Is my math correct?

[disneylover1955]

I would buy through California. That will allow you to buy the Grand Cali pre sale. PM me if questions

 

[buzz5985]

Another consideration - which is a reality for our family now - as the children get older you can't always vacation during the low season. My DS 11 is in middle school now and I would not feel comfortable pulling him out of school for a week. Some kids can be pulled out and not miss a beat - mine - no. He struggles with school as it is.

I bought HH resale about 6 yo. $62/point. Somehow I lucked out. I took the money out of a mutual fund right before the bottom dropped out, so the money I spent would have been lost. Added on at BWV - $84/point - when they reintroduced the points when the model moved to SSR.

Best part for us - bringing our extended families with us. We have 2 - 2 BRs at HH in August Sun - Fri and 2 - 2 BR at OKW the previous week. We will pay cash at the POLY for the weekend in between.

We will never forget our very first DVC trip. GV at HH.

 

[boomhauer]

No, I do not save money buying DVC. If I wanted to save money, I would put the money in a bank. But compared to going deluxe every year, the spreadsheet that I use shows that it takes about 7 years to break even. Disney says 7 vacations, but I think the 7 year number is better.

This is the part I don't agree with.

If you buy the minimum 160 points, and pay up front = $16,640.
Dues alone on those points over 47 years = $30,982.
Total cost = $47,622.

Now, I agree, staying in a standard room may not be EXACTLY the same as staying in a studio at VWL, but it's a pretty accurate analogy. 160 points would buy at the most, 11 nights a year in a studio. For 11 nights a year at WL, standard room, you're looking at $2,783. By those calculations, you're looking at 17 trips to break even.

I think as someone said earlier, realistically, the best way for DVC to work out from a financial standpoint, is if you are able to pay upfront. I don't think there's any way to assume that financing it over 10 years is going to save you much, if any money.

 

[Claire L]

We bought at AKL and a pool view room for 14 nights next October costs $4488, whereas a pool view studio would be 180pts. A contract of 180pts is about $19600. With annual dues at about $850 that makes about 6 x 14 night stays to break even and that doesn't include the yearly increase on room rates. So after the 6th vacation you are only paying the yearly dues for your stay. I think $850 for 14 nights at a deluxe is very good value.

Claire

 

[bblanch]

If you are content to stay in values every year, then DVC is not right for you.

imo, that is where this scenario ends. No number crunching even needed.

 

[Slakk]

This is the part I don't agree with.

If you buy the minimum 160 points, and pay up front = $16,640.
Dues alone on those points over 47 years = $30,982.
Total cost = $47,622.

Now, I agree, staying in a standard room may not be EXACTLY the same as staying in a studio at VWL, but it's a pretty accurate analogy. 160 points would buy at the most, 11 nights a year in a studio. For 11 nights a year at WL, standard room, you're looking at $2,783. By those calculations, you're looking at 17 trips to break even.

I think as someone said earlier, realistically, the best way for DVC to work out from a financial standpoint, is if you are able to pay upfront. I don't think there's any way to assume that financing it over 10 years is going to save you much, if any money.

I recall the last time you came on here to discuss DVC and how you preferred values to anything so I see you have now moved up to deluxe resorts.

Heres the thing with my 160 points I can do 11 nights in a studio or 4 nights in a 2 BR over a weekend or I can trade for a week in Hawaii in a 1 BR - I can do what I want when I want and how I want.

If you want to stay 55 nights in the AS or 22 nights at WL it is up to you - if it makes you feel better to think you are saving money great.

I know my opinion - the 300 points I have got me.

 

[bblanch]

This is the part I don't agree with.

If you buy the minimum 160 points, and pay up front = $16,640.
Dues alone on those points over 47 years = $30,982.
Total cost = $47,622.

Now, I agree, staying in a standard room may not be EXACTLY the same as staying in a studio at VWL, but it's a pretty accurate analogy. 160 points would buy at the most, 11 nights a year in a studio. For 11 nights a year at WL, standard room, you're looking at $2,783. By those calculations, you're looking at 17 trips to break even.

I think as someone said earlier, realistically, the best way for DVC to work out from a financial standpoint, is if you are able to pay upfront. I don't think there's any way to assume that financing it over 10 years is going to save you much, if any money.

Your math may be right in the bold part, but you are not being fair in your analysis. You are using a rate of $104/point, when WLV can be bought in the low to mid $80s. You are using a value season standard room rate of $253/night. It's still not apple to apples... you are taking the ultimate highest possible cost on one side and comparing to the lowest possible cost on the other side.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Like I said yesterday after this person first posted.

