Purchasing DVC without all of the knowledge

[AmyDek]

Please let me preface this post by saying that I absolutely appreciate the wealth of information provided by this site and the posters. And in no way am intending to offend anyone by asking this question so please don't take it that way:

I am finding out so many new things about DVC every day here, and while I enjoy that, there is a part of me that is getting overwhelmed with so much info. It makes me think of people who just go purchase DVC and never find these boards and don't even know half as much as you all know!

So I guess my question is this- is it possible to buy into DVC and just use my points to book one family trip a year, if we have flexibility of dates and resorts, planning to book 11 months out at my home resort and then change around the 7 month mark if we so choose and just sort of coast using this as our vacation time share? I would love to get more in depth on all of the tips and tricks but I have two little kiddos and tons on my plate and I don't have the time to learn every aspect of it-- but just because I don't know every aspect does it mean I'm getting ripped off?

I do know this- I love Wdw and have loved it for as long as I remember. I have always wanted to go more often to Wdw, I want to take my children to WDW often. We love to travel as a family and I can see us going to wdw at least every other year (I would be buying enough points to go every other year at least at first, possibly adding on down the line) since WDW is in high demand I can see the benefit of renting my points to a family member or through a rental service if we can't go one year. I don't expect to get anything else out of the purchase than the ease of paying for our vacations over time rather than in one lump sum each time, and getting to stay in villas without paying $4000 plus just for hotel each time.

So is it possible to purchase DVC and get vacations out of it wth it knowing all that you well versed members know? I do hope over he years to learn more but I don't want to wait to purchase until I understand every single aspect otherwise we will never do it!

Thanks again for your advice and for listening!

 

[ktmo]

I think I am a lot like you. And I just purchased my first contract. I didn't do a whole lot of research before buying, well not months, but read pretty much every thread by DVC Mike. Then put in an offer and it was accepted. Like you, I am not expecting it to be an investment, or even any real savings. I just want to know that I will be going to Disney and I will be able to stay in a 1 bedroom without breaking the bank.

I just got my points and booked two trips for next year. One was less then 6 months away, so I couldn't get my home resort, but got at 1 bedroom at BWV for Mother's Day weekend. Then I booked a trip for November at my home resort, BCV. It was really easy and I didn't have any trouble with either reservation.

I did take the advice of buy where you want to stay. I figured I am putting out all this money, I want to be where I want to be. So, I bought BCV (well we stayed there and DH loved it, and he wanted to be there).

While waiting to get my points, I read and read and I now I feel pretty comfortable. I don't know if I could get those hard to book dates, but I checked and I could have booked Thanksgiving weekend without much trouble.

 

[T00dles]

It's a learning process, but it sounds like you're off to a good start. We had the benefit of DH's parents owning and letting us use it a little. If all you want to do is go on vacation every other year you'll be fine. Especially if you can book something you like 11 months out. Just remember to bank on time. And try to buy where you'd like to stay.
We have also found MS useful when we were unsure how to use our "vacation car". There are plenty of forums...others besides this one (gasp!) where we pick up tips and such, but yah it can be overwhelming at times! And no I don't think you're getting ripped off if you're using your points for family vacations at WDW. But that's just my .02

 

[crisi]

Sure. It isn't hard at all. The caveats are that you don't mind staying where you buy and can book your home resort more than 7 months out - or that you book before four or five months out and are willing to piece together what is available.

Know what you are contractually getting - because if you believe that DVC entitles you to perks, you may find you favorite perk disappearing. That includes things like room configuration and cleaning schedules - if you think you are getting a Disney Deluxe hotel room, you may be disappointed to find yourself in a room with a pull out couch and limited housekeeping.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think on your other threads what you're hearing is a concern that you're rushing to buy a contract that doesn't fit how you intend to travel or where you intend to stay. Paying premium direct rates for a resort that doesn't offer the kind of unit you want to book is structurally unsound.

That you want to go to WDW regularly and use DVC as a prepayment plan is great, and a good buy case for DVC. But you need a contract that supports what you want to do at 11 months, and if you buy a contract based on staying where you can at 7 months, you should seriously look at the relative merits of a resale contract, where you can get those 7-month points for half the cost of buying direct at a resort that won't work for you. A $70 per point savings helps get the points you need at a lower initial outlay, and in the long term a lower annual dues outlay.

 

[AmyDek]

I think on your other threads what you're hearing is a concern that you're rushing to buy a contract that doesn't fit how you intend to travel or where you intend to stay. Paying premium direct rates for a resort that doesn't offer the kind of unit you want to book is structurally unsound.

