Is DVC right for us IF...

[JJsmama]

Would you think DVC would be a good choice (vs paying OOP for each trip) IF:

We have 3 kids and need at least a 1 bedroom. 2 bedroom would be better

We live overseas currently and could only go to WDW once a year

We could only go during Summer season - so more points required

It seems we would need so many points for a trip like this (about 300?) that the dues would cost almost the same as just paying OOP? If I figured correctly the dues on 300 points is apprx $2000.

What has been your experience?

 

[5forDiz]

Well here's the latest thread discussing pros & cons of membership

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2455713

Maintenance Fees aka Dues usually increase each year, (although they can decrease sometimes too) and those MFs currently range from approximately $3.78 at BLT up to $6.60 at Vero Beach per point depending upon which DVC resort you pick as your Home Resort (which is DVC resort that your points are tied to) and your Home Resort is where your booking advantage is allowing you to book as early as 11 months through 7mos+1day before checkin date you'd like, otherwise you can book at any DVC resort beginning 7 months before checkin date you want.

Onsite At BLT and at AKV except for value category a 1 bedroom villa will give you a master bedroom with king size bed and living room will have pullout sofa that sleeps 2 and a pullout chair that will sleep 1 (OKW will be adding sleeper chair to 1 bedroom villas soon too); BLT and AKV-Kidani Village will also have an extra full bathroom in a 1 bedroom villa. So you can probably get along with 1 bedroom villa to save points.

It's alot to figure out and digest so take your time and read as much as you can here because there is lots of great information & helpful to also get different points of view on buying into DVC.

Best wishes

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Look at the room rates for Annual Pass Holders.

We love DVC, but did not realize the savings realized from using AP rates.

 

[ValpoCory]

We live overseas currently and could only go to WDW once a year

In general, if you're a person who uses the phrase "only go to WDW once a year", then the DVC is right for you.

 

[Dean]

Would you think DVC would be a good choice (vs paying OOP for each trip) IF:

We have 3 kids and need at least a 1 bedroom. 2 bedroom would be better

We live overseas currently and could only go to WDW once a year

We could only go during Summer season - so more points required

It seems we would need so many points for a trip like this (about 300?) that the dues would cost almost the same as just paying OOP? If I figured correctly the dues on 300 points is apprx $2000.

What has been your experience?

That's a little high on dues currently except for VB, you should be more in the $1600-1650 range for most resorts, less for BLT. DVC may be a good choice for you for that group but will likely not save you money going forward but give you better for around the same costs. You should plan at least 7 months out and better for 11 months out.

 

[Chuck S]

In the case of this potential owner, there are a lot of things to consider, and it is difficult for someone in the US to have all the info available to help with such a decision. Often, overseas guests receive awesome discounts on cash packages not available to those in the US, because many foreign travelers tend to stay longer per trip and send more $ overall than domestic travelers.

I would advise the OP to truly compare current prices and specials that area offered in their area. DVC may not make sense for them at this time...but maybe in the future those specials will be discontinued, and they could purchase DVC at a later date.

 

[dmoore22]

Would you think DVC would be a good choice (vs paying OOP for each trip) IF:

We have 3 kids and need at least a 1 bedroom. 2 bedroom would be better

We live overseas currently and could only go to WDW once a year

We could only go during Summer season - so more points required

It seems we would need so many points for a trip like this (about 300?) that the dues would cost almost the same as just paying OOP? If I figured correctly the dues on 300 points is apprx $2000.

What has been your experience?

I would suggest you visit the DVC Primer at Mouseplanet.com as a start: http://www.mouseplanet.com/8739/A_Disney_Vacation_Club_Primer

When we bought 10 years ago our 6 children were still at home. The logistics of travel with the 8 of us was a challenge until DVC. Prior to that, even with discounts, it was still a chunk of change because we could never get by with less than two rooms. We hit the breakeven point years ago, some of the kids have left the nest and, factoring in the MFs and intial purchase cost, now our per night room accomodations run $68. I'm assuming your a US citizen. If you itemize your taxes then a small part of the MFs is deductable since it is allocated as Florida property tax. Every little bit helps.

By the way, DVC was an excellent choice for us.

 

[es45]

In general, if you're a person who uses the phrase "only go to WDW once a year", then the DVC is right for you.

So true.

