New to DVC

[klstiger]

We just started doing our homework in regards to joining DVC or not.... When I called Disney to order the DVD, they offered 100 point package for 9900.00 for Sarasota. At this point, I am so confused, I am not sure if this is good or not....
We are a family of 3 and would like to visit every other year, the minimum.
I am so confused on... resales, borrowing, buying an additional bank of points and on and on.....
Thoughts on the initial offer from Disney?
Before I make any decision, I would try to "buy" and existing's members points for that one trip to make sure..... Assuming that there is a way for this to happen...
Thanks!
Kristy

 

[nolanboys]

You can look on the rent board here or even book directly through Disney (which is what we did before we bought with discounts, although you can get a better deal renting). My best advice to you is relax, do a lot of research and take your time. It took us 5 years of looking before we bought a resale contract. DVC isn't going anywhere, so take your time.We bought 200 points for a family of 6 to go every other year. We have enjoyed our trips so far and are glad we thoroughly researched before making our purchase. Please feel free to ask any specific questions.

 

[ACDSNY]

My best advice is to take your time do some research and ask lots of questions. This board has a ton of information. The deals will always be around.

Check out the point charts for the resorts you think you'd like to stay at to help determine how many points to purchase and make sure you'll be happy with whatever resort and Use Year you purchase.

Do you have any specific questions?

 

[Disneycouple99]

99 dollars per point is the current going rate for DVC so nothing special there. Read, read, and read some more about DVC here and other sites.

 

[snoope]

My thoughts are that the price isnt worth it. However, THATS MY TASTE, and may not be yours or others. There is a lot to learn about DVC. Researching here is a good leap off spot. It taught me a lot. Read through old posts as much as you can. Then perhaps come back with more specific questions. Im sure all your questions will be answered. It sounds odd but DVC is really a personal thing. Decisions will be ultimately made by you - based on your large and small likes and dislikes. Dont rush into anything, and do research on resales - it may be an eye opener. After your knowledge on the topic is a bit more broader come back with your W5H. We will all do our best to help you out!

Good luck.

 

[JimMIA]

So far, you've received some very good advice, and some of it came in your own post -- the idea of renting from a DVC owner before you buy.

My advice is to first examine your anticipated WDW visitation for the next 5-10 years.

Everybody gets enthralled with "owning a piece of the Magic," but DVC is really just a timeshare. That means a significant initial purchase price, followed by 30-50 years of ongoing ownership expense in maintenance fees (which DVC calls dues). If you use the timeshare enough, it may provide good value. If not, not.

You'll hear some chatter about non-DVC options for using your DVC points...mostly from DVC timeshare sales personnel. I'd ignore that chatter, because those options don't really give you very good value. If you want to buy a timeshare to exchange, DVC is a fairly poor choice and there are many much better options.

The other thing I would think about is how much you really want to be onsite.

There are significant benefits to being onsite (DME, free parking at the theme parks, EMH, etc), but they're more important to some families than to others. Also, be aware that they can and do change.

The opposite side of that coin is OFFsite. Most of us here prefer onsite -- that's why we're here on the DVC boards rather than Orlando Hotels and Attractions. But there are many very nice options offsite as well, and they tend to be somewhat less expensive than onsite. I'm not saying go offsite because it's cheaper, but there is a cost/benefit comparison to be done unless being offsite would really lessen the value of your vacation. (We've done both and are comfortable either way.)

If you determine that you want to be onsite, and you anticipate visiting WDW often enough to make it worthwhile -- then, and only then, I'd start really reading up on the nuts and bolts of DVC ownership. Before you get carried away with the frills, look into what is guaranteed with DVC, and what is a changeable perk. Then learn how the system works, and whether that would work for you -- DVC works best for those who plan their vacations many months ahead.

Take your time, DVC will be here if and when you decide you want to purchase. A 30-50 year obligation is nothing to rush into, and there is absolutely no need or benefit in rushing to a decision.

 

[klstiger]

Thank you for the feedback! We are definitely taking our time! I will continue to read and read and read. Not sure if it is for us or not.... The reason I say it might not be for us is because, we have no issue staying at the value or moderate. We could care less because we are never in our room....

Thanks for the comments and I will ask questions if I need to....

