To Buy or Not to Buy!!!!

[lchica]

Okay here is my situation. I live in Miami, Florida. My wife and I have been going to Disney about 4-5 timers per year and just staying at different resorts some inside and some outside of Disney.

We have on boy and another child on the way. We have been Annual Passholders for 2 years now.

To Buy or not to Buy? These are my opinions why I don't think we should get the DVC. But please reply back if you disagree. I AM looking for a reason to convince my wife to do so, but just can't find one.

1.) We usually decide on our trips within a week or two. Since we live about 3hours away.
2.) We usually get pretty good discounts on Disney Resorts with our Annual Passholder discounts.
3.) Would probably have to purchase alot of points to make worth while.
4.) We rarely go for longer than 3 full days.
5.) We like trying out different Disney Resorts.
6.) IMHO the point values are pretty high.
7.) Who actually uses a kitchen on your trip to Disney?
8.) I can not hand it down to my kids since it has expiration.
9.) Still have to pay yearly maintenance dues.
10.) Way too many restriction dates where points jump higher per night.

Do not get me wrong, I have been thinking about getting the DVC for over 3 years now, but I don't want to make a bad investment for myself and my family.

Everyone thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sistertrip]

Based on your concerns, DVC might not be right for your family. You have valid points that are difficult to argue:

1. It may be difficult to use your points to get a reservation within 3 weeks.
2. Discounts are good.
3. A lot of points can be expensive.
4. Pointswise you would have a lot of options for a 3-day trip.
5. Points are not necessarily best used at "other" disney resorts, but renting may be an option.
6. Not sure if you mean cost to buy points or points needed for a reservation.
7. A studio size kitchen is great, but agree about a full-size kitchen.
8. Your kids can benefit from it greatly in later years
9. Yearly dues do stink.
10. I like to think of it the other way around - value seasons where points drop lower per night!

It's a very big decision, anyway, and isn't for everyone.

 

[browniemtb]

This is a tough question to answer for some one in your position. I guess you definitely travel to WDW enough to make DVC worth while. AP discounts would still exist whether your a DVC member or not but there is a AP discount available to DVC members.....not sure what a Florida resisdent discount is though...DVC $100 off. Travel habits??? When do you stay...week days or weekends?? Where do you stay when on site, Deluxe, moderates?? Weekends hold the higher points values for a stay....and DVC would be comparible to the deluxe accomodations on site. If you travel only 3 days at a time you would not need mega points to make it worth while. Your best bet is to crunch numbers.....see what you spend now for accomodations for your stays. Now take those stays and dates and find out how many DVC points that would require to do the same. The Point chart is at the top of the page. If there is monetary savings then you may want to take advantage....also yes there is a expiration on the contract 2054 for SSR and 2042 for the other resorts. In less than 48 or so years I'm sure your kids may be able to take their kids.....your grand kids for a trip to WDW.
My decision was based on the info I gathered here and by crunching numbers. It a prepay vacation plan that does save you on your accomodations.
Good Luck
Brownie

 

[Laurajean1014]

With your location and family status, I would think the question would be, why didn't I buy sooner?

You sound perfect for a DVC membership.

Isn't Miami like a 6 hour drive? Perfect family vacation.

 

[lchica]

Miami is 3-4 hour drive away. We usually stay in Value or Moderate Disney Resorts. We also stay at the DOlphin or Swan, my wife is ateacher and they have good teacher rates there.

Our trips are usually Thursday to Sunday or Friday to Sunday. I can easily say we have never gone during the week. We hardly go in the summer cause of the heat and summer break crowds. We usually go the weekend before holidays when the crowds are low.

Having 2 kids now, I know our vacations will be limited to short ones, like Disney or Beach stays. So I am honestly looking for a reason to get this. I am probably going to do the numbers this week and see how much we have spent this year and compare it to the amount of points it would have cost us.

 

[vascubaguy]

Miami is 3-4 hour drive away. We usually stay in Value or Moderate Disney Resorts. We also stay at the DOlphin or Swan, my wife is ateacher and they have good teacher rates there.

Our trips are usually Thursday to Sunday or Friday to Sunday. I can easily say we have never gone during the week. We hardly go in the summer cause of the heat and summer break crowds. We usually go the weekend before holidays when the crowds are low.

