Opinions Please!?

[hollyberry16]

Ok, so...I’m 20, and I am seriously considering buying DVC. I love traveling, and I love Disney (so what could be better then pre-paid vacations for basically the rest of my life to 500+ destinations around the world). Having said that...here's my dilemma....

In January my then-boyfriend and I went to WDW for a week. (8 nights, 7 days) Here’s what we spent:
Plane tickets ~ $715 CAN each – we bought off expedia; it was the cheapest flight, with United.
Hotel (All Star Sports Resort); Disney Dining Plan, Magic Your Way passes including entrance to Downtown Disney, Paradise Island, Disney Quest & Water parks = $1474 for both of us. = 737 each (CAN).
Shopping/spending money = $300CAN./each (Souvenirs & bus to get to Florida Mall)

TOTAL = $1452 Canadian Each Before spending money after spending money = ~ 1750 each CAN.

I think that’s a fabulous price to pay for a vacation. It was perfect...obviously your prices will increase as you have kids….but your accommodation costs won’t. Based on today’s prices @ ~ 100$/night for a hotel room w/ two double beds…only in your Park Tickets, Disney Dining, and Flight will costs increase – unless you stay in a separate room from your kids, which I think I would really consider = 200$/night.

One poster on here posted that she spends $2000/week on a vacation and said that DVC was well worth his/her money (I think). That’s about what I spend, so I’m wondering if it would be worth it to me. What do you all think?

I don’t know if I can justify spending 500-1500/yr in “maintenance fees” when it would cost about the same anyway for accommodation? Including the fact that I would still have to cover flights, which are by far the HIGHEST expense of any trip.

Also Have any of you heard of RCI points?

 

[lovinthemouse]

First off let me say for my family if was the best purchase ever. We love it. We love Disney and go frequently. You must first look at your life and vacationing styles. You pay for future accomodations. Your price will never go up. But at such a young age will you go to WDW at least everyother year. Some of the people on this board have done the math (not me)and say that it is only worth it if you go that often. The best advice I could give you is do your homework get the info and if it fits your life then buy. Good luck. I hope to welcome you home very soon.

 

[mydogdrew]

If you are happy with All Stars then I would pass on DVC.

 

[BevS97]

It depends on where you want to stay - I looked at it before and felt that I could rent offsite apartment style accomodation for the same as dvc dues, but then we went and stayed offsite and realised that we didn't ever want to stay offsite again. For us, dvc will mean that we can stay onsite, at deluxe hotels - something we would never normally be able to afford.

Trading out to other destinations is not a great use of your points - if that is something you'd want to be doing frequently then I'd look at a different timeshare company to be honest - we want to buy 200 points, that will get us a 2 week vacation at Disney, but only a few nights at one of the other non-disney destinations.

 

[hollyberry16]

Thank you all for your opinions/thoughts!

Right now, I don't think it would be worth it for me, as I can spend 1500 and get a really good weeks vacation...and also right now i don't mind staying at 'value' resorts (afterall they're just "Disney" holiday inns) but as I get older and have kids, I might like the deluxe feeling.

What about cruising? I've heard it's a waste...but it looks like 150 points for two people on a cruise for a wk in January - if i saw the chart correctly - doesn't seem too bad.

 

[hollyberry16]

Also...The Disney Resorts in: Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, LA....do they cost more points then WDW?

 

[crisi]

Also...The Disney Resorts in: Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, LA....do they cost more points then WDW?

Thats 150 points per person for that cruise. DVC points are best used at DVC resorts - and there are no DVC resorts at the other parks. They can be an OK deal, but are not the best value. Also, all point options other than the DVC resorts themselves are subject to change - the cruise may be 150 points this year and 160 next. (DVC points - baring moving Easter around year or some weird unlikely scenario - will stay the same from year to year).

Remember to add $4-5 a point for annual dues. And remember this is accomodations only - you will still need to pay for airfare (which has gotten really expensive), park tickets, etc. If gas continues to increase, will you be able to make an annual or biannual airfare committment?

 

[Darkside]

Hmmm, my only regret is not buying DVC 10 years ago or whenever it started. For the past 12 years we have went to WDW about once a year and at this point our DVC would be paid for. I remeber looking at the program when it first came out and thought it just was not for me, but my tastes have definately changed. If you can easily aford it I would go for it.

 

[byoung]

I paid cash for my points last year, wish I would have decided to buy years ago.

 

[Fellowship9798]

Despite all those who say they only regret not buying sooner, I think at 20 is a little soon for a purchase like this. Far better to save for a downpayment on a house or condo and build some net worth first. DVC is a big luxury purchase and should really be made after you have a few basics set up like owning a home, paying off a car loan and credit cards, etc. but I don't know your financial situation and wouldn't ask anyway. I just know for me at 20 this is something I would have dreamed about but it would really not have been the right thing to do.

Sorry to be the boring voice of moderation, but someone has to do it.

Actually at 20 I was quite aware of DVC and was disgusted that Disney would be getting involved in the shady timeshare business, but 11 years later here I am a BWV owner. Life's funny sometimes.

