Is DVC right for me?

[Mattso]

DVC sounds great for people who go often to WDW, but I think we would go once every 2 or 3 years. I know we could go with a small contract and bank-n-borrow our way to nice, irregular Disney vacations, so that would be cool. Or we could send friends or family in our place during years we weren't going.

I would want to vacation regularly in other places, maybe through the II exchanges, but those sounds like they're not such a great deal. A lot of those resorts seem to rent for less than $200 a night, so you're almost better just to pay cash.

What are your experiences? Are II exchanges a good value? Am I better off buying into a different vacation club like Marriott if most of my vacations will be somewhere other than WDW?

This is a great forum ... TIA for any advice you can offer!

 

[spiceycat]

can your travel during off-season - Jan, feb, Sept, May - to Disney.

then definitely go with another timeshare Marriott is very nice - I have a Panama City Beach one that trades into DVC in off season.

one more thing you must be willing to take a studio or a 1-bedroom when you trade into DVC - there are not many 2-bedroom used in trading.

It is hard - but not impossible.

go join
www.tug2.net

look around this site - I say join because you can also look at the reviews (that only members can see).

then when it is time to try to get a DVC resort - you can go look on the distress/sighting board and see if any are posted!!!

these people are experts on lots of timeshares - they will help you get the most of your money.

 

[CarolMN]

DVC sounds great for people who go often to WDW, but I think we would go once every 2 or 3 years. I know we could go with a small contract and bank-n-borrow our way to nice, irregular Disney vacations, so that would be cool. Or we could send friends or family in our place during years we weren't going.

I would want to vacation regularly in other places, maybe through the II exchanges, but those sounds like they're not such a great deal. A lot of those resorts seem to rent for less than $200 a night, so you're almost better just to pay cash.

What are your experiences? Are II exchanges a good value? Am I better off buying into a different vacation club like Marriott if most of my vacations will be somewhere other than WDW?

This is a great forum ... TIA for any advice you can offer!

Based on what you've posted, I would NOT recommend DVC to you. Buy another timeshare for trading and rent points (or pay cash)when you want to go to WDW. Obviously, this is just my opinion.

In general, DVC works best (is a good value) for those who visit WDW annually, stay in on site deluxe rooms and can plan at least 7 months in advance. It can be a good value for those who visit at least every other year and stay in at least moderate on site accomodations - break even will be quite a bit longer, though. The best economic value of DVC points is using them to stay in one of the DVC resort. There are less expensive timeshares that can be used if you paln to trade frequently.

Best wishes -

 

[vernon]

I wouldn't discount DVC for you just yet Matt, but from the little information you've put down it's not easy to give a full reply. Most people would need to know the answers to the following in order to be able to give you a considered reply.

1) Is staying on site at Disney a high priority for you?
2) Does the flexibility of a points based system (like DVC) work better for you than fixed weeks? If you can avoid/minimise weekend stays it can drastically affect the economics of the deal.
3) Do you want/need to deal with all your future vacation needs in one purchase?

Depending on the answers to Q1+2 it is possible that a smaller DVC contract could be used for some, but not all, of your future vacation needs. This would leave you enough cash to consider either another (small) non DVC timeshare contract for your other needs, or to pay cash at other times and use DVC for about half of what your needs will be. This would give you the chance to wait a little while on how your DVC purchase worked out before deciding to add more points at DVC, buy a non DVC timeshare product or continue using $$ for accommodation.

 

[Mattso]

1) Is staying on site at Disney a high priority for you?
2) Does the flexibility of a points based system (like DVC) work better for you than fixed weeks? If you can avoid/minimise weekend stays it can drastically affect the economics of the deal.
3) Do you want/need to deal with all your future vacation needs in one purchase?

Depending on the answers to Q1+2 it is possible that a smaller DVC contract could be used for some, but not all, of your future vacation needs. This would leave you enough cash to consider either another (small) non DVC timeshare contract for your other needs, or to pay cash at other times and use DVC for about half of what your needs will be. This would give you the chance to wait a little while on how your DVC purchase worked out before deciding to add more points at DVC, buy a non DVC timeshare product or continue using $$ for accommodation.

Thanks for the response! 1) I would much prefer to stay on Disney for the convenience, perks, and nice facilities. 2) I'm leaning heavily toward a points-based system for the flexibility, and would generally minimize Saturday stays, using that as my travel day. 3) I'm just looking to maximize my value.

$14,000 gets me 150 DVC points at SSR, which gets me a week in a 1-2 BR Disney villa every year if I budget it right or I could trade out to an II property for a week. But I could take that same amount and buy 2-3 timeshares on the resale market -- that's 2-3 weeks a year, but I'd be trying to trade them all the time because I don't want to stay in the same place year after year.

I've sent for info from Marriott and Fairfield -- I think they both have point-based products. Are there any others that are highly regarded?

Thanks again!

 

[spiceycat]

world mark

and HGVC - but right now it does not trade through II.

 

[Greysword]

My friends have two weeks with Starwood (Sheraton/Westin). They like it alot, and are able to use their banked week as points for the Swan and Dolphin at WDW. They can also stay at any Sheraton or Westin in the world (at different point rates).

As for my wife and I, we are attempting to get a DVC membership, instead. We both enjoy Disney for many reasons, and are looking forward to visiting as we start a family. For us there are several reasons we are going with DVC vs. Starwood.

One, we wnat to force ourselves to visit Disney properties more (including California and Paris sometime). We also really enjoyed our Disney cruise, and like the flexibility should we choose to go again.

Second, we live in the Denver, CO area. Both Keystone and the Broadmore (in Colorado Springs) are high-end resorts in the Concierge collection, so we can have a weekend getaway close to us or a week for a longer vacation.

Third, although many timeshares will hold their value and be maintained for a while, I trust Disney to keep up the DVC resorts as well as they have the Poly and Contemporary. I bet in 49 years when it is time to turn over the SSR property (I'll be 85 , it will still be in great shape!

Fourth, I am fairly certain the DVC will hold its trade in value on the II market for the life of the resort, so we will be able to get high-end accomodations elsewhere in the world (Disney sees to that it seems). Many other timeshare weeks may not be worth as much as others. For instance, I think a busy season week in Vail is worth more (or costs more) than a busy season week in Orlando. Thus, it will be important to research which property to actually purchase in the other timeshare companies.

Just a couple thoughts from my research.