Having 2 kids now, I know our vacations will be limited to short ones, like Disney or Beach stays. So I am honestly looking for a reason to get this. I am probably going to do the numbers this week and see how much we have spent this year and compare it to the amount of points it would have cost us.

Honestly, I don't think you would benefit from DVC, especially if the majority of your times are spent staying over the weekends. Friday and Saturday nights take massive amounts of points. Also, if you are typically making last minute trip decisions, DVC may not be very accomodating as they release rooms to CRO for general bookings.

JMO

 

[tomandrobin]

[lchica]Okay here is my situation. I live in Miami, Florida. My wife and I have been going to Disney about 4-5 timers per year and just staying at different resorts some inside and some outside of Disney.
Your frequency of trips does justify.

We have on boy and another child on the way. We have been Annual Passholders for 2 years now.
For now, with kids being smaller, sharing a hotel room is not a factor. In a couple years you will want the extra space and beds.

To Buy or not to Buy? These are my opinions why I don't think we should get the DVC. But please reply back if you disagree. I AM looking for a reason to convince my wife to do so, but just can't find one.

1.) We usually decide on our trips within a week or two. Since we live about 3hours away. This doable if you are not going at peak times of the year or want a specific resort. In others words, if you are flexib about the resort, it should work.
2.) We usually get pretty good discounts on Disney Resorts with our Annual Passholder discounts. As a DVC member, you get $100 of AP price.
3.) Would probably have to purchase alot of points to make worth while.Depends on your accomadations, studio, one bedroom, etc and the time of year that you visit. Have you figured out the points that you would use?
4.) We rarely go for longer than 3 full days. The length of trip is not important, its the total number of stays per year and the type resort you stay in.
5.) We like trying out different Disney Resorts.Depends on the time of year and what resort you want to try. Also depends on what your home resort is. You can buy at multiple resort s for flexibility.
6.) IMHO the point values are pretty high. What at Disney isn't high....lol. Seriously, it depends on what you mean here. Alot of people here have figured that the point "cost" over the life of the timeshare is around $7 a point. A good way to judge the value of a particular stay is see how many points you would use to stay during a particular trip. Mutiply that by $7 and compare that to the rate to what you are able to book. That will give a more realistic cost comparison.
7.) Who actually uses a kitchen on your trip to Disney? It does come in handy. Saves alot of money for breakfast or lunch, especially with small or picky eating kids. In my case, with two teenagrs and a 20 year old...saves alot a money to have breakfast and lunch at the villa.
8.) I can not hand it down to my kids since it has expiration. The membership at SSR lasts another 48 years. Not knowing your age, but lets say your 26. You will be 74 when the DVC membership is up. Will you still be going to the Parks then?
9.) Still have to pay yearly maintenance dues.Yes, and they will go up 3% per year on average. However, your ownership does not cost more in any other way. Also, how much is that room at Port Orleans going to cost you in 10 years or 20 years from now?
10.) Way too many restriction dates where points jump higher per night.Points usually are real high during peak holidays. Fridays and Saturdays are higher then the rest of the week.

Do not get me wrong, I have been thinking about getting the DVC for over 3 years now, but I don't want to make a bad investment for myself and my family. Investment...no, but if you go to Disney one week per year, every year, it will help you spend less money over time. I think the average payback is 7 years if you stay at moderate type resorts. 12 to 15 years if you stay at value resorts.

Everyone thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.

DVC is not for everyone. If you have no problem with staying at the value resorts for the majority of your vacation needs, its not for you. I do think that as your family grows, and you continue to go to Disney, then DVC would probably work for you. I would recommend renting some points (around $10 per point) and stay at a DVC resort or two. That is the best way to see if it'll work for you. Also, go visit the models at Saratoga. They are open to the public after 5 pm. No tour, no hassles...just browse at your own pace.

 

[lchica]

Okay just figured some stuff out.

Since our Annual Pass Renewal in November, these are the dates we went and how much I spent Money wise and how much it would have cost me to stay at Saratoga Springs, which is what I would get from Disney.

