Is DVC worth it?

[monte]

Hubby and I LOVED our visit to WDW, we stayed at the YC, did the deluxe package and found that we weren't able to see/do everything. We're planning on going back 10/04, but figure that the packages will run $8,000.-$9,000. by then. A DVC membership is currently $12,000. For those of you who are members, is it worth it and do you usually get your requested week? Do points carry over every year and can you stay at any property you want too? What are the pro's and con's? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks.

 

[vernon]

I would strongly recommend that you get the DVC video and information literature as this is going to help fill in a lot of the questions you have.

for me, yes it was very much worth buying in, but the value has to be calculated in each individual case as each case offers different situations.

If you have the ability to plan ahead then getting the week you desire, usually, isn't a problem. If you leave it to the last minute then it does get harder to get the resort or room size you want. Points can be carried over for a year, but you can't bank and bank and bank. for example if you have 200 points a year from Jan 2003, you can roll those points over to use by Dec 2004. You CAN NOT then roll them onto 2005 BUT if you use 200 points in that year ( 2004) it is deemed to be the points you rolled over from 2003 FIRST and you can bank the points from 2004 ( provided it is done according to the rules of banking and borrowing) I hope that explains it sufficiently, it is a little protracted explaining thse things in a simple fashion.

DVC is a great program, BUT it does need a little forwad planning and a little flexibility to make the most of what's available. In order to see if it works for you, you need to sit down, go through the video and assembled bumpf and see what you can do with the various rules and regs as they are laid down. Once you have a good idea of what you'd like to do with the program I think you're certain to be able to frame your questions in a manner that leads to an easy answer and one that really helps you to decide if things work for you or not

 

[RobDoc]

In addition to the suggestions from Vernon, call 1-800-800-9100 and request the free video and information packet. It will offer some insight into DVC.

If you will be goinf to WDW at least every 2 years, DVC may work well for you. Keep in mind that there are no all-inclusive packages available thru DVC, but you can get plenty of suggestions about accomplishing things here on the DIS.

Please feel free to ask any questions here you may have about the DVC program.

Enjoy!

 

[twinglefam]

I also found this board particularly helpful when making our decision to buy DVC! You can search for a thread on just about anything. Good luck.

 

[MikeScott8]

Also check out the great FAQ here, I know I lerned a bunch from them.

The video and book are good to have they give the very basics, here is where I learned the more in depth aspects of DVC.

Mike

 

[monte]

I called DVC and they are mailing the video and other information. I'm also looking into a Marriott time share, but am afraid if I purchase with Marriott I won't be able to get into Disney as easily?? Ugh, decisions, decisions.

 

[paults]

We go twice a year but before I was going to spent about $1400 to stay at BWV for 5 nts this year I checked into DVC. After all said and done we bought a resale at BWV using the $1400 for down payment. We went in July 2002 and already have ressie for May 2003 set. In NOV we will make ressie for Oct 2003 at our 11 month window. If you go once or twice a year its well worth it. DVC are Great resorts

If you plan on spending between $8000-$10000 in 2004 use that to pay for DVC now.

But first get the video and info from DVC 1-800-800-9100

good luck, Paul

 

[crisi]

Remember that DVC is only going reduce the cost of the rooms. You will still pay dues on your points. You will still need to buy park tickets and pay for meals. You will still incur transportation costs (airfare, car rental).

Most people still feel in the end that "if you go at least every two years," "if you can plan ahead," and "if you stay on site in Deluxe or Moderate hotels" you will save money on DVC over the course of the contract.

DVC does give its members some discounts, but they are subject to change - and not guaranteed.

 

[monte]

I appreciate everyone's help. We'll have to wait to see how the material reads, then make a decision on whether to buy, or not. Again, we're also looking into Marriott, since I'm an associate with the company I get a 25% discount,which helps. I'll keep you posted, thanks again.

 

[Dean]

You will not be able to consistently trade into DVC so if your goal is to stay on DVC property, buy there. Marriott is great also, I own both at DVC (OKW & BW) and Marriott (Harbour Pt and Grande Ocean). If you will go and stay on property at WDW most years and are not doing just long weekends, you should buy there. We love Marriott also but not for Orlando. Marriott in Orlando does not trade all that well with II due to the overabundance of units in the area. Good luck.

 

[sgtdisney]

Don't count on buying into the Marriott and trading out into the DVC. From what I hear it is next to impossible for people outside of the DVC to trade into it and that happens very infrequently.

If you 'Have' to stay on Disney property, the DVC may be your only choice...