That you want to go to WDW regularly and use DVC as a prepayment plan is great, and a good buy case for DVC. But you need a contract that supports what you want to do at 11 months, and if you buy a contract based on staying where you can at 7 months, you should seriously look at the relative merits of a resale contract, where you can get those 7-month points for half the cost of buying direct at a resort that won't work for you. A $70 per point savings helps get the points you need at a lower initial outlay, and in the long term a lower annual dues outlay.

You are absolutely right and that is the conclusion that my husband and I came to tonight. I called DVC direct and explained why Aulani and Polynesian don't work for us and they were able to offer us Animal Kingdom. If we buy 100 points we would spend $15,500 - over $5K more than a similar contract via resale. Even if we factor in the price of retail rates for our trip in May we still spend over $3000 more to buy direct from DVC. The one perk was DVC was able to get me a one bedroom at BLT for the week I wanted- I guess they'll do what you ask if they think it will cause you to spend the money! But I can't see that perk being worth $3000 and rushing into it like you said. So our newest plan (changes by the day so far ha!!) is to keep our current reservation at BWV for May, and take the time to go see Animal Kingdom Villas since we've never been and decide if we would like that to be our home resort-- and in the mean time start the process of looking into and purchasing a resale so that we will have points to use for the next trip that we take. So plan on seeing me ask lots of questions about resales from now on! Thank you all again so much for your info and support! It's easy to get overly excited about buying into DVC, I've wanted to for so long! But it's a big purchase and I think I would regret rushing into it if that's what we do.

 

[MsTessP]

Amy, I think you are proceeding very wisely by continuing your research and not just jumping in propelled by pixie dust like many others. I'm curious about your May BWV trip. Are you renting those points or going through Disney reservations? If you are not renting, then you may be able to save considerably by doing so.

 

[EllieBride]

We have young children (ages 3 and 3) and currently use our DVC to take one annual vacation. We bought a small resale contract at BCV that would give us enough points for a 1BR, 5-6 nights annually. We just added another small-ish resale contract for VGF so that we have enough points for a 2BR, 5-6 nights annually (if we bank/borrow and rotate which resort we stay at each year). When the kids are a little older, I can see us getting a 2BR, staying for 7-8 nights annually, but skipping some years to do other things. Or we will use the points for Aulani and Hilton Head. When we become empty-nesters, I see us taking more frequent, but perhaps shorter, trips and only needing a studio or 1BR. I've also found that planning our trips early (at 11 months) has ensured that we get our home resort and/or have a waitlist come through if we wanted to switch resorts at the 7-month mark. The early planning has also helped me decide what kind of park tickets to buy. For example, I spaced our annual trips out with 11 months in between them so that we could buy APs, which at the time was the more economical ticket choice.

I really appreciated the advice found here on the boards about buying where you want to stay IF you are the type of person that will be disappointed by if you don't get your preferred location, such as trying to switch at 7 months. If you are happy to go with the flow, book whatever is available, then it might make sense to buy a less expensive contract. But I know that I'm always going to want my 11-month booking advantage at BCV and VGF so that's why we bought there. If your trips are once a year, are they likely to be longer trips? The longer the trip, the harder it could be to find availability for switching resorts at 7 months. Or you may have to do split-stays. For me, this would be another reason for buying where you want to stay.

 

[disneynutz]

It's all up to you. Some people look for the best deal, want to maximize their savings and enjoyment of the resort and room. Some just want a place to sleep, others like our family consider the room, view and resort more important than the parks.

Disney created all of the rules and policies that we are can either learn about and use to our advantage or you can just go to Disney. Learning about how to use the DVC is like learning how to make an ADR, FP, or what time the parades and fireworks are.

Bill

 

[DisDadDVC]

My 2c:

If you plan to go to Disney every year for the next few years, just go and buy SSR resale. Use it to stay at as many resorts as you can. If you find you are happy booking at 7 months, keep it. If not, then sell it and buy (or add on) at your favorite resort after a few years. If you find out that DVC isn't for you, sell it. The savings over cash rooms in those few years will likely offset the transaction costs (assuming price remains the same).

 

[zavandor]

Sure you can buy DVC without the knowledge, thousands of people do so every year.
You could also buy a car without any knowledge, you could enter a car dealer and ask them what's the best car for you and buy that. Does it look like a sensible option?

 

[DisDadDVC]

Sure you can buy DVC without the knowledge, thousands of people do so every year.
You could also buy a car without any knowledge, you could enter a car dealer and ask them what's the best car for you and buy that. Does it look like a sensible option?

There is a big difference between "without any knowledge" and "without all knowledge" IMO.

 

[zavandor]

And how can you know when some knowledge is enough?

 

[wilkeliza]

If you are on the fence these are the key bullet points to consider.

Where would you normally book? Are you always going to stay at the value or moderate level or do you always book deluxe when you visit right now?


What is your normal length of stay?

What is your normal travel time? Is it during the busy season such as summer, spring break, or winter break?

