Thinking of becoming a DVC member but have questions...

[Mouse House Mama]

We are thinking of becoming DVC members but have a few questions. Where else but Disney can you use these points? Also- what are the maintenance fees? Do I have to stay at a villa all the time or can I just get a regular room for less points? What does the average vacation use in terms of points? If I don't use my points in a calendar year do they carry over and for how long? We're thinking of purchasing as our home resort the VWL because that is our favorite resort. (grounds/conveniences etc.) Any info that anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

You can use your points at most WDW resorts, not just DVC resorts. However, it is MUCH more economical point-wise to book studio villas at DVC resorts than "regular" hotel rooms at WDW. The "average" vacation in terms of points really varies..it depends on season, villa size, specific resort, and length of stay. Click on the DVC Point Charts link at the top of this page to get an idea of point usage.

Dues are about are about $4 to $4.50 per point per year, depending on which resort you own at, and generall increase about 4% per year, sometime there have even been decreases. Dues include maintenance, resort employee wages, taxes, a long term fund for resort rehabs, insurance, transportation, utilities, etc. There may also be a special assessment if your resort sustains unexpected damage if the entire costs is not covered by insurance, such as hurricane, fire damage, terrorism, etc.

 

[senecabeach]

The point system gives wonderful flexibility. With other timeshares..like RCI..you get a week..from say Fri-Fri or Thur-Thur etc. With the DVC point system I dont need to go for a 7 consecutive day period.
I can go for a few days...or extend way beyond 7 days and anytime during the year!! I can also "borrow" points from my upcoming year..maybe to have a larger unit, 2 bdrm or like a grand villa that sleeps 12!!

Example:
1. You buy an allotment of points (150 is the standard).

2. Each of the 7 DVC's charge a different amt. of points per night, per the type of accomodation that you require. (i.e...studio, 1 bdrm, 2 bdrm..etc.).

3. The time of year you go has different point values and Fri and Sat night cost more points than Sunday thru Thursday.

There are 5 seasons @ Disney:from least expensive points to most are:
Adventure...Jan, Sept, half Dec
Choice...Oct, Nov (not Thanksgiving)and some Dec
Dream...May, half June and Aug and Feb
Magic...half of June, all July, all March
Premier..X-mas and Easter week

Are you now totally crazed???
Don't be!! I kept looking for the "small print" but there wasn't any!!

Here's the Disney DVC web site: http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index

I can give you more info...but...you need to "turn on" you pm...so I can send you a "private message", or, send me a pm or here's my e-mail senecabeach@comcast.net

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Thanks for the info! Tell me how to turn on the PM feature and I'll do it! I really appreciate it!

 

[rchristiansen]

We are thinking of becoming DVC members but have a few questions. Where else but Disney can you use these points?
You can buy them straight from Disney or from a resale broker. We purchased a 100 point contract through resale. We did not have enough money for the 150 point contract sold directly through Disney. Disney charged about $14,000 for a 150 point contract and the resale was only $7000 because it was less per point for OKW...however we do not have the contract as long as if you would purchase through SSR.


Also- what are the maintenance fees?
Answered by someone else, however we own at OKW and our maintenace fees are 3.86/point -- so $386 per year for 100 points. (Another reason we only purchased 100 points because it's lower maint fees.)


Do I have to stay at a villa all the time or can I just get a regular room for less points?
Many DVC rooms are "Studios" the same size as a regular hotel room. Most have 1 queen bed and a fold out sofa. Also has a micro/fridge/coffee maker and toaster.


What does the average vacation use in terms of points?
We have not yet stayed in a Studio but plan to this year. Our first purchase was last year so we had extra points to use last year so we stayed in a 1BR. This year it is 82 points for 6 nights in a Studio at the Beach Club the first week in Sept. We only have one child so the studio is fine for us. Of course I'd love to stay in a 1BR every time, but can not afford that many points for us. This arrangement is perfect for our situation, however everyone has different situtaitons. Some people have 4 kids and need a 2BR which would cost you 210 points for the same week.


If I don't use my points in a calendar year do they carry over and for how long?
Yes, you can bank them for one year (your "use year" --- somewhat complicated to describe here). You can also "borrow" into the next year.


