Potential first time buyer and I am so lost

[SeattleSuz]

We checked out DVC finally on a recent, short trip to Aulani. It seems like it *might* be the right choice for our little family of 3, but the hubby is more interested in the world travel, with possibly only every other year visits to Disney. It seems like it's hard to book DVC. The sales people don't tell you that, but after reading several threads here, it appears that things book up very quickly. We were going to purchase 175 points directly for CCV, but it almost sounds like studios will be very hard to come by.
I had thoughts of using points to go Marathon weekend, but it seems like those book up at 11 months out.
The resellers market seems plausible, but at the same time, are there new restrictions with that?
I was all gung ho about this last week, but now after reading some threads on these boards, I am really starting to second guess investing $30K into it...
What am I missing?

 

[disneynutz]

Rent from a DVC owner if you want to stay in a DVC room. If you find that you want to go to Disney every year or more often, do your numbers then and see if owning will save you money.

Bill

 

[Matty B13]

DVC is offering a fixed week option for marathon weekends at Copper Creek, I'm not sure exactly how it works, you would have to talk to your guide about the fine details about the way a fixed week works. The down side of buying a fixed week is the 10% extra points that they make you purchase to own first rights to it though.
They don't offer the fixed week option at other resort however, but they might for the up coming Riviera Resort.


https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ches-new-vacation-options-for-rundisney-fans/

Make sure to do a lot of research before your purchase and possible one or two rentals of DVC units at WDW first.

 

[Bobb_o]

I'm not a DVC owner but I think I can help with some answers.

If you own at a resort you can book at 11 months. So if you bought CCV the only people you're competing with at 8-11 months out is other CCV owners. Popular times can be difficult but I don't know exactly how it goes at CCV.

You don't get all the benefits of as a resale owner but generally the amount you're saving is worth way more than the discounts. Here's the Disney page on it https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/dvc-direct-vs-resale/

If you're thinking every other year you an either sell every other year or basically buy half of what you think you need and bank/borrow. No matter what as Bill pointed out above make sure you do your calculations. Factor in inflation, rising dues, etc.

 

[crvetter]

DVC is offering a fixed week option for marathon weekends at Copper Creek, I'm not sure exactly how it works, you would have to talk to your guide about the fine details about the way a fixed week works. The down side of buying a fixed week is the 10% extra points that they make you purchase to own first rights to it though.
They don't offer the fixed week option at other resort however, but they might for the up coming Riviera Resort.


https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ches-new-vacation-options-for-rundisney-fans/

Make sure to do a lot of research before your purchase and possible one or two rentals of DVC units at WDW first.

Agree with what @Matty B13 says. Yes, they offer fixed weeks at CCV right now for the marathon weekends and I believe it guarantees you registration in the race event, if I recall correctly. However, I was told many of the race weeks were sold-out or near sold-out because of the two-fold benefits of buying that special event right (room and race registration). I didn't go to far down this path when you bought a race week but that might cost a bit more than the regular fixed weeks but that is just speculation on my part.

Numbered week is just that week Sunday to Sunday year after year (unless you opt out for the points).

Race weeks are tied to a numbered week; however, if the race moves they move your week for you and you can remove days from beginning of your reservation or add to the end. However, if you don't keep the Sunday to Sunday you responsible for anymore points the modified reservations cost if above the points bought with the fixed week with special event rights (that is how the race weeks are called).

Also the speculation points to it being highly likely Disney will sell fixed weeks at Riviera but the only guarantee this moment is Copper Creek. While Disney reserved the right to sell fixed weeks at Riviera (in the fillings with the state) doesn't mean that they will actually do this.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We checked out DVC finally on a recent, short trip to Aulani. It seems like it *might* be the right choice for our little family of 3, but the hubby is more interested in the world travel, with possibly only every other year visits to Disney. It seems like it's hard to book DVC. The sales people don't tell you that, but after reading several threads here, it appears that things book up very quickly. We were going to purchase 175 points directly for CCV, but it almost sounds like studios will be very hard to come by.
I had thoughts of using points to go Marathon weekend, but it seems like those book up at 11 months out.
The resellers market seems plausible, but at the same time, are there new restrictions with that?
I was all gung ho about this last week, but now after reading some threads on these boards, I am really starting to second guess investing $30K into it...
What am I missing?