 

[Disney Doll]

I too think that at age 20, you have other more important financial decisions to make than buying a timeshare.

 

[rinkwide]

I too think that at age 20, you have other more important financial decisions to make than buying a timeshare.

Still, she deserves credit for thinking ahead. My biggest financial worry at that age was "How are we gonna' pay for the next keg?"

 

[Deb & Bill]

Still, she deserves credit for thinking ahead. My biggest financial worry at that age was "How are we gonna' pay for the next keg?"

Ahhh, RW, that explains it all.

 

[offtheice]

Ok, so...I’m 20, and I am seriously considering buying DVC. I love traveling, and I love Disney (so what could be better then pre-paid vacations for basically the rest of my life to 500+ destinations around the world). Having said that...here's my dilemma....

In January my then-boyfriend and I went to WDW for a week. (8 nights, 7 days) Here’s what we spent:
Plane tickets ~ $715 CAN each – we bought off expedia; it was the cheapest flight, with United.
Hotel (All Star Sports Resort); Disney Dining Plan, Magic Your Way passes including entrance to Downtown Disney, Paradise Island, Disney Quest & Water parks = $1474 for both of us. = 737 each (CAN).
Shopping/spending money = $300CAN./each (Souvenirs & bus to get to Florida Mall)

TOTAL = $1452 Canadian Each Before spending money after spending money = ~ 1750 each CAN.

I think that’s a fabulous price to pay for a vacation. It was perfect...obviously your prices will increase as you have kids….but your accommodation costs won’t. Based on today’s prices @ ~ 100$/night for a hotel room w/ two double beds…only in your Park Tickets, Disney Dining, and Flight will costs increase – unless you stay in a separate room from your kids, which I think I would really consider = 200$/night.

One poster on here posted that she spends $2000/week on a vacation and said that DVC was well worth his/her money (I think). That’s about what I spend, so I’m wondering if it would be worth it to me. What do you all think?

I don’t know if I can justify spending 500-1500/yr in “maintenance fees” when it would cost about the same anyway for accommodation? Including the fact that I would still have to cover flights, which are by far the HIGHEST expense of any trip.

Also Have any of you heard of RCI points?

My only thing I would say is how much do you love disney . If your going every other yr , its cheaper to go DVC IMO !

 

[crisi]

Despite all those who say they only regret not buying sooner, I think at 20 is a little soon for a purchase like this. Far better to save for a downpayment on a house or condo and build some net worth first. DVC is a big luxury purchase and should really be made after you have a few basics set up like owning a home, paying off a car loan and credit cards, etc. but I don't know your financial situation and wouldn't ask anyway. I just know for me at 20 this is something I would have dreamed about but it would really not have been the right thing to do.

Sorry to be the boring voice of moderation, but someone has to do it.

Actually at 20 I was quite aware of DVC and was disgusted that Disney would be getting involved in the shady timeshare business, but 11 years later here I am a BWV owner. Life's funny sometimes.

I was assuming anyone who was 20 and asking this question was a trust fund kid. I have lots of friends who grew up on welfare, and lots of friends who inherieted six figure trust funds at 21 - 20 years ago some of them bought cars and houses outright.

But if the OP doesn't have cash, and isn't looking at a silver spoon when she brushes her teeth, I think you are right - so many other priorities at 20.

 

[hollyberry16]

Haha, no trust fund here; I wish! (If I did, I wouldn't be complaining about a $700 [eta: plane ticket] to Disney World; which i have on other threads).

Obviously right now I have other priorities: (1) Graduating University, (2) Traveling a bit, (3) Getting a good job (4) Getting an Apartment-Condo, and (5) Buy into a Vacation Club...or... Get a Husband.

The first 2 I'm already well on to my way completing, I have 1 yr left, and then I'm finished university! I’ve planned my trip around Eastern Europe once I graduate, and I've already put my money away to pay for all my expenses for the 2 months I’ll be in Eastern Europe. I know what companies I'm going to apply for, and what positions pay well, and where in the world (UK, Canada, US, Australia) I'm going to apply once I graduate, and return from my trip - I've started making lists; and I’ve looked at the real estate market in the cities I've thought about living once I’m done "growing up". In the city I live now, I know where would be a good place to buy, what part of the city is growing, and in 10 yrs which condos will have doubled in price. And as for finding a husband (I just broke up with my boyfriend - not my decision - about 5 wks ago), I have read about 10 "dating & relationship" books from the library, and in a few months feel confident to start dating again....so really all that leaves is me getting educated in this fascinating and sometimes 'shady' world of vacation clubs and time shares.

Obviously everything could change in a heartbeat, and I know that you can’t plan everything. I know that I could end up living in Abu Dhabi maybe because I meet someone on my tours in Europe who works in Abu Dhabi. Who knows right? But there’s nothing wrong with making a few plans or being prepared, as long as you don’t wig out if they change.

 

[rinkwide]

...Buy into a Vacation Club...or... Get a Husband...

Since a DVC membership will last twice as long as the average marriage I'd say your choice is clear.