To DVC or not to DVC? That is the question

[El Tel]

I posted this on the UK DVC Forum but I though that the rest of the world may have some good advice too

I'm new to the whole DVC thing but a DVC employee from the UK (Vernon)piqued my interest in it on my last full day at WDW a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was unable to do the tour of Saratoga Springs - so I haven't had first hand experience of what to expect.

On my return I got the DVD and I got a follow up phone call from DVD tonight to get more info. I'm sure some of my questions will be answered in the info pack being sent, and I know it is a little early to make a decision yet, but I'm trying to weigh up three options:

1) Don't buy into DVC - just do WDW resort holidays every 2-3 years (if only I lived in the States it would be more frequent)

2) Buy now whilst the pound is strong against the dollar and DVC prices haven't been increased as a result of the new AKL villas addition. The downside here is that I'd be buying 'blind' except for the info pack and DVD

3) Buy on our next visit (possibly October 2008). The AKL villas will be on sale then, and having just stayed at AKL we would love to have it as our 'home' with the advantages that go with that. Downside is that dollar rate may have dropped and DVC prices will go up. (Has anyone got an idea of how much they typically go up by?).

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

 

[MommaX03]

Hi!
You raise very good questions especially in light the advantages of the currency exchange.

Were you advised of the Friends and Family discount promotion that is going on right now? If you are interested in purchasing direct through Disney at their current offering, Saratoga (SSR), you can receive $15 off the current $101 per point price. The minimum purchase is 150 points in order to receive the reduced $86 per point rate. You also need a referral name and town. From what I hear, the guide will not tell you about this promotion unless you mention it to them and provide them with a referral name and town. Once they verify it in their computer, they will tell you about this deal. There are many on these boards who will offer to be a referral for you.

I am not sure from your post if this was discussed with your guide.

As far as advice, my family made the decision to buy after much thought and research on these boards. I would keep reading these boards. I found that I would walk away with major headaches as I tried to digest all the information. Then, it became clearer and clearer that our family should buy.

How often will you go to the WDW resorts? It is possible to go every 2 to 3 years if you bank and borrow points. Many experts on these boards advise that the best, that is, the most economical use of points is to use them at the DVC resorts, but you also have the option of the European sites, including the Disney properties in Paris. Just some things to consider.

Hope this helps.

 

[graygables]

IMO (opinion, mind you, and rambling), I think now would be an optimum time for you to buy. The pound is doing VERY well against the dollar and the referral price of $86 per point is probably as good as it will be for awhile anyway. Exchange rates are a bit of a gamble, as I learned growing up in Europe. My parents jumped on all kinds of deals "back in the day".

Even if you only go on holiday every 3 years, with banking and borrowing, you could have a lovely stay on 450 points (supposing you bought the minimum to start). If you decide in the future you would prefer AKV, you can always purchase an add-on there, then sell your original points if you found you didn't need/want that many. DVC resale seems to be holding its value fairly well so far. Don't forget you can also rent points if you don't bank/use/borrow them in a given year.

I'm thinking, like others, that AKV won't be too hard to get into once the intial furor dies down, so owning elsewhere might not be an issue for the 7 mo window. You can bookend your trip with weekends at AKL paid with cash to save on points and if you have an annual pass (discounted through DVC), might be able to score an AP rate.

Just my rambling thoughts on the issue...good luck with your decision!!!

 

[gtrist4life]

El Tel,

A few thoughts based on my experience,

Read over all the materials and make a list of the pros and cons. We first were interested in 2002 then were swayed into buying on our summer 2003 trip.

Like many on the board however, we had the same "wish we would have bought sooner". I think being across the pond and visiting every 2-3 years may lessen that feeling for you.

No one can accurately tell the future, but there is a popular view that the dollar will stay low in value for the next couple of years, curious to see what the UK forum responses/recommendations are in this regard.

You should also consider buying a re-sale. It is somewhat more complex with Disney having the option of buying the contract from under you, but many have become members buying this way.

Hope this helps.
Peace,
G4L

 

[solgent]

Just want to say that we bought without seeing the resorts. We had never even stayed on Disney property at all. We bought in summer 2005 and our last visit to WDW was in fall of 1999.

We had our first stay at SSR in summer 2006 and it was fabulous. Exceeded our expectations.

There are definitely others on the board who bought without a visit on the ground, so option (2) is not all crazy in my book.

The pound/dollar exchange rate is fantastic/horrible right now (depending on which side you are on)! We've visited England twice in the last 4 years and we'd all like to go back, but I hate to think of the prices!

 

[Mtnman44]

One "advantage" of not being able to go every year is that you don't necessarily have to buy a large point contract since you can bank and borrow.

As for sight unseen, ask yourself. What are you REALLY needing to see in order to make the decision? What are you looking for that would tell you "No, DVC is not the right thing for me". Room colors? sofa cushions? Seems like the more important parts of the decision are easy enough to figure out via the internet...just my two cents.

 

[starbox]

You may also want to crunch the numbers for using your points at locations in Europe. For US members, regularly using the points outside of WDW is not a very economical use of the DVC - but with the exchange rate as it is, it might be a big savings for you.

 

[Dean]

If you buy a lot of points, make sure you get them in smaller contracts or add ons if you buy direct. Given your statements and making the appropriate assumptions that you will go at least once every 3 years (not March in one year and November 3 years later), I'd wait and buy AKL when it first starts selling. And possibly then add on at a couple of different resorts to have additional choices with the home resort priority bookings. OR I'd buy now (either resale or from DVC) then add on at AKL when it comes on board. The long term value ($$ and otherwise) for AKL will out strip the savings of any discounts and the dollar exchange isn't likely to change drastically in the next 2-3 months. Of course the cheapest option would be to buy resale and get the cheapest you can considering both up front costs and yearly fees. What's best depends on when you travel and your other family needs. Unless most of your trips are Jan to early Feb, late April to early June, or last August to early Dec (basically not xmas, easter or mid summer), any contract will likely suffice. If you want to travel mostly those higher demand times, your choice of home resort becomes more critical.