Have you stayed at CCV or WL and is that where you would want to stay when you visit WDW or was that choice just because that's what they are selling right now? And when you go to WDW is it always at that time of the year? Have you stayed at other resorts? Even with any resale restrictions it takes a long time to make up the purchase price between direct and resale and if you would only be going every other year the biggest value is with AP's which probably isn't something you'd be purchasing anyway. Also, 175 points is much more than is needed for a week long stay every couple of years. If the thought was to also use the points for trading elsewhere in other years then I'd recommend to not do that. DVC has value for DVC resort stays but you'll be able to find better deals for world travel. Then you'd look at buying 1/2 the points normally required for a week long stay during the time you'd travel and use banking or borrowing to have the points needed for every other year.

If you're just going to go every other year I really wouldn't recommend the fixed week. If you can find value in owning DVC for an onsite room at WDW then the resale restrictions really don't matter.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would caution against buying CCV, for a studio, for marathon without buying a fixed week. Because there are only 78 studios vs. 26 high-point cabins, studios can be hard even at 11 months, and with fixed weeks in play they take units out of inventory before 11 months.

I would caution against buying DVC to trade points out for other travel. If you're going every other year buy half the points you'd need for a stay, and bank and borrow.

Also, if going every other year, I would buy resale anyway unless you are wildly warm for Copper Creek or Riviera. The economic benefits of "direct ownership!" are not going to be worth it on that basis.

 

[SeattleSuz]

Why is DVC not good to use for the world travel? Our salesperson made it seem like it would still be a good benefit for us to use it for that purpose as well as the Disney stays...
And no, I am not super stoked about CCV, but he said that is what they are selling right now (well and Aulani, which was OK, but we weren't WOW'd by it), so he made it seem like I don't really have a choice.

 

[crvetter]

Why is DVC not good to use for the world travel? Our salesperson made it seem like it would still be a good benefit for us to use it for that purpose as well as the Disney stays...
And no, I am not super stoked about CCV, but he said that is what they are selling right now (well and Aulani, which was OK, but we weren't WOW'd by it), so he made it seem like I don't really have a choice.

You can absolutely buy other resorts, there just is a waitlist involved in the process. They may be quick (I could have bought PVB the day I bought in if I wanted) or super long. They are constantly getting points back through ROFR or foreclosures. If you really have your heart set on a resort tell them that is all you'll consider. They should add you to the waitlist (however they might not with BCV, VGF, or VGC since those lists are long). I would also say if you want an older resort you might find it better to buy resale, especially if you have 0 interest in every staying at Riviera. You can always add on later if you want the savings (MM events, discounts, lounge at Epcot); however, those can be removed at anytime and direct add on currently won't make resale points work at Riviera.

Also consider the times of travel and resort demand when making a decision on what should be your home resort. For instance you have to have BCV during Fall to January you will need to own there.

 

[aoconnor]

Why is DVC not good to use for the world travel? Our salesperson made it seem like it would still be a good benefit for us to use it for that purpose as well as the Disney stays...
And no, I am not super stoked about CCV, but he said that is what they are selling right now (well and Aulani, which was OK, but we weren't WOW'd by it), so he made it seem like I don't really have a choice.

Using points for anything other than DVC rooms (whether that be cruises, "world travel" etc) is a terrible monetary value and strictly a marketing gimmick by DVC to drive sales. You will be far better off renting out your points in the off years and using that cash to book whatever you want directly.

 

[SeattleSuz]

Using points for anything other than DVC rooms (whether that be cruises, "world travel" etc) is a terrible monetary value and strictly a marketing gimmick by DVC to drive sales. You will be far better off renting out your points in the off years and using that cash to book whatever you want directly.

Wooow. That's really good to know. They make it sound like it's still a good value, but doing the math, comparing what I would pay cash as opposed to using points, it seems like I would only save a small amount of money using DVC. Interesting POV! I am starting to feel like maybe this might not work for us with my I'm-not-anti-Disney-just-going-along-because-my-wife-loves-it hubby who only wants to go every 3 years...

 

[chalee94]

Why is DVC not good to use for the world travel? Our salesperson made it seem like it would still be a good benefit for us to use it for that purpose as well as the Disney stays...he made it seem like I don't really have a choice...

Your salesperson only gets paid if you buy. Sometimes - as a result - they are not perfectly honest with you. But it's very smart of you to do the research before you drop 5 figures, yes.

Buying resale means you don't get an Annual Pass discount. That's the only real financial benefit, and it sounds like that won't be an issue for you.

