show me the benefits of DVC

[madonniac]

go easy with me on abbreviations, I'm a newbie

Here's my issue. You have the loan for the DVC and then you also pay monthly maintenance fees.

Let's say we go to Disney once a year and we spend 6 nights. If we stay at moderate, we'd spend about $150 a night without DVC. If we had DVC we'd essentially be paying that for the monthly maintenance fees.

So if I'm paying off a DVC loan AND maintenance fees, how is this a beneficial program?

Thanks

 

[Pakey]

I'd never borrow money to purchase DVC. We paid cash for our 500 points. Annual dues are around $2000. I can get 5 weeks at Beach Club Villas for a studio (similar to a hotel room) per year for that $2000.

 

[Sammie]

If a moderate resort is meeting your needs I would not recommend DVC. At points going for $140 soon, I can hardly recommend it for anyone unless they are already booking suites or villas.

I agree I would only recommend not financing and only buying if you have plenty of dispensable income.

Too many people have gotten in lately and are now taking a loss trying to get out.

 

[jmkjr72]

well lets see we are paid off
we had a loan for the first 5 years but paid it off fast
but we stay in grand vilas when we go and thats proably around a grand + a night depending upon when you go
our home is okw i think the maintnace fees are around 1500 a year (i dont pay it every year as we own it as a family group my folks sister and my wife and i)
so we go for 10 nights every other year 3000 in fees for 10000 in room

so thats 7000 every trip we end up ahead
and we have done 5 trips like that
the folks have taken a few other trips staying in 1 bedrooms

 

[Smile&Nod]

I purchased 200 points at Boardwalk Villas a few years ago - my daughter and i were going every year and even with just the two of us I was reserving a 1 bedroom villa. My dues are around $89 a month. I save about $2,500 a year on my one week stay in a one bedroom (cost of the room through Disney non-DVC minus my annual dues). I figure that I'll make back my investment in savings in about 6 trips. After that I'm saving money.

I do agree that if you are normally staying at a moderate resort the numbers don't make as much sense, but if you stay at the deluxe resorts or villas as a non-dvc owner it can save money over time.

 

[disneynutz]

In a nutshell, the benefits of owning a DVC contract is that you can stay at the Deluxe resort where you purchase your interest and get a larger room with a kitchen and laundry.

You need to stay there at least once every two years. If that interests you and if it meets your requirements, then you can save some money after several years by buying a DVC contract.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oh, and when Disney offers buy four get seven or kids stay free or free dining, you don't get any of those staying on a DVC points reservation. So if you book based on discounts, there are none for lodging with DVC. A few for dining, shopping, etc.

 

[Sandisw]

For us, the benefit came in as we are now paying similar amounts to stay in 1 and 2 bedrooms instead of a hotel room at CR.

With a family of 5, that is a big benefit. However, as mentioned, when comparing the prices to a moderate, especially if you are getting the discounts that Disney has offered up the past several years, you won't likely find it much of a savings.

As mentioned, if you are interested in getting upgraded rooms at a more affordable price, then in the long run, DVC will be for you.

 

[ToddyLu]

I have a slightly different view. My husband and I always did Values (my mother in law paid for a trip to Port Orleans FQ one year). My husband and I do not have children but we love, love, love going to Disney World. My husbnad doesn't like to travel but I do. Disney has become our "yearly beach vacation" if you will. I had wanted to purchase DVC for 5 years before we did. He thought " but I don't mind staying at Pop". Well he loves and supports me and we could afford the monthly payments and MFs.

Unlike many other people we financed our purchase. We bought 210 points at AKV in 2009 at $93 per point direct from Disney. So we pay about $237 and month for the mortgage and $80 a month for the MF. In return we have stayed at AKV for the last two trips--getting two studios with savanna views. We stay in one and my MIL has stayed the other. That studio would have cost $3500 for the 9 nights we stayed in it due to the view. Her studio was $3500 also. We have had two trips in the same type rooms now so we are up to $14000 for our trips just in a great room.

This year we are making a trip alone in a studio in May and in October another trip with my parents. In May we have a standard view but in Oct we will have 2-savanna view studios again. So now we are up almost to $20000 in just rooms as we reach 2012. On our last trip we purchased Annual Passes with our DVC membership and got $100 off per ticket. So we will get 3 trips to Disney with those tickets before they expire. So now we have our room, have our tickets and just need to get there and buy food for the next 2 vacations.

