MarkF0wle
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2011
- Messages
- 533
Hello all.
My family & I travel over to Disney once a year at the moment, and atleast every other year since 1991. Stayed on Disney property this past May & really see the benefits to staying on-site as opposed to off-site. Last year we did things the expensive way & booked 3 different rooms to accommodate the size of the family & the fact everybody wants there own space when sleeping. Next year we're staying in a 2BR villa at OKW. So we're going to see whether that works out to being enough space for us. We're used to staying in 3BR apartments off-site & not willing to cough up the $$ for a grand villa.
So; we're at a stage of saying that either the 2BR works for us or we go back to staying off-site. As the only places that do 2BRS at Disney are the DVC places that questions comes up as to whether we buy into DVC. Over the years we've spent enough money to buy our ideal contract about 3 or 4 times over.
My question is about value. Next year we're spending about £8K on our holiday with FD. Firstly, I assume DVC booking don't qualify for FD offers? Or am I wrong?
Of that £8K, only about half (£4.5K) is being spent on the room. £2.5K on flights & £1K for Disney tickets. Obviously buying into DVC won't save me any money on the flights. But what about tickets? I know that there are offers for special priced APs. Would 4 x 14 day tickets to Disney (APs or otherwise) cost less than the £1K I am paying now? We would only go once a year & probably same time each year.
So what I am looking at is that instead of costing £8K a year to holiday there; we would be spending £2.5K + ticket costs + dues. Which brings me to another question. What are the rough costs on dues? We would most likely buy into Wilderness Lodge, our collective favourite resort, with a large contract. Around 650 points which is 2 weeks in a 2BR there. I saw the example on the DVC page was about $750 a year for 160 points at OKW. If I just work that through we're talking $2.5K a year for 640 points. I know that isn't exact, but ballpark?
So I am looking at top end estimates at £2.5K+£1K+£1.5K=£5K every year to visit there on holiday. So ignoring food we're looking at saving about £3K a year. The contract I would look for on resale is about £25K+costs. But we would probably buy direct so we could enjoy the benefits of flexibilty. So maybe budget for £30K+costs.
So we're looking at a break even point of around 10-11 visits before we're quids in. So, my last & final question is am I missing anything obvious? I am sure I would have seen all the benefits offered; but I know costs do get hidden a little more.
A few things of note, I AM ignoring the fact that Wilderness Lodge is better lodgings than OKW, I am aware 2 weeks at Wilderness Lodge would cost more than £8K. We would also be paying in full upfront so wouldn't be needing finance so I have not factored in any interest rates for that fact.
I hope you were taking notes & any insight everybody has is greatly appreciated. I am trying to get my ducks in a row as we would probably buy into DVC when we are there next year if we are able to make financial sense out of it.
Thanks all in advance.
Mark
My family & I travel over to Disney once a year at the moment, and atleast every other year since 1991. Stayed on Disney property this past May & really see the benefits to staying on-site as opposed to off-site. Last year we did things the expensive way & booked 3 different rooms to accommodate the size of the family & the fact everybody wants there own space when sleeping. Next year we're staying in a 2BR villa at OKW. So we're going to see whether that works out to being enough space for us. We're used to staying in 3BR apartments off-site & not willing to cough up the $$ for a grand villa.
So; we're at a stage of saying that either the 2BR works for us or we go back to staying off-site. As the only places that do 2BRS at Disney are the DVC places that questions comes up as to whether we buy into DVC. Over the years we've spent enough money to buy our ideal contract about 3 or 4 times over.
My question is about value. Next year we're spending about £8K on our holiday with FD. Firstly, I assume DVC booking don't qualify for FD offers? Or am I wrong?
Of that £8K, only about half (£4.5K) is being spent on the room. £2.5K on flights & £1K for Disney tickets. Obviously buying into DVC won't save me any money on the flights. But what about tickets? I know that there are offers for special priced APs. Would 4 x 14 day tickets to Disney (APs or otherwise) cost less than the £1K I am paying now? We would only go once a year & probably same time each year.
So what I am looking at is that instead of costing £8K a year to holiday there; we would be spending £2.5K + ticket costs + dues. Which brings me to another question. What are the rough costs on dues? We would most likely buy into Wilderness Lodge, our collective favourite resort, with a large contract. Around 650 points which is 2 weeks in a 2BR there. I saw the example on the DVC page was about $750 a year for 160 points at OKW. If I just work that through we're talking $2.5K a year for 640 points. I know that isn't exact, but ballpark?
So I am looking at top end estimates at £2.5K+£1K+£1.5K=£5K every year to visit there on holiday. So ignoring food we're looking at saving about £3K a year. The contract I would look for on resale is about £25K+costs. But we would probably buy direct so we could enjoy the benefits of flexibilty. So maybe budget for £30K+costs.
So we're looking at a break even point of around 10-11 visits before we're quids in. So, my last & final question is am I missing anything obvious? I am sure I would have seen all the benefits offered; but I know costs do get hidden a little more.
A few things of note, I AM ignoring the fact that Wilderness Lodge is better lodgings than OKW, I am aware 2 weeks at Wilderness Lodge would cost more than £8K. We would also be paying in full upfront so wouldn't be needing finance so I have not factored in any interest rates for that fact.
I hope you were taking notes & any insight everybody has is greatly appreciated. I am trying to get my ducks in a row as we would probably buy into DVC when we are there next year if we are able to make financial sense out of it.
Thanks all in advance.
Mark