Question about DVC

[tgeorge]

I realize this may not be the best forum for this question, but was curious how many of you are DVC members. I was at Disney last week and have begun looking into it. I realize that using points for ABD may not be the best value, but I am interested in the other perks. Just trying to gauge what others think about it. Thanks in advance for input

 

[quinnc19]

I am a DVC member. Although I would not use my points for ABD trips, another perk has been very helpful. DVC members get opening day pricing on ABD trips. I saved over $600 on my trip this summer because I am a member!

 

[carpenta]

I (we) are not members. While we do travel with ABD we also use the services of other similar tour companies.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Have been a member for 11yrs. We love it. After 5 years we reached our return on investment so its like stay at the finest resorts Disney has for just about nothing.

Better accommodations which if you have a family its worth it. To get access to a full kitchen and more room to spread out than your typical hotel room.

Special offers like right now DVC members can purchase a 4 day ticket for $199!

 

[tgeorge]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the info. Definitely something to consider. We're taking our niece and nephew to Disney next year and we have more on the way. I feel like it would pay for itself since I love Disney and with the extras that make it an advantage are nice.

 

[calypso726]

We are also DVC members but have not used our points for ABD. However, we have met other DVC members on ABD trips that have used their points for ABD. DVC has been one of the best choices we have made and works very well for us.

 

[DisneyHeather]

I'm a DVC member and I love it. I haven't been on an ABD yet (waiting until my 3 year old is older) but I've used my DVC points to take him to DLR and WDW many times as well as for one of us on a DCL we're doing next year. I haven't regretted my decision for one minute since I've purchased it and look forward to using it for many years to come.

 

[disneynutz]

We are DVC owners but we have never done a ABD trip.

Bill

 

[tgeorge]

I've looked at the cost of renting enough points for a stay next February. I could buy into DVC for not that much more. I figure if I go at least every three years or even try to rent points, which seem to be a hot commodity, it would pay for itself relatively quickly and I would still be able to enjoy the benefits of open day ABD pricing and any other perks I would qualify for. Now I just need to convince my husband it is a good idea

 

[RSM]

I've looked at the cost of renting enough points for a stay next February. I could buy into DVC for not that much more. I figure if I go at least every three years or even try to rent points, which seem to be a hot commodity, it would pay for itself relatively quickly and I would still be able to enjoy the benefits of open day ABD pricing and any other perks I would qualify for. Now I just need to convince my husband it is a good idea

Points can also be used outside of Disney properties, cruises, or experiences. We have used our points to stay at a number of hotels in their Concierge collection. These are non-Disney hotels that they have agreements with. For example we've stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC, the Fairmont on Nob Hill in San Francisco, and the Royal Garden Hotel in London. Just another option to use the points if you don't want to do something Disney every year. They also have agreements to trade via RCI, but we haven't done that.

 

[tgeorge]

Points can also be used outside of Disney properties, cruises, or experiences. We have used our points to stay at a number of hotels in their Concierge collection. These are non-Disney hotels that they have agreements with. For example we've stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC, the Fairmont on Nob Hill in San Francisco, and the Royal Garden Hotel in London. Just another option to use the points if you don't want to do something Disney every year. They also have agreements to trade via RCI, but we haven't done that.

I have received a package from DVC and saw that you can use points at other hotels, which to us, is a big advantage. We don't have kids, so trips to Disney would be to take nieces and nephews and for marathons, food and wine festival, etc. My husband isn't a big traveler, but I can usually find someone willing to go with me, especially if the room is paid for. Thanks for the information. The more I think about it the better it seems.

 

[disneynutz]

I have received a package from DVC and saw that you can use points at other hotels, which to us, is a big advantage. We don't have kids, so trips to Disney would be to take nieces and nephews and for marathons, food and wine festival, etc. My husband isn't a big traveler, but I can usually find someone willing to go with me, especially if the room is paid for. Thanks for the information. The more I think about it the better it seems.

The point requirement for non-DVC stays is often high and not considered a good value by many. Disney offers these uses to add to their marketing points when selling DVC.

Often availability is limited or blacked out. Prior to the new Disney ships being built using points for a Disney cruise was blacked out for almost a year. Paying guests come first, DVC second.

DVC can still be a savings for DVC stays but I wouldn't buy for other stays that can change at anytime.

