Still battling DVC. World Passport Collection

[disneylady]

Alright. I can pretty much see from viewing your posts that if routinely staying at a WDW resort, you have saved by doing DVC.

Well, we are interested in traveling all over. That's where the World Passport Collection comes in.

If you know ahead of time that the majority of your vacations will be through World Passport and every couple of years, you'll do Disney, then is DVC cost effective?

 

[bicker]

Almost surely not. We find the exchange options to be great alternatives to consider, once in a while, but if you're not going to be staying at DVC resorts most of the time, you can probably save money by buying elsewhere.

 

[CarolMN]

If I were only going to do Disney ever other (or every 3rd) year, I'd buy fewer points and use banking and borrowing to get enough points for my Disney trips. I'd either pay cash for the non-Disney trips or buy a less expensive timeshare for trading. Ideally the other timeshare would be in a good location that I wouldn't mind going to for an occasional vacation.

IMHO, Disney is more expensive than most timeshares and not a good value for most trades. DVC also limits the timeshares its members can trade for. I think I would rather buy a less expensive timeshare for trading - one that allowed me to be a member of II (or RCO) and essentially, be my own TA. I'd hate having to go through MS for trades - I'd rather go online (on my schedule, whcih might be lat at night or very early in the morning) and explore the available options myself.

Best wishes -

 

[Northern Lights]

Agree with prior posters. DVC is a Disney Vacation Club. If you don't plan on taking at least one Disney Vacation per year, I would not purchase it. I like the idea of buying in for 50 points, but I am not sure how realistic that is since you would have to go through the resale market.

It sounds like to me that renting is your best option.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

You've already had a thread with this concern. I'm not trying to be a stinker...but the answers aren't going to change. DVC really only provides a cost savings if you are using it on a regular basis to stay onsite at WDW. Heck, even the other Disney properties (incl. cruise line) are usually cheaper using cash vs. points. I take it you decided to keep your membership but are still having regrets. I hope you can find a way to make it work for you.

 

[MarylandFamily]

When travelling to Disney, we know that we want to stay onsite. The only vacation club/timeshare option that offers the best possibility is DVC, but we want to travel other places as well. DVC also offers this option. We have young children and know that we will be back to Disney many times in the upcoming years, but we know that we do not want to go there every year.

It would be great to hear someone's experiences on travelling using the World Collection who actually is a member of DVC and only travels to Disney every two or three years.

 

[Daitcher]

If I were only going to do Disney ever other (or every 3rd) year, I'd buy fewer points and use banking and borrowing to get enough points for my Disney trips. I'd either pay cash for the non-Disney trips or buy a less expensive timeshare for trading. Ideally the other timeshare would be in a good location that I wouldn't mind going to for an occasional vacation.

IMHO, Disney is more expensive than most timeshares and not a good value for most trades. DVC also limits the timeshares its members can trade for. I think I would rather buy a less expensive timeshare for trading - one that allowed me to be a member of II (or RCO) and essentially, be my own TA. I'd hate having to go through MS for trades - I'd rather go online (on my schedule, whcih might be lat at night or very early in the morning) and explore the available options myself.

Best wishes -

Carolmn is right on the money. It should be a no for you.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

When travelling to Disney, we know that we want to stay onsite. The only vacation club/timeshare option that offers the best possibility is DVC, but we want to travel other places as well. DVC also offers this option. We have young children and know that we will be back to Disney many times in the upcoming years, but we know that we do not want to go there every year.

It would be great to hear someone's experiences on travelling using the World Collection who actually is a member of DVC and only travels to Disney every two or three years.

You'll be hard pressed to find one because it doesn't make sense. How many posters must say this before you believe it?????? Buy a Marriott timeshare in a good trade location. This will fit your needs perfectly. Why are you so caught up with DVC? It isn't good for out of the program uses on a regular basis. If you have money to burn and want to be frustrated with the "point cost" of the concierge collection and the lack of availability for other trades then go for it. I don't even look at the concierge collection or other trade resorts. They might as well not exist. When I travel elsewhere I pay cash and look for deals at the resort of MY choice when I want to travel, not just having to accept a trade at a less than desirable resort. The only scenario that makes any sense for you is to buy a small amount of points and bank them, taking a DVC trip every other year or so. Not trying to be mean here but this is the best route. I wish Dean would chime in here. He is really the timeshare guy on these boards. I don't want to put words in his mouth but I would guess he would offer similiar advice. DEAN are you out there?


DAVE

 

[CarolA]

I have considered doing some of the World Passport collection (I think that's what it's called) for trips to Europe.

The locations look good and the reviews I have seen on here have looked good. However, for me this would be an "occasional" thing as opposed to the standard and of course going to Europe is pretty much a full week thing. The other trades don't strike me as good deals. I travel a LOT and KNOW that for basic hotel rooms I can get a good deal. If you figure approximately $5 per point each year in maintenance and then multiple that times the point cost for some of the other hotel options it's too expensive for my taste!


DVC is not the ONLY way to stay onsite. So if you aren't going to get your money's worth it's probably better to pay for Disney hotels.

I don't know what to tell the OP. Your posts kind of suggest that you will be at Disney, but then maybe you won't. Are you still in the 15 day period to cancel? If I had doubts I would cancel becasue if next week you decide to sell you are going to take a loss... It will be a while before SSR resales hit the point where you could recoup your costs and any costs of selling.

