To Those DVC Naysayers....

[fishermouse]

The maintenance fees are way more expensive than the competition.

Yet you are onsite at Disney.

There are pros and cons.

Today I got a new offer that would give me free annual passes if I bought 130 points or more. (600 dollars about in future maintenance additional costs, making my yearly maintenance costs zoom to over $2000)

For 75 point they will give you a 2 day Disney ticket.

I have friends who own at one of the Marriot Resorts, that I must compare when I am down in May. I now need to see what the competition looks and feels like, and compare their costs and fees.

I have been surprised to see the points renting prices coming down from a couple years ago, 10 doesn't seem to be that uncommon anymore.

I am not sure why the point value of 12 dollars or more is not occuring always?

Is it the huge number of DVC owners that has driven down points rental?

Seems now like a renters buying market and not a renters selling market.

Maint. fees at DVC must also cover transportation, with most resorts this is not a factor. Even the ones that will bring you to the parks are not any where near as flexible. Plus all the perks, we get. Not to mention the hidden Mickies in the sofa..

 

[tomandrobin]

I am not sure why the point value of 12 dollars or more is not occuring always?

Maybe the rental price stays stuck at because its easier to work in mutiples of $10. People tend to be lazy. Its hard enough to figure out the points you need, but gosh you have to multiply that by 12. Thats just too much work!

 

[gppnj]

I am wondering if the thread the OP mentions is the one over on the Budget Board. Many posters over there are going to look at DVC in a completely different light. I am not knocking that board, just saying that many of the people over there look at money totally different than many others (like me). They'll die with way more assets than I will, I admit it! In fact many people on that board, don't go to Disney at all, they are just on that board for general money saving tips and info. I posted on a "to DVC or not to DVC" thread over there and then just gave up because I realized what I feel about DVC and my investment could never be explained to make any kind of financial sense to some of those posters. For me and my family we realized last January that WDW was our vacation of choice and that we might as well buy into it, stay in accomodations that are unbeatable and figure that our DVC purchase was an investment of family time not a financial one. And yes dues will go up over time but not as much as the cost of staying at a value, moderate or deluxe.

I understand what you're saying. Putting the actual room cost aside, I get a benefit from DVC 365 days a year because it makes me happy to know that I own it. That's something that can't easily be quantified, but it's real nonetheless.

 

[Boston5602]

I understand what you're saying. Putting the actual room cost aside, I get a benefit from DVC 365 days a year because it makes me happy to know that I own it. That's something that can't easily be quantified, but it's real nonetheless.

Nicely said , I agree 100%

 

[gammieatwdw]

I agree with the OP. DVC makes sense for our family.

 

[Caskbill]

Everybody's circumstances will be different. We own OKW and love it there. Our dues this year are about $1400. We buy two AP's and save $213 ($100 each, + tax), which if applied toward the dues leaves less than $1200 in dues. That's $100/month if we want to look at it that way.

We also own Marriott's Shadow Ridge, next to Palm Springs, CA. Taxes are collected separately by California, so we pay dues to Marriott and taxes to CA. They total $875 this year. That's about $73/month. If we want to trade it, we must belong to II. That's about another $6.60/month, and if we trade it out any given year, that adds another $6.60/month trading fee. So owning Marriott currently costs us about $86/month more or less, depending on how we use it.

Our Shadow Ridge is Silver season, and we get 1-week (7-days) in a 2-B/R villa. Depending if we trade or not, that comes out to about $142/night.

We can get almost 10 days straight at OKW in a 2-B/R villa in dream season (similar to our Marriott season) with our points. (Actually 9.5 nights so will use that figure). That equates to about $125/night. So for us owning DVC is cheaper in dues on a per night basis than our Marriott timeshare.

If we elect to only use our OKW points on weeknights, and only in a 1-B/R, we can get 16.5 nights during Dream season, which then comes out to about $72/night.

But DVC is so flexible. We can save even more by using points in Adventure or Choice season, or spend a little more and go during Magic or Premier seasons. We can go on weekends or not, we can get a Studio and save, or go with a full Grand Villa. Finally, yes, we can stay at other resorts which affects the points required, and thus the total 'cost' of a stay.

The point is, the flexibility adds so much more to the equation.

And yes, Marriott is great also, and does have some flexibility to it. We can't use it year round, but do have a window of several months for our 'silver' season. If we don't ever want to trade and always want to use it as a 2-B/R we don't need to belong to II and would never have any trading fees. But to get more flexibility, we do those things. We can split it up and get 1-week in a 1-B/R and another week in a Studio. (Although another fee applies to do that) However this option certainly affects the 'cost vs. value' equation.

And owning II has additional benefits, such as their getaway program which allows us to book stays at many timeshares for only the cost of the maintenance fees or less, without ever having to own there.

In conclusion, value is in the eye of the beholder. Whichever one is cheaper or more expensive is irrelevant. They both have features unique enough individually, that for us, there is 'value' in owning both.

