newbie questions - good choice for us, home resort, etc.

[MAJPLO]

Okay so we have been thinking about a timeshare and DVC for a while. We live in Northern California and go to Disneyland usually once a year, sometimes more often, sometimes less. We have never been to WDW. Our kids are 3 and 5 and we usually travel in October and March.

In considering DVC, we would love to be with Aulani, but wonder how practical that would be as a home resort - not connected to a park, high air fare, etc. But does it make more sense to buy into Grand Californian as the home resort? We have never stayed there on any of our Disneyland vacations as it is just too expensive when combined with park admission, and other costs. We usually stay at moderate to deluxe off site location depending on the length of the trip.

We will go to Disneyland regardless of DVC so is that a case for or against doing DVC with Grand Californian as the home resort?

I think I remember from a DVC presentation on our cruise that you don't pay anything at the time of the actual vacation - is that correct? Just your initial purchase price and MF? Really???

If we buy in at 100 points, but want to stay for a week somewhere that requires 128 points, can we pay cash for the overage? How does that work?

I read on one of the links that there is a discount for DVC members on their cash bookings of rooms - anyone with more info on that?

SORRY for the LONG post!!!

 

[arthur06]

Okay so we have been thinking about a timeshare and DVC for a while. We live in Northern California and go to Disneyland usually once a year, sometimes more often, sometimes less. We have never been to WDW. Our kids are 3 and 5 and we usually travel in October and March.

In considering DVC, we would love to be with Aulani, but wonder how practical that would be as a home resort - not connected to a park, high air fare, etc. But does it make more sense to buy into Grand Californian as the home resort? We have never stayed there on any of our Disneyland vacations as it is just too expensive when combined with park admission, and other costs. We usually stay at moderate to deluxe off site location depending on the length of the trip.

We will go to Disneyland regardless of DVC so is that a case for or against doing DVC with Grand Californian as the home resort?

I think I remember from a DVC presentation on our cruise that you don't pay anything at the time of the actual vacation - is that correct? Just your initial purchase price and MF? Really???

If we buy in at 100 points, but want to stay for a week somewhere that requires 128 points, can we pay cash for the overage? How does that work?

I read on one of the links that there is a discount for DVC members on their cash bookings of rooms - anyone with more info on that?

SORRY for the LONG post!!!

For the bolded reason alone, I would only buy at VGC. It is the smallest DVC and the only one in California. There would be no guarantee at 7 months out. You need the 11 month booking window.

 

[bwvBound]

Have you considered Worldmark the Club? It may be a better fit for your family with more "drive-to" locations, 2 properties near Disneyland, several on HI islands, lower buy-in, lower dues, etc.

100 points isn't going to go far at VGC. During March, one of your listed travel windows, a full week in a 1BR unit (sleeps 5) will set you back 388 points. Even Oct, a slower time, is 235-291 points for a full week. Take a long look at those point charts?

In my opinion, owning VGC as a home resort with only 100 points makes little sense unless you really need to book just a few nights every other year at that property and you intend to book the reservation at/near the 11 month reservation window. If you typically plan DLR trips at the last minute (as we do as locals) then your home resort priority is meaningless. You'll likely find slim pickings inside the 7 month window.

If we buy in at 100 points, but want to stay for a week somewhere that requires 128 points, can we pay cash for the overage? How does that work?

Currently, you may rent up to 24 points per year at $15/per point to complete a reservation. However -- this trick may only be used inside the 7 month reservation window. You might also try to rent/transfer points from another owner but there are restrictions on how often owners can transfer points (1x/year per membership).

I read on one of the links that there is a discount for DVC members on their cash bookings of rooms - anyone with more info on that?

It isn't worth buying in for this discount. I think the discount is 25% off from full hotel rate, isn't offered for all properties at all times, has limited number of rooms available at discount, etc. Very difficult to use?

I think I remember from a DVC presentation on our cruise that you don't pay anything at the time of the actual vacation - is that correct? Just your initial purchase price and MF? Really???

Your initial purchase and annual Maint Fee cover the room (up to the number of points you apply to your room). You'll still need to cover transportation, food, park admission, shopping, etc. In short, DVC is only the room and only if you have sufficient points to book the room with current points, banked points and/or borrowed points.

 

[JimMIA]

We will go to Disneyland regardless of DVC so is that a case for or against doing DVC with Grand Californian as the home resort?

If anything, it's a case for VGC for the reasons others have noted.