Bill

 

[tgeorge]

Thanks Bill. Great information. I appreciate the advice. I, personally, love Disney. My family thinks I'm a bit crazy. Oh well....you like what you like, right??

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks Bill. Great information. I appreciate the advice. I, personally, love Disney. My family thinks I'm a bit crazy. Oh well....you like what you like, right??

Life is too short not to have some fun!

If you vacation at Disney often, DVC can save you some money depending on several factors. Spend some time reading the DVC threads for more info on the pros and cons of ownership.

Bill

 

[sayhello]

Hi, folks. Although I know several people here have offered help for this question, it really belongs in the DVC Board. I'm going to move it there (with a link to follow if you'd like).

Besides, tgeorge's question will probably get even more exposure & answers over there.

Thanks, all!
Sayhello

 

[JustTinking]

REALITY CHECK PLEASE!

I love DVC too, and while I appreciate the exuberant responses to this query, there was a sobering reminder in my mailbox yesterday that DVC lodging is NOT free, and we're NOT getting our vacation for 'next to nothing'. Yearly maintenance fees for WDW resorts are now running around $5-6 average per point. That means for a 250 point contract (1 week in a 1 bdrm at some resorts) we are annually paying between $1250-$1500. The buy-in cost for points is just the tip of the iceberg, but what gets focused on and rationalized here on these boards. Is a week's lodging in a DVC room worth $1500? Probably most ppl would say yes, but let's understand that by buying into DVC we are committing ourselves to that recurring cost for the next 30-40 years. And it's only going up.

 

[Dean]

I realize this may not be the best forum for this question, but was curious how many of you are DVC members. I was at Disney last week and have begun looking into it. I realize that using points for ABD may not be the best value, but I am interested in the other perks. Just trying to gauge what others think about it. Thanks in advance for input

There's no way to justify buying DVC for the non DVC stay options based on the current situation. The ONLY way it's reasonable to buy in and have those options is if it makes sense to buy retail ignoring them. There really are 2 aspects. One is that in order to get the options you're going to have to pay roughly double retail vs resale (depending on other choices) on a per points basis AND you'd have to buy more points to do this than just buying what one might need for DVC. The other is that NONE of the other options meet the 2 criteria that would make it a reasonable option, namely be guaranteed and return a reasonable value. Here's an example for DCL (the easiest and most commonly sought out option) pulled from the latest 7 night Fantasy available for 2016. It'd be $2910 on cash for 2 in 11C and 396 points returning $7.10 a point which is pretty representative. There are also a bunch of negatives using points for cruising including if you change you have an additional $95 booking fee, if you cancel the points aren't returned as DVC points but as far more limited reservation points and if you do points plus cash, the cash rate is usually higher than direct and due in full at the time of booking.

For a new purchase the only reasonable option looking at cruises, ABD, etc as a routine trip is to buy less points and pay cash for the non DVC option.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been owners since 1998 and have 1400 points over 7 resorts, some purchase direct and others resale. We have never used points for anything other than Disney resorts. We go at least twice a year to Disney world and have been to Aulani three times and will go again next year. We have a disabled adult daughter who still loves Disney and other kids and grand kids. We don't seem to have any trouble using our points. And while the maintenance fees are high, we always feel that the value of the resorts outweigh the yearly costs. During an 18 month period, we used over 60 days for us and other family members including 10 days in a one bedroom villa at Aulani which goes for about 1000 a nite and 3 days in a three bedroom ocean front cottage at Vero beach which would have cost over 800 a nite. I figured that if we had purchased all 60 nights, we would have spent about $50000. Now would we have gone if we were actually paying...maybe not. And we take other vacations too.But since we were lucky enough to purchase all our points for cash and have the time and desire to go to disney, for us it works great. Our kids will enjoy them when we are gone. The most we have ever paid for points was Aulani at 110 at the starting rate. And many points were less than 60 when purchased resale. So overall for people like us, DVC is a great deal.

 

[Sur]

3 days in a three bedroom ocean front cottage at Vero beach which would have cost over 800 a nite.

I had a 3 bedroom condo in Vero, years ago. If I'd have known the area fetched that much, I never would have left it!

 

[jessicaanne86]

I am wondering the same thing myself. I couldn't believe how many points these trips took!