Thinking about buying

[Yup I'm Goofy]

Hello, while we love WDW we only visit every few years. We like to stay in realy nice places when we travel and like the idea of the DVC rooms/condos and the features that go with them.

What I was thinking was buying 150 points and if we only go every other year, or every third year, we should be able to get a 2 bedroom, or smaller with out the kids (ds 18 & 14). What do you think of that idea?

Also has anyone used the non-Disney properties? It looks a little complicated and I was wondering if there is a problem making reservations at them.

Also, it seems that the annual fee is a bit high. When I compare that to what friends pay through RCI for other timeshares. Is there a history of this going up?

Also how often do the # of points for rental change? It seems that if they raised them it could price you right out of the type of room that you bought. Have the number of points for rental changed at all or are they fixed for ever?

That was a lot of "also's"!!

I know that these questions have probably been asked a lot and I appreciate your help!

Tom

 

[jodifla]

I can help with part of this. We bought in at 150 points in '96 and found we got a lot of use out of them. We live in Florida, so we tend to go for shorter, more frequent trips. We started out with studios, which are in the 10-14 point range, but lately, find that nothing less than a 1-bedroom will do, particularly with a toddler. For our 150 points, we stayed about 8 to 10 nights a year at one or more of the DVCs (we avoid the high-point weekends normally). We love SAB at BCV, so we recently added 56 points before they sold out. This gives us the ability to stay four nights every year in a studio there, or every other year in a one bedroom there, in addition to our OKW points.

Dues might seem high compared with RCI, but my friends who own there talk about all the fees for everything they want to do. With DVC, it's straightforward. Your mortgage payment, and once that's gone, just the dues. Ours are about $50 a month, so we don't even miss the cash. If you do want to trade out, there's a fee (I think it's $95 now) but we've found so much to do within DVC we haven't felt the need to book outside.


Many people will tell you that DVC works best if you want to stay mainly at a DVC property. Because of our relatively low amount of points, we don't feel locked in to only Disney trips. IF we have other plans one year, we roll over the points, and take along really happy and grateful friends the following year. OR we splurge on some weekends.

And re: the points: Disney cannot change the overall points. If they raise one night, they have to lower another night. The total numer of points has to remain the same, so your 150 points will buy as much in 2042 as it does today.

 

[JimC]

Use this link for some of the information about dues history, point price history and the like.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=428249

The DVC resort points are fixed in total. They may reallocate points, but the total can not change. So if they increase points during part of the year, they must reduce them for some other time. DVC has done one reallocation for OKW back in 1995 or 96.

Points for the other collections are negotiated annually and they do go up.

 

[jmminarik]

The 'points' concept seems to trip-up many non-DVCers. Many don't initially comprehend that you get X number of points every year...they think you get X points and when they run out you have to buy more.

Annual fees do tend to be higher than typical timeshares, but there's more involved with DVC. It seems DVC does spend alot more on maintenance of the facilities, plus you have to take into account the costs of the bus transportation, valet parking where provided and other items that other resorts don't always provide.

If going every 2-3 years is your style of visiting Disney, your plan is a valid one. Many people seem to do this. Then again, if you've read these boards for a while you'll see lots of us on the boards wind up buying add-ons because we can't get enough of our villas and going to Disney. So, be forewarned that DVC can be just like a boat...very addictive and cause you to spend lots of money on playtime.

In general Disney doesn't futz with the point costs at a resort. Disney tried to "fix" the problem with people getting less than desireable views at BWV by making the standard and preferred catagories on the theory that you cut the 'bad view' room people a break. It backfired spectacularly because everyone wants those rooms because the point cost is cheaper and you're still not guaranteed a great view at the preferred room sections.

My guess is that the next time they change the points costs it will be driven by Disney's desire to change DVC traffic patterns and not in response to owner's complaints. Right now early December is a very busy time for DVC, but slow time for Disney itself. That's good for Disney since we'll all go there and spend money with the general public isn't. If over time park attendence in June drops off for some reason and early December goes up, DVC might make nights during June cheaper and charge more for December to encourage the 'captive' DVC crowd to go in June. (this is all hypothetical of course...just an example).

Hope this helps,
Joe

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, Yup I'm Goofy. I would just like to drive home what has already been pointed out.
The total points required to stay at the resort can not change. It is possible (though not likely) that DVC could decide to reallocate points. If they were to raise points for one type of room or season, there must be an equal decrease(s) in points for another room or season.
This is nothing more than trying to keep demand constant throughout the spectrum of rooms and seasons.

As far as DVC fees being expensive, I truly believe we get what we pay for. Just my opinion, but I would rather see high fees coupled with high quality, than low fees and have it be just another Orlando resort.

Your plan of going every two or three years sonds like a good one, but be warned, you may catch the bug. Many DVCers have started out that way, but later decided to add on points and become a true Disney fiend!

Good luck, and please feel free to ask questions...

 

[mistyron]

Talk to your guide about point availability at BCV. I just bought 200 pts earlier this week at BCV.

 

[drtpaper]

The great part about the DVC has over other timeshares is that the points have rental value. You can rent them and not lose your shirt. I have a low number of points and use them every other year or so. I use the off year points to rent out of offset the costs of the trip. By my calculations, the rentals have covered the costs of tickets and airfare to the park and the maintenance fees. I am out the cost of the points, but they have appreciated in value by a little, so no loss there. Had it been in the stock market, I would have lost 40% of its value and had no vacations.

Buy the points, visit the resort and then decide. You can't compare it until you go. If you are not that sure about Disney, rent some points and try it out. That is how we got sold.

I was a doubting Thomas until I stayed in the 2 bedroom BWV with a view of the Boardwalk and EPCOT. How can an offsite resort compare. Being in bed 30 minutes after Illuminations is over can't be done off site.