Sat thru DCL DVC presentation but confused

[huffjoann]

We just sat thru the DCL DVC presentation but didn't have time to schedule w the rep,,,, I think I have the basic gist of things and understand your "home resort" doesn't mean you have to go there,,,, and I have a book with some of the corresponding points at resorts but what about for cruises? We cruise sometimes and would like to enjoy points advantages there as well. I was reading some people say its a bad value for that? but I know this can vary personal experience for each family.
If we cruise once a yr or every other year will the base points work with that? I think I can get hubby onboard to the base points and cost but much beyond that he is gonna balk lol

 

[com_op_2000]

Most people on the DISBoards will tell you NOT to buy DVC to use mostly for cruises. You can make a better deal for cruises by paying cash. Checkout the points charts for the amount of points needed for cruises.
Buy DVC to stay at DVC resorts.
Checkout the resale market for reduced cost points. Points bought on the resale market can NOT be used for DCLs.

 

[disneynutz]

There isn't any advantage using points for a cruise, in fact it's a disadvantage. In addition Disney has in the past not offered open booking for point users on cruises, cash guests seem to come first. A couple of years ago cruises were blacked out for almost a year for point users.

Bill

 

[skier_pete]

Agree with PP. In order to use DVC points for cruises you have to buy direct. Buying direct plus the value you get for the points means the cruises will actually cost you MORE than if you just paid cash.

A 7-night cruise on the Fantasy or Dream will run you 200-300 points PER person. Even assuming on the low end, you are looking at needing to buy 400 points for a couple to use for a cruise. At Disney's $165 per point, that's $66,000 upfront, and add to that $2000 a year in maintenance fees. How long would it take you to break even. The answer is - NEVER.

If you use DVC for mostly DVC and occasionally take a cruise with the points, I could see it. Never buy with the intention of using it primarily for cruising.

 

[Lynne M]

Understand that DVC is a timeshare, and the value in its use is for stays at the DVC resorts. You are purchasing the right to stay at DVC resorts, subject to availability. When you use points for DCL stays, you're exchanging out of the DVC system. Basically, it's a current 'perk' for members who purchase direct to be able to use points for cruises. Which means:

1. The right to use points for cruises could go away at any time.

2. DCL chooses which cabins/sailings to offer for points, and can restrict that pretty much any way they choose. And they do.

3. There is a $95 fee for booking outside the system. That's also subject to change at any time.

4. Points required for cruises are not fixed in any way. They're renegotiated every year, generally go up every year, and could double or triple at DCL or DVC's whim. They're already too high to be worth it, IMO. Before long, you'll no longer have enough points to cruise.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't know if I would call it a perk, IMO it's a marketing ploy. To increase the perceived benefit of owning a DVC contract, Disney lists all of these extra things that you might be able to use your points on, not that it makes financial sense to do so or that the extra things are or will be available.

Bill

 

[skier_pete]

Yes, a "perk" to me is something extra that you can't otherwise get unless your a DVC member. A 10% discount at Disney Stores is a perk. $75 off an AP is a perk. Possibly the DVC member cruise could be considered a perk, but I wouldn't consider the fact that you can use your points to pay for something that would cost you the same or less if you used cash a "perk".

When the latest member points guide came out, I even did some comparison shopping, and it was the same thing for the rest of the Disney Collection. For instance, you can use your points to rent a regular room at say Carribean Beach in October at roughly $200-250 a night (depending on what you are paying for maintenance fees), or you can call Disney and use the standard Disney 20% room discount and pay $170 a night cash. Is paying more for a room using points than someone pays for cash a "perk"? Seems to me it's actually a rip-off.

The fact is, the REST of Disney doesn't care about giving DVC members discounts, so places like the Orlando Resorts or the Cruise Line basically tell DVC that their members have to pay the full ride. Since DVC doesn't really care what that price is - the members pay for it after all - they only care that is exists as a sales tool, everyone's happy about it.

 

[disneynutz]

Yes, a "perk" to me is something extra that you can't otherwise get unless your a DVC member. A 10% discount at Disney Stores is a perk. $75 off an AP is a perk. Possibly the DVC member cruise could be considered a perk, but I wouldn't consider the fact that you can use your points to pay for something that would cost you the same or less if you used cash a "perk".

When the latest member points guide came out, I even did some comparison shopping, and it was the same thing for the rest of the Disney Collection. For instance, you can use your points to rent a regular room at say Carribean Beach in October at roughly $200-250 a night (depending on what you are paying for maintenance fees), or you can call Disney and use the standard Disney 20% room discount and pay $170 a night cash. Is paying more for a room using points than someone pays for cash a "perk"? Seems to me it's actually a rip-off.

The fact is, the REST of Disney doesn't care about giving DVC members discounts, so places like the Orlando Resorts or the Cruise Line basically tell DVC that their members have to pay the full ride. Since DVC doesn't really care what that price is - the members pay for it after all - they only care that is exists as a sales tool, everyone's happy about it.

A good example of how Disney feels about DVC owners is that the SVP head of DVC is also the head of Adventures By Disney. Do we get any discount, no, using points, we pay more than a cash payer.

The president over Disney Cruise Line is also the President of DVC and ABD. Again no discount even though he controls all three experiences.

Bill

 

[skier_pete]

The president over Disney Cruise Line is also the President of DVC and ABD. Again no discount even though he controls all three experiences.

Bill

But it doesn't matter that the President is the same. Disney is, like all major corporations, a bottom line corporation. So if the DCL group gave a discount to the DVC group, it would have to cut out of SOMEONE'S profit. DCL doesn't want to cut their profit to help DVC look good, and corporate central doesn't force them to, so they charge DVC full price.

 

[disneynutz]

But it doesn't matter that the President is the same. Disney is, like all major corporations, a bottom line corporation. So if the DCL group gave a discount to the DVC group, it would have to cut out of SOMEONE'S profit. DCL doesn't want to cut their profit to help DVC look good, and corporate central doesn't force them to, so they charge DVC full price.

I get that but they don't even have to fight with another group or business unit to get a discount, it's all under the same business unit. You would think that they could do something, a little discount or at least not charge DVC members extra.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/need-help-from-dvc-experts-re-points-cash-payments.3255277/

If you want some alternate opinions for using points for cruising, read that.

 

[Dean]

We just sat thru the DCL DVC presentation but didn't have time to schedule w the rep,,,, I think I have the basic gist of things and understand your "home resort" doesn't mean you have to go there,,,, and I have a book with some of the corresponding points at resorts but what about for cruises? We cruise sometimes and would like to enjoy points advantages there as well. I was reading some people say its a bad value for that? but I know this can vary personal experience for each family.
If we cruise once a yr or every other year will the base points work with that? I think I can get hubby onboard to the base points and cost but much beyond that he is gonna balk lol

There should be no disagreement from anyone that buying today with periodic cruising as part of the plan is a bad idea. You pay more now, have to buy a lot more points at the higher price for the opportunity to pay more later when you use the points for cruising. It's nice to have options but this is a bad plan. It's one thing to have the points and decide to use them or get extra points at the time of purchase, but buying with the plan to use points for cruising periodically is universally a bad idea.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Plus, if you have to change the dates of your cruise, you pay the $95 again. And if you can't cruise, your points cannot be used for DVC resorts. They have become reservation points. Meaning you can only use them for other non-DVC Disney trips.