questions on DVC

[Dznypal]

my dh flipped me out when he was interested in buying into the DVC!!!!

but I was wondering how much it is --I remembered when it first opened it was I think something like $12500 to buy into it (yea its been a long time ago!!!) and then you got X amount of points I cant remember how many points you got per yr this also included park tickets

but then when you wanted to go you would just use your points which went by season and resort

so it stay in a studio during say christmas you would use alot of points but it you stayed in end of JAn it would be alot less points

I was looking at the DVC board I wasnt quite seeing the answers to my questions

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

and also what are the maintance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

sorry for all the questions but DH threw me for a loop when he suggested dong this

also is it easy to transfers points to go somewhere else

thanks all

 

[Marionnette]

my dh flipped me out when he was interested in buying into the DVC!!!!

but I was wondering how much it is --I remembered when it first opened it was I think something like $12500 to buy into it (yea its been a long time ago!!!) and then you got X amount of points I cant remember how many points you got per yr this also included park tickets

but then when you wanted to go you would just use your points which went by season and resort

so it stay in a studio during say christmas you would use alot of points but it you stayed in end of JAn it would be alot less points

I was looking at the DVC board I wasnt quite seeing the answers to my questions

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

and also what are the maintance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

sorry for all the questions but DH threw me for a loop when he suggested dong this

also is it easy to transfers points to go somewhere else

thanks all

You should post your questions on the DVC board. They're very helpful with clarifying some of the more confusing aspects of ownership. You don't appear to have a very good grasp of timeshare ownership in general and DVC is a very complex form of timeshare.

However, in general terms:

• Cost is dependent on how many points you purchase, the resort that you are purchasing ownership in and whether you are purchasing from Disney or from the resale market.
• You can purchase as few or as many points as you like (minimum of 25 points on an addon contract) but when buying from Disney, there is a minimum number of points that your can purchase for your initial contract. I believe that minimum is 100 points.
  
• Maintenance fees are charged annually and once again, they are determined by the resort at which you own and the number of points that you have at that resort.
• You do not transfer points in order to "stay somewhere else". Transferring points is the process of moving points from one owner to another. I have never used my points to stay somewhere else and since I purchased contracts on the resale market, I am not able to use my points for what is referred to as "The Disney Collection".
• You do not get free theme park tickets for owning DVC. In fact, they rarely offer discounts on park tickets for DVC members. There is a discount for APs and PAPs, as well as discount admission for the water parks and Disney Quest.

Answering in more detail would take pages of typing. Please consider returning to the DVC boards, specifically the one that is for purchasing DVC, and ask your questions there.

 

[craigkerstiens]

my dh flipped me out when he was interested in buying into the DVC!!!!

but I was wondering how much it is --I remembered when it first opened it was I think something like $12500 to buy into it (yea its been a long time ago!!!) and then you got X amount of points I cant remember how many points you got per yr this also included park tickets

but then when you wanted to go you would just use your points which went by season and resort

so it stay in a studio during say christmas you would use alot of points but it you stayed in end of JAn it would be alot less points

I was looking at the DVC board I wasnt quite seeing the answers to my questions

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

and also what are the maintance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

sorry for all the questions but DH threw me for a loop when he suggested dong this

also is it easy to transfers points to go somewhere else

thanks all

The DVC board will definitely be quite helpful on all of these, so +1 on posting over there. Or perhaps a moderator can move the thread.

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

It all depends on how many you buy. You should look at how often you plan on going, the points charts of certain rooms then plan accordingly. Right now points are ~ $165 when buying direct from Disney. The difference of these points is pretty minimal in that you can use them for entirely other trips from Disney, though the general opinion is it's not really worth it to go direct from Disney unless you really want the latest resort where there may not be a market of resell points.

As for how much resell points cost it can really vary. You can find points at Animal Kingdom for just over $80 a point, where as Bay Lake Tower can go up to $120.

The home resort will let you book 11 months out, you should generally expect to stay there more than others. You'll very much be able to get stays at the other DVC resorts, but during busy times such as Holidays or EPCOT area resorts during F&W you may have less luck when not at your home resort.

and also what are the maintenance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

Regarding dues, it depends on your home resort. You can find this year's prices at http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...to-your-questions-here.3436037/#post-54182193 so if you had 100 points, it would be $560 assuming the dues were $5.60.

 

[mom2alix]

David's has a great point calculator to help see how many points you need for when you want to go. Www.dvcbyrequest.com.

 

[MAO]

my dh flipped me out when he was interested in buying into the DVC!!!!

but I was wondering how much it is --I remembered when it first opened it was I think something like $12500 to buy into it (yea its been a long time ago!!!) and then you got X amount of points I cant remember how many points you got per yr this also included park tickets

Slow down and start here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...-find-answers-to-your-questions-here.3436037/
Keep a piece of paper and pen(cil) handy or whatever you use to keep notes on.

