Thinking about DVC - need some advice!

[CanadaDisney05]

Thanks for the information! Not married, no kids yet, and most of our traveling includes Disney and Florida panhandle beaches. We're both in healthcare and in positions with good job security, so money and career changes wouldn't be an issue. I'll have over 15 weeks vacation each year, and we're hoping to take several long weekend trips to Disney throughout the year. But I understand the words of caution since we are young - but we are in a financially secure position for DVC at this time.

I don't think financial situation was what they were inferring about. They were more inferring to legal, and personal issues that arise from young, non-married, non-kids couples could have. What happens when you have kids, will you be taking as many trips? Pulling them out of school? Squeeze into a studio? What happens if you split up? What happens if you get a job on the other side of the country? etc....

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think financial situation was what they were inferring about. They were more inferring to legal, and personal issues that arise from young, non-married, non-kids couples could have. What happens when you have kids, will you be taking as many trips? Pulling them out of school? Squeeze into a studio? What happens if you split up? What happens if you get a job on the other side of the country? etc....

Kids are a huge wild card in a lot of ways. Good and bad.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Here was our experience.

Bought:
75 direct at SSR @ 160 PP & 125 resale at SSR @ 99 PP.

Background
Family of 4. We are in our early 30's. Kids are young. SO is a teacher, so we only really travel in the summer. Part of the

Where
The reason DVC was attractive to us was to experience different resorts. We don't want to do the same vacation over and over for 35 years. Between going to new resorts every year, and the plethora of activities available in WDW (as well as the rest of Orlando), we were comfortable with travelling to this area year over year without getting tired of it. We will also rent out points once in awhile when we decided to do something different.

As we want to go to a new resort every year, we saw no value in the 11 month booking window as in a worst case scenario, we are fine at SSR. Given that we travel in the summer (low priority booking for DVC), and bought enough points for the better view studios, the risk was worth it.

Direct vs Indirect
As mentioned above, we want to go to as many resorts as possible. As we only just bought, we knew we needed some direct points to book Riviera, Reflections, and any other new resorts. With borrowing and banking, we could easily do a week in a preferred studio at a new resort once every 3 years with 75 points. The difference in cost for these 75 points direct was about $4500

75 points also unlocked the blue card. We travel in the summer so we plan on going August in one year, then July the next year. This allows us to get two trips on one annual pass. With the DVC Gold pass option and a family of 4, thats a savings of $1700 upfront for our first two trips. So even if the gold pass deal disappears, our net difference to get access to the new resorts is down to $2,800 spread out over 35 years.

How many points

Bought enough points so that we can easily go atleast 3 out of 4 years, and stay in studios with premium views. While the premium view isn't necessary for our enjoyment, it allows a greater chance at the 7 month booking window of getting the resort we choose.

 

[ELMC]

As a financial person, it really bothers me that Disney pushes DVC based on people being at the parks and in the moment. Any purchase of this magnitude should be reviewed by someone other than the person trying to sell you the product. They're getting people hooked based on emotions, not necessarily based on financial considerations.

Interesting perspective. I don't have a problem with it per se, but I do recognize that they are capitalizing on emotion to make the sale. I think some of the responsibility falls on the buyer as well to act responsibly, and now we are getting close to a conversation on free will vs. the greater good which is a place I do NOT want to go. I will say this, I agree completely that the contract should be reviewed by someone other than a salesperson with a vested interest, and I think that is the intention of the ten-day cooling-off period. Whether people actually take advantage of that or not is another thing altogether.

That said, DVC is a reputable product with positive uses, and that goes a long way towards my tolerating its presence in the parks. It's not like they're selling *actual* drugs.

 

[rangerxenos]

Interesting perspective. I don't have a problem with it per se, but I do recognize that they are capitalizing on emotion to make the sale. I think some of the responsibility falls on the buyer as well to act responsibly, and now we are getting close to a conversation on free will vs. the greater good which is a place I do NOT want to go. I will say this, I agree completely that the contract should be reviewed by someone other than a salesperson with a vested interest, and I think that is the intention of the ten-day cooling-off period. Whether people actually take advantage of that or not is another thing altogether.

That said, DVC is a reputable product with positive uses, and that goes a long way towards my tolerating its presence in the parks. It's not like they're selling *actual* drugs.

I just worry that people aren't actually talking to someone in that 10 days to make sure it makes financial sense. Ultimately it is your choice, but I've seen too many people get into trouble by making financial choices based almost soley on emotion.

 

[chalee94]

Interesting perspective. I don't have a problem with it per se, but I do recognize that they are capitalizing on emotion to make the sale. I think some of the responsibility falls on the buyer as well to act responsibly, and now we are getting close to a conversation on free will vs. the greater good which is a place I do NOT want to go. I will say this, I agree completely that the contract should be reviewed by someone other than a salesperson with a vested interest, and I think that is the intention of the ten-day cooling-off period. Whether people actually take advantage of that or not is another thing altogether.

There is so much available information on the Internet these days, especially regarding DVC. It's difficult for me to be patient with people who drop 5 figures on a timeshare without doing any due diligence on the purchase... (Especially the knuckleheads who are about to start posting, "I bought DVC last year but now I can't find anything available for early December 2019 even though it's off season - I was hoping for VGF - boy, am I mad!")

If you are going to spend $10,000 plus on a timeshare, it's up to you to do a little adulting during the cooling off period (although some research *before* you spend the money would make even more sense.)

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay, think about renting reservations from DVC owners for a couple of stays to try out the resorts. Buy after you are married and you have a better idea of your new life together and your finances.

Have fun!

