Is DVC for us?

[odaddy!]

I am also one that agees staying on property is the ONLY way to go. If you have No timeshare experience, you may not want to worry about exchanging and just use DVC for your stays. Exchanging is a very inexpensive way to stay, but I tried to note some limitations. For sure, buy the DVC and get your feet wet.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am also one that agees staying on property is the ONLY way to go. If you have No timeshare experience, you may not want to worry about exchanging and just use DVC for your stays. Exchanging is a very inexpensive way to stay, but I tried to note some limitations. For sure, buy the DVC and get your feet wet.

But start very small and 160 points isn't really small for one trip every three years.

 

[littlestar]

If you prefer cruises and only want to go to Disney every 3 or 4 years, I wouldn't buy any timeshare - DVC or non. Why tie the cash up? Just rent DVC points every 4 years and pay cash for your cruises.

 

[FLYNZ4]

We prefer to stay on WDW property, but I'm intrigued by all of the posts talking about trading other timeshares and the lower costs. How much of a headache is that though?

We are in 100% agreement that staying on property is the only way to go for WDW trips!!!

Doing exchanging is some work... and if you want to learn more, I strongly encourage you to join TUG just realize that most of the people there have a lot to teach you. Note... that many are hesitent to teach all of their tricks... so it does take some time before you become really proficient.

Odaddy! is one of the best timeshare exchangers that I know. He is one of only two people that I have ever heard of getting a DVC GV on exchange! In my previous example about the Grand Mayan over New Years... both a 2BR and 1BR were loaded into inventory yesterday. He booked the 2BR for himself, and then called me to let me know about the 1BR. I logged in and snagged it. He is a good enough friend that we can exchange our 1BR and 2BR units between each other if I want to bring our DDs on the trip.

Although it is some work... it is also a lot of fun to get a good exchange. I still have not personally traded into the world class resorts with Viking stoves, and Sub-Zero built in's, etc... but one of these days I will. . I am still a novice... others like Dean and Odaddy! are pros.

/Jim

 

[Dean]

I'm intrigued by all of the posts talking about trading other timeshares and the lower costs. How much of a headache is that though?

It varies with the system and situation. It's certainly less of a HA than trying to trade DVC to another top option.

 

[Cruelladeville]

You can get a good off site option for a fraction of what you'd spend on DVC.

You could buy a Marriott resale for around $6000-$9000, NOT in Orlando. That's a two bedroom villa. Deposit it into II, there's a fee involved, maybe $250 per year + $95 Disney fee, and you can trade into Disney 1 bedroom villas very easily. Right now you could trade into OKW, SSR, and BW for September. Since Marriott has timeshares around the world, it might be to your benefit to use it for Disney every third year, a beach vacation in the second year, and a ski or desert vacation in the 1st year. It is not a hassle to do an exchange--you get on to the website, cruise down the listings for availability in Orlando, for example, and click on what you want. That's all there is to doing a trade via II. I can do it, and I am definitely NOT computer literate!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I am the Disney nut in the family. DH is largely indifferent to all things Disney. We both love Orlando though and have been in Orlando 7 times within the last 10 years. The only reason that we have not been 10 times in the last 10 years is that I used to teach in a private school who often announced the vacation dates very late on. During the missing three years by the time the vacation dates were announced, everything was fully booked. Since I left teaching in 2005, we have been to Orlando every year and intend to carry on doing though. Now that we no longer are tied to school vacation times, we like to go in September or early November. Traditionally, we have always stayed off site as we never felt we could justify spending the extra $s for staying onsite.
From our first stay in Orlando, we have looked at various timeshares during our vacations. Although we loved two of them (Marriott Horizons and Oasis Lakes -now Fountains), we never seriously considered buying in. They were to restrictive with either fixed weeks or only being able to go every other year. The smallest unit size was a one bedroom. All we require is a studio. So it was a definite plus that DVC can accommodate us in this respect and also gives us maximum flexibility on how we use our points.
We don't drive, so restaurants, entertainment, etc has to be easily reachable by public transport. Disney definitely fits the bill on this account. What ultimately tipped us over the edge though is that the hotel that we love to stay at on International Drive is being turned into a condo hotel meaning that if we continue to go there, we would end up paying for extra space as well that we neither want or need.
Apart from all this, owning DVC means that we can vacation together and still both have the vacation that we like best. I will have the parks and DH the pools, a balcony to relax on, boat rental and walks. He is also really into water parks so will probably get an annual pass just for the water parks. He is also dying to try the Segway Tour at Fort Wilderness. Both of us will be happy.

dolphingirl47