Points for non DVC resorts?

[LordDamax]

I'm currently at Fort Wilderness and have an appt tomorrow with the DVC people. I've looked into the program before, but I'm now financially in a situation where I'd be able to afford the DVC program.

My problem, which may well keep me from ever joining - is that I will never have need of a suite. In fact, I rather love the "standard" hotels. None of the DVC properties (that I am familiar with) are as convenient as the hotels themselves. For instance - the Bay Lake Towers? It's a pain to get to the monorail, and Chef Mickeys etc... I'm not sure if the Wilderness Lodge Villas are part of DVC, but they are far off from the main building - not a simple walk to Roaring Forks.

I'm not looking for a kitchenette or a suite, I'm looking for a way to commit to disney vacations and save some money.

But nowhere can I see any point charts for the standard resorts. Only for the DVC resorts. Are they online anywhere?

What worries me is I did find, after extensive googling, a point chart for what appeared to be the Contemporary's standard rooms - and it looked like in the VALUE season it was 48 points per night? What? 3x what a DVC resort is?

Does anyone have a link to the charts? If that number is right, it's a massive waste of money for me. I dont WANT to stay in villas which are farther away from the restaurants and farther from transportation. And paying 3x as much for a standard room... well... I'll just book direct.

Help? Anyone?

 

[DenLo]

They changed the rules and now allow you do book at cash resorts with a DVC attached, but the point per night is very, very expensive. For most hotel rooms it would be cheaper to pay cash using Disney's discounts.

The Disney Collection
http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program-85142/points-charts-29677/non-dvc-destinations-9332

 

[Lynne M]

I'm currently at Fort Wilderness and have an appt tomorrow with the DVC people. I've looked into the program before, but I'm now financially in a situation where I'd be able to afford the DVC program.

My problem, which may well keep me from ever joining - is that I will never have need of a suite. In fact, I rather love the "standard" hotels. None of the DVC properties (that I am familiar with) are as convenient as the hotels themselves. For instance - the Bay Lake Towers? It's a pain to get to the monorail, and Chef Mickeys etc... I'm not sure if the Wilderness Lodge Villas are part of DVC, but they are far off from the main building - not a simple walk to Roaring Forks.

I'm not looking for a kitchenette or a suite, I'm looking for a way to commit to disney vacations and save some money.

But nowhere can I see any point charts for the standard resorts. Only for the DVC resorts. Are they online anywhere?

What worries me is I did find, after extensive googling, a point chart for what appeared to be the Contemporary's standard rooms - and it looked like in the VALUE season it was 48 points per night? What? 3x what a DVC resort is?

Does anyone have a link to the charts? If that number is right, it's a massive waste of money for me. I dont WANT to stay in villas which are farther away from the restaurants and farther from transportation. And paying 3x as much for a standard room... well... I'll just book direct.

Help? Anyone?

Yep, you have it right. DVC is a value for those who want to stay in the villas; that's the purpose of the program. Using your points regularly for non-DVC Disney resorts instead of DVC resorts is indeed a huge waste of money.

When you stay at a non-DVC resort, you're trading out of the DVC timeshare system. The point costs for non-DVC resorts are not in any way fixed, they're negotiated annually by the resorts and DVC. They generally go up every year, so that per-night cost you saw will continue to increase.

If you don't have any interest in staying in the DVC resorts, there's really no point in buying.

 

[supersnoop]

What worries me is I did find, after extensive googling, a point chart for what appeared to be the Contemporary's standard rooms - and it looked like in the VALUE season it was 48 points per night? What? 3x what a DVC resort is?

Yup, scary, huh? DVC points are only valuable for DVC accommodations. The sales people will try to convince you that having that option is worthwhile, but it's one of the reasons why the resale market is a better option for most people.

 

[LordDamax]

Yep, you have it right. DVC is a value for those who want to stay in the villas; that's the purpose of the program. Using your points regularly for non-DVC Disney resorts instead of DVC resorts is indeed a huge waste of money.

When you stay at a non-DVC resort, you're trading out of the DVC timeshare system. The point costs for non-DVC resorts are not in any way fixed, they're negotiated annually by the resorts and DVC. They generally go up every year, so that per-night cost you saw will continue to increase.

If you don't have any interest in staying in the DVC resorts, there's really no point in buying.

Thanks for the replies. That sucks. Of course the salesguy told me how easy it was and its not a problem, just happily left out the "costs 3x as much" part.

Just seems like VERY FEW of the DVC rooms are as convenient as the standard hotel rooms are. Saving money is great - just not at a huge cost of convenience. At least to me. I want to be close to the restaurants and transportation. Not off 100 yards away in another building.

Looks like I'll remain a cash customer. Wish Disney offered something like a membership plan for those of us who want to commit and have the money to do so, yet don't need suites and kitchenettes and want to stay in the main building and be close to transportation etc.

 

[Chuck S]

If you have no interest in DVC accommodations, then do not purchase DVC. If you're looking to save a little money on a hotel, and will visit Disney a couple time per year, I'd suggest buying an Annual Pass for the parks. AP holders can often get some decent discounts on non-DVC accommodations.

 

[paults]

I'm currently at Fort Wilderness and have an appt tomorrow with the DVC people. I've looked into the program before, but I'm now financially in a situation where I'd be able to afford the DVC program.

My problem, which may well keep me from ever joining - is that I will never have need of a suite. In fact, I rather love the "standard" hotels. None of the DVC properties (that I am familiar with) are as convenient as the hotels themselves. For instance - the Bay Lake Towers? It's a pain to get to the monorail, and Chef Mickeys etc... I'm not sure if the Wilderness Lodge Villas are part of DVC, but they are far off from the main building - not a simple walk to Roaring Forks.

I'm not looking for a kitchenette or a suite, I'm looking for a way to commit to disney vacations and save some money.

But nowhere can I see any point charts for the standard resorts. Only for the DVC resorts. Are they online anywhere?

What worries me is I did find, after extensive googling, a point chart for what appeared to be the Contemporary's standard rooms - and it looked like in the VALUE season it was 48 points per night? What? 3x what a DVC resort is?

Does anyone have a link to the charts? If that number is right, it's a massive waste of money for me. I dont WANT to stay in villas which are farther away from the restaurants and farther from transportation. And paying 3x as much for a standard room... well... I'll just book direct.

Help? Anyone?

after reading this I don't think DVC is for you. So standard rooms at values and moderates are closer to the food counts or are you just looking at BLT and WLV?

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks for the replies. That sucks. Of course the salesguy told me how easy it was and its not a problem, just happily left out the "costs 3x as much" part.

It's not a timeshare salesman's job to explain the system fully to you. His job is to present his product in the best light and sell you a contract.

Thankfully, you went further than many and did your own due diligence. Good job.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC is a timeshare program. Not a means to save money to stay at a hotel. If you don't plan to use the DVC timeshares, the program isn't a benefit to you.

The initial buyin cost pretty much pays for the construction of the timeshare. The the annual member fees pay for the annual costs, like personnel, maintenance, insurance, taxes, management of the resort. Disney doesn't make much off the timeshare after it is sold, other than their management fees.