I just heard from the Disney salesperson that oct 1 the minimum goes up. What, then, do you DVC veterans recommend for the buyer who has been considering for months now? Will anyone have regrets about not getting “in” at 100 pts? I kind of which I had known about DVC when the minimum was 75pts...:
Buying DVC really needs to be a financial decision, although ask many DVCers, and regrettably emotional decisions come into play too. Disney has multiple deals off of hotel room rack rates, depending on when you go, and you need to compare those discounted hotel room rates to how much you'd spend for lodging as a DVC Member.
I haven't run the numbers, but for me, if you're going to WDW 5-6 days a year and getting one hotel room each time, then it's not worth it. Basically, when you factor in the cash out of pocket for the 100 or 125 point minimum, and even spread out over 50 years, that amount plus the annual maintenance fee (which basically goes up every year) doesn't justify 5-6 nights lodging every year (or 10-12 nights every two years at a DVC property. Also, if you primarily stay at value or moderate resorts, I think you're probably getting a better deal with hotel room rates.
That being said, if you tend to travel with a large group, DVC is a lifesaver. If you want the space that comes with a DVC 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom, no matter how many are in your party, then DVC is the only way to go unless you want to stay off property. Also, if you want to eat in while at the resort, basically transfer from your food budget to your lodging budget, then DVC is great for that!
As for the emotional side, since it's just me, my wife, and our son, we thought we would always do studios and did for our first 2 trips to Aulani. Then our first WDW trip on DVC points happened. We were doing a split stay and I booked the last week at OKW in a 1 bedroom so we could do laundry. The first week we wanted a studio at Boardwalk but we couldn't get it because it was about 6 months out. But a 1 bedroom wasn't a problem. The second we walked into the 1 bedroom at Boardwalk (post refurbishment too), we were sold on the 1 bedrooms. The space. The ability to watch two different shows in two different rooms after a long day in the parks. Cooking on those nights we didn't want to eat out. Having breakfast in the unit rather than breakfast in the parks. Having a real table to sit at. And we left that to go to the amazing 900+ square ft. 1-bedroom at OKW. OMG!
We're in California, and if we're going to get on a plane for 5 hours to get to WDW or Aulani, we're probably going to go for 12-14 nights. And alternating what year we go where. So DVC makes sense for us, both financially and emotionally.