Basically, the price is determined by which resort you buy into and how many points you buy. There is a minimum (maybe 150?) of points that you have to buy if you're buying directly from Disney but I'm not sure that's the case if you're buying resale. That previous statement is analogous to if you were to buy a new house from the developer or if you were to buy an older home from someone who's lived in it for a while, by the way. The Developer (i.e., Disney) is going to have mostly just the new resorts - the Polynesian bungalows, maybe the Grand Floridian Villas, possibly Bay Lake Tower - which are, as they're new, probably the more expensive ones. Resale gives you fewer 'perks' (though most people swear they've never used the perks that are lost, so keep that in mind while you're reading through everything) but other than that you are treated no differently than if you bought directly from Disney. (Well, there are several people here on DIS who will try to mock you for buying direct via Disney, but it's your money and your choice, so if anyone does that just ignore them.)

but then when you wanted to go you would just use your points which went by season and resort

so it stay in a studio during say christmas you would use alot of points but it you stayed in end of JAn it would be alot less points

I was looking at the DVC board I wasnt quite seeing the answers to my questions

Yes, the seasons as well as the type of room (studio, two bedroom, etc.) directly affect how many points you'd need for a stay. A one week stay in July, for example, would cost you far more points than a one week stay in January. The resort you stay at, as well, will cost more or less points - Grand Floridian is far more expensive than Old Key West and the number of points you'd need will reflect that. Staying in a Studio that looks out over the parking lot is going to cost fewer points than a two-bedroom that overlooks the park - those are the kinds of choices you'd be making when determining where and when you'd go.

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

Again, that is determined by you and your budget. Generally speaking, by far the majority of DVC owners will tell you
1) Buy where you want to stay - don't think you'll go for the cheapest resort, even though you hate it, because you'll just use your points at a different resort. Sometimes, that 11 month head start on making reservations will make all the difference in the world between getting what you want and not.
2) Buy at least enough points that you can stay where you want, when you want, every other year. You can 'bank' points from one year to the next, and you can 'borrow' points from the next year into the current. But you can't keep/use points more than two years later - i.e., it's 2015 right now and any points you might have from 2013 are lost - there's no way that you could have banked them into 2014 and then tried to 'bank' them again into 2015.
3) Do NOT, for the love of whatever you think is important, spend more money on this than you have. The saddest posts in the world are the ones where people have lost their jobs or their primary bread-winners and cannot afford to keep up the DVC payments. Do be aware that there is a process in place called 'renting' your points where you can potentially make enough to at least pay for your maintenance fees, but it's not guaranteed and it basically means that someone else is paying you for the Disney trips you won't be going on.

and also what are the maintance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

As mentioned in a previous post, every resort has its own maintenance fee and it's per point. Pay attention to the fact that, as far as I know, pretty much every resort has increased fees every year. There's no guarantee that fees won't jump from year to year, either.

sorry for all the questions but DH threw me for a loop when he suggested dong this

also is it easy to transfers points to go somewhere else

thanks all

Definitely take your time deciding on this course of action. And, yes, it is easy to 'go somewhere else'. The question, of course, is where do you want to go because there's no guarantee that your 'somewhere else' is an option within the DVC system. You may own at Bay Lake Tower and want to stay at Boardwalk Villas - that's usually pretty easy to do. You may own at Bay Lake Tower and want to stay in London, UK - that's very difficult to do as there is (currently) no swap available that would allow you to do it. You could make a case for "I'll rent my points and take the money I receive to stay in London" so, technically, you could claim to a certain degree that you used DVC to stay in London, but it's not "easy".

 

[MAO]

By the way, I'm spending 5 nights (Sunday to Friday) in October this year, during Food and Wine Festival, at the Boardwalk Villas. I've got a One Bedroom (*full* kitchen, jetted tub, living room, bedroom, washer/dryer combo) and I figure it's going to cost me $834.90. That's including my pro-rated initial cost as well as my pro-rated maintenance fees. For 110 points, even if you found someone to rent that to you for $10 a point (getting harder and harder to do, btw; it's more likely closer to $15 per point) - you'd still be paying over a thousand dollars. Do note that I bought into the Boardwalk 17 years ago and, obviously, costs have gone up including the purchase price for DVC. But for someone who expects to want to go to Disney every couple of years and who can afford to buy, I do think it's a good purchase. Just take your time deciding because it is a major purchase.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The price 11 yrs ago was $12,500 AKA $78 a point which is when we bought, but the price per point has gone up almost double. So you are looking at roughly $129 a point. Our maintenance fee is roughly $5 a point. We pay $880 a year. Once you hit your ROI ( returned on investment) which if you take a vacation every year using your points can be achieved in 5-7 depending on the time of year you travel. After the ROI has been achieved you are looking at paying $880 a year to stay at WDW. We are just a family of 2 and stay in studio's with our 160 point contract which allows us about 3 trips a year staying 3-4 nights each time. Remember each resort and each room type has a different point value. Overall we can stay 9-12 nights for a total of $880 ( AKA $73 - $98 a night) in a studio room where the cash price is typically around $250 - $450 a night.

