Questions about the history of the DVC!

[bangzoom6877]

Anyone know what year Disney began the DVC, and which resort/resorts were the first DVC resort(s)? Anyone know how much it cost back then per point, and how many points you could buy? Just curious how much it has gone up since then!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Anyone know what year Disney began the DVC, and which resort/resorts were the first DVC resort(s)? Anyone know how much it cost back then per point, and how many points you could buy? Just curious how much it has gone up since then!

DVC began in 1991 and, I believe, the point cost was in the $50s. The first resort was Old Key West but it's original name was actually the Disney Vacation Club. When the Boardwalk was announced they changed the name of that first resort to Disney's Old Key West Resort.

I believe that originally you had to buy 210 points. That was lowered to 150 (the minimum when we purchased in 1997) and then raised again to 160. If you purchase through DVC you need to purchase their minimum, but if you purchase a resale you do not.

So, basically, the cost has doubled since DVC first began. I know that we paid in the low $60s in 1997 and we could sell our points today for more than we paid back then, which is a good feeling...although we will NEVER sell!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

When I bought for August use year in 93, the minimum had been 190 for about a year at that point and the cost was $13.500 on a 3 ear contract - around $55 a point.

it would be interesting if people would list their year, minimum points, and cost for minimum or cost/point, to get a look at the curve data trend.

We won't sell either! The value in stored up memories and love is just too high a price!
Nancy

 

[Chuck S]

Pre-opening sales prices were in the $48 to $50 range for The Disney Vacation Club Resort (OKW). We purchased in May 1992 for $51. We early purchasers also received free Length of Stay park passes through 1999 while staying at OKW, they were for 1/2 the capacity of the room. Studios & 1 bedrooms received 2 passes, 2 bedrooms 4 passes and GVs 6 passes.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm pretty sure the original minimum was 230 points

You might find the order of resorts interesting......others please jump in if I don't have this right.

Disney Vacation Club - renamed to Old Key West

Disney's Hilton Head Island

Disney's Vero Beach

Boardwalk Villas

Wilderness Lodge Villas

Beach Club Villas

Announcement of Eagle Pines Resort -- abandoned

Saratoga Springs Resort

Animal Kingdom Villas

Announced future plans: Disneyland Resort and Hawaiian DVC as part of larger Disney resort

At one point Disney also announced they would build a DVC in Newport, CA but that was abandoned.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Thanks for reminding about the passes, Chuck! That's how I ended up with 60 VB points (bought while I got a CM discount).

We had a GV trip and needed extra passes for folks staying with us. We added on and voila! The Vero contracts still offered passes, when the OKW add-ons didn't.

In retrospect, it wasn't a very smart decision - two contracts with different home resorts, but c'est la vie! I've made it work pretty successfully!

Nancy

 

[RobDoc]

Here is a history of DVC as compiled from past posts over the years:

Pre-Construction -- $48 (230 pt. minimum)
October, 7, 1991 -- Sales begin at OKW
Decemeber, 1991 -- OKW opens at $51
January, 1992 -- $51 (230 pt. minimum)
February, 1992 -- $51
July-August, 1992 -- $54.50
11/1/92 -- $56
May, 1993 -- $56 (210 pt. minimum)
July, 1993 -- $57.50
January, 1994 -- $57.50 (190 pt. minimum)
March, 1994 -- Announce Newport, CA plans
April, 1994 -- $59 Increase announced for June
6/15/94 -- $60.50
November, 1994 -- $61.50
7/1/95 -- $62.75
October 1, 1995 -- Vero Opens
March 1, 1996 -- HHI Opens
May, 1996 -- $62.75
July, 1996 -- BWV Opens
May, 1997 -- $62.75 (150 pt. minimum)
May, 1998 -- $62.75
Fall, 1998 -- OKW Sells-out
Fall, 1998 -- Announce WLV
January, 1999 -- $65
October, 1999 -- $65 (notice of OKW selling out again after adding buildings 62, 63, 64)
Mid-May, 2000 -- $67
June, 2000 -- $67
November, 2000 -- WLV Opens, BWV Sells-out
December, 2000 -- VWL sales begin
January, 2001 -- $72
March, 2001 -- an increase to $75 announced for June
June, 2001 -- $75
February 3, 2002 -- Sales begin for BCV
March 6, 2002 –- Reservations begin for BCV
June, 2002 -- $80 per point
Dec 1, 2002 -- $84 per point (announced early Oct.)
Aug 4, 2003 -- $89 per point (SSR Sales begin with $10 discount = $79) with expiration in 2054.
May, 2004 -- SSR opens.
May, 2004 -- $95 per point @SSR, $89 at other DVC resorts.
June, 2005 -- $98 per point @SSR, $92 at other DVC resorts.
Jan (?), 2006 -- $101 per point @SSR, $95 at other DVC resorts (with some variances at OKW, VB and HH). Incentives are also available lowering the effective purchase price for 150 or more points.
Fall , 2006 --AKV announced.
February 1, 2007 -- AKV sales begin for existing members. $101 ($8 incentive discount also available)
March, 2007 -- $104 per point. (160 point minimum) ($8 incentive discount available)
July 1, 2007 -- AKV opens as part of main AKL resort - Jambo House. (Original opening - was moved up to July from September)
Summer, 2007 -- GCV Announced (opening in 2009)
Fall, 2007 -- Ko'Olina, Hawaii DVC resort announced (opening in 2011)
Spring, 2009 -- AKV - Kidani Village - opening.

