Is DVC even worth it for us?

[MishLosingIt]

We went on a DVC tour on our last trip, and I really would like to purchase, but after crunching numbers, my husband isn't sure whether or not it will be a good deal for us. We're a family of 3 (including a 1.5 year old daughter). I'm a teacher, so we'd only be vacationing during school break times. We just stayed at Pop Century and were fine with staying in a value resort for a week - however we already booked a bounceback free dining offer for POFQ. We don't necessarily need to stay in a deluxe resort, but we definitely want to stay for 7-10 days each year, have a dining plan, and park tickets. Do you think we're better off doing a package every year or doing DVC? My husband seems to think that until DVC "pays for itself" it'll actually be more expensive than just doing packages.

 

[disneynutz]

The truth is in the numbers but if you are happy with what you are doing, I would probably stick with it.

DVC can be a cost savings for some or a increased cost for others, it all depends on several factors.

Bill

 

[abdgeek]

You'll get lots of opinions on this, so you'll have to crunch the numbers like you did and decide. Here's my two cents worth.

Like you, I can only travel during high peak times(holidays, summer) and DVC is so worth it to me. If you're ok staying in the types of accommodations you have been, you probably won't see the worth you get from DVC. To see what it would truly cost, you need to cost out staying in one of the DVC studios for 7-10 days. I can tell you that the times you travel are high peak season and a studio in a DVC resort can run you as much as $500 or more per night. When I ran the numbers, I found that each of my trips would have cost at least $5000 for a week stay. Granted, if I was paying out of pocket, I would have gotten a much cheaper room(before DVC I stayed at Coronado Springs, Port Orleans, etc). However, since I've become a DVC member the upgraded rooms are now my new norm. I now judge everywhere else I stay based on what I get when I stay at WDW in a DVC resort studio or 1 bedroom. I can say that DVC has elevated the level at which I am able to travel. I like that very much! Others will disagree, but I also use my points to do DCL and ABD. You also have access to RCI properties if you buy direct from Disney so you don't have to go to WDW every year. Good luck with you decision.

 

[BeerMe]

I've looked at it several times and it doesn't make financial sense for us ~ own RCI points but that makes little sense either but it is cheap. I wish I had bought DVC in the early 90s. That would have worked out. Now it doesn't make sense ~ for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We went on a DVC tour on our last trip, and I really would like to purchase, but after crunching numbers, my husband isn't sure whether or not it will be a good deal for us. We're a family of 3 (including a 1.5 year old daughter). I'm a teacher, so we'd only be vacationing during school break times. We just stayed at Pop Century and were fine with staying in a value resort for a week - however we already booked a bounceback free dining offer for POFQ. We don't necessarily need to stay in a deluxe resort, but we definitely want to stay for 7-10 days each year, have a dining plan, and park tickets. Do you think we're better off doing a package every year or doing DVC? My husband seems to think that until DVC "pays for itself" it'll actually be more expensive than just doing packages.

Even if you buy DVC, you will still need to buy park tickets and pay for the dining plan. All DVC gets you is lodging, prepaid (at least some of it, you still pay annual member fees each year based on the number of points you own). If moderates or values are fine, you like free dining, DVC probably really isn't for you.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Honestly, I think if you are okay with value resorts, then you won't exactly find a savings with DVC. Definitely crunch the numbers and decide though!

 

[Dean]

We went on a DVC tour on our last trip, and I really would like to purchase, but after crunching numbers, my husband isn't sure whether or not it will be a good deal for us. We're a family of 3 (including a 1.5 year old daughter). I'm a teacher, so we'd only be vacationing during school break times. We just stayed at Pop Century and were fine with staying in a value resort for a week - however we already booked a bounceback free dining offer for POFQ. We don't necessarily need to stay in a deluxe resort, but we definitely want to stay for 7-10 days each year, have a dining plan, and park tickets. Do you think we're better off doing a package every year or doing DVC? My husband seems to think that until DVC "pays for itself" it'll actually be more expensive than just doing packages.

