taking a deep breath - can someone point me in the direction of a post explaining DVC

[disneyholic family]

ok - so as you can tell from the number of posts i've made, i'm no newbie to the disboards, and having visited WDW at least once a year since 1974, i know a thing or two about WDW...

but i know NOTHING about DVC....other than we've stayed at OKW on a number of occasions as regular WDW resort guests..

i didn't think i'd consider DVC at all, since we live so far away (in Israel)......
i figured once the kids grew up, we wouldn't visit as often...

but the opposite seems to be the case.....i'll be there in june and again in december and again in january....

so i've been thinking that i should at least take DVC into consideration...

at the very least i should learn what it's all about before i rule it out (or in, as the case may be)..

i'm sure this has all been explained a million times before, so if someone could point me in the direction of a good explanatory thread, i'd appreciate it..

also a thread explaining the pros and cons of buying DVC straight from disney or buying from a reseller...

as i said, i know absolutely NOTHING about the ins and outs of DVC ownership...

thanks in advance for your help (and your patience )..

Beth

 

[bookwormde]

I don't usually link off this board but this is one of the easiest places to get the basics

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program

bookwormde

 

[Crystal_27]

DVC is essentially a timeshare in which you purchase a set number of points at one of Disney's DVC resorts (opposed to a "traditional" timeshare where you purchase a specific week). Each point costs between $70-120, depending on where you buy, and there are annual maintenance fees associated with each point, from approximately $4.00-6.60 depending on which home resort you buy into. You can buy points direct through Disney or via the resale market. Each year you receive your annual allotment of points which can be used to stay at a DVC resort, or which can be traded for Disney cruises or RCI vacations around the country and the world. Google "DVC point charts" to get an idea how many points it takes to stay at a resort during a specific period of time -- the possibiities are endless.

DVC is very flexible in that you can "bank" your points into the following year if you do not use them during a particular year, and also allows you to "borrow" points from the next year if you do not have enough points during a certain year. You also have home resort booking advantage in the resort you own, which means you can book vacations at 11 months prior to your vacation starting date. If you want to vacation at a "non-home" resort, you can book at 7 months prior to your vacation start date. That is the "nuts and bolts" of the program, although there are many many other nuiances to consider (such as DVC members don't get daily housekeeping). Read as much as you can and get as educated as possible so you can make the most informed decision possible. Good luck!

 

[Sandisw]

Based on your post, it certainly sounds like DVC might be a good choice for you. The first thing I would do is investigate the different DVC resorts to see what you like and don't like.

Since you have been going to WDW for more than 20 years, you know about the place and possibly where all the DVC properties are located.

We just bought in last year, having gone since 1994 with our kids. We are now down to having only one child traveling with us (the other two are college age) but knew we wanted to continue the WDW trips. We bought at BLT because we had been staying at the CR and loved the location.

Once you have an idea of the properties you are interested in, you can investigate getting contracts at that resort. There is a huge resale market which can save you a lot of money over going through Disney. Unless you want one of the newer resorts, like BLT or VGC, you can do well resale. Even with those two, contracts are starting to show up but, IMO, the price difference isn't enough to offset the ease of going through Disney.

But, at some of the resorts, like SSR, you can get contracts for $65.00 per point vs Disney at more than $100.

Good luck!

 

[ToddyLu]

The consensus on the Dis is that DVC makes sense if you are going to Disney every year or every other year and staying in Deluxe accomodations. But you do have folks like us. Dh and I have been to Disney at least yearly since 2002 for 9-10 days each visit. We have always stayed in Value resorts until the one year that MIL gave us a trip to POFQ.

So at 41 and 45 we were wanting a little bit more luxury on our trips. We no longer have to do Disney commando style and can enjoy "relaxing" around a resort. We purchased 210 points at AKV last year. With our 2008 pts and borrowing a few 2009 points we reserved 2 studios at AKV-Kidani with savannah views for 9 nights. This would have cost us about $7000 cash. We never could or would have paid that for our rooms. So our purchase was about $23,000 with a 47 year contract and mortgage spread over ten years (if we do not pay out early). So this year we have another 2SV studioes at AKV.....already we would be out $14000 cash. It just made "financial" sense for our likes and desires during vacation.

DVC is also easiest when used by folks who plan several months out. Your home resort gives you a 11 month booking advantage, at seven months we can use our AKV points at any other DVC resort. But we might not get what we want becasue at seven months we compete with other owners for those villas. If you make plans 2 weeks out for trips it may be difficult to find something when you want it....also because of the other nuiances Chrystal mentioned. We hope you join our club

Read, read , read and then purchase. Ask questions anytime.

