Is DVC for us?

[The Disney Dude]

Hello everyone. I've been on the Disboards for a little over a year now and love it here! I spent many an hour on here planning our WDW trip that we took last summer. It was on that trip that we saw the DVC kiosks and the infomercial on the room tv. We didn't get a chance to take the tour while we were there but my DW and I have been talking off and on about DVC over the last year and I'm wondering if DVC is right for us. I've read a lot in this forum and had many questions answered but still haven't made up my mind.

Since 2000, we have been going to WDW once ever 3-4 years (I'd love to go more often but DW prefers to go less often. That's another story for another post though. ) and have stayed at the value resorts, like All Star Music and Port Orleans. From what I'm reading on here, DVC doesn't really make sense for that type of WDW visiting. However, I can see us going to places like HH or VB in the "off" years between WDW visits. Places that aren't Disney "themed" perse, which would give DW a break from Disney 24/7 that you get at the parks. And maybe even a Disney cruise now and then. (DW loves cruises, since it gives us a break from meal planning/cooking)

I haven't really crunched the #'s yet, but I think even with our every 3-4 year vists, we'd still come out ahead in the long run. It just might take 20 years to break even vs a shorter time that someone who visits more often would get. And having a place for us and our children to go to for the next 50 years is nice. So I guess what I'm asking is would I be making a huge financial mistake by spending $16,000+ on this, with the type of WDW travel habits that we currently have?

 

[Deb & Bill]

If I were you and not considering going to WDW at least every year or two, I'd go with a small resale that I could bank and borrow to get a nice vacation every third year. DVC isn't the best for trading out (it's too expensive to be used primarily as a trade) and you can find lots of others out on the resale market to use for trading to non-DVC locations. Or find a nice non-DVC timeshare that you can trade into DVC every so often. Dean should be able to help with identifying which trade better into DVC.

DCL takes lots of points. And it's not the same every year as it is negotiated every year.

And while some like Rob will disagree with me, VB isn't the best beach resort. I prefer the gulf side with warmer water and wider beaches. (Sorry Rob)

 

[dvczerfs]

i agree with d&b!!

 

[Grandbuddy]

If I were you and not considering going to WDW at least every year or two, I'd go with a small resale that I could bank and borrow to get a nice vacation every third year. DVC isn't the best for trading out (it's too expensive to be used primarily as a trade) and you can find lots of others out on the resale market to use for trading to non-DVC locations. Or find a nice non-DVC timeshare that you can trade into DVC every so often. Dean should be able to help with identifying which trade better into DVC.

If anything, buy just enough points (resale) to do a dream Disney vacation once every 3 years.

 

[Dean]

You'd have to go to a DVC resort at least once within each 3 year period to even consider DVC, IMO. You'd also have to use up on average 3 years worth of points every 3 years. As long as you're not doing much for long weekends, DVC will likely offer value for you. If you can do Sun-Fri, you will do even better on value of your investment. If you do decide to proceed, I'd only buy the min that would work in your situation. Remember it's also possible to buy other timeshares and trade in to DVC, which may even be a better choice for the frequency you state.

 

[vandy]

How long of a vacation do you plan to take and what type of room do you think you will be needing? Are you looking at just a studio with a small refrig and microwave, or are you looking at a 1 BR or 2BR villa with a full kitchen? This will determine the number of points you will need.

 

[The Disney Dude]

Thanks for the replies so far!

How long of a vacation do you plan to take and what type of room do you think you will be needing? Are you looking at just a studio with a small refrig and microwave, or are you looking at a 1 BR or 2BR villa with a full kitchen? This will determine the number of points you will need.

If we buy into DVC, it will be for 160 points right now. We normally spend a week there and I'd probably be looking at a 1 BR, but not quite sure on that yet.

You'd have to go to a DVC resort at least once within each 3 year period to even consider DVC, IMO.

We'd be going once every 3 years for sure if we did do this. From what I understand, we'll still come out ahead in the long run by joining DVC, but could make our $ go farther by going with another type of timeshare or by buying resale points. To be honest, if there isn't much of a difference in what we'd spend with DVC over another timeshare, then I'm seriously considering just going with DVC. Being a Disney geek, I'd like to keep everything in one big Disney package. I still have a lot of reading and researching to do though, but keep the comments and suggestions coming!

 

[Dean]

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

 

[The Disney Dude]

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

That's good to know.

