Purchasing a DVC

[ncsubuddy]

I was hoping to get some advice from my fellow DISBoard members on purchasing a DVC. My boyfriend and I just recently returned from a trip to Disney World. He has been interested in a time share program for many years, but I have always been turned off by the pushiness that comes along with even getting information about them. While in Disney, we approached a Club Kiosk and spoke to them about the options and did a tour through Animal Kingdom. I really loved the customer service that Disney had during the whole process, never once asking for money or pressuring us to decide. Even with how great it was, we still haven't got a s forward answer to some questions.

We were told that our best bet was the Polynesian Resort for our buy in. We toured this resort too, and loved it but are open to others as well. My boyfriend is most concerned with being able to use our points to go other places than Disney (why, I don't understand), but he would like the option to travel outside of Disney. What are some experiences people have had doing is? What amount of points does it take to stay outside of Disney?

Right now are debating between a 50 point buy in or a 100 point buy in, but want to see what our pockets would allow and what these points would give us. We are young, and no kids right now, so we tend to like to travel a lot. We travel in the off seasons to keep cost low, but ideally I would like to have this as an option to take future kids to Disney without it costing my first born.

Also another concern is the raise in maintenance fees. We were told up front that these do increase from year to year, around 4%. Have people seen this as a constant? Our only concern is that 20 years down the road our maintenance fees could be approaching several thousand dollars.

Any advice or suggestions members may have would greatly be appreciated.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We were told that our best bet was the Polynesian Resort for our buy in.

That is because Poly is the only on-property resort currently selling points direct. So of course they told you that was the "best bet."

My boyfriend is most concerned with being able to use our points to go other places than Disney

In general, using DVC points for anything but staying in a DVC property is going to be a poor value for the points. Most people find they get better value by renting their points for a year or two and then traveling on the cash proceeds (versus booking on points).

In terms of number of points needed, it depends on lots of things:

• Where you want to stay
• How long you want to stay
• How often you want to stay

50 points is a very low buy-in, and I don't believe Disney will even sell you anything under 100 points direct. If you ever want to stay in anything but a studio, it puts you going on points less than every 2 years (or for very short stays at best).

Maintenance fees increase annually. You can rely on that increase occurring as a constant, and yes, the maintenance fee could approach several thousand depending on points owned, property, etc.

I would recommend doing a LOT of research. The DVC Information Center on this site is very comprehensive.

 

[LoLaRae]

Most people will tell you that using it outside of Disney isn't the best option. I highly suggest, as most will here, to look into resale. We are in a very similar situation as you (young, no kids) and we started at 100 points (resale at BLT) and I'm questioning now if that was even enough for our needs. We like to go twice a year and stay in studios.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The "no kids" part is actually something else to call out. A DVC contract is a long-term thing. If you'd eventually like "an option to take future kids to Disney," low-season may increasingly be not an option. School calendars are cruel, cruel beasts, and some districts are very hard on "I shall pull my kid out for a week in February or September for a week of vacation."

You have to consider both current needs and potential future needs.

 

[DisneyDenis]

I believe that Disney is the very best timeshare deal anywhere. Usually it is best to get any timeshare resale. There are very rare exceptions like buying into the Poly DVC because Poly resales are very few and about the same total cost as Disney.

Most timeshare devalue immediately after purchase from a developer, some to zero (Disney just devalues a small amount - this is what you can sell it for including paying commission)! You can pickup many timeshares for zero cost that have been fully paid (never DVC). Sellers will even pay transfer costs and perhaps 2016 membership fees with time to use (free) in 2016 (never DVC). I bought Boardwalk at the end of 2011 resale at a cost of $60 per point + $450 in closing costs and can sell today for low to mid 90's less commission of 8 to 10 %. My net cost for SSR was $61 per point in 2013 and I can make a nice profit today after commission. This is highly unusual for any resale.

While you can trade out of DVC via RCI, it is not a great idea financially. It is better to rent out your points that you would have traded, then either rent or pay cash with your DVC rental money. This is true even of doing a Disney Cruise. Rent, collect $$, then pay cash for the cruise. Using DVC points for a Disney cruise is very convenient, but not good financially.

The relative ease of rentals is what makes DVC truly exceptional in my eyes. That way you are not "stuck" in the DVC system.

Membership fees increase every year for all timeshares. That is the reason you can get free timeshares at less desirable locations. Also you should avoid free timeshares with less desirable companies (Westgate comes to mind). Disney DVC timeshares all have end dates (2042 for my Boardwalk and 2054 for my SSR). In terms of membership fees, I do not have to worry about them "in perpetuity". Theoretically Disney could charge a Special Assessment, but I don't see this happening. Other timeshares where you own forever, would need to rebuild their units at some point and you would get hit with a massive Special Assessment charge.

Think carefully. Do your homework. Good Luck !!!

 

[com_op_2000]

You are doing the right thing by doing your research up-front.
Read these threads on the DIS and understand the following terms:
UY
MF
HR
11 month and 7 month booking windows
Concierge Collection
RCI
CM
MS
Direct vs resale
Rule of 4
Once you have a full understanding of these terms.
Then read some more.

We have used our points for stays at:
DVC - HHI & VB
RCI - Ft Myers & Ft Lauderdale
Concierge Collection - Miami (Doral) & Grove Park Inn, Asheville NC
DCL - 8 cruises fully or partially on points
Most on these boards will tell you not to buy DVC for use outside of the DVC resorts. Even with 100 points you will not have enough to do DCLs, as these are high points requirements.

