Thinking about DVC...Let's see if I am correct...

[dobball23]

I would love to buy into DVC, but want to see if I have the basics of it correct before I gather more information and/or seriously consider it...

Costs:
- approximately $18,000 initial purchase price (plus closing and other fees)
- Yearly dues on points (approximately $5.00/point now...goes up slightly each year and varies with resort) (with purchase of 200 points, yearly cost would be $1,000?)
- Still need to purchase park tickets and/or dining for each visit (if I would want them)

Benefits:
- Can book accommodations in home resort 11 months out
- Can book accomodations in another DVC resort 7 months out

Questions:
- Can you use points toward a non-DVC resort (Polynesian, Contemporary main tower, etc.)?
- Is there a suggested number of points someone should purchase?
- Can points accumulate if I don't use them for a couple of years...ex: If I don't go to a DVC resort from 2010-2012, would I have access to all those points from those years in 2013?
- Can DVC be used for Disney Cruise Line?

Any other tips/info would be much appreciated as I do some initial research.

Thanks!

Todd

 

[DVC Mike]

- Can you use points toward a non-DVC resort (Polynesian, Contemporary main tower, etc.)?

You can book the deluxe resorts where there isn't a DVC component (Poly-Yes, Contemporary-No). It's not a good use of points and there is a $95 booking fee.

- Is there a suggested number of points someone should purchase?

It depends on the type of accomodation you want, the time of year you are going, which resort you will stay at, and how many nights.

- Can points accumulate if I don't use them for a couple of years...ex: If I don't go to a DVC resort from 2010-2012, would I have access to all those points from those years in 2013?

You can bank unused points from one year only into the next year.

- Can DVC be used for Disney Cruise Line?

Yes.

 

[jcodespoti]

-Yes. You can use dvc points for Poly, GF,etc...its not the best bang for your point value though.

-Point needs are based on your vacation patterns now, and in the future.
If you vacation off peak (remember thats DVC off-peak), then you need less points.
If however you vacation during th holiday periods, you may need more points.
I'd use the point charts or a point calculator (they are on this site), and figure out about how many points you would need in a year based on how long you want to go, how large of a room you want, and when you want to go. It will give you some idea anyway.

You can "bank" your points and also borrow against you points.

Say for example you don't plan on using your points for 2010. You can bank those points and use them in 2011. Or if you want to take family in 2010 you can borrow points from 2011. There are some details you need to pay attention to though.



-You can use your pints for DCL as well

 

[bookwormde]

18K is correct if you are buying directly from DVC, if you buy resale you can buy less points starting at about 3K.

Most dues are about $5/pt/yr but BLT is well under $4

Yes you still have all the extra expenses of transportation, tickets, food (though if you are in a villa and cook you can save an amazing amount of $), special events and souvenirs.

You can actually book up to 7 days on the first day of your reservation at 11 months at your home resort and 7 months at other resorts.

Yes you can book WDW standard hotels at resorts, which do not have a DVC resorts, attached to them but it is a non economical use of points as are most exchange outs to RCI or using points for cruises.

Number of points depends on you vacation style and finances. Remember that you can usually ad on as little as 25 points at any resort direct from DVC or can add on by resale. One thing to remember is that it is often wise to split your initial purchase (if from DVC) up into smaller contracts (say 2x100 or 1-100 and 2x50 for example) to give you greater flexibility and better price in the future when you want to sell some).

You can bank one years point into the following year and borrow one year’s points from the following year (with certain restrictions).

Yes you can use DVC points for cruises and Disney’s Adventurer’s program but is it not the most economical use of points.

Understanding use year is helpful also since you can select a UY which best meets you vacation timing (there is a good thread on this issue).

bookwormde

 

[disneynutz]

Here's why using your points at a non-DVC resort isn't worth it. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2246141

 

[dobball23]

18K is correct if you are buying directly from DVC, if you buy resale you can buy less points starting at about 3K.

Most dues are about $5/pt/yr but BLT is well under $4

Yes you still have all the extra expenses of transportation, tickets, food (though if you are in a villa and cook you can save an amazing amount of $), special events and souvenirs.

You can actually book up to 7 days on the first day of your reservation at 11 months at your home resort and 7 months at other resorts.

Yes you can book WDW standard hotels at resorts, which do not have a DVC resorts, attached to them but it is a non economical use of points as are most exchange outs to RCI or using points for cruises.