 

[DeeCee735]

If you love it and know you'll be returning to WDW at least once every 3 years, and if you think you'll visit HH (we don't own there but we LOVE it there - it's a great place and the DVC resort is really wonderful - great beach too) on the off years, it can make great sense. If you think you would like to take family or friends, it can make great sense.

Also take into consideration that park touring becomes secondary when you know you'll be going back again and again. It becomes a very different vacation. We try to do something we've never done before with every trip, we've been going since 96 and still haven't run out of new things to do.

Of course, both of you really need to be on board or it won't work. My husband visits less than I do (I go with a friend once a year too), he doesn't like to fly and doesn't get as much vacation time as I do....but he loves it just as much and he certainly doesn't regret the purchase.

Just wanted to offer a different side to the once every three years thing! Good luck with your decision.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I can see us going to places like HH or VB in the "off" years between WDW visits. Places that aren't Disney "themed" perse, which would give DW a break from Disney 24/7 that you get at the parks. And maybe even a Disney cruise now and then. (DW loves cruises, since it gives us a break from meal planning/cooking).

If you do end up purchasing DVC, you might want to consider a couple of smaller resale contracts. HHI, especially, is hard to get in the summer without having the 8 - 11 month booking priority. Maybe you could buy a HHI or VB 80 pt contract and an 80 pt WDW resort contract. If you do that, consider buying the same UY so you can combine the points at the 7 month window if you'd like.

Best of luck with our research!!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We have a 100 point contract and it works out very well for us. However, there are just the two of us, and we can also travel in the off season.

We have gone to Disney and Hilton Head thus far, and are really intrigued by the trades available in Destin, Florida (panhandle). The Destin location is a trade but not II, appears fairly easy to trade into, and has very reasonable point charts.

Others will tell you that DVC is best to use at a DVC resort, and I agree. But, I think that trading out is a great option for someone who has the points to use and occassionaly doesn't want to go back to Disney.

Banking and borrowing does make the DVC a little bit more difficult to use. Once you borrow points, you can't put them back in the original use year.

My small contract has been most complicated when we have taken others with us. We planned a trip for a Fall school break with my sisters and the kids didn't get out of school, so we postponed until Spring. That forced us to use 29 borrowed points in Hilton Head (which was great) and we were also afraid that they would cancel. Other DISsers told us to just make 2 reservations, and drop the one we didn't need, but could not because we didn't have the points. They came along, so nothing was lost.

We wouldn't have ran into that situation had we been travelling alone.

Good Luck!

 

[Dean]

That's good to know.

For one that doesn't really put a premium on being on property, DVC makes no sense. One can buy any ole timeshare and trade in to great resorts in 2 BR units all but maybe 2 or 3 weeks a year without any difficulty. For example, one can buy 10000 Bluegreen points for around $2500 and yearly fees in the $625 range that includes membership in the RCI exchange company. Then deposit cheap studios and trade for 2 BR at top resorts like the Fountains, Hilton, Vacation Villages, etc. That'd give you about 3-4 trades a year. Or buy a cheaper Marriott lockoff and trade the studio portion through II for 2 BR units fairly consistently for about the same price range or just a little more and get 2-3 trades a year. Both would give you a lot better non DVC options.

 

[FLYNZ4]

For one that doesn't really put a premium on being on property, DVC makes no sense.

Dean... here is an example:

I just got an exchange into The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta for New Year's 2009/2010 . My total cost was an inexpensive deposit worth about $120 in MFs... plus $129 exchange fee!!! Less than $250 total cost for a week in one of the nicest resorts anywhere during the busiest week of the year!!!

DW and I will be staying in a 1BR... and I have the option to upgrade to a 2BR lock off for a tad more (through a friend who exchanged into a 2BR unit for the same week). We will take the 2BR, and I will give him our 1BR unit if we decide to bring our girls along.

I am only giving this example as reinforcement on why exchanging via DVC is not as good as other options. If I ever end up with excess DVC points... then I will probably try to convert them into cash rather than exchange into II.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

Here is another example... this time in Florida.

http://www.pappasfam.com/orlando.htm shows the Marriott Cypress Harbour... about a 10 or 15 minute drive from WDW. It is actually close to Seaworld. We spent two consecutive weeks there at a total cost of under $500 in a 2BR unit that was much larger than any 2BR that Disney has to offer.

This trip actually was the tipping point for us to buy into DVC. We had become very accustomed to staying in condos... but we also did NOT enjoy staying off property when visiting WDW. Hence... we purchased DVC to enable predictable trips.

/Jim

 

[Dean]

Thanks Jim. Here are my last 4 trips and a trip for my daughter for her delayed honeymoon (her mini honeymoon was 5 days in a BWV BW view 1 BR with the DDP).

