Is it worth it

[Bill K]

With all the incentives Disney is giving to non DVC members. Is it really worth buying DVC? My wife figured out it would be cheaper for a 10 day stay using the incentives(10 day park pass AND FREE meal plan) than for us to stay 10 days at our home BWV with a 5 day hopper pass. Maybe I should sell DVC and just pay cash!!!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Right now there is a good deal if you are able to take advantage of it. Will that same good deal be around 20 years from now? Your DVC will be and it will be long paid for. But the cost of rooms at WDW will keep going up. A lot of people look at the incentives and only see the here and now. DVC is much more than a "here and now" vacation.

HBC

 

[DebbieB]

Where would you be staying with the free meal plan? A DVC studio starts at $300 per night at rack rate. The incentive is not just a free meal plan, it's free meal plan with a rack rate room. If you are staying at a value or moderate instead of DVC, you are not comparing apples to apples.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Oddly enough, we just had a similar conversation.....we are staying at AKL with the "free" dining.

We figured out that it would actually be cheaper (by about $150) to add on 130 points (figuring the down payment, not the total cost, but we are planning to add on 100 at the end of this year anyhow), and use those points to stay in a savannah view at AKL (191 points for our stay, 130+borrow 61 from 07), and then just buy the dining plan (i know, we cannot do this staying at a non-DVC resort, but just for comparison).

On top of the $150 savings, we would also save $630 on the 2 AP's that we would get free with the add-on.

Of course, then we would have to pay off the 130 points!

But I think it is worth it, is what I was getting at. If we stayed at a DVC with points, we could do a studio and we could buy the dining plan for 390.00 for 5 days and our AP's for 630.00.

Our package with dining, the AKL room, and 5-day hoppers that we plan to upgrade to AP's is 1800.00-ish, not counting the additional cost of the upgraded tickets.

So that is at least an $800 savings using DVC. The only reason we aren't is because DH really wants to do AKL savannah, and we had the package booked before we bought our DVC. We used most of our points for our big family trip at SSR in Feb.

It would probably be more prudent for us to transfer points from a member, but we are really just too lazy.

 

[Bill K]

You both bring up good points. DVC is a much better long term benefit and the resorts are second to none. I just feel that there should be more for us dedicated Disney fans! Just give me more reasons to throw my $$$ into Disney's pockets and I would!!!

 

[Granny]

It was just a year ago that there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth on the "Attractions & Strategies" and "Budget" boards because there was a perception that the AP room discounts were fewer and farther between. On this board, people were slapping each other on the back for being so smart as to own DVC.

There was a real sense of entitlement that AP passholders deserved more because they had demonstrated their devotion to Disney by buying an annual pass. They also felt that they were "dedicated" WDW fans and deserved more perks!

The bottom line is Disney is trying to make money. A specific promotion at a specific time may be less expensive than DVC. I don't think Disney ever promised that DVC would be the cheapest way to go to WDW. But as others have said, we have a guarantee year in and year out that we will have upgraded on-site accommodations at a reasonable price.

I think DVD has done a good jot in the past year of upgrading our membership perks with the very nice AP discount (which allows us to use DDE), and the inclusion in the Dining Plan.

I think these one-shot promotions will always be around, but do you want to be restricted to the times they are offered, often with very little notice? Do you want to wait around for announcements of great deals that might or might not come?

Personally, I'd rather go with the DVC plan. We can buy AP's reasonably, we can get a 20% discount on many of our WDW meals, and we can shave meal costs by eating in the villa for at least breakfast and sometimes an evening meal.

I wouldn't trade places with the non-DVC WDW visitor for the next 35 years. Will I gladly accept more DVC perks if they come along? Sure I will! But I won't ever feel like we're getting the short shrift as long as they continue to give us the basic perks and include us in other promotions that are not tied to paying cash for a DVC resort.

 

[Dean]

With all the incentives Disney is giving to non DVC members. Is it really worth buying DVC? My wife figured out it would be cheaper for a 10 day stay using the incentives(10 day park pass AND FREE meal plan) than for us to stay 10 days at our home BWV with a 5 day hopper pass. Maybe I should sell DVC and just pay cash!!!

Assuming you're looking at 2 weekends, DVC would likely never make financial sense in that situation. You should decide what's best for you. We usually either go days avoiding weekends OR on II exchanges for 7 days usually in a 1 BR occasionally a 2 or 3 BR, thus the value is much greater for us.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It is totally up to you to decide.
2) There is no financial justification, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY.
3) They make assumptions that are not always valid
. . . they will go every year
. . . they would always stay in a villa
. . . they compare the price of retail point value of villa vs rented points
. . . they don't consider the price of hotels vs villas
. . . they don't consider the delcining net value in later years
4) The fact is that it still costs you
. . . $16,000 to $20,000 for your purchase (based upon number of points)
. . . $800 to $1200 per year in maintenance fees


NOTE: Like any timeshare, you have to base its worth on your own needs, wants and budget. For many, it is a nice package and for many it is not. This is not a condemnation of DVC, just a listing of facts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You both bring up good points. DVC is a much better long term benefit and the resorts are second to none. I just feel that there should be more for us dedicated Disney fans! Just give me more reasons to throw my $$$ into Disney's pockets and I would!!!

