Non disney resorts

[Jim Kosinski]

How come there is so little discussion on non disney resort use of points

 

[Sandisw]

Because many of DVC members bought to use their points at WDW. For most, trading out is not a good use of the points.

I don't know much about other timeshare programs, but from what I have read from DVC members on this board who do, there are other programs out there that are much better suited for travel outside WDW.

 

[JimMIA]

The use of points for non-DVC alternatives does come up frequently here, as well as inquiries about specific choices of resorts available for DVC points.

There are a number of very knowledgeable folks on the subject of non-DVC timeshares here. If you have a specific question, post it in a thread and I'm sure you'll get a lot of good input.

 

[oakmanner]

Because we LOVE Disney! If I were really interested in vacationing in destinations other than Disney I would have purchased an interest in a cheaper timeshare program.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Every booking you do outside of DVC resorts costs $95 plus a whole lot more points than the DVC villa would require.

 

[Disney_Villain]

Because we LOVE Disney! If I were really interested in vacationing in destinations other than Disney I would have purchased an interest in a cheaper timeshare program.

That goes for us as well!

I am sick "up to here" of hearing promos for ABD and the World Passport Collection. Asking us to give up our "Disney" vacations for super-priced (high points) non-Disney vacations does not sell well with us Disney nutcases.

 

[Lisa P.]

Some people who want to vacation in other timeshare locations have sought out information on them at general timeshare-oriented forums. There's lots of info available at TUG - Timeshare Users Group and at TS4Ms - Timeshare Forums.

No matter where you own, you'll often get the most "bang for your buck" by using it at your home resort and sister resorts within your timeshare system. So many here wisely use their DVC points for DVC vacations. But when you want something different, learn more about your options at a TS website. HTH!

 

[agottl2]

This thread troubles me and make me unsure - I am STRONGLY considering DVC. This is all I have been talking about with my wife who is not sold on the idea of DVC or timeshares in general. We are from New York and I think there is a good chance that we'll get to disney every other year. On the off years, we had planned on using DVC to travel to other places which has been my selling point to my wife, because she does not want to do Disney every year. I think a timeshare is a great thing for my family because I have a newborn, 1 1/2 year old, and 3 year old and I don't want to be in a small hotel room while vacationing. I also insist on being on Disney property when I do visit Disney. Is DVC not for me?

 

[CMOORE185]

This thread troubles me and make me unsure - I am STRONGLY considering DVC. This is all I have been talking about with my wife who is not sold on the idea of DVC or timeshares in general. We are from New York and I think there is a good chance that we'll get to disney every other year. On the off years, we had planned on using DVC to travel to other places which has been my selling point to my wife, because she does not want to do Disney every year. I think a timeshare is a great thing for my family because I have a newborn, 1 1/2 year old, and 3 year old and I don't want to be in a small hotel room while vacationing. I also insist on being on Disney property when I do visit Disney. Is DVC not for me?

While we mainly use our points for DVC, we have used them for non DVC a few times and been very happy with it. We stayed at the Broadmoor at Colorado Springs and at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. These were 5 star resorts and although not villas they were fantastic and well worth our points.

 

[Lynne M]

This thread troubles me and make me unsure - I am STRONGLY considering DVC. This is all I have been talking about with my wife who is not sold on the idea of DVC or timeshares in general. We are from New York and I think there is a good chance that we'll get to disney every other year. On the off years, we had planned on using DVC to travel to other places which has been my selling point to my wife, because she does not want to do Disney every year. I think a timeshare is a great thing for my family because I have a newborn, 1 1/2 year old, and 3 year old and I don't want to be in a small hotel room while vacationing. I also insist on being on Disney property when I do visit Disney. Is DVC not for me?

DVC is a very good value when used at the DVC properties, in the sense that if you want to stay in villa-style accommodations at WDW and DVC's other locations, ownership will cost you far less than paying cash for those same reservations.

Now, for trading out for timeshares outside of DVC....not such a good value at all. You can buy timeshares that are far, far, cheaper than DVC that will get you into those same locations, and you can buy timeshares that will let you trade into a better level of resort than DVC will.

Since you can bank and borrow with DVC, I'd recommend that you buy only enough points to cover your every-other-year DVC vacations. Then, investigate other timeshares on the resale market, and find one that suits your plans for your non-Disney vacations. I think you'll come out ahead financially, and in terms of flexibility.