How do you think your travel plans will change over the length of the contract? Will it change when kids are in school or if your kids end up growing up not liking Disney?

Are you just doing Disney World or do you also have vision of going to Disneyland, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, or Aulani on points?

Finally take what your would spend right now for accommodations at Disney and write that down. Now determine how many points you would need to get the exact same thing. Take those points and find out the full contract price. So that would be contract plus an estimate of dues. Basically I took the current yearly dues and multiplied that by the length of contract. That short changed it because dues go up every year but it gives a good idea. No seriously think about if you are willing to spend that much across the length of your contract and lock yourself into just Disney vacations.

After answering all the questions above my fiance and I determined DVC just isn't for us. We have no clue what our travel is going to look like in 15 years. Yeah we adore Disney but what if our kids don't? What if we end up with a special needs child who can't do Disney? We also didn't want to buy on the idea that you can resell if it doesn't work simply because we don't take those types of risks. We also have cut back from Disney so right now a 4 day Deluxe trip to WDW and a 4 day on property trip to DL every year just wasn't enough for us to bite the bullet on DVC especially because DL is hard to book from what our friends who own Aulani but go to DL have told us.

Just my opinion and advice from someone who almost signed the dotted line then backed away after some serious consideration and discussion with a financial adviser as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Know what you are contractually getting - because if you believe that DVC entitles you to perks, you may find you favorite perk disappearing. That includes things like room configuration and cleaning schedules - if you think you are getting a Disney Deluxe hotel room, you may be disappointed to find yourself in a room with a pull out couch and limited housekeeping.

Yes. I think that's the most important bit to know; what you are actually getting. And I would bet that the OP knows these things now.

To me there are no "tricks" to learn; just tips. To not pay attention to the tips being given as you go means that at some point there's going to be a preventable disappointment.

I think on your other threads what you're hearing is a concern that you're rushing to buy a contract that doesn't fit how you intend to travel or where you intend to stay. Paying premium direct rates for a resort that doesn't offer the kind of unit you want to book is structurally unsound.

Agreed, though I don't remember the OP's other threads.

So our newest plan (changes by the day so far ha!!)

Well, you're taking time to plan and make new plans...seems that you do have some time in there. So add in the knowledge and you'll make better plans.

It's easy to get overly excited about buying into DVC, I've wanted to for so long!

So I bet you actually have been reading about it, and know quite a bit.

If you are not renting, then you may be able to save considerably by doing so.

And then they'd get the true DVC experience rather than the way it is when going though disney.

 

[DisDadDVC]

And how can you know when some knowledge is enough?

That's kinda the OP's point. Do you need to have 100% understanding of every aspect of DVC before buying in? Or can you "learn on the job". To me, I think some parts of it can't really be fully understood until you own and experience it yourself. Your ability to log in at 8am at exactly 7 months, etc.

The reality is, people make DVC (resale) sound like a bigger risk than it really is. Assuming you have the money, just go buy an SSR resale contract for 10k. Your real risk in the short term (1-3 years) is probably 1-2k. If you use it a few times, you will probably have saved that much vs cash booking.

 

[zavandor]

It took me 5 months reading this forum to fully understand DVC. Now with the excellent Information Center probably the time required would be less, however the less you know the more you risk. Maybe it's just that I'm not a wealthy person and 1-2k seem quite a lot to risk just because I didn't want to wait a couple of months of active investigation before purchasing DVC. I'm pretty happy with my purchase, but I am because I took the time to really understand it.

 

[AmyDek]

Amy, I think you are proceeding very wisely by continuing your research and not just jumping in propelled by pixie dust like many others. I'm curious about your May BWV trip. Are you renting those points or going through Disney reservations? If you are not renting, then you may be able to save considerably by doing so.

Thanks! We are paying rack rates... renting points turns out to be $200 more by the time I add in the cancellation insurance, which I just have to do since I have two small kids to be responsible! There's a special at BWV for Disney chase card holders so we're taking advantage of that,but I'm still holding out hope that a deal comes out on BLT but I know it's not likely!

 

[AmyDek]

Sure you can buy DVC without the knowledge, thousands of people do so every year.
You could also buy a car without any knowledge, you could enter a car dealer and ask them what's the best car for you and buy that. Does it look like a sensible option?

I don't really think this is the same thing! You can research a car without knowing what every single dial and button does before purchasing and learn the rest as you go. I'm saying I think DVC is a good fit for us, can we learn as we go or do I need to know every detail beforehand. I wouldn't read the owners manual cover to cover before buying a car- but I would know the MPG, fair price etc. Does that make sense?

 

[AmyDek]

There is a big difference between "without any knowledge" and "without all knowledge" IMO.

Yes, I totally agree! Well said!