To Buy or Not to Buy?

[calypso*a*go-go]

Our family has considered buying into DVC on several occasions. The biggest concern is the fact that we live on the West Coast and will only be able to go to WDW every two or three years. Has anyone "crunched" the numbers to determine if adding at least $1000 in airfare (four people) for each trip still makes the purchase worthwhile? During the last three trips we stayed at Shades of Green, Dixie Landing, and the Contemporary.

Also, on a side note...is the WDW transportation service provided to from DVC locations adequate? In the past we have noticed very long lines of people waiting for DVC buses.

Thanks for any help you can give!!!

 

[stacy6552]

We've never tried to use the DVC busses, but the resorts all get the same Diney transportation that everyone else does.....

Air fare or no the question is really about how often you will go to WDW (or anyplace else on the II list). It costs us a good $200 a plane ticket to fly. That didnt stop us from going 4 times in 3 years before we finally wised up and bought in. And our neighbors who just bought in, now consider the air fare a gimme since they arent "paying" for hotel.

If you go every 2-3 years and you plan correctly you can probably get away with fewer points.

 

[Dean]

The questionis whether you will truly go every 2 to 3 years. If you will consistently do so, DVC can makes sense depending on your other specifics and if you buy the right number of points. Good luck.

 

[Stitch 03]

I am also from the west coast and faced a similar dilemma. Realistically I was only looking at going to WDW every 2 years (though I would love to go more often). I am faced with either expensive airfare out of Vancouver or flying out of Seattle.

When all was said and done the airfare issue proved to be not that big. I figured that I would be going to WDW every two years regardless of whether I joined DVC or not.

What I ended up doing was buying two small contracts through resell (52 + 30 points). Resell was my only option as DVC will not sell less then 150. In addition, DVC is not licenced to sell in BC.

So I am going to end up (still in the closing process) with 82 points. Considering my expected travel pattern, that is 164 points for each trip. That is enough for almost two weeks in a studio.

The best part - If I ever decide I want to go more often, or stay in a 1 bedroom, I can purchase an add-on.

 

[crisi]

We travel every other year from Minnesota with a family of four. Airfare is seldom less than $1000 a trip for all four of us. If you are paying airfare already for your occational trip - its a wash. And if money gets tight enough you don't want to pay for airfare, there are places to "spend" your points out on the West Coast, or you could rent them for cash.

We found the bus service from BWV to be adequate in December, but adequate was about it. Wit the resort so close to Epcot and MGM (walking distance) we weren't as dependant on buses. But we did take a couple cabs - particularly for resort to resort travel and EE mornings. If you have no choice but the bus (can't fund a car or cabfare), it will get you where you want to go (I wouldn't book a lot of resort dinners outside the Epcot resort area).

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think it's fair to make a DVC purchase decision while factoring-in your airfare. Whenever you decide to visit WDW, you are going to have to pay for the airfare--whether you buy DVC or not.

Even if you are only planning to visit every other year, it would be very simple to buy a small 150 point contract and plan to bank your points every two years so that you have 300 available for each trip. Since you have to pay that $1000 every time you fly, you would probably be better off getting a 10-12 night stay every couple of years as opposed to a 5-6 night stay annually.

With regard to bus service, you will see mixed reports at individual resorts, but that has little to do with DVC. Of the five on-site DVC properties, three (Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas and Villas at Wilderness Lodge) have many more Disney-owned cash resort rooms than they have DVC rooms. Both the DVC and non-DVC guest share the same bus service.

We have stayed at Old Key West twice, which is almost entirely a DVC members only resort, and found the bus service to be more than adequate.

I've recently read reports of poor service bus at BWV. That situation may be corrected a week, a month or a year from now. You really never know. But try to keep things in perspective when you're talking about a purchase that you will be using for the next 40-50 years. It's probably not wise to make your decision based upon recent reports concerning bus service, housekeeping, CM friendliness, etc. They will certainly vary from one visit to another.

 

[vernon]

As Dean correctly points out you really need to have a good, HONEST, look at how often you do/would go. If you HOPE to go every two or three years may not be enough, if you are certain you will visit and it's usually every two but occassionally every three then with careful planning the numbers should work OK. As has been said flights really are not fair to include, unless you work on the principle that if you thought them too high paying cash allows you the option of staying at home.
As has been pointed out buying a smaller contract and using the banking/borrowing facility may work for you, it depends on the size of accomodation you're looking at as well as length of stay. Again your own circumstances dictate what works for you.

I notice you stayed at Shades of Green, does this mean you are eligable for military discounts? That may shade ( sorry for the pun ) things against DVC , but if you price things using a mix of moderates and delux then DVC is likely to show a considerable saving.

I've always been happy with the DVC bus services, as with all the resorts the "resort to resort" options are very limited and time consuming but to the main parks I don't think the service is any better or worse than the other resorts.

 

[dmoore22]

My wife and I agonized of over whether to buy or not to buy. We have a family of eight (mom, dad, 6 kids). We opted to buy resale, purchased add-on points and have not regretted that decision. Cost wise for our vacations we are spending less, staying twice as long in far superior and convenient accomodations. Before DVC our budget would only allow for a week at All-Star. Contrary to what we have read (including Birnbaum's Guide) transporation from DVC was convenient, quick and with short lines.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with others here, that if you see yourselves going to WDW every couple of years anyway, then airfare is not really a part of the mix.