 

[JJsmama]

In general, if you're a person who uses the phrase "only go to WDW once a year", then the DVC is right for you.

 

[JJsmama]

In the case of this potential owner, there are a lot of things to consider, and it is difficult for someone in the US to have all the info available to help with such a decision. Often, overseas guests receive awesome discounts on cash packages not available to those in the US, because many foreign travelers tend to stay longer per trip and send more $ overall than domestic travelers.

I would advise the OP to truly compare current prices and specials that area offered in their area. DVC may not make sense for them at this time...but maybe in the future those specials will be discontinued, and they could purchase DVC at a later date.

That is an interesting ideas. I hear about residents of UK and Europe getting a good deal, but I don't know where to find those deals for China and Asia. Basically, we have always lived in the US , but now live / work / school in China for the time being. Probably we will move back to the US in the next 2-5 years. I will have to try and find out about any deals for people living in Asia.

 

[Petraman]

In general, if you're a person who uses the phrase "only go to WDW once a year", then the DVC is right for you.

AND if you use the phrase "we only go for summer season" since it is more rare to get discounts during summer season.

And as far as actual dues costs, let me give you a little breakdown for comparison..

We own at SSR and paid just under $900 for 200 points in 2010 for our dues (which would be $4.50 per point)

If we booked at Animal Kingdom (our fav resort right now) for the summer months it would take 224 points for standard view 1BR and 281 for 2BR for 1 week stay.

So equivalent cost would be 4.5 X 224= $1008 for 1BR; 4.5 X 281= $1264.50 for 2BR

So go see if you can book a full week there in the summer (with taxes and all included) for that rate and you will see if it is worth it.

Of course, you always have to keep in mind your original investment costs. To me, I don't give that as much concern as others, simply because we see it as an investment, and unlike pretty much any other timeshare on the planet, you can sell your Disney point investment easily and at a rate near what you paid.

I am a DVC owner who has been a little disillusioned by the barrage of deals being offered that make my investment weaker, but since you only go in the summer, I think it might be something you want to look at.

Good luck!

 

[Petraman]

I went ahead and ran some quick numbers to get a ballpark comparison.

2BR standard view at Kidani Village in July for 1 week AFTER the 30% discount being offered (which is pretty good for summer) = $4741

1BR standard view w/ same room and date= $2977

Considering that is after a 30% discount, I think you can see the value of DVC for someone who comes every year and only at summer

BTW the rates go down slightly as you go farther into summer, but not alot

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

For us, 2 things swayed us towards DVC:

One, we knew we were going to need a room with that sleeper chair at some point. Our kids are a boy and a girl, and we knew at some point they would no longer want to share a bed or a pull-out couch. (now that DD is 13- that day has arrived.) I am also not dragging along an inflatable bed! I go on vacation so that we can all be comfortable and relax. To have one of the kiddos be complaining they didn't sleep well... would not make for a happy week!

Two, while we loved Port Orleans Riverside- we really wanted the bigger bed (doubles? really?) and more spacious accomodations. Simply moving up to the Poly or AKL would not solve problem #1, unless we forked over for TWO rooms which wasn't happening.

The ability to have a kitchen so we could make simple meals (even if it was just breakfast) was also a huge plus!! After awhile we get tired of having to eat every meal out.

We have found in just two DVC stays (one at WDW and one at DLR) that we relax soooo much in the room now! Love it.

 

[JJsmama]

Y'all are so helpful! I really appreciate all the comments and number crunching you've done for me.

I think my best plan is to wait until after I take DH next summer. My plan is to stay in DVC (hopefully BLT or BCV.) I think once Dh sees how much we can relax in the space, he will be more for it.

I asked him the other day, "Will you give me $30,000?" (I saw a good deal for resale.)
He said "For what?"
I said "Disney Vacation Club."

I did not get this: or this: ,

but rather this:

SO, I took that as a good sign!!

 

[stuartsong]

We are expats living in Europe now, but we were also in Asia for 3 years before our Europe adventure. We had no trouble using our DVC point while living in Asia as we went back to the States for the summer. If you can't use the points, there were always family or friends who were willing to use the points. The problem you might face is how many points to get because there are always bigger ideas than the points you have. Since we came back for the summer, we wanted the family there at Disney. Also, if the points can't be used by family or friends, you can rent them out pretty easily.