Thinking of joining DVC

[Steve_]

My family goes to Disney about 5 weekends a year. Sometimes we go for just Saturday and othertimes we will stay a couple of days. We only live three hours from Disney and with the seasonal passes it makes for a quick get a way. Normally we stay at Pop Century or one of the mid level hotels. We recently looked into the DVC and took the tour at Saratoga Springs. We have stayed in the past at the Beach Club and that is our favorite. We enjoy walking into the back entrance of Epcot each night to go to dinner in the worlds.

That's the history, now I have a few questions. Almost all of our trips are spur of the moment. We will decide to go either in a few days or the following weekend. Does anyone else use the DVC in this manner and how easy or difficult is it to book a room on a few days or week notice.

Next question. After researching the resorts it seems the only real difference between buying your points at one resort over another is the 11/7 plan. 11 months at your home resort and 7 months at a guest reort. As I mentioned from my first question, length of time is not my problem, short notice is. So is this the only difference in choosing which resort to buy. I am looking at resales and I can buy some resales at $68 a point compared to the beachclub or Boardwalk at $85-90 a point. Can I justy find a resale for the best price per point with the amount of points I need and buy that. Does the Hilton Head and Vero Beach count as well because those are a lot cheaper per point.

I appreciate any advice. Any one have any questions about Disney I would behappy to help. We have a three year old and one on the way and find Disney to be a great quick trip to relax. We go up so often that there is not much about the parks I could not answer for somemone. Thanks.

 

[browniemtb]

Steve, spur of the moment travel in which talk about could be a problem. Since BCV, BWV and VWL are the smallest of the resorts they fill up pretty quick, especially after the 7 month window opens. But you never know until you try. I did get a 1 bedroom at BWV with a 10 day notice....no shot at BCV. Its also hard to compare the DVC villas to say the All Stars resort and or some of the moderates. They will, more than likely, be less expensive. Weekends are also the most expensive point wise for DVC members...a lot of members will actually go Sun - Thurs to save points.
Since you go approx 5 weeks a year do the math to see what you would need for points to get you cost...then see if it sound attractive......If you don't know already there is a DVC points chart link at the top of your screen.
Good Luck
Brownie

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Steve, Vero Beach and Hilton Head do count as DVC resorts, and you can use points from either of these places at WDW...

BUT the biggest cost is not the initial point cost, over time it's the maintenance fees.

And as Brownie said, weekends (Friday and Saturday night) are about double the point cost as weekdays (Sunday through Thursday night).

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

If you only go weekends be careful. The points are extremely expensive on the weekends. For example you could stay 3 days (Sunday, Monday & Tuesday) for 48 points total in a 1 bedroom standard view in September but 1 Friday night cost 41 points (just for 1 night) However, if you go in Feb it could be as much as 60 points for 1 night ---- I just bought in so my per point price is about $7.00 (maintainance fee plus buy in cost) so that Friday night would be valued at about $287 or ($430 in Feb)per night. Since you are a Florida resident you may check to see if the Florida Residents discounts are better. I don't know off hand what the 1 bedroom would retail for in value season, but you may do better with the Florida resident discount or even if you are an Annual Passholder. I know when we used to go with my father we used to get rooms for half off because he was a FL Resident.

In addition, if you only go for the weekends how often are you at the resort?

Also, the fact that all of your trips are spur of the moment could be a problem with BWV, BCV or WL especially during a high season. I can't really say for sure as I just joined, but according to many on this board BCV is really hard to get since all members can access it at the 7 month window.

However, if you will use it from Sunday -Thursday its a great deal.

 

[mydogdrew]

My family goes to Disney about 5 weekends a year. Sometimes we go for just Saturday and othertimes we will stay a couple of days. We only live three hours from Disney and with the seasonal passes it makes for a quick get a way. Normally we stay at Pop Century or one of the mid level hotels. We recently looked into the DVC and took the tour at Saratoga Springs. We have stayed in the past at the Beach Club and that is our favorite. We enjoy walking into the back entrance of Epcot each night to go to dinner in the worlds.

That's the history, now I have a few questions. Almost all of our trips are spur of the moment. We will decide to go either in a few days or the following weekend. Does anyone else use the DVC in this manner and how easy or difficult is it to book a room on a few days or week notice.

Next question. After researching the resorts it seems the only real difference between buying your points at one resort over another is the 11/7 plan. 11 months at your home resort and 7 months at a guest reort. As I mentioned from my first question, length of time is not my problem, short notice is. So is this the only difference in choosing which resort to buy. I am looking at resales and I can buy some resales at $68 a point compared to the beachclub or Boardwalk at $85-90 a point. Can I justy find a resale for the best price per point with the amount of points I need and buy that. Does the Hilton Head and Vero Beach count as well because those are a lot cheaper per point.

I appreciate any advice. Any one have any questions about Disney I would behappy to help. We have a three year old and one on the way and find Disney to be a great quick trip to relax. We go up so often that there is not much about the parks I could not answer for somemone. Thanks.

Often you will be able to find a room on short notice. However, it is going to be SSR most of the time. You will have a better selection for weekend nights but the point costs are too high to do this regularly. You might make this work if you went long weekends and stayed Sunday nights (low points)? If you don't see yourself staying Sun-Thu nights with some frequency then you should probably pass on DVC.

 

[byoung]

If you join I'll welcome you home.