You really should contact a WDW DVC Guide. They can tell you what is available and help you stay with in your budget. The Guides are very nice and NOT pushy, won't hound you on the phone like other timeshare places will.

One think to keep in mind. If you buy from a resale store you can ONLY use your DVC point to stay at a WDW DVC resort. You can not use them for RCI or to take a Disney Cruise or stay in a non - WDW DVC resort such as CRS, CBR, POR ect.

Please pop over to the DVC boards you will find a lot of answers on that board.

Been a member for nearly 12 yrs and love it.

 

[ToddyLu]

DVC is expensive but I love every cent. Our buy in direct from Disney was for AKV in 2009 was 93$ per point. We purchased 210 points direct from Disney. So we took out a ten year mortgage at 10.75%. Every one on the DVC boards including myself would recommend that you purchase resale. I will never buy direct again but we are OK with our contract as it stands...live and learn. So you can do the math and the purchase was about $18, 000 and about $25,000 after interest. Our monthly payments are $237 with Maintenance fees of about $1200 a year or $100 month. MFs when we started were around $80 a month so they increase every year buy a little and we purchase at the resort with on of the highest MFs becasue of the animal upkeep. Our mortgage will be paid off in 2019 but you can pay it off anytime and not be penalized.

So this the the basic cost for us to join...now lets talk about the extra trips, flights, food, souvenirs, APs and TIW card for discounts on food and wine. We only really vacation in WDW. I have been to Europe and DH and I both have done many other trips prior to buying in. But now it is all WDW. With the deluxe resort we enjoy the amenities and it has really changed the way to "do Disney". The commando days in the parks have stopped and we often hang around in the room with a nice drink, watch the animals and recently discovered Alaskan State Troopers on the Nat Geo Channel. Seriously, they are the best trips ever and we often enjoy taking our parents and put them up in their own studio also. DH and I do not have children and are in 46 ( me) and 51( DH). SO that gives you an idea of how an older childless couple's trip has changed since our first in 2002 staying at a value and going commando, etc.

Please factor the above in to your decision. Do not purchase any resort sight unseen and please take you time to do months and months of research. I am still learning nuances of DVC and you can see I have been on the DIS several years with multiple posts.

 

[ToddyLu]

I usually try to get value studios 11 months out at 8 a.m. This is the only DVC resort with that room category and we use it a lot when we take parents. A value studio( A nuance to owning at AKV) for a week in Oct-Dec ( most days) is 69 points. That is 132 for those two rooms that week leaving me 72 points to use, bank or borrow at times. I use and deal my points out like they are GOLD and small jewels...they are never wasted and we have never had to cancel a reservation. We do get standard studios at times and I pick Jambo for those since standard there is pool view typically ( a nuance to owning at AKV). I am a master tactical DVC planner and am always mentally planning two years out. This has in a way made me a professional DVCer with a primal awareness of what the heck I am doing because of how much it "costs". I did not step into DVC blind but I have learned a lot here. DH is an innocent bystander who lets me plan and organize the trips.

If I have made your eyes glaze over ...you haven't done enough research....I could talk about my skills for hours....

 

[calypso726]

my dh flipped me out when he was interested in buying into the DVC!!!!

but I was wondering how much it is --I remembered when it first opened it was I think something like $12500 to buy into it (yea its been a long time ago!!!) and then you got X amount of points I cant remember how many points you got per yr this also included park tickets

but then when you wanted to go you would just use your points which went by season and resort

so it stay in a studio during say christmas you would use alot of points but it you stayed in end of JAn it would be alot less points

I was looking at the DVC board I wasnt quite seeing the answers to my questions

which are does any one know how much it is to buy into the DVC--how many points you get each yr

and also what are the maintance fees--I saw on the DVC boards its something like 5.6 now is that per $1000

sorry for all the questions but DH threw me for a loop when he suggested dong this

also is it easy to transfers points to go somewhere else

thanks all

DVC is currently only selling Polynesian Villas and Aulani direct at $165 per point. Villas at Grand Floridian is sold out and they are not taking wait lists any longer. Some of the other sold out resorts may be available upon request with the exception of Beach Club Villas. You should purchase the amount of points you need according to the season you travel most and type of accommodation you wish to stay in at the resort you like the best with a little cushion should the points required go up a little bit when adjustments are made.