• Hawaii earlier this year for 2 weeks. Traded for one through RCI and the other through II but both using BG points. Total cost about $1100 (Main & exchange fees), purchase cost negligible.
• Gatlinburg first week of Oct using BG points on the last day they were full use points. Total cost $300 maint fee, no exchange fee as it was a BG reservations.
• Marriott's Grande Vista 2 BR. Traded my Horizon's trading week studio for a 2 BR, total cost about $300-350. I only used it 4 nights but it was 4 nights I had a cash reservation on property at WDW for more than double that cost.
• Disney's VB resort 2 BR May. Traded my MX week total cost about $450.
• Daughter's trip, 10 nights in HI. 1 BR ocean front at the Maui Marriott and 1 week for a studio at Marriott's Ko'Olina resort though she only used 3 days. Traded my 1 BR Marriott trader for Maui, total cost about $550. Used the bonus week I got when I deposited that 1 BR for Ko'Olina, total cost $221 so using it only 3 nights worked out.

My next 4 planned trips:

• June for Gatlinburg with 11 or 12 two BR units for a family reunion type trip at our expense (lodging at least) for a week. Total cost about $4000 in dues using BG points directly.
• Hilton on I drive in a 2 BR Oct trading 3000 BG points, total cost $300
• Aruba in Jan fo 11 nights. 5 nights total at La Cabana using BG points total cost $300 and 1 wk at the Marriott Surf Club using the Marriott 1 BR trader noted above, cost around $550.
• HH ocean front for week 25 with the 3 summer Marriott weeks we own there. Total cost just under $3000 in maint fees plus an allowance for purchase price should kick it up quite a bit more.

 

[odaddy!]

I live on the west coast, If you own other timeshare and are in II, consider exchanging in to DVC if you do not come to florida very often. Downside is that 2 bedroom and grand villa inventory is sparse and heavily concentrated to late August-october. Studios can be had year round, and 1 bedrooms are pretty uncommon outside of hurricane season. I would never use DVC points for exchanging, unless that is the only timeshare you own. I think a 100 point dvc contract, supplemented by some cheap exchanging into dvc gives a person a lot of flexibility, but we do come in September all the time, cheaper airfare for 6 people also, which makes this strategy work. DVC is absolutely one of the best timeshares to own in the world!!

 

[FLYNZ4]

Dean, You seem to be keeping yourself busy.

Most of our timeshare trips are through WorldMark... since we have so many resorts within driving distance... and the MFs are some of the lowest in the industry. We tend to timeshare most weekends... primarily on the coast, but sometimes inland too. This weekend we are in at Eagle Crest Resort (Bend OR area)... and it is very relaxing. Our chalet is sort of like DVC's GVs. It is two stories with open log beams, lofts, private hot tub on the deck. The smell of juniper is wonderful.

We mostly use DVC for one big trip/year... usually about 12 days. However... if I get an II exchange into DVC, then I end up with extra DVC points and we have been taking a 2nd or 3rd trip for the past couple of years . DVC is expensive... but we find that owning DVC makes our WDW trips more predictable... and when we use FF miles for air travel... that predicability means a lot. Like you... we love the combination of owning DVC and other timeshares.

/Jim

 

[odaddy!]

Our non dvc points stays via exchange have been

Sept 2006 2 bedroom at Boardwalk,1bedroom OKW
sept 2007 2 bedroom at Boardwalk, and 2 bedroom at beach club
sept 2008 coming up, 2bedroom beach Club, and our first Grand villa at OKW!

Use DVC points for weeks that are hard to reserve.

 

[The Disney Dude]

If you love it and know you'll be returning to WDW at least once every 3 years, and if you think you'll visit HH (we don't own there but we LOVE it there - it's a great place and the DVC resort is really wonderful - great beach too) on the off years, it can make great sense. If you think you would like to take family or friends, it can make great sense.

Also take into consideration that park touring becomes secondary when you know you'll be going back again and again. It becomes a very different vacation. We try to do something we've never done before with every trip, we've been going since 96 and still haven't run out of new things to do.

Of course, both of you really need to be on board or it won't work. My husband visits less than I do (I go with a friend once a year too), he doesn't like to fly and doesn't get as much vacation time as I do....but he loves it just as much and he certainly doesn't regret the purchase.

Just wanted to offer a different side to the once every three years thing! Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for your view. And the same to everyone else too.

For one that doesn't really put a premium on being on property, DVC makes no sense.

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?