Compared to free dining in a value or moderate, DVC is likely to be more expensive even for a studio. I wouldn't recommend purchasing in the situation you're in. I'd suggest you keep doing what you're doing but keep informed so that if your situation or Disney's change, you could buy in later.

 

[crisi]

You won't get deals with DVC (no free dining, no bounceback offers) and if you are fine in a value, you won't save money.

 

[Lynne M]

Whether it 'pays for itself', depends on what you're comparing it to. If you're comparing DVC to a value room, it's never going to pay for itself, and it'll always be more expensive than staying at a value.

When you hear talk of people saving money with DVC, they mean that they're saving money when you compare the cost of ownership of DVC with the cost of booking the same room on a cash reservation.

You also can't compare DVC to a package - DVC only covers your lodging; you'll still need to buy tickets and/or a dining plan.

Here's a better way to come at it.....is having a DVC studio or villa worth the extra cost of owning DVC, as compared to staying at a value? Is having the amenities of the DVC resorts - monorail, walking, or boat access to theme parks instead of buses, more elaborate pools, more dining choices - worth the extra cost of owning DVC?

When you come down to it, DVC is about the resorts, and about the villas. If the resort isn't an important part of your vacation, if you really only use the room to sleep and shower, then you're not likely to find value in DVC.

If you're willing to pay more for larger rooms, and more resort amenities, and you're looking for a cost-effective way to do it, then by all means, take a good look at DVC.

 

[GS for life]

We bought DVC last year. The girls are older (9 and 14) and the bigger rooms we can get really helped us decide. We plan on eating in the room for a few meals to save some money, but knew we were in a financial position that we could now afford it. I wish we could have in the 1990's when I was a Disney Store CM but I was a student and husband an Ensign.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Dean]

When you hear talk of people saving money with DVC, they mean that they're saving money when you compare the cost of ownership of DVC with the cost of booking the same room on a cash reservation.

IMO comparing to the cost of DVC rack rate (or even a discounted rack rate) makes no sense unless one were doing that type of stay on cash anyway. IMO the proper method to compute savings is based on what you'd actually do without owning DVC. Then there's a separate value component.

 

[Bhoffm02]

This is the way I look at it:

An average SSR resale contract is $70/pp. The current MF are $4.80/pp (rounding to $5/pp to account for increase). So the cost of a single SSR point is $5 x 40 years (remaining life of SSR contract) = $200 + $70 (purchase price per point) = $270 / 40 years (because for that 1 point contract you are actually getting 40 points. 1 per year) = $6.75 per point. The average night at SSR is 15 points x $6.75 per point = $101.25 (roughly the cost of a value resort). So if you are goint to vacation with Disney often over the next 40 years, and would otherwise stay on property, then DVC may make financial sense (unless you finance it!). Hope that helps.

 

[DisneyDenis]

Before buying resale at DVC my family stayed at Coronado Springs with free standard dining. However, my granddaughter begged us to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas the next time. She asked for a room where she could see large animals (zebras, giraffes, etc.) from our balcony when she got up in the morning. Mercedes was 8 years old when we did go to AKV. I got 2 studios at Spring Break time when Disney offers NO discounts for Savannah View rooms (other types yes). NO free dining at that time... She was really excited about those animals !!!

Animal Kingdom Lodge is the only Disney resort rated in top 10 Family Resorts by the Travel Channel and always the highest ranking of Disney Resorts and some years all resorts by Travel & Leisure in the Family category. I used 2 years worth of points. My "savings" over rack rate was an incredible $4000 for two studios combined (we were 4 adults and 1 child). I calculated my cost as 2 years membership fees + straight line depreciation for 2 years (even though my contract is worth MORE than when I bought it.) One more trip like this I will have "saved" much more than I spent on my resale contract.