Boomhauer seems to just want to start a debate or argument and it looks like he or she has done very well. Of course the OP will insist that isn't the point, but as you can all see the comparisons are not accurate and this person has posted MANY MANY times in the past and always has the same conclusion.................

Everyone who bought into DVC is wrong and he or she is right.

Don't buy into this anymore and enjoy your holidays.

 

[boomhauer]

Like I said yesterday after this person first posted.

Boomhauer seems to just want to start a debate or argument and it looks like he or she has done very well. Of course the OP will insist that isn't the point, but as you can all see the comparisons are not accurate and this person has posted MANY MANY times in the past and always has the same conclusion.................

Everyone who bought into DVC is wrong and he or she is right.

Don't buy into this anymore and enjoy your holidays.

You know, I'm gonna say this, and I hope most people don't take it as it's directed towards them. But it seems as though there a select few, that any time someone dares question the sanctity and value of DVC, they are trying to start an arguement. I have NEVER said anyone was wrong. I've simply questioned how anyone can say buying is the only right decision.

Pretty sad that you know people who would try to start an arguement over something like this.

As for the comparisons being accurate, isn't that really the point? Maybe some people don't need a 1 or 2 bedroom. Maybe some people enjoy Port Orleans as their favorite resort.

I've often felt that a great idea for Disney would be to offer DVC in different ways, for different budgets. Include a program at the Values or Moderates. Then, for people that are content with those accomodations, there is a comparable financial alternative.

As for why I'm bringing this subject up again, as I said, I just got back from my 1st stay at the WL and we LOVED it, so obviously, if DVC were to make sense for us and allow us to stay there, I would love to do it. As for the comparison of a studio versus a standard room not being apples to apples, I don't know. Personally, I like the idea of having 2 queen size beds as opposed to 1 bed and a pull out sofa. The size of the room is almost exactly the same. I tihnk it's a very fair comparison.

 

[boomhauer]

Your math may be right in the bold part, but you are not being fair in your analysis. You are using a rate of $104/point, when WLV can be bought in the low to mid $80s. You are using a value season standard room rate of $253/night. It's still not apple to apples... you are taking the ultimate highest possible cost on one side and comparing to the lowest possible cost on the other side.

How do I buy it in the low to mid 80's? Would that be through a reseller?

I actually was taking the low end in both scenarios. $225+ tax for a standard room at WL, versus 12 points per night for a studio at VLW.

 

[bblanch]

How do I buy it in the low to mid 80's? Would that be through a reseller?

I actually was taking the low end in both scenarios. $225+ tax for a standard room at WL, versus 12 points per night for a studio at VLW.

Correct. This boards sponsor currently has 12 of of it's 16 WLV listings with asking price of less than $85/point. Another popular reseller has it's highest listed at $85/point. You'll have closing costs of about $500, but the savings are still significant over the $104/point example.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Like I said yesterday after this person first posted.

Boomhauer seems to just want to start a debate or argument and it looks like he or she has done very well. Of course the OP will insist that isn't the point, but as you can all see the comparisons are not accurate and this person has posted MANY MANY times in the past and always has the same conclusion.................

Everyone who bought into DVC is wrong and he or she is right.

Don't buy into this anymore and enjoy your holidays.

all I can say is, if you think thats what they are doing then dont post back! dont give them the satisfaction

these posts are a great source of info, so whether the OP is intentionally starting something or not the fact is this thread is providing a wealth of info to others in similiar circumstances who may have not thought everything out quite perfectly as well

there are many people who come here for info

 

[sjdisneywedding]

How do I buy it in the low to mid 80's? Would that be through a reseller?

I actually was taking the low end in both scenarios. $225+ tax for a standard room at WL, versus 12 points per night for a studio at VLW.

if you truly interested look into resales and think about the fact others have said that you dont need to have enough points to stay all 22 nights, then your numbers can look much much better

its great to get advice, just remeber to throw all the outliers out. there will always be some at each end who use their crazy math equations and logic to show how dvc works or doesnt work. for those few it seems to always work or never work, no matter what you plug into their equations

DVC is not all or nothing!!! you can stay DVC in Jan and go through CRO for July, you can stay sun-thur in Jan on dvc points then switch to cash ressies at that dvc resort or go through cro for another resort. there are many posssibilities

you can buy resales for as few or as many points as you desire.

but you do need to throw your $104 purchase price out the window, as well as, your $5,000 cash stay at deluxe resorts for 22 nights

 

[RobDoc]

...
I actually was taking the low end in both scenarios. $225+ tax for a standard room at WL, versus 12 points per night for a studio at VLW.

