Is DVC worth it?

[ldbrown318]

We love to stay in the parks and go once a year. Occasionally, if we bought, we may go twice a year. And then the question is, how reliable (quality wise) are the timeshares outside of WDW? Bottom line...lots of money, most trips to disney, but not all. We need to know the good and the bad about DVC. Advice please.....

 

[AKV707]

The standard rule of thumb is that if you go at least every two years and stay in moderate or deluxe resorts, and want the best accommodations, then DVC is for you. As it is likely that resort rates will rise faster than DVC maintenance fees, you will eventually break even and begin saving money.

DVC is not an investment. It is a prepayment, in today's dollars for decades of future vacations.

For DW and i it was absolutely worth it. Like you, we were going at least once a year, and in recent years twice. We always stayed in mods or deluxe. We had our first DVC trip at OKW and it was such a different and even more enjoyable experience. WE will have our first trip home to AKV in July and can't wait.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[eliza61]

First, let me say it depends on what you consider "worth". As Ed said time shares are really not investment vehicles. Now for my family it has been worth every penny we spent on it. It's probably hasn't saved us money because now we go to Disney a lot more than if we were probably paying cash.

We use our points in just about every concievable way that you can. We've invited friends and family for wonderful large vacations, we've celebrated birthdays with the mouse, dh & I have snuck off for some well deserved "my teenagers are driving me to take prozaic" breaks and in may I'm heading down with 2 of my girlfriends to celebrate her surviving breast cancer. We also used the points with the concierge collection in NYC, Washington DC and London. So in short my dvc has brought great joy to me & my family.
Oh & I've met some really cool Dissers on the DVC boards.

 

[Reginak]

Yes, it's worth it to us. As a previous poster said, a few years into ownership you break even and then the real savings begin (that is, if you are going to go anyway). For example, if I divided our dues by the nights that we can spend on our points for two trips Sun-Thurs, then it works out to about $125/night in a two bedroom villa at the BCV. There are a lot of ways that it can be configured and before the addition of three more kids we could really stretch our points out.

There is a huge hidden expense that you will need to watch out for - it is quite sneaky. All of the money that you spend on the extra trips that you are able to squeeze out of your points and season passes.

Regina

 

[funatdisney]

We have stayed at timeshares out side of WDW (twice) and once at OKW. I enjoyed and liked OKW far more than the two outside resorts. First, staying on property is easier. Disney has a great bus system. It is awkward driving on unfamiliar roads. We never have to worry about that since the bus system is very reliable and easy to use. IMHO, if you were to chose between a DVC or an outside timeshare company, it will cost you a lot less You purchase the amount of points you need. if you prefer a Disney vacation on Disney property, you will be assured of a quality resort or room at one of Disney's hotels. I can't tell you how many times I have booked a room thru a timeshare company exchange and was very disappointed with the accommodations. This happened to us at least three times in the past. Luckily we never owned at a timeshare company- my sister would give us a week every few years. I must say though that the resorts we stayed outside WDW were very nice. I'm referring to resorts outside of central Florida.
As stated before, if you like to vacation a WDW at least every few years, then DVC should be looked at seriously. Only you can decide if this is the right decision for you and your family. It was for us.

 

[ldbrown318]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We have been kicking it around for a while and just havent made the leap yet. but we are serously considering it. Any other suggestions or tips that would push us "over the edge"?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We have been kicking it around for a while and just havent made the leap yet. but we are serously considering it. Any other suggestions or tips that would push us "over the edge"?

How about not having to pay the 11%, 12% or 13% sales tax (or whatever it is now) ever again for a hotel room. (Or at least until the find a way to tax timeshares).

Do you have a big family or just want more space? We have four kids and used to always get two connecting deluxe rooms. DVC has saved us thousands over the years. More than enough to take more trips.

HBC

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We were going once or twice a year and staying in either value or DVC resorts. A few days in a value wasn't that big of a deal, but if we stayed more than a couple of days, it was a little too much togetherness!