Using DVC for onsite stays at WDW can be a good deal. But to use it outside of the DVC system means adding layers of transaction costs. There are additional limitations and where you can use it, it costs more than it would have if you skipped DVC and just paid cash.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Why is DVC not good to use for the world travel? Our salesperson made it seem like it would still be a good benefit for us to use it for that purpose as well as the Disney stays...
And no, I am not super stoked about CCV, but he said that is what they are selling right now (well and Aulani, which was OK, but we weren't WOW'd by it), so he made it seem like I don't really have a choice.

In most cases you choices are limited, they aren't prime resorts and you'll be "paying" more than if you had booked via some other means or even traded with a much less expensive timeshare. Remember the "guides" are timeshare sales people and they'll appeal to things that you indicate you are looking for. A few are up front but there are enough just looking to make the sale that they'll make every trade sounds super easy and wonderful. Don't let the Disney name fool you with this - it's a timeshare with plenty of real timeshare sales people that will make things sound much better than they are.

DVC still sells every resort they've ever built but there can be waitlists for some of them. It just depends what they have at the moment. However I don't really see anything that screams out to me that you'd benefit enough, or maybe eve at all, from being a direct purchaser so it also would just be spending more money than necessary for an onsite room. And resale provides access to contracts at all resorts. It can be faster and is almost always cheaper to purchase resale for most resorts with a few exceptions. The new resorts in current sales it's usually similar cost to buy direct but since you don't actually love CCV and want to always stay there I'd not recommend it. Getting studios there is already difficult and would be a stress you wouldn't need.

Where do you like or want to stay?

 

[aoconnor]

Wooow. That's really good to know. They make it sound like it's still a good value, but doing the math, comparing what I would pay cash as opposed to using points, it seems like I would only save a small amount of money using DVC. Interesting POV! I am starting to feel like maybe this might not work for us with my I'm-not-anti-Disney-just-going-along-because-my-wife-loves-it hubby who only wants to go every 3 years...

If you travel to WDW regularly it's a great way to save money on rooms- that's really what DVC is about. Any ancillary things like member events, discounts, exchanging points for cruises or global hotels are really just marketing tools.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wooow. That's really good to know. They make it sound like it's still a good value, but doing the math, comparing what I would pay cash as opposed to using points, it seems like I would only save a small amount of money using DVC. Interesting POV! I am starting to feel like maybe this might not work for us with my I'm-not-anti-Disney-just-going-along-because-my-wife-loves-it hubby who only wants to go every 3 years...

If it's a plan to visit every 3 years then no, it's probably not worth it. Every other year is generally the max it will most make sense. With visits every 3rd year you have too much potential to lose points that will eat into any possible savings. Renting a DVC reservation might be a better option if locating direct discounts isn't working out too well.

 

[SeattleSuz]

If it's a plan to visit every 3 years then no, it's probably not worth it. Every other year is generally the max it will most make sense. With visits every 3rd year you have too much potential to lose points that will eat into any possible savings. Renting a DVC reservation might be a better option if locating direct discounts isn't working out too well.

Yeah I am kind of thinking of doing the renting thing, because honestly, I'd rather buy PVB than CCV...

 

[Matty B13]

Yeah I am kind of thinking of doing the renting thing, because honestly, I'd rather buy PVB than CCV...

If you want PVB, then insist to your guide you want PVB, I'm sure they will come up with the points.

Better option is to buy resale though, there are a lot of PVB contracts out there right now, probably because people couldn't get 1 or 2 bedroom units at PVB..........

Just make sure you know all the pros and cons of PVB before you buy.

 

[meekey7197]

Family of 3 here PVB is perfect for us, we bought direct but wouldn’t pay the current direct prices. Look into resale if PVB is what you want. And if a direct contract is what you want maybe consider buying a small contract at AKV or SSR in addition to PVB resale. If you get the same UY they can combine seemlessly at 7 months.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Buying DVC is inflation protection - and this is Disney, prices WILL go up! I highly suggest you search YouTube for Jen Laforge's videos on DVC (just seach DVC). She has a number of really good videos on plusses, minuses, resale vs. direct, her thought process on purchasing, etc. They are well worth the time to view and super easy to understand.

 

[Madame]

Buying DVC is inflation protection - and this is Disney, prices WILL go up! I highly suggest you search YouTube for Jen Laforge's videos on DVC (just seach DVC). She has a number of really good videos on plusses, minuses, resale vs. direct, her thought process on purchasing, etc. They are well worth the time to view and super easy to understand.

Not to be contradictory, but if they succeed in shifting points between units and raising the lockoff premium as they were intending for the 2020, DVC is NOT inflation protection any longer.