Should we join DVC or not? Need advice!

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

We have been toying with joining DVC since last spring. We're on the fence, and now with the price increase as of 12/1, we must make our decision now!

Normally, when we go to WDW (once or twice a year). I usually purchase AP passes, so I usually score a pretty good AP room rate. Traveling are myself, my husband, DS (age 7) and DD (age 2).

We're thinking about purchasing 310 points at VWL, which I understand is enough for a 1 bedroom for about 7 nights a year. We'll have to travel April school vacation now, due to school schedules.

Here are my worries:
(1) the due really stink. Is it really cost effective to join versus getting a good rate for a regular room by shopping around for a deal? esp., since you have to pay extra for room cleaning, towels, etc.

(2) since I have to go during a school vacation time, I'm nervous I'll have trouble getting the dates I need due to inavailability. Should this be a concern?

(3) the points system, banking points, etc., seems cumbersome to me right now. Do you get used to it, so it seems like a no-brainer-later? I DON'T need any more complexity in my life right now!!

(4) is it worth the time to try to go through a vacation club re-saler, so same $$, instead of through Disney directly?

Any specific "demands" or special requests I should make on the contract, if they ever allow this?

Challenge to you: TELL ME WHAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE YOU SIGNED!!

Thank you so much!!!!

 

[PamOKW]

Since you regularly vacation at WDW it's worth serious consideration. How long have you been getting "very good" deals on hotel rooms and how much time and effort does it take to get them? Has the cost stayed relatively the same over the last few years and do you expect the costs to stay low in the future? These last two years have been very unusual in WDW history.

Have you experienced a 1-bedroom? It offers far more space, luxury and family convenience than a regular hotel room. Things to consider as well. It's so nice to be able to get breakfast and snacks right in the room....even if you never cook a full meal.

The housekeeping issue is very rarely missed by folks once they experience it. Many people even enjoy not being bothered by the maid knocking daily.

If you know the dates you'll vacation you usually have no problem booking. Just call at the 11 month window and book it. If your plans change, call and cancel and re-book.

Yes, banking/borrowing etc. become easier once you start using the system.

I'm not sure whether Disney is still seling VWL. You may have to purchase through a re-seller if that's the home resort you'd like. I've never done that so someone else can handle those questions.

During most of April, weekdays are 30 points and weekends 60. Only during the two weeks around Easter (which can be March or April) do the points go to 40 weekdays and 75 weekends. 310 points gives you a cushion for additional trips.

I have not regretted my membership.

 

[nisiemouse]

We have only been members since March but are very happy with our purchase. As long as you can plan ahead you should be able to get your dates without a problem. It sounds as if you go pretty much the same time every year. We bought most of our points resale and then did an add on through disney. One thing that helped us decide whether we should join is the fact that our dd 8 and ds 4 will not always want to share a bed together. I have not had any surprises since I joined. This board has been a great source of information for me. Good luck with your decision.

 

[TexasAggie]

We bought at BWV in late 97 and have never regretted it. We feel that it has allowed us to control hotel room costs as well as to stay in better-than-deluxe (full kitchen, living room, a suite really) accommodations. By the time we bought, our kids (DS now 18 and DD now 14) were already unable to share a bed, and not all hotel rooms are big enough for a rollaway. When we go somewhere else, we pretty much have to get two rooms now. But at WDW we have lots of room and comfort, not to mention 2 bathrooms if we get a 2 BR which we usually do. Without DVC, we probably wouldn't go as often, and we definitely wouldn't be staying in deluxe hotels on site!

You will see many different ways of "valuing" DVC membership, and all are valid ways to look at it. The way we see it, we pay $3600/year on mortgage and dues. DD and DW will spend 8 days in March in a 1-BR, using just over a year's points, while rack rate for the same room is about $5000. So we figure we're ahead by that much.

In five years, the mortgage will be paid off, and we'll get the same accommodations for the cost of annual dues. In the meantime, how much will room rates increase?

As far as banking and borrowing go, we have mostly borrowed, rarely banked, and it's not difficult. You do get used to it pretty quickly, and some members have created spreadsheets that they will share with you to make it easier.

Like I said, there are many ways to look at the value of DVC membership, and only you can decide whether it makes sense for your family. But if you go once or twice a year, we think it makes a lot of sense!