As to WDW transportation...that really depends on when you go and where you stay. At OKW we have had wonderful service from the WDW transportation system, but some do complain about several of the other DVC resorts when it comes to buses. At any rate, I do NOT think a car is essential, if that was your reason for asking.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I also agree that it is not reasonable to include the cost of airfare in your considerations, as this is a given, since you are already going to WDW. It does look expensive and rather inconvenient coming in from BC (even worse if you are elsewhere in the western provinces - my old college roomie is teaching at U of A up in Edmonchuk, so count your blessings that you have the option to drive to Seattle at least ).

I am also in full agreement that if you plan to go every 2-3 years, it will be worth it. First, there is the money you save over a comparable hotel room (DVC pays for itself in 7 yrs when compared to moderate resorts, but DVC resort room are much nicer and more spacious). Secondly, you have kitchen facilities standard in your room, at minimum, fridge and microwave in Studios, and a full kitchen in 1BR & up. Having your own food, even if it is just breakfast, snacks and cold drinks, saves us big bucks (US or CDN). Thirdly, you are on site so you have full access to Disney transportation, and can save on a car rental, if you so choose.

On the subject of transportation, I also have found it just fine, and we have the added complication of our 6 yr old son being wheelchair-bound. Boat transport (a great favourite in our family) is very easy from Epcot resorts to MGM and Epcot, from VWL to MK and OKW to DTD. Of course there's plenty in walking distance too. And the buses are not bad at all, even tho we have specific loading and unlloading requirements, and the buses cannot be too full or there will be no room for DS's wheelchair; but we get by just fine. By comparison, we have found Disney Transport better than decent big city mass transit systems here in Boston, and also Toronto and Montréal (I haven't ridden the Vancouver system since the mid-1980s, so cannot compare).

Good luck with your decision. I would highly recommend our DVC guide (who actually convinced us to buy fewer points than we were prepared to buy, after assessing our probable usage patterns). She was Very good, and very experienced. If you want to send me a PM, I will pass on her name and direct line.

 

[TonyS20]

When my DH and I were trying to decide if we wanted to buy and how many points we would need, we based our decision on the fact that we typically travel every 2 years. However, we enjoy to "get away" by being gone 10-16 nights at a time. I think it is more important to look at how many nights you will be vacationing during the period you would use your points (meaning banking and borrowing) and what it would normally cost you. Then examine that over the life of the contract (50 years for us).

Even after all of my math and all of my spreadsheet and calculating different scenarios, it all came down to "is this what we want to do!". You have to make that decision on your own. Good luck!

 

[Lisa P.]

It's reasonable to look at the whole picture when buying a timeshare. I live on the east coast. If I loved a special resort in Hawaii (which was pretty expensive), I would not buy a timeshare there unless I knew I would likely be able to visit it at least every other year. If I was concerned that high airfare to Hawaii from the east coast may preclude my ability to use it regularly, I would not buy it. Then I would just rent when I wanted and could afford to go there. JMHO.

DVC is not the whole cost of the vacation, it's just the lodging. It's not a great choice for people who may need to trade out regularly. If you are able to stay at Shades of Green onsite or use the AFVClub for your accommodations, DVC is probably not best for you, IMHO.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks everyone, you are all correct that I shouldn't have included airfare issues in our decision to buy. And yes, we are eligible to stay at Shades of Green. However, their nightly rates have been increasing every year to a point that it is more expensive to stay @ SOG vs. some WDW properties. Also, there are extra charges for other ammenities that would be included elsewhere.

We just need to make a decision as to which resort would be our preference and start looking. From what I have read, I think 150 pts. would be more than enough to start as we would like to have enough for a 2 bdrm. unit every two years. We normally go off-season for a week (or longer if possible!).

It also sounds like everyone is happy with the transportation provided by Disney. This was a concern as we usually use a towncar service to/from the airport.

Have a wonderful new year!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I never included airfare in my calculations. No matter where I go on vacation, I usually end up flying, so that cost is there regardless.

I have never had a problem with DVC bus service, although I am sure some have.

My home resort is Beach Club. I walk to Epcot, take a boat to Disney Studios....leaving MK and Animal Kingdom for the bus. But again, no problems. At times I can even walk to Epcot and ride the monorail to MK.

When I stayed at OKW this summer the bus service was great.

There are also plenty of buses to the water parks.

 

[Dean]

I have a somewhat different view than many. IF you will travel to the East Coast, and specifically Orlando, every 2-3 years, DO NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE. OTOH, if this would be tied to your DVC membership and you don't typically pay for air fare otherwise, YOU MUST INCLUDE IT in your financial costs. There are so many factors as to whether DVC is reasonable or not. DVC WILL NOT SAVE YOU MONEY unless you would go as often and stay on property at deluxe resorts regardless. It will allow you to have a luxury experience for a moderate price that is reasonable as long as you don't load up on weekends. Unless you've gone to WDW regularly, do not buy, just rent or look at other options. You may want to consider a non DVC timeshare, but if you do, make sure you get all the info available, which takes about 6 months of investigating.