 

[logan115]

This thread troubles me and make me unsure - I am STRONGLY considering DVC. This is all I have been talking about with my wife who is not sold on the idea of DVC or timeshares in general. We are from New York and I think there is a good chance that we'll get to disney every other year. On the off years, we had planned on using DVC to travel to other places which has been my selling point to my wife, because she does not want to do Disney every year. I think a timeshare is a great thing for my family because I have a newborn, 1 1/2 year old, and 3 year old and I don't want to be in a small hotel room while vacationing. I also insist on being on Disney property when I do visit Disney. Is DVC not for me?

If you're planning on going every other year, than just buy 1/2 as many points as you'll need for your average stay. For example, if you're stay would use 240 pts (rough average of 1 full week in a 1BR), you buy 120 points. Let's say you do that and plan on going next year. You bank your 2009 points, which gives you enough for your next trip in 2010 when you use your 2009 and 2010 points. In 2011, you want to go to Arizona (or anywhere non-Disney), you bank your 2011 points, and when you go back in 2012 you have 240 points to use (120 from 2011, 120 from 2012). Repeat this process for the next 40-50 years

Chris

 

[littlestar]

DVC is a very good value when used at the DVC properties, in the sense that if you want to stay in villa-style accommodations at WDW and DVC's other locations, ownership will cost you far less than paying cash for those same reservations.

Now, for trading out for timeshares outside of DVC....not such a good value at all. You can buy timeshares that are far, far, cheaper than DVC that will get you into those same locations, and you can buy timeshares that will let you trade into a better level of resort than DVC will.

Since you can bank and borrow with DVC, I'd recommend that you buy only enough points to cover your every-other-year DVC vacations. Then, investigate other timeshares on the resale market, and find one that suits your plans for your non-Disney vacations. I think you'll come out ahead financially, and in terms of flexibility.

I agree completely with this post.

A good place to start investigating other systems to compliment DVC is the timeshare users group - tugbbs.com - every major brand/system is discussed on that board. We enjoy our DVC points and our EOY (every other year) Marriott timeshare bought resale. The two compliment each other quite nicely.

 

[jade1]

We spent 160 points for a week in Cancun, and 160 points for a week (maybe it was 5 days for a 3BR-something like that) in Keystone-both were great. But even for every other year at WDW I would buy DVC no doubt.

 

[yekcoh_99]

Lots of good stuff here thanks

 

[vakamalua]

IMHO no one buys a timeshare (Disney or otherwise) for it's "good value." It is usually an emotional decision because you fall in love with a resort (or WDW). We have been in DVC since 1995 and have enjoyed it immensely without regard to whether something was, in others' opinion, "a good use of points."

We travel when and for how long fits our schedule and inclination, sometimes with friends or family, and have used our points in a variety of ways including many, many trips to a number of different DVC properties at WDW, DVC at HHI and VB, WDW concierge-level hotel stays, Disneyland California, 3 Disney Cruises, Tokyo Disney and the concierge collection. We are probably going to use DVC points for China with AbD next year. We also greatly enjoy traveling on non-DVC trips.

I say, relax and use your points to EXPLORE, HAVE FUN and MAKE MEMORIES no matter where you use them!

 

[Sammie]

If you already have the points I figure you use them as you wish, regardless of the value.

However if you are just considering DVC, as others have said, there are less expensive ways to travel outside of Disney, than buying into DVC.

 

[5forDiz]

Best 'value' ( subject, of course, to what your personal interpretation of value is) is really in using DVC points to stay at DVC resorts (at AKV, BLT, BWV, BCV, VWL, SSR or OKW onsite at WDW, HHI or VB offsite and later this year VGC & in future at expected DVC on Oahu).

Many do trade outside of the DVC resorts and are very happy with trips they've done. Others are of the opinion that if you want to travel outside of DVC resorts, it makes more sense to find a less costly timeshare to do so or rent your DVC points and take that $ to book non-DVC options with cash.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I say, relax and use your points to EXPLORE, HAVE FUN and MAKE MEMORIES no matter where you use them!

However, there are lot cheaper timeshares out there to use for trading than DVC. Use your DVC for DVC trips. Buy another cheaper timeshare to do your trading out.