Do you mean having 38-47 years of deluxe accommodations at WDW at the same price as you are paying today isn't incentive enough? We bought at OKW when points were 62.50 a point. I can't believe what a good deal that was both then and now! Sure, my dues will increase a bit over time, but by a drop in the bucket compared to the rates the same size rooms will increase over the life of my contract. As Mrs, Peller used to say....Where's the beef?

 

[Bill K]

Ap's are no bargain for us. We visit once a year and paying $2500.00 for AP's are out. Even with a discount its not what Im looking for. Give me a discount on Magic Your Way Tickets.

I work in an industry which 20 % of our most devoted customers produce 80% of the revenue. We cater to them hand over foot. Those 20% ask for nothing, they just get it!!!

 

[Dean]

Ap's are no bargain for us. We visit once a year and paying $2500.00 for AP's are out. Even with a discount its not what Im looking for. Give me a discount on Magic Your Way Tickets.

I work in an industry which 20 % of our most devoted customers produce 80% of the revenue. We cater to them hand over foot. Those 20% ask for nothing, they just get it!!!

There's no reason one can't buy a single AP for the discounts and then the rest MYW tickets.

 

[NYMomof4]

Though this may not make financial sense-we like the best of both worlds-when Disney comes out w/a special that works for us, we add that to our DVC stay or use it as an extra trip. But I would never give up my DVC!!!LOL Most of the year there aren't big specials or incentives but my DVC points remain the same (yes, dues may increase) and I can plan ahead without waiting for a special of any sort.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I would never give up all my points, in favor of maybe getting a special! What I will do is take another vacation! I went down last Christmas, and I have ressies for this Christmas, I went last Spring break, and have ressies for this Spring Break, too. So, all my points are allocated, but I decided to go down for a week this fall at POFQ with free dining, for $1200. I originally intended to go for a long weekend on AP rates. That's what I use the specials for, and October in the midwest is cool, so I am going to warm weather, which is always a good thing.

 

[castleri]

With all the incentives Disney is giving to non DVC members. Is it really worth buying DVC? My wife figured out it would be cheaper for a 10 day stay using the incentives(10 day park pass AND FREE meal plan) than for us to stay 10 days at our home BWV with a 5 day hopper pass. Maybe I should sell DVC and just pay cash!!!

True if the only time you want to travel is when they offer these promos. DVC works for so many because of all the options available - stay one day or weeks, buy the DDP, DDE or not, APs or MYW tickets, parks or no parks for any given visit. Only you can decide if selling your DVC - banking the money and using it to stay during the times they offer incentives will be a financial win for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Its worth it just for the accomadations!! I love having a separate bedroom and a kitchen & wash machine.

Why would anyone want to go on vacation and stay in just a hotel room when you can get a 1 bedroom for the same price. Last time we stayed at the contemporary in "02 we had to rent a refrigderator for $20 per day. However, it didn't work and it ended up spoiling the $4 gallon of milk we bought for our DD. In addition, they had no place out of the way to put it so it stuck out like a sore thumb. I was impressed with the location (absolutely loved the location) and the size of the room, but that's all you got was a room.

Last year I wanted to splurge on my Disney vacation (the trip prior we stayed at the All Star Sports) After getting a quote on 6 nights ($3000) just for the contemporary (we were going Presidents Week and I didn't know about the AP discounts because I didn't find the DISBOARDS yet) I decided to put the $3000 down on the next 37 years of Disney Vacations!!

 

[byoung]

I still think DVC is worth it.

 

[jdg345]

What are 'Magic Your Way' Passes? Are they better than AP's?

 

[Caskbill]

What are 'Magic Your Way' Passes? Are they better than AP's?

Magic Your Way is the regular Disney Ticket system. It replaces the old system such as park hopper or length of stay passes.

Basically you buy a basic ticket and then add things that fit your needs. For example you can get a 1-day ticket to one park, or get multiple day tickets, add park hopping, add water parks, add non-expiring. Each 'add on' costs more.

To get a look, visit the ticket page here on the DIS. At the top of this page click on the "The DIS Discusssion Forums" link to get to the main DISboard page. From there look in the links and click on the "Tickets" link.

 

[jdg345]

Magic Your Way is the regular Disney Ticket system. It replaces the old system such as park hopper or length of stay passes.

Basically you buy a basic ticket and then add things that fit your needs. For example you can get a 1-day ticket to one park, or get multiple day tickets, add park hopping, add water parks, add non-expiring. Each 'add on' costs more.

To get a look, visit the ticket page here on the DIS. At the top of this page click on the "The DIS Discusssion Forums" link to get to the main DISboard page. From there look in the links and click on the "Tickets" link.

Thanks so much! Will do! Though it seems to me that after all these little 'adds' here and there, if you're going to experience more than 4-6 park days in a year, the AP's break even if not come out ahead ...

 

[jade1]

Can only speak from our own experience (we did not purchase as a financial investment) but in the 4 years we have owned BCV, the resale value has gone up each year more than the dues by a lot. Does no good unless we sell but at least its an option (I assume any that have sold have recovered thier initial investment, all dues paid and put some profit in thier pockets besides all the trips they took), rented points and hotel rooms have no chance of recovery.