Not if you are using $104 per point to purchase VWL. That resort is even available thru DVC directly much lower than that and even lower thru resale.

Prices of the "sold-out" resort diretcly thru DVC - OKW, HH and VB = $92, BWV = $98, VWL = $98, BCV = $101. You can see all of the Timeshare Store listings at www.dvc-resales.com .

In addition, in your original analysis you were using a stay in a 1BR - which is not a direct comparison to a standard room at WL - or any other resort.

 

[browniemtb]

As some have already said DVC does not fit everyones idea of travel to WDW. But I also want to state that comparing a regular room to a studio villa is not fair either. Compare the cost of a Villa if you were to rent one from CRO than compare the price. With a growing family like mine it made sense to consider DVC. I compared renting a 1 bedroom villa from CRO verses owning, even with simple math it made sense especially for the future.
So if it doesn;t make sense to you don't do it. As most will see people in this forum have a passion for DVC and thinks the program works well. 10 years from now when that hotel studio hits $400, a villa even more, a night just think of all the DVC owners that hedged their bets and bought in at todays or even yesterdays prices.

Brownie

 

[3DisneyKids]

Like I said yesterday after this person first posted.

Boomhauer seems to just want to start a debate or argument and it looks like he or she has done very well. Of course the OP will insist that isn't the point, but as you can all see the comparisons are not accurate and this person has posted MANY MANY times in the past and always has the same conclusion.................

Everyone who bought into DVC is wrong and he or she is right.

Don't buy into this anymore and enjoy your holidays.

I don't see how the OP is stirring the pot. These are valid questions and considerations. I was on these boards for an entire YEAR posting these types of financial analyses before we bought in. And the help of the current DVCers was invaluable to me when trying to figure it all out.

Yes, whenever ANYONE posts here as to whether or not DVC is "worth it", they are likely to get a lopsided response. We love DVC and that is why we are in these forums, thus it will be harder to come by the "don't do it" posts. I am glad to see that there are some here who are willing to say "this may not be the right thing for your family."

You know, I'm gonna say this, and I hope most people don't take it as it's directed towards them. But it seems as though there a select few, that any time someone dares question the sanctity and value of DVC, they are trying to start an arguement. I have NEVER said anyone was wrong. I've simply questioned how anyone can say buying is the only right decision.

Pretty sad that you know people who would try to start an arguement over something like this.

As for the comparisons being accurate, isn't that really the point? Maybe some people don't need a 1 or 2 bedroom. Maybe some people enjoy Port Orleans as their favorite resort.

I've often felt that a great idea for Disney would be to offer DVC in different ways, for different budgets. Include a program at the Values or Moderates. Then, for people that are content with those accomodations, there is a comparable financial alternative.

As for why I'm bringing this subject up again, as I said, I just got back from my 1st stay at the WL and we LOVED it, so obviously, if DVC were to make sense for us and allow us to stay there, I would love to do it. As for the comparison of a studio versus a standard room not being apples to apples, I don't know. Personally, I like the idea of having 2 queen size beds as opposed to 1 bed and a pull out sofa. The size of the room is almost exactly the same. I tihnk it's a very fair comparison.

I may have said this in an earlier post on this thread (if not here, it is something that is said often when these financial analyses come up)...but there is more to DVC ownership than the financial component. Sure, that is the "main thing" especially when first purchasing...ever new owner SHOULD crunch the numbers.

But for us there is the whole ease of use....we can go when we want, for as long as we want (or as long as we have points for), have a choice of places to stay, etc. And we know that it is already paid for. We don't have to factor in the cost of the room anymore.

Owning DVC has changed how we vacation. We take more trips that are shorter in length....and you know, we really LIKE it that way. When we took long trips, sure it was wonderful to have that two weeks spread out in front of us. But then that was it for the year. Now we always feel like the next trip is just around the corner....because it is!

In terms of park passes....I purchase those throughout the year (not in one lump sum)...so it feels like just $300 at a time, which is a very manageable chunk. The result is that (1) we always have a place to stay already paid for; and (2) we already have park passes waiting and already paid for. So....a DING! fare comes along....and we are off! And it feels like a very cheap vacation. Sure, we have still paid....but when you PRE-pay like you do with DVC (and the way I do with tickets), you definitely feel like your vacations are dirt cheap.

Back to finances, though...do we actually SAVE money with DVC? Yes and no. I have crunched my own numbers and found that we pay less per vacation now than when we paid for a hotel room. BUT--we also go more often now than we used to, so in that respect way may be paying more.

