is there an FAQ somewhere? BRAND NEWBIE- thinking about buying

[AllyCatTapia]

Hi just returned from an awesome stat at WDW- excellent vacation. Somewhat interested in DVC....didn't do the tour, but...still interested.


Tell me where you have gone BESIDES disney using your DVC and how you liked it? I am interested in travelling to Europe, Spain particularly, Mexico, Carribean. Of course, planning to return to WDW in a few years too.


Of course, they told me the purchase prices of 15,000, plus the $600 in dues per year....plus, I assume, financing charges if you finance......What other $$$ issues should I worry about?

 

[Granny]

Here's a link to the DVC FAQ's regarding how it works: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/faq.shtml


Here's a link to a great thread with tons of advice for prospective DVC buyers:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634&page=1&pp=15

DVC is best used for DVC resort vacations. As a timeshare for trading out regularly, it is expensive and you can probably accomplish that better and less expensively by purchasing a different timeshare.

There are no other hidden costs. The points you pay for once, and the maintenance fees are annual and can go up. For planning purposes, I'd assume about a 5-7% increase each year in maintenance fees. It might be lower but it's better to plan for the higher amounts. There are no other costs other than the financing charges if you choose to finance. Of course, you can finance yourself through a home equity or other type of loan too.

If you are not looking to use the DVC ownership primarily to stay at DVC resorts for the next few decades, then you might want to go a different route than DVC ownership. It is a great program, but only if it fits a person's vacation habits.

Good luck!

 

[rinkwide]

...What other $$$ issues should I worry about?

Be sure to factor in the cash reservations you'll have to make when you find out that the DVC program is too unwieldy to bother with for your above-stated travel plans.

 

[JimMIA]

The conventional wisdom is that DVC is worthwhile if you plan to visit WDW at least every other year, AND typically stay in moderate or deluxe accommodations.

As Granny said, if you are looking for a timeshare to trade out of, there are a number of better avenues for that. You will often see advice here that it's better to rent your DVC points and pay cash for other options than it is to use DVC points for trading.