Is Renting DVC Really THAT great of a deal?

[NY Pirate Princess]

I was 5 minutes from purchasing resale in early 2020 and I am so glad I didn't. If I want to go to WDW and stay on property again (unlikely at this time) I can pay cash or rent points from one of you! However, now I don't have a costly timeshare to manage in a place that I do not care to visit in the foreseeable future.

My coworker, who I gave the Disney bug to, owns and has been very successful in managing his points and having fantastic vacations. Owning has absolutely worked for him.

It comes down to more than a math problem and everyone has to do their own calculations.

 

[starry_solo]

Depends on your travel habits!

 

[Cfabar1]

It depends on how you travel, and how expendable your income is. DVC has shifted greatly from the original product and promise it had, and has become more a niche offering for families who know they are going to WDW every world, and is a nice way to “prepay” their vacations. It also means you are placing a bet on WDW entirely (not just the time share) to maintain the world-class appeal and interest.

I would never advise buying DVC as any sort of “investment opportunity”.

I’d love to have 4,000 points at GF and 4,000 points at Aulani, and spend at least 120 nights a year on a cruise, either DCL or otherwise. Unfortunately, my budget (at least presently), does not allow me to do so.

Regarding renting points. I just feel like the restrictions, and lack of consumer protections don’t outweigh the cost savings in my instance. I’d rather just pay for each vacation as it comes up, or own my DVC points, and not be at the mercy/commitment level that comes with renting.

 

[jimmymc]

If you normally stay at values but want a larger villa for a one time family reunion, renting is much better.

If you rent points every year, then yes you'll be better off buying in the long term. It's just the math and your situation.

 

[sndral]

…
$7,500 per night is what was on Disney website to book a 3-bedroom suite. I don't know if it's as nice as a Grand Villa.

IMO the GC 3-bedroom suites are not as nice as a grand villa, no kitchen & the living room space felt very small in the one my sister’s family was in early this month. The balcony was nice, though.

 

[DLgal]

$2,400 per night is in your range. I said $4,800 for 2 nights. Resale is $260 ish now I should mention and not $200.
$3,496 per night is in your range as you say. (Though I think rental is closer to $20 - $22).
$7,500 per night is what was on Disney website to book a 3-bedroom suite. I don't know if it's as nice as a Grand Villa.

Suites are always priced excessively high because they are limited in availability. You can't compare them laterally with a DVC villa, either cost or amenity wise.

 

[AC168]

Suites are always priced excessively high because they are limited in availability. You can't compare them laterally with a DVC villa, either cost or amenity wise.

There are only 2 Grand Villas .. why can’t u compare them laterally?

 

[floridavet]

I was 5 minutes from purchasing resale in early 2020 and I am so glad I didn't. If I want to go to WDW and stay on property again (unlikely at this time) I can pay cash or rent points from one of you! However, now I don't have a costly timeshare to manage in a place that I do not care to visit in the foreseeable future.

My coworker, who I gave the Disney bug to, owns and has been very successful in managing his points and having fantastic vacations. Owning has absolutely worked for him.

It comes down to more than a math problem and everyone has to do their own calculations.

I mean if you don’t want to visit Disney for the foreseeable future, than yeah buying a time share there is a terrible idea.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Renting is a great way to try before you buy. I own DVC, Wyndham and Marriott (resale only of course) and stayed in multiple locations for each brand before I commited to the brand. I would definitely try multiple brands out first before you commit to one. That's what I did. I felt very little difference between staying at OKW/SSR and staying at Bonnet Creek, so I went with Wyndham first because I like how cheap their dues are for what you get.

Another amazing perk of having a DVC account that often gets overlooked is the free Interval International account that goes with it. DVC owners get unlimited free guest certificates (something no other II member gets), so you can let friends and family use your account whenever they want to book a trip to Orlando. I let my coworker use my account to book Marriott Grande Vista in a 1 bedroom during Thanksgiving for $370/week and I was able to get a studio that same week at Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve for $350/week. I also used my II membership to book a 2 bedroom at Marriott's Harbour Lake during labor day weekend for $401/week. I literally don't have any DVC addonitis because I have so many awesome Orlando options between Wyndham and Marriott. I only own 50 SSR points and I'm good with that!

