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[Mean Queen]

All this talk about DVC makes me wonder what we're missing out on.
I've tried to understand DVC on my own but I just don't get it. From what I've gathered, we'd start off by purchasing a minimum amount of points. When I added up the minimum it came to around $15,000. Does that sound right? Can you go as often as you like as long as you have enough points? I don't quite understand it.

The minimum to buy directly from Disney right now is 160 points. Without any specials, the going rate is about $104 a point. That equals about $16,640. That is the purchase price, not a yearly price. You "own" this for about 50 years (from the start of sales, so our SSR is a little less than 50.) Each year, you will pay a yearly fee that can go up but only a certain percentage (not sure exact details.) Currently, we pay about $4-something a point for SSR. Using the 160 points, it'd be about $760. That is a cost for the life of the contract and will go up. But once the purchase price is paid off, that is your only cost for room.

Consider your points to be your money, you can go as often as you want as long as you budget your points right. The way we do it, we use 11 points here for a weekday studio stay, 40 points there for a 1-bedroom, and maybe 150 for a short 3-bedroom stay. You can also bank or borrow your points. Say you aren't going this year, but you are next. You can bank (save) all this years points and add them to next years (for a total of 320 points.) If you want a really big stay and aren't going the year after, you can borrow those points, for a total of 480 points to use at once.

I can talk about DVC all day long and we haven't even tried to stay off WDW property yet. It really has been a great investment for us.

 

[Mischa]

I'm still learning about the DVC - and the best place to get any questions answered would be the DVC room. But I'll see if I can answer some questions.

All this talk about DVC makes me wonder what we're missing out on.
I've tried to understand DVC on my own but I just don't get it. From what I've gathered, we'd start off by purchasing a minimum amount of points. When I added up the minimum it came to around $15,000. Does that sound right? Can you go as often as you like as long as you have enough points? I don't quite understand it.

$15,000 does sound about right for 150 points. You can go as often as you like as long as you have the points, so it's better than a typical timeshare. You can also bank points (each year you'll get the same amount of points to use.) to be used the following year. You can also bank points to use for the Disney Cruise (as well as the Adventures by Disney). If your dates to going to Disney are flexible, you can basically go whenever you want.

I agree --- I wonder if it's more beneficial for those who live close enough to drive there. I also wonder about dining and tickets. DOes the DVC only include hotel? If this is the case, just doesn't seem worth it to me - but I haven't done ANY research on it.

DVC only includes the hotel (your "home resort"). I don't see where it would be beneficial for those who live close enough to drive? If you flew you can still use ME. You can also purchase DDP. We actually bought annual passes to the parks and with the DVC we got a discount so it was actually cheaper (since we plan to go at least 2 times a year).

The best thing to do is on your next trip stop by and make an appointment with DVC - it usually takes about an hour (they'll pick you up and afterwards take you to wherever you want).


Hoope that helps a bit.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thanks for the explanantions, this is starting to make sense ... kind of. How much is the yearly fee? Also, you mention banking points. Does the yearly fee entitle me to a certain amount of points for the year, or is that just a fee to maintain the DVC? What's the reason for banking points if I'm buying the points anyway? Or, are you saying that if I buy points this year, but decide not to use them this year, I can bank them points for 2009?

 

[Mean Queen]

Thanks for the explanantions, this is starting to make sense ... kind of. How much is the yearly fee? Also, you mention banking points. Does the yearly fee entitle me to a certain amount of points for the year, or is that just a fee to maintain the DVC? What's the reason for banking points if I'm buying the points anyway? Or, are you saying that if I buy points this year, but decide not to use them this year, I can bank them points for 2009?

