Some questions about DVC... a newcomer...

[zakatak]

Hi!

I have a couple of quick questions that I would like to ask.

1) Does Disney offer any "incentives" for viewing the DVC offerings? We will be in Disney in October and I would love to check out the program... We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista (part of their timeshare promotion) so I would love to compare them to the DVC.

2) How easy is it to switch to another resort outside of Disney? I know I could easily go every year, but I think my DH is getting tired of Disney . He would like to be able to have a choice of places to go, and not have it be extremely difficult to "get" a resort.

3) You can save up your points for two years, so if he would relent and "allow" us to go every other year, how many points would we need (we have 3 children so we would like at least a 2 or 3 bedroom unit - that would make him happy! ).

I would like to say that he loves Disney when he is there, and appreciates all my planning. He just wants to be able to take the kids elsewhere in the United States for vacations, not just Disney. He only gets 3 weeks of vacation a year, including personal days so I do understand. That is why I would be happy with every other year!!

Thanks for your input and help!

Karen

 

[Dean]

1) Does Disney offer any "incentives" for viewing the DVC offerings? We will be in Disney in October and I would love to check out the program... We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista (part of their timeshare promotion) so I would love to compare them to the DVC.

Maybe lunch and childcare, occasionally a couple of one day passes. Not much else and none are absolute.

How easy is it to switch to another resort outside of Disney? I know I could easily go every year, but I think my DH is getting tired of Disney . He would like to be able to have a choice of places to go, and not have it be extremely difficult to "get" a resort.

Buy DVC to stay there. If you want to do other things, buy less points and pay cash or look at other timeshare for the other trips. DVC is too expensive and the other options either too many points and/or too uncertain to plan on them.

You can save up your points for two years, so if he would relent and "allow" us to go every other year, how many points would we need (we have 3 children so we would like at least a 2 or 3 bedroom unit - that would make him happy!

You can bank and borrow each for one year. That means you can aggregate 3 years worth of points at one time, no more. That means as long as you go every 2-3 years, you should be ok. The min points to buy are 150 and with that, you could get a 2 BR for a week or more every 3 years, maybe even every 2 years depending on which resort and when you go. The 3 BR units are a premium. At OKW a 3 BR is 120% more than a 2 BR plus a studio, which will give you the same sleeping capacity. At BW the premium is 150%.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you want to travel, don't buy DVC. There isn't much else in the US that is at the level of a DVC resort in terms of luxury or convenience, which is why the cost is so high. I love my DVC membership, and am looking for more points, but I like going to Disney, and I do lots of non-Disney things when I go. But to travel, Marriott is a much better choice. May I suggest, however, that you do your homework BEFORE you go to Grande Vista? It's a lovely resort, but don't buy new, buy resale. If you haven't checked out the Timeshare Store, do it berfore you go. Grande Vista is about $18,000 new, and you can get a resale for around $10,000 right now. When buying a timeshare, only Disney sells at a profit (a small one), the other resorts out there generally sell at a loss. Also, Marriott has several hidden charges, which you need to consider before buying. They charge for ressies outside Florida Club, which they charge to join. Disney is pretty much all-inclusive, and nothing is hidden. Also, Marriott is HIGH PRESSURE. while not nearly as bad as other timeshares, they can be brutal, while Disney is a real pleasure--a buy it if you want type of thing. My sister bought at Grand Vista two years ago, and it's difficult to trade out that lock-off studio, so consider that, too. She was not able in either year to trade for a non-Marriott week, and getting in at another Marriott resort means ressies a year in advance, so don't get taken in by "you are actually buying two weeks instead of one"--it's a lot more difficult than it sounds to use that other week. She regrets that she didn't buy DVC.

 

[Dean]

Marriott is rarely high preasure but they can be at times. I'm not sure the fees with Marriott are hidden but there are some optional fees like a fee to split your week, use the FL club, change your resersation and a fee to be a member of Interval International if you chose to. All of these ore optional other than the membership to the FL club if what you buy has that option. Not all GV units had that option that went with them.

I assume you're staying in a studio at GV, they are set up similar to most of the DVC studios, particularly like BW, BC and WL. They have a king plus a pullout. They do have regular glasse, plates and the like for the studio, something DVC doesn't do. They only have enough for 2 in a studio but will bring more if needed. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[zakatak]

Thanks for your honest opinions. That is exactly what I wanted!

Karen