Thinking of buying into DVC

[ebonyeyes]

Hi,
We are considering buying DVC. Want some advice...We live in Las Vegas so we visit DL usually. We just planned our first trip 6 yr old son for Aug of 09 (husband & I haven't been since childhood) Needless to say we are super jazzed about our trip. We rented points from somone to test drive the experience. We don't know if we should buy at the new DVC at DL or buy in at DW. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Nanette

 

[chalee94]

JMO, but if gas spikes upward again, i think you'd be happier with a timeshare in CA.

given the small size of the GCV at DL and the larger number of options at wdw, you'd be better off owning at GCV and trying to book something at wdw at the 7 month window than vice-versa. if it looks like you are locked into the resort you booked at 11 months, you'd have greater flexibility if you were "stuck" at DL within driving distance.

but if you have a chance, take a day off from the parks when you are at wdw and do the tour of the BLT and AKV rooms to get more information before you make a decision. while you are at SSR, you can ask to see if there is an available SSR room they can show you (although that is a lot more iffy). then wander over to the boardwalk and there's a model of the BWV still open over there. once you've seen several set ups, you can figure what the rest are like from looking at pictures on the web. (OKW is a little different since the studios there have 2 queen beds rather than a sofa bed).

 

[spiceycat]

how often are you going to WDW vs DL?

if dl is your main disney theme park - might even reconsider buying DVC.

there are other timeshares out there who can trade to DVC - now so far only studios are showing up for holiday weeks - but you can get a 1-bedroom or studio pretty often with an offsite timeshare trading thru II.

especially if you intend to come to Florida only say once in 3 years.

now 2 years - DVC is still a good thing.

but living in Cal - the plane tickets could get real expensive.

now suggest outside DVC instead of DVC - because some of the Western timeshares only trade with themselves first then II. So the years when you don't go to WDW you will find a nice place that is close.

Now assuming you are only to come to WDW every 3 year - this is a BIG assumption on my part. If that is not the case- just ignore me....

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We own at 2 locations & my feelings are unless you are a planner well ahead of time DVC hardly ever works.
There are no longer slow months & a last minute getaway is out of the question...sooooo based on how we travel I wouldn't do it again.

We head down 3-5 times a year and rooms are just about impossible to get when & where you want.

 

[Scott]

Nanette,

I grew up in So. Cal and have visited DL many times over the course of my life. I live in Indiana now and started going to WDW in 2001. We rented a DVC villa three times prior to finally buying this past month. In my opinion there is simply no comparison between DL and WDW. WDW is utterly and completely superior to DL. WDW is a resort destination and a city unto itself. The property is very beautiful and one could vacation for a week there without attending a theme park.

The parks at WDW are also better designed than DL. I read somewhere that WDW represented everything Walt Disney wanted to do at DL, but couldn't because of space and bureaucratic limitations. In particular, the parks at WDW are more spacious than DL parks. This serves to mitigate the extreme overcrowded feeling which is common at DL. More than anything the biggest difference between the two is intangible. The atmosphere at WDW is so much more pleasant than DL. I think this is in part due to the fact that most people at WDW are on vacation, which creates a more relaxing atmosphere for all. DL is often a reflection of the fast paced, hyped up, lifestyle of the surrounding community. I made a return trip to DL last year and was shocked at how different the atmosphere is there compared to WDW. I think WDW must have ruined me for DL. All in all, I think WDW comes much closer than DL in realizing Walt Disney's dream of creating the "happiest place on earth."

Enjoy your trip...I have a feeling that your decision will be much, much easier after you experience WDW. It will be well worth the extra airfare!
Scott

 

[Pakey]

We live 3 hours from DL but own enough points at WDW to go 2-3 times per year. I have never had any points leftover and have actually had to rent points twice in the past decade when we did not have enough.

To me, DL is a great weekend trip but not a vacation destination. Even with the high price of airline tickets (I spent almost 8000 for 11 tickets for Jan 09), I would still rather go to WDW. We've taken many great vacations to Europe, Hawaii, etc and I would still rather go to WDW.

I did not buy DVC until I had made 5 trips to WDW in less than 2 years and was still loving it. It's a 50 year commitment so you want to at least feel fairly confident that you will not tire of going to the same place repeatedly.