Is it worth it for us?

[thesmiths]

We just got back from our wonderful Disney Vacation yesterday and while we were there, we took the tour of the Disney Vacation Club. Although we love Disney (and the Vacation Club Rooms!) - we wern't sure it was for us. We've been 5 times in the last 8 years - but that pace will slow down... we're planning on having kids soon and don't want to push a stroller around disney so we probably won't be going for another 5 years or so. In addition - we will probably take our children once every 3 or 4 years after that point.

That said - Do you think it would be worth it for us to buy into Saratoga springs for the next 50 years? We would most likely rent our points for the next 3 years and then take a vacation every 3 to 4 years after that -- renting out our points inbetween -- I hope this all makes sense (it's all a big jumbled mess in our heads)

Is it easy to rent points out? Is it a hassle to make reservations for others using your points? I saw that many people sell their points for $10-$11/each. Does this price/point go up every year? Soooooo many questions...

Anyone out there have any advice for us? Thanks.

 

[stacy6552]

Here's our experience....

Our BIL has been a member since almost the beginning. When we went to WDW 3 years ago for a long trip with our kids we stayed at OKW. We talked seriously about joining then, with a retail price of $67/pt. But we said, "how often will we really go back in the long run?" So we didnt join.

Since then we have been 4 times! And just joined SSR, you know the retail price these days.

If you go this often without kids, I think it will be well worth it because you will go more often than you think.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think Stacy is right. We looke at it as a planned vacation that we will take each year. You can do it every other year too. Of course, if you don't expect Disney to be much of a draw to you after kids, then maybe not, but I would think it would be more of a draw.

 

[crisi]

I planned to have kids....

Took three years to get the first one. The second arrived on the heels of the first (ok, not quite, they aren't actual twins). Unless you are actually pregnant, don't count on kids arriving the moment you decide you are ready - and don't put your life on hold. A lot of people take a lot longer than I did.

Once the kids do come, they will be really easy to haul around the first year. You won't even need a stroller, you can strap them to yourself.

Then your kid will be a toddler. And being Disney folk - you have to do a character breakfast and get a picture of her with Tigger and Mickey. Sooooo cute! So you plan a toddler trip. Thinking just a few days. Then you start researching and discover that planning a week of half days in the park, half days with a toddler by the hotel pool might be the best way. Commando is bad with a toddler and you don't want to be one of those families outside Peco's Bill with toddler in mid-meltdown.

And you discover that Disney with a stroller isn't so bad. The looks your child gives you are priceless and you see Disney through different eyes.

You realize that the trip will be completely different when she is four and big enough to ride Splash. Different again when she is six and really into Princesses. Different again when she is eight and wants to see all the Epcot countries. Different at ten when she spends every moment in the pool and you don't even bother with the parks. Different at twelve, when you just go from Tower of Terror to RocknRollerCoaster - and spend a day at Universal. And then the teenage years. When she meets up with you for dinner and brings a buddy.

They are yours for such a short time. And they change so quick. Which isn't to say annual or bi-annual Disney trips are for everyone, but for Disney fans who can afford it???? How can you not?

We have a 4 year old and a 5 year old. We went the first time when they were 2 and 3. Even with the hassles of diapers and strollers, it was magical. We plan on going every other year. We have 150 points, which is enough for a week in a two bedroom in the off season (and lets us take Grandma while the kids are young enough for the sleeper sofa - and gives teenagers their own bedroom later).

Those points will be easy enough to rent. You'll never rent them.

 

[pklein09]

I say buy!!! I'm kicking myself for not buying in 1992 when we first saw DVC on our honeymoon (we finally bought in 2001 and added on in 2003). You can always use the points to go on short trips instead of WDW (i.e. Stowe, B&Bs in VT, Lake George) once the kids come and you and hubby need some time alone. Yes it uses a lot of points, but you get some vacation in and those are nice resorts within driving distance for you. Also, I really think once the kids come along, Disney will be more a draw. You'll also want more room than a regular hotel room provides with kids. In the end, you have to do what is best for you at this moment in time.

