Question about points at Deluxe Resorts

[HFC1969]

Ok... We have 3 WDW trips and 2 DCL trips planned for 2011..

Our next door neighbors at dining on our past DCL told us we were nuts not to own DCL because it would be cheaper... The DCL rep ofcourse told us it would be cheaper..

Here is how we see it..

Stays at Grand Floridian.. are $1500 a stay; $1508 to be exact.. I checked

We would need 580 points using the 2010 charts to stay the days we need at the Grand Floridian.. ( We like it there) So round up to 600 points...

Buying second hand / just for points / financing with our bank...

I think $35,000 to $40,000 would purchase what we need point wise.. In fact I know.

$40,000 at 10 years.. @ 8.5% interestis roughly $500 a month.. Which is $6000 a year... ok... that doesn't even take into effect the fee points... which would be roughly another $3500+ for the year.

Ok.. I get that after 10 years I would own the points and only have to pay fees.. but there would still be the $3500 in fees if they don't go up.


Is DCV for us?

 

[bumbershoot]

I think you're using DCL when you mean DVC.

If you're going to buy DVC and use those points to stay at a normal hotel room (deluxe or otherwise) it's not the best use of points.

If you were to buy enough to stay at the GF, expecting to stay at the GF in their proper hotel rooms, and then DVC decided to make a GF DVC villa...you wouldn't be able to use those points to rent a GF hotel room anymore. Sad but true. Can't use points at the Contemporary anymore, or the Grand Californian's hotel side...can only use the points for villas at a resort with a DVC component to it. (AKL too)

If you're willing to change over to the actual villas of DVC, not using them on a hotel room, that's when it becomes a better deal.

 

[Sandisw]

DVC works best for those that will use it for the DVC resorts. Since you are looking at staying at the GF--which costs a lot more points than some DVC rooms--it would not be a good value.

 

[HFC1969]

I think you're using DCL when you mean DVC.

You are correct... I changed it..

 

[HFC1969]

DVC works best for those that will use it for the DVC resorts. Since you are looking at staying at the GF--which costs a lot more points than some DVC rooms--it would not be a good value.

Thats what we were thinking also..

But after 11 days of talking with folks who owned 1600 points... we thought maybe we were wrong...

We can see the value if you stay at DVC properties... but ... we like GF, Poly & Contemp.. mostly GF..

 

[RobDoc]

Thats what we were thinking also..

But after 11 days of talking with folks who owned 1600 points... we thought maybe we were wrong...

We can see the value if you stay at DVC properties... but ... we like GF, Poly & Contemp.. mostly GF..

If you plan to stay at GF, Poly or CR (not the BLT villas) you will be better off just to continue payig cash as you have. Point costs at GF and Poly are much higher than better accommodations at DVC resorts and you can't use DVC points to stay at the CR since BLT opened.

If you choose not to stay at DVC resorts, your best option will be to continue to pay cash to stay at Deluxe Resorts.

Enjoy!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Thats what we were thinking also..

But after 11 days of talking with folks who owned 1600 points... we thought maybe we were wrong...

We can see the value if you stay at DVC properties... but ... we like GF, Poly & Contemp.. mostly GF..

If those are the resorts you prefer, I highly doubt you would enjoy having a kitchen and washer dryer. Sure you could buy at the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, but just from the sounds of it, you like to be able to just book and go, not worry about dates and deadlines.

I'd say unless you would be happy at the other resorts, I would not buy. Plus all your buying is points to use at the GF, you still have to pay for your cruises.

 

[Deb & Bill]

1600 points equals about $7200 a year in dues.

 

[Sammie]

Not a good idea, DVC is constantly changing and truly when you purchase the only thing you are guaranteed is to being able to book at your home resort, which at this time does not include the Grand Floridian or Polynesian.

I would never purchase DVC at this point for anything other than booking the home resort you purchase.

There are rumors of a DVC at Grand Floridian, I would wait and see if it happens.

Staying at a DVC resort does give you more room when you book a one or two bedroom, but it is not a deluxe resort with the service that comes with it.

And the fees do go up.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Not a good idea, DVC is constantly changing and truly when you purchase the only thing you are guaranteed is to being able to book at your home resort, which at this time does not include the Grand Floridian or Polynesian.

I would never purchase DVC at this point for anything other than booking the home resort you purchase.

There are rumors of a DVC at Grand Floridian, I would wait and see if it happens.

Staying at a DVC resort does give you more room when you book a one or two bedroom, but it is not a deluxe resort with the service that comes with it.

And the fees do go up.