 

[disneynutz]

Read through the DVC boards, contact Disney and request the DVC DVD, plan on taking the DVC tour during your next WDW vacation, start renting reservations at the various DVC resorts so you will know which resort is your favorite when you are ready to buy.

Bill

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks everyone for taking the time to answer!!

a few of questions:

1. i can only carry over points one year? Let's say i don't go in 2010, i could only carry over those points to 2011, but not to 2012?
also, if i carry over points from 2010 to 2011, could i then use points from 2010, 2011 and borrow from 2012, all at the same time? in other words, use 3 years points all at once? - not that i would do that, but i'm thinking out loud..

2. is the yearly maintenance fee the only mandatory additional cost beyond the purchase of the points themselsves?

3. if i'm not much of an advance planner, it seems i may as well buy the cheapest points possible at whatever home resort - since to get the advantage of owning points at a high demand home resort i have to know that i'm going staying there 11 months in advance...
if i'll only know i'm going to WDW a few months in advance, it seems i may as well buy the cheap points and then at 7 months or less from the date of my stay, try for the resort i really want to stay at....is that true? or am i missing something?

 

[disneyholic family]

I don't usually link off this board but this is one of the easiest places to get the basics

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program

bookwormde

thanks for the link!! - i'm reading it now.....basically DVC for dummies (me!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

thanks everyone for taking the time to answer!!

a few of questions:

1. i can only carry over points one year? Let's say i don't go in 2010, i could only carry over those points to 2011, but not to 2012?
also, if i carry over points from 2010 to 2011, could i then use points from 2010, 2011 and borrow from 2012, all at the same time? in other words, use 3 years points all at once? - not that i would do that, but i'm thinking out loud..

2. is the yearly maintenance fee the only mandatory additional cost beyond the purchase of the points themselsves?

3. if i'm not much of an advance planner, it seems i may as well buy the cheapest points possible at whatever home resort - since to get the advantage of owning points at a high demand home resort i have to know that i'm going staying there 11 months in advance...
if i'll only know i'm going to WDW a few months in advance, it seems i may as well buy the cheap points and then at 7 months or less from the date of my stay, try for the resort i really want to stay at....is that true? or am i missing something?

1. you have it.

2. There could be a special assessment for damages or improvements. Plus you still have to pay for your tickets, transportation to and from WDW and your food.

3. If you can plan at least four or five months out, you might have a better choice. But if you don't think you can plan any more than 4-6 weeks out, you aren't a good candidate for DVC. Just know that you might be staying a few nights here, a few nights there, maybe just one night here and moving around a lot.

 

[Crystal_27]

thanks everyone for taking the time to answer!!

a few of questions:

1. i can only carry over points one year? Let's say i don't go in 2010, i could only carry over those points to 2011, but not to 2012?
also, if i carry over points from 2010 to 2011, could i then use points from 2010, 2011 and borrow from 2012, all at the same time? in other words, use 3 years points all at once? - not that i would do that, but i'm thinking out loud..

2. is the yearly maintenance fee the only mandatory additional cost beyond the purchase of the points themselsves?

3. if i'm not much of an advance planner, it seems i may as well buy the cheapest points possible at whatever home resort - since to get the advantage of owning points at a high demand home resort i have to know that i'm going staying there 11 months in advance...
if i'll only know i'm going to WDW a few months in advance, it seems i may as well buy the cheap points and then at 7 months or less from the date of my stay, try for the resort i really want to stay at....is that true? or am i missing something?

1. Provided you pick a good use year and aren't running up against your points expiration date, yes, it is a viable option to use three year's worth of points for a vacation.

2. Well, there are still the other costs associated with a Disney vacation - - park tickets, dining, transportation, etc. Disney vacations aren't exactly cheap - LOL. Also keep in mind that your maintenance fees will likely increase every year through the life of your contract.

3. If you can't plan at least 4-5 months in advance, I would caution you in buying DVC *unless* you wouldn't mind changing hotels mid-stay. Keep in mind that the closer you get to your vacation date, the less and less availability there is going to be. DVC is an expensive undertaking and your best bet in using your membership is to book as far out as possible (i.e., as close to 11 months prior to the start of your vacation as you can get). Still, if you are realistic about what is availability is going to be, I guess DVC can still work for you...but I'd recommend you giving this a lot of thought prior to purchasing.

Good luck!

 

[Halle]

I agree with all the PP. I love, love love VB and HH but wouldn't buy there, hurricanes may result in assessments .

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Go over to wdwtoday.com and download the podcast entitled DVC or not to DVC? It's a great resource

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks again everyone!! you're a great resource!!

 

[bookwormde]

Good luck and take your time

bookwormde