Please, sell me on DVC

[katandmouse]

Thank you for starting this thread! This is the same kind of thinking and quantitative analysis I've been performing and results I am coming up with. I cannot get the numbers to add up to make this worth the money I'd be putting in over the course of the contract - and I'm looking to pay cash upfront for points, not finance. But talking to DVC members I'm friends with, or even listening to Pete's new DIS DVC podcast, I feel like there's a Kool Aid party I didn't get invited to.

I can say confidently that buying from Disney direct appears to be a horrible investment at the current rate of $188/point and the restrictions they are introducing to staying at that resort, even if buying to stay at 1/2 bedroom villas. And reselling DVC bought from Disney does not include "membership," along with the many other benefits Disney has been slowly removing from resold contracts over the years. Its as if they contractually obligate you to accept that they will dilute the value of your real estate investment whenever and however they so choose. The resale market makes DVC ownership more palatable as a buyer, but I still see issues with tying my vacation money up in a time share with "associated fees," as you mentioned.

I have priced out current seasonal room-only packages for times my family and I would typically visit WDW, and even AP holder room special rates, and found the absolute best deal to save money on your vacation to Disney World is to be an Annual Passholder, take advantage of AP discounted room rates, and get a Tables in Wonderland card to save on dining. (You apparently cannot get TiW with DVC unless you buy direct through Disney at the current $188/point rate.) That way, I also get Memory Maker and daily room cleaning included if I stay in a normal room. The only difference I can think of is that you must be flexible with which resort you are willing to stay at, because the rates vary from year to year - which I presume has something to do with available inventory.

Please, someone change my mind, because I've been going crazy over this for at least four months. We LOVE Disney and staying at Disney resorts! Saving money over time and having access to deluxe accommodations on our annual visits would be fantastic, if it is something we can quantitatively justify.

When we first started looking at DVC, I was looking with my sister, who is an AP holder. She goes to WDW multiple times a year, and I figured DVC would make the most sense for her. But when we ran the numbers, DVC never pays off for her (or rather, it would be so many years in the future, not worth it). She would only want to stay in studios, and currently she’s happy to stay anywhere the AP discount is offered, including Values and Moderates (she also plans trips more last minute). On the other hand, my family of 5 prefers the space of 1 and 2 br, a kitchen to cook most meals, walking distance to the parks... even though we only go every other year or so, DVC makes more sense for us. So I’d say the value of DVC depends on your vacation style, room preferences, etc.

I will say that all the recent rule changes and restrictions, as well as price hikes, make DVC a bigger gamble today than it was even 6 months ago. Maybe wait a year and see if it still appeals to you then. DVC will still be here. It may/will look different, but by then you’ll have a better idea if it’s a good different for you.

 

[lovin'fl]

This is why we began considering dvc and likely why I will put in another offer. If Riviera didn't have the restrictions and the dues were in line with the others we would strongly consider direct there. I like the max time left and also want availability at all resorts. Dang it Disney. But studios aren't what we like - it's 2BR. My thought is 200 points to start.

We started with 200 (at OKW, bought in 2006) so that we could do 1/2BR villas as we had 3 kiddos (now 3 young adults). We wanted condo type accommodations or we would have just done 2-3 WDW hotel room trips and been done (and 1st was in 2005, prior to buying DVC so maybe one or 2 more times in these past 13 years). In 2003 we stayed off site and we know that doesn't fly for us. We'd never go if we had to stay off site (likely would visit US instead).

Now with 3 grown kids, we still go and still like 1/2BR villas. For about 18 months we tried to do studios (as we now are a party of 2-4 most times as one or more of the kids can't go) and it also doesn't fly for us (studio dwelling). DH has to work every now and again and needs a separate space to have quiet. And the kids keep late hours while we like to close the master bedroom door and go to sleep at 10-11pm. BONUS...1/2BR villas are easier to book. Anyway, 200 points is a good start for 1/2BR villa trips. We have 650 but are selling our 200 OKW right now as we just aren't wanting to keep up the 3 trips a year thing we've been doing. So 200-250 is good for a 1 trip a year plan.