I wish more realized that there is nothing deluxe about staying in the DVC resorts, no newspaper, no extra towels or extra anything unless you pay, no daily house keeping, beds made, etc. We purchased because we like the space, we usually get a 2 bedroom for 4 of us, but we miss alot of what you get at a deluxe, i think the swan or doplhin puts mints on your pillows and has nightly turndown service. Not a big deal at all and I can do without, but it is nice to have and when I think DELUXE thats what I think Honeslty to me, DVC is no different than any other timeshare I have been at, just happens to be on Disney property. And I own other traditional timeshares and have traveled with them. Since owning I have only booked once through CRO - Contemporary last minute NYE 2008, and wow, i was shocked at how small the rooms are compared to what we are used to staying in. but I do like the room cleaned every day, etc. So I know if I wanted I could pay for it, but seems like even that is hit or miss lately from what I have been reading

 

[Sammie]

I wish more realized that there is nothing deluxe about staying in the DVC resorts, no newspaper, no extra towels or extra anything unless you pay, no daily house keeping, beds made, etc. We purchased because we like the space, we usually get a 2 bedroom for 4 of us, but we miss alot of what you get at a deluxe, i think the swan or doplhin puts mints on your pillows and has nightly turndown service. Not a big deal at all and I can do without, but it is nice to have and when I think DELUXE thats what I think Honeslty to me, DVC is no different than any other timeshare I have been at, just happens to be on Disney property. And I own other traditional timeshares and have traveled with them. Since owning I have only booked once through CRO - Contemporary last minute NYE 2008, and wow, i was shocked at how small the rooms are compared to what we are used to staying in. but I do like the room cleaned every day, etc. So I know if I wanted I could pay for it, but seems like even that is hit or miss lately from what I have been reading

I agree, it's a very different situation. That is why I think the best of DVC is one bedrooms or larger.

 

[Lynne M]

DVC is about the villas....if you don't want to stay in the villas, there's not much point in owning DVC, I'm afraid.

Just a few reasons why buying DVC points to stay at deluxes or moderates (what DVC refers to as the Disney Collection) will lead to disappointment:

1. You're exchanging out of the DVC system, so there's a $95 exchange fee every time you make or change a reservation.

2. Point costs are very, very high, go up on a regular basis, and there's no cap at all. DVC doesn't totally control this; they negotiate with the Disney Collection on an annual basis to set the cost of the exchanges. Expect the point costs to continue to rise, and before long you'd no longer have enough points for your stays at GF.

3. The contract guarantees you the right to stay at your DVC home resort. Anything else is subject to change. The right to use points at GF could go away altogether.

4. Availability of bookings for the other trading options (DCL, Disney Collection, etc) is...well, whatever number of rooms or cruise cabins they want to make available to DVC members. There was a bit of a panic earlier this year when DCL sharply limited availability for DVC exchanges, members who'd planned to book cruises for certain dates were suddenly unable to.

Again, if your main purpose in buying in would be to stay in the DVC resorts, with occasional cruises or stays in the deluxes, I'd say that you should seriously consider becoming a member. But if you intend to primarily use your points to stay at GF or take cruises, I can't recommend DVC at all.

 

[hockey6]

How many people in your family? That is what made the difference for us, being able to have seperate sleeping space for younger kids while older kids & parents stay up later. We were constantly upgrading to suites & paying a fortune for it. Our entire family of 6 loves AKV, we bank points & travel every other year, we get grand villa & bring the grandparents along. We ended buying into DVC bc of our large family but someday we will have the opportunity to rent studios or just bring friends along when our children are grown.
You love the GF, have you seen the rooms at BLT? You would still be close to monorail. We are staying there for 1st time in April the Magic Kingdom view sounds wonderful- kids can watch in pj's from the room!

 

[taaren]

I wish more realized that there is nothing deluxe about staying in the DVC resorts, no newspaper, no extra towels or extra anything unless you pay, no daily house keeping, beds made, etc. We purchased because we like the space, we usually get a 2 bedroom for 4 of us, but we miss alot of what you get at a deluxe, i think the swan or doplhin puts mints on your pillows and has nightly turndown service. Not a big deal at all and I can do without, but it is nice to have and when I think DELUXE thats what I think Honeslty to me, DVC is no different than any other timeshare I have been at, just happens to be on Disney property. And I own other traditional timeshares and have traveled with them. Since owning I have only booked once through CRO - Contemporary last minute NYE 2008, and wow, i was shocked at how small the rooms are compared to what we are used to staying in. but I do like the room cleaned every day, etc. So I know if I wanted I could pay for it, but seems like even that is hit or miss lately from what I have been reading

That's funny, because every time I stay at my home I'm amazed at how luxurious it is to stay at a Deluxe resort. We could never see spending the cash on $300/night to stay at the Grand, and at DLR everything is so close it was much cheaper to just stay at hotels across the street that are one step up from being a motel. The appointments of the rooms themselves are what deluxe it to me, the high thread counts, jacuzzi tub, 2 bathrooms for 5 people or 3 bathrooms for 9. I can understand how somebody might be disappointed by the lack of cleaning service, but I'd much rather have a washer/dryer in my room than have housekeeping.
That being said, it would be an adjustment for somebody already accustomed to deluxe Disney-style accommodations to switch to a Villa, though the magic of Disney is definitely there OP.

