Please explain in & outs of DVC

[princessh]

My husband and I had seen the guys selling the DVC at the parks, but never took the time to look into it. Can someone out there please explain the DVC. Costs, where you can stay, etc? I told my travel agent that we love wdw so much we were going to look into the DVC. She said it was a waste of money. Please fill me in. Thanks in advance!

 

[wtpclc]

The cost is hard to describe until you are familiar with the way the system works. There is an FAQ thread near the top of this board that should help you a lot.

I would also order the video from DVC. They are no pressure sales, so don't worry about getting on their list.

As to where you can stay, DVC has villas at Hilton Head adn Vero Beach and on-sires at Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Wilderness Lodge.

You can also use points to stay at Polynesion, Contemporary, Grand FLoridian and Animal Kingdom. I think the mod's too. This is not as good of a deal, but still an option.

You can also trade out to DCL and Disney Land using points. Again, not as good of a deal. Finally, there are places all over the world that you can trade out too.

Popular opinion here, though, is your best bet is to plan on using your points most of the time at DVC villas.

Go ahead and read the FAQ and let us know when you have more questions. It's a lot to digest, but you'll find these boards have a plethera of good info.

FYI - If you go at least once a year (or maybe every other year) and stay at delux, DVC is usually a very good deal. For mods, it's not as much of a bargain, but you'll be in better than delux accomodations (all villas have at least a kitchenette and access to free washer/dryer), 1BRs and up have a full kitchen and w/d in villa).

 

[jarestel]

My husband and I had seen the guys selling the DVC at the parks, but never took the time to look into it. Can someone out there please explain the DVC. Costs, where you can stay, etc? I told my travel agent that we love wdw so much we were going to look into the DVC. She said it was a waste of money. Please fill me in. Thanks in advance!

Did you ask your TA if she had ever stayed in a DVC resort? I suspect she's more concerned with losing booking $$$ than giving you solid advice. ( TA's are not needed to book DVC accomodations once you are a member ) A DVC villa is not a hotel room, and that's what makes them so special. Until you stay in a 1 or 2 bedroom villa, it's hard to understand this point, but once you do, it's incredibly difficult to settle for a "room" again. If you like to travel to WDW frequently, I would suggest you take the DVC tour next time you are there and see for yourself. Good luck!

 

[crisi]

It can be a waste of money, if you don't use it.

And it can be a money pit, if it changes how you vacation. i.e. more vacations, or you currently stay at Pop Century or offsite, or you go from one room to a two bedroom.

The rule of thumb is "if you currently stay in Deluxe accomodations, and don't tend to do long weekends, and continue to do what you have, DVC will save you money."

 

[manning]

It can be a waste of money, if you don't use it.

And it can be a money pit, if it changes how you vacation. i.e. more vacations, or you currently stay at Pop Century or offsite, or you go from one room to a two bedroom.

The rule of thumb is "if you currently stay in Deluxe accomodations, and don't tend to do long weekends, and continue to do what you have, DVC will save you money."

If you do not have a loan it is claimed you will break even within 6-8 years. I figured that out for us. That did not include the savings on meals if eating in.

Perks come and go. How or do you figure savings on those??

Rule of thumbs can and do change.

 

[Dean]

She probably meant it was a waste of the TA money if you usually book through them. Regardless, it shows ignorance on the TA's part. That's not to say DVC is always a good deal, it isn't. But it is a great deal for some people and certain situations.

 

[Disney Doll]

Let's see...where would I start??? Let me tell you the story of how DH & I decided to buy into the DVC.

We were in WDW in October 1991 for our honeymoon. They were buiilding OKW, which @ the time was called the Disney Vacation Club. I said that we should buy into it. DH, ever the sensible realtor, said we should buy a house first. Wasn't he Mr. Practical???

Fast forward 6 years. OK...we got the house. We are at WDW, staying at the WL. I took a littl elong to get ready to go out that afternoon, so DH decided he was going to go to the lobby, look around, maybe go into the store. About 15-20 mminutes later, I find DH in the lobby talking to the DVC kiosk person, and POOF! We are booked for a tour the next day.

