I've read a lot of info and the Resource Center FAQ's, but still have questions!

[ChicosWife]

Hello all, we are considering DVC, but mostly for DCL cruises. Would this be a better option for us? Are the members only cruises the only ones DVC members can book?

Why do you have to pick a "home resort"?

Since you have to buy shares in a "home resort", can you book anywhere else?

Based upon the point chart, most of the decent resorts/views require more points per night than the average DVC member purchases. How does this work?

TIA!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'll make it short and simple. Do not buy Disney Vacation Club to use for cruises. It's ok for the odd time or two but that's it. The value with DVC lies in using it for DVC resort rooms.

Anything else is sales fluff to encourage you to buy in.

 

[zavandor]

Buying DVC to cruise will make you pay more than simply paying cash and you'll have less options and less flexibility. Also, using points for cruises is a perk, so it might removed at any time.

 

[chalee94]

Why do you have to pick a "home resort"?

It's a real estate purchase. You buy into a specific resort and agree to share in that resort's costs of operation. When that resort's ground lease expires, then your real estate interest also expires.

Since you have to buy shares in a "home resort", can you book anywhere else?

You get priority access to your home resort at 11 months. Sometimes that is essential. If there is availability at another resort in the DVC system at 7 months out, you have the ability to book that. Sometimes there are options at 7 months, sometimes (again) you need the 11 month window.

Based upon the point chart, most of the decent resorts/views require more points per night than the average DVC member purchases. How does this work?

A lot of people are buying in (and renting from owners) just for studios - and sometimes just for weeknights (5 night stays). That can create a lot of competition for studios.

 

[ChicosWife]

Thanks for the info. It sounds like DVC may not be the best option for us, at this point.

 

[ChicosWife]

When that resort's ground lease expires, then your real estate interest also expires.

Then what happens?

 

[CraigInPA]

Then what happens?

Everything reverts back to the land owner, which is Disney. What is likely to happen is that they will then re-lease the land back to DVD, who will then re-sell it as new 50 year timeshare.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Then what happens?

Then you own nothing.

 

[DaveNan]

Then you own nothing.

or as DVD would say "a lifetime of memories"

 

[ChicosWife]

Then you own nothing.

Yikes. That doesn't sound like a good deal!

 

[D-Trick]

Yikes. That doesn't sound like a good deal!

It depends on how you look at it. I feel it is an upside that DVC has 50 year contracts. After it's over, you can wipe your hands clean of DVC rather than have a lifetime commitment like other timeshares.

As many will say: decades from now your vacation habits may change.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yikes. That doesn't sound like a good deal!

You are prepaying vacation lodging expense over life of contract. How good a deal that is depends on your vacation habits.

 

[bumbershoot]

My now late father in law bought a camping/RV timeshare that could be passed down two generations. He had it for about 15 years, his wife hated RV’ing, by the time he died his RV was broken down and we had to fix it to turn it into the bank to end the loan bc no one wanted it, and we had to *give it back* to the timeshare company because no one could afford the dues.

THAT was a bad value.

Having Dvc for maybe 50 years and hopefully enjoying the time you have it isn’t a bad value just bc at the end they end it.

(And there have been none that ended yet, so we don’t 100% knownhow it’ll be.)

 

[Chuck S]

Then you own nothing.

Yikes. That doesn't sound like a good deal!

I like that it ends. One less thing for my heirs to deal with, who likely could not afford to keep, or maybe not even want it, anyway.