 

[MarylandFamily]

Here is what I don't get, if others are not interested in travelling elsewhere, then why does Disney offer the option? There must be a demand for it. My guess is that there is a demand and that others are successfully using it. If not, why would Disney offer it? To me, if everyone who joined DVC only wanted to visit Disney every year, the World Collection would not be offered.

I decided to call to see what MS had to say on the subject. I was told that about 50% who join DVC want to vacation at Disney once every other year and travel to other locations during the off year using II. I was told that if planned in advance, members have no problems doing so.

So, according to MS, 50% want to only visit Disney while 50% want to visit Disney half of the time, while visiting other World Collection locations using their DVC points.

 

[mydogdrew]

Here is what I don't get, if others are not interested in travelling elsewhere, then why does Disney offer the option? There must be a demand for it. My guess is that there is a demand and that others are successfully using it. If not, why would Disney offer it? To me, if everyone who joined DVC only wanted to visit Disney every year, the World Collection would not be offered.

I decided to call to see what MS had to say on the subject. I was told that about 50% who join DVC want to vacation at Disney once every other year and travel to other locations during the off year using II. I was told that if planned in advance, members have no problems doing so.

So, according to MS, 50% want to only visit Disney while 50% want to visit Disney half of the time, while visiting other World Collection locations using their DVC points.

Because they make a good margin at it. That doesn't make it a good value to the owner. Once you're a member, you are captive to a degree. Some like the convenience, others don't want the hassle of renting points. Disney makes money when you trade out - this is not just a service provided to members.

 

[CarolA]

Am I the only one confused here????

If you want to do this, just do it.... What do you want here??? I know that sounds mean and I don't want it to, but it's like you want "approval" for your decision and it's not really important what we think, what's important is that you do what is right for you and your family.

As for traveling elsewhere... in the past few years I have been to Turkey, Mexico, Destin, London, Paris, Switzerland, Normandy etc. So NO all of us don't only go to Disney. However, for none of these stays have I found anything that I felt was worth what the trade folks wanted for it. So I use my DVC for Disney and my other vacation funds for the other trips. Disney offers these options, but for me it's either that they don't make economic sense. (The Disney option in London uses so many points that I could stay at Disney for about a week in a studio for one night in a hotel!) Or they don't have things where I want to go. (Disney has limited options. It's not a traditional II timeshare where there are ALL of the II options. For example, there is nothing IN Paris. The only Disney option is at Disneyland Paris which was too far for me)

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

But did they mention what percentage are actually doing it? It does make the sales pitch much more appealing though, doesn't it?

In all honesty, I'm sure there are many DVC owners that have more points/money than they know what to do with and probably love having the non-Disney options, no matter what the cost.

Hopefully more members will chime in with their experiences than the Grumpy wanna be's like me!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Just wanted to make sure everyone realized there are two different posters inquiring about the world collection (disneylady & MarylandFamily). It looks like some of the responses were kind of lumping them both together.

 

[MarylandFamily]

Because they make a good margin at it. That doesn't make it a good value to the owner. Once you're a member, you are captive to a degree. Some like the convenience, others don't want the hassle of renting points. Disney makes money when you trade out - this is not just a service provided to members.

I guess the value depends on each owner independently. For me and my family, it is important to find one club/timeshare that allows me to stay at an onsite Deluxe Disney resort at a good price and allows us the option to travel other places every other year as well. For us, it's great to know that this year we can stay at Disney, but next year we can possibly go to Aruba and then return to Disney the following year.

I use this board to learn so maybe I'm missing something, what other club/timeshare offers this (the ability to know that I can stay onsite at a Disney Deluxe resort plus travel other places during off years) without any additional out of pocket cost for a place to stay?

 

[mydogdrew]

I am not an authority on other timeshares. All I am saying is you have prepaid for DVC units with your purchase. You have not prepaid for trades - you are using your DVC currency (points) to buy trades. There is no inflation protection when trading out of DVC - its a service that commands a premium. If you're happy with that fine but if done more than occasionally, DVC becomes a lousy investment (unless you are anticipating continued appreciation in resale values). You are better off buying a smaller DVC contract for DVC stays (at least every other year) and using the other $ to fund your other trips.

 

[shellybaxter]

Disneylady,

I am new to DVC. When we bought in December one of the selling points for my husband was that we could go to other places that were not Disney. After we received our book with the points charts in it we realized that it was definately a better deal financially to stay at the DVC resorts. We then researched some of the choices in the world passport collection and we weren't that excited about them.

Then we read post on this board and they said that you have to plan way in advance (more than a year) and be very flexible about where and when you want to vacation. In the end we decided that the only choice we might use other than the DVC resorts was the Alaska Cruise. Some will say that isn't a good use of point either, but we really like the idea, so we may do it anyway.

That's just my very new perspective. If I had purchased DVC thinking I would take many vacations that were not Disney I would be disappointed in my decision

Shelly

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Shelly -- Very well said!

 

[MarylandFamily]

Wow, I feel I'm in the middle of the last disagreement (Pay Cash for your membership vs. Finance). I wanted to let the original poster know that there are people who purchase into the DVC and want to do the same option they're interested in. And from what I got from MS, 50% of the members actually do it.

 

[shellybaxter]

Wow, I feel I'm in the middle of the last disagreement (Pay Cash for your membership vs. Finance). I wanted to let the original poster know that there are people who purchase into the DVC and what to do the same option they're interested in. And from what I got from MS, 50% of the members actually do it.

MarylandFamily,

I thought you were the original poster. I'm sorry. I miss addressed my post. I'll change the address.

Shelly