However, I'd say if you are comfortable with the value you are receiving from offsite accommodations at DL, that'a a strong argument against DVC in general. As bwvBound mentioned, you're going to need a lot more than 100 points at VGC for it to make any sense. If you do accurate math on a larger purchase, you'll probably find that it's not much different than staying in the GC hotel.

I think I remember from a DVC presentation on our cruise that you don't pay anything at the time of the actual vacation - is that correct? Just your initial purchase price and MF? Really???

That is correct.

If we buy in at 100 points, but want to stay for a week somewhere that requires 128 points, can we pay cash for the overage? How does that work?

As mentioned above, you can rent a limited number of points from DVC. You can also just pay cash, but you can't do a night part cash and part points. So, you''d use your points for as many nights as they would give you and then pay cash for the other nights.

The other option, of course, would be to use your points for whatever they would give you and then move offsite for the rest. Personally, if that was my best option, I wouldn't buy DVC.

I read on one of the links that there is a discount for DVC members on their cash bookings of rooms - anyone with more info on that?

Member cash discounts are subject to availability. Given how booked up VGC is, I certainly would consider that a longshot.

 

[JimMIA]

Have you considered Worldmark the Club? It may be a better fit for your family with more "drive-to" locations, 2 properties near Disneyland, several on HI islands, lower buy-in, lower dues, etc.

This is a good suggestion IF you are interested in timesharing generally as a vacationing vehicle. Wyndham (www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com) is another. Wyndham owns both Worldmark and Wyndham timeshares and the resorts are very nice.

A few years ago, it used to be said to buy Wyndham for east of the Mississippi and Worldmark west. Wyndham currently has about 80 resorts in the US. Wyndham is still MUCH stronger east, but they now have a number of resorts in the west and are continuing to expand there. For example, Wyndham now has 5 resorts in CA (including DL, San Diego, San Francisco, etc.) plus some limited availability at the Worldmark resorts in CA. In NV, they have Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas; in AZ, Flagstaff and Sedona; and they now have 11 resorts in Hawaii.

Unlike DVC, most Wyndham resorts are fairly large and home resort is less important most of the time. For example, last week I booked a Wyndham Bonnet Creek villa (WDW) for my daughter for a January 13, 2012 arrival with no problem. Unless you're trying to book something super-peak (Race week in Daytona, July 4th near DC, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, etc), the basic strategy with Wyndham is "points is points."

You can buy other timeshares very inexpensively -- often for $1 plus closing (sometimes with free closing) on eBay. A year ago, I bought the rough equivalent of 500-600 DVC points in Wyndham for less than $2,000 including all closing costs.

With ANY timeshare -- including DVC -- you need to really understand how the system works (or doesn't work). This is the best place to research DVC, as long as you understand that most of us here are huge DVC fans.

The best place to research other timeshares is TUG (www.tug2.net).

 

[MAJPLO]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

I think we are leaning toward DVC rather than other timeshares because it's DISNEY - hello!?!? What could be better than that? and because it might be the first timeshare presentation we actually understood - maybe because it was low pressure.

My question about booking but not owning enough points isn't necessarily specific to 100 points - just if we want to stay and are out of points can we pay cash for the "balance?" I guess there's always renting or borrowing right?

Thanks again for all the feedback.

 

[crisi]

I think we are leaning toward DVC rather than other timeshares because it's DISNEY - hello!?!?

Put DOWN the pixie dust and step back!

DVC is still a TIMESHARE. Its an EXPENSIVE TIMESHARE and it isn't a very FLEXIBLE TIMESHARE. As timeshares go, its a pretty good one, but there are other brands, some which are better run and managed.

Don't let the branding fool you.

As to the second part of your question - you can pay cash for a night, see if you can find someone to transfer points into your account (not always as easy as it sounds - we are restricted to one transfer in OR out a year, so people aren't anxious to do it for a few points), "rent" up to 25 points a year from Disney (but ONLY at the seven month window - which is a problem sometimes with GCV), or rent a night from someone else (but they'll control the reservation and you won't be able to combine your points with theirs). We have a small number of points and augment with cash vacations.

 

[Lynne M]

I think we are leaning toward DVC rather than other timeshares because it's DISNEY - hello!?!? What could be better than that? and because it might be the first timeshare presentation we actually understood - maybe because it was low pressure.

Ohh, no. Please don't. Just because it's Disney, doesn't mean it's the right timeshare for your vacation needs. That's the road to a very expensive mistake.

Slow down, do your research. DVC is not going anywhere. There's no hurry.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Okay so we have been thinking about a timeshare and DVC for a while. We live in Northern California and go to Disneyland usually once a year, sometimes more often, sometimes less. We have never been to WDW. Our kids are 3 and 5 and we usually travel in October and March.

