Just a few questions please.

[The Sybah Shelstah]

I'm reading and trying to learn as much as I can about the advantages of DVC -but do have a few questions if you don't mined? (search isn't working for me or I'd look that way first.)

1.) How much are the dues? I haven't come across that anywhere as of yet. Are they different amounts for when people purchased points or a set amount per point- either way- how much are we talking?

2.) I'm confused on something about the mention of really saving a lot as years go by and rates for rooms go up. Won't the amount of POINTS needed go up also? What I mean is let's say you buy 150 points -and it buys you a certain amount of nights in a certain resort right now. Rates go up -so you are saving money- but are you really if the points needed per night go up? So you either get less nights stay or have to add more points? This one is really stumping me. Surely the points needed per night don't stay the same forever? So really the "rates" are going up for DVC members also- just in a different way (needing more points for the same amount of nights)?

3.) Someone mentioned a portion of DVC purchases being tax deductible- how so?

Thank you, in advance, for your time answering these questions for me!

 

[EAP'sDAD]

Let me see if I can help you.
1) the annual dues differ per resort and from year to year so that may be why its hard to get a set number. I own 210 points at BWV and 100 at BCV and my annual dues are $100.25 per month for this year.
2)The amount of points that a room cost does not change that is the advantage of being a member. So while Disney keeps raising their rates for rooms you would still use the same amount of points.
3)When you finance a membership you are really financing a mortgage so the interest that you pay is tax deductable.
I have been a member since 1997 and me and DW always say it is the best investment we every made so good I purchased more points last year so I could spend more time down in WDW.

 

[eva]

EAP'sDAD has answered most of your questions, but here are a bit more details on your questions:

1) The dues vary depending on which resort you buy into. Most dues are usually between about $3.40 and $4.20 per point, with OKW being the lowest and Vero Beach being the highest. That's for this year. The amount of dues can increase or decrease each year, with a 15% increase cap per year. One thing about dues, they can not just charge what they want. DVC must charge in dues what it acutally costs to run and maintain the resort.

2) The points allotted to each resort can not increase. So they can not start increasing the number of points it costs to stay at a DVC resort. They do adjust the points each year depending on when hoildays hit, but that it usually all that happens. For example, Thanksgiving changes dates from year to year so the number of points adjust each year to take that into consideration. One time in the history of DVC they did increase tha number of points to stay during Adventure season, but then they had to decrease the number of points to stay during other seasons. All they can do is readjust the number of points to stay. They can not just start increasing the cost of points to stay in a certain season or type of room without lowering them somewhere else. The total number of points is fixed each year per resort. So in essence the points really do not increase to stay at DVC. We have always been able to rent a 2-bedroom at OKW for 30 points a night on week days during Magic season. And we have been members since 96.

3) There are actually two parts of DVC that your might be able to claim on your taxes. First you can claim the interest if you purchase and finance through DVC. The loan is considered a mortgage. Also, you can claim the land taxes portion of your dues. DVC sends you a statement each year stating the breakout of your dues that you paid the previous year and you can claim the land tax portion. Be sure to check the tax laws where you live, but most members can claim these. The one exception is if you own multiple pieces of property.

Hope this helped a bit. I know that it can be very confusing at first. Hope that I didn't confuse you more. If you don't understand something keep asking questions here. I think you will find that the group of members that on this board are probably some the most knowledgable members you will find. Good luck!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Just found this site, it may help:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/

 

[Simba's Mom]

Need to mention, since you're going solo soon, that I recently stayed at a DVC studio solo after 4 solo trips to POR. Staying in a studio solo is so perfect. For one thing, you save so much on meals. WDW meals are usually pretty big, and although I used to leave a lot uneatten, now I take the leftovers back to my studio sometimes (as long as I'm not walking around in the heat). And in the morning, I loved to drink my coffee and eat my pastry on the balcony in my PJs. And I love to come back in mid-afternoon for a cup of tea. And I felt safer knowing no one was coming in to my room (mousekeeping). I could go on and on about my love for DVC studios for solo trips! As a matter of fact, right now we're saving money for an add-on, just for my solo trips!