We did the tour. We spoke to our guide Mark Webb, who did a completely soft (read NO) sell. There was absolutely not a bit of pressure. He answered all our questions, provided as much info as we requested...a super guide. Of course, I was prepared to hand them the AMEX card that day, but again, Mr.Practical wanted to check it all out.

We got home. He looked at it. He looked at it again. He looked at it from every angle there was to look at it from. And I am not kidding when I say he is a realtor...he is, so he looked at it from all those angles too. Had the mrotgage guy in his office look at it. Between all this looking, no one could find a bad thing about it.

Some of the things DH did determine:
1. If you are going to go to WDW at least every other year, it could be a wise purchase.
2. If you like the idea of staying in a more upcale resort when you are at WDW, it could be a wise purchase.
3. If you have the financial wherewithal to purchase the points (whether for cash or with a loan) and pay the dues, it could be a wise purchase.
4. If you like the thought of having the ability to choose a different size unit, based upon your needs for that trip, it could be a wise purchase

DH & I determined that we loved WDW. We knew we'd want to go there at least once a year, and more often if possible. We had the financial ability to pay the monthly loan amount (we took the loan out through Disney). We liked to stay in a resort at least the level of a moderate, and actually preferred a deluxe. With the DVC, you get a deluxe plus, because even the smallest unit...the studio...has a kitchenette. The 1, 2 & 3BR units have full kitchens and full laundry facilities in the unit. We liked the htought that once our loan was paid off, the only cost would be the dues, and that the amount we would be paying for dues would still be a lot less than what it would cost us to travel to WDW once or twice a year and stay in at least a moderate.

So we bought 200 points with OKW as our home resort. Those 200 points have served us well. With some creative resort-hopping(no staying in a DVC resort on the weekends) etc., we have been able to extend those 200 points to allow us and our friends and family some wonderful vacations. About 3 years ago, we bought a second 230 point contract through the resale market (Pat Spell at The Timeshare Store), again with OKW as our home resort. These points have allowed us to vacation as often as we want in WDW, and stay in some beautiful resorts while there.

The best use of points is in a WDW DVC resort. Trading out to go elsewhere costs more points, and therefore you don't get as much "bang" for your buck.
Using points to stay in a resort in WDW that is not a DVC resort (ie-the Polynesian) uses up a lot of points.

Basivcally, the DVC has allowed us to pay 2000 prices for vacations we will be taking in 2020. It is one of the best things we have ever done. We have not, no even for a moment, regretted our purchase.

 

[JodyTG]

I told my travel agent that we love wdw so much we were going to look into the DVC. She said it was a waste of money. Please fill me in. Thanks in advance!

Of course it's "a waste of money"...for her. If you guys buy into DVC, just think of all the commission checks she'll miss out on.

My suggestion is the same as the others. Call a guide and get the information. Tell them that you want the "real" package, not jus the preliminary one. It has the most/best information. Like everyone has said, it's completely no pressure from the guides. They know that the product basically sells itself. We just need them to do the paperwork for us.

My DH and I are closing on our 160 points in August. I figured...looking at staying in a value resort for the next 10 years, the DVC purchase will have paid for itself. That's what sold my DH on the deal.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We did the tour. We spoke to our guide Mark Webb, who did a completely soft (read NO) sell. There was absolutely not a bit of pressure. He answered all our questions, provided as much info as we requested...a super guide.

Disney Doll, we just bought DVC at Saratoga Springs this weekend from Mark Webb! We are right, there was no hard sell at all. We had done our homework ahead of time, watching the video, looking into our finances, etc. But we didn't decide to do this until our very last day when we were in the Marketplace and saw Saratoga Springs across the lake. Took my DH, who is in an ECV, to the place to check for handicapped issues. My DH loved the idea of the apartments. Everything checked out (as I knew it would) and we signed on the dotted line! I can't to start using my points. We were already planning our first trip tonight.