We it boils down to it--that is the way we want to spend our money. We find value in the room we stay in and the comfort and ammenities it provides. This past trip our first night was at Pop Century. It was great being back at that resort...but when you have stayed in a villa at AK it becomes really another hotel room becasue we know now what we were missing. We want Deluxe trips to Disney World...period. Hubby really sees the value and not once has gripped about the cost.

Many times I have posted this analogy...How does DVC change your trip to Disney?

Like a Corvette changes your trip to work or a speed boat changes your trip to the island. DO you have to have those things...nah...is it completely awesome when you do....YES!!

 

[palaemon]

I have a slightly different view. My husband and I always did Values (my mother in law paid for a trip to Port Orleans FQ one year). My husband and I do not have children but we love, love, love going to Disney World. My husbnad doesn't like to travel but I do. Disney has become our "yearly beach vacation" if you will. I had wanted to purchase DVC for 5 years before we did. He thought " but I don't mind staying at Pop". Well he loves and supports me and we could afford the monthly payments and MFs.

Unlike many other people we financed our purchase. We bought 210 points at AKV in 2009 at $93 per point direct from Disney. So we pay about $237 and month for the mortgage and $80 a month for the MF. In return we have stayed at AKV for the last two trips--getting two studios with savanna views. We stay in one and my MIL has stayed the other. That studio would have cost $3500 for the 9 nights we stayed in it due to the view. Her studio was $3500 also. We have had two trips in the same type rooms now so we are up to $14000 for our trips just in a great room.

This year we are making a trip alone in a studio in May and in October another trip with my parents. In May we have a standard view but in Oct we will have 2-savanna view studios again. So now we are up almost to $20000 in just rooms as we reach 2012. On our last trip we purchased Annual Passes with our DVC membership and got $100 off per ticket. So we will get 3 trips to Disney with those tickets before they expire. So now we have our room, have our tickets and just need to get there and buy food for the next 2 vacations.

We it boils down to it--that is the way we want to spend our money. We find value in the room we stay in and the comfort and ammenities it provides. This past trip our first night was at Pop Century. It was great being back at that resort...but when you have stayed in a villa at AK it becomes really another hotel room becasue we know now what we were missing. We want Deluxe trips to Disney World...period. Hubby really sees the value and not once has gripped about the cost.

Many times I have posted this analogy...How does DVC change your trip to Disney?

Like a Corvette changes your trip to work or a speed boat changes your trip to the island. DO you have to have those things...nah...is it completely awesome when you do....YES!!

I wholeheartedly agree! No one needs DVC, and most of the members of this board are just looking out for one another - hence the "I'd never recommend financing DVC" comments. Ultimately, it's your money and your decision, but DVC is that rare 'emotional' timeshare purchase for many. It definitely is for me.

We don't own yet (hoping for Oct this year) but we have never stayed at a DVC or even on property (except THV back when it was the Disney Institute,) and we know it's what we want.

With resale, you can spend $7,000-$10,000 initially (100pts) and have $400-$550/ year MFs. Then, after paying that off, you can decide to add on. It can be pretty affordable, really. This will get you a Studio every year, a 1BR EOY, or a 2BR every 3 years (maybe not all seasons or even for 7 nights, but still a start)

 

[Deb & Bill]

I bought my first points for about $50 a point directly from Disney. I'd never give them $140 a point for anything, even the main building at GF.

If you buy resale and pass ROFR after May 20, you will not be able to use your points for the Disney Collection - WDW non-DVC resorts, DCL, DLR non-DVC. But that's not a problem because it's really not the best use of points.

But buy where you wouldn't mind staying if that was the only place you could stay. Because ultimately, DVC only guarantees that you can stay at your home resort.

 

[kristenrice]

We were "fortunate" to acquire some inheritance money that allowed us to buy our AKV contract without financing it. We paid a total of about $9500 total back in 2008. Our annual dues are about $500 right now.

So far, this is what we have booked with our points...
...1 weekend night in a value studio at AKV...
...4 weeknights in a value 1BR at AKV...
...4 weeknights in a standard studio at AKV...
...3 weeknights in a standard 2BR at AKV...

