Please help need info. looking to buy a DVC deed

[peterpan101]

ok my wife and i are looking at DVC and have some questions.

1. how hard is it to trade and go somewhere else in the world? ie. not disney.
2. what do you lose or gain by trading?
3. can you just pick a place and then trade or do you have to chose from whats avalible to you to trade?
4. can you please tell me any other perks not listed you have encountered by being a DVC member?
5. is it worth it?<----thats the big one!
6. dose The Timeshare Store have a good reputation?
7. what problems if any have you run in to in the past?

my wife and i are not rich by any means. i am in the army currently in Iraq and she is a stay at home mom. we are looking to our vacation future and found the DVC. we are just trying to get the best bang for our buck. we thank you for any feed back you might have.

 

[CheshireCat]

I am the wife....I have some questions also.

In investing in DVC, when would you say we would actually start saving money? For example: Say we went with a contract for 26,000 with BWV's being our home resort. And say we finance it for 7 to 10 yrs. at the almost 10% rate? I understand that we will get points each year just for being a member, right? And am I understanding that you can purchase additional points...how does that work....am I purchasing the additional point from the TimeShare store or from other members? Is the purpose of purchasing additional points so that you can get better accomodations? Would we actually need to purchase additional points if we didn't want to? And what if we don't have enough points to cover our stay.....do we pay cash/credit card for the amount leftover that is owed? I know it's a lot of questions we have, but knowing is the key to success. And we really do appreciate the help because this is a large investment we are looking into. We have 3 children & think it might be worth it for us to go this route, but we need to be really sure before signing on the dotted line. Thanks!!!

 

[ammo]

In investing in DVC, when would you say we would actually start saving money?

Lots of good questions that many here can answer, so I will take a shot at just this one. All questions regarding "is DVC worth it" depend upon a number of factors -- how often you travel to WDW, how far in advance you can plan your trips, etc. Assuming that your travel habits line up with what DVC offers, we recently computed that our membership will pass the break-even point during our 7th year. This was a very simple analysis that assumes the current relationship between Disney rack rates for similar accommodations and current DVC point prices and MFs.

We paid cash, which lowers the break-even point. And if rack rates grow at a faster (slower) rate than MFs, the payback occurs sooner (later). Also, the break-even point changes based on the accommodations you require. We also have 3 children, so we priced 2-BRs at VWL, which may not be the most cost-efficient rooms in the program. Other room types or other resorts may pay back your investment sooner or later.

If you want harder numbers, you might want to poke around the Operations board and track down some threads that include the DIS number crunchers (Dean, et al.). I did not include a number of cost-saving DVC benefits that could also affect your decision, such as AP discounts. For one thing, they are not guaranteed. For another, I just wanted a quick approximation based only on the cost of our room. Good luck with your decision -- we are thrilled with DVC and particularly with VWL.

 

[CheshireCat]

Thanks Ammo....appreciate it.

 

[Lynne M]

When we talk about 'breaking even' and saving money, it's important to think about what you're comparing DVC's cost to.

If you compare it to the cost of staying in a deluxe resort, or to paying cash for DVC villas, you will almost certainly save money. It seems like every DVC member calculates the value of their points differently , but by my calculation, my per-night cost for a DVC studio is less than a room at a moderate. If you compare the cost to paying cash for a DVC studio, I broke even in 5 years.

Now, if you compare the cost to a room at a value resort, DVC will very probably be more expensive. It's very hard to see you saving any money, and the break-even point would be pretty far in the future.

In short, DVC really isn't about saving money. You can, under the right circumstances, but it's really all about getting the villa-style accommodations.

 

[crisi]

DVC is a good value for people who almost always use their points at WDW. It is a very expensive timeshare (both in buy in costs and dues) for trading. There are far better values if you aren't WDW nuts like most people here.

If you go to WDW every other year, buying DVC to cover that vacation (and buying another timeshare or paying cash out of pocket for the off years) can be a good value. And if you occationally trade - hey, they are your points, do what you want. But if you are asking up front about trading, it probably isn't your best deal.

 

[Dean]

DVC gives it's best value for studios used Sun-Fri for people that would go to WDW and stay on property anyway in moderates or above. Anything else decreases the value in terms of $$$. Then the question becomes where to draw the line. If DVC is not a clear positive for you, it's not worth it. Don't buy to trade, to many variables and too little value and too few guarantees to buy with that in mind. Break even depends on your usage and what you'd pay if you didn't own DVC. Comparing to DVC rack rates is not an reasonable way to compare unless you'd pay cash for that type of options (or a suite) routinely if you didn't own DVC. We can't really compare break even for those of us who bought years ago. For one buying now, I'd guess the average is more in the 12-15 years at best for all but the most aggressive or members, for some, they will NEVER break even in terms of $$$.