 

[SusieBea]

We bought 190 points in May/June, 1993, at $56 per point. And, boy, those park passes were a real incentive.

 

[JimMIA]

There is a deadly logical trap in looking at what people paid many years ago. A more relevant comparison might be to look at what people paid a year or two ago vs. what they could get for their contracts now.

Comparing what someone paid in 1991 is like comparing house prices pre-construction in 1991 and the reality you would face if you bought a house two years ago and had to sell it today. My home purchase in 1998 looks great; my neighbor's purchase right across the street in 2006 looks absolutely awful. For the same house.

For example, a lot of people paid high-80's to mid-90's for SSR. There is no way anyone is getting that buy-in back by selling today. Selling prices today are $10 per point lower than those people paid. To me, that is a much more relevent comparison if you are trying to decide whether or not to buy DVC.

My suggestion is that you not consider any resale later -- look at the buyin and the annual maintenance fees and then see if it makes sense for your family.

 

[edk35]

When I bought for August use year in 93, the minimum had been 190 for about a year at that point and the cost was $13.500 on a 3 ear contract - around $55 a point.

it would be interesting if people would list their year, minimum points, and cost for minimum or cost/point, to get a look at the curve data trend.

We won't sell either! The value in stored up memories and love is just too high a price!
Nancy

I remember when we went in Dec. 93 it was going to cost us about 11,000 well less than 12,000 (If I remember correctly)for whatever min. points were required back then at DVC. We didn't do it and BOY DID I REGRET THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

 

[henri + katie's mum]

March, 1994 -- Announce Newport, CA plans

What was this?

 

[dvc_john]

They had announced a DVC resort in Newport Beach California, a bit south of Disneyland. They later dropped those plans, and Marriott built a timeshare on the property. (Marriott Newport Coast Villas).

Also of note were unannounced plans to build in New York City and Beaver Creek Colordo. Both plans were dropped. The NY property was to be a combination hotel/DVC resort, near the New Amsterdam theater. The site is now a hotel. The Beaver Creek property is now a Hyatt timeshare and some condos.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since you mentioned a couple sell-out dates, didn't VWL sell out around February, 2002. We bought just before that and I remember our guide told us that VWL was due to sell out any day. And of course, a guide always tells the truth! Does anyone know when BCV or HHI sold out? I know HHI sold out around the time of one of our trips there, but I don't remember whether it was 2003 or 2005.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

There is a deadly logical trap in looking at what people paid many years ago. A more relevant comparison might be to look at what people paid a year or two ago vs. what they could get for their contracts now.

Comparing what someone paid in 1991 is like comparing house prices pre-construction in 1991 and the reality you would face if you bought a house two years ago and had to sell it today. My home purchase in 1998 looks great; my neighbor's purchase right across the street in 2006 looks absolutely awful. For the same house.

For example, a lot of people paid high-80's to mid-90's for SSR. There is no way anyone is getting that buy-in back by selling today. Selling prices today are $10 per point lower than those people paid. To me, that is a much more relevent comparison if you are trying to decide whether or not to buy DVC.

My suggestion is that you not consider any resale later -- look at the buyin and the annual maintenance fees and then see if it makes sense for your family.

I agree with your last point, however, I imagine that no matter when you would have purchased DVC it would take a few years for the resale prices to exceed what you paid. Currently it seems the economy is driving unusually low resale prices, when it turns around resales should also rise.

I think a more relevant statistic would be to compare the increase in sale price to the CPI. From 1991 - 2008 the CPI rose approximately 58%, the sale price of DVC, excluding the presale price, rose from $51 - $104, about 104%.

 

[DVC_Chris]

Not many people know that the logo has changed over the years too. It used to be that the DVC logo had three mountains, four palm trees, and a boat. Then it went to just the three mountains, four plam trees, and finally the current version. I would be curious if anyone has a graphic showing the original log with the boat... I have never been able to come accross it since they changed it.

 

[Debbie H]

I was at OKW for the weekend and had some meals with some interesting people. Rumor has it, in a few years, DVC will be bought out by Marriott. Marriott bought the Newport property years ago so it may be interesting to see how this develops.

 

[Chuck S]

Interesting rumor, but what would be the advantage to Marriott in buying out the fully sold DVC resorts? The big bucks come from the initial sales.

THe only way I see this as feasible is that if Disney turns over management/operations/reservations of all Disney resorts to Marriott. I don't think that is really likely to hapen.

 

[bwvBound]

Do we have a complete history of "sold out" dates for each resort? From this thread, I'm seeing ...

• OKW -> 1998
• BWV -> 2000
• VWL -> 2002

Do we have the others? Thx!

 

[tjkraz]

Do we have a complete history of "sold out" dates for each resort? From this thread, I'm seeing ...

• OKW -> 1998
• BWV -> 2000
• VWL -> 2002

Do we have the others? Thx!

That's a difficult topic since several of the resorts have been re-opened for additional sales after they were "sold out."

For example, DVC sold BoardWalk points again in 2003 after the sales center moved to Saratoga Springs. Reclaiming that space allowed them to add 17 (?) more rooms at the BoardWalk and associated points were sold to members.

Saratoga Springs ended active sales around June or July of '08 but will sell again in late-08 or early-09 when the Treehouse Villas are offered.

Old Key West also grew significantly throughout its lifespan.