 

[DeeP]

Everyone has given you some very important things to think about regarding a DVC membership. If you are primarily interested in staying on Disney property I would not even look at other timeshares because although many of them are VERY nice and many are more spacious then the DVC resorts, OKW included, but they are not on Disney property and that is a BIG difference! Trying to trade into a DVC through a Marriott timeshare will be difficult if not impossible. So do yourself a favor and if you want to go to Disney every yr or every other year and you want to stay on property just buy a DVC membership either through resale -cheaper or Disney- faster. You still have to figure in the cost of your meals, admission tickets, transportation etc but owning a DVC membership saves you a TON of money for the first class, spacious accomendations that you get. I have found that since I bought my membership I still spend as much every year on WDW vacations but now I go more often. Pre DVC I was at WDW 1x sometimes 2x's a year, since DVC I go every 3-4 months because I don't have to pay for rooms, I already have an AP and we have to eat whether we are at WDW or not, so now my vacation budget stretches for more trips--which is a good thing!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

We are very grateful for joining DVC in '95. We do over 4 vacations a year, and most recently went on DCL two years in a row and still going to WDW once a year.

We could have and would have never done that type of travel if we had to save or pay off vacations. Paying our DVC monthly is budgeted in our monthly expenses, therefore making it easy for us to come up with the incidental costs. Also, the accomodations are better than what we would have spent at WDW (probably POR or CR). Our opinion is, that OKW and BWV (where we own) are better hotels than POR and CR.

Also the dues are mostly tax deductable as well as, the interest (considered a second mortgage). Where else can you have the government offer you a tax deduction for going on vacation?

We love it!

 

[monte]

How much is the yearly association dues?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by monte
How much is the yearly association dues?

It varies by home resort from roughly $3.23 to $4.17 per point so for 200 points you're looking at around $700-800 per year. Enough points for a 2 BR for a full week would be around $1000-1200 per year. That's expensive and why we generally say it's only reasonable to use for DVC stays. Compare that to say top Marriott 2 BR units which cost around $600-700 per year if you exclude HI and Aruba. While it's true Marriott has some other costs that are more standard in the timeshare industry, from a strictly costs standpoint, DVC will never measure up. The extra costs for other timeshare including Marriott are things like $79 per year to belong to II, $29 to change your reservation, $30 (?) to split a lockoff 2 BR into 2 parts, $79 fee per exchange into Marriott's (more for non Marriott's) and the like.

The beauty of DVC comes in the flexibility. Maybe you are willing to go 5 days (Sun-Fri) at only 60% of the points compared to 7 days. Or you need a 2 BR this time and a studio next trip. Maybe you want to go 3 times this year and skip next year. Of course there's the internatl trading for other DVC resorts that is free.

 

[jcodespoti]

I bought DVC for what it is not totally for what it costs(does that make sense?). I like to stay on WDW property so for me it was worth it (Keep in mind this whole thing started with a mouse!). I sat thru the Fairfield presentation in Vegas(very high pressure) they told me who great it was and how I'd bee a fool not to by (though they left out the whole dues thing). Any way always ask plenty of questions and take your time in making a purchase.



Joe in CT

 

[Laurajean1014]

Joe,

Are you satisfied with your purchase?

 

[sjpvac]

There was an important comment about the cost of the timeshare being compared to the cost of the entire Disney experience. If you stayed at the YC as part of an entire package, then you may not have had the room cost broken down. At my OKW timeshare, a one bedroom is worth generally around $350 a night at the time of year I go. With dues at $800+ a year, if you are only going for a week a year, it may not be worth buying. You need to be careful about considering exchanges also and consider the point value so you don't waste, say, 125 points staying in a Disney concierge collection exchange which could be worth $550 iin real dollars but $1500+ if used in the timeshare. Lastly, make sure you take the tour and visit each location before you buy. For example, the one bedrooms at OKW are huge compared to those of BCV. If you take a few people, it makes a ifference.

 

[monte]

Thanks for all the help, we're still waiting to receive the timeshare info from Disney, but this maybe too costly of an investment for us, since we're not likely to go to Disney every year.

 

[jcodespoti]

Laurajean1014,

I would have to answer YES. Again I say to all who are thinking about purchasing any timeshare take your time in making a choice. Its great that the actual value of DVC has gone up from about $50 a point over $80 a point, but I didn't buy it for an "investment purpose" I bough DVC for what it was, pre-paid vacations to a high class resort int the middle of a lot of high quality vacation places. Could I save money by staying at a "budget" motel? Sure. And for some folks that fits them fine and they enjoy that. I like BWV for many reasons so thats where we stay (most of the time).
I think that many people think DVC is the absolute choice for absolutely everybody and that is just not the case.

Joe in CT