 

[Katie L]

We started with 200 (at OKW, bought in 2006) so that we could do 1/2BR villas as we had 3 kiddos (now 3 young adults). We wanted condo type accommodations or we would have just done 2-3 WDW hotel room trips and been done (and 1st was in 2005, prior to buying DVC so maybe one or 2 more times in these past 13 years). In 2003 we stayed off site and we know that doesn't fly for us. We'd never go if we had to stay off site (likely would visit US instead).

Now with 3 grown kids, we still go and still like 1/2BR villas. For about 18 months we tried to do studios (as we now are a party of 2-4 most times as one or more of the kids can't go) and it also doesn't fly for us (studio dwelling). DH has to work every now and again and needs a separate space to have quiet. And the kids keep late hours while we like to close the master bedroom door and go to sleep at 10-11pm. BONUS...1/2BR villas are easier to book. Anyway, 200 points is a good start for 1/2BR villa trips. We have 650 but are selling our 200 OKW right now as we just aren't wanting to keep up the 3 trips a year thing we've been doing. So 200-250 is good for a 1 trip a year plan.

You are saying 1 week long trip per year, right? The point charts are crazy hard to figure it out - especially as we aren't tied to a specific season for now. The biggest thing I've gathered is we aren't going to go Christmas week or Easter week. Lol

 

[lovin'fl]

You are saying 1 week long trip per year, right? The point charts are crazy hard to figure it out - especially as we aren't tied to a specific season for now. The biggest thing I've gathered is we aren't going to go Christmas week or Easter week. Lol

Just about...maybe 1 weekend day less. I use Davids DVc calculator to see what a trip would cost. I just looked at May and a 1BR for 6 nights is about what you'd book for 200 (215 really).

 

[AdamsMum]

Uh, you need to check your math. $340 per night at BoardWalk cash rack rate? AFTER taxes?? Where? lol

The cheapest cash rack rate for the 'worst' room during the cheapest season is $485 per night after taxes. At BWV thats $496 per night cheapest possible cash room.

2 bedroom villa during food and wine? That jumps to minimum $1,300 per night.

Obviously discounts happen but they generally can't be counted on and they generally only happen if they anticipate inability to fill rooms at rack rate.

This is why no one really ever argues cash rate vs DVC because it's really not an argument. DVC will ALWAYS come ahead of cash rack rates. The argument is to either rent DVC or own DVC.

Actually the OP was quoting the summer discount that is (was) available for July. I checked on Disney.com and it came up at $344 per night for either a studio or a BWI room. That's not including tax mind you. That's an awesome discount. Wonder if the OP booked it.

 

[stewart715]

Actually the OP was quoting the summer discount that is (was) available for July. I checked on Disney.com and it came up at $344 per night for either a studio or a BWI room. That's not including tax mind you. That's an awesome discount. Wonder if the OP booked it.

Interesting, yeah that is an awesome price, but still a fair amount higher than OP's price used to compare DVC to hotel prices. Also, while I may have been a bit overzealous, using this summer discount as a baseline for 20-50 years of discounts is a bit unfair to DVC.

Bottom line is, there is going to be times when DVC isn't saving you a ton of money (room time, time of travel, current promotions/discounts at hotel properties) and times where it will save you a ton of money (2 bedroom units during Food and Wine). That being said, the times when it isn't saving you a lot of money (OP's example) are in my experience few and far between and far from reliable in terms of regular travel to WDW.

 

[zavandor]

Interesting, yeah that is an awesome price, but still a fair amount higher than OP's price used to compare DVC to hotel prices. Also, while I may have been a bit overzealous, using this summer discount as a baseline for 20-50 years of discounts is a bit unfair to DVC.

Agreed. This is the summer immediately before the opening of the largest, most expensive and most anticipated land in WDW history. They're projecting low attendance and to keep hotel occupation high they've made great offers (even the dining plan). If everything goes according to plan (for Disney), discounts are going to be much worst in years to come.