 

[blossomz]

Hi..I am no expert, but my sister and I have been members for about 6 years now and have never regretted it! In fact, we recently added on. The one thing we did regret was not buying more points in our initial investment because the price just keeps going up! The other thing we've had a problem with...is going more often!! With the huge discount on AP and knowing we have accommodations...we tend to add an extra trip! It's great knowing we have vacations to count on. Good luck with your decision!

 

[mikeandkarla]

Be advised that BWV, BCV, VB, HH, VWL, OKW all expire on Jan. 31, 2042. SSR expires Jan. 31 2042. AKV expires on Jan. 31, 2057. That being said there are really two ways to go about buying into DVC. First option is to buy where you want to stay the most. You will have an 11 month booking window at your home resort. 7 months at every other resort. Second is to buy for the best value, smallest cost per point plus maintenance fees plus expiration year of contract. I would recommend a lot of research after you decide to buy DVC. It can get very consuming. Good luck

 

[caven553]

My wife and I have traded quite a bit - and while it might not be the best value it is still using vacations that we have already purchased and thus is affordable.

1. how hard is it to trade and go somewhere else in the world? ie. not disney.
We have traded 4 different times and had no problems. Key is flexibility. I always have had 4 location possibilities and 2-4 weeks that we were able to travel but every time have gotten my first choice in both location and time when I called (usually 6-8 months in advance for trades for us)

2. what do you lose or gain by trading?
Gain - flexibility and pre-paid vacation without the hassle of renting my points and paying for a hotel room in the location.
Lose - Ends up being a little more expensive than I might otherwise be able to book it for - but again if not for DVC we wouldn't be taking the trip in the first place.

3. can you just pick a place and then trade or do you have to chose from whats avalible to you to trade?
You can either choose what is available (and there has always been something in my targeted area) or if you have someplace specific in mind put in a trade request. If you want a specific week have multiple locations - a specific location have multiple weeks and you should be fine. I might have just gotten lucky, but hopefully my experience is the norm


4. can you please tell me any other perks not listed you have encountered by being a DVC member?
I like being "forced" to take my vacations or lose the points among other things.


5. is it worth it?<----thats the big one!
To my family YES. As others have said it all depends on how you vacation.

 

[littlestar]

We own just enough DVC points for our Disney trips and then we own 2 every other year lock-off timeshares. One is with Marriott. It's the perfect combination for us. If you want to learn more, go visit the tugbbs.com boards. You can study all types of vacation ownership/timeshares over there. Starwood, Marriott, Fairfield, etc - even DVC. I spent at least six months reading the tug boards before I bought our Marriott. And I probably read the Dis boards for about 4 months before we bought our DVC points.

We really like the combination of owning our Marriott week and our DVC points. It's a great combination. With our Marriott ownership, we were able to join II (Interval International - exchange company). And we've been able to take advantage of some great cash Getaway weeks through our Interval membership. I've booked Getaway weeks through II for family and friends that only cost $300 to $400 for a week for 1 and 2 bedroom Marriotts in some wonderful locations.

Good luck and may God Bless you and your family.

 

[CheshireCat]

Thanks for the help everyone.

One more question......if we wanted to go to other Disneys such as Disneyland, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong or the cruises.......is this as easy to do as DisneyWorld where your home resort is? Or is there more involvement in making that happen?

Can I also ask how many people do the deeds cover.....Like if I have a family of 5....me, hubby & 3 children....will it cover all of us? Could it cover anyone else in my family or NO?

 

[crisi]

The other Disneys are available - they don't tend to be as good a "value" for your points. (Its been more effective for us to cruise paying cash than to use our points for our two cruise). But people do it all the time.

A family of five will need to plan on booking a two bedroom (this gets into the dangerous occupancy debate) except some one bedrooms at VAK will sleep five and DVC is CURRENTLY allowing five in a one bedroom at the other resorts (but provides no bedding - people bring airmattresses). The deed will be in whomever's name you put it in. I'd discourage buying one with your family - leads to "issues" (I was going to use those points!), however you can let any of your family (or complete strangers) use (or rent - provided you don't cross over into commercial renting - lets not go there either) your points. Just put their name on the reservation.

 

[CheshireCat]

One question no one has answered for me & I asked it on another post.....ok, if we didn't have enough points to cover a DVC hotel of our choice for our vacation, are we able to use our points that we have & then cover the rest with credit card or cash? Or do we have to purchase more points from somewhere? Or do we have to get points from our following years points?

Can I also ask what "add on's" are.....may be a "newbie" question, but what are the choices for 'add-on's'?

Thanks!!!~

 

[crisi]

Sometimes you can add cash nights - at a discount at DVC resorts.

You can rent points from another member and have them transferred into your account.