 

[DLgal]

There are only 2 Grand Villas .. why can’t u compare them laterally?

Because the suites don't have the same features of the Grand villa, plus they usually include Club Level services.

 

[jimmymc]

There are only 2 Grand Villas .. why can’t u compare them laterally?

Suites are different than villas. The DVC rooms are usually designed like apartments, with an open kitchen-dining-living area in the center and bedrooms down either side. Suites have a smaller living room in the middle, but no kitchen and usually only a small table for eating at. Suites also include concierge perks, while DVC does not. And if you're just booking through Disney, the 3 bedroom suite is usually more expensive than a grand villa.

 

[crisi]

Suites are different than villas. The DVC rooms are usually designed like apartments, with an open kitchen-dining-living area in the center and bedrooms down either side. Suites have a smaller living room in the middle, but no kitchen and usually only a small table for eating at. Suites also include concierge perks, while DVC does not. And if you're just booking through Disney, the 3 bedroom suite is usually more expensive than a grand villa.

The easiest way to think about it is when celebrities hit WDW, they don't stay in Grand Villas, they stay in suites. You aren't looking to make dinner and do laundry when you are staying in a suite, you are looking for someone to bring your food and laundry to you. Grand Villas are a home away from home, a timeshare. Suites are multi-room hotel rooms for people with a lot of money who want to get treated like they have a lot of money.

 

[DLgal]

The easiest way to think about it is when celebrities hit WDW, they don't stay in Grand Villas, they stay in suites. You aren't looking to make dinner and do laundry when you are staying in a suite, you are looking for someone to bring your food and laundry to you. Grand Villas are a home away from home, a timeshare. Suites are multi-room hotel rooms for people with a lot of money who want to get treated like they have a lot of money.

Exactly. Suite are a splurge. The people who book them aren't hosting a family reunion in them, usually. They aren't gonna do a load of laundry or run the dishwasher after cooking a meal. It's priced at a premium because it's considered a luxury option.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I know this is ice skating on a slippery slope but……

I figured out long ago that I could pay for the purchase price of my points, by renting them for about 10 years….

So the way i look at it is my renters paid for 40 years of my vacations…..

Not a perfect example because of fees, and headaches with renting but close enough to make me happy…

This has allowed me to buy more points at other resorts.

On the other hand…. the renters are saving 40 to 60 percent on rack rate, have the flexibility of not being locked into DVC And no dues….

pretty much a win win

just depends on your comfort level, and what you are looking to do

 

[jimmymc]

I know this is ice skating on a slippery slope but……

I figured out long ago that I could pay for the purchase price of my points, by renting them for about 10 years….

So they way i look at it is my renters paid for 40 years of my vacations…..

Not a perfect example because of fees, and headaches with renting but close enough to make me happy…

This has allowed me to buy more points at other resorts.

On the other hand…. the renters are saving 40 to 60 percent on rack rate, have the flexibility of not being locked into DVC And no dues….

pretty much a win win

just depends on your comfort level, and what you are looking to do

Going the other way, renting out half your points each year will pay your dues at most resorts.

 

[Brian Noble]

So will investing the purchase price in a broadly-diversified, low-fee index fund, and that's a lot less work.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

So will investing the purchase price in a broadly-diversified, low-fee index fund, and that's a lot less work.

In this economy, no thank you

 

[cbyrne1174]

So will investing the purchase price in a broadly-diversified, low-fee index fund, and that's a lot less work.

I know right? My resale Wyndham ROI was 1 year from rental income and 2 Bonnet Creek Rentals (224,000 points) cover 65% of my annual MF on 800,000 points every year. I calculated the 10 year mark too and decided against ever owning more than 50 DVC points. I am good with single night stays 3-4 times a year! I'd rather just stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms for $30/night when it's discounted (pretty much all summer sun-fri). I like getting a clean unit with a washer/dryer, kitchen and king bed for $30 when I'm just hitting up theme/water parks.

 

[DLgal]

In this economy, no thank you

Now is the best time to do it, honestly.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I like stability, honestly ….

There is nothing stable about this market, our economy, ….

So like I said No thank you!