Resale is the best way to go as you can find contracts for significantly less. You should choose a use year that falls during or just before the month you mostly travel to WDW. We go for F&W and MNSSHP every year which is mostly in October so we chose a September use year. Annual maintenance fees are per point and vary according to resort. We have 1300 points between our 4 home resorts. Last year our annual dues were just under $7000. Buy where you want to stay. Even though we bought SSR originally and love it there, we discovered for our F&W trips we'd rather be at BCV so picked up 300 points via resale just for our October trips. My favorite resort is AKV and DH's is VGF so we bought at both of them.

Point transfers are allowed once a year and not what I think you are asking. You have an 11 month priority booking window for your home resort. To book at any other resort you would need to wait until 7 months from your check in date. Depending on the time of year, type of room and resort that is not always possible. This is why you should buy where you want to stay the most. DVC boards will be your best resource from DVC owners to discover if this is right for you and your family and to answer questions. Hope this helps

 

[Disneychick75]

DVC is currently only selling Polynesian Villas and Aulani direct at $165 per point. Villas at Grand Floridian is sold out and they are not taking wait lists any longer. Some of the other sold out resorts may be available upon request with the exception of Beach Club Villas. You should purchase the amount of points you need according to the season you travel most and type of accommodation you wish to stay in at the resort you like the best with a little cushion should the points required go up a little bit when adjustments are made.

Resale is the best way to go as you can find contracts for significantly less. You should choose a use year that falls during or just before the month you mostly travel to WDW. We go for F&W and MNSSHP every year which is mostly in October so we chose a September use year. Annual maintenance fees are per point and vary according to resort. We have 1300 points between our 4 home resorts. Last year our annual dues were just under $7000. Buy where you want to stay. Even though we bought SSR originally and love it there, we discovered for our F&W trips we'd rather be at BCV so picked up 300 points via resale just for our October trips. My favorite resort is AKV and DH's is VGF so we bought at both of them.

Point transfers are allowed once a year and not what I think you are asking. You have an 11 month priority booking window for your home resort. To book at any other resort you would need to wait until 7 months from your check in date. Depending on the time of year, type of room and resort that is not always possible. This is why you should buy where you want to stay the most. DVC boards will be your best resource from DVC owners to discover if this is right for you and your family and to answer questions. Hope this helps

When we bought our contracts 10 years ago( 2-150 pt each), I wanted BWV. BWV was sold out. My sales rep got me the contracts though. OP, if there's a resort you want besides Polynesian Villas or Aulani, call. If the resort is not available, go resale. "Under the new policy, Members who purchase from anyone other than Disney Vacation Development, Inc., on or after March 21, 2011, will not be eligible to use those Vacation Points to make reservations within the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection. Those Vacation Points will instead be valid only for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest."

So you can still go other places besides WDW using your DVC membership. This is a good article:

http://***************.com/blog/disney-vacation-club/the-truth-about-dvc-resale-restrictions/

Sorry, I guess the link is not allowed.

 

[calypso726]

Yes, like I mentioned, some of the sold out resorts may be available to purchase direct upon request. However, those who have been looking to purchase BCV or VGF direct are being told by Disney Vacation Development that they are not available and they are not adding anyone to the wait list anymore to purchase direct.

Generally speaking, using points to book anything outside of DVC stays is not a good use of your points according to most owners. That said, everyone does what works best for them. We've rented out points and used the cash to mitigate the cost of an ABD trip. We've used them to stay at Disneyland Paris Hotel and are using them this Thanksgiving for a ski trip to Colorado. There are lots of different ways to get value out if your points. Becoming DVC members has been a great experience for us. Before buying though we researched the DVC boards here on the Dis and made sure we understood what we were getting into.

 

[eliza61]

Another thing to consider with purchasing a dvc. its a different type of vacation.
You don't get daily maid service.
changing your weeks after you reserve can be a pain.
you can book only 11 months out at your home resort. so I own at the BC, I can reserve 11 months out there which means I have a pretty good chance of getting the reservation I want but if I want to stay at Bay lake towers I can only book at 7 months out.
WL is the smallest resort so some times we want to stay there but no room in the inn.

 

[ValpoCory]

Other things to consider. The DVC is a timeshare, so be sure you understand why most financial advisers advise against them.

Also, when computing your "breakeven point"/Return on investment, don't just say it'll be in 5-7 years like Disney wants you to think. Calculate it based on what your Disney expenses would be in the next decade or longer if you were not in the DVC. That will show you whether the savings are true or just a marketing ploy.

In general, DVC is a good deal for those folks who without DVC would still go to Disney annually and stay at Deluxe resorts each time.

If you are not in that category but still are interested in DVC, I highly recommend Renting DVC points.