Many ?s - just one post!

[horselover]

Ok so we went on the tour last week & loved the mock-ups for AKV. The bathrooms alone are worth buying in for ! I've already posted a few questions, but rather than doing that over & over I figured I'd lump them into one post. Feel free to answer all or any! Here goes.


1. How did you determine how many pts. to buy? Should you buy enough for a "worst case scenario" assuming you'd vacation @ different times each year or more or less middle of the road pts & bank or borrow as needed?

2. Do you go to DVC every year? I know it's always the better value, but sometimes you just need a change of scenary. Someone told me in another post (sorry if I'm not quoting exacting) the exchange rate out is approximately 2-1 depending on where you want to go. Does that sound about right? I'm talking about Interval International exchanges.

3. What made you decide to buy into the DVC (besides the love of Disney!)? Did you look into buying any other timeshares?

4. Do you go to the parks on every visit?

5. DVC is basically a "condo" association, but members get no vote in decisions (that's how the DVC real estate broker explained it). Have you found that to be an issue?

6. How easy/hard is it to rent or trade pts.?

7. Have you ever regretted your decision? How long have you been a member?

8. Is there a link or info out there on how to bid/price if buying resale? Obviously everyone wants to buy for the cheapest price, but also make it through ROFR. No point getting your heart set on the contract & then not getting it because the bid was too low.


Anything I've missed? Feel free to add more comments or experiences! Thanks DIS DVC experts!

 

[tjkraz]

1. How did you determine how many pts. to buy? Should you buy enough for a "worst case scenario" assuming you'd vacation @ different times each year or more or less middle of the road pts & bank or borrow as needed?

We just bought what we could afford and made-do. If that means going for 5 nights instead of 6 one time or picking a cheaper resort / room class, so be it.

2. Do you go to DVC every year? I know it's always the better value, but sometimes you just need a change of scenary. Someone told me in another post (sorry if I'm not quoting exacting) the exchange rate out is approximately 2-1 depending on where you want to go. Does that sound about right? I'm talking about Interval International exchanges.

We've only gone to WDW DVC resorts. We didn't buy enough points to be world travellers. So far we've averaged about 7-8 nights per year on our points, and that's just fine with me. We still go elsewhere, but not with our DVC points.

Regarding Interval, the trade values actually aren't too bad. But what you need to consider is that DVC doesn't have the greatest trading power (you won't be able to use DVC points to get popular destinations during peak vacation periods) and you shouldn't automatically expect to get DVC-quality accommodations when you trade.

There are other point-based timeshare systems out there. If you're planning to travel elsewhere, consider a smaller DVC purchase and pair it with some Marriott or Wyndham points.

3. What made you decide to buy into the DVC (besides the love of Disney!)? Did you look into buying any other timeshares?

Kids were very young plus wife's love of Disney. We knew we would be back and DVC has proven to be an economical way to spend our vacations in One and Two Bedroom villas instead of Moderate rooms.

4. Do you go to the parks on every visit?

Yes.

5. DVC is basically a "condo" association, but members get no vote in decisions (that's how the DVC real estate broker explained it). Have you found that to be an issue?

That's true.

Just remember that Disney has cash-paying guests staying in the same rooms and resorts. For that reason alone they won't let the properties substantially deteriorate. They also have a vested interest in selling MORE DVC points. That won't happen if they put the screws to current members and start earning a bad reputation.

Sometimes changes work to our benefit and sometimes not. Nothing I can do about it so it isn't something I lose sleep over.

6. How easy/hard is it to rent or trade pts.?

Never done it myself. Based upon what I've heard, it can be a time-consuming process. There are a LOT of members renting points now. I've heard stories of potential "rentees" making the member jump through hoops to check on different date/resort/room class combinations, only to bail out on the deal. Sometimes they find someone renting for $1 or 2 less per point. Other times they just get nervous and back out.

7. Have you ever regretted your decision? How long have you been a member?

Five years--no regrets.

8. Is there a link or info out there on how to bid/price if buying resale? Obviously everyone wants to buy for the cheapest price, but also make it through ROFR. No point getting your heart set on the contract & then not getting it because the bid was too low.