As for the initial purchase costs, we bought DVC in '93 and got free park passes up to the year 2000. When we bought Marriott, we got thousands of Marriott reward points that we could use for Marriott stays. But overall the free park passes were probably worth more in actual $$'s. But that was a great bonus we received, and was never repeated. Other past or current DVC sales incentives have their own merits. To try to compare purchase incentives between programs probably serves no value.

I can't easily compare the initial purchase prices between the two, since DVC was purchased earlier (1993), but with several add-on purchases a few years later. However, if I were to compare purchases based on a common 'present year' dollar figure, I know DVC was a more expensive purchase than Marriott if I were to compare purchasing exactly 7-days worth of points for mid-season.

However, as far as I'm concerned, it's the 'value' to the purchaser that matters, nothing else.

 

[DrTomorrow]

It depends. DVC only makes sense financially if you use it correctly at DVC resorts. [...]

Which really begs the question "Does a plain old Disney trip ever make financial sense?" While I certainly see the personal value in a Disney trip, I don't know if anyone can create the spreadsheet that justifies spending $1000-3000 or more for a weeklong WDW vacation as opposed to investing the money. The image that comes to mind is Jack Skellington trying to discover the meaning of Christmas by boiling candy canes and performing autopsies on stuffed animals....

 

[conciergekelly]

Which really begs the question "Does a plain old Disney trip ever make financial sense?" While I certainly see the personal value in a Disney trip, I don't know if anyone can create the spreadsheet that justifies spending $1000-3000 or more for a weeklong WDW vacation as opposed to investing the money. The image that comes to mind is Jack Skellington trying to discover the meaning of Christmas by boiling candy canes and performing autopsies on stuffed animals....

Nice analogy!

 

[pogopossum]

well dr, i can't make up a spreadsheet, but i have talked to enough friends that spend more than $3000 to stay a week at wdw in just a hotel room at one of the lodges or cr or gf. and i look at them and say you do every 1 to 2 years, you're buying a dvc membership and just don't realize it. as i said earlier, we had the opportunity to go inside a 1 br suite at akl, priced at $1200 a night, iwouldn't trade that room for a 1 br at any of the dvc resorts, just can't ;ive without that full kitchen. so for us it makes perfect sense to own dvc, but we would spend the money on vacation, anyway and come up with investment money somewhere else.

 

[Dean]

Which really begs the question "Does a plain old Disney trip ever make financial sense?" While I certainly see the personal value in a Disney trip, I don't know if anyone can create the spreadsheet that justifies spending $1000-3000 or more for a weeklong WDW vacation as opposed to investing the money. The image that comes to mind is Jack Skellington trying to discover the meaning of Christmas by boiling candy canes and performing autopsies on stuffed animals....

If you look at it from that standpoints, it likely doesn't make sense to take a vacation and thus one should likely not own a timeshare. I think anytime we discuss the value, it's relative value that we are comparing. If one doesn't care what something costs or if they could have had better or cheaper options, that is their business and I don't care. What I do care about is sharing the info and knowledge I have when the appropriate situation arises. Contrary to what some think, there is a whole world out there outside WDW.

In addition, the implication that caring about the cost and value reduces the enjoyjment couldn't be farther from the truth. I would agree that one shouldn't split hairs. But to not even think about the cost and value seems simply stupid to me.

Yes, just think of all the other time-shares that are on-site at WDW.....

And DVC isn't on the Beach or in HI, etc. There are many factors for a timeshare purchase and or stay. The question is what is important to the owner and are they aware of all their options.

 

[dvc-NE]

This single night on points may have been the only night I have personally stayed at a DVC resort on points since 1999 though other members of my family have gone, namely my son, friends and chaperone's as a grad present. And after a large trip this Dec, I have every expectation of selling all of my points though I will likely buy a small add on to keep my hand in and access to the perks.

Really? Wow.

 

[jodifla]

over on the other non-dvc boards nonmembers are also complaining that DVC may seem like a good deal to buy into, but then those nasty sneaky maintenance fees get ya!

well, I just got my first bill for my annual dues, and for those naysayers I have this to say:

my 150 SSR points were a "whopping" $588 for the year

and my 65 VWL points were a "staggering" $257 for the year-

gee hope I can still pay my mortgage after paying those "outrageous" maintenance fees

OK, maybe other folks don't get what you're saying, but I do....and I agree 100 percent.

We bought in in '96, when points were much cheaper. We even "financed" (oh, the horror!!) To us, it was kinda like another car payment...but this car, we get to keep for almost 50 years!

So now it's paid off, so we have fabulous vacations EVERY YEAR for under $1,000 a year. It's particularly glorious since we're on one income now...doing some planning for our vacation future really paid off. All our friends are pretty darn envious whenever we treat them to a room. They wonder how we do it on one income.

As for the budget board people, a previous poster had it right. It's another way of thinking. Been there, done that with the whole staying at a Days Inn and eating food out of a cooler.

This is a whole other class of vacationing that lots of people can't fathom, 'cause they are too cheap (or thrifty, depending on your viewpoint.)