That is a total of 12 nights so far. Using *very* estimated math, it averages out to about $233/night that we have paid so far.

**$2/point buy in + averaged $5/point maintenance fees x 4 years that we've paid on the contract divided by number of night stayed**

Even for a studio, $233 is a decent deal. Obviously, I could break down the actual cost much more accurately, but this is a very basic comparison. Had we stayed in studios exclusively, the per night cost would be considerably less.

I love my DVC, but it isn't necessarily for everyone. We just did a small add-on at HHI. We chose to finance it simply for the convenience. We bought 50 points and financed it for 10 years. This puts our monthly payment at about $50. I plan on paying $200-$250 a month which will pay it off by the end of next year. If something unexpected comes up, we can still pay the $50 without risking default. We do WDW 2 out of three years and this contract will let us visit HHI in our "off" year.

If you are happy staying in a value or moderate, or even a deluxe, and you're ok waiting for discounts, and you don't want to commit to a Disney vacation every three years, then DVC is probably not a wise choice.

 

[Cmbar]

No benefit to buying DVC. They will continue to lessen their product. So unless you are able to buy the DVC in full and feel certain that you will use them for the 40+ years (meaning you will not tire of Disney in 40+ years) you will not get out of it what you want. Disney wants you to buy DVC so you will be forced to continue to come to the parks. They are very quickly changing rules. You must read your contract as others have posted you are ONLY guaranteed points at your resort. That means you must be happy to stay at DVC AKL (or wherever you choose to buy at Disney) for the next 40+ years. I cannot in good concience recommend buying DVC, especially adding in finance charges. Good luck in your decision.

 

[palaemon]

They are very quickly changing rules.

DVC opened in 1991 and BAM! - 20 years later they make one big rule change.



There have been other changes, sure, but none as toxic as this one - That's for sure.

 

[Cmbar]

DVC opened in 1991 and BAM! - 20 years later they make one big rule change.



There have been other changes, sure, but none as toxic as this one - That's for sure.

They have made a great deal of changes recently. Though it is true that they have been in existence since 1991. They only changed the points charts in 2009, 2010 AND 2011. That was 17 years of it being the same. People considering to purchase must be told that they have changed rules a great deal in the last two or three years. It is easy for the older crowd to feel like it is no big deal. But that may be because they didn't purchase say BLT on a certain date only to find out the number of points they bought just a few weeks ago would no longer get them that 1 bedroom in the summer season. Certainly not arguing the merits of why they keep changing the resort points, but certainly DVC has changed a great deal in the last three years than in the previous 17 plus years prior to this.

 

[Chuck S]

A reminder that this thread is not about the upcoming resale purchase rule changes. If you wish to discuss that, please visit one of the existing threads on that subject.

 

[Chuck S]

They have made a great deal of changes recently. Though it is true that they have been in existence since 1991. They only changed the points charts in 2009, 2010 AND 2011. That was 17 years of it being the same. People considering to purchase must be told that they have changed rules a great deal in the last two or three years. It is easy for the older crowd to feel like it is no big deal. But that may be because they didn't purchase say BLT on a certain date only to find out the number of points they bought just a few weeks ago would no longer get them that 1 bedroom in the summer season. Certainly not arguing the merits of why they keep changing the resort points, but certainly DVC has changed a great deal in the last three years than in the previous 17 plus years prior to this.

That is not true. There was a point reallocation in 1996. And again, if you wish to discuss changes, please visit one of the threads on that topic.

 

[gretchen265]

We stayed at mod. for 4 years before buying into DVC, and French Quarter was a great hotel (we tried 3). I could have been happy staying there for many more visits....UNTIL we bought (site unseen) at OKW. We took our first trip with our DVC, and broke it up between AK (savannah view) and OKW. Now, I am spoiled!! I can't wait to continue to experience the different locations, and LOVE the luxury a 2 bedroom affords us. The space, the kitchen, etc. creates a true "home away from home" that the previous hotels did not offer.

If we were only going to go to Disney every 5-10 years, I would say that you don't spend alot of time in the hotel..why spend the extra money. But going every year, we don't feel that we have to hit every attraction, and can relax around our resort alot more.

 

[Dumbo_Husband]

You can't buy a condo in Orlando for the cost of 200 points in DVC. Not to mention the hurricane insurance, etc. We have 400 points and we still justify it that way.