 

[thesmiths]

good point about the kids... who knows, they may come in another 2-3 years. That is something we have not real control over. Going over this board, we can see that lots of people rent out their points... is it feasible that we could rent points from other DVC members for the trips we want to take and go that way --

One thing that would lock us in for sure would be if you could use the points for Hopper passes! We'd be in like Flynn!

My heads spinning -- I love Disney a lot and my DH is becoming a big fan too -- I'm just not sure. ( we only have till Friday to take advantage of the $1500.00 discount)

hmmmmm....

 

[stacy6552]

And dont forget when your kids have kids and your the way cool grandparents who take the kids to WDW!

 

[pirateparrot]

Originally posted by thesmiths

My heads spinning -- I love Disney a lot and my DH is becoming a big fan too -- I'm just not sure. ( we only have till Friday to take advantage of the $1500.00 discount)

hmmmmm....

Just curious about the $1500 discount. The only discount I know about now is the $10 per point at SSR. That offer goes until October 31 so you may have more time than you think.

I am visiting WDW the last week in October and want to take the tour before I buy in for sure but I am almost sold now.

 

[pklein09]

The $1500 dollar discount is called Magical Beginnings - or something like that. We got it when we bought VWL in Oct 2001. Basically, DVC gives you $1500 towards your closing and you yield back your points for your current use year. The minimum purchase to get the Magical Beginnings is 150 pts - which is your $10 discount per point.

 

[pirateparrot]

Originally posted by pklein09
The $1500 dollar discount is called Magical Beginnings - or something like that. We got it when we bought VWL in Oct 2001. Basically, DVC gives you $1500 towards your closing and you yield back your points for your current use year. The minimum purchase to get the Magical Beginnings is 150 pts - which is your $10 discount per point.

Magical beginnings does not apply in that form to SSR at least until 10/31/03. For SSR, they are giving you the discount and you keep your first year points. Good deal IMO.

I guess after 10/31 the Magical Beginnings will come back in its original form.

I am worried that the OP got incorrect information from somewhere.

 

[Dean]

If you won't even go for 5 years, no way you should buy. Just wait and save your money planning to buy resale when the time comes. If it's right then, go for it, if not, you've saved yourself a lot of hassle. You can always rent from a member when it's right for you to go.

 

[Lisa P.]

...we probably won't be going for another 5 years or so... once every 3 or 4 years after that point.

I wouldn't think of buying DVC (or any timeshare) under these conditions. I'm with Dean on this one. Why tie up thousands of dollars and pay annual dues one something you won't likely use for 5 years??? Meanwhile, add in the hassle of renting it out? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

If you decide that you want to visit DVC in the meanwhile, you could always rent points or look for a discounted hotel stay.

You know, in 1998, 5 years ago, they hadn't even announced SSR yet. Who knows what DVC will be adding by 2008! It's a nice program, but really best suited for those who will stay at DVC resorts at least every other year. Only you (and your spouse) can make this kind of decision for yourselves and future family. HTH.

 

[jodifla]

I'm surprised you think you'll want to go less when you have kids. Disney is the truly kid-friendly vacation in the world!

I have a toddler, and on a trip in May, I managed to leave the hotel room with everything but the diaper bag! (At least I remembered DS.) I of course realized the second we actually got off the bus at the Magic Kingdom. Anywhere else, this would have been a total nightmare. At Disney, no problem. Just went to the Baby Center, bought a two-pack diaper package and a sippy cup, and we were on our way for the day.

Even young babies love Disney...there's so much to look at! One of my happiest moments was watching my son go through It's a Small World at 15 months old. He was so happy, we waved his arms and laughed through the whole thing.