 

[kristenrice]

Before we bought DVC, we also didn't care too much about our room since we tended to be in the parks most of the time. When we sat down and considered our purchase, we realized that over the next 40-50 years, the need to be in the parks all day, every day will start to fade and we will probably want to spend a little more time relaxing in the room. After our first stay in a 1BR at OKW (the kids were 2 and 4 at the time), I looked at our lodging choices in a whole new light. The benefits of a washer and dryer and a full-kitchen had been lost on me until I actually had them right there to use. Being able to do a few quick loads of laundry (those Mickey bars can make a mess on the kids' clothes!) and eat a breakfast that is more than pop-tarts and cereal bars really added a whole new dimension of enjoyment to our vacations. We rarely eat any meals other than breakfast in our room so the kitchen is not used a lot, but the washer and dryer are used a lot. I love having our bags packed full of clean clothes when I return home.

So, for us, it was a matter of having the option of better accomodations that pushed us to purchase DVC. We opted to buy 100 points so that we could do a 1BR every other year (minimum). Now, let me throw out some numbers for you...

There is a resale listing on TTS for SSR, 120 points (beginning Feb 2013) for $7560 + $425 in closing costs. The 2011 SSR annual dues are $4.52/point. Now, I realize that the points in this scenario could not be used in the 2011 UY (no points until 2/13) but I will still use the 2011 MF's for my calculation.

So...the buy-in is a total cost of $7985 which gets you a total of 4920 points (120 points per year from 2013 until 2054). That breaks down to a "value" of $1.62/point.

Let's say you want to stay at SSR in a studio for the week of Christmas. I choose that week because there are typically no discounts available for the resorts and because it is the highest point season for DVC.

A studio at SSR would be 159 points for 7 nights. Converting that into what those points would "cost" you...
...$1.62/ point buy-in = $257.58
...$4.52/point annual dues = $718.68
...which brings your total cost for the week to $976.26, or about $140/night

Let's say you are content with staying those 7 nights at Pop Century. For 2011, a standard room at Pop Century would cost you $1292, or about $185/night.

The DVC option is about 25% less than the rack rate at Pop Century. Although you would only have a studio, it is still quite a bit more space and amenities than you would have at Pop Century. Guests at the DVC resorts that stay in a studio have access to a laundry room where the washers and dryers are free. You also have a small kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, coffee pot and toaster which are also not available in the rooms at the values and moderates. (The DVC studio fridge is bigger than the ones at the mods)

Obviously, the decision is not one you want to jump into right away. I completely support your idea to "rent" points and stay at a DVC resort at least once before you purchase. If you think you would be happy in studios, then stay in a studio, because once you try a 1BR, you'll never want a studio again.

Remember, as a PP stated, DVC is a timeshare and you are committing yourself to another 40-50 years of ownership. In 10 years, are you still going to spend most of your days in the parks? The DVC resorts have a lot to offer all by themselves and I could easily do an entire trip without even going to a park. This was another push towards DVC for us. We know that we will always have a place to go on vacation, even if our finances change and we can't afford park passes for the trip. We'd still have plenty to do at our DVC resort.

You are in the right place to get information so ask all the questions you want.

 

[disneydivermom]

We are in the final stages of purchasing SS for the exact price you quoted $9900. Re-sale we are getting 150 points, not just 100. Plus we got 150 banked points.

I would recommend resale as you have stated you won't use the points for cruising, Adventures by Disney etc anyway.

When we initally considered DVC we got the "package" mailed to us. We watched the DVD, read all the info and wrote down ALL our questions. I then called and had every one of my questions answered. We already had a trip booked and would be arriving in a few weeks so I asked for a tour once we got to Disney. A DVC shuttle picked us up at the resort, we met our guide and he showed us several models and answered any other questions we came up with. He also treated us to 4x $15 gift cards in addition to the previous $10 gift card we were sent in the mail. The shuttle then took us back to our resort (although it would have taken us to any park).

Our past visits have been all about visiting the parks and packing eveything into the trip because we may never be back (LOL). Now that we know we will be going back year after year we can relax more at the hotel and enjoy the amenities there. We also plan to go to Vero Beach for several days before or after cruising.

Good luck with your decision .