We're thinking of purchasing as our home resort the VWL because that is our favorite resort. (grounds/conveniences etc.)
You would need to purchase a resale for VWL to be your home resort. Disney is only selling SSR at this time. However as mentioned above you can stay at any DVC property with your points. There are different booking windows for your home resort vs other resorts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You would need to purchase a resale for VWL to be your home resort. Disney is only selling SSR at this time.

That is not true. You can waitlist to buy points at any soldout DVC resort directly from Disney if you choose, or you can go to a resale agent. There are advantages and disadvantages both ways.

 

[rsjj]

is not a dvc member...am thinking of becoming one...got their cd/brochure, been reading...

now, why would it matter which resort you purchase for your "home" resort? cuz aren't you just buying points?

and can i add more questions...

after i purchase it, will i get the points every year, forever?
can i transfer it to another person? give it away in my old age?
can i continue to bank my points? or do i need to use them up every year?

thank you in advance!

 

[gjw007]

The point system gives wonderful flexibility. With other timeshares..like RCI..you get a week..from say Fri-Fri or Thur-Thur etc. With the DVC point system I dont need to go for a 7 consecutive day period.

[/B]

A little more information: First, let's assume that the resort has a contract with the RCI system. RCI has two systems: RCI Weeks and RCI Points. The RCI Weeks is the traditional timeshare program where you own a specific week of the year and it is available for you every year without doing anything (assuming dues are current). If you wish to trade, you trade through RCI. These are for complete weeks with a check-in/check-out dates of Fri-Fri, Sat-Sat, or Sun-Sun. Your week must start on one of those dates. You cannot checkin on a Thurs-Thurs as they don't exist.

RCI Points is like DVC in that there is a specific number of points per night and you can checkin any date that you want and stay as long as you have points. A reservation of 4 days or longer is $70 (maybe higher, I haven't check recent prices) but each night less than that is $20 per night. In addition, for a stay under a certain number of days, the resort may charge a housekeeping fee. Some resorts, such as Vistana Resorts, even though they are in the RCI Points system, follow the RCI Weeks format and have only a certain number of checkin dates and reservations must be for 7 days (at least it was when I inquired a couple years ago).

My explanations is highly glossed over but my point is that there is a points system with RCI as well but the vast majority of the resorts in the system belong to Weeks, not Points. The other point that I was trying to make is that DVC doesn't charge to make reservations and have an annual membership fee in addition to the fees necessary to make the exchange (weeks) or reservation (points). I would recommend going to TUG to read more about the various points system.

 

[Mouse Ears]

now, why would it matter which resort you purchase for your "home" resort? cuz aren't you just buying points?
You are literally buying an interest in one of the DVC resorts, but that interest is represented in the point system. For example, I own at Beach Club Villas, so I have 150 points per year at Beach Club Villas. My dues are determined by the actual expenses of that resort. In addition, I have priority to make reservations up to 11 months ahead of my trip at Beach Club Villas (7 months in others) so that I have priority over owners at OKW, VWL, SSR, etc.

after i purchase it, will i get the points every year, forever?
You get the points every year at the beginning of your use year. Mine is February so I get 150 points each February. BCV contract expires in 2042, so I will get points up until that time (NOT forever). SSR ends about 10 years later IIRC.

can i transfer it to another person? give it away in my old age?
You own a deeded lease and it is possible to sell or transfer, but it will have to be registered through DVC and the state of Florida.

can i continue to bank my points? or do i need to use them up every year?
You can bank forward one year and borrow forward one year. For example, in 2005, I do not have a trip planned so I will bank my points into next year and have double points for 2006 plans. Any 2005 points that are not used by January 31, 2007 (I will get 2007 points on Feb.1,2007) will expire. I could even borrow those 2007 points and use them in 2006 along with 2005 points and have 3x the points to spend. Banking and borrowing gives you a lot of flexibility. Our plan has been to go 2 out of 3 years and it is possible with banking and borrowing. You have to explicitely ask to bank or borrow points and they cannot be returned to their original timeframe. If you fail to bank left over points, they will be lost at the end of your use year (when new points are added).

Good luck in your decision.

 

[senecabeach]

Mouse House Mama....

In the top section of this page you will see:
User CP FAQ Members List..etc.

Go to "User CP".
On the left side of this screen you will see "Control Panel Settings and Options".
Hit "Edit Options"
You will see "Messaging and Notifications".
Under this section it says "Receive Mail"
...Put an X in the "Receive mail from other members".