Needing advice on purchase

[leagirl12]

I have been interested in DVC for a while but am really confused reading through the threads. Hoping someone can help. We plan to go to WDW every other year as there are so many other places we want to visit. With that I am wondering if it makes sense to invest into DVC and if so does anyone have an idea on points we would need to look into purchasing. We always stay at the POP but as the kids are getting older we have know if we were to purchase we would want to get a 1 or 2 bedroom unit.

Any info would be appreciated!!!

 

[Sandisw]

Understanding all the ins and outs of DVC can be overwhelming, but the best thing to do is to read and ask questions!

The number of points needed for your stay depends on more than just room type. Resort and time of year play a role in how many points are needed. Weeknights are less points than weekends. For example, a week in a 1-bedroom at SSR can range from around 185 in Adventure season all the way up to 316 in Magic Season (summer).

If your plans are to go every other year, you would only need 1/2 as many points as you could take advantage of banking your points every other year.

Right now, you have the option of buying directly through Disney or through resale. If you have a preference for home resort, then most will tell you buy where you want to stay. If you are not that concerned about where to stay, then looking for a resale contract that gives you a lot of points for less cost may be an option for you.

The cost per point through Disney is $112.00 for BLT, SSR, and AKL. If you buy in at the minimum, 160, you will save $5.00 per point (BLT) and $6.25 (SSR and AKL). There are also incentives to go along with it. It puts your initial investment at around $17, 000 - $18,000. However, through resale, you can get contracts right now at SSR (which doesn't expire until 2054) between $70 - $75.00 per point. And, when buying through resale, there is no minumum # of points to buy.

Since you are used to staying at POP, the cost of DVC is going to be more than you are typically used to spending. However, if you are thinking long term, for 1 - 2 bedrooms, then it can be a great value!

Good luck!

 

[ccigliano]

I agree with Sandi that you could get by with 1/2 the points you need if you plan to visit every other year. I wouldn't purchase if you plan to go other place often as Disney's best value is when you use it for DVC stays. Also buy where you love and if you don't know where you love yet, visit each resort on your next trip if only for the afternoon or dinner to get the lay of the land. I fell for the VWL and so I own there with boat access to MK but others prefer to walk in and out of EP so they love the BWV or BCV, others like to wake up with the giraffes and so AKV is for them. Others love the quiet and spaciousness (largest rooms on Disney property) of OKW. Disney really does have something for everyone so you really should check out each property before making such an important decision and spending that much money. And I highly recommend resales and have used the sponsor of this site twice. Good Luck!

 

[disneynutz]

I have been interested in DVC for a while but am really confused reading through the threads. Hoping someone can help. We plan to go to WDW every other year as there are so many other places we want to visit. With that I am wondering if it makes sense to invest into DVC and if so does anyone have an idea on points we would need to look into purchasing. We always stay at the POP but as the kids are getting older we have know if we were to purchase we would want to get a 1 or 2 bedroom unit.

Any info would be appreciated!!!

Based upon the information that you provided, DVC is not a good value for you and your family. Disney's 4/3 and free dining specials will give you the best savings.

 

[bumbershoot]

Based upon the information that you provided, DVC is not a good value for you and your family. Disney's 4/3 and free dining specials will give you the best savings.

So...I don't know everything, but I have been heavily in running the numbers the last couple weeks. And I just do NOT know how you can possibly determine that from what you quoted. Who knows if they do the dining plan? Who knows if they travel during the special times? etc etc.

Who knows if they WANT to stay at pop in the future, or if they are now OK in branching out from the Values as their kids grow up and perhaps are willing to stay at different places or stay home or go to college, etc.

Heck, we've never even been to WDW, and when at DLR we have absolutely no problems staying at hojo at $59 a night, but every way I run the numbers, EVEN if financing the entire thing for the whole 10 years and never prepaying any of the principal, over 50 years it's a definite, absolute, and total value, even compared to how we have traveled in the past (which, by the way, has nothing to do with how we want to travel in the future!).

The OP just has to run the numbers for themselves!

 

[disneynutz]

The OP asked for my opinion and I gave it. She is free to do what she wants with it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd never encourage the OP to buy DVC directly from Disney. Points are too high and they would have to buy more than they need. If they really want to try it out, rent from a reputable member and see how they like it. Then go for a resale at half the number of points they really need. Use banking and borrowing to get the number they need every other or every third year. Or continue to rent every year from the same member or group of members. If you establish a good relationship with a member who rents out their points, they won't mind having someone they can sell that reservation to on a regular basis.

DVC works best for those who have drunk the koolaid and go every year at a minimum or more frequently.

We've sold off two contracts because we just hated to send over $2200 a year in dues to DVC. It's more reasonable now, but we just do one trip a year. When we get to the point where we only want to go every other year, we'll sell another contract.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We own 200 pts at BWV. That seems to get us 1.5 trips per year. Typically, we do one trip this year and two the next. To do this we only reserve Sunday thru Thursday trips.

If you think you will continue to visit WDW every other year for many years to come, I think you qualify as future members. Likely, you will get hooked and will visit more often. We too have many other non Disney places we want to visit and we haven't even begun to satisfy that desire. Still, I am in a bad place with employment and we would not even be taking a vacation this year if we didn't have DVC.

Hope my info helps.

 

[leagirl12]

Thanks for all of the advice. We did make the decision for our big family vacation to only be to WDW every other year. But the more I think about it the more I think with AP and DVC then we could take the kids for their bdays and things like that....ya know shorter visits instead of the our usual week long trips.

Like I said we do as of right now stay at POP but I would love to stay somewhere else...in fact we are thinking for next year we might go to Wilderness Lodge. I am ready to step it up.

We are going on a cruise in May....does anyone know if they have a rep on the boat for DVC??? I think we really need to start looking into this very seriously.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for all of the advice. We did make the decision for our big family vacation to only be to WDW every other year. But the more I think about it the more I think with AP and DVC then we could take the kids for their bdays and things like that....ya know shorter visits instead of the our usual week long trips.

Like I said we do as of right now stay at POP but I would love to stay somewhere else...in fact we are thinking for next year we might go to Wilderness Lodge. I am ready to step it up.

We are going on a cruise in May....does anyone know if they have a rep on the boat for DVC??? I think we really need to start looking into this very seriously.

Yes, they have guides on the Disney cruises. Many times, there are additional incentives offered while cruising. Have a great time!