Here's why we decided to buy...

We stayed at OKW with my BIL/SIL who are members. DH and I paid for a 1-BR with a member discount (25%). With tax and all, our room for 6 nights was $1,800. That same room would now run us $2,167. That was just a little under 3 years ago. Without the DVC discount, we would pay $2870 for the 1-BR. Bottom line, with prices going up and our kids getting older, DVC was the right move for us. Now, I at least feel like our money has gone toward something versus a one-time trip (almost like rent versus mortgage). I know it doesn't exactly work out that way, but I love knowing that I have pre-paid vacations!

Good luck with your decision. Once we bit the bullet, we were so glad we did!

 

[eporter66]

It has been worth it for us so far. We live in New York and have been coming every year (happily) since. Here were our reasons/thoughts on why we bought.

1. Family - My wife and I vacationed in Disney prior to having our daughter, and we loved it. So, once we had our child, we knew we would continue to go.

2. Flexibility - The point system is flexible, and makes it so you dont have to go every year. But, you can also go more than once a year depending on how you vacation

3. Accomodations - Great. We have stayed at three resorts (SSR,BWV.OKW) and have loved them all. We are now always trying to book a one bedroom - we love it. I know when you go to Disney you think you dont spend a lot of time in the room, but having such a comfortable place to go back to is amazing.

4. Florida / Winter - Since we live in NY, having a place to go in the winter for a vacation is great. We could go and stay in a Disney resort and not even hit Disney. There is a ton of stuff to do in Florida, but so far we have stuck to Disney

Only you can decide if it is right for you and your family. We have been members since 2003 - and no regrets

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We just came back from our 4th trip in 2.5 years- a total of 27 days spent at WDW. Prior to that we would stay only 3-4 days in a value or on a really good deal at a Deluxe-- Never stayed Mod. At this point we are almost at our break even point.

Even though Disney is selling SSR and AKv's right now you can actually buy into any other resort through Disney or through resale. The only draw back to the other resorts is that there is about 15 years difference on the contracts-- I sat on the fence for about 1.5 and decided I was going to splurge on our next Disney trip (in Feb06)- We were going to go Deluxe no matter if there was a good deal or not. In Feb 02 we stayed at the Cont for $189 per night-- by Feb 06 it was going to cost us $3000 for 6 days! Being the frugal girl I am I started looking at DVC again and started crunching the numbers, and crunching the numbers and crunched some more. When I told my guide I really wasn't sure I wanted to buy into SSR she offered me the BWV-- OH MY!!! the BWV!! Where do I sign. Now like I said, I ended up getting 12 years less on my contract and paid more money for it, but to us it was so worth it.

I can't tell you how nice it is to go to Disney every year and stay Deluxe. There is just something magical about the DVC resorts. There is something for everyone. Whether AKV is your favorite or SSR, or VB or HH or even California or Hawaii or even Cruising. My family just LOVES the BWV and VB and we will be buying more points at the KTV very soon (I hope). The buy in cost me about $16,000 for 180 points and this year my dues were $889. Since I paid up front the only real cost is the dues. I stayed 7 nights in a studio and used up 128 points which only cost me $91 per night(or $136 a night if you add in the cost of the time share)in a deluxe boardwalk view room. And since I'm at the break even point that's all it will be costing me for the next 35 years to stay at the BWV.

But once we bought and stayed at the BWV for the first time the money actually became a non-issue. Okay, I really like to get a deal, but knowing that I get to come back to deluxe accomadations, year after year is priceless.

If you are nervous about liking it or the up front cost, buy a smaller resale contract for about 100 points- that way your not as committed. We started slow- 1st contract was for 150 pts and then added another 30 and now want to add another 100 at the Contemporary. What's nice about buying smaller contracts is that you can resell them easier than a larger contract. Another nice thing about a smaller contract is that you aren't committed to Disney every year or for every vacation. You could bank points and stay longer every 2 years.