You get these points every year. My "use year" is December. So every December 1st, I get a whole new set of 400 points (unless I borrowed from the next year.) The annual dues are like maintenance fees. This covers the upkeep of the resort and such. The banking and borrowing allows you to have more than your set amount of points in one year. For example, I had used up all 400 of my points this past year. Then my family decided they wanted to go to WDW for Thanksgiving. I had to borrow points from the next year to cover that stay. If I had no intention of going to WDW this year (like that would ever happen), then I would bank the rest of my points to use the following year (or they go away.) I hope that helps.

One thing I really, really, really love about DVC is they offer waitlists. So if I call and the room I want isn't available at that time, I can be put on a waitlist and if it comes open, I'll get it.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Hey - where's everyone hiding?

Have you all ever played the game Sing Star for Playstation? It's like Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution except it's singing. It's so much fun!!

By the way Mean Queen and everyone who took time to explain DVC. I have a much better understanding of it now. It would be an excellent investment for us since we like to stay at the deluxes and pay upwards of 2K for lodging per trip.

 

[Mean Queen]

Hey - where's everyone hiding?

Have you all ever played the game Sing Star for Playstation? It's like Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution except it's singing. It's so much fun!!

By the way Mean Queen and everyone who took time to explain DVC. I have a much better understanding of it now. It would be an excellent investment for us since we like to stay at the deluxes and pay upwards of 2K for lodging per trip.

We have the Wii. We've been playing Boogie and High School Musical: Sing It! Boogie has dancing and singing while HSM is just singing songs from the movie. DD8 loves it! I wanted Guitar Hero but we haven't bought it... yet.

I stayed at GF after owning DVC and the only plus was the monorail. The rooms at DVC are bigger and nicer. AKV has flat panel TV's and most have Savannah views. So if you pay for deluxe, you should take the tour the next time you go. If you want more info, I'll always be happy to help.

 

[Mischa]

We have a Wii too. We love it too! We have a bunch of games - my challenge now is AFI Bowling and Space Mario Galaxy. They are coming out with a CSI Wii and also a Dancing w/the Stars game too. I can't wait!

DVC is definitely worth it. Best investment we've ever made!

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thanks, ladies.

 

[Mean Queen]

We have a Wii too. We love it too! We have a bunch of games - my challenge now is AFI Bowling and Space Mario Galaxy. They are coming out with a CSI Wii and also a Dancing w/the Stars game too. I can't wait!

I got the Dancing with the Stars one for Christmas! I haven't played it too much, but it seems fun. You start off with only two celebrities, then by doing well you unlock others. You get Emmit Smith and Monique Coleman to start. The dancers don't actually move according to how well you do. The judges are funny. Len looks like an albino while Bruno looks like a zombie, vampire or other sort of living dead. I don't think any of the characters so far look at all like the real person. Too bad, since Mario Lopez is in it.

 

[leahlovesdisney]

We've got a Wii too. We managed to snag one Christmas '06 when they first came out (uhh, not the easiest thing to get!). Unfortunatly, one year later, they hardly play on it anymore. But, when we did play it Wii Sports was my favorite. I actually almost broke our ceiling fan playing tennis.

 

[Mean Queen]

We've got a Wii too. We managed to snag one Christmas '06 when they first came out (uhh, not the easiest thing to get!). Unfortunatly, one year later, they hardly play on it anymore. But, when we did play it Wii Sports was my favorite. I actually almost broke our ceiling fan playing tennis.

We go through phases with the Wii just like most other things in our house. Right now, we're playing pool, tanks, and duck shooting from Wii Play. Though we did HSM: Sing It! and Boogie a lot during our vacation with friends. Nothing like mixing up a few drinks and embarassing yourself by singing poorly. The kids were horrified by the adults singing High School Musical songs. They were even more mortified when we joined them for the resorts dance class for "We're All in This Together" to perform during the New Year's Eve ball drop celebration.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Hey - where's everybody been? I guess everyone was off playing Play Station and Wii last night. I know I was. Have a great day all!

 

[LegoMom3]

I've been in and out but hardly anyone else has!! I don't have a Wii so I didn't bother to chime in on that conversation.

