Is owning DVC really worth it?

[RayJay]

Here’s a brief history. In 2000 my wife and our eight children visited Wilderness Lodge and of course we were hooked. We had been to WDW a few times before but had never stayed on site. We vowed never to stay off sight again. That same year the Villas as Wilderness Lodge came on the market. We purchased enough points to stay in a two room villa in January for two weeks each year. I think it was around 385 points for something like $27000. We went once or twice a year for the next eight years. Over time the maintenance fees grew and grew. In 2008 the fees were around $1800. We experienced some financial difficulties and sold our ownership in part due to the annual fees. We were able to sell our ownership for what it cost us initially.

We are now able to go back some four years later with a smaller family (only three kids left at home). We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. The total cost for 10 nights with park tickets and the free dining plan is $4000.

So here is my question. I know it is “cool” to own DVC but is it worth the cost? With an initial investment of over $25000 and annual costs of nearly $4000 we got a room, just a room. We still had to buy park tickets and food on top of that. We want to start going back every year but I just can’t justify the cost. Ho do you justify the cost?

**Corrected MF's to $1800 getting old I guess.

Just to pile on I recently looked at what the one bedroom would run at Saratoga for the New Years week we are going.

Rack Rate = $4330, my dues are $1215, so yeah this is one trip and huge savings on hotel.

We are usually going at premium times so discounts are nill, we will cook in the unit, my only other cost for staying in a deluxe is the tickets.

So after owning and selling and owning and selling, I think with the price of resale it makes more sense to me than ever.

RayJay

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just to pile on I recently looked at what the one bedroom would run at Saratoga for the New Years week we are going.

Rack Rate = $4330, my dues are $1215, so yeah this is one trip and huge savings on hotel.

We are usually going at premium times so discounts are nill, we will cook in the unit, my only other cost for staying in a deluxe is the tickets.

So after owning and selling and owning and selling, I think with the price of resale it makes more sense to me than ever.

RayJay

But would you have stayed in a SSR one bedroom villa for cash in the past? If you would have only stayed in a value or moderate resort, compare that price with your dues and the portion of your initial cost.

 

[ELMC]

But would you have stayed in a SSR one bedroom villa for cash in the past? If you would have only stayed in a value or moderate resort, compare that price with your dues and the portion of your initial cost.

I see what you're saying with this, and I think it speaks to the difference between "savings" and "value". Specifically, upgrading accommodation category is one of the "hidden" costs of DVC. If you normally stay in a hotel room but because you own DVC you stay in 1 BR villas, DVC is most likely NOT saving you any money.

But, that's where the value comes in, and that's harder to calculate. How do you put a value on the enjoyment you get in staying in more spacious accommodations? Or from the fact that if there is availability you can take a last minute trip for a long weekend? Or from the ability to go online at any time of day and check availability for an upcoming trip? It's these types of benefits that you can't put a price tag on that make truly comparing owning DVC to not owning DVC difficult.

PS You'll notice that I didn't mention hearing "welcome home" in the above list of benefits because personally, that doesn't do anything for me. But for a lot of people you can add that one right in there.

 

[DougEMG]

It may be the cheapest upfront option. It's unlikely to be the cheapest long term options. I'd definitely question it being the best way to gain entry to the system, even for those that don't plan to plan 7 months out or more.

I agree, which is what i had posted earlier and why i would not buy VB.

 

[NvDizz]

I made it through rofr submitted 5/16 passed 6/12


And in regards to the is dvc worth it?

I am a 30yr old that's been to Disney on twice in the last year once with inlaws who own dvc and once on our own 5k to stay at Polynesian for 7 nights with hopper and meal plan.

My contract cost 8300.00 resale for 150 PTs w/an extra 150 banked from 2011 which my wife and are using to takey inlaws to Disney for christmas(my family travels). Doing an annual pass at dvc discount and meal plan my wife and I a year will save close to 6k traveling twice at same times may/sept staying in studios.

So if you take are 760.00 mf in 2013 I'd say we're saving a huge amount of money in the long run.

Studios for those times are in 75-80 pt range. On that note I was sold!!!!

 

[Dean]

I agree, which is what i had posted earlier and why i would not buy VB.

I would (and have) consider buying VB but not simply for WDW access. The exception might be if you could get a subsidized contract for around the same as the rest.

 

[DougEMG]

I think we can all agree that when comparing apples to apples, dvc does save you money or dvc can be used to get a higher level of accomodation with the same amount of money as you would have previously spent.

The disclaimer is that this is only looking at onsit options. If you are happy staying off sit, don't bother looking at dvc.

 

[Dean]

I think we can all agree that when comparing apples to apples, dvc does save you money or dvc can be used to get a higher level of accomodation with the same amount of money as you would have previously spent.

The disclaimer is that this is only looking at onsit options. If you are happy staying off sit, don't bother looking at dvc.

I've had lots of on site visits over the years much cheaper than even the dues of the points I own.

 

[DougEMG]

I've had lots of on site visits over the years much cheaper than even the dues of the points I own.

Should I of added a disclaimer stating that in some cases you can stay cheaper at DVC with trading in through RCI or did you mean something else?

 

[AllieV]

I would (and have) consider buying VB but not simply for WDW access. The exception might be if you could get a subsidized contract for around the same as the rest.

I searched high and low for a subsidized contract. It's the unicorn of contracts: you hear stories that they exist but no one actually sees one. I heard from a couple of agents that years ago, Disney bought back every one that was on the market as they came up for sale and continues to do so. There were two recently bought back, both at $30pp, but don't know if they were subsidized. Maybe the subsidized people hold onto them.

 

[RayJay]

But would you have stayed in a SSR one bedroom villa for cash in the past? If you would have only stayed in a value or moderate resort, compare that price with your dues and the portion of your initial cost.

Right, good point, I have stayed at deluxes most of my trips, so that costs would be lower, but now I'll just stay 1 bedrooms, so I compared it that way.

Thanks
RayJay

 

[Dean]

Should I of added a disclaimer stating that in some cases you can stay cheaper at DVC with trading in through RCI or did you mean something else?

This was through RCI and II before that, often several times a year so no fluke though something that could change at any time.