In considering DVC, we would love to be with Aulani, but wonder how practical that would be as a home resort - not connected to a park, high air fare, etc. But does it make more sense to buy into Grand Californian as the home resort? We have never stayed there on any of our Disneyland vacations as it is just too expensive when combined with park admission, and other costs. We usually stay at moderate to deluxe off site location depending on the length of the trip.

We will go to Disneyland regardless of DVC so is that a case for or against doing DVC with Grand Californian as the home resort?

I think I remember from a DVC presentation on our cruise that you don't pay anything at the time of the actual vacation - is that correct? Just your initial purchase price and MF? Really???

If we buy in at 100 points, but want to stay for a week somewhere that requires 128 points, can we pay cash for the overage? How does that work?

I read on one of the links that there is a discount for DVC members on their cash bookings of rooms - anyone with more info on that?

SORRY for the LONG post!!!

In the short time we've owned DVC points we've never had an issue with booking 7 months out. Our home resort is BWV but we never really intend to stay there. We stayed at Grand Californian last year over July 4th weekend (super busy) and got our room just fine (I called the day of the 7 month window). We are also staying at BLT next month and, again, had no problem getting a theme park view room 7 months out.

I seriously believe that having the 11 month window is only usefull for really busy holidays and other events at the villas that are more popular. If I had to do it all over again I would buy Hilton Head or Vero Beach for less $$ per point (but slightly higher dues). I just don't see many instances when a well planned out trip would run into a snag because we cannot get a room where we want at the 7 month window.

 

[JimMIA]

In the short time we've owned DVC points we've never had an issue with booking 7 months out. Our home resort is BWV but we never really intend to stay there. We stayed at Grand Californian last year over July 4th weekend (super busy) and got our room just fine (I called the day of the 7 month window). We are also staying at BLT next month and, again, had no problem getting a theme park view room 7 months out.

If I'm reading your signature correctly, these two examples are the only two DVC vacations you've booked. As surprised as I am with your luck at VGC for July 4th, I still have to say that sounds like a rather limited, non-scientific sample to me.

I seriously believe that having the 11 month window is only usefull for really busy holidays and other events at the villas that are more popular.

I disagree. I think if you are planning on staying anywhere at WDW between Thanksgiving week and New Years, you'd better call at 11 months. If you want to stay at BWV or BCV during Food and Wine, you'd better call at 11 months. There are other instances where you would need 11-month booking -- certain views, Grand Villas, low points-cost villas, etc, etc. There is real value to the home resort booking advantage in some circumstances. Just because you had luck twice doesn't mean every option, everywhere, all the time, is easy. It's not.

If I had to do it all over again I would buy Hilton Head or Vero Beach for less $$ per point (but slightly higher dues). I just don't see many instances when a well planned out trip would run into a snag because we cannot get a room where we want at the 7 month window.

First of all, it depends on what you compare to; if you compare VB or HHI dues to your BWV (highest dues at WDW) the dues are "slightly higher." If you compare VB and HHI's exhorbitant dues to SSR or OKW (or BLT), they're quite high and over time, they'll eat you up.

Secondly, there is a gaping hole in your logic. Your plan is you can buy cheap, pay high annual dues, and book at seven months. But for large chunks of the year and numerous specific accommodations, you won't be able to do that. So you'll be paying $6-$7 per point in dues with no availability at WDW for significant periods of time. Not a good strategy.

Buying SSR or OKW for a low price, booking there at 11 months while paying low dues, and then hoping for the best at 7 months, still gets you WDW accommodations at the busiest times.

Owning anywhere offsite just gets you the right to do a "rant thread" on the DIS about how you couldn't get in during a busy period. I can make an argument (which many will dispute loudly) that DVC makes sense ONLY for WDW resorts...not anything away from WDW.

(By the way, do you have a relative named Phil in Miami? If so, say "Hey." He's an old and good friend of mine.)

 

[jimsanfilippo]

If I'm reading your signature correctly, these two examples are the only two DVC vacations you've booked. As surprised as I am with your luck at VGC for July 4th, I still have to say that sounds like a rather limited, non-scientific sample to me.I disagree. I think if you are planning on staying anywhere at WDW between Thanksgiving week and New Years, you'd better call at 11 months. If you want to stay at BWV or BCV during Food and Wine, you'd better call at 11 months. There are other instances where you would need 11-month booking -- certain views, Grand Villas, low points-cost villas, etc, etc. There is real value to the home resort booking advantage in some circumstances. Just because you had luck twice doesn't mean every option, everywhere, all the time, is easy. It's not. First of all, it depends on what you compare to; if you compare VB or HHI dues to your BWV (highest dues at WDW) the dues are "slightly higher." If you compare VB and HHI's exhorbitant dues to SSR or OKW (or BLT), they're quite high and over time, they'll eat you up.