Bill

 

[ELMC]

There is so much available information on the Internet these days, especially regarding DVC. It's difficult for me to be patient with people who drop 5 figures on a timeshare without doing any due diligence on the purchase... (Especially the knuckleheads who are about to start posting, "I bought DVC last year but now I can't find anything available for early December 2019 even though it's off season - I was hoping for VGF - boy, am I mad!")

If you are going to spend $10,000 plus on a timeshare, it's up to you to do a little adulting during the cooling off period (although some research *before* you spend the money would make even more sense.)

I completely agree. But sadly I think you are asking a bit much of people...

 

[gjdarbo]

Buy where you love to stay, think about renting reservations from DVC owners for a couple of stays to try out the resorts. Buy after you are married and you have a better idea of your new life together and your finances.

Have fun!

Bill

Thank you! We rent points when we go so we'll continue doing this and trying out other resorts until it's time to buy.

 

[gjdarbo]

Please meet with a financial advisor before jumping into a purchase. That's who you should be asking for advice.

Good advice - but financial advisors probably won't understand our strange obsession with Disney. Many people I work with think we're crazy for considering DVC - yet haul around their boats and campers that cost much more than a DVC membership. I'm very happy I've had time to do my research so I don't jump into a purchase.

 

[gjdarbo]

I’m an addict. I’ll admit it.

But I’ve also spent $600 a night at the Grand Floridian.

Christmas 2017 we stayed at the Poly. I don’t even want to say how expensive that was.

I think some long term DVC owners forget just how expensive hotel rooms can be at Disney.

It's pretty bad thinking about how many thousands of dollars we've spent on just our HOTELS this year at Disney...plus our honeymoon at Aulani The standard prices for rooms at the Deluxe resorts are crazy high.

 

[anomamatt]

Good advice - but financial advisors probably won't understand our strange obsession with Disney.

Very true. Imagine telling a financial advisor the cost of a deluxe room on property compared to a nicer room off-site. If we took the advice of financial planners, no one would be staying on site. And what fun is that? ;-)

 

[anomamatt]

I think some long term DVC owners forget just how expensive hotel rooms can be at Disney.

Absolutely true. I counter people saying how $188/point is too much for Riviera with the cash rates (they are astronomical) -- and people continue to desire to stay on cash... For example, a random night in May 2020, a studio at Riviera is $750 a night!

I personally love DVC because I can use my "points" to stay in bungalows and cabins without even thinking about the (absurd) cash rate.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Very true. Imagine telling a financial advisor the cost of a deluxe room on property compared to a nicer room off-site. If we took the advice of financial planners, no one would be staying on site. And what fun is that? ;-)

A good financial advisor's role is not to make you/save you the most money possible. It's to make sure your financial strategy is aligned with your short, medium, and long term goals. DVC can be a great example of tool towards a long term goal.

 

[ELMC]

Absolutely true. I counter people saying how $188/point is too much for Riviera with the cash rates (they are astronomical) -- and people continue to desire to stay on cash... For example, a random night in May 2020, a studio at Riviera is $750 a night!

I personally love DVC because I can use my "points" to stay in bungalows and cabins without even thinking about the (absurd) cash rate.

Don't think that is by accident, it is very much done on purpose. When you set the price of the hotel room astronomically high, you can then set the price of the DVC only ridiculously high and have it look like a bargain by comparison. I'm not saying it's a scam, because it's not, it's clever marketing and product positioning. But it also kind of feels like a bit of a scam. It's not, but it feels a little like it is.

For what it's worth, you can get the Four Seasons or the Waldorf for half the price and it's a much nicer property. You can get the Swolphin for a third of the price and that's also very nice, and better located. Disney better smarten up, this isn't going to last forever. We are very close to going back to being an off-site family. I'm tired of getting gouged and I don't think I'm alone in that thinking.

 

[anomamatt]

For what it's worth, you can get the Four Seasons or the Waldorf for half the price and it's a much nicer property. You can get the Swolphin for a third of the price and that's also very nice, and better located. Disney better smarten up, this isn't going to last forever. We are very close to going back to being an off-site family. I'm tired of getting gouged and I don't think I'm alone in that thinking.

Four Seasons is more than $750/night, but I would argue it's worth it if you want a luxurious hotel. And yeah, I stayed in Swolphin recently (for about $100/night) and it made me think long and hard about all my DVC points.

 

[disney11fan]

A good financial advisor's role is not to make you/save you the most money possible. It's to make sure your financial strategy is aligned with your short, medium, and long term goals. DVC can be a great example of tool towards a long term goal.

Lol. I hope that remark was made to make us laugh out loud. No f. P. Would ever recommend a timeshare.

 

[ELMC]

Four Seasons is more than $750/night, but I would argue it's worth it if you want a luxurious hotel. And yeah, I stayed in Swolphin recently (for about $100/night) and it made me think long and hard about all my DVC points.

Oof...I've seen it for less in the past but didn't realize it got that expensive. Yikes!

As for the Swolphin, three last-minute trips each for less than $250 a night including taxes and resort fees has me in the same place. What DVC. And when they open the new tower, it's only going to get better.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Kids are a huge wild card in a lot of ways. Good and bad.

So true! When we first learned of DVC we were a couple, perfectly happy in a Moderate studio. I actually ran the numbers back then and decided that, unless we really couldn't live without staying in Deluxe, it didn't make any sense financially - even through resale. Add 3 kids and time, and now we are really uncomfortable in anything less than a 1 br suite. Well that certainly changes the math! Now DVC makes a lot of sense - and we have the cash to sink into it that we didn't back then.

 

[luvdisneyland]

Good advice - but financial advisors probably won't understand our strange obsession with Disney. Many people I work with think we're crazy for considering DVC - yet haul around their boats and campers that cost much more than a DVC membership. I'm very happy I've had time to do my research so I don't jump into a purchase.

Fair point!