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by HusbandAlwaysWorking

Here are my worries:
(1) the due really stink. Is it really cost effective to join versus getting a good rate for a regular room by shopping around for a deal? esp., since you have to pay extra for room cleaning, towels, etc.

I know that at first not having daily maid service sounds weird, but truly we don't miss it, even in a studio. In fact we prefer it, when we travel to other destinations and have a regular hotel room it seems like we always "have to find something to do" while the room s being serviced.

(2) since I have to go during a school vacation time, I'm nervous I'll have trouble getting the dates I need due to inavailability. Should this be a concern?

It sounds as though you'll know your dates well in advance, and by taking advantage of your home resort booking window, you should have very few, if any, problems.

(3) the points system, banking points, etc., seems cumbersome to me right now. Do you get used to it, so it seems like a no-brainer-later? I DON'T need any more complexity in my life right now!!

Again, it seems a little overwhelming at first...I'd suggest either writing an easy spreadsheat program or downloading one that is available to track your points. You WILL get used to it, and eventually it will be a "no-brainer".

(4) is it worth the time to try to go through a vacation club re-saler, so same $$, instead of through Disney directly?

That depends on which resort you are interested in, and what your actual concerns are for dues. Currently OKW is the most cost effective, per point, on dues. First, I'd consider buying where I'd want to stay the most often, so I'd have that booking window.

Any specific "demands" or special requests I should make on the contract, if they ever allow this?

No amendments to the contracts are allowed or negotiated.

Challenge to you: TELL ME WHAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE YOU SIGNED!!

Since we bought when DVC was new, I wish we'd known how wonderful the program truly is, and had bought more points right away instead of doing 3 add-ons.

Again, if you think you'll be vacationing at WDW on a regular basis DVC is worth considering - if it is a once every 2 or 3 year trip, then it may not be for you.

 

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

Thank you for your responses. You're pushing on the "buy" side of the fence, so far.

Another question: What if my 310 points don't quite make up way I need. Say, I need 400 for a particular trip, and I don't have any left to borrow (nothing banked). Do you simply pay the difference? If you do, how is this per point rate determined?

I'm asking this because, as my kids grow, a one bedroom may not be enough. I know I can purchase more points. But if I elect not to do this, what's involved?

Thank you so much for your answers so far. Your help is so valuable. I read each response twice. thank you!

 

[Bexx]

TELL ME WHAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE YOU SIGNED!!

The Use Year of your points is worth bearing in mind. Although not absolutely vital to the smooth running of your membership, if you have the choice, buy a UY which starts just before you mainly plan to visit. Judging by your plans for the forseeable future a February or March UY would work well. Then if you had to cancel you would have the best part of a year to re-use your points.

I knew very little about this when I signed, but luckily it worked out fairly well. Keep reading this board - the information you will find here is absolutely invaluable.

 

[JillU-DVC]

You can pay for some nights with points and other nights with cash. Not sure how that works out for the 11 month booking window, though. We've never done this, we always use our points for all stays.

One thing to be VERY aware of is since you'll be travelling during Spring vacation, a very popular time of the year, you will want to make sure you buy your points at the resort you want to stay at.

You get an 11 month booking window at your home resort - and a 7 month booking window at the other resorts. You'd want to call and make your reservation for Spring Break RIGHT at the 11 month window, and you may want to call day to day (adding a day each call) to make sure you get your reservation in OK.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: we used to do the ap discounts on the resorts in the early to mid 90's when we could get tower rooms in the contemporary for $125 per night(tax included) with the discounts. those days are long gone. we turned down dvc the first time around in 93 due to financial considerations-minimum # of points was 230 and financing wasn't that attractive. we own 2 contracts at bwv and absolutely love it. the one thing i wish we'd have known was that by buying in in 1993 would have saved us some serious money in the long run and we could have still had a couple of contracts at the bwv. your last question of not having enough points is solved by simply borrowing from your next year's points. the system does get easier to use with time.

 

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

Bexx: What do you mean by use year? Does this refer to the actual "date" my membership/ownership begins? So, should I request a February 2003 UY start?

I'm going to WDW in April, 2003, next. How will this effect this trip? Will I be using the first years points (which take a year to accrue-??) ? Or, do I automatically start with points, that I'm able to use?

 

[spiceycat]

You don't have to bank to be able to borrow - you just borrow from next year (so next year you will have less unless you borrow again) -

or you can rent points from another DVC member - your choice.