 

[FRANKTSJR]

The way I figure it is this:
I have enough points for two weeks vacation per year. I paid $13,000 for those points(resale).
The yearly maintenance fee is approx. $800 and my contract is good for the next 36 years. I realize that the maintenance fee will rise but so will the villa rates.
So- total paid is $13,000 + $800 x 36 years divided by 72 (#of vacation weeks)= $580 per week. Considering that rack rates for DVC studios are $300 + per night thats at least a $2,100 per vacation week value at a cost of $580 per week. When you consider the added privileges of membership, I think this is a deal that can’t be beat!
Happy to suffer like that.

 

[Slakk]

For me DVC is my choice for our WDW stays. Frankly I don't want to hope a trade is available for the times that I want - I want to make my decision and go. I also like that for the most part my points do not lose value.

Saying that in a few years we probably will purchase another timeshare in HI orthe carribean but the two will stay separate.

If you are looking for value then stay offsite or pitch a tent at Ft Wilderness - I love the fact I can stay where I want when I want in the accomodations I prefer and when I drive in I hear "Welcome Home"

 

[Disney Doll]

But don't you also have to calculate how much you had to pay to buy into the DVC to start with? It seems to me that it would take years to financially break even.

Am I missing something? I have been thinking about buying into DVC, but financially, it just doesn't seem the best choice. To pay $13,000 to buy in then pay hundreds each year in maintenance on top of that. I'm not trying to be contrary, just trying to learn. Please enlighten.

The amount of time it will take you to break even depends on what type of accomodations you used to stay in before the DVC.

For DH and I, we usually stayed in a deluxe (our preference) or a moderate. We bought DVC in 1997. We wish we had bought in 1992, when it was first offered. Between 1992 and 1997, we went to Disney at least once, and sometimes twice per year, staying at a deluxe and paying at least $150-$200 per night. Estimated cost of that $7000 (7 days/year x 5 years x $200). Our first DVC contract purchase price was about $13000. If we had bought it in 1992, by 1997 we'd have been halfway through paying for it with what we had spent to stay in a regular hotel at Disney. And once you leave Disney after staying in a regular hotel, that money is gone. At least with the DVC, the money is going toward your payments. Once your initial purchase cost is paid off, the savings are even more. We pay about $1600 per year in maintenance fees. In 2005, that got us 5 days in a GV, 8 days in a 2BR, so about $138/night for deluxe accomodations. In 2004, we stayed a total of 30 days at various times of the year in various different DVC resorts and room sizes. I don't care what kind of discounts you get...you'd be hard-pressed to find a deluxe for $138/night. If you look at our per night cost in 2004, it breaks down to about $55/night...even better!

Now there are those that would argue that if you took that $13000 initial cost and invested it in "X" number of different ways, you'd have more money at the end that you will with DVC, and they'd be right.

But money doesn't buy you memories.

 

[Disney Doll]

Which really begs the question "Does a plain old Disney trip ever make financial sense?" While I certainly see the personal value in a Disney trip, I don't know if anyone can create the spreadsheet that justifies spending $1000-3000 or more for a weeklong WDW vacation as opposed to investing the money. The image that comes to mind is Jack Skellington trying to discover the meaning of Christmas by boiling candy canes and performing autopsies on stuffed animals....

Well, of course a plain old Disney trip doesn't make financial sense.

But then again, not everything is about money...at least not for us!

 

[waltfan1957]

Which really begs the question "Does a plain old Disney trip ever make financial sense?" .

There is no such thing as a plain old disney trip. it makes sense to us

 

[TexasAggie]

Owning DVC is expensive, but if I wanted to sell my points today, I could get
more money today for my points than I paid and I could turn it fairly quickly
(yes I know Disney does keep the resale price high).

If I wanted to sell my Hawaii time share,I do not believe I could recover
my purchase price or sale it very quickly.

Just something else to consider.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Can I ask you all something? If you purchase into DVC, and say some years down the road, you either phyically can't or don't want to go anymore, do you picture yourselves letting family use your points (forever), or do you think you would just sell your points? I imagine there might be folks who are gung ho vacation at 40, (I know I am) but later in life, 50's - or 60's, maybe 70's - who knows what the future will bring.

thanks
mary

 

[grimley1968]

Can I ask you all something? If you purchase into DVC, and say some years down the road, you either phyically can't or don't want to go anymore, do you picture yourselves letting family use your points (forever), or do you think you would just sell your points? I imagine there might be folks who are gung ho vacation at 40, (I know I am) but later in life, 50's - or 60's, maybe 70's - who knows what the future will bring.

thanks
mary

This is exactly why we won't buy into DVC, or any timeshare for that matter. We love all things Disney now, but that may well not be the case when my kids become teenagers (I hated Disney as a teen).

There's always the option of your kids "inheriting" DVC from you when you pass on, but then they're stuck with the maintenance fees for however many years are left in the contract, and they may not consider it to be such a great legacy at that point, especially if they don't enjoy Disney as much as we do now that they're 6 years old & 2 years old, respectively.