My point is that there is a major difference between the Values and DVC resorts. Lastly, I could still go to Disney World next year staying at a Value or Moderate with free dining by renting my points. After paying my membership fees, I will have about $500 extra from the rental to put down for my vacation in a Value/Moderate.

 

[marynvince]

with 3 kids, I don't think you'll be able to book a single value room when your youngest is much older. For us the larger accommodations and very few rooms Disney has for families of 5 was a deciding factor. Good Luck

 

[Sandisw]

I agree that as long as the values are fine, DVC won't save you any money. It is possible that, buying through the resale market, you may be able to stay in studios for about the same as you are paying for the value with discounts at some point down the road, but right now, probably not.

When we bought, we were staying deluxe and we looked at trying to get a bigger room, like a 1 bedroom, for about the same as we were getting a regular hotel room. So, our savings wasn't going to be in cost, but rather getting a larger room for the same or close to the same cost as we were paying. Once we realized we could, we bought.

Of course, since then, we added more points, staying longer in the summer and have added several other trips so definitely not saving money, just getting a lot more Disney and for me, that is the best value ever!!!

 

[DVCcurious]

My response is based on the fact that you stayed at Pop Century and will be going to POFQ next time.

I've read a ton of these threads and here is kinda what I've seen as the Common Wisdom:

If you are the type of family who would stay at Values or Moderates and not choose to stay at Deluxe resorts then DVC will not save you money. Period.

If you are looking at Disney trips from a low-cost perspective then staying at All Stars or AoA or POFQ will always beat DVC. Throw in the fact that Disney will give you incentives (free dining, discounted rates) to pay cash for rooms and you will come out ahead staying at Value Resorts or Moderate Resorts.

From a cost perspective DVC will not beat out paying cash for Values/Moderates. Even if you get the best resale deal out there you will not come out ahead.

Now, if you are planning on staying Deluxe in the future then DVC will save you money vs paying cash for Deluxe rooms (if you stay in a studio, if you stay in a 1 bedroom you will not save money). Not a lot of money, but it will save you some.

If you don't look at DVC as a "cost savings" issue and instead as a "way to pay a little bit more to get a much better experience" issue than DVC is a great deal. Because DVC will cost you more than POFQ but you will get so much more. A 1 BR won't save you money vs paying cash for a deluxe hotel room, but you get 700+ Sq feet vs 400 Sq feet for a Monorail Deluxe room. DVC's "value" is the fact that you get more for your dollar once you are already beyond a certain price point.

If you are already set on paying "a lot" for lodging then DVC will work out. If you would be OK with Moderates or Values then DVC will not save you anything.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is the way I look at it:

An average SSR resale contract is $70/pp. The current MF are $4.80/pp (rounding to $5/pp to account for increase). So the cost of a single SSR point is $5 x 40 years (remaining life of SSR contract) = $200 + $70 (purchase price per point) = $270 / 40 years (because for that 1 point contract you are actually getting 40 points. ....

Plan on that $5 to keep increasing every year, so your estimate is very low.

 

[geraghty]

Have you looked at resale? It took me several years to find out about the resale market. It will take a long time for DVC to pay for itself under your scenario, but you'll be staying in nicer rooms, nicer pools with slides and hot tubs, bigger beds and closer locations to most of the parks.

 

[Bhoffm02]

Plan on that $5 to keep increasing every year, so your estimate is very low.

I am not (yet) an owner but have been thinking, and re-thinking and calculating and re-calculating to see if it is worth it for me. The MF yearly increase is my only unknown. What is the average yearly increase? This will really help the calculation that you quoted above. Thanks for helping us e INFORMED CONSUMERS!

 

[timandjanl]

I am not (yet) an owner but have been thinking, and re-thinking and calculating and re-calculating to see if it is worth it for me. The MF yearly increase is my only unknown. What is the average yearly increase? This will really help the calculation that you quoted above. Thanks for helping us e INFORMED CONSUMERS!

There is a tread at the top of the page under "stickies". It is called DVC Resource Center. It has the past annual MF for all resorts. Very helpful.