If you like Disney as a couple, you'll LOVE it as a family.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And I wouldn't buy with the plan to rent more than use. Disney could decide to disallow renting altogether. Right now, they just discourage it in the literature.

 

[Habs_Fan]

Let me our experience.

In 95 we honeymooned at DL (PO riverside). We looked quickly at the DVC stand and said... Ah, we do not need it. Point then were sitting in the area of $65.

In 2000 we went back for a weekend for the wife's 30th. Our son was 8 weeks old (he did not come along). But again we stopped in a looked at the DVC and the CM we spoke to did not hook us to attend a meeting with a guide.... So we walked.

In March 2003 we went back with the little one (now almost 3) for a week. We spent in the area of $3500 for a 1 bedroom at OKW. At the end of our trip we decided to sit down with a guide that explained the ins and outs of the program. We signed on the spot at BCV.

Now here we are in Sept 2003, we have a planned trip for Dec and a meeting to add points to SSR.

I asked myself, why did we wait? I am not sure, but it sure did cost us lots more money and we are still visiting with the little.

BTW... At 3 he loved it.... at 3 1/2 he can not wait to go back... I can not wait until he gets bigger to see the reactions....

Cheers.

 

[disneycrazed139]

I think it depends on what your travel needs will be, but you say you have been 5 times in the last 8 years. That is quite a bit. I can see how you would probably miss a year with the baby, but I wonder if you actually would wait another 5 years, given that you've traveled to Disney so much in the past. I'd think you'd be going as often with kids if not more, but only you know what your plans are. If you really are sure you aren't going to go for several years, then maybe you don't want to buy now.

I think there are plenty of reasons to buy though and there are certainly plenty of threads here that list all the reasons why! It was really a hard decision for me to make because I tend to be sort of frugal. But when I looked at how much I had spend on hotel rooms in the last 2 years, it doesn't actually turn out to be as much of a stretch as I originally thought. I guess the bottom line is that if you are going to go to Disney fairly often and are pretty sure you will continue to, it doesn't make much sense not to buy. If you don't think you will be going, I'm not as sure.

 

[Mouse Ears]

If you really aren't visiting again for 5 years, what are you doing at the DISboards?

I personally would not buy with the plans of renting the points out most years because the payoff doesn't seem to justify the risk/hassle.

In the 3 years I have lurked here, the price for renting has been a steady $10/pt and I don't expect it to change dramatically going forward. There are more and more owners willing to rent points every year.

If, on the other hand, you are secretly hoping to lock in more frequent visits to WDW, then you are very much on the right track. Go for it!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
And I wouldn't buy with the plan to rent more than use. Disney could decide to disallow renting altogether. Right now, they just discourage it in the literature.

I agree with the assessment, however, DVC could not legally prevent renting as long as they are doing so. What they discourage is the idea that one can successfully rent, not the renting itself. DVC specifically allows renting per the legal paperwork. The reason they do this, the only reason, is that Timeshare Slease frequently try to get people to buy saying you can rent for big bucks when it's not true.

 

[Disneyolic]

We are definitely considering buying in this time. After much researching, I believe it is advantageous to us as long as we plan on visiting at least every other year. No way could we make a trip every year. Am I correct?

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

Ultimately the decision is for your family and doing what is right for you! We just bought in to SSR b/c the situation fits into our plans for the next couple years and beyond. We both love Disney and feel that a vacation each year is important for us and our family.

One of the most appealing parts of SSR is the fact that we don't get points right away - for us it'll be February. This was important for us b/c we know we are going to Europe next year and won't use the points. So we plan on automatically banking them and using them with part of the following years points to go to HH (hopefully with a baby) and then the following year go to WDW with my sister and her daughter. We won't even see our home resort until 2006!!! But it is what works for us. After that we're planning a trip to WDW every other year and someplace else in the meantime. We figured even at every other year we are still saving big bucks with DVC - so we bought!!

Just think realistically about your vacation habits and then decide if DVC is right for you.