Perspective Buyer--Some ???'s Please!

[BraveMom3]

I'm seriously considering buying into the DVC. This past May/June trip was my 5th since having children(now ages 9, 5, and 4). We stayed 14 nights, 5 at WL, 4 at BC, and 5 at CS. We usually stay from 10-14 nights and have gone now 5 years in a row. The accomodation expenses are really getting out of sight. Our favorite resort so far is WL(3 visits). Here are my questions:

1. Although the value of points purchased doesn't change, does the # of points "charged" per night change from year to year?

2. We are a family of 5, although during our normal 2 week stay my husband joins us for maybe 3 nights. What are the options for accomodations for 4/sometimes 5? Kinda hate to stay in one kind for 3 nights for him, then move to smaller!

3. Really want to buy in at VWL, but are not quite prepared. How fast do they "sell out" usually?

4. How much/how often does the maintenance fee increase?

5. How complicated is the purchase process?

Any other "newbie" information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[Lisa F]

First of all, it sounds like you're a great candidate for DVC!

1. Although the value of points purchased doesn't change, does the # of points "charged" per night change from year to year?

In general, no, they don't change... however, they CAN, with some very important limits. There are a certain number of total points for all of the units in a resort for the entire year. Disney must maintain that total, so they can move things around (one example is if kids start going to school year round, that might change what the "value" seasons are vs. the current schedule now)... but if they raise the points in one area, they have to reduce them in another area. They can't suddenly decide that a week in a 2 bedroom will now cost 540 points when it used to cost 270 points unless they drastically reduce the cost of a 2 bedroom in another season to make up those extra 270 points.

2. We are a family of 5, although during our normal 2 week stay my husband joins us for maybe 3 nights. What are the options for accomodations for 4/sometimes 5? Kinda hate to stay in one kind for 3 nights for him, then move to smaller!

Unfortunately both the studio and 1 bedrooms accomodate up to 4 people while the 2 bedroom rooms accomodate up to 8 (it's basically a 1br and a studio combined). You could possibly get a 2 bedroom lockoff for when your husband is there and then just retain either the studio or the 1br portion of that when he leaves (we've done this before) but you need to be careful to book it this way when you book.

3. Really want to buy in at VWL, but are not quite prepared. How fast do they "sell out" usually?

DVC has been REALLY hot lately. I don't remember what month estimates were saying VWL would be sold out but i think at least by the end of the year, if not sooner.

4. How much/how often does the maintenance fee increase?

There have been posts before that list what the maintenance fees have been since dvc opened. You might want to search for them. I think the general rule of thumb is that they tend to go up about 3%/year, with a cap of 15%/year per florida law. That sounds pretty scary, but dues have actually gone DOWN the last few years.

5. How complicated is the purchase process?

If you buy through disney, completely painless. You sign some papers (hopefully you will read them first!) and a few weeks later you close. If you want to finance, they will offer financing. Disney also pays closing costs.

If you love the WL, I really suggest you try to get in before they sell out. There are always resales to consider, but considering how much VWL cost when it opened ($72/point) and the fact that it has been open for less than a year, coupled with commission that has to be paid to the timeshare broker that sells the resale, I doubt you will do too much better than Disney on a resale for VWL for a while.

We just added on 50 points at the VWL because we fell in love. I've always loved the lobby of the lodge, but was extremely disappointed with the rooms there (thought they were small and not very impressive). We decided to give a studio a try in the villas and they seem MUCH larger than the rooms in the Lodge... the 1 br would just blow you away. By the way, studios in the lodge have 1 queen bed and 1 full size pull out sofa (i'm not sure what size unit you're considering but if you're going to put 4 in a studio it's something to consider).

Lisa

 

[BraveMom3]

Thanks Lisa F for the great reply. Love your solution for the group of 4/5 situation. I didn't realize when I had 3 children it was going to complicate things so much!! I'm going to have to get off the fence, and make a decision soon, I guess. Thanks again!

 

[PamOKW]

To give you a rough idea on dues...

Since 1993, OKW dues have gone from $2.57 per point to $3.13. Most of the increases took place between 1993 & 1996. However, since 1998 dues have gone down every so slightly every year from $3.17 to $3.13 in 2001.