This may sound like a dumb thing to ask, but...

[GrumpyCAdad]

My wife and I are looking at joining the DVC. I just has one question (okay it has more than one part)

What happens in 2042 to everyones memberships? Can they be renewed? DO you have to come in at a higher point rate? HELP!!!!

 

[bicker]

The 2042 date applies to all DVC resorts except Saratoga Springs, which has a later termination date. In 2042, ownership reverts back to Disney. Disney can elect to do whatever they wish at that time. They've not given any indications that they've made any decisions in that regard, yet, and I suspect they won't even think very much about it for many years to come.

 

[JimMIA]

DO you have to come in at a higher point rate? HELP!!!!

What do you mean by this? Higher number of initial points in your contract? Or higher price per point?

Also, there are no "dumb things to ask." DVC is complicated, especially at first, and the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

I meant a higher price per point.

Thanks. It is a very complicated thing, and I want to make sure it is "right" for my family.

What do you mean by this? Higher number of initial points in your contract? Or higher price per point?

Also, there are no "dumb things to ask." DVC is complicated, especially at first, and the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Saratoga Springs contracts end in 2052 I believe while the rest end in 2042. Remember when you buy into DVC you don't really own anything but are leasing points for a certain amount of time. If you have a young family and are young yourself leasing Saratoga Springs points might be best for you.

 

[JimMIA]

Okay, first some bare basics. There are two ways to buy into DVC. One is by buying direct from DVC; the other is resale. I highly recommend either option. I initially took the tour at SSR and got the basic information from my DVC guide, bought resale from TTS, and just today bought an SSR add-on direct from DVC. They were both wonderful.

All points are not created equal. Saratoga Springs contracts expire in 2054; all of the other resorts expire in 2042. There are no cookie-cutter solutions, so you have to research thoroughly and figure out which best meets your needs. A thread which will hopefully help you is http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634

Direct: If you buy direct from Disney, you will pay $95 per point at Saratoga Springs, or $89 per point elsewhere. The price at Saratoga Springs goes up to $98 either 6/5 or 6/19, depending on which DVC mailing you believe. Actually, I think the price for existing owners is the one that goes up later, but I'm not sure of that. At Saratoga Springs currently, there is an $8 incentive, which means you really pay $87 per point. Confused yet? We haven't started.

If you buy one of the "sold out" resorts (Old Key West, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness, Hilton Head, or Vero Beach) direct from Disney, you pay $89 per point and the sale is obviously subject to availability of points. Generally, there is no problem getting points anywhere but Beach Club, and then only in certain use years.

Resale: You can also buy any of the resorts resale. Generally you will find that the resale prices are lower -- sometimes dramatically lower, depending on resort. With resale you may be expected to pay closing costs (negotiable, like everything else), buying direct DVC pays the closing. Regardless of how you buy, once you are in, there is absolutely no difference between points bought resale and points bought direct. (In fact, I don't think there is any way of anyone knowing where you bought your points.)

There are several realtors who specialize in resales of DVC timeshares. Fortunately, one of them is The Timeshare Store (lovingly known here as TTS), which as luck would have it, also happens to be the sponsor of this forum. You can click on Current DVC Resales at the top of this page for TTS' current inventory of resales.

Check the thread above, do a bunch of research, and never be afraid to ask a dumb question. Your dumb questions are the very same dumb questions we all didn't know the answers to when we started.

 

[bicker]

Remember when you buy into DVC you don't really own anything but are leasing points for a certain amount of time.

Well, that's a little misleading. It is technically a lease-hold. You do "own" something, but only for a limited time. That's why you're liable for property tax.