 

[JimMIA]

Kristan makes a very good point about learning to appreciate the difference in accommodations. We never cook in the room, but we still enjoy having the refrigerator for cold drinks and the microwave to warm up snacks. We also enjoy having a washer/dryer -- although I would probably have laughed at that idea before buying DVC. Now, whereever we go, we try to stay in timeshares for those two features, plus the extra room.

The downside to accommodations is that with a timeshare, you don't get daily housekeeping. At DVC you get a "Trash and Towels" service on the 4th day and a full cleaning on the 7th day. Personally, I don't miss housekeeping because I don't get daily housekeeping at home...

 

[Breyean]

We really appreciate having the full kitchen at a 1 bedroom. Not only do we do breakfast there, a couple of times we wind up having a nice simple dinner. It might sound silly, but eating at restaurants each day, sometimes for two meals in a day, not only is expensive, but gets us "off" our usual eating schedules. Am I making sense?

So we'll have a simple meal of pasta or even sandwiches and light stuff, esp on those days where we had a nice lunch.

 

[klstiger]

Kristenrice - NOW That is a LOT of info to try to take in.... wow now I am really confused.

To all, now that you have the kitchens, do you purchase ANY dining options? I would think no..... The last two recent trips we have purchased the full dining plan.... OF Course, we never luck out with the free dining - due always going for Mardi Gras....

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I will not allow my son to miss school much now, being that he is getting a little older, guess that means we will have to start going during peak times. (meaning definitely no chance of free dining).
Thinking about this long term, in 20 years, I think I would rather the option to use points for a cruise or somewhere else other than Disney property. We love the Caribbean and cruises...
UGH

I will have to reread all these comments 100 more times to try to grasp!

 

[kristenrice]

Kristenrice - NOW That is a LOT of info to try to take in.... wow now I am really confused.

...sorry about that...I guess I got to rambling...

 

[klstiger]

...sorry about that...I guess I got to rambling...

NOOOOO Please don't be sorry! This is exactly the feedback I wanted to help us understand this..... BC we are not even sure what questions to ask at this point....
Thank you for all your info!!!!

 

[JimMIA]

To all, now that you have the kitchens, do you purchase ANY dining options? I would think no..... The last two recent trips we have purchased the full dining plan.... OF Course, we never luck out with the free dining - due always going for Mardi Gras....

Lemme see...free dining?...Mardi Gras?...free dining?...Mardi Gras?

Down here in sunny Florida, that's a no-brainer!

Just FYI...no matter how you purchase, you can presently purchase DDP for the regular price. No discounts, but you don't have to purchase park tickets you don't need. As with any perk, that could be changed or eliminated at any time, but it's been that way for several years.

If you are a Florida resident or Annual Passholder, you can purchase a Tables In Wonderland Card.

(You can try yelling "Geaux Gators" but first of all I don't think those words could get past your lips, and secondly nobody would believe you anyway. So AP's your best bet.)

You only need one AP to get a TiW card, and that card gives you a 20% discount of most table service venues and some counter service places. I'm not up to date on the pricing of the TiW card, but it's good for a year, so you can use it for multiple trips.

I know LSU fans don't drink, but if you bring anyone with you who does, the TiW card also gives you 20% off adult beverages. The great thing about the TiW card is it gives you that discount for yourself and NINE friends, provided you dine together and the cardholder pays the bill. We once used it for a party of 11 and saved a ton.

We don't do much dining onsite anymore -- we prefer the quality and variety offsite -- but if we did, I think the TiW card is a MUCH better value than free dining.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
Thinking about this long term, in 20 years, I think I would rather the option to use points for a cruise or somewhere else other than Disney property. We love the Caribbean and cruises...
UGH

That's not an UGH...assuming you mean you would miss that if you buy resale.

Do some simple math. Forget the price difference between direct and resale. In fact, forget the purchase price entirely.

If you've taken other cruises in the past, just look up how many DVC points it would cost you to cruise a similar DCL itinerary. Multiply that by $5 (less than many DVC MF's) per point. Then compare that with the cash price you usually pay to cruise.

That comparison should cure you. If it doesn't, you made a math mistake.

Cruising with DVC points is NOT an attractive option at all.

 

[thepops]

And it doesn't mean you can't use your points "indirectly" for the cruise. Rent your points out for that year (there are several ways to accomplish that) and use the cash you get for your points to go on the cruise.