Good luck with your decision. You will know when its right for you.

 

[lugnut33]

I know I want to buy in because the plan is to vacation there every year with our daughters at the end of August (and sometimes a second trip at another time less hot and humid). Want to make it a tradition.

However, I'm not buying until the KTV are available because that is exactly the type of design I want to be at and in the location I'd prefer. So, while I'd love to do it now, I am waiting (which sucks). Though I do have a week booked alread at POFQ for a reasonable price.

 

[jade1]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We have been kicking it around for a while and just havent made the leap yet. but we are serously considering it. Any other suggestions or tips that would push us "over the edge"?

How about knowing you could rent your points for about twice as much as your dues, if you decided not to go on occasion, or that you could always sell and get some, all or more of your investment back if you needed to, or decide to buy at a different resort. Cash reservations are money gone forever no matter what.

 

[jodifla]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We have been kicking it around for a while and just havent made the leap yet. but we are serously considering it. Any other suggestions or tips that would push us "over the edge"?

OK, look at it this way. If you are going to WDW anyway and renting a room, then that's already sunk costs. You might as well be putting it toward something like DVC so you have something to show for it.

We've owned for 12 years. We financed even, but it's been paid off for more than 7 years. So we stay at really, really nice hotels for just our dues of $80 something a month. We love the resort atmosphere of DVC even more than the parks these days (although we have a DS, 6, who may think otherwise.)

I always appreciated DVC even more when I have to actually shell out money for a Days Inn room and it's a hundred bucks when you throw it all the taxes.

And, we really like to bring family and friends with us on vacation, which is SO much more doable with DVC.

If you are a WDW person, it's worth it.

 

[Chellymouse]

It's absolutely worth it! Our regret is that we didn't buy in 4 years ago and we waited until a few months ago. So far, we've planned 2 trips to WDW for later this year and we are planning on a cruise for my graduation next year as well as a week in Oct. for food and wine fest. and MNSHP. We are planning a trip with the whole family for the year after as our nephew will be old enough to take. If you go to WDW at least every other year, it's worth it!

 

[lugnut33]

How about knowing you could rent your points for about twice as much as your dues, if you decided not to go on occasion, or that you could always sell and get some, all or more of your investment back if you needed to, or decide to buy at a different resort. Cash reservations are money gone forever no matter what.

Oh fiddlesticks, you bring up a good point, I could buy several small contracts at SSR or AKL and then sell once KTV go on sale......

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We have enough points to stay for a 2 week vacation and a 6 day vacation each year, studio room. We figure that if we continue to use our DVC just like we are now, for the life of our contract (Lord willing), we will be staying at some very nice hotels for $71.00 (current prices). That's cheaper than the value resorts!

I hope to upgrade so we can stay for a second two weeks or stay two week in a 1 room.


Here's to hoping!

 

[corpcomp]

We did not buy considering the cost versus staying in a hotel. We looked and realized how much nicer the rooms are than the regular Disney hotels and what we considered the perfect location of the BCV / BWV area.

We also realized that in ten years if we have to sell we would get our initial payment back since Disney tends to inflate the sales price. Any other timeshare outside of WDW would drop 40% the day after you buy it and you wil sell it for no more than half of what you paid for. Check the timesales resellers in Orlando - it will shock you how little you have to pay.

And remember you have about 500 other locations you can trade Disney points with.

One really nice advantage is having a Disney Visa - we use up to $750 points / $ against all our purchases. Essentially we stay free (except the maintenance fee) and eat free when we go down. Now if only I could find a really cheap plane.

 

[RLRDA]

If you're looking for positive feedback, you've come to the right place! I don't think you'll find many (any?) on this site who don't think it is absolutely worth it. The main regret you'll hear from members, time and time again, is that they didn't buy sooner.

Good luck with your decision!