seriously thinking...

[mojophone]

Ok I know that this is posted somewhere else in here but I wanted to get fresh ideas and thoughts.

I am now seriously thinking about purchasing a dvc membership even though we have never been to Disney.

We normally go to some amusement park every year for at least a 3-5 day stay and Disney has always been our dream.

Both my wife and myself would like to go every year( I think the kids would like to also if you want my honest opinion).

I suppose we are kinda nervous because of the "timeshare" conotation. You know timeshares are such a ripoff due to hidden fees among other not so good things, most especially loss of monetary value.

Would you folks be kind enough to give me your opinions whether they be good or bad, the ins and outs, Why is it worth it?, what makes you think it isn't worth it?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Well.

I'm guessing that you, like me, might've experienced some "near death" timeshare presentations, which left you with a bad taste in your mouth.

DVC, methinks, is in the vanguard of trying to erase that unfortunate feeling many have. Their presentations are pressure free, they don't go into a back room to get Guido, the manager, to lean on you ... it's a pleasant experience all around. It's worth the time invested.

But to get the most bang for your buck with DVC, you'd better love Disney - actually, adore might be a better term. We fall in the adoration category, but if you find Disney less than enchanting, then I'd look elsewhere. While at 50 I'm an avid park lover, and will ride anything, you also have to factor in how your tastes might change over the years (I'd love it even if I never entered a park).

The flexibility of the point system (which some other companies have copied or adapted) erases the worry of being locked into one week or one property.

For us, it was DEFINITELY worth it, as most of the others hanging out here will attest to. But it's not an insignificant chunk of change. What nudged us over the edge was the fact that we were using "anyhow" money - we take vacations, and budget for them, so it wasn't like we were using that money for anything else. There are some financial plusses, like locking in the cost of accomodations, notwithstanding dues.

You'll find plenty of hard data in other threads, and there's nothing wrong with calling DVC and hooking up with a salesperson (aka guide). You won't be hassled. And there's always the possibility of buying resale. We've gone both routes, and both were painless.

But as for me and my house ... no regrets. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Just wish we'd bought sooner (to borrow a well-used phrase.)

Good luck! You'll get reams of good advice here real soon.

EDIT: I envy you on your first trip. I wish I could be there to see your face.

 

[abner1776]

There are a multitude of issues that could be addressed on the issue of DVC, so I will address only two...years and ROFR.

Buying into DVC means that you are making a committment for the next 36 or 46 years as far as where you want to vacation. You are in effect pre-paying your vacation for that length of time. If you are uncertain as to whether or not Disney is "your thing" then you may want to visit once or twice b/4 buying into DVC.

ROFR means "right of first refusal" and it means that Disney has the right to buy back any vacation club contract that members want to sell. Disney exercises ROFR quite frequently if it feels that the selling price is too low or if Disney wants to build up it's inventory of points. The end result of ROFR is that the resale price is artifically "propped up" by Disney which is great for DVC members since it supports the values of our contracts. ROFR does not guarantee that members who sell their contracts will make a profit on the contracts, but it does serve to limit the downside of many timeshares where the resale value of the timeshare drops 50% as soon as the ink is dry.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think that if you have never been to WDW, youshould go at least once first, before buying, to make sure it is someplace you will like. It is more than an amusement park...it is really a resort destination, and you could be there for 3-5 days an never go into one of the theme parks.

Once you have experienced WDW, then it is time to determine if the DVC is right for you. When we were considering buying, my DH (who is in real estate) looked at the program from every conceivable angle, to the point of driving me insane. He reasearched costs, the value of the money we were investing in DVC and what we'd therefore be "losing" by not investing it in retirement vehicles, he amortized the cost over the length of the contract, and on and on and on... The bottom line is, it is a worthwhile purchase if you plan on going to WDW at least every other year.

We bought enough points to give is a week's vacation every year, because we knew we loved WDW enough to want to go every year. Of couorse, buying the right amount of points is crucial. We bought 200. It's what we could comfortably afford that would allow us to do what we wanted to do. f course, then we stayed in a 1 bedroom unit, and then it was tough to go back to a studio, so we bought more points!!! But I'm getitng ahead of myself.

My recommendation...go to WDW. See if you like it enough to want to go back at least every other year. If so, go to the DVC presentation. It's not a hard sell. They give you info, but we were never pushed at all. I would feel confident in saying that if you feel as if your guide is pushing you, then request a different guide. Pushy isn't the way they sell DVC.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I think that if you have never been to WDW, youshould go at least once first, before buying, to make sure it is someplace you will like. It is more than an amusement park...it is really a resort destination, and you could be there for 3-5 days an never go into one of the theme parks.

I agree with this. Before you make any type of committment, make sure it's a place you want to visit again and again. I also recommend not taking the time on your first visit to do the DVC tour. That will take a couple of hours that you may want to spend elsewhere. If you decide to go back, do some DVC research first, maybe call and ask for a guide to be assigned, ask lots of questions, and on your second trip do the tour. You'll be in a better position to make an informed decision.

 

[lovinthemouse]

I agree with the last 2 posts. You most definitly want to visit before you buy. The tour is very simple. There is not a nightmare sale tactic waiting. They don't have 6 bosses come over with different reasons why you have to buy. It sells itself. For my family it is completly worth it. We go very often. We love it there. Good luck. I hope to welcome you home very soon.

 

[elijahpep]

OH my GOODNESS! What a treat and everlasting memory you are going to have on your first visit to WDW! Hope you will find the joy and magic that most all of us have experienced.

I think DVC is like any other product you want. We previously lived a hour next to an amusement park up north. We loved this place and as soon as they offered season passes, we bought in and couldn't wait to see when we had used it to surpass our investment of the passes. We bought these every year and enjoyed it beyond our wildest dreams!

Fast forward to today. We live in a southern state now and love Disney. As soon as we found out about DVC we purchased it then and there! If you love doing something and love the place, why not invest in your future vacations with your family in that place.

Many have said DVC is a purchase of the heart not the mind. WE hope you enjoy your visit to WDW and hope it will touch your heart of you and your family. Hopefully it will bring glorious memories for you all for years to come. Have a Magical TIME at the happiest place on earth. I would vote for you taking the tour. It is a couple of hours, this is true, but seeing DVC in real time is worth it for this kind of investment and as other have stated, it is not a pressure sale. We did ours the last day before we left. I'll never forget the conversation of WHAT HAVE WE DONE all the way home. No regrets here!

GOOD LUCK AND SAFE JOURNEY!

~DW

 

[byoung]

Go first and if you still feel the same BUY. I think you will love it there.