 2042 or I will be in my 80's, but I can pass my Vistana ownership on to my kids and their kids, at least as long as Vistana is around. It just didn't make sense to spend all that money on something that I wouldn't really own.

Anyway, I guess my point is to let the OP (Frannn) know that there is another option that may be a middle gound between staying at a DVC resort vs. the All-Stars, unless of course, they
are determined to stay on-site. We love having the extra space of a 2 BR/2 BA condo compared to a 250-300 sf. room with 1 bath, not to mention the cost savings of being able to eat most breakfasts and some lunches and dinners in the condo. We don't find it to be much of a hardship to stay at Vistana and can get anywhere on WDW property within 5-10 minutes (except for the MK which is a little more complicated) and we find we get enough of Disney "magic" while we are at the parks, without having to be immersed in it 24/7. Since Frannn stays for 10-12 days usually, they could split the vacation up and spend a week at a timeshare condo plus a few extra days at a Disney property to get a little of both worlds, which is what we usually do to extend the vacation a few days.

Obviously many people here have bought into DVC and love it and that really is all that matters - you have to do what you think is best for your situation. Not to denigrate anyone who chose or will choose the DVC route, I just wanted to let anyone that might be thinking about a DVC purchase know that there might be a more cost-effective alternative.

Ted

 

[Lisa P.]

TedO, great points. I compared the All Stars with DVC because the original post asked about that. We've traded a cheap South Africa timeshare week (purchase $1,000, annual maint $140 plus $139 exchange fee) for beautiful Orlando area timeshare weeks. We've also traded our Fairfield points for RCI weeks at a reasonably low cost ($3,000 purchase plus maint under $500, able to get 2 weeks or more per year from it, in 2BRs).

There's no comparison with the cost of DVC, for a quality resale week elsewhere! For today's buyer seeking 300 DVC points for an annual school break week, they'll pay nearly $20,000 with annual maint of $900-$1,200. Whew! However, for someone who feels strongly about staying onsite, they may not be happy with an offsite timeshare ownership, even at significant savings.

For someone who can travel during non-peak times, there are rental weeks out there for under $500 with no purchase commitment at all. But these are offsite. Again, that may not suffice for some people so would not be considered. Glad to read that you have enjoyed your Vistana Resort. We did too, when we traded in. Nice place.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

The other thing timeshares have done for us is allow us to include family we wouldn't get to spend time with and pass our good fortune on to them at times.

This summer I have a 3 BR, 1800 sqare foot ocean front unit reserved with a jacuzzi on the balcony for 9 nights in Puerto Vallarta and then two 2 BR units at Grande Ocean with family invited for a week total cost excluding food including all fees and the like around $2500 including air.

Dean, would you consider adopting me????

 

[DisneyKidds]

DVC is a savings on a luxury.

I say that because any trip to WDW is a luxury. Furthermore, any trip where you stay on Disney property is a bigger luxury. By all means, you can find cheaper ways to vacation at Disney than DVC (ie - staying off property). However, if you want to be on property it is hard to beat.

Frankly, if the only place you ever intend to stay is the All Stars or Pop Century (ie. Value resorts) then DVC might not be for you. By all means, you should run the numbers. Estimate the cost of Value rooms for 39 years and then compare that to the initial DVC investment, plus annual dues for 39 years. I'd be interested to see where that comes out, and if DVC represents a long term savings, break even, or a long term higher cost. My guess is DVC wouldn't save you much, but maybe over the 39 years you'd get nicer accomodations for the same money?

We will break even on our DVC investment in 6 years. That means that from that point forward we are saving money each and every year by owning DVC. I figured our savings based on the fact that we go anywhere from 7 to 14 nights a year and would stay in moderate and deluxe accomodations. Over 39 years we will save a lot of money compared to what we would have spent on Disney hotel rooms.

The rule of thumb seems to be that if you will vacation at WDW once a year and stay in moderate resorts or better, DVC will save you money. Again, I'm not sure where things come out vs value resorts.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mrs. Snowgod
Dean, would you consider adopting me????

My wife and I had thought about it but I had in mind 21, tall, blonde. She didn't think so for some reason, LOL.

 

[Pig Pen]

I think what finally won me over is the fact that a studio in OKW will always be 8 points on a weeknight in Sept.

In other words, the points will never go up as opposed to the cost of other WDW hotel rooms, making this a great bargain in the long run - please don't anyone burst my bubble on this