 

[HFC1969]

DVC is about the villas....if you don't want to stay in the villas, there's not much point in owning DVC, I'm afraid.

Just a few reasons why buying DVC points to stay at deluxes or moderates (what DVC refers to as the Disney Collection) will lead to disappointment:

1. You're exchanging out of the DVC system, so there's a $95 exchange fee every time you make or change a reservation.

2. Point costs are very, very high, go up on a regular basis, and there's no cap at all. DVC doesn't totally control this; they negotiate with the Disney Collection on an annual basis to set the cost of the exchanges. Expect the point costs to continue to rise, and before long you'd no longer have enough points for your stays at GF.

3. The contract guarantees you the right to stay at your DVC home resort. Anything else is subject to change. The right to use points at GF could go away altogether.

4. Availability of bookings for the other trading options (DCL, Disney Collection, etc) is...well, whatever number of rooms or cruise cabins they want to make available to DVC members. There was a bit of a panic earlier this year when DCL sharply limited availability for DVC exchanges, members who'd planned to book cruises for certain dates were suddenly unable to.

Again, if your main purpose in buying in would be to stay in the DVC resorts, with occasional cruises or stays in the deluxes, I'd say that you should seriously consider becoming a member. But if you intend to primarily use your points to stay at GF or take cruises, I can't recommend DVC at all.

Very informative!!! Thank YOU!

 

[frank808]

That's funny, because every time I stay at my home I'm amazed at how luxurious it is to stay at a Deluxe resort. We could never see spending the cash on $300/night to stay at the Grand, and at DLR everything is so close it was much cheaper to just stay at hotels across the street that are one step up from being a motel. The appointments of the rooms themselves are what deluxe it to me, the high thread counts, jacuzzi tub, 2 bathrooms for 5 people or 3 bathrooms for 9. I can understand how somebody might be disappointed by the lack of cleaning service, but I'd much rather have a washer/dryer in my room than have housekeeping.
That being said, it would be an adjustment for somebody already accustomed to deluxe Disney-style accommodations to switch to a Villa, though the magic of Disney is definitely there OP.

I definetly agree with this post. The only thing I donot agree with is the $300 a night. I have not seen a night at Gran Cal for less than $500 for the times we went last year and for the upcoming trip in June. With taxes and all it came out to a little less than $600 a night. That is what made me buy into DVC. The ability to stay into a deluxe resort for about $120 a day. Will come out even in paying for the points in about 1 more trips. Then it will only be costing me the annual maintenance fees for the next 40 years.

 

[chalee94]

Is DCV for us?

right now - it doesn't look like it...

but swing by again in a year or 2 and see if DVC is considering building villas at the grand floridian. (no idea if this will really happen but you never know...)

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I definetly agree with this post. The only thing I donot agree with is the $300 a night. I have not seen a night at Gran Cal for less than $500 for the times we went last year and for the upcoming trip in June. With taxes and all it came out to a little less than $600 a night. That is what made me buy into DVC. The ability to stay into a deluxe resort for about $120 a day. Will come out even in paying for the points in about 1 more trips. Then it will only be costing me the annual maintenance fees for the next 40 years.

but you may be at a deluxe resort, but not getting "deluxe" benefits. That's what I was trying to say. We loved staying at VWL, didnt really do much research, and bought resale silly us assumed we would still get housekeeping daily, newspaper, etc. Again not a big deal, our fault for not researching, but when I hear Deluxe I think Four Seasons not DVC.

 

[Mississippian]

I have a suggestion for you. For your next trip, rent points at about $13 and stay at BLT or BWV in a room that costs as much as what you would spend at the Grand Floridian (if there are just two of you, though, there is no need to get a 2 bedroom). I suggest these two because they come closest to having the amenities you are used to.

Then you can decide whether having plenty of room is more important than not being EXACTLY where you would rather be. You can decide how important the daily maid service is to you (of course, you can pay extra for it, but it is expensive).

Look before you leap! (But remember, he who hesitates, is lost).