Question regarding room types available

[Disney Dreams]

Okay, I am learning the very basics of DVC with thinking about joining and I have a seemingly simple question.

Let's say we want to buy into DVC with AK being our home resort. I have seen charts that show the points required per night. What I have not been able to figure out is:

What if we just want a room, not a studio or a suite? Can we use points?

We are just the 2 of us and thinking if a studio is the smallest room we can rent, it might not make sense for us to go DVC.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

- Dreams

 

[bookwormde]

A studio is just a little bigger than a standard room at a deluxe, it just has additional meal preperation facilities (microwave, toster etc).

bookwormde

 

[ElizabethG]

Studios are pretty small. They are set up nice for two people because they only have one actual bed. You can stay regular resorts, but it is not a good value. It costs a lot of points.
Sample studio floorplan (from BLT)

 

[disneynutz]

If you're not going to use your points to stay at a DVC resort, then being a Member probably isn't worth it.

Bill

 

[Disney Dreams]

Thank you all for your replies.

So....

If I am understanding correctly:

AKL for Savannah View during October is 14 points / night. So for 5 nights, we are at 70 points. So that's $7000???

What am I missing?

- Dreams

 

[kristenrice]

Thank you all for your replies.

So....

If I am understanding correctly:

AKL for Savannah View during October is 14 points / night. So for 5 nights, we are at 70 points. So that's $7000???

What am I missing?

- Dreams

No, not quite....

When you buy a DVC contract, there are two costs involved: the cost of the contract and the maintenance fees. Think of it as buying a house (the contract) and paying the utilities (the maintenance fees). The contract is a one-time expense and the maintenance fees are paid annually.

There are two ways to acquire a DVC contract. First, you can buy from Disney directly. Think of it as buying a house directly from the builder. You can customize it to your needs, within certain parameters, and they will "build" it for you. Second, you can buy a resale contract. Think of these as "lived in" homes. In this case, you are only able to buy a "pre-assembled" contract so you may have to search to find exactly what you need.

Buying from Disney is faster, but more expensive. The contract cost per point is higher than resale and you must buy a minimum of 160 points. Buying resale is a slower process but you can find contracts as small as 25 points and the cost is usually a lot cheaper.

So, in your example, let's say you find a resale contract at AKV for the 70 points. This contract is listed at $85 per point. Your contract will cost $5950 plus about $350 in closing costs. This is a one-time expense. Once that is paid, you will receive your 70 points every year until the year 2057. Your only additional expense will be the annual maintenance fees. For 2010, that would run you about $350.

Right now, I believe that Disney is offering new owners the ability to buy in at AKV with only 100 points rather than 160. If you are not in a hurry, I would highly suggest checking out the board sponsor and look for a resale contract. We used them without any complaints and we are proud owners of 100 points at AKV.

If you have any questions, ask them here. You will learn more here than any DVC guide could tell you.

Good Luck!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think anyone has stated this yet, but you cannot use DVC points at any hotel connected to a DVC resort. So you can never use points at AKL, BC, WL, CR or BWI. And should they decide to add a DVC resort to the Polynesian or GF, you wouldn't be able to use points there in the future. You can now, but the points required for regular hotel room can be more than those needed for a studio or one bedroom depending on the resort.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

If you're not going to use your points to stay at a DVC resort, then being a Member probably isn't worth it.

Bill

I would agree. In my opinion you get the best value using your points to stay at a DVC Resort.

Jason

 

[Sandisw]

One more quick thing to remember is that the points charts for the resort can adjust slightly so buying exactly what you need is never a good idea.

The total # of points for the resort can not change, but individual nights and seaons can. So, if you know that you need 70 points, it is possible that could fluctuate some.

Last year, the adjusted to make weekdays a bit more and weekends a bit less because members were not staying on the weekends as much.

And, once you pay for the points, the only thing left are the MF's. If you are visiting Disney on a regular basis, then DVC might be a good option.

As others have said, the studios are not really about the same as a hotel room (and some are a bit smaller) because of the kitchenette.

Good luck!

 

[maburke]

Thank you all for your replies.

So....

If I am understanding correctly:

AKL for Savannah View during October is 14 points / night. So for 5 nights, we are at 70 points. So that's $7000???

What am I missing?

- Dreams

I think you're missing that you can take that vacation for 50 years for $7000 (plus maintenance fees, as others explain above).