Me personally, I'm kinda down in the dumps this week... waffling back and forth over going to Disney at all this year (it would be a real strain on the budget, so as much we want to and feel we "deserve" it, reality is still there kicking you in the gut...), sick of living in limbo over wondering if the house will sell this year, and having to endure a New England winter on top of all that.

My life overall just isn't what I want it to be right now and I'm powerless to change it (despite what many motivational speakers will tell you!....hey, maybe I'm headed for "living in a van, down by the river!!" )

SO!...I'm not much fun to be around right now which is why I haven't bothered to post much!

HEY SMILEYBUG, WE NEED YOUR SMILING FACE BACK IN HERE TO LIVEN THINGS UP!

 

[Mean Queen]

I've been in and out but hardly anyone else has!! I don't have a Wii so I didn't bother to chime in on that conversation.

Me personally, I'm kinda down in the dumps this week... waffling back and forth over going to Disney at all this year (it would be a real strain on the budget, so as much we want to and feel we "deserve" it, reality is still there kicking you in the gut...), sick of living in limbo over wondering if the house will sell this year, and having to endure a New England winter on top of all that.

My life overall just isn't what I want it to be right now and I'm powerless to change it (despite what many motivational speakers will tell you!....hey, maybe I'm headed for "living in a van, down by the river!!" )

SO!...I'm not much fun to be around right now which is why I haven't bothered to post much!

HEY SMILEYBUG, WE NEED YOUR SMILING FACE BACK IN HERE TO LIVEN THINGS UP!

I hope you have a better day. While it may not be the most responsible advice, I say plan the trip... or any trip. When I'm down, I notice having something big to look forward to always makes me feel better. Otherwise, the monotony of the now can really bring you down. And we don't want you living in van, down by the river.

 

[LegoMom3]

OMG Mean Queen you just made my day with that little Chris Farley graphic!!!! I just saw that episode last week, matter of fact, on an SNL "Best of..." show - TOO funny!!!

Thanks for the encouragement and the laugh!

 

[DeterminedOne]

I've been in and out but hardly anyone else has!! I don't have a Wii so I didn't bother to chime in on that conversation.

Me personally, I'm kinda down in the dumps this week... waffling back and forth over going to Disney at all this year (it would be a real strain on the budget, so as much we want to and feel we "deserve" it, reality is still there kicking you in the gut...), sick of living in limbo over wondering if the house will sell this year, and having to endure a New England winter on top of all that.

My life overall just isn't what I want it to be right now and I'm powerless to change it (despite what many motivational speakers will tell you!....hey, maybe I'm headed for "living in a van, down by the river!!" )

SO!...I'm not much fun to be around right now which is why I haven't bothered to post much!

HEY SMILEYBUG, WE NEED YOUR SMILING FACE BACK IN HERE TO LIVEN THINGS UP!

Aww, I can understand how you feel and the weather sure doesn't help. Have you gotten any reprieve at all from the snow? It's been 55-60 degrees here all week. I don't know what's going on with this crazy weather, but having the snow melt and seeing the sun has done wonders for my attitude.

 

[LegoMom3]

Aww, I can understand how you feel and the weather sure doesn't help. Have you gotten any reprieve at all from the snow? It's been 55-60 degrees here all week. I don't know what's going on with this crazy weather, but having the snow melt and seeing the sun has done wonders for my attitude.

Yes!! We've had two days of near 60-degrees, and it's been in the low 50s or upper 40s since last weekend. Does wonders for the psyche, y'know?! I didn't even mind trudging through the mud in the parking lot at work! We had the door open at lunchtime and it smelled like spring!.....*sigh*

 

[PaMom001]

I'm still alive. For some reason I haven't been on since Sat.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I'm still alive. For some reason I haven't been on since Sat.

So what you been doing?

 

[LegoMom3]

So what you been doing?

Yes, inquiring minds want to know!