November 16,17 18. (2 Nights)
Coronado Springs
Estimted $155 per night
$350.00 Estimated Total
Estimated DVC Points used 42 Points

December 28 - January 2nd 2006 (5 Nights)
Dolphin
Estimated $160 per night
$900.00 Estimated Total
Estimated DVC Points used 123 Points

March 3-5 (2 nights)
Wilderness Lodge
Estimated 160.00 per night
$360.00 Estimated Total
Estimated DVC Points used 58 Points

April 7-9 (2 Nights)
Fort Wilderness Camp Site (We have a trailer)
$40 per night
$100 Estimated Total
Estimated DVC Points used 58 Points

Okay we are planning to go in September and November again, but this is just on the trips that have been since November last year.

Total Cash Spent Estimated: $1,710.00
Points I would have needed to make these trips: 281
If I buy 281 points right now that would be an estimated $28,381 @ $101 per point. It would take an estimated 17 years to make the DVC profitable for me. And I am not even taking into account the Annual Dues and Intrest I would have paid.

Damn, I would to be part of the DVC family so bad, but still trying to make this good for us. Any comments?

 

[linzbear]

Honestly, if I were in your boat, what I would do is buy enough points for one trip, and just pay cash for the others. (I'd buy 150 points and just keep banking the extra... you'd get an extra trip or an upgrade in there every few years)

You'll come out with a much closer break even point, have less dues, have a better deal on the AP (though not much & subject to change)

And you'd get to stay at DVC - which is pretty relaxing.

Of course, that's just IMHO

 

[JimMIA]

Our trips are usually Thursday to Sunday or Friday to Sunday. I can easily say we have never gone during the week.

I was all ready to tell you how great living in Miami and being in DVC was, and I was right with you until you said that. DVC is really not very cost effective if that's the way you have to vacation. As I'm sure you've noticed, Friday and Saturday points are roughly double the Sunday-Thursday points for the same accommodations...and that's a killer. You have the AP rates, and also the Florida resident specials (which usually parallel the AP rates) -- you have options.

If you have the ability to change your vacationing habits to Sunday-Thursday, you'll find fewer crowds, and you'll find living in Paradise and owning DVC is a great combo. But if you are stuck in the long-weekend mode, you'd have to really do some serious number-crunching to justify it, I think. Even if you are staying one weekend night and 2-3 weekday nights, it works -- but you're talking about 75% or more weekends. That's tough.

We hardly go in the summer cause of the heat and summer break crowds. We usually go the weekend before holidays when the crowds are low.

Have you looked at the Florida-resident seasonal pass? May save you some bucks -- I think that will be the next ticket we buy.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

If you really want to be part of DVC then buy a small contract at Vero Beach---I know you are from Miami, but unless you own a home ON the beach, the Vero Beach resort is heaven!! It makes for a real nice get-a-way.

Since you are a Florida resident and only go on weekends and book last minute, I don't think DVC is worth it for you. Disney has always had great offers for Florida residents. Back in 1992 my father, who was a Florida Resident was renting the 2 bedroom villa for $150 a night when it retailed for $300. He met a man who was so thrilled with the room and that it only cost $300 a night. He didn't have the heart to tell him he only paid $150. We discussed joining DVC then but we were able to get the florida resident discount on the rooms and passes- and then eventually he became an annual passholder that has a whole set of new benefits so we also felt it wasn't worth it-- money wise. However, we are not eligible for the Florida discount so we recently puchased DVC.

In your breakdown, what type of room did you compare your cost to?
The 1 & 2 bedrooms are destinations in themselves - pure luxury!!

In the end, DVC doesn't really save you money-(cause you're alway are going back and have to pay for tickets, transportation and food at Disney prices ) but it gives you a greater experience at WDW. Knowing I get to stay at the Boardwalk in a 1 bedroom is priceless!!! In the end the cost doesn't matter to us, its the experience.

Good Luck with your decision!!

 

[JimMIA]

If I buy 281 points right now that would be an estimated $28,381 @ $101 per point. It would take an estimated 17 years to make the DVC profitable for me. And I am not even taking into account the Annual Dues and Intrest I would have paid.

Damn, I would to be part of the DVC family so bad, but still trying to make this good for us. Any comments?

You know about resale, right??? Buying something other than SSR direct could save you some money on the initial investment. We started with 310 OKW resale and saved about $4,000 in initial investment at that time. (That was before addonitis set in!)