simple explanation?

[avasdad]

So we have been to disney 3 times in 2 years and 12 times since 1996. Started looking in DVC and I am so confused. Can someone please give me a simple explanation of how this works? Thanks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Simple explanation - it's a timeshare. Instead of buying weeks in a specific unit, you buy points at a specific resort that can be used for any time of the year, for any size villa, for any resort.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

So we have been to disney 3 times in 2 years and 12 times since 1996. Started looking in DVC and I am so confused. Can someone please give me a simple explanation of how this works? Thanks.

What type of accomodations do you usually stay in? If you stay in values you'll probably see little benefit from a pure cost perspective of buying into DVC (but the rooms are much nicer), moderates level the playing field and deluxes swing it dramatically in favor of DVC, again from a cost only perspective.

Each point you buy gives you one point to use annually that can be used to reserve a room. Each room is classified by resort, size, season and day of the week and costs a different number of points.

The DVC system is one of the simplest to understand because of its flexibility.

 

[ToddyLu]

So we just bought at AKV in June...210 points every year until 2057. We can bank or borrow points from the previous and future year past the current year. So in one year if we borrow and bank all of our points we would have 630 points to use. That would possibly allow us to stay in a Grand Villa. This year we are staying in a studio with Savannah view at Kidani. It will "cost " us 134 points. If we stay in a value studio in February we could use some of our remaining points. You can go and stay in an accomadation at your "home resort" any week, night of the year as long as you have the points to "pay for it". There are studios, one and two bedrooms and grand villas (sleep 12). I am hoping it will give us a nice vacation twice a year.

 

[avasdad]

How many points dose a week vacation need? Can you still get free dining or other promotions? How many points do you get? Where can you find out how many points a resort is and how does it change during different times of the year? Do you have to visit your resort?

 

[Deb & Bill]

How many points dose a week vacation need? Can you still get free dining or other promotions? How many points do you get? Where can you find out how many points a resort is and how does it change during different times of the year? Do you have to visit your resort?

You are purchasing a real estate interest. None of the Disney offers apply to points reservations. So no free dining when you stay on points. No 4/3 deals on points. You get nice lodging and prepay the initial cost for the first 30-50 years except for annual fees that include the property taxes, utility bills, labor costs, etc.

Check at the top of the page (DVC Point Charts) to get an idea of how many points it would take to stay in the various resorts at different times of the year.

 

[chalee94]

How many points dose a week vacation need?

Depends on

1) where you are staying
2) when you are staying
3) what type of villa – a studio is sized like a hotel room while 2BR villas are much nicer.

Can you still get free dining or other promotions?

Nope. Wave goodbye to deals like free dining and free room upgrades. You are getting a discount for onsite, semi-deluxe accommodations…if that’s not enough, DVC is not for you.

How many points do you get?

As many as you buy. Contracts give you a certain number of pts per year until 2042 for most resorts…a few resorts (like BLT, AKV and SSR) expire closer to 2060. Contracts start at 25 pts if you buy resale…if you buy direct, you would need to buy at least 160 pts.

Do you have to visit your resort?

You can reserve a room at your resort 11 months in advance – sometimes this is essential and sometimes not. You can reserve a room at any other DVC resort 7 months in advance, if they still have rooms available.

 

[chalee94]

if you aren't familiar with timeshares or "home-away-from-home" arrangements, you should know that mousekeeping works on a considerably reduced schedule at DVC. some sort of maid service every 4th day or so.

it's an issue for some, not so much for others.