 

[Lynne M]

Your salesperson told you that the Polynesian is the best bet because that's the resort they're currently being told to push.

DVC is really a timeshare for those interested in staying at DVC resorts. That's where the value is, and it's really the only place where the value is. If your boyfriend is interested in staying outside of Disney, you'll want to purchase a different timeshare, either in addition to DVC or in place of it.

A couple of reasons:

1) Your DVC contract entitles you to stay at DVC resorts, using your points, subject to availability, for the life of the contract. That's it. Everything and anything else you can currently do with DVC is subject to change or termination. If just using it to stay at DVC resorts isn't a good value for you, then you probably don't want to buy.

2) You can buy a timeshare that will trade to the exact same outside-of-Disney resorts that DVC does, for a tiny fraction of the cost of DVC. Really. Do some research into RCI trades, and take a look at resale contracts for some of the other major timeshare systems that trade with RCI. Paying DVC prices to trade to those resorts is like paying $75K for a Toyota Camry. Paying that amount of money will indeed get you into a Camry, but so would paying $25K.

 

[ziravan]

100 points at Poly for $168/point is $16,800.

150 points resale at AKV for $90/point is $13,650.

If AKV was your first choice (and it's a great resort), then more points for thousands cheaper is the way to go.

Besides, at 150 points, DVC starts to become a truly flexible system.

I would buy resale AKV points (and I say that as a direct purchase Poly owner.)

 

[disneynutz]

Scan through the threads in this section of the DIS and you will find plenty of threads just like yours with all of the info needed to make a informed purchase.

Bill

 

[pinklotusflower]

Unless you want to stay at the Poly and book at the 11 month mark I would buy re-sale. As well as the suggestions above I would also read up about the resorts to help you decide. We bought at BWV as we loved the resort area and being able to walk to Epcot. Each resort gives you different benefits and it's worth owning at the one you want to stay at most so you can book at 11 months, otherwise some weeks are really hard to get. Once you know your resort it makes it much easier to know how many point contract to get.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Each resort gives you different benefits and it's worth owning at the one you want to stay at most so you can book at 11 months, otherwise some weeks are really hard to get.

Even owning at some resorts, certain villa types can be hard to get in many seasons. Gotta be ready at 8AM, and you may already not be able to get your first days.

 

[mickeyman]

100 points at Poly for $168/point is $16,800.

150 points resale at AKV for $90/point is $13,650.

If AKV was your first choice (and it's a great resort), then more points for thousands cheaper is the way to go.

Besides, at 150 points, DVC starts to become a truly flexible system.

I would buy resale AKV points (and I say that as a direct purchase Poly owner.)

I got 160 point AKV for $75 per point back in October.

 

[chalee94]

We were told that our best bet was the Polynesian Resort for our buy in. We toured this resort too, and loved it but are open to others as well. My boyfriend is most concerned with being able to use our points to go other places than Disney (why, I don't understand), but he would like the option to travel outside of Disney. What are some experiences people have had doing is? What amount of points does it take to stay outside of Disney?

you'd generally need at least 160 pts to trade out through RCI - so for a small contract, it's not really even an option.

due to the extra fees and hassles, I agree with the others who say that DVC should only be used for DVC. that is where the value is, so just buy what you will use for DVC stays. if you are determined to buy in and use pts elsewhere, you will generally be better off to rent a DVC points stay to someone else (there are brokers online like david who can assist you in the process) and then use the cash from the rental to book whatever you like.

Right now are debating between a 50 point buy in or a 100 point buy in, but want to see what our pockets would allow and what these points would give us. We are young, and no kids right now, so we tend to like to travel a lot. We travel in the off seasons to keep cost low, but ideally I would like to have this as an option to take future kids to Disney without it costing my first born.

be aware that DVC offseason is not exactly wdw offseason. especially for sept through early January, DVC bookings are extremely busy so you would need to book as early as possible.

Also another concern is the raise in maintenance fees. We were told up front that these do increase from year to year, around 4%. Have people seen this as a constant? Our only concern is that 20 years down the road our maintenance fees could be approaching several thousand dollars.

yes. 20 years down the road, milk will cost more...and so on. (heck, 20 years ago, you could buy a 1 day ticket to wdw for $36.) things change for everyone...but your salary will likely be higher to compensate and other Disney hotel prices will likely increase faster than your MFs...

but yes, that is a good thing to consider when you are planning...

 

[crisi]

You have no kids right now and get to use that money to travel - which is great. No kids was such an awesome point to be able to do things like that. But your post implies you want children.

Before you make a commitment to traveling with children - i.e. make a commitment to DVC for years and years - understand the cost of children. Will one of you stay home and lose an income? If not, check out daycare prices, they aren't cheap. Then you get to the cost of traveling with kids - airfare plus park tickets for our two kids adds an easy $1600 to the cost of our trip. THEN you can start worrying about what dues are going to be in twenty years and if you can afford DVC.

 

[LovingPooh]

We are DVC members. When we decide to purchase more points it will be through resale.

 

[TheGecko]

If you have no kids, I would recommend seeing other parts of the world before locking yourself into DVC. You can make Disney visits without the long term commitment if that is your choice as well. When kids come you may or may not want to take that plunge, but you will find travel becomes constrained very quickly. I am assuming you are in your 20s, and the name of the game for your generation has to be flexibility.