You can borrow from your next use year (one year only - and its a final transaction).

Our favorite option is to spend the coming in weekend at one of the other resorts paying cash (usually with the AAA discount). We get to visit resorts we wouldn't otherwise stay at.

 

[owtrbnks]

Our only regret is not buying into DVC many years ago. We purchased our 1st contract at SSR from DVC. The 2nd at HHI from Jerry at the TSS. We feel that we received better service and more communication from the TSS and would highly recommed them without reservation. Tom and his staff are great! I suggest you look further into the types of DVC accomodations and review point charts to better understand how many points you need to buy. There are ALOT of great DVC members posting all kinds of information here, so read, read, read.
In the end it is a personal decision to join DVC - but we just can't beat that "Welcome Home!" and having a DISmas Tree each year in the window of our "2nd Home."
Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Dean]

One question no one has answered for me & I asked it on another post.....ok, if we didn't have enough points to cover a DVC hotel of our choice for our vacation, are we able to use our points that we have & then cover the rest with credit card or cash? Or do we have to purchase more points from somewhere? Or do we have to get points from our following years points?

Can I also ask what "add on's" are.....may be a "newbie" question, but what are the choices for 'add-on's'?

Thanks!!!~

You cannot just rent point or pay the different through DVC. Say you have 10 points and need 20, you would have to get the other nights independently and try to link the reservations. DVC sometimes has the nights for rent which you could then link to your points reservations.

 

[caven553]

We have never had a problem getting nights for cash. We typically run into a problem where 6 of the 8 nights we want are available for points - but the other 2 are available for cash so we just do the 6 nights on points and the 2 nights on cash and then waitlist those 2 nights for points. DVC links it all together just fine. The one thing you can't do is pay for part of a single night with points and part with cash - it is a whole day transaction.

 

[Canada 1850]

ok my wife and i are looking at DVC and have some questions.

1. how hard is it to trade and go somewhere else in the world? ie. not disney.
2. what do you lose or gain by trading?
3. can you just pick a place and then trade or do you have to chose from whats avalible to you to trade?
4. can you please tell me any other perks not listed you have encountered by being a DVC member?
5. is it worth it?<----thats the big one!
6. dose The Timeshare Store have a good reputation?
7. what problems if any have you run in to in the past?

my wife and i are not rich by any means. i am in the army currently in Iraq and she is a stay at home mom. we are looking to our vacation future and found the DVC. we are just trying to get the best bang for our buck. we thank you for any feed back you might have.

I'll try to address question #5.

I teach calculus for a living, so I'm one of those people (yes people, not geeks) who just loves analyzing numbers, applying formulas and creating graphs. Although we loved the DVC presentation, which we first saw last month, we could not become members unless the numbers made sense to us. Here's what we found.

It absolutely does depend on your travel habits whether or not this makes sense, but even for us, who have been visiting annually (typically for 10 days and staying at value resorts), DVC makes sense financially. Taking into consideration our purchase price (including finance costs) and annual dues, I set out to find the point in the future when these are balanced by the cost of paying for rooms annually. Yes DVC is a large outlay up front, but then the annual dues are less than even the cost of a value resort. For our particular situation it would take 7 stays at a deluxe to 'break even' or 23 at a value resort. In reality, we hadn't always planned to stay at a value resort annually. We had hoped to do some vacationing at moderates and deluxe resorts too. As a result, it would probably have taken us a dozen vacations or so to reach the point where the 12 year total of our annual 'pay as you go' trips would equal the total cost of DVC purchase and annual dues for 12 years. It's what happens after the 'break even point' that convinced us to purchase.

If both room rates and DVC dues increase at the same annual rate (I estimated 4% based on historical data), the absolute (in dollars) cost of rooms increases more quickly than the cost of DVC dues. The compound 4% rate of increase will lead to an absolute dollar increase that is more on the rooms (which start higher) than the DVC dues. If you're a math person, both functions are exponential, but the rooms start (after the 'break even' point) with a higher 'y' intercept. Bottom line for us, in 12 years I'll be able to stay at a AKL Villas Studio (as an example) for about half the cost (54%) of staying at a Value resort! Each year after that, the ratio is the same, but the price is changing for both situations so the actual dollar 'gap' is greater each year. This is not a small discount...12 years from now, it will cost $879 LESS for us to stay 10 nights at AKL Villas than 10 nights at POP! In other words, our annual dues will be 54% of the cost of a value resort. If I extrapolate to 2057, when DVC deed is up at AKL Villas, it will be $3903 less to stay at AKL Villas, but I'll be really friggin' old. Oh well, my daughter can enjoy it!

The DVC is not for everyone, but it's great for us (and 110,000 other families thus far).

 

[CheshireCat]

So appreciative of the advice & help. Thanks!!!~