There's no magic formula. Similar contracts can still differ in terms of the number of banked or borrowed points available and negotiated terms like who pays what. Even seemingly identical contracts can have different ROFR outcome.

There is a thread around here with people posting their offers and ROFR status. But it's still just a guideline.

Good luck.
Tim

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

You have to be creative with your points and figure your trips out years in advabce. Then you come up with a game plan of when to bank and borrow points. Be carefulor you will have years when you are paying maintenance fees and not able to use your membership.

 

[PSWGal]

We're just now buying AKV but won't use our DVC points for exchanges. We have other timeshares for that. We've traded into DVC and that's what sold us on it. We traded into OKW through II. We've also traded into Hawaii, San Diego, and Park City. DVC maintenance fees are a bit high but nothing is like Disney, nothing.

 

[bwvBound]

1. How did you determine how many pts. to buy? Should you buy enough for a "worst case scenario" assuming you'd vacation @ different times each year or more or less middle of the road pts & bank or borrow as needed?

We first looked at our travel plans (1 week, 1BR unit, BWV, January, every year) and the number of points required to meet the plan (200/year). Already having our next reservation booked - we purchased 150 points, banked the first year and lived off the surplus for the first few visits. (We banked 150 the first year; 100 the second year and the final 50 on the third.)

Owning fewer points than our usage-plan allowed us the option of skipping a year or exchanging into DVC using our other timeshare. We knew we'd probably want/need an add-on at some point ... and enjoyed the luxury of waiting for the right time and right offer to come along.

FWIW, we prefer owning many small contracts over a single large contract. You can sell off a small contract if needed later down the road -- but you can't increase/decrease the number of points in a given contract.

2. Do you go to DVC every year? I know it's always the better value, but sometimes you just need a change of scenary.

Yes, we go every year for a conference in January ... and sometimes a second visit just for fun/vacation. We do travel extensively outside of Disney -- but use other travel tools to do so. The main point here: Our DVC points are only used for Disney stays.

Purchase fewer points if you don't plan to visit every year. Again, our initial purchase of 150 points allowed us to use 200 points per visit 3 years out of 4.

3. What made you decide to buy into the DVC (besides the love of Disney!)? Did you look into buying any other timeshares?

We own several different timeshare products -- and try to use each to their own best advantage. We first looked at trading into DVC or Disney hotels using our other timeshares via RCI Points and II. We've booked 5 successful exchanges into DVC for the exact reservation we needed using II -- but every attempted reservation feels a bit like gambling. Owning DVC directly provided a more direct route to my perfect reservation.

FWIW, I don't believe there is any one perfect, do-it-all, timeshare. We own a mix of products: one timeshare gives us easy weekend-getaways along the West Coast; another gives us 2 weeks of vacation for every 1 week exchanged as well as "day-use" at the property for pool, gym and sauna; another offers day-use of their hot-springs pool, unlimited golf, a private airport and endless hours of horseback riding along the Pacific Crest Trail. Oh, and one gives me Disney

Mix'n'match to your heart's content. Consider at least one timeshare location w/in 60-90 minutes drive from home. Find the perfect blend ...

4. Do you go to the parks on every visit?

Nope. Our primary purpose is a work-related conference at the Dolphin, Swan and Yacht Club facilities. We might sneak a park visit somewhere during the stay -- but it isn't guaranteed.

7. Have you ever regretted your decision? How long have you been a member?

We've been attending the conference every year since 1996 and hope to continue attending for years to come. We purchased DVC in 2004. No regrets on the purchase - we use it just as we planned. One minor regret is that we have purchased one-to-many add-ons. We have more points than we really need right now ... and that makes me a bit uncomfortable. (On the bright side, it is also easy to solve: sell any one of the contracts ... but which one?? LOL!)

Best wishes on your research!

 

[horselover]

Thanks to all for the great replies. Lots to think about .

If anyone else has anything to add feel free.


P.S. - bwvBound - I just sent you a PM

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ok so we went on the tour last week & loved the mock-ups for AKV. The bathrooms alone are worth buying in for ! ...

Just a note, the bathrooms in Jambo house are not like the ones in the models. Only Kidani village will be set up like the models.