Number of points depends on you vacation style and finances. Remember that you can usually ad on as little as 25 points at any resort direct from DVC or can add on by resale. One thing to remember is that it is often wise to split your initial purchase (if from DVC) up into smaller contracts (say 2x100 or 1-100 and 2x50 for example) to give you greater flexibility and better price in the future when you want to sell some).

You can bank one years point into the following year and borrow one year’s points from the following year (with certain restrictions).

Yes you can use DVC points for cruises and Disney’s Adventurer’s program but is it not the most economical use of points.

Understanding use year is helpful also since you can select a UY which best meets you vacation timing (there is a good thread on this issue).

bookwormde

Thanks everyone for all the answers. A couple follow-up questions...

1. Does that mean you can only carry one year's woth of points over and not accumulate many year's worth?

2. If you can buy resale points for $3,000 instead of the $18,000 through Disney, why does anyone purchase through Disney?

3. I know it depends on my family (currently just me and my wife) and my vacation style, but is there an average number of points families might purchase? I am looking for a ballpark range.

4. Why is BLT's "dues" so low compared to many of the other DVC resorts?

 

[kim_d]

Thanks everyone for all the answers. A couple follow-up questions...

1. Does that mean you can only carry one year's woth of points over and not accumulate many year's worth?

2. If you can buy resale points for $3,000 instead of the $18,000 through Disney, why does anyone purchase through Disney?

3. I know it depends on my family (currently just me and my wife) and my vacation style, but is there an average number of points families might purchase? I am looking for a ballpark range.

4. Why is BLT's "dues" so low compared to many of the other DVC resorts?

You can bank one year worth of points and borrow one year worth of points so essentially you could have 3 years worth of points to used if you banked 2010 points, used 2011 points and borrowed 2012 points for a trip in 2011. But you can't bank 2009 and 2010 points for a 2011 trip.

People buy through Disney to get the resort they want and the UY they need. Also the lower price resale contracts are for contracts of smaller points (i.e. 25, 50, 75) that Disney doesn't sell to the initial buyer. Also Disney covers closing costs so you really have to compare true costs between resale and buying direct through Disney.

DH and I bought back in 2002 when it was just him and I. We purchased 175 points which we thought was ideal for us- traveling once a year at a studio for week plus stay. However, a month after we signed our contract we found out we were pregnant. Now we have a 4yo and 6yo and have added on another 130 points for a total of 305.

 

[dobball23]

Why is the Use Year so important? I am having trouble figuring that one out...

Thanks for answering all my questions!!

 

[DebbieB]

I think the resale for $3K is a typo. You might be able to get a resale at an older resort for $13K for 200 points. Or you could get a small contract for $3K (less than 50 points).

 

[bookwormde]

As said you can accumulate as much as 3 years points.

IT takes more time and “shopping” to buy resale. If you want the most recent resort (BLT) the availability is very limited. DVC makes financing easy. Most people do not even realize there is a resale market. For the same number of points the difference between resale and DVC ranges from a 40% discount to almost no discount depending on the resort, so for some resorts it is better to buy form DVC.

I would guess that the average member starts with 150-200 points. Be aware that addonitis quickly set in.

BLT is a high-rise compact design with very little grounds keeping expense so maintenance is less.

bookwormde

 

[DebbieB]

Maintenance at BLT is also less because the points per night are higher so the dues are spread out over a higher number of points.

 

[Sandisw]

Why is the Use Year so important? I am having trouble figuring that one out...

Thanks for answering all my questions!!

A person's UY determines when current UY points can be used for travel. The ideal situation is to have a UY that starts just prior to your typical travel so that if you had to ever cancel a trip at least 31 days out (less than that, points go in to a holding account and then you can only use them for reservations made 60 days or less), you would still be able to bank the points.

You can only bank points during the first 8 months of your UY. I am a summer traveler and have a June UY. My points become "active" just before I go and if I ever had to cancel one of my August trips, I would have plenty of time to figure out what to do with them, by either re-booking or banking them.

In addition, when you borrow points from a future UY to travel and have to cancel, you can not put those points back. You must use them in the UY they were borrowed in to. So, if your travel is near the end of the UY, you don't have a lot of time to rebook vacations with those points.

If you plan to travel to WDW many different times of the year, then UY becomes less important in your decision.

Good luck!