Secondly, there is a gaping hole in your logic. Your plan is you can buy cheap, pay high annual dues, and book at seven months. But for large chunks of the year and numerous specific accommodations, you won't be able to do that. So you'll be paying $6-$7 per point in dues with no availability at WDW for significant periods of time. Not a good strategy.

Buying SSR or OKW for a low price, booking there at 11 months while paying low dues, and then hoping for the best at 7 months, still gets you WDW accommodations at the busiest times.

Owning anywhere offsite just gets you the right to do a "rant thread" on the DIS about how you couldn't get in during a busy period. I can make an argument (which many will dispute loudly) that DVC makes sense ONLY for WDW resorts...not anything away from WDW.

(By the way, do you have a relative named Phil in Miami? If so, say "Hey." He's an old and good friend of mine.)

If I stated, "I seriously believe that having the 11 month window is only usefull for really busy holidays and other events at the villas that are more popular," how can you state, "I disagree. I think if you are planning on staying anywhere at WDW between Thanksgiving week and New Years, you'd better call at 11 months. If you want to stay at BWV or BCV during Food and Wine, you'd better call at 11 months."? I just essentially said that in what I wrote, didn't I?

I was very specific about saying in my situation, which is owning BWV, that I would have done it differently. In 2011 BWV dues were $5.45/pt. Vero was $6.77 and Hilton Head was $5.67 per point. For 200 points there was almost no difference between BWV and Hilton Head and only a $264 per year difference between BWV and Vero. So saying, "So you'll be paying $6-$7 per point in dues," is not a real argument.

BWV points are selling around $65 right now and I've seen Vero as low as $40 for 200 points this week. That's $13,000 for BWV and $8,000 for Vero. A $5,000 difference would take nearly 20 years of additional dues to catch up to (and that's not including the opportunity cost involved with giving up that saved money over those years).

It all depends on what you want and I explained what I wanted and what my views are on the 7 month versus 11 month window. Nothing more, nothing less. So pleases don't tell me there's a "gaping hole" in my logic.

 

[Sandisw]

If I stated, "I seriously believe that having the 11 month window is only usefull for really busy holidays and other events at the villas that are more popular," how can you state, "I disagree. I think if you are planning on staying anywhere at WDW between Thanksgiving week and New Years, you'd better call at 11 months. If you want to stay at BWV or BCV during Food and Wine, you'd better call at 11 months."? I just essentially said that in what I wrote, didn't I?

I was very specific about saying in my situation, which is owning BWV, that I would have done it differently. In 2011 BWV dues were $5.45/pt. Vero was $6.77 and Hilton Head was $5.67 per point. For 200 points there was almost no difference between BWV and Hilton Head and only a $264 per year difference between BWV and Vero. So saying, "So you'll be paying $6-$7 per point in dues," is not a real argument.

BWV points are selling around $65 right now and I've seen Vero as low as $40 for 200 points this week. That's $13,000 for BWV and $8,000 for Vero. A $5,000 difference would take nearly 20 years of additional dues to catch up to (and that's not including the opportunity cost involved with giving up that saved money over those years).

It all depends on what you want and I explained what I wanted and what my views are on the 7 month versus 11 month window. Nothing more, nothing less. So pleases don't tell me there's a "gaping hole" in my logic.

I think it is great that you have been able to get your desired DVC stays the two times you have tried. But, I think that its very important for those considering that getting other resorts at the 7 month mark can be difficult and there are probably more stories of people not getting what they want at the 7 month time than those that have never had a problem.

Nothing is impossible at the 7 month mark--I got a 2 bedroom BW view room for my August 2011 trip. But, I called a few days ago about getting a BLT SV studio for August2012 and those were gone.

Except for really busy DVC times, I agree that getting something at the 7 month mark is likely, but I think its just as important that people understand that home resort advantage can be important.

And, while it is unlikely, when you own DVC, you are only guaranteed a right to stay at your home resort, if they ever decide to remove your resort from the club. One must be happy staying where they own, if they can't be anywhere else or they can no longer trade out.

As long as someone is content with that, then you are right, having the 11 month window isn't as much of a priority.