At the end of all of the number crunching, though, DVC means we have more time as a family. More time spent on vacation. More time enjoying each other and the simpler things at WDW as we do not have to be park commandos. More relaxing of a vacation because of the larger accommodations and nicer resorts.

And this is where the financial analysis stopped for us. Whether or not we are saving money...this makes DVC very worth it to my family.

Again, good luck with your decision.

 

[DVC Mater]

This is the part I don't agree with.

If you buy the minimum 160 points, and pay up front = $16,640.
Dues alone on those points over 47 years = $30,982.
Total cost = $47,622.

Now, I agree, staying in a standard room may not be EXACTLY the same as staying in a studio at VWL, but it's a pretty accurate analogy. 160 points would buy at the most, 11 nights a year in a studio. For 11 nights a year at WL, standard room, you're looking at $2,783. By those calculations, you're looking at 17 trips to break even.

I'm not sure how your 17 trips to break even thing comes from because with your numbers (using DOC's updated $98 pt for VWL direct from Disney) your upfront is $15,680. In year #8 total DVC would be $21,849 and total CASH would be $22,264. In year #9 total DVC would be $22,620 and total CASH would be $25,047 saving you $2,427 that year. Every year after that you would save $2011.80 by just paying MF. That looks like money savings to me...(not counting inflation of cash rooms going up and MF's going up as well)

 

[boomhauer]

I'm not sure how your 17 trips to break even thing comes from because with your numbers (using DOC's updated $98 pt for VWL direct from Disney) your upfront is $15,680. In year #8 total DVC would be $21,849 and total CASH would be $22,264. In year #9 total DVC would be $22,620 and total CASH would be $25,047 saving you $2,427 that year. Every year after that you would save $2011.80 by just paying MF. That looks like money savings to me...(not counting inflation of cash rooms going up and MF's going up as well)

I was using the price I was quoted from the DVC rep of $104 per point. Not sure if I was given incorrect information or not.

My figures (I could bw wrong) were based on annual dues of $659 per year times 47 years. I'm looking long term. If you do that, you have to account for money spent on annual dues.

 

[sallyjane]

My suggestion to the OP would be to rent points for a studio or a one bedroom and see how they compare to your previous stays. We rented points at BCV's in 2006 and then for the first time stayed at a value in 2007. Boy what a difference the vacation was. Everything about our vaction at the DVC resort was relaxing and without stress. The room just a studio was wonderful. Much more room in my opinion expecially since you could fold the couch bed away. The room was much nicer and in much better condition than at the value. Plus you get a microwave, dvd player and a fridge in your room unlike the values. Also I spent over $30 at the value to do a few loads of laundry. At the DVC resort it was free and I didn't have a ton of people to fight for the machines because the 1 and 2 bdrms have the wash/dryers in them. Also the service was much better and the CM's much friendlier. My DH and I have made 4 wdw trips in 4 years and our favorite experience was our stay at BCV's. My husband and I are hoping to have the cash soon to buy into DVC- we would never do it if we had to finance. I have to say that for us buying into DVC is an emotional decision. We love Disney and we know that we will be vactioning here for many years to come. We love the idea that every year we will have a Disney trip planned at a resort that we know we will enjoy. I think that people may feel a little hostle towards the OP because they like my husband and myself are emotionally attached to DVC. I believe that if the OP were to stay at one of these resorts and have the experience we had- he would be sold. If you are planning on staying at Deluxes then DVC might be right for you. If you are content with staying at values then that is great for you.

 

[Judique]

FTR, I hope no one is offended by anything I've said. By no means am I against DVC. Far from it. It simply doesn't fit my familiy's needs or vacation interests.

I have tried every single angle imaginable to try and make it work. It simply doesn't for us.

It took almost 3 years from when I first looked at DVC for me to make the decision to purchase. After we became members we often said that 'we should have bought in sooner'.

For me it really came down to the fact that this is a luxury purchase. It's NOT a necessity. It's a long time splurge and I know I'm worth it - long term. I know I can handle the expense at this time in my life. Three years before I bought - maybe not so sure if it would have worked. A big plus for me is that I know I can sell it and get a decent amount back.

We've changed a lot since we first bought in. I bought in expecting to use a studio twice a year. That was for 4 people. After all, thats what we did when we used hotel rooms. We are just back from our one bedroom villa xmas trip for two people! The other two have graduated, married have jobs,etc.

There is a time when a timeshare vacation plan may seem right for you, or it may never fit your lifestyle. But you are already showing the signs of liking deluxe accomodations! Soon you will want a little more space, and I don't mean just a second hotel room. It's a natural progression with families. Your time is coming. Maybe it won't be a timeshare - maybe it'll be a vacation house offsite!