 

[CrayzeeDiz]

Dont pay $84 a point.. Buy a resale and save huge dinero. I bought at $65 apoint last year through Disney for VWL. We stayed at the BCV in october and believe me it was great but not worth an extra $22 a point. In my opinion every resort is great so why pay 30% more for one than an other. You could still stay at the BCV so why pay more.

 

[JillU-DVC]

Your Use Year is when you recieve your yearly point allocation.

My use year is September, so every Sept. 1 I get my 250 points to do with as I please.

It's usually a good idea to get a use year that is a little BEFORE you normally vacation. That way, if something comes up and you have to cancel your vacation, you will have the rest of your use year to use up the points.

We normally vacation in Sept. so our Sept. use year is just right. If we have to cancel a SEpt. trip, then we have almost an entire year to use the points from the cancelled trip.

If we had a trip planned in August 2003 and were using our 2002 points (we recieved an allocation on Sept. 1, 2002; those are considered 2002 points). If we had to cancel the trip within 60 days of the trip, those 2002 points would go into a holding account (can't remember what you can use those points for once they're in that holding account), and we'd have to use them by Sept. 1, 2003, or else we'd lose them.

So it's usually a good idea to get a use year on or a little before you normally vacation.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by HusbandAlwaysWorking
Bexx: What do you mean by use year? Does this refer to the actual "date" my membership/ownership begins? So, should I request a February 2003 UY start?

I'm going to WDW in April, 2003, next. How will this effect this trip? Will I be using the first years points (which take a year to accrue-??) ? Or, do I automatically start with points, that I'm able to use?

Good questions. Use Year is the month in which your annual allotment of points is awarded. Our use year is June, so our points become available to us in June of each year. The ONLY thing this really affects is your banking/borrowing windows. No matter what your use year is, you can make ressies at the 11 month window, from day of departure, at your home resort. However, if you will be traveling during a busy season, like spring break, I'd try to make my ressies day-to-day exactly at the 11 month window.

Dues / Taxes are an an annual calendar year basis, and use year is not relevent to them.

I agree that if you plan to vacation most often during April/May a February use year may be the most convenient for you. As far as "are my points available right away?" That depends...if buying a resale contract the current use years points may already be used - your broker should be able to answer those type of questions for you. If you buy direct from Disney, you should have points available right away from the current use year to bank or use.

 

[Snowgod]

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/3_Debate/edaburn.htm

Above link is to a very good article to read if you cannot decide.

 

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

Thanks, Snowgod, I'll read the article now.

Chuck S: You're brilliant. Sounds confusing though. Getting a little anxious about storing all of the info.

CrayzeeDiz: Who did you go through for the resale? Disney is so reputable, I fear going through anyone else. Still trying to recover from the stock market scandals. having a hard time trusting ANYONE right now. I feel like I'll be spotlighted on 60 minutes, as the stupidest tourist in the world, if I sign up for a shady deal. How easy is it to go through someone else?

 

[crisi]

There are a number of good resale brokers. Click on the link at the top of this page to get to one. Another alot of us have used is www.atimeshare.com.

Resales are not necessarily for the faint of heart. The seller can back out, it can take longer than you expected to close, the broker can be less communicative. But I've never heard of anyone losing their money or not (in the end) getting what they bought (sometimes a month after it was expected) through a reputible broker.

 

[missyndda]

I agree with CrayzeeDiz about resale. It is definitely the way to go! We just closed yesterday on 350 points at BWV. We worked with Jaki at atimeshare.com. She and Ken, one of her associates, were wonderful about keeping us informed. We made our offer on October 22nd, so approximately 30 days for the whole process. (But according to her, our deal went very quickly.) We were able to purchase a 2 bdr. during a peak week for what a 1 bdr. would have cost us through Disney. Wow, what a savings!

Per some of the others advice on this board, contact each of the four brokers who handle DVC: www.atimeshare.com, www.timesharesbyresale.com, www.dvc-resales.com, and www.disney-vacation-club-resales.com, . Tell them what no. of points, location, and possibly what use year you are looking for. As one member said, many of the best resales don't even make it to the resale brokers' websites.

Good luck!

 

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

missyndda:

Thank you so much for your help. I'm 100% certain I will follow up on your suggestions. I'm saving all of your links, and will check it all out, starting tomorrow.

Thanks!!

 

[HusbandAlwaysWorking]

missyndda:

Your link to, www.atimeshare.com isn't working. Are you sure this is the actual link address?